Interview with Sally Stuart!

I was recently given the honor of interviewing Ms. Sally Stuart, of the ever popular
"Sally Stuart's Christian Writers' Market Guide"!

If you've never picked up a copy, you're seriously missing out! I've personally found the Christian Writers' Market Guide to be THE most helpful resource currently available to Christian authors world-wide!

Betsy: What first inspired you to create the Writers' Guide books?

Sally: I started searching out markets for my own writing from the time I started writing. Soon I was sharing that market information with other writers through writer's periodicals. Eventually one of my editors told me if I'd put a book together he'd publish it. I did--and he did--and the rest, as they say, is history.

Betsy: Will you share with readers a little bit of your own spiritual journey?

Sally: I became a Christian when I was 13--although I was not raised in a Christian home. Even though I was very shy as a young wife and mother, at one point--with three young children at home--God lead me to writing as a way to express myself in ways I couldn't verbally. I have felt his leading through all these years both as a writer and in doing the market guide to facilitate others as they follow His leading as well.

Betsy: What are some of your favorite Christian fiction books?

Sally: I love the Mitford Series!

Betsy: Who are a few of your favorite Christian fiction authors?

Sally: Penelope Stokes, Lauraine Snelling, Donna Fleisher, Bonnie Leon, Elsie Larson, Bette Nordberg

Betsy: Do you have other projects going other than the Christian Writers Guide line?

Sally: I don't have anything in the works right now. Just finishing up the 2008 market guide. It takes up most of my time, but I hope to get back to writing after I retire in the next few years. I miss the freelance writing that I did for so many years. I have written a dozen books (mostly nonfiction) in addition to the 23 editions of the market guide. I did have a western novel I co-authored published in the general market.

Betsy: Thanks for visiting with us today, Sally! On behalf of Christian writers everywhere, let me say - we sincerely appreciate you and your hard work! =)

Visit Sally and purchase her newest market guide here!

A not-so-normal bookstore experience...

FYI - Barnes & Noble is my sanctuary of sorts. If I'm feeling down, I can wander the aisles of books and feel like my friends are all greeting me by name. If I'm mad, the nostalgic aroma of paper and leather and fresh print can do amazing things to cheer me up! If I'm stuck in the dreaded, dark world of Writer's Block, just breathing the air can clear my senses and inspire new ideas!

Well, Saturday night, Hubby was out of town, so I decide to spend a little girl time in Barnes & Noble. I eat dinner with my parents then head off, solo, to my favorite home-away-from-home, idea notebook firmly in hand. I wander the aisles, make a few notes, jot names of publishing houses I didn't recognize, etc. Just doing my thing. I reach the YA section and see a publisher I thought to be solely Christian. Excited to find a YA Christian book in the middle of the secular section, (my B&N store segregates! I'm determined to ask them about that one day) I eagerly pick it up and flip pages...

Right to a graphic love scene and the repeated use of the "F" word.

WHOOPS. I quickly toss the book back onto the shelf. My mistake! Not a Christian line after all, apparently. Feeling stupid, and somewhat corrupted, I restrain from yelling "MY EYES!" and hurry to the children's corner, deeming it "safe". I'm leaving my friend a voice mail about my humorous, though somewhat depressing mistake (HELLO, that content was in a YOUNG ADULT book!!) I stumble across one of my favorite childhood series - The BabySitters Club! I notice they had created a new cover for the beloved set, so I pick one up and again, start flipping pages...

And realize the entire book is a cartoon.

They've made my favorite childhood series into a CARTOON!!??!! Complete with stick figures and dialogue bubbles. Again, I toss the book onto the shelf and try not to scream. What was the world coming to?

Seriously disturbed, I decide only something sugary and pink will cure me. I head to the Starbucks counter and find a delightful looking strawberry cupcake. Bingo! And only $1.95 (it was huge, and actually stuffed with real strawberries) Score! I buy the cupcake, and with my notebook tucked under my arm, take my plate, cupcake and fork to a table by the window and prepare to destress. I sit down, pick up my fork, open my mouth...

And the older woman in front of me (whom I've never seen before a day in my life) turns around and, dead serious, says to me, "You know, that cupcake is fattening."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!?

I just stared at her. Then, I guess I was feeling somewhat fiesty (afterall, I hadn't actually consumed any of that much-needed sugar yet!) because I did something very unlike me. I stabbed off a giant piece of the cupcake with my fork, shoved it all in my mouth, and retorted "NOT TODAY!"

(Hey, I'm not a bad person, I promise!)

The woman, apparently not offended, proceeds to talk to me about dogs for the next ten minutes.

Sigh.

After finishing off the cupcake (oh yes, the whole thing!) I politely excuse myself and begin to wander the aisles again, though this time, somewhat warily. What would be next? A werewolf jumping around the sci-fi corner? Someone in the travel section hoping to throw up on my shoes? (though, I guess at that point, I was the one feeling a little nauseous myself from the giant "fattening" cupcake.)

Then I found a treasure that made the whole pyschotic trip worth it.

Pride & Prejudice for $5.95. The "B&N Classic" edition, with a really neat cover. Score! Cheered up, I continued to browse in the Jane Austen section (yeah, the gal has almost an entire bookcase to herself!) and found another potential treasure. A book by Amanda Grange, called "Mr. Darcy's Diary." Released this year, its a book in diary-entry format, from Mr. Darcy's point of view. How neat! I found other books similar in style in that same section, but this one by Amanda caught my eye and intrigued me the most. It wasn't $5.95, but I bought it anyway. (blush) What a neat idea! I told a friend later that Ms. Grange must be either a genius to attempt such an addition to a classic masterpiece...or insane. =)

Regardless, I suppose the moral of the story is...fattening cupcakes forshadow good books? Rude women pave the way to rare treasures? Pink sugar can cure disturbances from shady YA books and disrespected children's classics?

I'll let you decide! =)

Melody Carlson's done it AGAIN =)

THESE BOOTS WEREN'T MADE FOR WALKING...

Melody Carlson's done it again! Created a super fun read with an inspiring message you do NOT want to miss! =)

Story blurb: Willing to make the necessary sacrifices–even skipping the occasional latte–to ensure career success, 31-year-old Cassidy Cantrell "invests" in a chic pair of boots, certain they’ll make a spectacular impression and help seal the deal on a long-anticipated promotion from her Seattle employer. But reality tromps all over her expectations. Cassie’s job is abruptly eliminated–and her love life obliterated, when her longtime boyfriend dumps her for a "friend." Her self-esteem in tatters, Cassie limps home to the resort town she once so eagerly fled–only to find her recently divorced mother transformed into a gorgeous fifty-something babe with a thriving social life. Cassie wrestles with envy and apathy as she considers the dismal shape of her own physique and romantic prospects. What will it take for her to jump back into life and regain her stride? This sassy and hilarious novel leads readers on a romp through the wilds of relationships, romance, career, and spirituality, revealing that, while God’s plans may look drastically different than our own, it’ll always be a perfect fit.

Melody Carlson has published over 100 books for adults, children, and teens, including On This Day, Finding Alice, the Notes from a Spinning Planet series, and Homeward, which won the Rita Award from Romance Writers of America. She and her husband, the parents of two grown sons, make their home near the Cascade Mountains in Central Oregon. Melody is a full-time writer as well as an avid gardener, biker, skier, and hiker.

Pick up your copy here!!

"Diva NashVegas"

WHAT A FUN READ!!!

Rachel Hauck's "Diva Nashvegas" was one of the best stories I've read in awhile. Its fun and inspiring, all the while keeping a voice unique to Rachel alone. If you're searching for a good, quality story about a country superstar returning to her roots, look NO further! It's available right now in local bookstores and Amazon.com!


Here's the back cover copy:

"What do you do when the past you've been skirting shows up at your door with cameras rolling? Aubrey James ruled the charts as the queen of country for over a decade. She'd rocketed to fame in the shadow of her parent's death - both of them pioneers in Gosepl music. But while her public life, high profile romances, and fights with Music Row execs made for juicy tabloid headlines, the real and private Aubrey has remained a media mystery. When a former band member betrays Aubrey's trust and sells an "exclusive" to a tabloid, the star knows she must go public with her story. But Aubrey's private world is rocked when the Inside NashVegas interviewer is someone from her past - someone she'd hoped to forget. All the moxie in the world won't let this Diva run any longer!"

Find out more about Rachel Hauck here!

Blogging by the sea...

I'm writing this blog on a laptop, from the balcony of the condo here at the beach. Yay for vacations! I'm on the third story, and its about 7:15 a.m. I've already been down to the water to run. I got up at 6, threw on my workout clothes, grabbed a bottle of water, and hit the sand. It was relatively deserted, save for a few early morning shell-seekers.

I started jogging, but the surf was loud, the air cool, and the rising morning sun gorgeous. I broke into a full run, trying not to crush too many shells under my running shoes while sprinting on the wet-packed sand. I had to run at an angle, matching the pattern of the waves so I didn't get my Sketchers wet. Finally, exhausted, I looked up and realized I was QUITE a ways from my condo!

I turned around and started back, this time taking my time to look for shells. The sea had churned up a zillion overnight, and the sand was covered with them! Some broken, but still beautiful. (I'll save that analogy is for another blog!)

I found a few treasures and carried them and my water back up to the loose sand toward my condo's pier. My calves burned and like I do every time I come to the beach, I thought about how difficult it is to walk in sand. Impossible to do with any grace, really. Then I started putting my feet in existing footprints, and found I could walk so much easier! So I hopped, skipped and jumped (literally) from footprint to footprint, making my way back toward the pier.

And I realized that if we would just walk in Jesus' footprints, and follow Him, our lives would be that much easier. Still difficult at times, still requiring effort, of course - but with more grace. If we stick close behind Him, mimicking HIS every move, rather than indulging in our carnal nature and the distractions and sin of the world, we'd make it back "home" with less difficulty.

When I followed in those footprints, and focused on where I was going, walking became easy again. When I looked off the trail, watching other people or letting myself become distracted - I'd lose my step.

Will you put your feet in Jesus footprints today?