Posts Tagged ‘authors’

Author Forum: How Do You Start Writing a Book?

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This is the fourth of a multi-part series by guest blogger Ivy Cheng tapping into the expertise of several seasoned Ambassador authors. The first post offered tips on dealing with writer’s block. The second post covered the influence other writers can have on your work and the third discussed managing a writing schedule within a busy life.

I once had a friend who told me “everyone has a story, but not all of them can write it.” I think this is a very true statement. Everyone is unique in their own way, and everyone has a story to tell. However, not everyone has the time, patience, or skill to write their story. The ability to write an entire book requires intense devotion. It is a daunting task to sit in front of a blank screen and start writing a book. And so, we ask some of our authors what was the spark that made them write those first few words.

 

Juana M9781620202913-e1414700233650ikels – Author of Choosing Him All Over Again 

The short answer is it was a call from God. By that I mean, that I knew to write it was to be obedient to what He wanted me to do. Knowing that it was God’s will for my life with my husband’s full blessing gave me strength and endurance when the going got rough—and it did get rough. It took me a year and half to write the rough draft, another year and a half to get a Christian agent, then another two years to get a Christian publisher, and finally one year before I held the book in my hand. When the book finally arrived, I will never forget my husband’s prayer with me. We held the book in our hands, and he prayed that if one person could be brought closer to Christ or have a stronger marriage—just one person more complete in all the will of God—it would be worth it. So beautiful to hear the man that I left all those years ago to pray over Choosing Him All Over Again.

From Driftwood to SapphireKathy Howard – Author of From Dishes to Snow and From Driftwood to Sapphire

From Dishes to Snow was written after we decided to homeschool our girls. I wanted to do something that would share Jesus and hopefully make enough money to pay for the kids’ curriculum. I prayed over every writing day, never knowing what the characters would do or say. I had no idea what the plot would be, only that I wanted to use my family’s mountain house as the setting. As a child, I remember hiking, daydreaming about different stories involving our precious mountain. In 2013/2014, I was given the chance to daydream again, only this time, others were privy to those dreams as the story came alive on paper.

Grace in the Middle

Wendy Duke – Author of Grace in the Middle

Encouragement from other people motivated me highly, but I also just had a deep conviction that our story of pain and struggle could help someone else in their own difficult circumstances. I had flashbacks of sitting in doctors’ waiting rooms, alone and scared, and decided to write our story to help encourage people in the same shoes. This has been my greatest desire for this book: to help struggling families deal with the difficulties of having a child with an illness or other traumatic circumstances. King Solomon said our words have the power of life and death, and I wanted to use mine to speak life over people who need to hear life and light and hope.

 

 

An9781620202692-197x306drea Rodgers –Author of The 20th Christmas

My first book, The 20th Christmas, came to me in a dream. I’ve been writing stories since childhood and that had never happened to me before–but I started scribbling down what I remembered and a month later the manuscript was completed! My next book, Cage The Dove (coming this fall), was inspired by real-life events that I went through in junior high, so the story idea has been on my mind for over two decades. God gave me too many signs for me to put it off any longer.

Are you ready to start writing your own book? Go and comment on our Facebook page and tell us all about it!

 

Author Forum: Does Reading Other People’s Work Influence Your Writing Style?

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This is the second of a multi-part series by guest blogger Ivy Cheng tapping into the expertise of several seasoned Ambassador authors. The first post offered tips on dealing with writer’s block.

They say that copycatting is the highest praise because it means that the work is worth copying. Shakespeare’s storylines have been taken and reworked into countless new works, and Hemingway’s different writing style changed the literary world. So it raises the question if our authors are particularly influenced by other authors.

Juana M9781620202913-e1414700233650ikels – Author of Choosing Him All Over Again 

I don’t read other people’s work when I am writing other than looking up a quote I am searching for (I also don’t listen to other testimonies when I am writing).  I am afraid that I will copy their style. But don’t get me wrong. Reading what other people have written had everything to do with my writing. I read aloud to my children for 15 years before I began my book. I will forever be grateful to the excellent writers I met during those years whose detailed descriptions inspired me (a math girl, think of it!) to the point I knew I had to write! I agree with the Psalmist who said, “My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned; Then I spoke with my tongue…” (Psalm 39:3)

 

From Driftwood to SapphireKathy Howard – Author of From Dishes to Snow and From Driftwood to Sapphire

I am a picky eater and I am a picky reader. I’ve noticed I tend to read authors with similar writing styles to each other. Anything outside of that realm, I have a hard time understanding or staying focused. So, yes, I would have to say I lean towards the writing style that I read, mainly because it keeps my attention. To those who like meatloaf, tuna, and chicken – expository, persuasive, and narrative, I admire you. But to me, I’m just a chicken girl – one meat, one writing style. Hopefully one of these days, I’ll acquire a taste for variety.

 

 

Grace in the MiddleWendy Duke – Author of Grace in the Middle

Yes and no. I definitely feel like reading unique writing styles seems to open up the possibilities, break down limitations. Sometimes I try to write in different “voices” just to stretch my own technique. e.e. cummings taught me to use unexpected words to shake things up.  Harper Lee taught me to pay attention to the subplot, to the stories happening behind the center stage. Other authors such as Anne Lamotte, Donald Miller and Jen Hatmaker have all influenced me over recent years. They have very conversational writing styles, casual and funny.  This seems to be the style that feels most like my own voice, so their writing gives me confidence in my own style.

 

An9781620202692-197x306drea Rodgers –Author of The 20th Christmas

Yes, so I don’t usually read much when I’m working on a manuscript. I feel it’s one or the other for me–either I’m reading or writing because I do a better job of listening to my writing voice when it’s the only one I hear.

 

Have a favorite author or unique writing style? Go and comment on our Facebook page and tell us all about it!

 

 

Author Forum: How Do You Break Writer’s Block?

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This is the first of a multi-part series by guest blogger Ivy Cheng tapping into the expertise of several seasoned Ambassador authors.

Anyone who writes, from poetry to novels, even a school paper, has experienced writer’s block at one point or another. Curious as to how to break writer’s block, we asked a few of our amazing authors here at Ambassador International for their methods of finding their inspiration again.

 

Juana M9781620202913-e1414700233650ikels – Author of Choosing Him All Over Again 

“Some people suffer from writer’s block, but I consistently had to deal with the opposite problem. I had way too much content. As I wrote, story after story would unfold and the average reader doesn’t want to read a book over 400 pages! When my beloved mentor who was an excellent writer suggested that I write my story, she had it right immediately. Her name is Elisabeth Elliot. She said to me, “Juana, some people have the problem of irrigating the desert when they write; you will have the problem of chopping down the jungle.” She was spot on.

Even so, there was a few times I got “stuck.” I found the best thing to do was to put it away, and come back fresh on another day. On occasion I listened to an audio of my story told in front of a live audience. As I listened as if it was someone else’s story, I became re-motivated to go back to the spot where I got stuck and just tell it as if I was talking to one person in the room (and just one person will eventually read it when they hold it in their hand!)”

 

From Driftwood to SapphireKathy Howard – Author of From Dishes to Snow and From Driftwood to Sapphire

When I hit my wall of writer’s block, I find myself putting the manuscript aside for a time. Thankfully, it is usually just a short time, one that I can fill running or playing with the kids for an afternoon. During those less frequent longer times, I push the story out of my head as best I can and live life away from the characters for days or even weeks. Other than normal living, I may read other books or watch movies, stories that show creativity and imagination. When I feel refreshed, I dive back in, headfirst.

 

Grace in the MiddleWendy Duke – Author of Grace in the Middle

I tend to write in spurts: I’ll let thoughts and ideas build for a while, and then spend a few days writing non-stop.  I’m not sure if this is “normal”; it seems to just depend on personality type.  I read several writers’ blogs who carve out a couple of hours each day to write, but I usually need a bigger block of time to really get much on a page.  I’m just not a fast writer, but the more I write, the faster I become.  Reading seems to be the best way to help me generate ideas and be inspired to write. The more I read, the more I seem to want to write.

 

An9781620202692-197x306drea Rodgers –Author of The 20th Christmas

I take breaks–but that means doing something else creative.  I find that reading, watching a movie, or listening to music  often inspire me so then I can return to my manuscript and  the words flow easier and better. I’ve never been stuck on  what to write about–writer’s block to me is more about not  being able to get the right words out or have the story flow in  the best direction.

 

Do you have your own tips for breaking writer’s block? Go and comment on our Facebook page with your methods!

 

Children’s Book Fights Against Growing Oral Health Crisis

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Book’s Release Coincides with Children’s Dental Health Month

For immediate release: Tooth decay is the most common and most preventable disease in children, according to the Academy of General Dentistry. February is Children’s Dental Health Month. In an effort to promote children’s oral health routines within international households and families, authors Ashley Grisham and Gary Kersey Jr. announce the release of their children’s book Everyone Smiles (Ambassador International; February 2015; $14.99, hardcover).

Using beautiful9781620205105 photography of children from a diverse range of backgrounds and cool- catchy-rhymes, Everyone Smiles is a fun, interactive and educational book. An avid volunteer with organizations providing free dental services to impoverished families, Gary says he has seen firsthand the importance of educating children about the necessity of brushing and flossing. “It can be a frustrating task for parents,” admits Gary, “but we hope this book will be a tool that can make these critical lessons easy for kids to learn.”

One in seven children between the ages of 6-19 has an untreated dental cavity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For children of poverty the statistics are even worse with one in four between the ages of 3-5 and 6-9 having an untreated cavity, according to the CDC. Here are some other interesting dental care statistics:

  • Americans spent $106 billion on dental care in 2010, according to Pew Center study.
  • 108 million children and adults lack dental insurance, according to a Surgeon General’s report.
  • Only 48% of children entering kindergarten have seen a dentist within the past year, says the CDC.
  • Tooth decay is five times more common than asthma.

Everyone Smiles features children from diverse backgrounds, which was key for Ashley, the daughter of a dentist and dental hygienist. “A smile can break through so many cultural and language barriers,” says Ashley. “Being confident of your smile can lead to confidence in other areas of life.” The co-authors’ platform, the Kersey Kids Club, focuses on supporting health educational resources for young children and families and the power of a  smile.

About the Authors: Born and raised in North Carolina, Gary Kersey earned his undergraduate degree with honors from Morehouse College. He continued his education by working towards a Masters degree in Physiology & Biophysics from Georgetown University. Gary is an aspiring dental professional hoping to combine his background in the sciences and modern languages to elevate dental care in underserved areas.

Ashley Grisham, a native of San Diego, CA, grew up as the daughter of both a U.S. Navy Captain dentist and a dental hygienist. A graduate of Spelman College, Grisham earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and holds a minor in Chinese language. Ashley is currently finishing her last year at Georgetown law school and upon graduation will join the law firm of Paul Hastings LLP.

For interview requests or to request a review copy of Everyone Smiles please contact publicist Alison Storm via email at [email protected].

Choosing Him All Over Again Blog Tour

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All month long dozens of bloggers have been posting reviews of Juana Mikels’ new book Choosing Him All Over Again. This week members of the Ambassador Blogger Review Team will share their thoughts. (Interested in joining the team? Sign up here!) And be sure to check out these stops on the blog tour:

Sunday, January 25

Laura from thelaurelwood.wordpress.com

Misty from theladyprefers2save.com

Hal from oaktreereviews.wordpress.com

Choosing Him All Over AgainMonday, January 26

Beth from Bethhess.com

Claresa from Claresa.net

Debbie from PorchsideChats.com

Tuesday, January 27

Asheritah from onethingalone.com

Wednesday, January 28

Angela from amamascorneroftheworld.com

Debbie from couponism.com

Thursday, January 29

Mary from Maryanderingcreatively.com

Friday, January 30

Kemi from Homemakingorganized.com

Saturday, January 31

Mandy from worshipfulliving.com

Vera from luxuryreading.com

Stephanie from stephsscraphappenings.blogspot.com

 

Ambassador Authors Featured in Hope For Women

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Christian artist Natalie Grant is on the cover of the latest issue of Hope for Women magazine, but inside you’ll find two Ambassador authors featured. This issue is all about being your best, and the editors and creative and design teams have out done themselves once again. There are two articles you do not want to miss in this beautiful issue:

Hope for women fall 2014Page 41: Sherry Gareis, co-author of Declutter Now!: Uncovering the Hidden Joy and Freedom in Your Life and Declutter Now! Study Guide: 8 Weeks to Uncovering the Hidden Joy and Freedom in Your Life writes about the compassion in decluttering people. Sherry provides five steps to shift from decluttering stress to success.

Pages 42-43: Tori Winkelman, author of Faith, Hope, Love and a Whisk, provides Hope for Women readers a reason to not make breakfast so fast. Her article includes three yummy recipes: Mexican Strada Cups, Pineapple Brunch Punch and Lemon Blueberry Bread Pudding.

If you want to sign up to receive a digital copy of Hope for Women magazine check out the Hope for Women Facebook page.

5 Things About Author Andrea Rodgers

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Learn more about your favorite Ambassador authors with our “Five Things” series. Author Andrea Rodgers wrote the recently released novel, The 20th Christmas, available now. Here are Andrea’s “five things”:

The hardest description for me to write about is sense of smell. . .because I don’t have one! There’s an actual name for this: Anosmia. Just as some people are without sight or hearing, approximately two million people are without the ability to smell, although I haven’t met a fellow non-smeller personally. I’m not sure whether I was born this way or if it was due to head injuries as a child, all I know is that it was gone by the time I was four years old and my friends were passing around scratch n sniff stickers! I failed my kindergThe 20th Christmasarten smelling test, but no one took it seriously. They thought I was telling stories. Most people considered me lucky because the only time I heard about anything smelling was if it stunk. I can be in an area with a skunk and not bat an eye.

I signed my first book contract on what would have been my paternal grandmother’s 100th birthday. I feel like it was her wayAndrea signing contract of letting me know that she was aware of my dream coming true. She used to give me a notebook and pen when I visited her, and then I’d sneak away to write. She always asked to read my stories which meant a lot. My grandma loved to read and I wish she could have read The 20th Christmas, especially since several years in a row I bought her a holiday-themed book as her Christmas present. But, I’m so thankful she lived ninety-seven-and-a-half years; she had the best case scenario for life—she was healthy right until the very end and still sharp, always beating everyone at the game of Rummikub.

Most people on both sides of my family hate to write, although it’s likely that I inherited the writing gene from my maternal side. My grandma’s brother wanted to be an author but had to go to war and work to pay the bills—however, he was briefly a writer for the Kansas City Star Newspaper. His grandmother was the first in our family to come to the United States from Naples, Italy. Her father died when she was young, and when she was sixteen her mother married a man with two teenage sons so she was sent as steerage on a ship to a convent in New York. Supposedly, she had a great passion for storytelling—it was what got her through depression as she didn’t have an easy life. Despite the nuns at the convent introducing her to their gardener whom she married, moved to Kansas City, and had three children with (+three who didn’t survive past infancy), he turned out to be an alcoholic and she was a widow before the age of thirty. She was a strong, independent, successful woman ahead oAndrea author shotf the times, though. She opened a produce store, candy shop, and had an apartment complex built for her family to live and rent out—and lived to be almost 100 years old. It’s a fascinating story and I would love to use it as inspiration for a novel someday. I feel a connection to these two ancestors—like, I’m not only pursuing my dream for myself but for them because they wanted to be published and weren’t able due to their circumstances.

Andreas first bookI’ve improved on my titles since my childhood stories. I recently came across a box of my first work and I laughed my way through reading them. Some are as follows: Doritos Don’t Care, Where The Cornfield Is Alive, Potato Chip Sundaes, and The Truth About Dillyanna (I made up the name Dillyanna when I was in fifth grade and thought it was the coolest name ever. I’m sure my daughter is very glad I didn’t stick with it and name her that)!

I love music. My artistic/creative energy has always gone toward writing, but I still appreciate all of the other arts. If I had any singing ability, I would have gone that direction. Music really helps me get into the zone of writing if I’m stuck. Many of my stories are inspired by songs that I hear, such as “Breath of Heaven” which is the theme song for The 20th Christmas!

Author Do’s and Dont’s for Enhancing Twitter Presence

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With over 700,000 new books released just this year, the pool of authors is becoming more of an ocean. But, the good news is readers are ready and eager to dive in. This is due largely in part to the impact social media has had on the book industry. Authors are no longer unattainable beings only connected to their readers by words on a page. Social media platforms have not only enabled authors to connect to their established readers, but also expand their readership with practically free PR.  Twitter’s easy to use 140 character platform and massive collection of users has made it one of the most valuable marketing tools for authors available today, if used correctly.

Here are 6 Do’s and Dont’s of Twitter to help you use this platform to your full advantage:

TwitterClockDo: Think about the time of day you send out tweets

Understanding the heavy traffic times for social media can be crucial in getting your tweets maximum exposure. The three best times of day to send out your tweets are relatively easy to remember: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. By that we mean, the majority of people are checking social media on their morning commutes, lunch hour, and around 6pm (as they get home from work). So, click the send button with every meal and share your content with the world.

Don’t: Send automatic direct messages

An automatic “thank you” DM can seem impersonal to a new follower, and be a real turn-off. If you really want to express your gratitude, send a personal DM yourself. It will allow you to connect more with your followers and appear truly engaged.

 

Do: Follow users with similar interests

It is important to build your following around people who share your likes and interests because those are the people most likely to be interested in your book. A large audience is important, but following random users in the hopes of a return follow will not give you the quality audience you want. Plus, you could be labeled as a “follow-spammer” which will decrease your credibility.

 

Don’t: Become solely self promoting

Twitter is a “give and take relationship” with a community (see below). If your tweets are constant promotions of your work, people will get bored and unfollow. Although, they can be great marketing tools, also use your tweets to express your personality and allow readers to get to know you better.

 

Do: Interact consistently

Twitter is about satisfying that need for human interaction and communication. By delving into conversations about other users’ works and projects, you build a rapport encouraging others to contribute to your work. Also, keep this up consistently. If your followers do not see regular tweets weekly, even daily, they may assume your account is inactive.

 

twitter fakersDon’t: Allow your followers to be filled with fake accounts

There is nothing more discouraging then finding out that 75% of your hundreds of followers are not even real users. In fact, more than half of the accounts that follow the President of the United States are fake. Use this Fake Follower Check to find out which accounts are real, and also see who is actively engaged on Twitter. This will give you a better understanding of how to increase your marketability.

 

Need help finding great people to follow on Twitter? Check out our list of @AmbassadorIntl authors on Twitter!

 

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