Friday, August 9, 2013

MATURE LIVING NO LONGER ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED MSS

As of this week, Mature Living is no longer accepting unsolicited manuscripts. This decision was made up line, and I have the unhappy task of rejecting many articles I was planning/hoping to use. I wish I could tell you more, but the details are not settled yet. I just know I can't encourage beginning writers as I have enjoyed doing for 10 years. René A. Holt, content editor Mature Living LifeWay Church Resources

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

NY TIMES BEST SELLERS--WEEK OF 8/11

  • THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES by Gary Chapman (Northfield/Moody) is #1 in advice, how-to & miscellaneous.

  • THE DUCK COMMANDER FAMILY by Willie and Korie Robertson with Mark Schlabach (Howard Books) is #2 in hardcover business; and #10 in hardcover nonfiction.

  • HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY by Phil Robertson with Mark Schlabach (Howard Books) is #4 in hardcover nonfiction; #6 in combined print & e-book nonfiction; and #8 in e-book nonfiction.

  • TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER by Dave Ramsey (Thomas Nelson) is #7 in hardcover business.

  • HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson) is #12 in paperback nonfiction.

  • AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL by Ben Carson with Candy Carson (Zondervan) is #14 in paperback nonfiction.

  • A MESSAGE FROM GOD by Retha and Aldo McPherson (Destiny Image) is #15 in e-book nonfiction.

  • THE HARBINGER by Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine) is #22 in paperback trade fiction.
From ECPA's Rush to Press at ECPAnews.org/rush

ATTENDANCE AT ICRS DOWN THIS YEAR

With attendance numbers down from last year and notably smaller exhibits for some publishers, the International Christian Retail Show met June 23-26 in St. Louis, Mo. Total attendance dropped significantly, to 3,700 from 4,990 last year, with professional attendance down 15%, to 1,485 buyers. International attendance was down 21%, to 288 from 57 countries. There was positive news going into the show—an 8.5% increase in sales for 2012 over 2011—and while 39 member stores closed last year, that was down from 63 in 2011. Figures for store closings so far in 2013 were not available, though CBA’s State of the Industry report stated that half the 2012 number said they planned to close this year.

NEW: REGAL FOR WOMEN

Regal is pleased to announce the new Regal for Women: God’s Word for a Woman’s World. Because Regal believes that women writing to women is a positive force for the Christian community and for publishing, Regal for Womenwill focus on publishing books that encourage transformative change in the lives of women of all ages. Books that go beyond platitudes to deep, rich, honest conversation about subjects women struggle with, have a passion for and need to know more about. Regal for Women is the first segment in Regal’s initiative to promote the great collection of authors they have to individual target audiences. Regal for Women features authors such as: Suzie Eller, Proverbs 31; Holly Wagner, Pastor, Oasis LA, Women of Faith speaker; Pam Stenzel, Enlighten Communications Inc.; Lynn Donovan and Dineen Miller, Spiritually Mismatched Marriages and a host of other women who want to be a part of making a woman’s world better.

Monday, August 5, 2013

GUIDEPOSTS MAKES CHANGES

Guideposts (guideposts.org), the non-profit organization and a leading provider of inspirational content and services, announced that it has promoted Lenore Person to Vice President and Editorial Director of Guideposts Books and Inspirational Media.
 
Ms. Person joined Guideposts in 1988 as an associate editor in the Book division, and was promoted to positions of increased responsibility over the next several years. During her tenure, she developed Someone Cares, Guideposts' greeting card continuity, which has continued to ship for over twenty years, and has spearheaded music products and other new areas within the company.
 
"Lenore's enthusiasm and creativity is instrumental to the continued growth of our Direct-to-Consumer programs," commented Guideposts' CEO John F. Temple. "Lenore has a keen sense of our customers' preferences and has been able to focus those insights into many successful products and programs over the years. Her longstanding relationships with the major Christian publishing houses and her knowledge of the products and services within the marketplace will be very beneficial as we move forward."
 
"Our Direct-to-Consumer program is a mainstay for the organization," continued Temple. "We will continue to create products to meet our consumers' needs while making the most popular products available in multiple channels. Our successful devotional Daily Guideposts will continue to be available in trade as will a number of select titles in our devotional and fiction series."
 

CLASS CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE

It's time to register for the CLASS Christian Writers Conference. Deadline to register for the Early Bird Discount is August 15. Don't miss the opportunity to save on registration.



October 17-19, 2013
Albuquerque's First Baptist Church, NM 



Many of you have gotten excited along with us about the 2013 CLASS Writers Conference – a new location, a new format, and the addition of the CLASSeminar as part of the programming. Thank you for joining us in our continued pursuit of stronger, more marketable communication for the Kingdom.
            We have had a lot of questions about how the new format will work. So I thought I would try to answer them here. If your question is not answered, please do not hesitate to email us so we can continue to make this new vision clear.
 
 
QUESTION: How is the CLASSeminar going to work as part of the programming?
 
CLASS: Register for the writers conference and indicate on the registration form that you are registering for CLASS. The registration information and form is on the website. The price for the writers conference is the same as the usual CLASSeminar. When you choose the workshops and comprehensive class, you will choose to go to the CLASSeminar instead of the writers seminars.
            The CLASSeminar will take place at the same time as the writers conference. We will meet together for all general sessions. When you attend the CLASSeminar, you will get the identical training you would get in a seminar that was not connected to the writers conference. CLASSeminar participants will meet an extra few hours to make sure they get the full training they would receive at any seminar. Our professional trainers will equip you for a speaking ministry and practical coaching sessions will further enhance the personal application of the training.
            In addition to the CLASS training there will be two sessions where you can choose to attend one of the writers conference workshops or meet with one of the agents, editors, or professional writers. This will give you the opportunity to learn how to multiply your message in print.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

SOCIAL MEDIA FREE WORKSHOP

Click Me!
The Upstate Chapter of American Christian Writers is happy to host a Social Media Workshop with nationally known author and  media workshop leaderEdie Melson. The free workshop will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:00-5:30 PM, August 25, 2013, at the Anderson County Library, 300 N. McDuffie St., Anderson, SC 29621.
 
Edie will include the following in her power point presentation:
   
·      Bloggingstep-by-step Blogger and WordPress instructions to everyone who attends and:
                                       Components of a successful blogging schedule.
   How to define blogging success, gadgets and plugins every blog needs.
   SEO and keywords, the hidden secrets of hyperlinks.
·      Twitter, Facebook & other Social Media Outlets
   The truth about social media and the law of diminishing returns.
   How twitter can be your best social media friend.
   Twitter etiquette.
   Using headline techniques to increase the interest in social media updates.
·      Tools to Bring it All Together
   Organize your social media life with Hootsuite.
   Copyright 101, know what you can & can’t post online.
   A social media schedule anyone can live with.

      Edie Melson is the author of four books, as well as a freelance editor with years of experience in the publishing industry. Her popular blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands of writers each month, and she’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Her best selling Ebook on social media has just been updated and re-released as Connections: Social Media & Networking Techniques for Writers. She’s the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy and the Social Media Director foSouthern Writers Magazine. You can connect with Edie through Twitter and Facebook



Elva Cobb Martin, President  864/226-7024
Upstate SC American Christian Writers' Chapter
Coord. Anderson Internet Prayer Task Force
Anderson, SC     Email: elvacmartin@gmail.com 
Web Site: http://www.elvamartin.com