|
Welcome to The Inkwell, the blog site of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) of Colorado.
Each week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, you can find a wide variety of topics and insight
from inspiration to instruction to humor and more!
For detailed information on ACFW, click here to visit their main website.
______________________________________________________
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
All right, I admit it. Since last year, I've been rather jaded when it comes to writing conferences. But I suppose it actually began about three years ago. I had sold 6 books by that time and 3 of them had released. Considering how many other authors said speaking comes with writing, I figured speaking at conferences was my next step. So, I assembled topics on which I was skilled and presented them to every known writing conference where I had any contact with the committees. Each one of them came back with a "no, thank you" or a "sorry, we already have someone teaching on that topic" or a "sorry, we don't have any openings." For three years, I continued to submit my requests to speak and attempted to determine where there might be a need. But each time, I was turned down. It started to feel like a duplication of my writing career, where the bigger houses rejected me in spite of being a multi-published author. So, I had some thinking and praying to do. At first, I was hurt and disillusioned, thinking I needed to become a more "known" name or get to know the "right" people in order to travel in the "accepted" circles of authors and speakers. I began believing I hadn't crossed some imaginary rite of passage that only I knew and had created. After some time spent in reflection, I realized it just wasn't time yet. But that didn't mean I'd give up. I continued to speak to smaller writing groups, at women's ministry events and various other venues where I could fill a need. That way, I could keep up my speaking from growing stagnant and continue to build a resume. Another disillusionment from conferences came in the form of rejection after rejection because I didn't have an agent. Despite being a multi-published author with 8 books in print and over 100,000 copies of my books sold, I'd been feeling like I was a unpublished author starting from scratch all over again. The editors were all saying they wanted a publish-ready manuscript that had not yet been sold before they would even consider my writing. But while under contract with my current publisher, I didn't have time to polish my other manuscripts and get them publish-ready. Needless to say, it began to affect my enthusiasm and even my passion for writing. I started to believe I'd always be "stuck" in mass market, category romance. That's when CCWC came into play. For those unfamiliar with this conference, it's the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference, and it takes place every year in May at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Several of us board members with ACFW Colorado were present this year, and it was an amazing conference! For the first time in two years, I finally received some encouraging feedback, and multiple invitations to submit my work, despite not having signed with an agent. And although we haven't "inked" the deal, the agent I've been praying would show interest gave me permission to say we are seriously talking should anyone ask if I have representation. Since it's not official, I won't give the name of this agent, but it's looking really good. I just have to write another book before the end of August. Simple. :) Oh, and two editors gave me their business cards and permission to bypass the "normal" submission and grow straight to them with this new series. After too many rejections to count, being turned down to speak at every major writing conference, and feeling like I was missing the "secret" to moving forward in my career, I finally have some great leads and a step up. I'm on the next rung on the ladder, and I'm sure it's only a small nugget of all that's in store. So, if you're wondering whether or not to attend a writer's conference, and if it's worth the investment of your funds, I'm here to tell you to go! It IS worth it. And if you can't afford one of the national ones due to distance or cost, start small and look for regional ones that might be a bit closer to home. They're out there. I promise. You just have to discover that diamond in the rough. And if you are having trouble finding one near home, let us know. We'll be happy to help you locate one for you. Now, how about those of you who HAVE attended a conference. Any success stories that might not otherwise have happened if you hadn't gone? Please share.
 Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since she was a child. Today, she is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart. They have 1 daughter and a border collie. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing, is a columnist for the ACFW e-zine and writes other articles as well. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
 When I first starting writing fiction, my stories were what would be described today as "run-of-the-mill" or "generic." Nothing about them really set them apart from any other story out there. Even once I ventured into the Christian fiction field, my stories were still rather plain. I fell into the stereotypical plots with no real unique twists or contest. Now, 6 years into my professional career, I know better. :) So often, you hear that you must "write a good story" in order to sell it. But there is so much more to the challenge than that. And in Christian fiction, you get to add that third element combined with physical and emotional. The spiritual thread. Like Kathy Kovach, my books so far have been published through Barbour's Heartsong Presents line. They not only require a Scripture verse that embodies the story, but when you write the synopsis, the spiritual thread must be obvious and show progression/resolution. For some, that might sound easy, but for me, it's not always the case. See, I grew up in a Christian home, going to church every week, memorizing Bible verses and learning what it meant to be a "good Christian girl." Unfortunately, I relied too much on the status quo and became complacent in my faith. As a result, the stories I wrote fell into that pit too. My characters were only two-dimensional, and their experiences didn't resonate with readers. My books needed a major overhaul. But what could I do? The answer? Get back to the basics and find the real source of my joy and faith again. Let me tell you, it's humbling to admit that you've been saved your entire life and been a follower of Christ for over 25 years, yet you have trouble defining your spirituality in a way that makes it easy to see from an outside perspective. And since I had pretty much become detached from that part of my life, everything I wrote showed it. But there IS a good ending to this story. I promise. :) Just when I needed it most, my church was beginning a study on "Back to the Basics." It wasn't only a sermon series, but also adult Bible studies, small groups and special classes offered. So, I took advantage of what I could and committed myself to digging deeper and discovering the true passion of my heart. As a result, I not only connected again with God in a more personal manner, but I became aware of my own spiritual highs and lows. And that allowed me to see them in my characters. Of course, now I had to go back and revise my books to add that spiritual thread. Once I did, the characters fairly jumped off the page at me with realism. The true proof in the pudding didn't come until the book was published, though. So, I waited with baited breath for the first reviews to come back once the book released. And when the first one came, I almost didn't click on it to read it. But curiosity won out, and I did. And I was blown away.  I'll share it with you here: "Amber is truly one of the strongest historical romance writers I've read in years. I just finished this book, and I'm thrilled with it! I told a friend, "It's the perfect blend of story, history and spiritual truth" and it's beautifully written, to boot! Sometimes historicals (as a whole) don't hold my attention, or the reader tries too hard to impress with historical lingo/tidbits. But in this case, I found myself caught up in the action right away and also found the story very believable. I could relate to both the hero and the heroine. And I love the way Amber presents the spiritual elements. She uses analogies. Great symbolism. Very subtle, and yet very effective. The heroine is led (quite gently)to the Lord by the hero. It's not at all manipulative. Believable. Real. And poignant. I can't say enough about Amber! Wow! This is her first book? Pretty amazing, when you think about it. Some of us write for years to get to this quality. Kudos, Amber! I can't wait to read the next one. And the next. And the next!" ~Janice Thompson, Double-Booked ReviewsAnd there you have it! Mission: Success. Lesson learned. My writing has become ten times stronger, and the spiritual truths have only deepened my stories and added that bonus third element to help them resonate with readers. It's a good thing God is patient and forgiving and keeps teaching us the lessons we need to learn. Otherwise, we'd all be up a creek without a paddle. :)
Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since she was a child. Today, she is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart. They have 1 daughter and a border collie. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing, is a columnist for the ACFW e-zine and writes other articles as well. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
 Some days it feels like a never-ending cycle or an insurmountable task. You might even feel like your book and the task is 10x larger than you. And for most authors or writers, this is true. I recently was chatting with some ladies in my Bible study group about my writing process. One of them asked how I keep it all straight when I'm working on a series where characters re-appear from book to book, or where facts and details must remain the same from book to book. That's a good question. I chuckled and said, I don't. :) All right, so actually, I do. I maintain spreadsheets and documents on my computer with all those agonizing details I painstakingly researched and compiled before I ever typed out the first word of my book. As I'm writing, I refer back to them whenever necessary. And when all else fails, there's always my editor! She's caught rather embarrassing things like character names that changed from book to book or even the names of a town that was featured in the first book, then changed in book 3. *blushes*  Let me tell you, it's hard enough when your manuscript comes back looking like it was engaged in a fight with a ketchup bottle and lost. It's worse when some of the edits are simple and obvious facts that were just missed. But situations like that keep us humble, right? I mean, no one's perfect. And every book that's written is a result of a collaboration between the writer, the critique partners, the editors and the readers. No author is an island. So, it's wise to establish a strong team of individuals you trust to help you when the revisions phase is upon you. Me personally? I LOVE revisions and editing. I do! Because it's the chance I have to strengthen my story, develop my characters, add a plot line, and make the story truly shine. Is it fun? Depends on your perspective. There are days when I get stressed and want to pull out my hair. But overall, I enjoy that stage more than the actual writing, but each stage has its ups and downs. Also, it takes time and patience to self-edit your work, so don't rush through it. And don't fall in love with your fiction story. Look at your work honestly so that you can find any problems and fix them. Now, it's YOUR turn. What are some tricks YOU use when editing your work? Writers are always looking for new ways to make this process easier. So, I'd love to hear what YOU do. Just never know when a tip you have might help someone else find success.
Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since she was a child. Today, she is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart. They have 1 daughter and a border collie. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing, is a columnist for the ACFW e-zine and writes other articles as well. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
 Yes, yes. It's true. And I'm not just saying that because yesterday was Valentine's Day. Although, to be honest, it does feel like we get inundated with love and romance, hearts and flowers, chocolates and candy, and everything else that is supposed to remind us of love around this day. As a romance author, you would think I'd relish the thought. But in all honesty, it somewhat annoys me. Now, before you gasp, let me explain.  Far too often, when I tell people I write romance, their mind automatically goes straight to the type of "romance" that requires a PG-13 or higher rating. They get a picture in their head of a scantily-clad woman draped across the muscled arms of a bare-chested brute with flowing locks clasped together in a rather telling embrace. And that's just the cover! Nevermind what you'll find within the pages of the book. Phew! I'm fanning myself just typing about this. What's sad is that for a majority of people, that's what romance has become to them. If it's not full of lust, sex, or frequent and expensive/trivial gifts, it's not romance. And my heart breaks at that reality. If you ask me, I think television, movies, books and media, have ripped away the joys of true romance and caused us to have a rather distorted view of it. Think about TV shows. How many can you name where once the main couple got together, the show died? Or how many movies end with the lead couple sharing their first kiss or consummating their relationship?  Romance is so much more than all of that! And it can be quite an exhilarating adventure to discover all the many wonderful and delightful nuances associated with the concept. It's in the look, the smile, the touch, the selfless gesture, the thoughtful gift, the assistance with the mundane that gives the other person a much-needed break, the little note left on the front seat of the car or tucked into the lunch bag to be opened at work. It can be wrapped in a surprise getaway or found in a common everyday place around the house. To me, romance is the little things that happen in a relationship to make it stronger, despite struggles, disagreements and difficult decisions. Life comes at you hard. Romance helps keep you going each day. And the best part of all? Even if you don't have a spouse of significant other in your life, you can have the greatest romance of all time with your Heavenly Father. His words of love and commitment are tucked within the pages of the Bible, available for your reading pleasure and spiritual awakening/renewal whenever you need it. And He'll always be there, never leaving you, no matter what.  That's the biggest reason I love writing romance. Because the earthly evidence of it merely reflects the love God has for each one of His children. Where do you think romance originated in the first place? And to think...I have the honor and privilege of depicting that love and romance in each one of my books. Life just can't get any better. :) So, what about you? What are some specific examples of romance in your life that step outside the "norm" or are special to you when they might not be viewed as romance by others? Please share with us. Perhaps they'll spark some new ideas for romance in some of our books. :)
* images used are used with permission from the following sources: http://www.greetings.ca, http://www.ehow.com, http://www.thezeal.com, and http://www.originallovesong.com.
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart. They have 1 daughter and a border collie. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing, is a columnist for the ACFW e-zine and writes other articles as well. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
Before I wrap up our month on Characterization, I wanted to put in a plug for the 2nd Annual Peak Writing Conference. If you haven't heard about it, it's fantastic one-day conference that will be taking place on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Three amazing speakers are set to share their wisdom and knowledge, and with a multi-author book signing, some of the newest releases from the many authors present, and the delicious food prepared by our very own Kimberley Woodhouse, the day promises to be a fun and informative one for all who attend. Three sessions, two snack breaks, one scrumptious lunch, and a Q&A session with our speakers at the close of the day. All of that for just $50 if you're an ACFW member or $55 if you're not. But you must pay by Sunday, January 31st to secure the early bird price. After that, the fee jumps up $10. It will be $60 for members and $65 for non-members. For more information, check out the Events page on this site. * * * * * Now, back to characterization. Evangeline posted on Monday about being a seat of the pants writer. I am as well, although I tend to call it "intuitive" instead. :) Regardless, it usually means you jump into a story and let things happen as the story unfolds rather than planning and plotting every scene. Earlier in the month, I shared a sample list of questions I sometimes use to interview my characters, but I confess. It's not often that I make it all the way through that list I have. Don't get me wrong. It's an excellent way to learn a lot about your characters, but in all honesty, knowing that much about a character can be boring. :) It's far more entertaining to take a character, throw him or her into a situation and see what happens. Wouldn't you agree? I mean, what if you have a character walking down the street, when all of a sudden a dog chasing a cat both run in front of the character. Fairly par to course normal occurrence, right? But, let's amp up the situation a bit, shall we? What if that character had an unfortunate encounter with a dog and a cat during childhood? Perhaps a bad bite or scratch that left an indelible mark on the memory. Ever since, the character has avoided cats and dogs and doesn't even like to be in the same room with either one. So, revisit that simple, everyday walk, and all of a sudden, it takes on an entirely different meaning. The character would scream, jump or run in the other direction. Might even be scared stiff and unable to move. And if that walk was one of purpose, this delay could set forth a chain of events that could alter the entire scene or chapter...even the story. And see? If I had planned out that background for the character, the scene wouldn't have been as much fun. *winks* So, are you an intuitive writer or a plotter? Do you know everything about your characters before you sit down to write the first sentence? Or do you let things happen as they will? Maybe you write with a combination of both? Feel free to share your style with us.
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart. They have 1 daughter and a border collie. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing, is a columnist for the ACFW e-zine and writes other articles as well. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
Our local boards got together this past Saturday for our quarterly area board meeting. Several of us joked about these themes each month and remarked about our post days falling later in the month. What if all the topics were taken by the time it was our turn? Then, what would we write about? I'm thankful this topic is so broad and so many different topics can branch off from it. Today, I'm focusing on a way you can flesh out any character and discover some amazing tidbits that will not only liven up your writing but will help your reader connect to your characters in ways you never imagined. There are times when I joke with others I see or meet and say, "Be careful what you say. I might put you in a book." :) That comes from the fact that I often compile my characters from composites of people I know or have met at one time or another. I'm careful to not make any one character exactly like one person. Sort of like the "names have been changed to protect the innocent" clause. :) But, that's just one way I develop my characters. A good friend and mentor, Tracie Peterson, once provided me with a long list of 100 interview questions that can be asked of any character. The first time I utilized this list, I was amazed at what I discovered of my characters. There were some surprising tidbits in their backgrounds that explained why they did or said what they did and why they reacted in certain manners. Here are just some of those questions: 1. CHARACTER NAME AND MEANING: 2. BIRTHDAY AND AGE: 3. HAIR COLOR: 4. HAIR STYLE: 5. EYE COLOR: 6. FACIAL FEATURES: 7. BODY TYPE: 8. DISTINGUISHING BODY FEATURES: 9. TYPE OF CLOTHES MOST OFTEN WORN: 10. PET PEEVES ABOUT APPEARANCE: 11. BODY FEATURES THAT BOOST CONFIDENCE: 12. THING PEOPLE GENERALLY NOTICE FIRST ABOUT There are 88 other questions about their jobs, family, friends, place of work, place of birth, school records, and so much more. This questionnaire has really helped me make my characters more real to me and my readers. After all, people connect with people. The same goes for readers connecting with a book. It's more than just the story. The people living that story have to be real too. Now, it's your turn. What tips or tricks do YOU use to make your characters come alive?
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart. They have 1 daughter and a border collie. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing, is a columnist for the ACFW e-zine and writes other articles as well. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
 Last month, I shared about the thankful season and one of the main reasons I'm extra thankful this year. Not only do we have the many blessings of family, friends and the opportunity to share God's light to others we meet, but we also have the gifts that God has given us so we can touch lives with our talents too. For years, I never thought my love of children or my skills with caring for them meant much more than the fact that I enjoy them. That is...until I had a child of my own. :)  It's amazing how often the years of caring for other children gave me the skills I now use on an almost daily basis. That, along with a super-duper dose of patience and love have kept me going with my daughter even when I feel like I'm near exhaustion. It's those times when I rely on God's strength to keep me going. I know I'd never make it on my own strength. There simply isn't enough of that to last. One of the best aspects of this Christmas season is having the opportunity to revisit all the wonder and joy of Christmas through the eyes of my daughter. Far too often, we get lost in the hustle and bustle or the hum-drum of repetitive traditions year after year. Seeing a child discover everything for the first time brings all the excitement back once more and even introduces a whole new perspective on certain aspects.  Traditions are explored on a whole different level, the hum-drum becomes woo-hoo as even the most mundane tasks are given a new dimension. This is only the beginning. There are many more years of enjoying a new lease on life as we celebrate the seasons with our daughter, making new traditions and continuing a few old ones. So, this Christmas, take the challenge to see even just one tradition or aspect of the season through new eyes. You might just be amazed at the difference it makes in your life.
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart. They have 1 daughter and a border collie. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing, is a columnist for the ACFW e-zine and writes other articles as well. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
 Well, the Thanksgiving season is upon us, and while it's not yet the week of that special day, my thoughts are still turning to the many things in my life for which I'm thankful. I am currently participating in a Beth Moore Bible Study on the Fruits of the Spirit, and this past week, the focus was on faith and how it fights for us when we're getting attacked. One of the key points was to get down on our knees and give thanks for everything God has done for us and what He's going to do. He is faithful, has always been there, and He always will be there. We don't have any reason to doubt that...even though we do when times get tough. Giving thanks is the same as claiming the truth that God is right there with us, fighting when things seem like they're at their worst. And it's amazing when we take the time to give thanks for all that we have, just how easily our current situations seem to fade into the background and become less of hindrance. We take our eyes off the temporary struggle and focus more on the eventual outcome we know will happen.  This week, I'm realizing that in a very personal way. My little daughter is teething again with more than 1 of her top teeth, and she's leaking out of every available hole in her face. :) Poor little tyke also has a sore throat, so coughing and even crying isn't comfortable at all. She's quite the trooper though, despite the lack of sleep and the constant runny nose. It's exhausting both of us, and as much as my husband would love to help, my daughter won't have anyone but me. How easy it would be to allow the exhaustion to take control, but instead, I'm giving thanks that God has provided for me to be home with my little girl when she needs me, and that we can nap together when she does succumb to the much-needed rest and sleep. I'm thankful this is only temporary, and that it isn't anything worse. And I'm thankful for a supportive husband, who is doing what he can to help when he's home. But most of all, I'm thankful for the blessing of a little girl who is still a bright spot in my life, and whose little smile amidst bleary eyes and red nose makes the lack of sleep pale in comparison to the love I feel for her. So, remember when you're going through those difficult times, that giving thanks for what you have and for God being right there with you to fight for you and help you through it, well it's usually the best defense you have.
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author in beautiful Colorado Springs. They celebrated the birth of their first child in April and have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, a Border Collie/Flat-Haired Retriever mix. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing. Other credits include writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to the books: 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Grit for the Oyster. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
 We recently made an announcement on the ACFW Colorado and ACFW Rocky Mountain email loops for those who live in the area and are subscribed to those groups. However, we also want to reach out to anyone and everyone else out there with this opportunity. For those who aren't aware, we have a unique feature on this web site contained on each of the chapter pages. It's a sidebar on the right made up of nothing but author links to personal web sites, services and blogs. This feature became a reality as a result of discussion last year regarding content on the site. Our local boards decided we wanted a way to connect everyone online who in any way was involved with ACFW Colorado. So, whether you live in Colorado, reside in the Rocky Mountain Zone, or are a reader of this blog and like to keep up with what's happening with our bunch, we'd love to partner with you in promotion. Do you have a web site or blog you'd like to advertise? If so, drop by one or all of our chapter pages and follow the instructions to advertise with us. It's only $5.00 per year, a true bargain for the potential exposure and new audience you might reach. All links and payment must be submitted/received by November 1st. So, come on and link with us!If you have any questions about this, feel free to leave a comment. I'll be sure to return to respond. And if you're reading this, leave a comment to let us know what you think of this feature. Would you make use of it? Have you visited the chapter pages in the past and any of the web sites listed in the sidebars? Is there a manner in which they're displayed or featured that you'd like to see done differently to perhaps entice or encourage you to visit the sites or make use of the feature? Let us know. We'd love to hear from you.
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author in beautiful Colorado Springs. They celebrated the birth of their first child in April and have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, a Border Collie/Flat-Haired Retriever mix. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing. Other credits include writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to the books: 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Grit for the Oyster. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
I feel somewhat like Chicken Little running up and down the streets shouting, "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" only no one listened to her. I pray that doesn't happen here. :) In fact, I pray just the opposite. That a whole host of people will read this and learn it's a GOOD thing that the writers are coming to town. That's right. It's time for the 8th annual ACFW Conference, and it's coming to Denver! Some have already started arriving, but by Thursday, there will be over 500 authors, writers, editors, agents and other industry professionals present at the Denver Marriott Tech Center for fun, fellowship, training, networking, and delicious food! As a friend always says, "It's all about the food." I'm thrilled to see the conference come to a town near me...even if I can't take advantage of it due to lack of funds. But I can still come up and hang out in the lobby and see all my friends passing by on their way to somewhere important. :) Just being present at the hotel will be a treat, as I can soak up the atmosphere and ride on the wave of excitement that fills the air each year at this conference. It's the premier fiction writer's conference in the country, and the authors that come out of this organization are top notch, some even going on to become best-selling and award-winning authors. The training and instruction and mentoring can't be equaled anywhere else that I've found. So many members have a heart to help, which is truly inspiring. And where else are you going to find over 100 authors all signing in the same place? You heard me right. Over 100. Go here to find a complete list. So, Denver....look out! We're going to take this city by storm, make our mark and leave our calling card once we're gone.
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author, online marketing specialist and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author in beautiful Colorado Springs. They celebrated the birth of their first child in April and have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, a Border Collie/Flat-Haired Retriever mix. She has sold eight books so far to Barbour Publishing. Other credits include writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to the books: 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Grit for the Oyster. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
Yesterday, in church, our pastor spoke on the battle we fight in this world as Christians. It's not against people, although we often engage in verbal, emotional or even physical fights with them at times. No, it's against the spiritual realm that is fighting with everything it has to thwart our efforts and keep as many people off their knees as possible. Our calling as Christian writers is critical. The words we write and the messages we share through those words can have a big impact on those who read them. Because of that, we need to be even more careful about the words we choose and the image we're presenting. To do that effectively, we need to grab hold of the single most important weapon and tool we have: Prayer! Our church body is in the middle of a 40-day prayer vigil, 24-7, with members taking 1-hour slots day and night for 40 days. When we finish with this, we're going to continue on a 24-7 vigil, with members taking 1-hour slots each week. The same time every week as a commitment to regular prayer. The spiritual battle we face involves an enemy who only needs a foothold to get in. But he's not content with just that. Once he has it, he'll wedge in his heel, then his leg, then his hip and his arm until finally he has a complete presence. You've likely heard the old adage, "The pen is mightier than the sword." This has never been more true than it is today. With so many people turning to the internet, texting on cell phones, emails and the electronic communication, verbal impact is losing ground. So much is read now, and it's so easy to sway someone's thinking when the messages are repeatedly pounded into the brain through the eyes. So, join with me in prayer for your writing, for your ministry, for your impact, and for your witness. Your words could be the saving grace for someone out there. Make sure you put prayer first before you set your fingers to the keyboard or pen to paper.
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author in beautiful Colorado Springs. They celebrated the birth of their first child in April and have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, a Border Collie/Flat-Haired Retriever mix. She has sold six books so far to Barbour Publishing. Other credits include writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to the books: 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Grit for the Oyster. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
As you read this, I'm on my way to Denver with my husband and daughter to spend the day at the Colorado Convention Center and walk the floors during ICRS (International Christian Retail Show). This will be my first time attending. Stuart told me all about it from when he attended 5 years ago. I believe this was the last time ICRS was in Denver. Ironic that ACFW was also in Denver that year and is returning again this year, the same year ICRS returned. 5 years ago is when Stu and I met...but that's a whole different story. :) I wasn't able to attend the Christy's, but like Heather, I dream of one day being nominated for one and perhaps even winning. Of course, that also means I need to branch into trade-length from mass-market where I am now. All in God's timing. Still, I saw the list of winners and am ecstatic that three of my friends won. Cathy Gohlke, Tamera Alexander and Tracey Bateman. Cathy won for her first novel as well, so her first 2 novels have both won this prestigious award. Tamera won a previous one as well. For Tracey, it's her first, and I'm so excited to see these and other familiar names on the list. Six winners I know are ACFW members. Not sure about the other three. Just goes to show you what a fantastic representation ACFW has among the winners as well. For those who haven't seen the list, visit this web site: http://ajast.com/ChristyAwards2009WinnerPR.pdfAnyway, I suppose it's pointless to say just how excited I am to be able to attend, even for 1 day. Stu and I are going on behalf of David C. Cook, where Stu works...or at least he is. Victoria and I are just tagging along. :) So, I might return and post a comment or amend this post with a very brief report from the event. And I might even see some of you reading this up there. In any event, I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun.
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author in beautiful Colorado Springs. They celebrated the birth of their first child in April and have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, a Border Collie/Flat-Haired Retriever mix. She has sold six books so far to Barbour Publishing. Other credits include writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to the books: 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Grit for the Oyster. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
Well, this is a banner day for me. God must have known that my day to blog would fall on today...the same day that my 6th book is due to my editor. Talk about stacking up on deadlines and "due" dates. As many of you know, I have a brand new baby girl here at home, so writing has been in brief snatches. Whenever I can grab a few minutes, I've dumped from my brain. So, the book was assembled in bits and pieces. Thankfully, my husband was wonderful when he came home from work for the past two weeks. I provided the milk for Victoria's evening feeding in a bottle and he fed her to allow me a solid chunk of time each evening to write. Othewise, I know I never would have made it without suffering through a handful of sleepless nights to get the book written. Used to be, I could pump out a 50K word book in just 2 weeks. This one took me about the same time when I put the time blocks together, but it was spread over about 7 weeks instead. I didn't quite make the 50,000 words, but that's the high end. Ironically, I ended up right about in the middle between 45K and 50K...47,423 to be exact. :) And the best part? My critique partners had time to read through the entire thing before I finished. I was working on edits right up to the end, as you can see by the time stamp on this post. But praise God, the book is done, and my editor has it. It'll go straight to content edit immediately, as I was working on an extension from the original due date of May 1st. Funny how my editor knew having a baby would require me to push the deadline back before I did. She anticipated it and built in the spare weeks. :) That's why she's so awesome. Right now, though, it's time for bed. I fully intend to enjoy the rest of this week post-deadline. Going to get out of the house with my daughter, catch up on email and housework that's been a bit neglected, and perhaps even cook a decent meal for my husband to thank him. :)
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author in beautiful Colorado Springs. They celebrated the birth of their first child in April and have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, a Border Collie/Flat-Haired Retriever mix. She has sold six books so far to Barbour Publishing. Other credits include writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to the books: 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Grit for the Oyster. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
All right, so many of you already know my time is quite limited these days. Then again, whose isn't? My newborn daughter will be 7 weeks old this coming Thursday, and although we're beginning to settle into a routine, it's only the very early stages. That means it's still a work in progress as we both adjust. However, life doesn't stop to allow time to adjust. My work as treasurer still requires my attention, and since Donna and I just recently balanced our books following our annual ACFW Colorado Retreat, I figured writing about it would suffice for this month. *grins* If you've meandered through our web site, you'd see the somewhat new PayPal buttons that have been added for the convenience of making payments online instead of having to snail mail them in to us. Our boards thought it would be a fantastic addition and simplify a lot of things. Well, in theory, it would....if it all worked right. I won't go into all the details, but it took us about 2 months to get our account squared away to the point where we would be allowed to utilize all of the options available to us. The main issue was our not-for-profit status that required scanned documents, not electronic. After many phone calls and emails, we finally got it worked out and our account was restored to full status. Then, there's the issue of 2 chapters with funds coming into one account and having to be divided so each chapter receives what was designated for them. Since some payments came through PayPal and others through checks, the total funds had to be calculated, then the expenses from each chapter had to be subtracted to determine what was owed where. Add to that the fact that some funds were in 1 bank account and some were in the PayPal account, and then the balance owed had to be delivered via check and PayPal transfer. When all was said and done, the calculations were checked and double-checked by myself and Donna (the HIS Writers treasurer) and a spreadsheet was provided detailing the summary. Thanks goodness for a system of checks and balances! I said all of that to say this: the process was confusing enough. But with a newborn and only having snippets of available time, I'm amazed it all came out balanced in the end. So glad everyone else provided excellent records of the costs and expenses and income. Otherwise, the end result might not have been so "balanced." :)
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author in beautiful Colorado Springs. They celebrated the birth of their first child in April and have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, a Border Collie/Flat-Haired Retriever mix. She has sold six books so far to Barbour Publishing. Other credits include writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to the books: 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Grit for the Oyster. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
Yes, I know. It's Tuesday, and this was supposed to appear yesterday. For some reason, I got my days mixed up. Can't imagine why, though. It's not like I have anything different happening in my life that would have caused this confusion. Oh wait. Yes, I do. A brand new baby girl! :) That's right. Margie announced the birth on April 3rd on this blog, but I'm here to share a bit more for those who would like to hear. But first, there are 2 other "babies" birthed this month. Not only a daughter, but my husband Stuart's very first book released on April 1st and my 4th book ( Copper and Candles) released as well. Stuart has been working hard for years and has finally seen all of his hard work come to fruition. Starfire is available through Marcher Lord Press and will be on Amazon and Barnes & Noble by the end of the month. It's a science fiction/speculative story about an alien race, an ancient artificial intelligence, and a warrior who must make a choice that could save his nation or doom his world. It has been receiving just as many rave reviews as Stuart's other creative endeavor. :) For that "baby",  Stuart and I are now the proud parents of a beautiful little girl! Victoria Elizabeth Stockton arrived at 3:29pm on Thursday, April 2nd, weighing 7lbs. 9oz. and measuring 20in. long. Labor started at 12:30pm on April 1st but by 4am on April 2nd, I was exhausted, had stalled in dilation, and had to get an epidural. At 7:30am, my doctor broke my water and at 9am, after no progress, a 2cc dose of pitocin was administered. Progress began and that was all it took. By 2, we prepped and after an hour of pushing, Tori was here! The full story is on my personal blog, if you want to read all of the exciting details and the "novel" adventure we had getting to the hospital. That can be found here. Baby Photo AlbumThere isn't much to report from the first week home. As most of you know, babies don't do a whole lot at the start. Eat, sleep and mess their diapers. And we've had plenty of that. The good news is that everything is normal, which brings a great sigh of relief.   Victoria had her first doctor's visit at 4 days old, and she was given a clean bill of health. She is back to her birth weight and gained 9 oz. just in the past week. Healthy eater! LOL! We've been so blessed with a beautiful and seemingly even-tempered angel. Likely due to the laid back attitude of Mom and Dad. :) For Easter, we bought a dress and had a "Baby's First Easter" outfit given to us. So, we took some pictures and posed her with a little duck given to her by her grandparents (on dad's side).  Other than that, she's been smiling, taking in the world, loving to be rocked and held, and just being a huge blessing to our lives. The days pass so fast, but I'll be glad to get back into part of my old schedule so I can actually know which day is which. They've all blurred together so far. Stu is back at work today after 7 days off, so I'm on my own until Friday when my family arrives. That's all from me. No treasurer's perspective, but Victoria is definitely a treasure that deserves all our praise and thanks to God for giving us such a beautiful miracle.
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author in beautiful Colorado Springs. They celebrated the birth of their first child this month and have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, a Border Collie/Flat-Haired Retriever mix. She has sold six books so far to Barbour Publishing. Other credits include writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to the books: 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Grit for the Oyster. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
Well, I must apologize for the un-originality of this post. I had intended to come up with something more connected to the general scope of writing, but my focus and my time is at a minimum these days. For those who aren't aware, I'm days away from the birth of my first baby. Between appointments, check-ups, to-do lists and family and friends all asking if the baby is here yet, I'm afraid my brain can't handle much else. So, with that said...since a lot of meetings have taken place where I've provided others with a report of our first annual one-day conference, I figured it'd be great to also share the success with you. As it was our first attempt, we are all quite pleased with the results. We had 31 in attendance, including 3 speakers. 18 attendees were ACFW members, and 13 were not. That is the best part. The fact that we attracted that many non-ACFW members. Of course, 2 of them are now members and others have said they intend to join. So, even just in spreading the word, the conference did its job. All told, we ended up with a positive balance when all was said and done. Again, a fantastic feat. Breaking even would have sufficed, but coming up on the plus side is even better! We have 2 of our speakers confirmed for next year already (author Colleen Coble and literary agent Beth Jusino), and those who attended provided complimentary feedback on the speakers, the organization, the overall feel and of course, the delicious food. :) So, here's to everyone who helped make this year's conference a great success. I know 2010 is going to be even better!
Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author and freelance web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author in beautiful Colorado Springs. They are awaiting the birth of their first child this month and have a vivacious puppy named Roxie, a Border Collie/Flat-Haired Retriever mix. She has sold six books so far to Barbour Publishing. Other credits include writing articles for various publications, five short stories with Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to the books: 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Grit for the Oyster. Read more about her at her web site: http://www.amberstockton.com/.
|
|
Posts
