Edie Melson's Blog, page 356

Ride the Wings of Morning

by Henry McLaughlin @RiverBendSagas

In my prayer time recently, I found myself meditating on Psalm 139:9,10 (NLT).If I ride the wings of morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
My first reading of this focused on no matter where His plan takes me, He will be with me, guiding and supporting.
Then my spirit reminded me of something our pastor said when we were thinking of moving to Texas: “If you’re going to miss God’s timing, it’s better to be behind Him instead of ahead of Him.”
And I realized that even if I were so far ahead of God, I was as lost as a goose in a blizzard, I was not alone. It might feel like it—like I’m lost, without hope or anchor.
But it’s not. Because He’s still there. He’s waiting patiently for me to come to my spiritual senses, to wake up to the fact I’m living in disobedience. He’s waiting for me to recognize it, to admit I stepped out too far or I stepped out on my own strength or my own will, not His.
He’s waiting with loving eyes and forgiving arms.
He’s waiting with His eternal patience.
He’s waiting to guide me with His hand and support me with His strength.
All I have to do is turn to Him.
Have you ever felt so out of God’s plan it seemed like there was no way back?

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Feeling like there's no way back to God's plan? Ride the Wings of Morning - @RiverBendSagas (Click to Tweet)

Henry’s debut novel, Journey to Riverbend, won the 2009 Operation First Novel contest. 

He serves as Associate Director of North Texas Christian Writers. 

Henry edits novels, leads critique groups, and teaches at conferences and workshops. He enjoys mentoring and coaching individual writers. 

Connect with Henry on his blog, Twitter and Facebook.

The Novelist’s Christmas

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Up on a bookshelfA reader’s listFilled with ChristmasNovels as gifts.Down through the aislesWith lots of books,All with metaphors and crazy hooks.
Ho Ho HoA writer would know.Ho Ho HoA writer would know.Oh, up on a bookshelfClick Click ClickDown through the aislesComes a bestseller’s pick.
Grab me a KindleWriters heed.Download multi-books to read.Some with bad guysSome with romanceAll a reader’s adventureFilled with mystery and suspense.
Ho Ho HoA writer would know.Ho Ho HoA writer would know.Oh, up on a bookshelfClick Click ClickDown through the aislesComes a bestseller’s pick.
Writer note Pinterest,Google Plus too,Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter stew.Tumblr, You Tube, Instagram, BlogHow can I keep up With the social media fog?  
Ho Ho HoA writer would know.Ho Ho HoA writer would know.Oh, up on a bookshelfClick Click ClickDown through the aislesComes a bestseller’s pick.

Christmas is nearly here! What would fill your writerly stocking?
TWEETABLEThe Novelist's Christmas - via @DiAnnMills on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Little Writing Experiences Lead to BIG Writing Experiences

by Eva Marie Everson @EvaMarieEverson


Little Writing Experiences Lead to BIG Writing ExperiencesI could not help but admire his courage. His ingenuity. There he sat, along the sidewalk of one of the busiest shopping avenues in Central Florida, with a folding TV tray in front of him. Atop it, an old typewriter. The kind you honestly don’t see any more, unless you’re a collector.
I immediately thought of a few of my writer friends—our precious Edie Melson being one of them. I almost stopped to take a photo with my iPhone for her and Alton Gansky, but then I noticed the sign.Name a Subject
Get a Poem in One Minute
I calculated how many greenbacks I had in my purse. My granddaughter (this being her first trip along Winter Park’s Park Avenue), stepped ahead of me, and wove through the crowds. Grandmothers and Granddaughters, I thought as I caught up with her. That’s what I’ll ask him to write about.
But, in the shuffle of shoppers (the likes that would rival New York City), we were swept away.
The young man had probably been a writing student.After slipping into another shop, Savannah turned to me and asked if I’d seen the young man. I told her I had and that he was probably one of the writing students at nearly Rollins College. “I have to give him his props,” I told her. “As a writer, I’m impressed.”
I made a mental note to stop on the way back, but we returned on the “park” side of the avenue, so the chance had been lost.
Later that night I remembered the young man and I thought back to all the “writing related” jobs I’d had in the early days.
For about two years, I wrote devotions for an online ministry. I signed a contract to produce x-number a year. Without pay, other than knowing my words were reaching countless readers. I formed e-friendships with many of them and, later when my books became published, several came to book signings when I did such things in their locations of the world.
I wrote book reviews. These I received a small stipend for—about $30 per book/review. Not much when you break it all down. Probably a dime an hour (I’m a slow reader), but the experience was and is invaluable.
Then, by some great miracle, I received an email from an editor at Crosswalk.com. She’d read some of those online devotions and wondered if I could/would write four faith-based articles a month. The pay, significant, especially considering how much I love writing about the Word of God.
 In late 2001 I received an offer from Israel’s Ministry of Tourism. They would provide an all-expense, ten-day trip to the Holy Land. In exchange, I would write an article for a publication with at least 50,000 readers. I contacted my editor at Crosswalk, got the okay, and seven months later I took the first of my trips to “the Land of the Bible.”
When I returned, I wrote ten articles based on my experience of “falling into the Bible” while away.
By this point, I had also written and seen published a few books, both fiction and nonfiction.
Then, in 2006 I heard from an editor at Thomas Nelson who had read the Crosswalk articles. Her husband had gone to college in Israel and she had always hoped to go. Could I/Would I, she asked, consider writing an entire book—coffee table style—that followed the format of my articles.
“On one condition,” I told her. “You allow me to write it with my friend—our tour guide—Miriam Feinberg Vamosh. She’s a bestselling author, she’s Jewish, and she has her masters in Archeology and Heritage.”
Eva Marie in IsraelThe editor agreed. In 2007 I returned to Israel and for two weeks, along with Miriam, walked, rode, climbed, slid down, shimmied up, photographed and wrote about my beloved Israel. Our book Reflections of God’s Holy Land released in 2008 (the 60th anniversary of Israel’s statehood) and went on to final (silver medallion winner) for ECPA’s prestigious Gold Medallion Award.
That book will always be one of the things I’m most proud of (if I can use the word “proud” here) in the course of my career.
Eva Marie at IMOT breakfast.With the release of the book, I spoke at IMOT’s 2008 VIP breakfast at NRB. There I met a man who introduced me to Arie Sommer (Are-ee-a Zo-mayor) who, in turn, asked me to put together what I would consider to be the greatest media tour in Israel. I did exactly that and, in 2009, Miriam and I guided Joe Diaz (IMOT) and five writers—Larry Leech, Cheri Cowell, Ellie Kay, Sharon Decker, and Robi Lipscomb—from the southern deserts to the northern hills and back to Jerusalem.
Eva Marie with friends on the Sea of Galilee.I have to say these were two of the best weeks of my life (in addition to the other weeks I’d spent in Israel).  
Now that I’ve given you a history lesson, think back to the young man on the sidewalk, earning a living through his writing in small ways. “Young man,” I wish I could now say to him, “keep doing what you’re doing. One day, it could lead to greater things than you can possibly imagine.” Because that’s what happened to me. From those little devotions (that I didn’t get paid for) came opportunities I would have never experienced.
And, to you I say: don’t turn your nose up at the little writing jobs. Write, for pity’s sake, write!

Or, perhaps I should say—for heaven’s sake.
TWEETABLES Little #writing experiences lead to BIG writing  experiences - @EvaMarieEverson (Click to Tweet)
Saying yes to little #writing opportunities can lead to bigger ones - @EvaMarieEverson (Click to Tweet)
Eva Marie is a multiple award-winning author and speaker. She is one of the original five Orlando Word Weavers critique group members, an international and national group made up of critique chapters. She served as the original president from 2000 to 2007 and is now president of Word Weavers International, Inc. Eva Marie served as a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild for several years and has taught at a number of writers conferences nationwide. During the 2010-2011 school year, Eva Marie served as an adjunct professor at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. She describes it as one of the best times she ever had while working. Eva Marie also serves as director of Florida Christian Writers Conference (along with Mark Hancock) and the Education Consultant for SON Studios.
She is both a past and current student at Andersonville Theological Seminary where she plans to receive her Masters in Old Testament Theology sometime before her ninetieth birthday. Eva Marie and her husband make their home in Central Florida where they are owned by one very spoiled dog, a funky chicken, and two hearts-full of grandchildren.
*Carol Award Winner for The Potluck Club ** ICRS Gold Medallion Finalist *** Multiple awards, including 2012 Inspirational Readers Choice Award & Maggie Award (Chasing Sunsets), 2013 Maggie Award & 2013 Christy finalist for Waiting for Sunrise, 2014 AWSA Golden Scroll Award (Slow Moon Rising), 2015 AWSA Golden Scroll Award (The Road to Testament)
****CBA Bestseller List several months running and a finalist for Retailers Choice Awards, 2013

Are You on the NAUGHTY or NICE List for Social Media?

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson


I’m in a holiday sort of mood, so I thought I’d carry it over into my social media post today.  
I hope you enjoy my impromptu quiz. To stay on Santa’s nice list, no cheating allowed. 
Take the quiz first, then look at the answers below.RulesI’ve kept it short because we’re all time-challenged right now.Read each statement and decide whether following it puts you on the NAUGHTY or NICE list.Give yourself 2 points for each correct answer.
Naughty or Nice Pop Quiz1. You try to thank those who follow you on social media.
2. You load your social media updates with hashtags—the more the merrier.
3. You avoid sounding like you're lecturing on your blog by using we and I instead of you .
4. You take time to do a quick typo check before you send out an update.
5. You send out updates, but don’t bother with conversations because they’re too time-consuming.
6. You try to reciprocate when someone mentions you on social media.
7. You use Edie’s 5 to 1 rule about updates to keep your social media from becoming me focused.
8. You have found your social media sweet spot and are concentrating your effort there instead of trying to do everything.
9. You use images you find online without making sure about copyright because they should be all right to use since they're available to the public.
10. You expect people to share your social media updates, but rarely share things from others.
11. You try to be consistent in the time you spend on social media, keeping it to no more than thirty minutes a day.
12. Social media is overwhelming so you only do it when you have to.
13. You watch your social media numbers like a hawk—frequently checking several times a day to see that they’re growing.
14. You try every new social media network that comes along.
15. You utilize a scheduling program to manage your social media updates.
Scoring16 points: Perfection!14-15 points: You’re well on your way to social media success.11-13 points: You’re headed in the right direction, but it’s time to up your game.6-10 points: Uh-Oh, you probably need to brush up on some of the basics.1-5 points: It’s time to spend some time learning how to utilize social media.
Thanks for playing along. Be sure to post your score in the comments section below.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!Blessings,Edie
TWEETABLESAre you on the NAUGHTY or NICE #SocialMedia list? Take theshort quiz from @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Don’t be caught on the #SocialMedia naughty list! A fun quizfrom @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
Answers:1. Yes2. No3. Yes4. Yes5. No6. Yes7. Yes8. Yes9. No10. No11. Yes12. No13. No14. No
15. Yes

Christmas—The Time of Christ's Sacrifice

by Edie Melson @EdieMelson



Recently, I've begun writing regularly for Putting on the New. It's a blog for women, by women, and shares encouragement for all the challenges we face. Today I'd like to share an excerpt from my post i wrote yesterday, with a link to read the full post. Enjoy!



I’ve always celebrated Christmas as the time of Jesus’ birth. It’s a joyful time—after all, when is the birth of a baby not a reason to celebrate? It’s marked with angel choruses, gifts of the magi, and celebration to end all celebrations.
In contrast, I’ve always approached Easter as a more somber time—certainly a time of ultimate triumph. But one that was preceded by the agony of Jesus on a cross. To me, Easter was when Christ laid down His life for us.

Now I’ve begun to look at things a little differently....
Read the rest on Putting on the New

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NOTE: The first Tweetable directs people to this blog, the second sends people directly to Putting on the New 

Christmas—The Time of Christ's Sacrifice - via @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
(Sending people to this site)

Christmas—The Time of Christ's Sacrifice - via @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)
(Sending people to Putting on the New)

A Glance Back at Where it All Started!

Happy Anniversary to my dearest, darling husband!
My husband recently shared this image on his Facebook page and I thought I'd use it again here. This was taken after Christmas in 1978 on our very first date—a church potluck. I was 16, a junior in high school and he was 18, just having finished his first semester of college.

Today we're celebrating 34 years of wedded bliss. It's been an amazing time and I pray we'll have at least that many more years together.

I love you, Kirk!

The Change I Want to See Next in Publishing

by Traci Tyne Hilton @TraciTyneHilton

The Change I Want to See Next in PublishingDo you ever watch Antiques Roadshow? I loved it so much when I was younger I almost went into antiques and appraisals instead of writing.
One thing I saw over and over again was a great respect, love, and appreciation for outsider art. 
dictionary.com defines outsider art as “art produced by untutored artists working by themselves and for themselves.”

In a Huffington Post article,10 Outsider And Self-Taught Artists Who Use Art To Create Their Own Worlds, Priscilla Frank says:

“While each outsider artist works in a radically different mode, all outsider artists create art that seemingly emerges outside of time, space and history, at least outside the dimensions occupied by most humans.” Outsider Art is not the work of trained people.Outsider Art is not the work of trained people. They do not have the foundation of study behind their work that bolsters it, strengthens it, and makes it feel solid and trustworthy. In this way, it challenges the viewer. The work of an Outsider Artist asks the person who views it to judge it entirely on what is before them, and to put aside all of their preconceived notions.

Outsider literary art has always existed, but with the rise of our internet-borg-mind, outsider literary artists have found a way to distribute their work to the world at large.
However, right now, unlike the appraisers on the Antiques Roadshow, the literary world condemns outsider works of literature.
Terms like slush pile are thrown around
as a reason for self publishing.Terms like slushpile are thrown around with the assumption that every self-publisher has deluded themselves into believing that their books would have gotten contracts. 
In reality, most self publishers don’t believe they would have gotten contracts. Those who come to self-publishing from the traditional world do so because they know writers are many and contracts are few. The others, the outsiders, often self publish because of their distance from the traditional publishing world. They don't know the process to try for a contract, and frequently don’t care.
Outsider artists are often thought of as deluded primitive geniuses—they are thought to believe that their work is the same as that of traditionally trained artists. Their delusion is seen as part of their mystique, and their work is valued, in part, because of the creators lack of touch with reality.
There are self publishers like that, as well. They think that they have a traditional polish when in reality they have that primitive genius that is more compelling than it would have been if the artist had been broken to the saddle.
I read anything, if the concept moves me. Some of these outsider titles, the unbroken writers, if you will, have been the most satisfying and most literary reads. They are often more challenging than formula, genre work, even if the production quality wasn’t perfect.

Someday when the dust has settled from the Amazonification of the publishing world, I hope to see outsider literature receiving the Antiques Roadshow treatment. People studying it, collecting it, loving it, and talking about it with respect. Because all art deserves respect, and all artists contribute to the culture of our country.
TWEETABLEThe change #indieauthor @TraciTyneHilton wants to see next in #publishing (Click to Tweet)
Change is coming in publishing - especially in regard to independent #publishing (Click to Tweet)
Traci Tyne Hilton is the author of The Plain Jane Mysteries, The Mitzy Neuhaus Mysteries and the Tillgiven Romantic Mysteries. Traci has a degree in history from Portland State University and still lives in the rainiest part of the Pacific Northwest with her husband the mandolin playing funeral director, two busy kids, and their dogs, Dr. Watson and Archie Goodwin.
More of Traci’s work can be found at www.tracihilton.com

7 Reasons Why Star Wars “THE FORCE AWAKENS” Is Great For Writers

by Cyle Young @CyleYoung

Only a few days before the official launch of the newest Star Wars movie hits the theatres, it has set another seemingly impossible milestone, 100 million dollars in advanced ticket sales. This staggering sum in not only a boon to the movie industry, but it should also serve as an encouragement to writers everywhere.
I’ve compiled a “spoiler-free” list of how The Force Awakens should encourage writers everywhere.1. Science fiction is as strong as ever.A well written story can exists in any setting, and even though romance drives the market, science fiction stories are primed for a resurgence in the coming year as Star Wars is set to dominate the box-office for the next decade.
2. Lead characters don’t have to be Caucasian.  Early reviews of the movie revel in awe of an african-american character playing a lead role in The Force Awakens. Authors can be inspired to take risks in developing ethnic and multi-cultural characters for their stories.
3. Well-placed humor can make all the difference.Sometimes a story just needs that hilarious moment or snarky, well-timed comment to break tension or allow the reader to relax and “take it all in”. J.J Abrams is a master of this and used properly, humor can bolster many stories across all genres.
Readers always want more of a good story.4. Readers always want more of a good story.George Lucas testifies that Star Wars is just a family drama about a grandparents, parents, and their children. He tells an interwoven story in a uniquely sci-fi setting, but at its heart, the story is not about adventure or war, it’s about family. And over the last 40 years, fans and reader alike haven’t been able to get enough.
5. The “series” is alive and well.Seven episodes in, and Star Wars is going as strong as ever. Writers should feel free to expand upon their characters, world, or setting and allow the reader to get lost in their imaginary world for multiple books, titles, stories, or novellas.
6. A excellent setting sets a glorious stage.Can you imagine Star Wars without light sabers or the force? Neither can I. It wouldn’t be Star Wars without those things. A properly crafted world and setting can heighten a story and allow the reader to escape the reality of every day life and get lost in fantasy.
A great story is hard to forget.7. A great story is hard to forget.Almost forty years later, and people are more engrossed in Star Wars lore than ever. There have been thousands of books and movies released in the last four decades, but a story that captures the hearts, minds, and imaginations of the reader is always one that’s hard to forget.
No matter what genre you write, remember the lessons of a successful story learned from the Star Wars saga and try to apply them in your next novel.
Which is your favorite Star Wars movie? Who is your favorite character?

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7 Reasons Why #StarWars #TheForceAwakens is Great for Writers - @CyleYoung (Click to Tweet)

Cyle Young is thankful God blessed him with the uniqueness of being an ADD-riddled…SQUIRREL!...binge writer. Not much unlike the classic video game Frogger, Cyle darts back and forth between various writing genres. He crafts princess children’s stories, how-to advice for parents, epic fantasy tales, and easy readers.

How to Write from an Outline and NOT Hate It

by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

Outlines are our friends, or are they?
I loved making outlines in my seminary class because they provided structure for the speeches I prepared.  
Things changed. 
In the past few years, I dreaded making outlines as I wrote books and blog posts. They seemed to confine the feeling I wanted to relay, and they stifled my outpouring of words.I long to write from a feeling of inspiration—all the emotions, felt needs, and punch of a topic flowing from my heart to the keyboard and computer screen. But when I read what I wrote in that manner, I realized my train of thought could go all over the place. I needed an outline.
So how can we balance longing to write from the heart with following a logical flow of thought? Here are some ideas.
Know where you're headed.1. Know where you’re headed. When you sit down to write, first know where you’re going, and then let the words flow unhindered. Have your topic in mind as you search for a way to begin your writing. Choose a story, quote, or question that is directly related to your topic and that will inspire the reader to keep reading.
2. Make a bare bones outline of your ideas. If outlines scare you, then write down or type in a separate file, a basic outline of what you want to say. See if your points are related, and if they transition well to the next one. Adjust what you want to include if you see your train of thought getting off track. Don’t frustrate the reader with a train of thought that zigzags between unlinked destinations or that follows a huge rabbit down an unrewarding trail.
3. Fill in your outline with complete sentences. It’s easy to create an outline of phrases, but when you write it in complete sentences, you force your brain to pinpoint exactly what you want to talk about and how you want to word it. So in your bare bones outline, make sub-points in complete sentences. Include illustrations. Bring in Scriptures. Let your heart work as much as your mind on this one. What sub-points would stir your heart to read this article or chapter? You may find that these complete sentences make great beginning lines for your paragraphs.
4. Put enough white space in your outline to write paragraphs under the points. Whether you’re using a notebook or the computer, space your outline so that you can write a paragraph directly beneath each sub-point. This helps you to see your progression of thought easily and reminds you to stay on track. When you complete the paragraphs of your article or chapter, read each point of your outline and the paragraph(s) underneath it. Did you derail, or did your train make it safely to its destination? If you let someone critique your writing, delete the outline in your file, and you will be left with only your wonderful paragraphs. 
Let an outline be your friend, and save yourself time and frustration. You can still write from the heart and avoid spending time rearranging your sentences and paragraphs to fix the flow of thought. An outline is a valuable asset to our writing, and it can make reading easier and more enjoyable for our audience. Write from an outline—from the heart!
Do you think an outline helps or hinders your writing? Share your thoughts, and don’t forget to join the conversation! 
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How to Write From an Outline and NOT Hate It - @KatyKauffman28 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Katy Kauffman is an award-winning writer and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies, a ministry which seeks to connect people to God through His Word. 

She has taught the Bible to women and teens, and has two published Bible studies for women, 2 Timothy: Winning the Victory and Faith, Courage, and Victory. She is an editor of the new Refresh Bible Study Magazine and the designer of Broken but Priceless: The Magazine. She makes her home near Atlanta, Georgia.

Invest in Your Writing Career Next Year!

by Lucinda Secrest McDowell @LucindaSMcDowel


Let’s face it, 2015 is pretty much history.
Unless you are one of those people who saves the final week of the year for intense writing, chances are these next days are full of other things – family and friends, worship and celebration, Christmas follow-up and thank you notes.  And pondering.
Pondering what is ahead for your writing in the New Year.
May I suggest that you plan now to make an investment in your writing by attending at least one (if not more) writers conferences or retreats during 2016?
When someone asks me how to start (or boost) a writing career, my first response is always “Go to a good writers conference or retreat and soak it up!”
But, in addition to meeting other writers, you will meet people who are there to pour into your life great wisdom and practical skills that will make you a better communicator. These faculty personnel (often speakers, authors, editors, publishers, agents, etc) are there to give back to the community. Make the most of every moment you have talking with them at the dining table, sitting under their teaching, and during  appointments.
2. Purpose: You may wonder whether or not you are called to write and speak professionally. If so, going to a writers event can be a helpful way to determine whether or not you are prepared and willing to do the hard work required in honing your craft. Integral in this process is listening to God. Strength of soul will spill over into the words you share, so do not neglect spiritual disciplines in your faith development.  Use your time at the conference to ask the hard questions of other writers who have forged ahead in the journey. And remember, learning what we are notcalled or gifted to do, is as important as learning what we are to pursue in life. Remember who you are and what your story and style is, and don’t try to compare yourself to everyone you meet. Be sure and take time after the event to process all you have heard and to pray about what it means for your writing and speaking career.
3. Profession: If a writers conference/retreat can help you understand your purpose and calling and offer you amazing peoplefor leadership and companionship, then it becomes a huge investment in your professional journey. Take advantage of much of the schedule, but know your limits and be sure to rest, so you don’t become overwhelmed. Keep in touch with special connections made and set forth a workable follow-up plan. Be grateful for this opportunity. Thank everyone who helped you get here.
As 2016 begins, I am particularly grateful that I will be on faculty for three outstanding Writing Events during the first half of the year. What an honor and privilege. Please click through and discover what each one has to offer for where you are on your journey.
I would love to see you there!
Florida Christian Writers Conference – February 24-28, 2016 - held at Lake Yale Conference Center, Leesburg FL www.FloridaCWC.net  
Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference – May 22-26, 2016 - held at Ridgecrest Assembly in Black Mountain NC (near Asheville) http://www.altongansky.typepad.com
New England Christian Writers Retreat – June 17-19, 2016 - held at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary near Boston MA (Early bird discount until Dec 31 – I am one of the directors as well as faculty). www.NewEnglandChristianWritersRetreat.com
Merry Christmas and Keep Writing.

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Invest in your #writing career next year - thoughts from author @LucindaSMcDowel (Click to Tweet)

Lucinda Secrest McDowell, M.T.S., is the author of 11 books, contributing author to 25 books, and has published in more than 50 magazines. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, she studied at the Wheaton Graduate School of Communication and served as Communications Specialist for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (Thailand) and Editor for Billy Graham’s International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists (Netherlands). A member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA), she has received “Writer of the Year” awards from both Mt. Hermon and Blue Ridge Writers Conferences. Cindy speaks internationally through her ministry “Encouraging Words” and co-directs the New England Christian Writers Retreat. Known for her ability to convey deep truth in practical and winsome ways, she writes from “Sunnyside” cottage in New England. Visit her online at www.EncouragingWords.net 

Links   www.NewEnglandChristianWritersRetreat.comBlog/website  www.EncouragingWords.net