"The One Thing You Should Always Do" Survey

Thanks for coming back for the last survey question!

To recap: Help me write my next article, and answer my survey question. This survey actually applies to anyone who has a spouse that's often away for long periods of time. I'm looking for a mixture of serious and humorous answers.

What is the one thing you should make sure you do while your military spouse is deployed (or do before he leaves)?

One of my answers--Learn how the new lawnmower works.

Thanks!

"The One Thing You Should Never, Ever Do" Survey

Help me write my next article, and answer my survey question. This survey actually applies to anyone who has a spouse that's often away for long periods of time. I'm looking for a mixture of serious and humorous answers.

What is the one thing you should never, ever do while your military spouse is deployed?

One of my answers--Get a dog. (In case you were wondering--No, I didn't get a dog!)

Swing by tomorrow to help me with one last survey question.

Thanks!

Cheap and Easy Homemade Yogurt

Can you tell I’m into homemade everything these days? If it’s cheaper to make than buy, I’m all over it.
I’m saving for a week on Grand Cayman with my Hunk ‘a Burnin’ Love when he gets back from deployment, so I have quite the motivation.
In the past five years, I’ve tried to make from scratch just about every food and household product there is. But for me to make it part of my routine 1) the process needs to be easy and 2) I’d better be saving a good chunk of money to make it worth my while.

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Nightmares Come to Life

Yesterday, I was confronted by my worst nightmare. Literally. A tornado siren. In the past, I haven't done so well with them. Can you say PANIC? It was the one thing that could send me into hysterics. But what do you do when Hubby's gone and you have to be a big girl for your kids? Certainly not go hysterical. Well, I'm here today to tell you that I passed the test.

I'm wearing big girl panties now! And they're still clean. :-D

The sirens went off. I got the kids into the tub, threw pillows onto them (very calmly threw), then stood there and thought, Well, I don't fit, so I guess I'm toast should the tornado decide to hit our house. And then, miracle of miracles, I inwardly shrugged and decided since there was nothing else I could do, I may as well trust that God had in under control.

And then of all things, I went to the front door and stepped outside. As in control and calmly as you please.

The message the guy gave in English was garbled, but the Spanish guy spoke nice and clear.  (Why don't they ever repeat the English message? No one ever catches it the first time.) At the end of his message about high winds, large hail stones, and other stuff not including tornadoes, the clouds moved aside for the sun and all was well. At least on our side of town. The storm cell had just passed our street and was moving quickly east. There had been a tornado spotted a few miles south of us, but nothing too close. 

It was a testament to the grace and peace God gives when you need it. I've experienced it before in other completely different circumstances, but He must have known I needed another dose. It's good to be reminded Who's in control and that his Spirit comforts and guides even through the storms. Literally.

What's your worst fear? Have you ever been confronted by it? If so, how'd you handle it?

The Barns of Tennessee

I felt like sharing a few of my recent Tennessee pix with you. The old barns fascinate me. This time of year, most of them are filled with tobacco that's being smoked. I hate cigarette smoke, but the smell tobacco being smoked has a comforting, homey quality. Makes me want to visit a pumpkin patch and drink spiced cider.

I have an ongoing love affair with the Nashville countryside. One day, we'll settle down there, but for now, I have to satisfy myself with occasional visits. I've only ever lived in cities, but I'm convinced I was born with country dirt in my blood.

In seven years, when the USAF is done with us, I'm gonna buy myself a straw hat, a pair of overalls, and a house in the country. But until then, these pix will have to do...

Disheartening News

A bit of disheartening news today. The 30 November release of Wounded Spirits has been pushed back. I don't yet have a new release date, but am hoping for end of this year or early next. Sad yes, but not paralyzing. I have plenty to keep me busy between now and the unknown new release date.

As soon as I learn the new date, you will too.

Thanks for your enthusiastic support!!

Cheap and Easy Homemade Dishwashing Detergent

So you’ve made 5 gallons of laundry detergent and now you have a box of Borax andwashing soda taking up space under your kitchen sink. What to do with it?

The first thing I did with it was make my own dishwashing detergent, as in for the dishwasher.

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Our First CLASH!

Today is the Great Kick-off! Our very first Clash.

Head over there to read, vote, and enter to win a book.

Authors check out our newly expanded submissions page. I think you'll like what you find!

See you there...

World of the Unagented Part VII--Erin Rainwater

I

"The only Agent I  had was the only One I needed."

Erin Rainwater has stopped by today to talk about how she became published without an agent. Erin and I e-met years ago when I reviewed her two self-published books. I have a sweet-tooth for historicals and Erin's hit the spot. Now, she's published with Torn Veil Books. Yay! Congratulations, Erin!! You've earned it.

I'll let her tell her story...

“Sorry, not for us.”
“Good luck in your search for representation elsewhere.”
“You have a real gift for dialogue, but…”
“Your dialogue is stilted, so…”
“Sorry, not for us.”
“You’ll need to show more sexual tension to get the attention of an editor.” (ABA)
“Sorry, not for us.”

So goes the life of the unagented author. At least these people took the time to write something in reply to my queries. Most didn’t show that much courtesy.

I’ve actually had three agents in my writing lifetime. One moved out of the country. One quit the business not long after signing me on. Boy, was I getting a complex. The third agent was a guy who, after a year and a half of submitting to mostly all the wrong publishers for my type and length of book, felt God calling him into another career but felt that my story was worthy of publication. He recommended me to another agent in his Christian agency. That agent asked me to resend the entire manuscript, and she’d get back to me in a couple of weeks. After eight weeks, I emailed her. No answer. After a few more weeks I emailed again. No answer. I called and left a voice mail. No reply. I actually called another agent in the group located elsewhere and explained this, and she said she’d contact them and get back to me. Never heard another word from anyone.

The hardest thing for me to remember is that this writing business is just that—a business. Although we authors see it not only as a possible source of future revenue but more as a calling and a witness, to forget that publishers and agents see it as their form of income is a mistake. Still, a REPLY would be nice, wouldn’t it?  

After much prayer and the Lord providing the finances, in 2006 I self-published my two historical love stories, True Colors and The Arrow That Flieth By Day.  I have no regrets. True Colors has won two first place prizes in historical fiction. Last summer, when the next story inside me was clawing to get out (actually, there are three stories combined into one in my latest novel, Refining Fires), I submitted to Christian agents and directly to those Christian publishers who don’t require representation, including Torn Veil Books. They were a brand new Christian romance publisher in Winnipeg looking for romances in any sub-genre. They offered me a contract, and Refining Fires was released on July 9, 2010. The only Agent I had was the only One I needed.

Get to know Erin on the web: http://www.erinrainwater.com/
Buy Erin's book: Refining Fires: A Christian Romance Novel

Cheap and Easy Homemade Laundry Detergent

Are you ready to talk homemade laundry detergent? I am! All week, I’ve been antsy to share this with you. So as promised, here’s what I learned about making and using homemade laundry detergent. Click here or here.

The World of the Un-Agented VI– Tiffany Amber Stockton

 Tiffany Stockton is with us today with an amazing story to tell. If you're weary from the arduous task of finding an agent, Tiffany's story will inspire and motivate you to keep fighting to get that contract you've dreamed of--be it your first or your fifth. Here's her story--

Hi! My name is Tiffany, and as of right now, I have sold 11 books – all of them without an agent.

There are many times when I’m asked how I got started in the publishing industry and how I sold my first novel. It’s a story I love to tell, and today, I get to share it with you.

Back in the late 1990’s, I contacted one of my favorite authors, Tracie Peterson. I had read every one of her books, and it was exciting to chat directly with her. Over the next 5 years, we formed a great friendship I still treasure to this day. Tracie is a best-selling author of nearly 90 novels – and she’s also without an agent!

In 2003, I met with Tracie’s husband, Jim, who at the time was an acquisitions editor with Heartsong Presents, the book club line for Barbour Publishing. He loved the story I pitched to him, so I went home from the conference and wrote it. In 2004, I sent him the proposal, and in 2005, he requested the full. In December of 2006 I got the call that I had sold my first book!

At that time, many publishing houses accepted submissions from authors without agents. But you usually had to meet an editor at a conference. Over the next 4 years, publishers began slowly closing their doors to anyone without an agent. If you were already published, you might have a chance, but you had to write a full manuscript again before they’d consider you.

During this time, I continued to sell and gain new readers. Today, there are over 100,000 copies of my books in print, and my anthology, Liberty’s Promise, is a best-selling title with my publisher, selling nearly 35,000 copies alone!

Barbour has always accepted proposals without agents—until this year. Now, even they have gone to accepting submissions from authors with agents only. A handful will still allow you to meet them at a conference and submit, but it’s getting harder and harder. Thankfully, I’m already in with Barbour and can continue to sell without an agent. Eleven books into my career, though, I’ve shifted my focus to seeking an agent.

Why am I seeking an agent now?

I have a lot happening in my life, and I’d rather focus on writing than on the business of contract negotiation or submitting manuscripts to a variety of publishers. Studying publishers and deciding which house would be the best fit for my stories is taking me away from writing.

I was blessed to get in with a publishing house and an incredible editor who believes in my work . . . in me. Now, though, I am about to start working with an agent and venturing into a new phase in my writing career. For me, it’s necessary, but that doesn’t mean it’s the answer for you. Weigh your options and choose the best course for you. And if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them. Leave a comment below.

Thanks for dropping by.

Meet Tiffany: http://www.amberstockton.com/
Buy Liberty's Promise: Liberty's Promise (Romancing America)

My Disjointed Thoughts on the Indy Conference

Figured it was time I blogged about my experience at the American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference in Indianapolis last month.

I came away with so much to think about that I didn't even know what to say before now. Still not sure I do! I've spent these weeks mulling over everything I learned about writing, networking, the Christian fiction industry, marketing, and even myself. I'm still rather overwhelmed by it all.

I was pleasantly surprised by the sweet, encouraging, and godly atmosphere. God's name was exalted the entire four days. In the words of my super-cool roommate Suzy--It's like church for writers.

Another thing I came away knowing was that I'm the world's worst at pitching. I stink at it. As in reek to super-high heaven. I tell myself that at least I can say I've tried it. Walked away humiliated every time, but I tried it. And now, I have experience to speak from. A notch in my writerly belt.

I met a slew of authors whose names line the bookshelves of our local Christian bookstores. I doubt any of them remember me, unless they happened to be around to hear me pitch my novel. :-)

Dawn, Melanie, Me, Suzy-travel buds

Singing in the womens' choir was probably the most uplifting and memorable moment of the entire weekend. I attended three practices leading up to our Sunday performance and each time, they were a half-hour to unwind and refocus on the reason I write.

Mostly, I realized I need goals. More than that, I need to write down my goals. Up to this point, I never had the confidence in myself or my future as a writer to make any. That was a mistake. I can at least write down my dreams, even if they seem far-fetched.

As I spent my days surrounded by 600+ bookworms,

I was surprised to learn two things:

#1--Writers are weird.
#2--I fit right in.

(On the right is part of my ACFW Atlanta Southside cell group. Edwina, Dianna, Sandra, Me)

It was a lot of fun meeting e-friends, some of which I've corresponded with for years.

I definitely want to go back next year. Whether or not it's in God's plans too is my challenge to discover.

My Little Bud of an Author

My 1st grader has started "writing" experience stories in school. She looks at a picture, tells a story about it, and I write it down. It's a lot of fun, and I've discovered that her struggle to decode the written word hasn't crippled her imagination in the least. Words on paper and words in her mind are two totally different ball games. The first is pure toture while the second...well, let's just say her mind is constantly alive with stories. She's always said, "My brain talks to me." I believe it.

It's been such an encouragement to find something she thrives at and loves doing. It gives her that "I can do it!" high that we all need from time to time. Momma needs that "she can do" boost every now and then too.

If your little person struggles with reading, try writing experience stories then let me know how it goes.

Here's her first tragedy story:

One day there was a beautiful little girl. She had beautiful black hair. She had bright skin. She had on a purple dress with blue and some yellow and some green. She had a blue bow in her hair. She had black ballerina shoes. Tap, tap, tap. She balanced on her tippy toes. Bam! She fell on the floor.

The above picture is one of my all time favorites. The pumpkin patch in England, two autumns ago.

Wounded Spirits Trailer

Cheap and Easy Homemade Fabric Softener

I'm back! After several weeks away from home, I've finally made it back to the blogging world. Another day, I'll post about my latest adventures in the big, wide world, but today I'm at Reflections in Hindsight talking about homemade fabric softener. You MUST check this out. I will never again buy fabric softener. Not even with stacked double coupons!

Here's a teaser:

Every now and then, I stumble across a mind-altering concept. In this case, it was homemade laundry detergent and fabric softener. I know. Homemade laundry products shouldn’t be mind-altering, but sadly, they are.


As recently as when my parents were growing up, homemade was the norm. That wasn’t so long ago. What happenedto make us think homemade=lesser quality? Advertising companies happened. That’s what. Read More