Many times when a manuscript is rejected, it isn’t because the writing is weak. It’s because the manuscript isn’t ready. We all want to push our work to the next phase, but sometimes we submit work to agents or publishers before its ready. Maybe we’ve shown the manuscript to our writing group. Maybe we’ve revised a few times. Maybe we think we’ve done all we can do. But what we really need is a writing coach, a revision plan, and a clear strategy to make the best book we can. In today’s demanding world of publishing, you get only one chance grab the attention of an agent or editor, so make that chance count. Make sure you are ready.
The Highlights Foundation’s Whole Novel Workshop has been helping writers polish their manuscripts since 2006. Participants receive a reading of and editorial response to their complete manuscript prior to a week dedicated to revision and readying your manuscript for submission. We offer an award-winning faculty of writers, editors, and agents to help make your book the best it can be. Through one-on-one critiques and small-group discussions, we focus on revision plans, query letters, and pitch strategies to get you ready to submit. We also nourish your creativity with a private cabin in which to think and write, farm-style meals, and an environment that will refresh your publishing dreams.
Whole Novel Workshops offer targeted programs for nonfiction narrative (in May), fiction for middle-school readers (in July), and young-adult readers (in October). Our first whole novel workshop in 2012 takes place March 11–17. Submission deadline is December 30. The faculty includes award-winning authors and talented teachers Kathi Appelt, Alan Gratz, and Jeannette Ingold, as well smart and sassy editor Martha Mahalick from Greenwillow Books. Authors Janet Fox and Karen Henley round out the support team as teaching assistants.
Come spend a week in the woods and finally get your manuscript ready for publication.
To secure your spot, or for more information, contact Jo Lloyd at 570-253-1192, e-mail jo.lloyd@highlightsfoundation.org, or request an application online.
To find out more and to apply to the Whole Novel Workshop, visit www.highlightsfoundation.org.
Highlights Foundation, 814 Court Street, Honesdale, PA 18431
Phone: (877) 512-8365 (toll-free) or (570) 251-4557
Fax: (570) 253-0179
jalloyd@highlightsfoundation.org
http://www.highlightsfoundation.org/
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
NEW AGENT JOINING BOOKS & SUCH
As of the first week in January, Agent Rachelle Gardner will be joining the Books & Such Literary Agency. Rachelle was formerly an agent with the WordServe Agency, and is well known in the industry. Http://booksandsuch.biz/blog.
NEW CBA EVENT
CBA (Christian Booksellers Association) is planning an event prior to the Atlanta gift mart (an annual industry event) Jan. 12-13. It's called NEXT. CBA would like to include an opportunity for authors to do book signings and engage with retailers through what they call a personality party. It's basically a book-signing and meet-and-greet with hors d'oeuvres. If authors would like to attend the conference, there would be an added fee for the author for food.
ACFW won't be officially represented there, but if you're an Atlanta area published author or have connections in Atlanta, want to make the trip at your own expense, and can arrange with your publisher for copies of your book for the signing, you're welcome to check out the link and deal directly with CBA for all arrangements.
You can see more at:
http://www.cbaonline.org/meet-the-challenge-registration.htm
CBA suggests that some of the NEXT workshops might be of interest to authors as the sessions cover retailers' experience with e-books, events, building community around the store, and more. The sessions will feature a brief presentation by two retailers about something they've done around the session topic and then it will be open to dialog and brainstorming with retailers in the audience. It's more a peer-to-peer discussion rather than a lecture/presentation.
ACFW won't be officially represented there, but if you're an Atlanta area published author or have connections in Atlanta, want to make the trip at your own expense, and can arrange with your publisher for copies of your book for the signing, you're welcome to check out the link and deal directly with CBA for all arrangements.
You can see more at:
http://www.cbaonline.org/meet-the-challenge-registration.htm
CBA suggests that some of the NEXT workshops might be of interest to authors as the sessions cover retailers' experience with e-books, events, building community around the store, and more. The sessions will feature a brief presentation by two retailers about something they've done around the session topic and then it will be open to dialog and brainstorming with retailers in the audience. It's more a peer-to-peer discussion rather than a lecture/presentation.
Monday, December 19, 2011
2012 CHRISTIAN WRITERS' MARKET GUIDE
Just a reminder that the 2012 Christian Writers' Market Guide will be out the first of the year. You can now order your copy off my Website at http://www.stuartmarket.com/. If you signed up to get the guide automatically every year as some time in the past, Jerry Jenkins will still be honoring those orders at your frozen price. I don't believe that there will be a CD available this year, but you can still get a copy of the 2011 guide on CD on the Website for only $6. The 2011 guide is now $18, including postage. If you have an address change since last year, send it right away to: kerma@christianwritersguild.com.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS - WEEK OF DECEMBER 25
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #1 on the paperback nonfiction list; #2 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #3 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list and the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list; and #9 on the hardcover nonfiction list.
THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #1 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL FOR KIDS by Todd and Sonja Burpo. Illustrated by Wilson Ong. (Tommy Nelson) is #4 on the children's picture book list.
NEARING HOME by Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson) is #5 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski (David C Cook) is #5 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
THE DEVIL IN PEW NUMBER SEVEN by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo with Bob DeMoss (Tyndale) is #6 on the e-Book nonfiction list;
EVERY DAY A FRIDAY by Joel Osteen (FaithWords) is #7 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
THROUGH MY EYES by Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker (HarperCollins) is #8 on the hardcover nonfiction list; #9 on the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list; and #13 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list.
DECEMBER 1941 by Craig Shirley (Thomas Nelson) is #8 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #20 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list; #29 on the hardcover nonfiction list; and #34 on the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list.
AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (Howard) is #12 on the e-Book nonfiction list.
THE ONE YEAR UNCOMMON LIFE DAILY CHALLENGE by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker (Tyndale) is #14 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
RADICAL by David Platt (Multnomah) is #15 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
LONGING by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan) is #16 on the paperback trade fiction list.
THE SHACK by William P. Young (Windblown Media) is #17 on the mass-market fiction list; and #35 on the paperback trade fiction list.
BONHOEFFER by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson) is #22 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE BOY WHO CAME BACK FROM HEAVEN by Kevin and Alex Malarkey (Tyndale) is #25 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE REASON FOR GOD by Timothy Keller (Riverhead) is #27 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #1 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL FOR KIDS by Todd and Sonja Burpo. Illustrated by Wilson Ong. (Tommy Nelson) is #4 on the children's picture book list.
NEARING HOME by Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson) is #5 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski (David C Cook) is #5 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
THE DEVIL IN PEW NUMBER SEVEN by Rebecca Nichols Alonzo with Bob DeMoss (Tyndale) is #6 on the e-Book nonfiction list;
EVERY DAY A FRIDAY by Joel Osteen (FaithWords) is #7 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
THROUGH MY EYES by Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker (HarperCollins) is #8 on the hardcover nonfiction list; #9 on the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list; and #13 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list.
DECEMBER 1941 by Craig Shirley (Thomas Nelson) is #8 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #20 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list; #29 on the hardcover nonfiction list; and #34 on the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list.
AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (Howard) is #12 on the e-Book nonfiction list.
THE ONE YEAR UNCOMMON LIFE DAILY CHALLENGE by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker (Tyndale) is #14 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
RADICAL by David Platt (Multnomah) is #15 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
LONGING by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan) is #16 on the paperback trade fiction list.
THE SHACK by William P. Young (Windblown Media) is #17 on the mass-market fiction list; and #35 on the paperback trade fiction list.
BONHOEFFER by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson) is #22 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE BOY WHO CAME BACK FROM HEAVEN by Kevin and Alex Malarkey (Tyndale) is #25 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE REASON FOR GOD by Timothy Keller (Riverhead) is #27 on the paperback nonfiction list.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS - WEEK OF DECEMBER 18
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #1 on the paperback nonfiction list; #2 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #3 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list and the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list; and #12 on the hardcover nonfiction list.
THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #1 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL FOR KIDS by Todd and Sonja Burpo. Illustrated by Wilson Ong. (Tommy Nelson) is #2 on the children's picture book list.
NEARING HOME by Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson) is #4 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski (David C Cook) is #6 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
EVERY DAY A FRIDAY by Joel Osteen (FaithWords) is #6 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
LONGING by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan) is #12 on the paperback trade fiction list.
RADICAL by David Platt (Multnomah) is #13 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
THE ONE YEAR UNCOMMON LIFE DAILY CHALLENGE by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker (Tyndale) is #14 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (Howard) is #15 on the e-Book nonfiction list; and #33 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list and the hardcover nonfiction list.
THROUGH MY EYES by Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker (HarperCollins) is #19 on the hardcover nonfiction list; #21 on the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list; and #24 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list.
THE BOY WHO CAME BACK FROM HEAVEN by Kevin and Alex Malarkey (Tyndale) is #20 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE SHACK by William P. Young (Windblown Media) is #28 on the paperback mass-market fiction list.
BONHOEFFER by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson) is #32 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #1 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL FOR KIDS by Todd and Sonja Burpo. Illustrated by Wilson Ong. (Tommy Nelson) is #2 on the children's picture book list.
NEARING HOME by Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson) is #4 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski (David C Cook) is #6 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
EVERY DAY A FRIDAY by Joel Osteen (FaithWords) is #6 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
LONGING by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan) is #12 on the paperback trade fiction list.
RADICAL by David Platt (Multnomah) is #13 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
THE ONE YEAR UNCOMMON LIFE DAILY CHALLENGE by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker (Tyndale) is #14 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (Howard) is #15 on the e-Book nonfiction list; and #33 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list and the hardcover nonfiction list.
THROUGH MY EYES by Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker (HarperCollins) is #19 on the hardcover nonfiction list; #21 on the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list; and #24 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list.
THE BOY WHO CAME BACK FROM HEAVEN by Kevin and Alex Malarkey (Tyndale) is #20 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE SHACK by William P. Young (Windblown Media) is #28 on the paperback mass-market fiction list.
BONHOEFFER by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson) is #32 on the paperback nonfiction list.
Monday, December 12, 2011
RETAILERS CHOICE AWARDS
For Immediate Release Contact: Christine D. Johnson, Managing Editor
Christian Retailing
retailerschoiceawards@charismamedia.com
(407) 333-0600, ext. 2682
Lake Mary, Fla. (Dec. 12, 2011)—Nominations open today for the 2012 Christian Retailing Retailers Choice Awards, the popular annual honors for the Christian products industry.
Eight new categories have been added to the program, which sees Christian retailers across the country vote for the new products they have most appreciated being able to make available to consumers in the previous year.
Teen Bibles, Men’s Nonfiction, Self-published books and DVD: Documentary are among the new categories in the full 53-strong field that covers Bibles, books, gifts and other resources.
“The industry continues to develop and expand, and we believe it is important to adjust the Retailers Choice Award categories to reflect these changes,” said Christian Retailing Editor Andy Butcher.
Suppliers have through Jan. 31, 2012, to nominate products released during 2012. The entry fee remains unchanged at $50 per item, with an Early Bird offer through
Jan. 16, giving an additional free entry for every five paid.
Entries in the 12th annual Retailers Choice Awards will be judged on their ability to speak to people’s hearts and evoke emotion, open people’s minds to new ways of thinking, and encourage and affirm Christ-like living.
Among the winners in the 2011 Retailers Choice Awards were Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo (Thomas Nelson) and Radical by David Platt (WaterBrook Multnomah), co-recipients for Christian Living: Spiritual Growth; Eric Metaxas’ Bonhoeffer (Thomas Nelson) for Auto/Biography; and The Action Bible (David C Cook) for Children’s Bible.
Voting for the 2012 awards will run March 1-31, with the winners to be announced later in the spring.
See the categories, official rules and a list of last year’s winners online at www.RetailersChoiceAwards.com. For more information, email Managing Editor Christine Johnson at retailerschoiceawards@charismamedia.com.
Christian Retailing
retailerschoiceawards@charismamedia.com
(407) 333-0600, ext. 2682
Lake Mary, Fla. (Dec. 12, 2011)—Nominations open today for the 2012 Christian Retailing Retailers Choice Awards, the popular annual honors for the Christian products industry.
Eight new categories have been added to the program, which sees Christian retailers across the country vote for the new products they have most appreciated being able to make available to consumers in the previous year.
Teen Bibles, Men’s Nonfiction, Self-published books and DVD: Documentary are among the new categories in the full 53-strong field that covers Bibles, books, gifts and other resources.
“The industry continues to develop and expand, and we believe it is important to adjust the Retailers Choice Award categories to reflect these changes,” said Christian Retailing Editor Andy Butcher.
Suppliers have through Jan. 31, 2012, to nominate products released during 2012. The entry fee remains unchanged at $50 per item, with an Early Bird offer through
Jan. 16, giving an additional free entry for every five paid.
Entries in the 12th annual Retailers Choice Awards will be judged on their ability to speak to people’s hearts and evoke emotion, open people’s minds to new ways of thinking, and encourage and affirm Christ-like living.
Among the winners in the 2011 Retailers Choice Awards were Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo (Thomas Nelson) and Radical by David Platt (WaterBrook Multnomah), co-recipients for Christian Living: Spiritual Growth; Eric Metaxas’ Bonhoeffer (Thomas Nelson) for Auto/Biography; and The Action Bible (David C Cook) for Children’s Bible.
Voting for the 2012 awards will run March 1-31, with the winners to be announced later in the spring.
See the categories, official rules and a list of last year’s winners online at www.RetailersChoiceAwards.com. For more information, email Managing Editor Christine Johnson at retailerschoiceawards@charismamedia.com.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS - WEEK OF DECEMBER 11
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #1 on the paperback nonfiction list; #2 on the e-Book nonfiction list; #4 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list and the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list; and #19 on the hardcover nonfiction list.
THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #1 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
LONGING by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan) is #2 on the paperback trade fiction list; #6 on the combined print and e-Book fiction list and the e-Book fiction list; and #8 on the combined hardcover & paperback fiction list.
NEARING HOME by Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson) is #3 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski (David C Cook) is #4 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL FOR KIDS by Todd and Sonja Burpo. Illustrated by Wilson Ong. (Tommy Nelson) is #5 on the children's picture book list.
EVERY DAY A FRIDAY by Joel Osteen (FaithWords) is #7 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (Howard) is #7 on the e-Book nonfiction list.
THE BOY WHO CAME BACK FROM HEAVEN by Kevin and Alex Malarkey (Tyndale) is #10 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE LOVE DARE by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough (B&H) is #12 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
RADICAL by David Platt (Multnomah) is #13 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp (Zondervan) #15 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
THE ONE YEAR UNCOMMON LIFE DAILY CHALLENGE by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker (Tyndale) is #15 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
THROUGH MY EYES by Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker (HarperCollins) is #21 on the hardcover nonfiction list; #23 on the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list; and #28 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list.
COURAGEOUS by Randy Alcorn (Tyndale House) is #30 on the paperback trade fiction list.
90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey (Revell) is #31 on the paperback nonfiction list.
BONHOEFFER by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson) is #34 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield) is #1 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
LONGING by Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan) is #2 on the paperback trade fiction list; #6 on the combined print and e-Book fiction list and the e-Book fiction list; and #8 on the combined hardcover & paperback fiction list.
NEARING HOME by Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson) is #3 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan with Danae Yankoski (David C Cook) is #4 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
HEAVEN IS FOR REAL FOR KIDS by Todd and Sonja Burpo. Illustrated by Wilson Ong. (Tommy Nelson) is #5 on the children's picture book list.
EVERY DAY A FRIDAY by Joel Osteen (FaithWords) is #7 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
AN INVISIBLE THREAD by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski (Howard) is #7 on the e-Book nonfiction list.
THE BOY WHO CAME BACK FROM HEAVEN by Kevin and Alex Malarkey (Tyndale) is #10 on the paperback nonfiction list.
THE LOVE DARE by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough (B&H) is #12 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
RADICAL by David Platt (Multnomah) is #13 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
ONE THOUSAND GIFTS by Ann Voskamp (Zondervan) #15 on the hardcover advice & misc. list.
THE ONE YEAR UNCOMMON LIFE DAILY CHALLENGE by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker (Tyndale) is #15 on the paperback advice & misc. list.
THROUGH MY EYES by Tim Tebow with Nathan Whitaker (HarperCollins) is #21 on the hardcover nonfiction list; #23 on the combined hardcover & paperback nonfiction list; and #28 on the combined print and e-Book nonfiction list.
COURAGEOUS by Randy Alcorn (Tyndale House) is #30 on the paperback trade fiction list.
90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey (Revell) is #31 on the paperback nonfiction list.
BONHOEFFER by Eric Metaxas (Thomas Nelson) is #34 on the paperback nonfiction list.
E-BOOKS MAKE THEIR MARK
E-books have taken the world by storm since their debut only a few years ago. According to an October 2011 report by Media Bistro, e-book sales went up 116% from August 2010 to August 2011, while printed book sales were slightly down. With this shift in the market, how do Christian stores keep up? At Next 2012: Meet the Challenge, Chuck Wallington (owner of Christian Supply) will discuss his recent venture into e-book sales, and what he learned through the Christmas 2011 season.
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