NATIONAL WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

OUR BIGGEST PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION EVER!

$25,000 in Cash Prizes
Two $5,000 Grand Prizes
Pro, Amateur and Youth divisions
Submit up to 20 photos in 7 categories

National Wildlife® is now accepting entries to our 39th annual contest. Cash prizes totaling $25,000—including two $5,000 grand prizes—plus other gifts will be awarded to the winners in three divisions: professional, amateur and youth. Winning photographs will be published online and a selection will appear in the December 2009 issue of the magazine.

In exchange for your $15 entry fee, you can submit as many as 20 photographs in the following seven categories. You also will receive a one-year membership to the National Wildlife Federation, including six issues of National Wildlife®.*

Mammals
Birds
Other Wildlife
Backyard Habitats
Connecting People and Nature
Landscapes and Plant Life
Global Warming and Wildlife
For entry details, categories and deadline information, visit www.nwf.org/photozone.

*current NWF members excluded
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2009 National Wildlife Federation. All rights reserved. NWF Privacy Policy

Contact us: info@nwf.org | 1-800-822-9919 | National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston VA, 20190.

Bring your yard to life! Create a wildlife-friendly yard officially certified through NWF's Wildlife HabitatTM program.

CHRISTIANITY TODAY BOOK AWARDS

For two decades, the annual Christianity Today Book Awards have recognized outstanding volumes that shed light on people, events, and ideas that shape evangelical life, thought, and mission. This year, our judging process began with 436 titles submitted by 67 publishers. CT editors selected finalists in each category, and then our expert judges sorted out the cream of the crop from 2008. Here are the 10 winners that best shed light on the people, events, and ideas that shape evangelical life, thought, and mission.

The entire list of awards--including judges' comments, 11 Awards of Merit, and other resources-- can be found online at www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/february/10.26.html .

Christianity Today, in its sixth decade of publication, is the nation's premier evangelical Christian magazine. Its parent company, Christianity Today International, publishes numerous award- winning magazines, including Leadership journal and Books & Culture.

The 2009 CT Book Awards

Apologetics/Evangelism
THE REASON FOR GOD: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
Timothy Keller (Penguin/Dutton)

Biblical Studies
STORIES WITH INTENT: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus
Klyne R. Snodgrass (Eerdmans)

Christianity and Culture
CULTURE MAKING: Recovering Our Creative Calling
Andy Crouch (InterVarsity)

Christian Living
RECONCILING ALL THINGS: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace and Healing
Emmanuel Katongole and Chris Rice (InterVarsity)

The Church/Pastoral Leadership
WHY WE'RE NOT EMERGENT: By Two Guys Who Should Be
Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck (Moody)

Fiction
HOME: A Novel
Marilynne Robinson (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)

History/Biography
BILL BRIGHT AND CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST: The Renewal of Evangelicalism in Postwar America
John G. Turner (University of North Carolina)

Missions/Global Affairs
TRANSFORMING WORLDVIEWS: An Anthropological Understanding of How People Change
Paul G. Hiebert (Baker Academic)

Spirituality
ACEDIA AND ME: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life
Kathleen Norris (Penguin/Riverhead)

Theology/Ethics
PEOPLE AND PLACE: A Covenant Ecclesiology
Michael S. Horton (Westminster John Knox)

CHRISTIAN LIBRARY JOURNAL SEEKS BOOK REVIEWERS

Editor is seeking book reviewers for Christian Library Journal. The pub is restarting in a different format, but the purpose for the journal stays the same: To provide reviews from a Christian viewpoint of both Christian and non-Christian books for Christian schools, homeschools, and family libraries. Typically, the need is for
reviews of children and YA books. If you are interested, please contact Nancy Hesch with your contact information. I am not a librarian or teacher, but I have reviewed for them in the past. Nancy will send you very detailed instructions so that you will write reviews like a professional! It's excellent practice, and you'll be published in a legitimate format.

Nancy L. Hesch's email below:

We are planning to return to reviewing for the Christian library, and
are recruiting volunteer reviewers. Are you interested in doing some
reviewing for us? Do you have friends who might like to do the same?
Teachers and librarians are especially welcome. Feel free to forward
this message to any you think might be interested. As always, reviewers
keep the books they review. Nice way to build a library!

We will not be publishing the journal as you have seen in the past, but
will be posting individual reviews on our website as they are edited.
In some cases with nonfiction, we will be asking for articles comparing
several books on a particular subject.

If you are interested, please respond with:

Your name, mailing and street address (for shipment of books from
publishers), phone, email.

I will get back to those responding shortly with guidelines, procedures,
etc.

Blessings,

Nancy L. Hesch
Christian Library Services
2107 Highway 101 #153
Florence , OR 97439

http://www.christianlibraryj.org

nlhesch@christianlibraryj.org
org>

WHALIN LITERARY AGENCY CLOSING

Terry Whalin is in the process of closing his literary agency. He has taken a position as vice president/publisher for Intermedia Publishing Group; www.intermediapub.com; twhalin@intermediapub.com. Intermedia is an alternative publisher (subsidy) that offers an exceptional marketing campaign for every book, plus wide distribution.

FREE TELESEMINAR ON PROMOTION

1. Teleseminar (no charge)today (Thurs, Jan. 29th) at either 2PM or 7PM Eastern (two time slots to choose from), with former Oprah guest booker on 'How To Get On Oprah & Other Top TV Talk Shows.'

This call is being hosted by Steve Harrison of Radio TV Interview Report. Steve hosted a call similar to this one about 6 months ago ... so if you missed it last time ... here's your second chance. It's a great teleseminar with lots of valuable info. Don't miss it.

Also joining the call will be a former producer from Fox News and some other surprise guests.

This information is so critical to anyone trying to get publicity. I strongly encourage you to make it if you can.

Go here to register now & get the call-in number & passcode:

http://www.GetMajorPress.com/tvcall/?11291

Here's a sampling of what you'll learn ...

* How to increase your odds of getting on Oprah, Fox News, CNN, Today Show, Montel and other top shows.

* Understanding the mindset of national TV producers and what gets them to book you as a guest.

* The strategy a husband-and-wife team used to land a 7-minute segment on the Today Show.

* What you should send TV producers (and what you shouldn't).

* An important lesson from one author who got on Oprah and saw sales soar as a result.

* The most important question you must be able to answer to land a TV appearance.

* The biggest mistakes to avoid when pitching TV producers (including ones that could get you black-balled forever!).

* Case histories of four other authors and entrepreneurs and the strategies they used to get on top TV shows.

... and much more
_________________________________________________

Pam Perry will be doing a 4-week PR Coaching Class for Christian authors
starting Feb. 17. You'll learn how to get on major shows
like The Word Network, TBN, Daystar, TCT, CTN, etc.
Visit www.PamPerryPRCoach.com for details on that program.

NEW - GUIDEPOSTS.COM

Whether striving to become a New You this year or just looking to Beat the Blues and strengthen your faith, Guideposts.com is full of uplifting content featuring inspiring people and inspiring stories sure to raise everyone's spirits.

Guideposts is inviting people who are looking to take positive steps in their everyday lives to visit the New Year, New You contest page during the next two months and enter online at: guideposts.com/newyoucontest for the chance to win a makeover for the body and soul. A Guideposts Dream Team of experts will work together with one grand prize winner as their inspirational allies to develop a life-changing personalized plan - for the mind, body and spirit. These experts are leaders in their fields and have had personal life-changing and inspirational experiences that led them to help and inspire others. Now they want to share that inspiration with our winner.

Theresa Rowe, Fitness Expert, wellness coach and author of Shaped by Faith, published by Guideposts, will tailor an easy-to-follow fitness plan based on the winner's lifestyle and goals.

Rebecca Katz, Healthy Cook and author of One Bite at a Time will demonstrate easy to follow nutritious meals and healthy eating habits.

Julie Hadden, The Biggest Loser Contestant and Inspirational Mom, will share her secrets to balancing everyday life with practical tips for weight loss, maintenance and perseverance.

Kevin Carroll, Motivational Expert, is an author, speaker and agent for social change. Author of Rules of the Red Rubber Ball: Find and Sustain Your Life's Work, Kevin will help the winner sustain their motivation for personal growth and change.

If you're in the need for a quick pick-me-up or a total attitude change, Guideposts.com is loaded with tips to Beat the Blues in 2009...just one more example of Guideposts spirit-lifting content that helps inspire and build positive feelings. Beating the Blues at guideposts.com/beattheblues is filled with great food ideas to improve energy and outlook, laugh out loud videos, places to renew the spirit, and more.

Do Good, To Feel Good...how helping others improves your outlook on life.

5 online videos to watch for an instant pick-me- up.

Exercise Yourself Happy...expert tips to help boost your mood.

Funny Films...a list of top movie star's all-time favorite comedies.

Super Foods...6 delicious good-for-you foods that taste good, too.

Inspiring Personal Stories...how others have overcome obstacles in their lives.

Inspiring Travels...truly spiritually fulfilling destinations.

Funny Business...jokes, cartoons, humor and other stuff to tickle the funny bone.

Loaded with web-exclusive content and free tools, Guideposts.com has a full spectrum of features, functionality and multiple entry points giving users the ability to enjoy, learn from and interact with inspirational material in many ways. Guideposts.com is part of the nonprofit Guideposts organization co-founded by the husband and wife team of Dr. Norman Vincent Peale and Ruth Stafford Peale.

CHRISTIAN BOOK VIDEOS ONLINE

ChristianBookVideos.com recently launched as the one-stop viewing place for Christian book videos on the Internet. Book videos, also called book previews or Book Trailers™, are video advertisements for books that employ techniques similar to those of movie trailers.

Books create movies in the minds of their readers. A book video gives readers a peek into the story in the book helping the reader decide whether to invest the time to read a title. While book videos started appearing in 2002, they grew in popularity when user-generated online video captured the public’s attention. Today, many publishers create book videos for the books they release.

Prior to ChristianBookVideos.com, readers of Christian books faced a chore in finding Christian book videos online. Individuals either had to look on an author’s website, a book’s website, a publisher’s website, or search YouTube, GodTube, or another video sharing site for book videos. This typically meant they could only find videos for books they already knew about; the others were lost in the vastness of the Internet. Now Christian booklovers can go to one website and view the book videos for their favorite authors as well as discover new authors and books to read.

ChristianBookVideos.com will debut their new site at Christian Book Expo in Dallas March 20-22, 2009. Christian Book Expo is sponsored by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and is expected to be the largest Christian conference this year.

Publishers and authors can submit their book videos to ChristianBookVideos.com for free. Advertising opportunities are also available.

To watch previews of Christian books on ChristianBookVideos.com, visit the website at www.christianbookvideos.com.

ARIZONA WRITING SEMINAR

Are you one of the 86% of Americans who dream of
writing their own book? I have great news for you,
even if you've never written anything close to the
size of a book, regardless of your writing ability.
If you have only a few minutes a day to make it
happen, if you know the right steps to take, you
can write a book...in no time!

Eddie Smith, bestselling author and writer's coach,
is bringing this remarkable Seminar to Desert Hills
Presbyterian Church, 34605 North Tom Darlington
Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona 85266. The seminar is
on Friday, February 6th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
and Saturday, February 7th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Presented by Intermedia Publishing Group and
IMPRBooks.com is only $197 and your satisfaction
is completely guaranteed. Learn more details at:
http://www.intermediapub.com/seminardh.htm

There three ways to register through the mail,
on the website or call: 1-866-991-5252 Ext 2,
Mon-Fri, 9-5.

NEW - PURPOSE DRIVEN CONNECTION MAGAZINE

Dr. Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Connection (PDC), a comprehensive bundled suite of personal growth tools, resources and experiences, launches this week with the release of the premier issue of the "Purpose Driven Connection" quarterly magazine. Included inside each issue is a small group discussion guide with a DVD offering Warren's teaching on spiritual growth, and is the first of a dozen multimedia resources to be introduced in 2009 designed to provide personal spiritual development and support.

"With the collapse of our economy, the tools, resources and experiences we've bundled into the Purpose Driven Connection are arriving at the exact moment when Americans need them most," Warren said. "The hollow hope of materialism has left us disappointed, empty and worried, and the economic collapse has created a hunger for a deeper spiritual connection to God and to each other.

"We certainly didn't anticipate our national crisis when we began designing these tools, but we can now see how the Purpose Driven Connection is going to provide urgent and essential spiritual support and encouragement for millions of people in the difficult days ahead," Warren added. "God's timing is always perfect."

Warren is well-known as the author of "The Purpose Driven Life," the bestselling nonfiction hardback book in American history, and as pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California. Nearly two years ago, he enlisted The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. (RDA), as partner and publisher of his PDC tools. As a global multi-brand media and marketing company that educates, entertains and connects audiences around the world, RDA uses its editorial and content-delivery skills to serve affinity communities.

An annual subscription membership in PDC, which costs $29.99, includes the 146-page, quarterly "Purpose Driven Connection" magazine, quarterly video teaching by Warren on DVD with discussion guides, membership access to the online social network - launching mid-February - and nine other personal growth tools, resources and experiences including Word2U text messages, daily email devotions, life purpose courses, retreats and global service opportunities through a humanitarian strategy called the PEACE plan. A group discount rate is available through participating religious congregations and businesses. The magazine is also on sale Feb. 3 at newsstands, bookstores and national retail outlets, including Wal-Mart, for around $10. Additional information is available at www.PurposeDriven.com.

"Purpose Driven Connection is a spiritual growth network for nurturing healthy relationships, a framework for focusing one's time and energy, a pathway for discovering one's life's purpose, a gateway to opportunities for making a significant impact with one's life and a library of useful tools to accelerate one's spiritual, emotional and relational growth," Warren said.

The genesis of PDC came from a year-long series of conversations Warren held with small groups of pastors in cities across America. "Two years ago, I felt impressed to spend an entire year just listening to my co-workers in ministry; I wanted to hear their concerns, their needs, and what tools they needed most to develop their members to spiritual maturity," Warren explained. "As I traveled from city-to-city, holding listening groups with pastors, certain themes and needs were mentioned over and over."

Warren committed himself to helping these pastors with their people but lacked the resources and expertise to publish what they needed, so he formed a partnership with RDA. "We chose them for their values, their integrity, their understanding of our purposes, their experience in 14 languages and their willingness to take on the task of addressing these important issues," said Warren.

Warren's 24-year alliance, The Purpose Driven Network, has trained more than 500,000 pastors in 162 countries, and maintains a Web site, Pastors.com, exclusively for pastors. Now, following their advice, a separate PDC network for everyone else has been created.

"We will now have two networks - one for pastors and one to serve their members and the wider community," Warren said. "The pastors asked for it, so we decided to figure out a way to provide it. The quarterly magazine is just the tip of the iceberg - it's actually an index for the entire suite of PDC tools and services."

One of the greatest problems pastors asked Warren to resolve was to figure out how to provide a convenient, constant flow of high quality teaching to congregational small groups and Sunday school classes at a lower price than retail outlets offer. Warren drew from his church's experience of coordinating over 4,000 small groups meetings in 96 Southern California cities.

"We've been providing video curriculum to thousands of small groups for seven years, so we've learned the hard way what works and what doesn't; by using the quarterly PDC magazine to deliver small group video teaching and workbooks, we are reinventing and revolutionizing how content is delivered to small groups and Sunday school classes," Warren said. "Pastors love this idea because it saves them time, energy and money. All they need do is to have each small group or class get a subscription to Purpose Driven Connection and that class is provided an entire year's worth of group video content, delivered directly to the mailboxes of the small group leaders."

Over 30,000 American congregations have used the "40 Days of Purpose" small group curriculum. Warren's newest study, "40 Days of Love," based on 1 Corinthians 13, is the DVD study included in the premiere issue of the magazine. Churches across America will join in a nationwide "40 Days of Love" campaign beginning on Valentine's Day weekend in February.

Purpose Driven Communications helps church leaders establish, transform and maintain healthy, growing congregations built around the God-given purposes of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and missions. With offices in 45 countries, The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. markets books, magazines, music, video and educational products reaching more than 100 million households in 79 countries and has global headquarters in Pleasantville, N.Y.

Note to Editors: For more information about Purpose Driven Connection, please visit www.PurposeDrivenNews.com.

IGNITE YOUR FAITH CLOSING

Christianity Today International (CTI) announced today that it is redirecting its teen publishing efforts away from Ignite Your Faith magazine (formerly Campus Life) and fully to its Campus Life College Guides and website ( www.ChristianCollegeGuide.net). According to CTI editor-in-chief and CEO Harold Smith, "This was much more than a strategic publishing move; we want to clearly signal CTI's continuing commitment to Christian higher education and to the development of tomorrow's pastors, church leaders, and culture- makers.

"We are first and foremost a ministry geared to leaders and influencers," Smith said. "Helping committed Christian teens find the right school for their continued academic and spiritual development is a ministry that can serve their churches and their communities for literally decades to come."

Ignite Your Faith will cease publication following the Spring 2009 issue. The magazine was an institution, serving teens for more than 60 years, first as Youth for Christ Magazine, then for many years as Campus Life. The magazine marked three generations of believers and gave the evangelical church some of its best writers and communicators, including former editors Harold Myra, Philip Yancey, Steve Lawhead, Gregg Lewis, and Tim Stafford.

Offering expert advice on each step in the selection process, the Campus Life College Guide is published four times during the school year. The guides give parents and students an indispensable, practical primer on how to choose a Christian college, how to pay for it, and how to adjust to college life.

"Each guide gives readers an insider look at Christian higher education," says Editorial Director Chris Lutes. "Drawing on the wisdom of college presidents, admissions professionals, professors, and students, the guides help high school students navigate this often confusing--yet critical--choice."

Christianity Today International, located in Carol Stream, Illinois, is a not-for-profit communications ministry with 11 magazines and print newsletters, over 40 e-newsletters, and a website-- www.ChristianityToday.com--visited monthly by over 2.5 million men, women, and teens.

THE NEWBERY AND CALDECOTT AWARDS

The Newbery & Caldecott Awards, the "Academy Awards" of children's literature, along with a host of other children's and teen book/media awards, will be announced on Monday, January 26, at 7:45am (MT) from the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting in Denver.

The live webcast may be viewed at: http://ala.unikron.com/

For those of you who "Twitter," follow http://twitter.com/ALAyma for updates and live results.

FLORIDA CHRISTIAN WRITERS' CONFERENCE

If you go to the Website for the Florida Christian Writers' Conference (http://flwriters.org/interviews/) they have posted interviews with authors and agents done at the last conference to give people some writing/marketing help and a taste of a conference. Most are about 15 minutes long and all were done by a Florida radio host. Check it out today.

HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MARKETING?

FR: Terry Whalin and Sally Stuart

RE: Sally E. Stuart, author of The 2009 Christian Writers' Market Guide

Hello on a Saturday,

Where do you find answers to your marketing questions about writing for the Christian market? What if you could ask me any question about marketing then listen for the answer?

I've been writing for the last 40+ years, and for the last 24 years, I've been putting out the annual "Christian Writers' Market Guide." As marketing columnist for Christian Communicator, Advanced Christian Writer and Oregon Christian Writers, I am considered the leading authority on the Christian market. I travel the nation speaking at many writer's conferences.

In the last few weeks, the latest edition of the 2009 Christian Writer's Market Guide is available.

Why am I telling you this?

I'm telling you this because Terry Whalin has convinced me to be grilled on marketing questions on the Christian market during a LIVE 70-minute telewebcast on Wednesday, January 28th!

* * * Here's My Small Request * * *

Rather than have the "content" come out of my head (or Terry's head) for the January 28, 2009 telewebcast at 4 p.m. PDT / 7:00 p.m. EDT, I decided to let you ask me a question.

Sound fair?

So, if you could ask me ANY question you wanted about marketing for the Christian writer, what would your question be?

Here's your chance to ask me directly and get registered for our call on Wednesday, January 28,2009 (starts promptly according to www.Time.gov).

Click or copy the link below:

http://www.asksallystuart.com

* * * Get FREE On Writing for Periodicals chapter from my book "Getting Published" * * *
You will receive a full chapter from "Getting Published." It's FREE if you ask a question and register for this telewebcast.

Click or copy the link below:

http://www.asksallystuart.com

After your question gets submitted, you'll find out how to get phone access and webcast access to Terry Whalin and me for our LIVE telewebcast, Janaury 28, 2009.

Speak To You Soon,
Sally Stuart

ps. If you can't make the time of the call, please go ahead and sign up anyway. The entire teleseminar will be recorded and EVERYONE who signs up will receive an email with the replay link. Also if you sign up, you will be able to download the FREE chapter on writing for periodicals right away.

GUNN'S TEEN SERIES TURNS 20

When taken individually-- having a series last twenty years with all the titles still in print; seeing 2.5 million copies of those titles sold; and having 4 million copies of your children's, teen and adult books in print--could be considered quite an accomplishment. Yet bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn has achieved all three milestones. Just last week she turned in her 70th book.

Gunn, the wife of a former youth pastor, never intended to become a writer. "We were on a camping trip with the kids in our church youth group, and a bunch of girls were hiding out in their tent reading evocative novels." she states. "When I said I didn't want them reading those books, they challenged me and said, 'Why don't you write a book for us, then? How hard could it be?' I soon found out that it was very hard but those girls helped me every sentence of the way."

It took two years to finish Summer Promise, the first title in The Christy Miller Series, and 10 rejections from publishers that claimed they just didn't see a market for them before the title was contracted. "I wanted to say, 'You can't see them because they're hiding in the tent with a stack of books from the library.'"

But the book division of Focus on the Family was aware of the need for clean teen books and had been looking for a writer to create a series. When then- editor Janet Kobobel Grant read the manuscript for Summer Promise, she realized Gunn understood how to connect with teens.

Every one of the thirty novels in the Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, College Years, and Katie Weldon series is still in print. "Robin's books have connected with teen girls for twenty years, with the first Christy Miller novel releasing in 1988," says Janet Grant, now Gunn's agent and founder of Books & Such Literary Agency. "How fitting that during this anniversary year, her teen books should reach this level of sales."

Given Robin Jones Gunn's track record, many productive years lie ahead of her, and she still has stories to tell that teens long for. Her next teen book release, in May 2009, will be an addition to the Katie Weldon series, Coming Attractions.

Robin Jones Gunn is available for interview. Email Kathleen Y'Barbo at kathleen@booksandsuch.biz to schedule.

NEW MARKET - THE QUILLDRIVER

THE QUILLDRIVER, PO Box 573, Clarksville, AR 72830 E-mail: info@thequilldriver.com. Website: www.thequilldriver.com; Donna Lee Schillinger, publisher. Publishes inspirational nonfiction directed to young adults (17 to 25). Publishes 2 - 3 titles annually. First-time authors welcome, no agents please. Responds in 8 weeks. Publication in approx. 18 months. Considers simultaneous submissions. Guidelines on Website. Royalties, no advance.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AFRICAN JOURNALISTS

The World Journalism Institute has announced
that it is offering ten scholarships to African Christian journalists who
are employed in African newsrooms to attend the annual convention of the
National Association of Black Journalists in Tampa, Fla., this August. The
stipend covers travel, housing and convention registration and will be
awarded on a competitive basis.

The World Journalism Institute is partnering this year with the National
Association of Black Journalists for the annual NABJ convention and will be
holding its annual Conference for Minority Christian Journalists in
conjunction with the NABJ event.
The NABJ convention will be held Wednesday, August 5 through Sunday, August
9. The WJI conference is Thursday, August 9, with a reception on Friday,
August 10.

African journalists wishing to apply must go the WJI web site and make
application on the conference page.

The World Journalism Institute exists to recruit, equip, place and encourage
Christians in the mainstream newsrooms of America first and then the world.
WJI has held a series of minority conferences for several years in major
cities in America. Such nationally known journalists as Manny Garcia, John
Fountain, Dion Haynes, Herbert and Mira Lowe, Michael Luo, Rafael Olmeda,
and Adrienne Gaines have taught or spoken at WJI events.

For more information:
Kim Collins
Deputy Director
World Journalism Institute
800-769-7870
office@worldji.com
www.worldji.com

TWEENER TIME CREATIVE COMPETITIONS

Tweener Time sponsors 3 different creativity competitions for young people. There is a Chapter Book Competition, for young writers; a Cover Art Competition, for young artists; and the new Tweener Time Songwriting Competition, for young musicians. For details on all these competitions, go to their Website at: www.tweenerministries.org, and click on "Creativity Competitions."

NEW MARKETING BLOG

Sarah Bolme, author of Your Guide to Marketing Books in the Christian Marketplace and Director of Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA) has started a blog. You are invited to visit Sarah's blog on Marketing Christian Books at www.marketingchristianbooks.wordpress.com.

2009 TOP 50 PERIODICAL PACKET NOW AVAILABLE

Just excited to let you know that the annual Top 50 Periodical Packet is now available. If you are not familiar with the packet, it came about a number of years ago when I realized writers are often overwhelmed by the sheer number of Christian magazines listed in the market guide (almost 70). As a result I decided to come up with a scoring system to determine which of those publications are the most "writer-friendly"--in other words are the most likely to buy, buy a lot, pay well, buy reprints, etc. The result is this packet.

What it includes is a list of the top 69 publishers, but features only the top 50 of those. For those 50 you will find a copy of their Writer's guidelines, and a one-page analysis sheet giving more indepth information on that particular publication. They include publications from most of the different sections in the guide--adult, children, Christian education, music, pastors, women, and writers.

The cost of the packet--including postage--is $25. You can order it off my Website with a credit card through PayPal, or just send a check to the address below. If you order from the Website, ignore the fact that it says 2008 (you will automatically get the 2009 edition)--I just haven't gotten that changed yet.

Send mail orders to this address made out to:
Sally Stuart
1647 SW Pheasant Dr.
Aloha OR 97006

AUTHORIZE ME SEMINARS

Hello Friends and Authors,

What better time than the presentto get yourself in gearand take some serious strides toward writing the book that's in your heart and head?

The new AuthorizeMe website is up and running. Please take a look at
www.AuthorizeMe.net

The current schedule for the 2009 AuthorizeMe seminar season is posted. Attend an AuthorizeMe seminar and seize your opportunity to put wings to your book writing dream. Get that book idea out of your head, down onto paper, completely outlined and organized, and into a professional proposal - all in 12 fun-filled, action-packed hours. Receive individual coaching, participate in group brainstorming, learn about marketing, obtain publishing leads, and more.

Think of AuthorizeMe as a writers' conference focused on you and your project.
Invest in your vision.

There is still space available in the Inglewood, CA seminar January 30-31, 2009.
Register online today!

(For more information, contact me - Sharon Elliott, AuthorizeMe CEO. If you've attended an AuthorizeMe before, please pass this along to your friends so they can start writing their books too. Thanks!)

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER BOOK AWARDS

2009 INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER BOOK AWARDS - Call for Entries
- 13th Annual Awards accepting entries for 2008 releases
- Early-Bird Entry Fee expires on January 17, 2009 - Save $5 per entry
- 65 Categories, 20 Regions, for Indies Only, Great Awards party at BEA

Enter now at: http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/IPAwards.php

Launched in 1996, the Independent Publisher Book Awards are designed to bring increased recognition to the deserving but often unsung titles published by independent authors and publishers.

Established in 1996 as the first unaffiliated awards program open exclusively to independents, the "IPPYs" recognize the year's best books and bring them to the attention of booksellers, buyers, librarians, and book lovers. The IPPY Awards contest is among the largest and most recognized book awards events in the world, and all independent, university, small press, and self-publishers who produce books written in English and intended for the North American market are eligible to enter titles copyrighted or released in 2008. National category entry fee is $80, now and $85 after Jan. 17. Regional category can be added for $45; Outstanding Books of the Year consideration is free of charge. Final deadline is March 21, 2009.

Early-bird entry fee deadline is January 17th! Enter now and save $5 per category.

Guidelines and entry info: http://www.independentpublisher.com/ipland/IPPY2009MidApplication1.pdf

Here is the link to the 2008 Awards results article online, with links to event photos, press release, etc: http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1231

The IPPY Awards reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing. Independent spirit and expertise comes from publishers of all sizes and budgets, and books are judged with that in mind. National entries will be accepted in 65 categories, including one new one this year, Transportation (Automotive/Aviation/Railroad, etc.).

The 4th Annual Regional IPPY Awards go to the Best Fiction and Best Non-Fiction Books in eight U.S. and two Canadian regions. If your book is written or published with a regional focus, don’t miss the opportunity to extend your exposure and increase your chances of winning a regional Independent Publisher Book Award.

Ten Outstanding Books of the Year: For 25 years our mission at Independent Publisher has been to recognize and encourage the work of publishers who exhibit the courage and creativity necessary to take chances, break new ground and bring about change, not only to the world of publishing, but to our society, our environment, and our collective spirit. One book in each of the following categories will receive a special award for Outstanding Book of the Year:

Most Original Concept - Most Likely to Save the Planet – Freedom Fighter of the Year - Most Outstanding Design
Peacemaker of the Year - Story Teller of the Year - Best Book Arts Craftsmanship - Most Inspirational to Youth
Most Life-Changing – Most Progressive Health Book

Enter your award-worthy books today, and get the recognition and exposure they deserve. Cool medals! Shiny stickers! Awesome party!

Questions? Contact Jim Barnes, Awards Director, jimb@bookpublishing.com

NATURE/HISTORICAL STORIES FOR GUIDE

Dear authors,

We have recently changed our policies regarding documentation for nature and historical stories. Because factual accuracy is so important in these topics, our copy editors verify the facts for each story. (For instance, they double-check the date a person was born, the weight of a particular animal, or the spelling of place names.) However, they will do this for us only if they have the sources to refer to. This means copies of the book or magazine pages where the information is found, or web links to pages where it appears--not just a list of sources used. If documentation is not provided by the author, we editors have to do the fact-checking ourselves, which requires a great deal of time and frustration searching reference books and the web.

As a result, we have decided that we can no longer accept nature and historical stories without documentation. We hope you will help us in our quest for accuracy.

For future stories on nature or historical topics, we recommend that you make photocopies of book/magazine source pages when you do your research, and mail them to us if the story is accepted. (Or you could scan them and send them electronically.) Web links are OK for online sources, although we would prefer for you to print the relevant pages where the info is found, since web sites do change over time.

As always, it is wise to query us on these topics to make sure we have not covered them recently.

Thanks for your understanding. As always, we appreciate your contributions to Guide.

Rachel Whitaker
Associate Editor, Guide Magazine

Visit the Guide Web site at http://www.guidemagazine.org/

GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS

The Gospel Music Channel (GMC) television network will premiere this year's The Stellar Awards, the premier Gospel event that recognizes and honors Gospel artists, on Sunday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET.

GMC, the fastest-growing network in television today, will present an instant encore of The Stellar Awards March 1 at 9:00 p.m. and will re-air the show throughout March. Visit www.gospelmusicchannel.com for a complete schedule.

Gospel Music Channel will also premiere a new series "The Best of the Stellars" in April. The exclusive new series will spotlight the most memorable moments, performances and interviews from the first 23 years of The Stellar Awards. The Stellar Awards and The Best of The Stellars on GMC are part of a new multi-year licensing agreement between GMC, Central City Productions (CCP) and Don Jackson, CCP CEO and Stellar Awards executive producer.

Gospel Music Channel (http://www.gospelmusicchannel.com) is the nation's first and only all music television network devoted to the uplifting, inspiring and diverse music that is Gospel/Christian music. Gospel Music Channel, the fastest-growing network in television today, can be seen in more than 40 million homes on various cable systems and nationwide on DIRECTV.

The Chicago-based Central City Productions, Inc. (CCP) produces the Stellar Gospel Music Awards. It has been 23 years since the first awards show was taped at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago. The Stellar Awards has now become the premier Gospel event that recognizes and honors African American artists. This one of a kind show has showcased top Gospel artists as well as many television and film stars. The Stellar Gospel Music Awards show is produced by Barbara Wilson for Central City Productions. Founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, Chicago-based Central City Productions is a Producer, Syndicator and Distributor of original programming on television and cable networks

Contact: Phyllis Caddell 626-737-7477 pcpub@earthlink.net Jim Weiss 770-692-4579 jim@gospelmusicchannel.com

AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITERS/ILLUSTRATORS

National Press Release--Vision Public Relations Group
E-Mail: coo@visionpublicityservices.com

African-American Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference provides new and seasoned writers and artists with opportunities to network and learn from expert editors and published authors and illustrators in Charlotte, NC, April 25, 2009.

"I bet I could write or illustrate a kids' book." Has this thought ever crossed your mind? Or are you a published author or illustrator that needs a boost? If so, register now for the history-making African-American Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (AACBWI) conference online at AACBWI.com to be held at the Hilton Charlotte University Place hotel in Charlotte, NC.

AACBWI provides writers and illustrators with tools for success. According to the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) report, published in 2007, of the roughly 3,000 titles received by the CCBC in 2007, just 150 had "significant African or African-American content." In 2003, the ratio was similar when Charlotte writer, Sabra Robinson, founded AACBWI as an online forum to provide writers and illustrators with tools for career success. Next year, AACBWI will celebrate its sixth year of literary service!

AACBWI Historic Conference is Open to All:
Both AACBWI and its first conference are open to anyone interested in children's book writing and illustrating—not just people of color. To attend the conference, which includes a lunch buffet, all you need are the desires to network, increase your knowledge about the publishing business, and most importantly, strengthen your ability to write and illustrate books for children. You must also pay to register.

Network with Panelists and Workshop Presenters:
Conference attendees can learn from and network with the professionals listed below during panel discussions, workshops, critique sessions, and informally. For session titles visit AACBWI.com.

Sarah Ketchersid—Senior Editor, Candlewick Press
Eileen Robinson—Former Scholastic Executive Editor and Harcourt Editorial Manager, now of F1rstPages.com editing service
Eleanora E. Tate—North Carolina resident and award-winning author of over 15 fiction and non-fiction books for children, preteens, and teens (Celeste's Harlem Renaissance!)
Don Tate—Award-winning illustrator of over 25 children's books (Sure As Sunrise: Stories of Bruh Rabbit and his Walkin' Talkin' Friends)
Christine Taylor Butler—Author of more than 40 books (A Mom Like No Other)
Jacquelin Thomas—Divine young adult novel series author (Simply Divine)
Kelly Starling Lyons—Picture book author (One Million Men and Me)
Christine Young-Robinson—Picture book author (Chicken Wing)
Manuscript & Portfolio Critiques:
Conference presenters will critique participants' manuscripts or portfolios for an additional fee. Critiques are limited and are given on a first-come-first-serve basis. Register soon, while slots last.

Costs and Sponsorship:
The conference ranges from $55 for AACBWI members to $125 for non-members who register early, plus critique fees. Fees for non-members increase after February 1, 2009.

Conference sponsors include the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI.org). Complete details about conference costs, student and senior discounts, and sponsorship packages are available at AACBWI.com.

Sabra Robinson,
Host of AACBWI

About African-American Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (AACBWI): AACBWI is a volunteer community that provides encouragement, inspiration, professional development and networking opportunities for children's authors and illustrators. AACBWI is not an official affiliate of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (www.SCBWI.org).

For more information about AACBWI and the conference, visit www.AACBWI.com. Sign up to join the AACBWI online forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AACBWI.

WORLD JOURNALISM INSTITUTE

Dr. Michael Longinow, Professor of Journalism at Biola University and nationally recognized journalism scholar, has been named to the position of the John McCandlish Phillips chair of journalism at the World Journalism Institute for the academic year of 2008-2009. Longinow is the chair of Biola's Department of Journalism and the advisor of The Chimes newspaper. Dr. Longinow will continue his full time administrative and teaching responsibilities for Biola University during the WJI appointment.

Longinow attended Wheaton College, earning a B.A., and completed the University of Illinois' graduate program in news-editorial journalism. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky.

Longinow is a regular workshop presenter and panelist at national conventions of the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Advisers, the American Press Institute, Baptist Press Student Journalism Conference, and the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. He has written chapters for five books and numerous magazine articles.

The World Journalism Institute is located in New York City and exists to recruit, equip, place and encourage Christians in the mainstream newsrooms of America. To that end, WJI holds conferences, workshops, college-level, and multi-week courses. Additionally, WJI prints and distributes a series of essays dealing with the intersection of Christianity and journalism. For more information, www.worldji.com .

For more information:

Kim Collins

Deputy Director

World Journalism Institute

800-769-7870

office@worldji.com

www.worldji.com

FREE MARKETING EBOOK

This author has compiled a free ebook, Top Book Marketing Tips of 2008, featuring a collection of 14 popular articles from the Book Marketing Maven blog and The Savvy Book Marketer newsletter. This complimentary ebook can be downloaded at http://snipr.com/bookmarketingtips.

Dana Lynn Smith, the Book Marketing Maven
As a book marketing coach, I develop targeted marketing plans
to help nonfiction authors sell more books.

NEW BLOG FOR FICTION WRITERS

A new blog launched on Monday, January 5, 2009. It's called Novel Matters and will be the combined effort of Sharon K. Souza and six talented colleague authors, Bonnie Grove, Patti Hill, Kathleen Popa, Latayne Scott, Debbie Fuller Thomas and Jennifer Valent. Go to: novelmatters.blogspot.com

At Novel Matters they will discuss the art of fine fiction from the viewpoint of author and reader. They will talk about what makes good fiction good, and what we as writers can do to improve our work.

That's where you come in. We'd love for you to drop in to novelmatters.blogspot.com and get involved in the dialogue. Tell us what you like (or don't like) about the books you're reading and why. Hear what other readers are saying, and learn a bit about the writing process from the other side of the page.I hope you'll add Novel Matters to your Favorites folder and drop in from time to time. And tell others who would enjoy participating in the dialogue about our site: novelmatters.blogspot.com I look forward to seeing you there!

Sharon K. Souza
Author or Lying on Sunday
Every Good & Perfect Gift
A Heavenly Christmas in Hometown

COUNTRY HOME CLOSING

Bowing to housing market pressures that have already claimed a handful of shelter titles in the past year, Meredith Corp. said it would close Country Home with the March 2009 issue, citing a continuing soft economy heading into 2009.

Meredith announced Jan. 8 that it would take a special charge of about $16 million in its fiscal 2009 second quarter. The charge is related to a workforce reduction of about 250 people, the closing of the shelter mag and relocation of the creative functions of sister pub ReadyMade and Parents.com to the company’s home base of Des Moines, Iowa.

The workforce reduction affects the whole staff of Country Home and represents about 7 percent of Meredith’s 3,500 employees.

Country Home employed about 40 people. Its editor, LuAnn Brandsen, had been on the job just three months, having taken over from retiring editor Carol Sheehan.

News of the title’s folding wasn’t unexpected, considering Country Home’s ad pages fell 25 percent to 631 in 2008, per the Mediaweek Monitor, and that the title last year moved to cut its frequency to eight issues from 10 in 2009.

Country Home’s circ also revealed weakness; total paid and verified circ was essentially flat at 1.3 million in the first half of 2008, per the Audit Bureau of Circulations, but single-copy sales plummeted 17.8 percent.

In the past year, the squeezed housing market also has led to the demise of Time Inc.’s Cottage Living, Hearst Magazines’ O at Home and Hachette Filipacchi Media’s Home.

AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS

Just so you know why I'm quiet, I'll be away from computer access for a few days. When I get back I'll be getting back to business after the holiday break.

NEW MARKETS

G4T Ink, 419 Mason St., Ste. 108, Vacaville CA 95688. Phone/fax
707-446-4463; info@generations4truth.org; www.generations4truth.org.
Jennifer Maul, publications manager/editor. Ministry written for and by girls; also by adults who address teen issues. Quarterly magazine. 70%
unsolicited freelance; 30% assigned. Query/clips; e-query OK. No payment for
nonexclusive rights. Articles 200-400 words. Accepts reprints (tell when/where
appeared). Accepts e-mail submissions (attached file in word.doc). Uses some
sidebars. Guidelines on Website; copy for 9x12 SAE.

Pauses…(N1261 Briarwood LN., Merrill WI 54452; 715-536-2450; sallie.2@netzero.com) is a new magazine for Catholic women. Pays $10 on publication for one-time rights. Articles 300-500 words. No reprints. Sallie Bachar, editor. Send complete manuscripts; e-query OK.

EDITORS ON THE MOVE

* B & H Publishing: David Webb who has been overseeing the fiction line has left, and Karen Ball is now executive editor for fiction.

* Chalice Press: Trent Butler, editor; submissions@cbp21.com. Page 153.

* Concilliar Press: Submissions now go to Katherine Hyde (katherineh@cruzio.com). Page 158.

* Fifth Estate Publishers: Joseph Lumpkin, editor. Drop phone number; no fiction or poetry accepted at this time. Page 168.

* Focus on the Family Book Publishing: www.focusonthefamily.com. Page 168.

* The Wild Rose Press: Rhonda Penders, editor. Page 220.

* African Voices: Layding Kaliba, managing editor. Page 336.

* Canada Lutheran: Trina Gallop is editorial director (tgallop@elcic.ca); Lucia Carruthers is editor. Page 344.

* Christian Courier (WI): Dr. Dennis Hill, editor; fax 414-918-4503; www.christiancouriernewspaper.com. Page 352.

* Desert Call: Suzie Ryan, editor. Page 363.

* The Lutheran Journal: Vance Lichti is publisher; submit to Editorial Assistant. Page 389.

* Reverent Submissions Journal: Drop J.D. O’Conor; Bev Fowler is now publisher. Page 407.

* Tiferet: Donna Baier Stein, publisher/editor-in-chief. Page 418.

* Clear Horizons: Jonathan Yandell, editor. Page 473.

* More to Life: Andrea Stock, editor; www.MTLmagazine.com. Page 491.

* Northwest Christian Author: Mike Owens, acquisitions editor. Page 501.

FILMMAKERS EXPLORE SCI FI INTEREST

Christian filmographers will take a detailed look at the widespread cultural impact that Science Fiction has had through film during the Fourth Annual Christian Filmmakers Academy (CFA) to be held January 5-7 in San Antonio, Texas. Following a year that saw Science Fiction movies account for 2.5 billion dollars of the 3.7 billion grossed by the top twenty films in the US, the CFA faculty will break down the great science fiction films of the past, even as they cast a vision for how Christians can rightfully employ this genre in the future.

"In 2008, Sci-Fi rocketed out of the basement to become a sci-cult phenomenon that is significant to the cultural history of the United States," noted Doug Phillips, founder of the Christian Filmmakers Academy. "And movies are just the tip of the rocket. Fictional science in the billion-dollar video gaming, computer gaming, comic book and cable TV world is changing the thinking of an entire generation."

The "Symposium on Science Fiction and Christian Filmmaking" will focus on the theology of Science Fiction, analyzing how the worldview conveyed through Sci-Fi films has shaped cultural priorities.

"Sci-Fi movies of the last fifty years have provided America with more than Hollywood entertainment," Phillips remarked. "The popular genre has been responsible for persuading American thrill-and-chill- seekers that fictional speculation is reality -- especially in regard to the creation of the universe, life on earth, and the 'certainty' of extraterrestrial life."

The Symposium will examine this remarkable transformation of fiction into perceived "fact" and explore ways Christian filmmakers can reestablish responsibility in the genre and more carefully and truthfully examine the topics of Creation, time and eternity, the human soul, and the grand potential of science and technology.

"A filmmaker's worldview may be more clearly seen in this genre than any other," observed Geoff Botkin, senior faculty member at the Academy. "When he addresses the future, we know exactly what he thinks about man, God, philosophy, and time. When he addresses the moral challenges of technology, we know what he thinks about right and wrong. Some creators of Science Fiction find it a great vehicle to articulate their most serious ideas about politics, God, and social theory."

The Symposium will trace the history of the genre and the literary sources of its influence and then analyze its impact on American life, thought and culture. Filmmakers will learn ways to approach and use the genre sensibly and maturely.

The Christian Filmmakers Academy, a project of Vision Forum Ministries, is a technical bootcamp for aspiring culture-changers to be held January 5-7 in San Antonio, Texas. Students will learn principles of scripting, casting, writing, directing, and marketing a Christian film -- along with intense Christian worldview instruction. Each year, Vision Forum also hosts the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival and Jubilee Awards which showcases the best in Christian films. This year's festival, to be held January 8-10, will award a $101,000 grand prize -- the single largest cash award given by any film festival in the US.

To interview Doug Phillips about Science Fiction and Film, contact Wesley Strackbein by e-mail at wesley@visionforum.org or by phone at (210) 340- 5250, ext. 222. For more information on the Christian Filmmaker's Academy, visit www.independentchristianfilms.com.

FICTION COMPETITION OPENS

The Faith, Hope and Love (RWA) fiction competition just opened.

http://www.faithhopelove-rwa.org/contests.htm

The categories are Short Contemporary, Long Contemporary, Short Historical,
Long Historical, Women's Fiction, Romantic Suspense, and Novella.