Once upon a time in a far away land sadness was all around -
A little girl named Cindi was the only one who did not have a pony in this small town.
Every year Cindi asked her family if Santa would bring a pony her way –
And each year they answered “I don’t think so, at least not today”.
Cindi grew up with this wish in the back of her mind –
Still wanting a pony but knowing its daily care would take up too much time.
Santa watched Cindi from year to year wondering if he could ever make this wish come true.
He knew it was a challenge and he would see what he could do.
One day Santa was in the elf’s staging area where the gifts are made for all the girls & boys –
When he saw this lonely pony in the stack of unused toys.
He had an idea and put it in a store in Salado when he knew Cindi would be stopping in –
Sure enough she picked up the lonely pony and her face lit up with a grin.
Santa was happy he had found a pony for Cindi which was easy to care for each and every day.
Something that she would only have to pick up and hold and not have to feed it any hay.
Santa contacted his elf in Houston whose name was Anne
And asked if she would help in getting the lonely pony to Cindi and be part of his plan.
So now in the year 2008 in this far away land the people are happy and Cindi is too
For Santa delivered on his Christmas wish a lonely pony to Cindi whose name was “Blue”.
Blue was the name the elves gave him since a lonely pony was definitely what he had become –
But Cindi could change his name and the fact that he is a lonely pony with just a little love.
Santa told Anne to tell Cindi to be careful when you take him out of the box –
Make sure you tell her those black things are “pony poo poo”, not pieces of chalk!
What I liked best: The basic idea of substituting a toy pony for a real one. I could see this idea being developed into a Velveteen Rabbit type tale, where Cindi's love for the pony makes it "real." It has some potential but it needs work.
Publication ready: No. It needs a stronger story, more imagery, more involvement with the characters. I’d like to have seen Cindi’s reaction to the pony, her love for it. The poo-poo joke at the end does not fit the rest of the story. Do some research on children's picture books and then rewrite it. As for this particular Christmas story contest, I was looking for short stories, not picture books or poetry.
12/2/10
Christmas Story Posts Starting...NOW!
Starting to post the Christmas stories for the contest in just a minute. I'll post them one a day—in the order they were received—or more frequently as they increase. So far, I have 10 submissions. Keep them coming!
A few quick reminders:
DON'T TELL PEOPLE WHICH STORY IS YOURS! We want them to win based on merit, not on personal popularity.
VOTING STARTS DECEMBER 20th. Feel free to leave comments any time, but comments made before 12/20 will not be part of the voting tally.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 18th. That means you still have plenty of time to get your story in. See Submission Guidelines here.
Okay, here we go...
12/1/10
December 2010 Prize Sponsors
Last month's prize winners announced HERE.
Please take a moment to learn more about our wonderfully generous sponsors.
The Broken Council by Steven R. Burke
The lands of Tuwa are once again embroiled in conflict. Ancient councils are convened as old partnerships break apart, and new, tenuous alliances are forged. The threat of war is spreading throughout the land, and no one is sure what will become of the once peaceful land.
The Guardians have been compelled to intervene as one of their own breaks sacred laws in search of forbidden powers. Lives will be lost, deception will abound, and life as the people know it will cease to exist.
As events escalate, families will be forced to face off as circumstances spiral out of control. Former enemies will unite against common foes while the dark forces combine to fight for their right to rule. Heroes will be forged in the heat of battle on both sides. Prepare for battle...war will find you in the midst of The Broken Council
Steven R. Burke: I work as a manager of technical services for a web based medical software company. When I am not working or writing I enjoy time with my family, participating in or watching sports, serving in my church, and playing games when time permits. I currently live in Utah with my wife and son.
The Broken Council is Steven's debut novel.
City Limits by Sheralyn Pratt
Rhea's best friend Kay McCoy moves to Salt Lake City to keep a closer eye on Rhea, and Rhea worries that Kay wants things to go back to the way they were in Los Angeles - clubbing, dancing, and men. But when Rhea agrees to do a simple, harmless favor for Kay, she unwittingly sets off a series of events that ends up with a secret society appearing right at her door.
The stakes are higher than ever - solving the case means more than just collecting her weekly paycheck. This time, it's a matter of life and death.
(Book #3 in the Rhea Jensen series)
Sheralyn Pratt was born at an early age, with 10 fingers and 10 toes. She is proud to report that she currently retains all 20 digits. In the past Sheralyn has been a karate instructor, musical theater performer, a beach bum, freelance writer, nomadic traveler, and, yes, a private investigator. At the moment she enjoys working with and training her dog to give the poor thing breaks from sitting and Sheralyn's feet with the unbearable task of watching someone write a book.
Really, and you thought your job was bad!
Sheralyn currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, although as people who know her can attest to, that is subject to change at any time
My Gift to You by Lori Nawyn
Trish Ingram works hard to maintain the perfect suburban household— or, at least, the appearance of one. By managing her outer world with lavish attention and rigid control, she’s able to ignore and conceal the darkness of her inner world, which is plagued by traumatic childhood memories of loss.
Her terminally ill sister-in-law, Jamie, sees through the façade and reaches out in love to Trish, inspiring her to seek a more meaningful life and a more authentic self. But the childhood scars run deep, and despite Trish’s best efforts, she’s unable to be the wife and mother her family needs.
Devastated by the departure of her husband and daughter, Trish faces the challenge and opportunity of a lifetime. She desires to move forward in faith, but this desire alone cannot mend her family’s shattered trust. The hollow realm of denial and fear has been her safe haven. To confront pain and transcend the shadows of her past will require a level of courage she’s not sure she possesses.
Lori Nawyn's award-winning essays have appeared in regional and national publications including Outside Bozeman, Segullah, Deseret News, and CraziBeautiful Women. One of her short stories was published in the anthology Stolen Christmas. My Gift to You is her debut novel.
Lori is currently writing her next novel, and she also works as a freelance artist. She is the illustrator of the award-winning children's picture book What Are You Thinking? which was released in July 2010 by ThoughtsAlive Publishing. She and her fireman husband live in northern Utah where they enjoy spending time with their four children and two granddaughters, plus an assortment of dogs, rabbits, and chickens.
The Peasant Queen by Cheri Chesley
"Sire, I don’t understand your plans for me,” Krystal pleaded.
“Please send me home. After all, I’m only a mere peasant girl.”
King Gregory stepped closer and lifted a strand of her hair in his hand. “I don’t want you to ask me that again. And as for being a mere peasant girl, you are that no longer.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have the authority to name a princess of Avolonya, and I have. You are now that princess.”
After running away from home, Krystal is transported to a faraway kingdom where an evil tyrant is bent on taking the crown—and Krystal's hand in marriage. But when she falls in love with the rightful heir to the throne, she must make an impossible choice: sacrifice her one chance at happiness and agree to marry King Gregory, or face the destructin of an entire kingdom.
In her debut novel, Cheri Chesley delights readers of all ages with this epic tale of a simple farm girl who discovers that even the humblest of peasants has the potential to change the world.
Cheri Chesley believes in magic and miracles. When not writing she can be found reading the dictionary for fun or improving her photography. She lives with her husband and numerous children in Tooele, Utah.
In 2006, Cheri rediscovered her passion for writing and decided to start taking herself and her constantly speaking characters seriously. She enjoys the continued support of her husband and family, including extended family, across the nation. And she could never have gotten this far without a little help from her friends, too.
The Upside of Down by Rebecca Talley
Natalie Drake certainly has her hands full raising a large family, dealing with her difficult mother, and maintaining a relationship with her rebellious teenager. Just when things seem to be going smoothly, she finds out another unexpected surprise—she’s going to have a baby. Faced with so many challenges, Natalie must learn to trust in a plan that isn’t what she imagined and discover that every situation has an upside.
Rebecca Talley grew up in Santa Barbara, California and now lives on a ranch in Colorado with her amazing husband, 8 of her 10 creative children, horses, goats, and a llama named Tina. She is the author of a children's picture book, Grasshopper Pie. Her stories have been published in Story Friends, Our Little Friend, The Friend, and Stories for Children. Cedar Fort released her YA novel, Heaven Scent, in spring 2008.
Besides writing, Rebecca enjoys eating chocolate by the pound, dancing to disco music while she cleans all the messes that seem to multiply and replenish her house, and contemplating all the craft projects that still need to be completed. You can find Rebecca at www.rebeccatalley.com.
Stolen Christmas by Various Authors
What happens when you’re so poor you have to steal your Christmas presents? Have you ever taken a punch in the face as your Christmas gift to the girl you love? Or saved Christmas while hunting were-weevils?
These award-winning Christmas stories are the best of the best from the LDS Publisher Christmas Story Contests. From Christmases past, to present, to future; from sweet and inspirational, to zany and delightful—there’s a story for everyone in this eclectic collection.
CLICK HERE for details on how to win these books.
CLICK HERE for details on sponsoring the contest.
Please take a moment to learn more about our wonderfully generous sponsors.
The Broken Council by Steven R. Burke
The lands of Tuwa are once again embroiled in conflict. Ancient councils are convened as old partnerships break apart, and new, tenuous alliances are forged. The threat of war is spreading throughout the land, and no one is sure what will become of the once peaceful land.
The Guardians have been compelled to intervene as one of their own breaks sacred laws in search of forbidden powers. Lives will be lost, deception will abound, and life as the people know it will cease to exist.
As events escalate, families will be forced to face off as circumstances spiral out of control. Former enemies will unite against common foes while the dark forces combine to fight for their right to rule. Heroes will be forged in the heat of battle on both sides. Prepare for battle...war will find you in the midst of The Broken Council
Steven R. Burke: I work as a manager of technical services for a web based medical software company. When I am not working or writing I enjoy time with my family, participating in or watching sports, serving in my church, and playing games when time permits. I currently live in Utah with my wife and son.
The Broken Council is Steven's debut novel.
City Limits by Sheralyn Pratt
Rhea's best friend Kay McCoy moves to Salt Lake City to keep a closer eye on Rhea, and Rhea worries that Kay wants things to go back to the way they were in Los Angeles - clubbing, dancing, and men. But when Rhea agrees to do a simple, harmless favor for Kay, she unwittingly sets off a series of events that ends up with a secret society appearing right at her door.
The stakes are higher than ever - solving the case means more than just collecting her weekly paycheck. This time, it's a matter of life and death.
(Book #3 in the Rhea Jensen series)
Sheralyn Pratt was born at an early age, with 10 fingers and 10 toes. She is proud to report that she currently retains all 20 digits. In the past Sheralyn has been a karate instructor, musical theater performer, a beach bum, freelance writer, nomadic traveler, and, yes, a private investigator. At the moment she enjoys working with and training her dog to give the poor thing breaks from sitting and Sheralyn's feet with the unbearable task of watching someone write a book.
Really, and you thought your job was bad!
Sheralyn currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah, although as people who know her can attest to, that is subject to change at any time
My Gift to You by Lori Nawyn
Trish Ingram works hard to maintain the perfect suburban household— or, at least, the appearance of one. By managing her outer world with lavish attention and rigid control, she’s able to ignore and conceal the darkness of her inner world, which is plagued by traumatic childhood memories of loss.
Her terminally ill sister-in-law, Jamie, sees through the façade and reaches out in love to Trish, inspiring her to seek a more meaningful life and a more authentic self. But the childhood scars run deep, and despite Trish’s best efforts, she’s unable to be the wife and mother her family needs.
Devastated by the departure of her husband and daughter, Trish faces the challenge and opportunity of a lifetime. She desires to move forward in faith, but this desire alone cannot mend her family’s shattered trust. The hollow realm of denial and fear has been her safe haven. To confront pain and transcend the shadows of her past will require a level of courage she’s not sure she possesses.
Lori Nawyn's award-winning essays have appeared in regional and national publications including Outside Bozeman, Segullah, Deseret News, and CraziBeautiful Women. One of her short stories was published in the anthology Stolen Christmas. My Gift to You is her debut novel.
Lori is currently writing her next novel, and she also works as a freelance artist. She is the illustrator of the award-winning children's picture book What Are You Thinking? which was released in July 2010 by ThoughtsAlive Publishing. She and her fireman husband live in northern Utah where they enjoy spending time with their four children and two granddaughters, plus an assortment of dogs, rabbits, and chickens.
The Peasant Queen by Cheri Chesley
"Sire, I don’t understand your plans for me,” Krystal pleaded.
“Please send me home. After all, I’m only a mere peasant girl.”
King Gregory stepped closer and lifted a strand of her hair in his hand. “I don’t want you to ask me that again. And as for being a mere peasant girl, you are that no longer.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have the authority to name a princess of Avolonya, and I have. You are now that princess.”
After running away from home, Krystal is transported to a faraway kingdom where an evil tyrant is bent on taking the crown—and Krystal's hand in marriage. But when she falls in love with the rightful heir to the throne, she must make an impossible choice: sacrifice her one chance at happiness and agree to marry King Gregory, or face the destructin of an entire kingdom.
In her debut novel, Cheri Chesley delights readers of all ages with this epic tale of a simple farm girl who discovers that even the humblest of peasants has the potential to change the world.
Cheri Chesley believes in magic and miracles. When not writing she can be found reading the dictionary for fun or improving her photography. She lives with her husband and numerous children in Tooele, Utah.
In 2006, Cheri rediscovered her passion for writing and decided to start taking herself and her constantly speaking characters seriously. She enjoys the continued support of her husband and family, including extended family, across the nation. And she could never have gotten this far without a little help from her friends, too.
The Upside of Down by Rebecca Talley
Natalie Drake certainly has her hands full raising a large family, dealing with her difficult mother, and maintaining a relationship with her rebellious teenager. Just when things seem to be going smoothly, she finds out another unexpected surprise—she’s going to have a baby. Faced with so many challenges, Natalie must learn to trust in a plan that isn’t what she imagined and discover that every situation has an upside.
Beloved author Rebecca Talley carefully creates this touching and heartfelt story that is sure to inspire you. With true-to-life characters and situations, The Upside of Down will reignite your faith and remind you of the importance of family.
Rebecca Talley grew up in Santa Barbara, California and now lives on a ranch in Colorado with her amazing husband, 8 of her 10 creative children, horses, goats, and a llama named Tina. She is the author of a children's picture book, Grasshopper Pie. Her stories have been published in Story Friends, Our Little Friend, The Friend, and Stories for Children. Cedar Fort released her YA novel, Heaven Scent, in spring 2008.
Besides writing, Rebecca enjoys eating chocolate by the pound, dancing to disco music while she cleans all the messes that seem to multiply and replenish her house, and contemplating all the craft projects that still need to be completed. You can find Rebecca at www.rebeccatalley.com.
Stolen Christmas by Various Authors
What happens when you’re so poor you have to steal your Christmas presents? Have you ever taken a punch in the face as your Christmas gift to the girl you love? Or saved Christmas while hunting were-weevils?
These award-winning Christmas stories are the best of the best from the LDS Publisher Christmas Story Contests. From Christmases past, to present, to future; from sweet and inspirational, to zany and delightful—there’s a story for everyone in this eclectic collection.
Featuring LDS authors:
Roger Bonner • Don Carey • Laura Craner
Joyce DiPastena • Sarah M. Eden
L.T. Elliot • Gussie Fick
Melanie Goldmund • M. Gray
Taegyn Hutchinson • Angie Lofthouse
Lori Nawyn • Tristi Pinkston
Brian C. Ricks • Sandra Sorenson
Janice Sperry • Christine Thackeray
Joyce DiPastena • Sarah M. Eden
L.T. Elliot • Gussie Fick
Melanie Goldmund • M. Gray
Taegyn Hutchinson • Angie Lofthouse
Lori Nawyn • Tristi Pinkston
Brian C. Ricks • Sandra Sorenson
Janice Sperry • Christine Thackeray
CLICK HERE for details on how to win these books.
CLICK HERE for details on sponsoring the contest.
11/25/10
Happy Thanksgiving!
I tried to find the original of this so I could link to it,
but no luck. However, it says it's from www.inkygirl.com
but no luck. However, it says it's from www.inkygirl.com
11/24/10
Color Me Embarassed...
When I created the post for the Christmas Story Contest, I did a copy and paste from last year's post and just updated the info.
BUT. I forgot to change the e-mail address from "hotmail" to "gmail".
Oops!
Normally, that would not be a big problem except for the fact that hotmail is being weirder than ever. Half the time, I can't even get to the log-in page. The Internet tells me it doesn't exist. I don't know if this is a hotmail issue that everyone's having, or a problem with my browser, or if hotmail just decided to "unfriend" me. But whatever...
If you sent your Christmas story to the hotmail address, please resend it to the GMAIL address.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
11/23/10
Do Awards = Sales?
How much impact on sales volume does being an award winner (such as a the Whitney awards) make?
Is there a place to find out how many books a certain author sells? Or publisher?
The answer to the first question is "I don't know" because the answer to the second question is "No."
Most publishers do not give good information on their sales. They might tell you that a particular book has sold over X number of copies, but that's about it. Or they might claim a book is a best-seller, which could mean that it's hit an unspecified sales level or that it's simply sold more copies than the other books they publish. No one knows.
An author might be willing to give specifics on sales if they're having a one-on-one conversation with you, but there's no way to check the accuracy of those numbers. Also, their numbers will run anywhere from three months to a full year behind, depending on how their publisher pays royalties.
As far as awards boosting sales, in general, an award will have a positive influence on sales. All things being equal, a customer tends to believe that if a book got an award, it must be good. Obviously, a Newbery is going to really boost sales. A Whitney, not as much, due to market size.
Any Whitney winners want to comment on how they feel the award impacted their book sales?
11/18/10
National Christian Market
I've been told that no one from Utah or published in Utah can break into the national Christian market, regardless of religious afiliation or genre. Is this true?
That's pretty much been my experience. You may find a few bookstores willing to carry you outside of Utah, but it's going to be difficult.
Years ago I represented an author who had a wonderful, non-LDS, Christian oriented book for families. Latter-day Saints wouldn't buy it because it was general Christian. Christians wouldn't buy it because it was from Utah.
The author self-published, changing the title and pen name, but left the content exactly the same. They got a PO Box in a Bible belt state, and sold the book online. It did well enough that it was eventually picked up by a Christian publisher. I don't think the publisher ever knew they were dealing with an LDS Utah resident.
As far as I know, it's still the same. Readers? What has been your experience? No speculation. We want first-hand experiences.
11/17/10
Where Can I Self Publish?
I am trying to find a good company to self-publish my book. I have used Lulu.com in the past but am not happy that their finished products are not professional looking. They used to be, but have changed. It is also hard to get them to respond to errors as they are getting so many clients.
Do you offer self-publishing? If so, what are your prices, and how do you go about publishing books?
I haven't used Lulu in a long time. I wasn't aware that their quality had decreased. That's too bad because they were a good resource and I've recommend them in the past. Anyone else used Lulu recently? Can you confirm that their quality is less than it used to be?
More recently, I've used Amazon's CreateSpace. That is who I used for Stolen Christmas. I was very pleased with the result. Like Lulu, you must send them print-ready files.
One thing to remember is that these companies are automated. They do no editing or design work, unless you pay extra. The quality of what you get back is determined by the quality of the files you send them.
If you're going big time small press, you could check out Lightning Source. They do a good job.
There are also places like AuthorHouse and iUniverse who make self-publishing fairly easy. I don't recommend them because I have not been at all impressed with their editing services (which cost extra). They are inconsistent in their quality.
No, LDS Publisher does not do self-publishing or any type of publishing, other than the story contests. This persona is a publishing advice columnist. Period.
There is an ad for LibrisPro running over in my sidebar. I make no endorsements or claims for this company, only point out that their ad gives you a link to explore.
Readers, if you assist self-publishers and would like to toot your own horn, or if you have used the services of a company you can recommend, feel free to leave info in the comments section.
11/16/10
The Self-Publishing Bias
Is it factual that book reviewers will not review a self published book? Or that some bookstores won't carry them at all?
It depends.
Once upon a time, there was a huge prejudice against self-published books. The idea was that if they were good enough, a publisher would pick them up. If no publisher wanted them, then they weren't very good.
While there are still a multitude of examples of books that support that prejudice, there are also many self-published books that are absolutely wonderful—but that just couldn't find a good fit with a traditional publisher.
If you self-publish, you generally are going to have a harder row to hoe when it comes to getting attention and shelf space. Self-published fiction is very difficult to get into bookstores; non-fiction is a little easier. If you're planning to go this route, I strongly recommend you do your research, starting with these books:
The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing
Dan Poynter's Self-Publishing Manual
Jump Start Your Book Sales
Guerrilla Marketing for Writers
I'd also suggest you talk to some people who have successfully self-published and get their input.
And have your distribution avenues set up BEFORE you spend a lot of money designing and printing your book.
So to answer your question: Some reviewers will not review self-published books, some will. Some bookstores will not carry self-published books, some will.
11/11/10
Do I Have to Have a Launch Party?
Do I have to have a launch party, or can I just send out announcements?
No. You don't have to have a launch party.
However, book sales are greatly benefited by the human connection—the more you interact with readers on a personal level where they can meet and greet and get to know you, the better your sales. A launch party is a fun way to do this.
If you just can't do a face-to-face launch party, then get on Facebook and make friends. Blog. Have a virtual launch party with activities and prizes. Do something to let people know you and like you.
11/9/10
Book of Mormon Anthology Follow-Up
[updated September 2011]
Does this mean you'll finish the critiques on the Book of Mormon contest submissions soon?
[grimaces]
Remember when I said I was in semi-retirement? That didn't work out so well.
When I started the Book of Mormon contest, I was still in semi-retirement and would have had plenty of time to do the critiques and put a book together, as scheduled.
However, a week after the contest was over, I was forced out of semi-retirement and back into a "real" job—which has kept me incredibly busy. The contest and anthology (as well as daily blog posting) were pushed onto a back burner, where they are still simmering. I sincerely apologize for the delay.
Yes, I am still working on the story critiques—a little at a time. But no, I don't think there will be enough to do a proper anthology. No, I do not have a date when you can expect to have the critiques finished.
So for those of you asking for an official statement...
Book of Mormon Contest/Anthology Rights Release:
As per the one-time publishing rights referenced HERE, all authors are hereby released from the conditions implicit with submission to the contest.
That means, if you submitted a story for the Book of Mormon contest/anthology and you'd like to submit it somewhere else, go ahead and do so. If your story is unavailable when and if I decide to publish an anthology, that will be my loss.
11/8/10
2010 Christmas Story Contest
Guess what we forgot to do back in the summer???
Yep. I totally forgot about our annual Christmas Story Contest.
I know this is short notice. I know a lot of you are working on NaNoWriMo. But—
I hope you'll find some time to write and submit a story for the...
LDSP 2010 Christmas
Short Story Contest
Short Story Contest
Submission Rules:
- FOLLOW rules carefully! In the past, I've let some of you slide a little. But since this is for a publication, I'm going to be as sticky-picky as I am when receiving real submissions. Why? Because this is a REAL submission!
- Write a short Christmas story in any genre. Stories should be positive and family friendly. I reserve the right to refuse any story I deem inappropriate for this blog/book.
- Maximum word count: 3,000; no minimum.
- Story must be previously unpublished. Stories published anywhere other than your personal website or blog are ineligible. (That includes books, magazines, e-zines or other contests.)
- Stories submitted for previous years' contests are also ineligible for this contest. (But may be selected for publication in the book.)
- Paste entire story into an e-mail. NO ATTACHMENTS, please.
—Put "Contest: Title of Story" in the subject line of your e-mail. (Example: Contest: A Christmas Gift for Mary)
—At the top of the body of your e-mail, type your name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, word count and whether you are a published or unpublished author (defined below). (Example:
LDS Publisher
123 My Street
My Town, ST 00000
123)456-7890
ldspublisher@gmail.com
word count: 1990
published author
—Skip a line, then put the title of your story
—Skip a line, then paste in your story.
- "Published"—as in published author—is defined as someone paid you money or comp copies (in the case of magazines) for any story or book written by you. (So either a publisher paid you, or you self-published and people bought your book.)
- If you are a published and/or agented author, check with your publisher and/or agent before submitting. They will want to know the information listed under "Book Details".
- You may submit more than one story. Send each submission in a separate e-mail. Include all your info, as outlined above, with each e-mail/story.
- SUBMIT your story any time between NOW and Saturday, December 18, 2010.
- I will post the stories beginning on December 1st, in the order that they arrive.
- We will have Reader Voting for the best stories, as we have done in previous contests. The winners are guaranteed a spot in the book. Voting will take place December 20–24th. I will post voting rules then.
- You may tell your friends that you've submitted a story and to please go vote, but DO NOT tell them which story is yours. We want the stories to win on merit, not personal popularity.
PRIZE: Publication in the next LDSP Christmas Anthology
- There will be four winners:
Readers' Choice/Published Author
Readers' Choice/Unpublished Author
Editor's Choice/Published Author
Editor's Choice/Unpublished Author
These four winners are guaranteed a spot in the anthology.
- As usual, I reserve the right to not award one of the Editor's Choice awards if I feel none of the stories deserve it.
- Other stories in the anthology will include my choices from this and previous Christmas contests held on this blog, selected based on providing a variety of stories and book size.
- Anthology will be published before Christmas, either 2011 or 2012, depending on the number of quality submissions received. All authors to be included in the book will be notified six months before publication.
Book Details (Read Carefully):
- By submitting a story to this contest, you are agreeing to all the conditions below.
- Authors shall give LDS Publisher One-Time Publishing Rights for inclusion of story in the as yet untitled Christmas story compilation. This is the non-exclusive right to publish your story in this compilation, in various formats, and to retain your story in the compilation until LDS Publisher takes the compilation out of print.
- Authors shall retain all other rights and copyrights to their stories and may sell this story to any other party with a publication date after release of the compilation.
- Compensation for use of story in this compilation shall be: one free e-book copy of the published book sent to author upon publication; author's name listed in the Table of Contents and on the first page of the story; and rights to use this compilation as a publishing credit. No royalties, advances or other monetary compensation will be given to any author. Author may not print or sell the e-book files.
- Compensation exception: If sales of the book exceed costs to produce it, LDS Publisher shall notify authors and arrange an equal royalty split between all authors, illustrator and typesetter. Conditions and terms of royalty and payment shall be determined at that time.
- LDS Publisher shall assume no rights to any future works by author.
- LDS Publisher shall have full editorial rights to the stories included in the compilation, including, but not limited to, title changes, editing for space and content, design and layout of book, title of book, and book cover.
- The compilation will be available for purchase online in both print and e-book formats at a TBA future date.
- The compilation may or may not be made available to bookstores at discounted pricing, but in any case, no marketing will be done by LDS Publisher to guarantee placement in any bookstore.
- Authors agree to help spread the word about the contest and the book by any or all of the following methods:
—Word of mouth to friends and family
—Website/blog buttons, links, posts, etc
—Facebook, My Space, Twitter, or other networking sites or forums
Help spread the word! Post about the contest on your blog, in your forums, and e-mail all your friends.
Buttons for your blogs:
Standard Sidebar (220px)
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LDS Agents?
I just found your blog and am just thrilled! I’m about to start the whole query (what I hear is a nightmare) challenge, and as I am getting all my ducks in a row I have to wonder…are there LDS agents out in the world? I know this may be a completely moronic question, but I am really curious. I have heard some publishers won’t look at a manuscript unless they have an agent. Does this same rule of thumb apply to the LDS market.
Sorry if this question has been asked before. I did a search and couldn’t find anything about it though.
Thanks so much for your time and this blog!
LDS agents? No such animal. The reason being the LDS market is so small that no one could make a living at it. As far as I am aware, all LDS publishers will accept unagented manuscripts.
However, because you don't have an agent to look out for you, it's even more important that you have your contract looked at by an attorney familiar with publishing law, so you know what you're signing.
11/1/10
November 2010 Prize Sponsors
Last month's prize winners announced HERE.
Please take a moment to learn more about our wonderfully generous sponsors.
Who's at the Door? A Memoir of Me and the Missionaries by Dan Harrington
Experience the gospel in a new perspective while witnessing Dan Harrington's spiritual journey.
Not just another tale of conversion, Dan reverently reveals the Mormon religion through a non-member's eyes as he reflects upon his experiences with missionaries and Church members, forges new friendships, and finds an unexpected common ground of faith.
Find out who's at the door and see what can happen when you open it.
When Dan Harrington was eight years old, he tried to interview a talking Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Santa's Village in New Hampshire. With captivating questions such as "Exactly what Reindeer games do you play?" and "What's Santa's favorite cookie?" he drove a teenage employee crazy enough to say that Rudolph was sleepy and had to go to bed.
Harrington became a professional freelance writer many years later in 2007. His work has appeared in publications such as Village Soup, The Kennebec Journal, Inside Pro Wrestling/The Wrestler, Portland Magazine, and LDS Church News.
Who's at the Door? A Memoir of Me and the Missionaries is his first book.
Oh, Say Can You See by L.C. Lewis
Although the British raids have left Washington a devastated, blackened city, the battered Constitution has held and the presidency has survived!
But the struggling government has no home. The British saw to that. Gone is the Capitol, her magnificent library, and the chambers of the Congress and the Supreme Court. Gone also is the President’s House, and every relic and document not secreted out of the city.
Next on the list of British prizes—the rebellious port city of Baltimore! A victory here would assure the Americans’ capitulation, but a loss would dilute the importance of the destruction of Washington.
But has the raid on Washington stiffened the backs of the Americans? This is the question gnawing at the leaders of both armies as the toll of the war mounts on both sides.
L.C. Lewis was born in the history-rich area neighboring Baltimore, Maryland, and has spent most of her life there. She and her husband raised their four children in this area, and Laurie, a homemaker, used her free time to write novels and plays. During a seven-year stint as a science-education facilitator in the Carroll County Public School System, Laurie honed her research skills, and as her children left home, she focused her energies on writing full time. She also became an avid traveler, constantly researching locales and their colorful people to flesh out her work. Laurie now spends her time bringing that research to life in family novels and historical fiction.
The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson
A mermaid haunts Adrianne's dreams . . . is she coming to warn her, save her, or drag her down into the depths of the briny sea forever?
When Adrianne comes face-to-face with the mermaid of Windwaithe Island, of whom she has heard terrible stories all her life, she is convinced the mermaid means to keep her younger sister.
Adrianne, fierce-willed and courageous, is determined to protect her sister from the mermaid, and her family from starvation. However, the mermaid continues to haunt Adrianne in her dreams and with her song.
Sheila A. Nielson: A native of San Jose, Sheila earned a BFA in children's illustration from BYU. While there, she got her dream job being a children's librarian and ended up staying in the state. She's been a librarian for 12+ years.
Sheila started making up stories as a child and begin writing stories in the sixth grade. She has diverse and numerous hobbies, including doll collecting, art, reading, writing, and horseback riding. I also collect mermaids--but ONLY those wearing fantastic mermaid outfits.
The Forbidden Sea is Sheila's debut novel.
Stolen Christmas by Various Authors
What happens when you’re so poor you have to steal your Christmas presents? Have you ever taken a punch in the face as your Christmas gift to the girl you love? Or saved Christmas while hunting were-weevils?
These award-winning Christmas stories are the best of the best from the LDS Publisher Christmas Story Contests. From Christmases past, to present, to future; from sweet and inspirational, to zany and delightful—there’s a story for everyone in this eclectic collection.
CLICK HERE for details on how to win these books.
CLICK HERE for details on sponsoring the contest.
Please take a moment to learn more about our wonderfully generous sponsors.
Who's at the Door? A Memoir of Me and the Missionaries by Dan Harrington
Experience the gospel in a new perspective while witnessing Dan Harrington's spiritual journey.
Not just another tale of conversion, Dan reverently reveals the Mormon religion through a non-member's eyes as he reflects upon his experiences with missionaries and Church members, forges new friendships, and finds an unexpected common ground of faith.
Find out who's at the door and see what can happen when you open it.
When Dan Harrington was eight years old, he tried to interview a talking Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Santa's Village in New Hampshire. With captivating questions such as "Exactly what Reindeer games do you play?" and "What's Santa's favorite cookie?" he drove a teenage employee crazy enough to say that Rudolph was sleepy and had to go to bed.
Harrington became a professional freelance writer many years later in 2007. His work has appeared in publications such as Village Soup, The Kennebec Journal, Inside Pro Wrestling/The Wrestler, Portland Magazine, and LDS Church News.
Who's at the Door? A Memoir of Me and the Missionaries is his first book.
Oh, Say Can You See by L.C. Lewis
Although the British raids have left Washington a devastated, blackened city, the battered Constitution has held and the presidency has survived!
But the struggling government has no home. The British saw to that. Gone is the Capitol, her magnificent library, and the chambers of the Congress and the Supreme Court. Gone also is the President’s House, and every relic and document not secreted out of the city.
Next on the list of British prizes—the rebellious port city of Baltimore! A victory here would assure the Americans’ capitulation, but a loss would dilute the importance of the destruction of Washington.
But has the raid on Washington stiffened the backs of the Americans? This is the question gnawing at the leaders of both armies as the toll of the war mounts on both sides.
L.C. Lewis was born in the history-rich area neighboring Baltimore, Maryland, and has spent most of her life there. She and her husband raised their four children in this area, and Laurie, a homemaker, used her free time to write novels and plays. During a seven-year stint as a science-education facilitator in the Carroll County Public School System, Laurie honed her research skills, and as her children left home, she focused her energies on writing full time. She also became an avid traveler, constantly researching locales and their colorful people to flesh out her work. Laurie now spends her time bringing that research to life in family novels and historical fiction.The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson
A mermaid haunts Adrianne's dreams . . . is she coming to warn her, save her, or drag her down into the depths of the briny sea forever?
When Adrianne comes face-to-face with the mermaid of Windwaithe Island, of whom she has heard terrible stories all her life, she is convinced the mermaid means to keep her younger sister.
Adrianne, fierce-willed and courageous, is determined to protect her sister from the mermaid, and her family from starvation. However, the mermaid continues to haunt Adrianne in her dreams and with her song.
Sheila A. Nielson: A native of San Jose, Sheila earned a BFA in children's illustration from BYU. While there, she got her dream job being a children's librarian and ended up staying in the state. She's been a librarian for 12+ years.
Sheila started making up stories as a child and begin writing stories in the sixth grade. She has diverse and numerous hobbies, including doll collecting, art, reading, writing, and horseback riding. I also collect mermaids--but ONLY those wearing fantastic mermaid outfits.
The Forbidden Sea is Sheila's debut novel.
Stolen Christmas by Various Authors
What happens when you’re so poor you have to steal your Christmas presents? Have you ever taken a punch in the face as your Christmas gift to the girl you love? Or saved Christmas while hunting were-weevils?
These award-winning Christmas stories are the best of the best from the LDS Publisher Christmas Story Contests. From Christmases past, to present, to future; from sweet and inspirational, to zany and delightful—there’s a story for everyone in this eclectic collection.
Featuring LDS authors:
Roger Bonner • Don Carey • Laura Craner
Joyce DiPastena • Sarah M. Eden
L.T. Elliot • Gussie Fick
Melanie Goldmund • M. Gray
Taegyn Hutchinson • Angie Lofthouse
Lori Nawyn • Tristi Pinkston
Brian C. Ricks • Sandra Sorenson
Janice Sperry • Christine Thackeray
Joyce DiPastena • Sarah M. Eden
L.T. Elliot • Gussie Fick
Melanie Goldmund • M. Gray
Taegyn Hutchinson • Angie Lofthouse
Lori Nawyn • Tristi Pinkston
Brian C. Ricks • Sandra Sorenson
Janice Sperry • Christine Thackeray
CLICK HERE for details on how to win these books.
CLICK HERE for details on sponsoring the contest.
10/22/10
HELP ME Find Your Books!
And by "ME," I don't just mean LDS Publisher—I mean every single reader out there who accesses the Internet!
If you're a published (or about to be published) author, you need an Internet presence and you need good solid information about your book(s)!
I know I've talked about this before but I think it bears repeating because because a lot of you (especially newly published authors) are NOT doing this. How do I know you're not doing it? Because I'm googling you!
When I hear about a new LDS author or that an author has a new book about to come out, I google you to find the needed information to post about your book on the LDS Fiction site. I should be able to find you in three clicks. Guess what? Often, I can't find you in 30 clicks!
Okay, rarely am I that persistent. But the point is, if I'm not willing to look that hard for you, potential readers won't be either. If they can't find you in three clicks, they'll assume you aren't that good and won't bother. Lost sale, lost fan.
Sometimes when I do find an author blog, I'm able to determine that yes, the person is an author, and yes, the person does have a book coming out or the book has been recently released. But that's all. No mention of the title, the release date, the publisher. I know that in our culture, we're trained not to toot our own horn but there's a difference between over-doing the bragging and simply providing information to interested parties.
Here is the bare minimum that you need to do:
Blogs
Websites
If you have a blog or website that you think is a good example of doing it right, feel free to put your link in the comments section.
Don't have a blog and need help setting one up? I've put some basic info under the label Blogging 101.
If you're a published (or about to be published) author, you need an Internet presence and you need good solid information about your book(s)!
I know I've talked about this before but I think it bears repeating because because a lot of you (especially newly published authors) are NOT doing this. How do I know you're not doing it? Because I'm googling you!
When I hear about a new LDS author or that an author has a new book about to come out, I google you to find the needed information to post about your book on the LDS Fiction site. I should be able to find you in three clicks. Guess what? Often, I can't find you in 30 clicks!
Okay, rarely am I that persistent. But the point is, if I'm not willing to look that hard for you, potential readers won't be either. If they can't find you in three clicks, they'll assume you aren't that good and won't bother. Lost sale, lost fan.
Sometimes when I do find an author blog, I'm able to determine that yes, the person is an author, and yes, the person does have a book coming out or the book has been recently released. But that's all. No mention of the title, the release date, the publisher. I know that in our culture, we're trained not to toot our own horn but there's a difference between over-doing the bragging and simply providing information to interested parties.
Here is the bare minimum that you need to do:
- Have a blog or website. They don't have to be fancy. A simple, visually appealing static blog using a basic template is better than nothing.
- Have a post about your book. Use LDS Fiction posts as a template. In fact, if your book is listed there, copy and paste it onto your blog, if you want. I don't care.
- If you have more than one book, do a post on each book. If you have a series, let us know in what order to read the books.
- Make sure there is at least one link in that post to a place where readers can buy your book online—Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Deseret Book, Seagull, BYU Bookstore, your publisher... (the more options the better)
- With publisher permission, post the first chapter of your book on your blog.
- Put the book covers as pictures in your sidebar.
- When you have a new book coming out, get that information up there as soon as possible!
- If you're doing a book signing or speaking somewhere, set up a Page on your blog and put a link in your sidebar, with information well in advance of the event. Include date, time, location, complete address, phone number of location (if available), and if you're savvy, a link to a map of how to get there.
Blogs
- Sheralyn Pratt (more elaborate)
- Kiersten White (fairly simple)
- T Lynn Adams (very simple)
Websites
If you have a blog or website that you think is a good example of doing it right, feel free to put your link in the comments section.
Don't have a blog and need help setting one up? I've put some basic info under the label Blogging 101.
10/19/10
Someone Else Wanna' Take This One?
Hey, I'm wondering what's going on in the publishing industry with this tanked economy. Is publishing struggling as much as the rest of this great nation, or has the slump made more people want to check out of life with a good book? How are the LDS publishers doing? Main stream publishers? Just wondering.
Yes, publishing is struggling. How much, I don't know for sure.
Professionally, I am seeing fewer titles published by smaller presses and new releases held back. The bigger publishers seem to be doing about the same. In the LDS arena, I've seen accepted manuscripts and scheduled releases dropped, and series release dates pushed into the future. But then, I've also seen lots of new authors picked up and some series have added titles beyond their original scope. So it's hard to tell and publishers generally aren't forthcoming about the true state of affairs with their company. It would damage their sales to say they were struggling.
Personally, like most other bookaholics I know, I've had to put myself on a book diet. I buy fewer titles now and get a lot more from the library. Which totally stinks, but...
Publishers? Authors? Readers? Want to chime in on this?
10/15/10
Spam-a-Lot?
I've gotten a couple of complaints that comments aren't posting. So I tested it. Sure enough. My comment was hijacked and sent to my "Spam Inbox"—which I didn't even know existed!
This is what Blogger has to say about that:
Anybody know how to turn this feature OFF? I couldn't find a way to do that.
If you post a comment and it doesn't show up, don't panic. I will try to check my spam box daily (although honestly, it will most likely be a few times a week) and get your hijacked comments routed correctly. Sorry.
This is what Blogger has to say about that:
Spam Inbox
Blogger now filters comments that are likely spam comments to a Spam Inbox, much like the spam folder in your email. When someone leaves a comment on your blog, it will be reviewed against our spam detector, and comments that are identified as possible spam will be sent to your blog’s Spam Inbox, found at Comments | Spam.
You can help improve our ability to automatically detect spam comments by checking your Spam Inbox and deleting spam comments and marking real comments that may have been flagged as spam as Not Spam.
We are always seeking feedback on how to improve this feature, so please share your feedback with us by clicking on the Report Spam Filtering Issues.
Anybody know how to turn this feature OFF? I couldn't find a way to do that.
If you post a comment and it doesn't show up, don't panic. I will try to check my spam box daily (although honestly, it will most likely be a few times a week) and get your hijacked comments routed correctly. Sorry.
10/14/10
LDS Publicists
Do you know? Is there such a thing as a publicist in this LDS literature market? Or marketing specialists? I need some serious publicity and marketing help. Thanks for all you do.
I don't know of any publicists specific to the LDS market. Most publishers have their own publicists—either in-house or those to whom they contract out.
Some authors hire their own publicists.
Help me out readers. Do you know of a publicist or marketing firm/agency/individual that you would recommend? Or are YOU a publicist? Tell us in the comments. Include enough info (website, full name, etc.) so that we can track them/you down if we want to hire them/you.
10/12/10
Contract Deal-Killers
Since you mention that you wouldn't sign a contract with a certain clause here, LDSP, I thought I'd go ahead and ask: what would be the deal-killers in a contract in your opinion? ROFR, ROFLR, etc.?
As a publisher, I think ROFR (Right of First Refusal) is a good thing. Usually, a first book does not sell as well as a second, third, or twelfth book. It takes time for an author to build up a fan base. When I invest in an author, I'm not just investing in one book. I'm investing in that author's potential. The ROFR clause is there to help protect my investment—and in most cases, it should be reassuring to the author, knowing that the publisher sees this as a long-term relationship and not a one-hit wonder.
However, it's easy for ROFR to turn into a monster. It needs to be limited. For example, it must be the next book, not every new book into eternity. It also needs to have an end date, for example, a book written in the next two years. Or it can be limited to a series, or to a genre.
Lately, I've seen contracts moving away from ROFR, toward a multiple book deal. For example, a publisher may contract an author of a YA fantasy for the one book they submitted, plus two more for a series. Or maybe for the submitted mystery, plus two more unrelated mysteries. I'm fine with that. To me, it seems fair to both publisher and author—assuring that the publisher makes back an investment and that the author has an automatic in for the next two books (assuming they're good); but after that, both parties are free to move on.
ROFLR: The ROFLR (Right of First and Last Refusal) is a whole different kettle of fish—and very stinky fish at that. What this means is, you submit your next book, to Publisher #1 and they reject it. You submit it to Publisher #2 and they like it—but before you can accept their offer, you have to go back to Publisher #1 and give them the option to consider it again. That can take up to a year or more. At which point, publisher #2 may no longer be interested. I'd never agree to this.
Payment to Publisher: The other thing I'd never agree to is paying money to a traditional publisher. (There are situations where you might consider an author-assisted publishing contract, but that's for another discussion—and is never part of a traditional publishing contract.)
Those two, along with the repayment of royalties, are the only things that I would definitely reject. Other things would depend on my circumstances.
The important thing about a contract is, you need to know what each clause means in real life language, and understand how it will effect you as the author and your future abilities to write and publish.
10/5/10
Overpayment Refunds?
Hi. I'm looking at my first publishing contract. I'm a real greenie, here. It has these words:
"In all instances in which the Author shall have received an overpayment of monies under the terms hereof, the Publisher may deduct such overpayment from any further sums payable to the Author in respect to the Work."
I don't understand. Under what conditions would I be overpaid? And would I ever have to refund royalties to the publisher?
When a publisher sells to a bookstore, the bookstore then tries to sell the book. If they can't, they can return the book to the publisher. The publisher may have already paid you royalties on that sale. If they have, they deduct it from what's due in your next batch of royalties.
If the returned books are still in good condition, the publisher can resell them and you'll get the royalty on that second sale. But if they're beat up, they may have to be written off as a loss, or sold as "scratch & dent"—in which case, you probably would not get a royalty.
If more books are returned than are sold (hopefully that won't happen to your book), some publishers may require you to return royalties. (Yes, I've seen it in some contracts.) I think that is a stinky policy and would refuse to sign a contract with that in it.
In your case, since it isn't spelled out, I'd ask your publisher what would happen if returns overbalanced sales, and have them spell it out in the contract along the lines of, "in no case shall author have to return paid royalties".
*Clarification: I think returning royalties that have already been paid is a stinky policy. The part about subtracting returns from future payments is fair. This situation is one of the reasons why many publishers only pay royalties twice a year.
10/2/10
October 2010 Prize Sponsors
Last month's prize winners announced HERE.
Please take a moment to learn more about our wonderfully generous sponsors.
Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett
High school junior Jen inadvertently turns her life upside down when, out of boredom, she makes a bet that she can turn school geek, Trevor, into someone bad, someone like her. His complete opposite in every way, the sarcastic goth-girl tries pulling him into her world of partying. Instead she finds herself sucked into Trevor’s world of sci-fi movies, charity work and even – ugh! – bowling.
If that weren’t bad enough, she desperately wants to become a permanent part of the foster family she currently lives with, even if it means having a cheerleader for a sister. What’s up with that?
But Jen must come to terms with her past, including her now-dead abusive father and her imprisoned mother. Jen’s journey will lead her to discover the true meaning of friendship, family, forgiveness, and above all, love.
Cindy C Bennett was born and raised in beautiful Salt Lake City, growing up in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains. She lives with her husband, 2 daughters, and 2 dogs. She's always loved to write, mostly since high school when a teacher forced his English classes to do creative writing each day for 10 minutes. "He opened up a whole new world to me, and I will forever be grateful, Mr. Bickmore." She volunteers much of her time working with teen girls between the ages of 12-18, all of whom she finds to be fascinating creatures. When she's not writing, reading, answering emails or hanging with her family, she can ofttimes be found riding her Harley through the beautiful canyons near her home.
Journey of Honor by Jaclyn M. Hawkes
Disowned, she came to America anyway. Attacked and left pregnant by a vicious mob, she still pressed on. Finally, in spite of being accused of theft by the vilest of her attackers, Giselle tries to remain as upbeat and uncomplaining as a prairie wildflower as she travels on to Zion.
Thoroughly disillusioned with the ugliness and cruelty of slavery in the South, Trace Grayson leaves his young medical career to go west, hoping to leave bigotry and hatred behind.
Thrown together by circumstance, Trace and Giselle team up to figure out just how to make this epic journey across a continent a success. With a deep sense of honor and an equally strong sense of humor, together they learn to deal with everything except the one trial that neither of them can overcome.
Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth and hearing her children laugh.
She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe. To learn more about Jaclyn, visit www.jaclynmhawkes.com.
Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell
Kenzie Williams has it all–wealth, friends, popularity and talent. But when her father declares bankruptcy, her whole world in New York City turns upside down. Her parents' solution is to send Kenzie to live with her relatives in Paris . . . Idaho!
Feeling like she's been sentenced to three months in Hickville Prison, Kenzie must get up at the crack of dawn, do chores, and hang out with her cousin's loser friends. Then she meets Adam White, the town outcast, who's been accused of killing his best friend.
Not only is Adam the best-looking guy she's ever seen, but he's also the most fascinating guy she's ever met and Kenzie is determined to get to know him and find out his secret. But, the longer she stays in Paris, the more she realizes, Adam isn't the only one keeping secrets.
Michele Ashman Bell: What can I say, I'm a middle-aged mother of four, who, after ten years of hard work, perseverance and a lot of rejection letters, finally got a book published.
I grew up in St. George, Utah, where a lot of my family still lives, but now reside with my husband and family in the Salt Lake City area. My favorite thing to do is support my kids in their many interests. Between basketball, ballet and piano lessons we squeeze a lot into a week, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Women of the Book of Mormon by Heather B. Moore
Explore the lives, circumstances, and choices of women in the Book of Mormon in this uplifting and inspiring volume that illustrates the parallels between the lives of the women of the Book of Mormon and LDS women today. With new insights on practically every page, author Heather B. Moore explores the written and unwritten stories of the prominent women in the Book of Mormon, taking familiar material and providing vivid details about family dynamics, domestic practices, and other aspects of daily life.
By exploring historic and cultural contexts to the situations of women like Sariah, Abish, Eve, Mary, and the faithful mothers of the stripling warriors, you will peek beneath the surface of the scriptural accounts to better understand both the righteous women of the Book of Mormon, and the women who didn't use their agency wisely.
Heather Moore was born in Providence, Rhode Island, but spent most of her childhood in Orem, Utah. During these years, her family traveled back and forth between the Middle East and Utah. At the age of eight, while living in Egypt, she was baptized in the Red Sea. Heather attended the Anglican School of Jerusalem from 1987-88, and returned again to Jerusalem with her husband in 1994.
Heather graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Fashion Merchandising and minor in Business Management. This has nothing to do with writing books, but at least she can color-coordinate her kids school clothes and balance a mean checkbook.
Heather is a member of the League of Utah Writers and LDStorymakers. She also manages the editing company, Precision Editing Group, LLC.
CLICK HERE for details on how to win these books.
CLICK HERE for details on sponsoring the contest. (I can add up to four more for this month. First come, first served.)
Please take a moment to learn more about our wonderfully generous sponsors.
Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett
High school junior Jen inadvertently turns her life upside down when, out of boredom, she makes a bet that she can turn school geek, Trevor, into someone bad, someone like her. His complete opposite in every way, the sarcastic goth-girl tries pulling him into her world of partying. Instead she finds herself sucked into Trevor’s world of sci-fi movies, charity work and even – ugh! – bowling.
If that weren’t bad enough, she desperately wants to become a permanent part of the foster family she currently lives with, even if it means having a cheerleader for a sister. What’s up with that?
But Jen must come to terms with her past, including her now-dead abusive father and her imprisoned mother. Jen’s journey will lead her to discover the true meaning of friendship, family, forgiveness, and above all, love.
Cindy C Bennett was born and raised in beautiful Salt Lake City, growing up in the shadows of the majestic Rocky Mountains. She lives with her husband, 2 daughters, and 2 dogs. She's always loved to write, mostly since high school when a teacher forced his English classes to do creative writing each day for 10 minutes. "He opened up a whole new world to me, and I will forever be grateful, Mr. Bickmore." She volunteers much of her time working with teen girls between the ages of 12-18, all of whom she finds to be fascinating creatures. When she's not writing, reading, answering emails or hanging with her family, she can ofttimes be found riding her Harley through the beautiful canyons near her home.
Journey of Honor by Jaclyn M. Hawkes
Disowned, she came to America anyway. Attacked and left pregnant by a vicious mob, she still pressed on. Finally, in spite of being accused of theft by the vilest of her attackers, Giselle tries to remain as upbeat and uncomplaining as a prairie wildflower as she travels on to Zion.
Thoroughly disillusioned with the ugliness and cruelty of slavery in the South, Trace Grayson leaves his young medical career to go west, hoping to leave bigotry and hatred behind.
Thrown together by circumstance, Trace and Giselle team up to figure out just how to make this epic journey across a continent a success. With a deep sense of honor and an equally strong sense of humor, together they learn to deal with everything except the one trial that neither of them can overcome.
Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth and hearing her children laugh.
She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe. To learn more about Jaclyn, visit www.jaclynmhawkes.com.
Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell
Kenzie Williams has it all–wealth, friends, popularity and talent. But when her father declares bankruptcy, her whole world in New York City turns upside down. Her parents' solution is to send Kenzie to live with her relatives in Paris . . . Idaho!
Feeling like she's been sentenced to three months in Hickville Prison, Kenzie must get up at the crack of dawn, do chores, and hang out with her cousin's loser friends. Then she meets Adam White, the town outcast, who's been accused of killing his best friend.
Not only is Adam the best-looking guy she's ever seen, but he's also the most fascinating guy she's ever met and Kenzie is determined to get to know him and find out his secret. But, the longer she stays in Paris, the more she realizes, Adam isn't the only one keeping secrets.
Michele Ashman Bell: What can I say, I'm a middle-aged mother of four, who, after ten years of hard work, perseverance and a lot of rejection letters, finally got a book published.I grew up in St. George, Utah, where a lot of my family still lives, but now reside with my husband and family in the Salt Lake City area. My favorite thing to do is support my kids in their many interests. Between basketball, ballet and piano lessons we squeeze a lot into a week, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Women of the Book of Mormon by Heather B. Moore
Explore the lives, circumstances, and choices of women in the Book of Mormon in this uplifting and inspiring volume that illustrates the parallels between the lives of the women of the Book of Mormon and LDS women today. With new insights on practically every page, author Heather B. Moore explores the written and unwritten stories of the prominent women in the Book of Mormon, taking familiar material and providing vivid details about family dynamics, domestic practices, and other aspects of daily life.
By exploring historic and cultural contexts to the situations of women like Sariah, Abish, Eve, Mary, and the faithful mothers of the stripling warriors, you will peek beneath the surface of the scriptural accounts to better understand both the righteous women of the Book of Mormon, and the women who didn't use their agency wisely.
Heather Moore was born in Providence, Rhode Island, but spent most of her childhood in Orem, Utah. During these years, her family traveled back and forth between the Middle East and Utah. At the age of eight, while living in Egypt, she was baptized in the Red Sea. Heather attended the Anglican School of Jerusalem from 1987-88, and returned again to Jerusalem with her husband in 1994.
Heather graduated from Brigham Young University with a major in Fashion Merchandising and minor in Business Management. This has nothing to do with writing books, but at least she can color-coordinate her kids school clothes and balance a mean checkbook.
Heather is a member of the League of Utah Writers and LDStorymakers. She also manages the editing company, Precision Editing Group, LLC.
CLICK HERE for details on how to win these books.
CLICK HERE for details on sponsoring the contest. (I can add up to four more for this month. First come, first served.)
9/30/10
Book Clubs
Hey all knowing one, is there a way to find book clubs? I'm thinking of trying to market my book that way.
Uhmmm. Well, you could submit it to Oprah. That woman single-handedly started the book club phenomena. But since this is her last season for her show, I'm guessing she's already got most of the books chosen for that. Also, she's sort of picky.
But if Oprah's not interested, you might try some local talk shows. Some of them interview authors. If your book has a timely social message or you've got a humanitarian tie-in, they're more likely to spotlight you.
There's an LDS womens online book club, but I can't remember the name of it. If any readers know what it is—or you know of another website or blog that specializes in book club books, please post links in comments.
Then there's word of mouth—book clubs are always asking each other for ideas. And you can contact your local library and ask them to put your book on their book club suggestion list. If your publisher discounts group orders, that's also a good incentive. You can talk about it on your website or blog, with a link or code for the discount.
Another way to help get it noticed by book clubbers is to put a short list of discussion questions for book clubs at the end of the book (if your publisher is receptive to this idea). I've seen this pop up in several titles lately.
Readers, other ideas?
9/28/10
Literary vs Commercial Fiction
I know this is going to make me seem clueless, but what the heck is literary fiction? Or Commercial fiction? Admittedly a dork.
Literary fiction is generally more serious in tone and message. It makes you think. The content is more about thought and feeling than plot and action (although there is plot and action in it). It is character driven and deals with emotions and experiences that are universal to the human condition. The writing style is also elegant, picturesque, descriptive.
Examples of literary fiction are: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Poisonwood Bible, and a lot of the titles you read in high school English classes. Or books that win The Pulitzer Prize for fiction and other literary awards.
Commercial fiction (also called mainstream or genre fiction) is generally more plot driven, faster paced, often deals with current social problems. Look at any fiction best-seller list to find examples of commercial fiction.
Nathan Bransford talks about it HERE.
Great article HERE.
9/23/10
Why Is Non-Fiction an Easier Sale?
Thank you so much for writing such an informative blog. I love it and visit your site at least once a week.
In an old post, you stated that nonfiction sells better than fiction. Can you elaborate as to why that is?
It's consumer psychology.
For most people, a fiction book is generally a one-time read. Then it's over. Done. Never to be picked up again. It's a dose of feel good by escaping from reality fix. Some people feel guilty when they read fiction—like they're wasting time that could be better used for saving the world or something. It's hard to plunk down $24.95 for a hardback that you're only going to read once, and then feel guilty about. Kind of like chocolate, but more expensive.
Non-fiction is like whole foods. It is enlightening, uplifting and healthy for the brain and the psyche. It is often read, re-read, highlighted with personal annotations in the margins, used as a reference for years—plus it impresses your friends when they see it on your bookshelf. Also, when it comes to self-help books, that same $24.95 might just change your life—making you prettier, thinner, healthier, richer, whatever.
Of course, IMHO, this is all total nonsense. Good fiction is like air—necessary for life. You should buy as many good fiction books as your budget allows. In fact, if you have to trim your budget, cut out cable or go on a diet.
And don't feel guilty! Look at it this way: Life is stressful; everyone needs an escape.* Books are healthier than drugs and alcohol, and are much cheaper than therapy and Prozac! In fact, books should be tax deductible as a medical expense.
Hey, that would be a great addition to Obama's Health Plan. I'm calling him right now. Who's with me?
*P.S. Note my use of the semi-colon?
9/21/10
Plan Ahead for Awards
Last year, one of my favorite LDS authors was published the end of December. She should have won a Whitney (or at least been a finalist) but no one knew about her book until too late. Now, I'm facing the same issue. My debut novel is scheduled for release in December. I don't know if it will be considered Whitney worthy, but I'd sure like it to have a chance. Any ideas for that?
That happened last year to an author I quite liked. I would have nominated The Dark Divine by Bree Despain for Whitney consideration, but it was released just before Christmas and I didn't find out about it until January. Her second book, The Lost Saint is scheduled for release on December 28th.
Why do publishers do that? I don't get it. It doesn't make marketing sense to me. Maybe they don't want it lost in the glut of pre-Christmas releases, but December releases often gets lost in the post-Christmas/January doldrums. My advice is to save it for the next year.
But whatever.
As an author, you have to work with your publisher and plan ahead. If there's a specific award you're interested in, such as the Whitneys, you have to come up with a placement strategy.
To be considered for a Whitney, you have to have five nominations (minimum) during the calendar year of your release. That means you have to have enough advance readers to ensure that five of them will nominate you.
Of course, you could have your mother and 14 sisters nominate you. Even if it's a bad book and they're the only ones that like it, it will get you on the list for consideration.
However, I recommend judicious use of ARCs and/or ebooks (pdf files). Make a list of LDS readers and book bloggers. Contact your top 20 favs. Let them know that your late release means you may be overlooked for Whitney consideration. Ask them if they'd be willing to read the book and nominate you if they like it. If at least five out of the twenty don't nominate you, then you probably wouldn't have made the final list anyway.
IMHO, asking for nominations and/or online reviews is a good idea for all books, not just end of year releases. Authors, if you do a virtual book tour or give away freebies from your blog, send a note with the book asking the bloggers/winners to nominate you for awards or to leave positive reviews at online bookstores, if they feel you warrant it. If they liked your book, I'm sure most would be willing to help you out—you just need to remind them. Make it easy for them by including a list with URLs of 4 or 5 places you'd like them to nominate or leave reviews.
9/16/10
Semi-colons in Fiction
How do you feel about the use of semi-colons in fiction, and how and when do you think they should be used?
I like semi-colons. They work better in literary, historical or more serious and formal fiction than they do in, say, Middle Grade, YA or very trendy fiction.
Like all punctuation, they should be used when the situation calls for them, not just for show.
CLICK HERE for some great, easy-to-understand rules for using a semi-colon.
9/14/10
Clean YA Fantasy
Please forgive me if my question is not typical for your blog.
It was recommended to me that because I am LDS, I might have more success in finding someone who will publish or represent my YA fantasy novel if I submit my manuscript to LDS publishers.
My understanding of LDS publishers is that they prefer their material to appeal to members of the LDS faith.
The only elements in the novel that I think would make it more desirable (not necessarily marketable) to an LDS YA audience over a non-LDS market, is the lack of profanity/suggestive themes/ gratuitous violence etc... (which is inherent in my writing because I am LDS). My question is if this is grounds enough to query my MS to an LDS publisher, of if I should stick with seeking a traditional agent/publisher. I imagine the worst that can happen if I did, is that my query won’t garner any reply. However, I should hate to waste the editor’s time if I should have known in advance they won’t consider my work since there’s nothing that would really make it specific to the LDS market.
Also, were I to consider submitting a query/MS, would it be better to cater my query to the particular editor, or to send out my generic query and include a separate cover sheet with an explanation of why my novel will appeal to an LDS market?
Many LDS publishers will consider fiction that has no overt LDS message or characters. A few recent examples from the big three LDS publishers are:
- The 13th Reality series by James Dashner, published by Shadow Mountain (imprint of Deseret Book)
- A Time to Die by Jeffrey S. Savage, published by Covenant
- Flecks of Gold by Alicia Buck, published by Cedar Fort
- The Limit by Kristen Landon, published by Aladdin
- The Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson, published by Scholastic
- Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George, published by Bloomsbury
- My Double Life by Janette Rallison, published by Putnam
So the answer to your first question is yes. Yes, there are national publishers who are looking for clean YA fantasy. Yes, there are LDS publishers looking for clean YA fantasy with no LDS references.
The answer to your second question is that you should ALWAYS customize your query to your specific editor, publisher or agent. Always.
9/10/10
Dissecting a Rejection
First of all, thank you endlessly for sharing your knowledge with those us who are just starting out and would not have a snowballs chance in you-know-where of succeeding without a little help. [You're welcome.]
My question involves dissecting a rejection. Are rejection letters by the publisher typically done personally or is there a company form letter specially written to sound soothing and kind to the poor sad sap at the other end of the .com? I want to believe they were really talking to me when they said "It is evident that you have invested a great deal of time and effort developing your story," and "We hope you will consider us again for your future projects," but my inner schizophrenic is laughing at me and calling me naive.
My initial query and first 3 chapters were submitted by email as requested on the submissions form so I received an email response, as was expected, in case that helps answer the question. Thank you for your time!
Most companies use form rejections. It's easier for everyone involved. They may have a couple of variations to the basic rejection that they use depending on the reasons the manuscript was rejected, but pretty much, unless their comments reference specific and unique portions of your manuscript, assume it's a form letter and MOVE ON.
If there are specific and unique comments (such as, "I loved your main character, Jane Doe, but I really think she'd be more likeable if she wasn't covered in warts..."), then pay attention to those suggestions and consider making changes to your manuscript. However, if an editor has taken the time to add specific and unique comments, they've probably also requested that you resubmit after making changes.
If there are no specific and unique comments and no request to resubmit the same manuscript to them after re-writes, then assume the rejection is a form letter and MOVE ON.
9/9/10
Manuscript Presentation: Italics
Hi! I'm a reader of your blog, and I was hoping I could pose a question to you. My friends and I have been debating how to present italics in a manuscript. Some say underlining, but I recently heard that editors prefer straight-up italics, so they don't have to change the format later. Do you know which is currently preferred?
A lot of this depends on which software you use to create the manuscript and which software the publisher uses to typeset. Generally, if you use Microsoft Word, it doesn't matter how you indicate italics because it can be converted to usable files for most advanced typesetting programs with the styles intact. In this case, it's a simple Find/Replace for the typesetter to tag your styles in their program.
However, if you're using WordPerfect (and if you are, stop it right now and join the 21st century!) or some other archaic word processing program or if you've added a lot of unusual styling or fonts to your document (and if you have, knock it off!) that won't easily import to QuarkXPress or InDesign (the two most commonly used typesetting programs), the styles are stripped out in the conversion process and the typesetter must reference the original file to put the styles back in. In this case, underlining is MY preferred way to indicate italics because it's much easier for the typesetter to see them.
As to which you use, if the publisher's website doesn't state a preference, go ahead and use regular italics. If they want it underlined, they'll do it themselves or have you go back through and do it.
And one last note: a lot of writers overuse italics. Make sure it's really needed before you use it.
9/2/10
Credentials Are Not a Big Deal—Good Writing Is!
I must start off by explaining that I am a Stephenie Meyers writing convert—she said go for it, and I did. So I have this ms, actually two now, and I have been scouring your blog and others to figure out what on earth I am supposed to do at this point.
One of my sources gave a sample query that I have used to get started, but at the bottom, it says I should list my sources, ie. degrees, writing accomplishments, books or articles published, etc. What does one put in this part of the query if she has nothing? It seems a little pathetic to say that "the girls in my book club really liked it."
Can you make any recommendations as to what the extremely green writer would cite as a source? Or do I just not say anything?
There's nothing to be embarrassed about if you have no writing credentials. Everyone starts out green.
At that point in the query, state that this is your debut novel and leave it at that. Let your manuscript speak for itself. If it's well-written, you don't need credentials. If it's poorly written, it doesn't matter how long your cred list is. It's still going to bomb.
If you happen to have a hobby or some life experience that makes you an "expert" on some unusual aspect of the story you've written (example: if your story is a murder mystery set in the bull raising industry and you just happen to have raised bulls all your life), then you can include that. That way, if the agent/editor is unfamiliar with the setting (or whatever), they'll have some confidence that your details are legit.
(But don't worry about it if you DON'T have expertise in every area of your story. That's what research is for.)
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