Writer’s Call: The 2012 Christmas Story Carnival

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.

Two Christmas Stories You can Read in 5 Minutes

Happy Friday: Here are Two Christmas Stories you can read in 5 Minutes. thanks to Chris Mikesell and Kathleen Kovach winners of our Christmas Short Story Contest at Christian Fiction Online Magazine.

Nativity by Chris Mikesell

The box and its contents had been a birthday gift from his father. Handmade wooden figurines: a man, woman, infant, three shepherds, six sheep (mostly still intact), and an angel. A year later he painted the inside of the box, a child’s rendering of a stable, complete with a lop-eared donkey and a horse whose facial expression indicated intestinal distress.

For the past three years his parents had recited the story to him. This year it was his turn…

Warmth from a Window by Kathleen E. Kovach

Sleet pelted the concrete as she walked toward the old church. Her fingers clutched her coat collar to keep the cold from invading. She hadn’t been to worship in years, but something about the solid stone building beckoned her.

This Christmas Eve she’d never felt more alone. She had relocated because of a new job. Old friends were far away. She had no family.

But the old church smiled at her one day as she walked by on her way to work. How else could she describe it? Its double doors were open wide and she heard laughter coming from inside…

Click here to read them in full http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/best_multicultural.html

Seeking Christmas Short Stories

I am seeking Christmas theme short fiction for my December Christian Fiction Online Magazine column.  The Submission guidelines are simple:

• deadline November 21, 2011
• 500 word maximum
• Christmas theme
• stories that share a Christian worldview
• one paragraph bio
• bio pic .jpg or .png format
• submit to deegospelpr at gmail dot com

Dee Stewart is an inspirational book reviewer for Romantic Times Magazine,  contributing writer to Hope for Women Magazine, staff columnist for Christian Fiction Online Magazine, owner of Christian Fiction Blog and DeeGospel PR, an entertainment PR boutique. She is also Miranda Parker, novelist for Kensington Books. Her debut novel “A Good Excuse to be Bad” released July 2011. Visit her online blog tour click this link for tour schedule. This Saturday she will be featured at Authors on the Square sponsored by Atlanta Fulton Public Library.

Posted at 07:05 AM in Dee Stewart | Permalink

Can You Build a Christmas Story with Me?

Thank you for reading my MD column at Christian Fiction Online Magazine.It has been a joy sharing some wonderful writers and stories with you. As this year begins to close, I thought it would great if we could present a community authored Christmas story for my December article.

What is a Community Authored Story?

 

It’s a story whereby a group of people create a story together. We would take turns, sentence-by-sentence, writing the story.  I’ve participated in them on blogs and on Facebook. Thought it would be fun to see what we come up with. And since I only have 1200 words this would definitely not take up your time.

Moreover, I would monitor and move the direction of the story so that we have a  clear plot with a definite ending. So if you’re game for  some festive fun and a completely unique story.  You can do this with me, but BEWARE,  the more authors involved, the merrier it can get!

If you would like to join me, leave a comment here with your Facebook profile link. I have created a Writing Project Facebook Group to house the project. You can jump in and add your sentence at any time. I will cap the story at 1000 words so that I have room to mention every author participating.

I will begin the story and provide details on November 1, 2010. My deadline for this project is November 17, 2010. And Yes, I’m doing Nanowrimo, too. I hope you join me.

Related articles

• "NaNoWriMo - it's almost here!" and related posts (trashionista.com)

Holiday Book Spotlight: The King’s Christmas List

Every Friday I will be spotlighting a holiday book. This week we will look at Tommy Nelson(Thomas Nelson’s) children book The King’s Christmas List . It tells the story of Emma who can’t wait to go to the King’s birthday party, but wonders what she should bring. Emma and her dog, Shu-Shu, decide to bring a Christmas cake and put on their Sunday best, but at the end of their journey, they are chilly, rumpled and empty-handed. What will the King think? Children and parents will be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas, and that the greatest gifts we can offer to the Savior are gifts to the least of his brothers and sisters (based on Matt. 25:40). Families are invited to go online and be directed to charities to give their own gift to the King.

If you are an author or publicist with a holiday book coming out this year, let me know.

Dee

Related articles

• Book Review: The King's Christmas List by Eldon Johnson (blogcritics.org)
• Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

What I’m Reading: Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

This week I’m reading Christian Fiction Author Donita K. Paul’s Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball.  The story is about a most unusual bookshop, two mischievous matchmakers, two special tickets, an unlikely couple, and an evening for romance. Doesn’t it sound great?

Donita is a great writer. I love her Christian fantasy novels, but so far this novella is becoming my new favorite of hers.

It is also beautiful navy & gold book, which I like, because I carry books around, so the prettier the better. I might make me some cute book jewelry to hold my page. If I make more than one, perhaps I’ll give some away on the blog.

Purchase your book from your local bookstore here, then come back and lets discover the mystery behind this story together.

 

Also I will be compiling a Christmas Gift Book Guide for Indiebound. If you would like to nominate a 2010 title, email me.

Now, what are you reading this week?

Related articles by Zemanta

• Dee Stewart Moderates The Future of Publishing Panel at the 10th RAWSISTAZ Affair Reading & Writer's Conference (deegospelpr.com)
• a quick 71 cent book deal, 3 kindle book deals (ireaderreview.com)
• Book Review: Roundup of Julie Klassen Novels (blogcritics.org)

Best Novels Turned into Christmas Movies; #1: A Christmas Carol

 

This movie is #1 for 1 reason. It's so good that it's constantly duplicated, readapted and upgraded. Check out this small list below of movies that have taken Charles Dicken's novella from a ghost story to a classic:

• A Christmas Carol
• Ghosts of Girlfriend's Past
• A Diva's Christmas
• Scrooge
• Scrooged
• Mister McGoo's Christmas Carol
  
•  a longer list here. wow
  

Best Novels Turned Christmas Movies: #2: The Bishop's Wife

Ha! I can't put the two together, although The Preacher's Wife and The Bishop's Wife were both based on Robert Nathan's book. However, I am a die hard Cary Grant fan and when I learned that Penny Marshall was upgrading it with a gospel feel (The Preacher's Wife) I was giddy. Cary Grant's The Bishop Wife is my #2.

If you have favorites, share them here or on Facebook or Twitter. I would love to know!

Best Novels Turned into Christmas Movies: #3:The Preacher's Wife

I have this movie in queue in my room right now. The Preacher's Wife, It is the Penny Marshall version Robert Nathan's novel, The Bishop's Wife(The Bobbs-Merrill Co (1928).) I love this movie because Denzel Washington, Gregory Hines and Whitney Houston are in it.

More about the book:
The angelMichael comes to fill a vacancy on the staff of a local bishop. While there he falls in love with the bishop's wife. He offers her a proposition: leave her husband for him. The movie adaptation of the novel is different than the movie.

Best Novels Turned Christmas Movies; #4: The Note

I am a big Angela Hunt fan, so of course the Hallmark Channel's movie adaptation of The Note makes the best novels turned Christmas Movies List. I love that it is also Christian Fiction.

Synopsis: Newspaper columnist Peyton MacGruder is proud of three things--her immaculate VW Jetta, her status as a strong single woman, and her ability to write fast--until her editor warns that her column is failing. She is given three weeks to change either her approach or her job. 
 

As Peyton considers her future, the unthinkable happens--PanWorld Flight 848, en route from New York to Tampa, bursts into flame and crashes in Tampa Bay. All 261 people aboard are killed. For a week Peyton and her fellow reporters cover the nation's worst air disaster with numbed emotions, then they try to move on. 

Peyton is wondering how to attract readers when a woman approaches and hands her a plastic bag that washed up behind her house. It contains a note, almost certainly from the doomed flight, with a simple message-- “T--I love you. All is forgiven. Dad.” Peyton now has the perfect story to attract readers . . . and a tool to uncover lessons about love, forgiveness, and about herself.

Best Novels turned Christmas Movies Countdown: #5: A Dog Named Christmas

We're having fun this week by counting down the best novels turned Christmas movies. I'm pleased to announce that many of these books are Christian Fiction Titles. I welcome any recommendations for this list. Hit me up here or tweet me @deegospel.

#5. A Dog Named Christmas

aired 11/29/09 CBS. A Hallmark Movie.
Novel: A Dog Named Christmas (November 2008)

Author: Greg Kincaid

Publisher: Random House

Synopsis:When Todd McCray, a developmentally challenged young man still living on his parents’ Kansas farm, hears that a local animal shelter is seeking temporary homes for its dogs during the days leading to Christmas, he knows exactly what he wants for the holidays. His father objects, but Todd’s persistence quickly wins out. Soon the McCrays are the short-term foster family for a lovable pooch the young man names Christmas.

But what about all the other dogs who will be forced to spend the Yuletide season in cages? In the days that follow, Todd uses his special gifts of persuasion to encourage his hometown to participate in the “Adopt a Dog for Christmas Program.” What follows from his small act of kindness will teach his family, and his community, about peace on earth and good will toward men—and animals.

Call for 2009 Christmas Themed Novels & Movies

I am a huge fan of Christmas movies and books. If you have a book or movie that has a Christmas them and will release during this holiday season, please hit me up on Facebook at My Office(it's a toolbox on my page)

I want to put a list together for Amazon, Chitika, Shopping.com, BlogHer and MommyBloggerClub and here. So hit me up.

Also I am still taking short story or chapter excerpts for the Christmas Carnival at Christian Fiction Online Magazine. We have some great stories. Authors who submitted I will be contacting you today.

Thanks!

Dee

Trailer Park Tuesday: The Christmas List

This week's Trailer Park Tuesday is Richard Paul Evan's The Christmas List. The book released this month and debuts on the New York Time Bestseller's List at #12. ALREADY! Let's take a look at this trailer to see what's the fuss about. Personally, I'm a huge Christmas story gal. I loved the Christmas Box and so...let me know your thoughts about this trailer and the book.

Oh, if you're in Atlanta next weekend Richard will be reading at The Margaret Mitchell House, another favorite for me.

Catch The Gingerbread Man at The Master's Artist

Catching My Gingerbread Man
by Dee Stewart

Advent Scriptural Reference for December 12, 2008
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!
See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD. –Psalms 1:1

Click below to listen, if you don't have time to read.

I placed my last Gingerbread Donovan in the basket when the phone rang.

I checked my watch. 6:30pm. The party started in thirty minutes. I didn’t have time to drive, let alone talk. Yet I checked the caller ID anyway. Thank Goodness I did. It was Mama and she would have had a hot fit if I didn’t pick up.

I answered. "Mom, let me call you from my cell phone. Have to get to the party."

"No need. Just checking to see if Donovan had picked you up already."

"Mama.." I sighed. "We’ve been through this before. I’m driving myself."

She scoffed. "For something so important he should at least pick you up tonight. He never escorts you anywhere."

"Mom, that’s not true. But today there’s no time, I had to run home and bake the cookies."

"What cookies?" Mama paused. "Please tell me you did not make that man those gingerbread cookies again.Lord, what you do for that man…"

Click here to listen or read ...