DeeGospel Radio Show Launches with NY Times Bestseller Eric Wilson & our Fave Author Claudia Mair Burney

NY Times bestselling author Eric Wilson & Claudia Mair Burney share movies, faith, books
on DeeGospel's Blog Talk Radio Show
October 28, 2008
12:30 -1:00 PM EST

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(646) 649-1066

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http://www.blogtalkradio.com/deegospel

Summary:
New York Times bestselling author Eric Wilson, who has penned three of his eight novels based on movies (Facing the Giants, Flywheel, and Fireproof 'in theaters now') chats with critically acclaimed new author Claudia Mair Burney in a candid conversation about life, the writing life, faith, passion, and who knows what else. You have to listen in to see what these two will discuss.

More about Eric Wilson:
Eric has traveled in over thirty countries, fueling his love for the world. He's written eight novels, with his most recent, Field of Blood, exploring Earth's tension between heaven and hell by turning the traditional vampire tale on its head. His goal is to reach those on the fringes of faith.




More about Claudia Mair Burney:

Claudia Mair Burney is the author of five novels released in 2008, including The Exorsistah and Wounded: A Love Story. Publishers Weekly has said about her work, "Burney pushes her prose to the edge of the edgiest in the 'Christian fiction' genre, and then barrels right over." She lives in Inkster, Michigan with her tattoo artist husband and five of their seven children.

Do you need a Book Marketing Plan?

Dee-Coding Your Book Marketing Plan

November 18, 2008 8pm EST

Dee Stewart, publicist, bookseller and Secretary of the American Christian Fiction Writer’s VIP Chapter will Dee-Code the book marketing plan with you on September 13, 2008 and much more…

During this session you’ll learn about:

• Defining a book marketing analysis
• Components to a book marketing plan
• Using your marketing plan to edit your final book draft
• How to write a tag line
• Ensuring your book marketing plan and budget are align
• And more…

Register Today!

If you have any questions, you want to ask me during the teleseminar, register and leave your question in the space provided on the site. Thank you!

Brainstorming the Story Core

So now that I have committed myself to writing this story. This first thing I do is brainstorm a few horses(themes) for this story. The goal is to find its core and then to choose a symbol that this story core could revolve around, and hopefully pull out a few minor themes that can help me build the story cast.

Examples of symbol story cores are:

• The Beehive in The Secret Life of Bees
• Purple Hibiscus in Purple Hibiscus
• the water well in Abraham's Well
• basket weaving in The Spirit of Sweet Grass
• a pair of magic jeans in The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants

OK.

I am writing a woman's self-discovery/romance story. It is about a hopelessly sad woman who on the brink of killing herself receives a request letter from an old college friend, who's now a soldier deployed to Iraq.

The story core of my story is hope. Both characters are searching for hope. So I need to shape every aspect of this story(the character's action, description, cast, everything) around this core of hope. What does hope look like? Is the question that I am answering through this story.

It is also the answer I seek as I search for a symbol that I can build this story around.

I have been taught a few techniques to help me search and find this symbol. For the next 30 minutes at home. I will apply those techniques and get my symbols.

While I'm away I would like to know from you, how much effort do you put in thinking about your story's theme?

Other articles you may like:

• Why I think of my Story Ideas as a Writer's Germ?

• Lead Your Story with a Definitive Story-Building Paragraph

• Self Editing Habits: My Writing Hygiene

Don't forget to subscribe to the blog.

Why I think of my Story Ideas as a Writer's Germ?

I am writing a short story this weekend for a magazine contest. I am also reworking a novel for a mystery novel contest for a publishing house. And I am writing a new novel. And and ebook on book marketing plans. Although I am a quick writer, it takes a certain kick, an excitement in my gut--if you will-- to fuel my drive to complete any of these assignments, especially fiction.

I never have writer's block, but I do have writer's waiting challenge. My term. For me it means that this story sits in my head. When I look at it its hazy and not coherent. It's like the first stages of having a cold. I'm not sure if I'm sick or is it allergies, so I wait it out and see until the cold begins to nag. I become congested and there's no point of return. Story creation is the same process for me. I have many germs of stories in my head that never make it to fruition. They fizzle out by the next morning.

The reason I decided to enter the Ebony short story contest was story germ is teetering over the the point of no return. My symptoms are very clear:

• I have a character that haunts me.
• Everytime I hear a certain song my story comes back to view.
• I can't move forward until this story is purged out of me.

Whether I win the contest or not is my concern. Getting this story written is. Today my body and mind and spirit will not allow me to do anything else but talk about this story, work its issues out, then write.

I will share my process with you. But I have a favor to ask?

How do you decide when its time to take your story idea and turn it into a story?

• Tips to Keep from Burning Out Before the Black Moment

• Vertical Writing and Worship on LinkedIn

What else? Subscribe via email or follow CFB on twitter. And if you want to keep up with my busy life and the world of christian pr follow me on Twitter and Utterz

Weekend Chat: 3 Reasons Why Book Trailers Don't Work

Every week I receive and search for great book trailers to promote on Christian Fiction Blog. In the beginning I was excited about what I found. It was a new concept, so I was game. However, after a few months of posting book trailers and reading others I've come to a conclusion. Book Trailers Don't Work and here's why:

1. Most Book Trailers aren't viral.
Let's be honest. When was the last time you embedded a book trailer video onto your blog or passed the video to your email friends or Twitter buddies? Probably never. Unless you have a dear author friend with a trailer who you want to help out the answer is probably not one time. Until these trailers can spark many watchers to want to share it with their warm market, then it is a waste.

How do you make a book trailer viral? In my opinion

2. Book Trailers are too long.
First thing is shorten the trailers. They are too long. Anything over a minute online is too long. This post is too long until I cut out the fluff. Keep the trailer short and simple.

What must you include in a short book trailer?

3. Book Trailers aren't commercials.

If you notice a movie trailer, the better ones are shorter , to the point and mysterious. But most importantly, they tell you when the movie drops, title and buzzworthy actors, directors and producers.

In short, I am a fan of a book commercial. A short and sweet video shot of your book. The hook should be its focus. Just like most commercials. If it's short and crisp and marketed effectively these videos would get the word of mouth/email bounce around and chatter it deserves.

Above is the best book commercial I have seen. The music matches the theme. The video is under 30 seconds. Long enough to etch an idea about the book, and catchy enough to share. How has your book trailer submitting experience been?

Off Topic Thursday: Become a Stellar Award Presenter

ONE LUCKY FAN TO WIN CHANCE TO
PRESENT A STELLAR AWARD
On Saturday, January 17, 2009 the 24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will return to the historic Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN. The star-studded evening will be filled with uplifting music from the industry's hottest celebrities and entertainers.

RushmoreDrive.com is celebrating this year's Stellar Awards by sending one lucky winner and a guest to Nashville to do something we've all dreamed of -- gracing the Stellar Award stage and presenting the Fan Based Award to the top gospel artist for 2009 as selected by fans. So click here to get your tickets to the 2009 Stellar Gospel Music Awards now!

Book: Bon Appetit

Author: Sandra Byrd

Summary: In this second book in the French Twist series, readers join Lexi Stuart in a crème de la crème adventure!

Deciding to leave her familiar home in Seattle and her could-be boyfriend Dan, Lexi moves to a quaint village in France to pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Life among the French initially proves to be less than easy as Lexi is challenged by her coworkers, missing her friends, and failing to master the perfect baguette.

Determined to find her place, Lexi settles into the culture and life becomes la perfection. She finds a church, meets a new friend, and makes the acquaintance of a child named Celine—as well as Celine’s attractive, widowed father, Philippe. Even Patricia, the gruff pastry cook, shows a softer side as she mentors Lexi in the art of baking.

Fast, fun, and packed with French culture, foodie appeal, and unique recipes readers will love accompanying Lexi on her journey in Bon Appetit as she tries to choose between two countries, two men and the faith to lean on God while savoring the surprises life brings!