It's that time again. I'm seeking some writers to participate in my Christmas Story Carnival for Christian Fiction Blog and Christian Fiction Online Magazine. I'm seeking Christmas short stories 1000 words or less (the shorter the better.) The stories must represent our current Christian worldview. The theme is based on the picture above: What is the story behind that Lonely Gift? I will select stories that are well written and fit the theme. The best three of those stories will be featured in my column at CFOM. There will be more goodies for the winners to be announced in November. Everyone selected will be featured on CFB. I would love to have 25 to share for a Christmas countdown. I will write one myself. Submission deadline is November 10, 2012. Email submissions to deegospelpr at gmail dot com. Please Share. Leave any questions here in comments.
Although summer is winding down, faith-based fiction refuses to turn down the heat. Shana Burton, author of the Flaws series, has returned with a sequel to her best seller Flaws and All: Flaw Less(August), a page-turning women’s drama. Burton chats with Christian Fiction Online Magazine to discuss the novel, the sequels, and the stigma of being an edgy inspirational writer.
The best way to kick off adult summer reading is to get inspired. What better way to do that than chatting with best-selling inspirational drama author Victoria Christopher Murray. She is the author of nine Essence best-selling novels, including The Ex Files; Too Little, Too Late; and Lady Jasmine. She is also the author of the DIVA teen series, winner of the African American Literary Award for Fiction, and Author of the Year. Her newest novel, Destiny Divas(Touchstone), releases this month. 
The February 2012 Library Journal features the Christian fiction genre with a spotlight article, “
Love is on the bookshelves in our favorite Christian bookstores; however, there is one author you may miss in LifeWay, Parable, or your local Family bookstore: best-selling Christian fiction author Rhonda McKnight. She writes for Urban Christian, an imprint of Urban Books, one of a growing number of Christian imprints owned by secular publishers.
Pat G’Orge-Walker has been the first lady of gospel comedy and fiction for the past decade. She is also a former record industry veteran who has worked for several major labels, including Epic, Def Jam, and Columbia. She also performed with the legendary ’60s girl group, Arlene Smith and the Chantels (“Maybe”) as well as with gospel groups. Now Pat is busy touring the country performing her sold-out, one-woman Sister Betty comedy show and writing the Sister Betty novel series, which helped launch Kensington Books Dafina Christian Line.
ter Berry series No Ordinary Noel (October 2011), the story of Crossing Over Sanctuary Church, a small-town congregation that needs every miracle in the Book to rediscover the real reason for the season. The financially struggling members have until Christmas day to pay off millions in debt, and Reverend Leotis Tom refuses to accept any of trustee Freddie Noel’s sinful lottery mega winnings. Instead, he hopes bickering church mothers’ money-raising schemes will provide heaven-sent rewards—while he renegotiates with God.
Fall is one of my favorite times of year for reading. The summer book best-seller blitz is over. My book tour winds down. My next book isn’t due to my publisher for a few months, so I have time to visit some book festivals and soak myself in a good read.
Sharon Ewell Foster is a critically acclaimed, award-winning author, speaker, and teacher. She is the author of Passing by Samaria, the first successful work of Christian fiction by an African American author, and six other works of fiction. Her works regularly receive starred book reviews—which is a rarity among writers—and has won a Christy Award, the Gold Pen Award, Best of Borders, and several reviewers’ choice awards.
Foster chats with Christian Fiction Online Magazine about this controversial novel, her questions to God about her writer’s journey, and how her readers were her saving grace. 
Booker T. Mattison is an author and filmmaker who wrote the screenplay for and directed the film adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston’s The Gilded Six-Bits, which aired on Showtime. His debut novel,Unsigned Hype, has been optioned, and he is currently writing the film adaptation of the book. Mattison has taught literary criticism at the College of New Rochelle, film production at Brooklyn College, and advanced directing and actor coaching at Regent University. Snitch is his second novel.
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Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on 
Thank you for reading my MD column at 
Kim, where have you been? Why the long break between books?
