OF INTEREST TO WRITERS FOR TEENS

American Teens Lie, Steal, Cheat at an 'Alarming Rate' New Study Shows: Awana and David C. Cook Partner on New Project for Parents, Teachers, and Youth Workers--How to Grow Great Kids

In the recent AFP news article, "American teens lie, steal, cheat at 'alarming rates'", experts revealed the sobering statistics from an independent survey of over 30,000 high school students from across the United States. An overwhelming majority, 83 percent, of public school and private religious school students admitted to lying to their parents about something significant. When asked about cheating on exams, students from non- religious independent schools had the lowest cheating rate, 47 percent, compared to 63 percent of students attending religious schools. Of greater concern, 93 percent of students surveyed indicated they were satisfied with their own character and ethics saying that when it comes to doing what is right, they thought themselves to be better than most people they knew.

"In today's world Christian children and teens are in serious crisis," says Larry Fowler, Executive Director of Global Training for Awana and author of the new book Raising a Modern-Day Joseph: A Timeless Strategy for Growing Great Kids, (David C. Cook, January, 2009.) "What we see happening in the world is merely a reflection of what is happening in the church. Most Christian teens succumb to the world and fall away from the Lord by the time they leave home." According to Josh McDowell Ministries, denominations are seeing anywhere from 69 to 94 percent of teens leave the church after high school.

"The Spiritual goals we have for our youth are failing," continues Fowler. "Churches and families need a clear target and a definite plan of action; a collaborated strategy to build a scripturally sound foundation for their children's faith." Statistics show that even children who grow up in Christian homes, go to church on a regular basis, and participate in youth group activities are abandoning their faith at an alarming rate. With so much opposition, how can we forge sons and daughters of faith and fortitude? How do we raise children whose character and values are built upon an unshakeable faith that endures for a life time?

"The Old Testament Joseph embodies what Awana strives to produce," notes Fowler. "He maintained his faith in spite of challenging circumstances." In the new book, Raising a Modern-Day Joseph, Larry Fowler utilizes the biography of Joseph as recorded in the book of Genesis as a model desperately needed by 21st Century parents and youth workers to help grow their children into faithful, Godly adults. "Our partnership with David C. Cook has made the Modern- Day Joseph project and Awana even stronger as we work together to achieve this goal."

"Awana has always been the benchmark for how to effectively reach and disciple children with the Gospel," says Don Pape, Publisher for David C. Cook Trade Books & Study Resources. "When they approached us with the Modern-Day Joseph project, we knew we wanted to be a part of it. We talked with Larry Fowler about publishing his new book, Raising a Modern-Day Joseph, and discussed ways we could work together to get this outstanding and effective evangelistic tool into more churches. We are thrilled to be a part of such a dynamic ministry, working together to have a positive impact on the next generation of believers."

Based in the Chicago area, Awana is the only organization with fully integrated evangelism and discipleship programs for ages 2 to 18 that actively involves parents, church leaders and mentors. The founders of Awana derived the Awana name from the first letters of Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed as taken from 2 Timothy 2:15 of the Bible. Each week, more than a million children and youth, 250,000 volunteers and 300-plus field staff take part in Awana in over 17,000 churches in the U.S. and internationally.

For more information visit David C. Cook on the Internet at www.davidccook.com.

A BAD WEEK FOR PUBLISHERS

Book publishers suffered an awful week last week--and more pain is coming. On what is being called "Black Wednesday,"scores of workers were let go at Simon & Schuster; Thomas Nelson Publishers, Random House and Houghton Mifflin. Harcourt announced consolidations; and wages were frozen at Pearson--parent company of Penguin Group (USA)--and HarperCollins. "This is the most challenging economic environment that any of us has ever experienced," Penguin Group Chairman John Makinson wrote in a memo to staffers.

JOIN THE CHRISTIAN WRITERS’ MARKET GUIDE BLOG TOUR

Do you have an established personal blog? If you do, you may be eligible to join the blog tour for Sally Stuart’s Christian Writer’s Market Guide. As an approved blog reviewer, you'll receive a free copy of Christian Writers’ Market Guide for your review! To submit your blog for consideration, email lifranklin@randomhouse.com by December 16, 2008. Include your name, street address, a link to your blog and any questions you might have. A limited number of books are available, so email now! The blog tour will take place the week of January 26th-30th.

NEW CHRISTIAN HUMOR WEBSITE LAUNCHES

Digital Publishing Corp. has announced the launch of www.NewChristianVoices.com, a new and unique online destination for Christian humor, inspiration and opinion. The non-denominational Christian humor and lifestyle Web site offers insightful and amusing commentary on a variety of topics from some of today's most well-know Christian comedians, as well as some of publishing's best up-and-coming writers.

The new site features weekly columns that cross the entire spectrum of Christian perspectives, from staunchly conservative comedian Brad Stine to liberal comic Teresa Roberts Logan, plus Emmy-winning humorist and "Last Comic Standing" contestant Taylor Mason, Emmy- and Dove-nominated author Martha Bolton, and up-and-coming humor writer and confessed "Bad Mom" Caron Guillo.

New Christian Voices is dedicated to taking a lighter, joyous, humorous look at life and spirituality, reaching beyond the typical conservative fare to offer material that lets readers both laugh and stretch outside their comfort zones as they consider their Christian faith in everyday life. Largely written by Christians for Christians, the site is also intended to be amusing and thought-provoking to readers of all faiths and perspectives.

"We want our readers to know that Christians can be both fun and funny," said Digital Publishing's editor-in- chief, Rob Garretson. "We hope Christians will find the site a safe and entertaining place to visit daily, but we also want those outside of the faith to visit and be amused, inspired and potentially gain new understanding of who Christians are and what we're all about."

In addition to the weekly columns, visitors will also find a continually refreshed assortment of humorous essays and articles on Faith, Relationships, Society and Humor, as well as reviews of current movies, books and other Entertainment from a Christian perspective. Among them, Taylor Mason's weekly "Jokes for the Folks" offers a non-stop gag fest, poking fun at the week's news stories, from sports and politics to pop culture.

To learn more, visit www.NewChristianVoices.com. Because when life and faith meet, funny things can happen!

Regular New Christian Voices columns and features include:

Bad Mom
Author and confessed Bad Mom Caron Guillo shares humor and encouragement for parents, assuring them that both vegetables and home schooling are overrated, and that love conquers a multitude of parenting sins.

The Truth Hurts
Comedian Brad Stine, dubbed "God's comic" by The New Yorker magazine, brings his irreverent, edgy, and politically incorrect message to readers, sharing humorous, direct and often controversial thoughts on everything from evolution and prayer to politics and political correctness.

Here's a Thought
Emmy-Award winning comedian, musician, ventriloquist and "Last Comic Standing" contestant Taylor Mason offers his amusing and often poignant thoughts on life, marriage and current events.

The Raving Redhead
Self-proclaimed liberal Christian, comedian and artist Teresa Roberts Logan, spouts off weekly about everything from her love of both Obama and zombie movies to living outside the Christian bubble.

Martha's Laugh Lines
Emmy- and Dove-nominated author and former comedy writer for Bob Hope, Martha Bolton looks at current events, including the financial bailout and current economic crisis, with a practiced eye for the humorous and offbeat.

Jokes for the Folks
Taylor Mason switches gears and offers readers a non-stop joke fest, poking fun at the week's news stories, from sports and politics to pop culture and entertainment.

Faces of Funny
Martha Bolton brings readers profiles of well-known comedians and comedy writers working both in Christian and mainstream entertainment, drawing on her years of work with comedians like Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Jeff Allen and Mark Lowry.

2009 BEAN POT AWARD

The 2009 New England Reader's Choice Bean Pot Award. A *provisional contest for published authors to award excellence in published romance fiction. The contest is judged exclusively by readers, librarians and booksellers. The first place winners in each category are awarded $50.00 and a certificate. The second and third place winners in each category are awarded a certificate.

Eligibility:
- Open to any member in good standing of the Romance Writers of America (membership verified).
- Books must have a 2008 copyright date and must be received by January 7, 2009.
- Entry fee is $25 for each title submitted. An author may submit more than one 2008 released book with separate entry form and fee for each title. Entry form at www.necrewa.org .
- Author must submit three autographed copies of the entered book. Books will not be returned.
- E-books accepted in printed form-loose. No short stories, novellas or anthologies, please.
- Finalists will be notified by February 27, 2009.
- Winners announced at our 2009 Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference, March 27-28, 2009.

Categories for entry:
Short Contemporary (50,000 to 70,000 words)
Long Contemporary (over 70,000 words)
Romantic Suspense
Historical
Erotic Romance
Futuristic; Fantasy; Paranormal or Time Travel
- Any category with less than ten entries will be incorporated into another category if possible. Entrants should suggest an alternate category.

Judging:
- All entries will be judged by readers, librarians or booksellers.
- Judges give each entry a score of 3-10 (10 being the highest).
- The books are given to the judges as thank you gifts for judging. They are not returned to the author.
- The judges’ decisions are final.

*Provided this contest is successful it will become an annual event.

Send entries (three autographed copies of book + $25 entry fee + entry form) to:
Valerie Harris, 13 Poole Street, Medford, MA 02155 – by January 7, 2009.
Make checks payable to “NEC”

Any questions, please call the contest coordinator, Valerie Harris, 781-874-0771 or email: vharris94@comcast.net .

AMG'S DAN PENWELL SEMI-RETIRES

Many of you know that I’d been talking about semi-retirement from AMG Publishers at the first of the year. It now appears to be a reality—it begins this coming Friday, December 12. But with Christmas coming up, it’ll be more of a actuality on January 1.

I’ll be working with AMG Publishers on a retainer basis—I’m guessing about 20 hours a week. The end result is—I will become an Independent Contractor—completely separated from AMG as an employee and totally independent (as required by the IRS).

Any current projects that I am presently working, I will continue to work on. Be assured that only my status has changed, my workload will remain the same.

Even though I am on a retainer fee with AMG, I will be offering my services to others as an editor, consultant, etc. And yes, I’ll still be attending four or so writer’s conferences a year. Rick Steele will be the new acquisition person at AMG, taking my place. But both Rick and I will be working on acquisitions—that will not change.

My new office will be at my home, though I’ll definitely be seen at the AMG offices every now and then.

Please be sure assured that everything about my semi-retirement has been amicable.

I will no longer be receiving email through AMG Publishers. See the new contact information below.

I thank God for allowing me to work with AMG Publishers for seven years. The relationship has been wonderful. I know tens of thousands of lives have been touched. He continues to give me strength and hope after eight years with prostate cancer. I can only say, “Praise the Lord.”

Blessings and hugs,

Dan

Dan Penwell
Dan Penwell’s Editorial Services
2008 Paris Metz Rd.
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Cell Ph: 423-313-0950
dpenwell@yahoo.com

NEW CONTEST OPENED

Athanatos Christian Ministries is hosting a contest designed to encourage writers to represent their Christian beliefs through the arts, in particular through fiction.

The Athanatos Christian Writing Contest represents the perspective of founder Anthony Horvath that Christians need to make use of the arts and literature to communicate the Gospel. The contest homepage is: www.christianwritingcontest.com.

Readers let down their defenses when reading stories or watching movies and this provides an opportunity for the author to present ideas and themes that readers might otherwise have dismissed. This is true for both Christians and nonChristians, but the secular community is more deliberate in exploiting this reality.

Horvath says, "Our media is dominated by people immersed in the secular humanist mindset. The evidence of this is present in books, movies, TV shows, music, as well as in newspapers and cable television. The resulting culture perpetuates itself and creates a climate of cynicism- to say the least- regarding the claims of Christianity."

Horvath warns Christians not to pull out of the culture, "Instead, we need more Christians effectively living out their Christian world view our culture. Imagine if more Christians were writing movies, books, and the news! This alone might not save a single soul, but it would help create a climate where the Christian message is better received."

The ACM Christian Writing Contest aims to identify writers who can write quality fiction that represents the Christian worldview either explicitly or implicitly. Horvath explains, "CS Lewis, Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, and GK Chesterton are examples of Christian authors whose stories reflected their Christian outlook. The remarkable thing is that secular audiences enjoy their work as much as Christian audiences do. That is exactly what we need more of."

The writing contest begins December 1st, 2008 and is taking submissions through May 15th, 2009. Winning entries will be compiled into an anthology and published. The anthology will be distributed to every single author who entered a story, at no additional cost. "We want every contributor to see what a winning story looks like so they can learn from it and improve their own writing ability," Horvath explains.

There are discounts for multiple submissions available for teachers, educators, youth directors, and pastors.

Details about the contest are available at www.christianwritingcontest.com. Anthony Horvath will answer questions about the contest or field interviews. Contact him at director@athanatosministries.org or 202-280- 7971.