We CAN! promote our books

CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL by Christine Lindsay

For all the critter lovers out there, I’m going to share—our beloved Springer Spaniel, Zeke, passed away recently. He was ten years old. Here he is with my daughter, Lana, on her wedding day. Ah...in case you're wonderfing---no Zeke didn't come to the church.

Or maybe you're wondering---how is the news that my dog passed away supposed to encourage? We live in a world that is full of tough things, sadness, illness, bombings in Boston for goodness sake! Shootings in schools. Scary stuff.

What Fills Our Lives?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A perpetual calendar of quotes sits on my desk. One quote that’s become a personal favorite expresses these wise words—“Our lives, to be fruitful, must be full of Christ; to be able to bring his peace, joy, and love we must have it ourselves, for we cannot give what we have not got” (Mother Teresa). These words encourage me to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ on a daily basis, but they also challenge me in my role as a writer.

As a writer, my desire is to pen words that make an eternal difference in my readers’ lives. I long for them to crave the Scriptures, to discover how God’s Word relates to them, and to develop a delightful and mature relationship with the Lord. I yearn to bring hope to those experiencing bitter disappointment. To bring comfort to those who grieve. And to bring direction to those who have lost their way.

High and lofty goals, I’d say. They’re also completely futile if I attempt them while operating on an empty spiritual tank.

The only hope of achieving my goals is for me to possess a growing and vibrant relationship with Christ. Jesus said as much—“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NLT).

Meeting publishers’ deadlines is critical for writers. So is marketing our books and maintaining an online presence. But nothing matters more than pursuing relationship with Jesus Christ. Devotion must supersede duty.

Our time spent with Christ in private produces creativity. It gives us wisdom. It teaches us what He values and how to be salt and light. From that private time flows relationship, and from that relationship flows words that breathe life into readers gasping for breath in a broken and hurting world.

“Our lives, to be fruitful, must be full of Christ… We cannot give what we have not got.” Words well spoken and true. Especially for those who write with the hope of making an eternal difference.

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Learn more about Grace and her books at www.gracefox.com.

 

 

 

 

 

LOOKING FOR LOST DONKEYS--By Christine Lindsay

You’ve heard the old adage, ‘cast your bread upon the waters and wait for it to come back to you’.

Well how about the adage, ‘looking for lost donkeys’?

Nope? Never heard of that one?

Lately I’ve been testing the waters to see what direction I should take with my career. Not being independently wealthy I need to bring in an income. I know, I know, who of us does not have financial difficulties? We all have our crosses to bear. Ooops, there’s another well-worn adage.

Thing is, we all have our stresses. And we all reach crossroads at frequent intervals where we have to make decisions----will I go in that direction . . . or in this direction?

You may be looking for a job. Deciding on what college to attend. Deciding what direction God wants you to take in the writing of your next book, or speaking engagements. Perhaps your issue is health related. 

There’s an incident in the life of Saul that each time I read it, gives me comfort. The young Saul had no idea that God had chosen him to be the first king of Israel. He just figured he was an ordinary guy whose father was a farmer and owned a string of donkeys. One day those donkeys went missing, and Saul’s father sent him out to look for them.

Saul travelled through various areas, the hill country of Ephraim, passed through the land of Shalishah, etc., etc., etc. He looked for ages and all over the place. Saul could not find those donkeys.

I can connect with Saul’s long and unfruitful search for those financially strategic donkeys.

Funny thing is, God used that long and winding search to bring Saul to the prophet Samuel. The Lord had already revealed to Samuel that He had chosen Saul to be that first king. As Samuel unveiled this to Saul, he also told him that the donkeys he was searching for had been found and were already at home, and that God had a totally new direction for his life.

So, when you’re unclear about what direction to take in your life, or it seems that every iron you place in the fire doesn't get hot enough to provide for you, or you’re not sure which direction to cast your bread on the water, remember that God knows exactly where your lost donkeys are. He’ll bring them safely home in the right time.

The story of Saul and the lost donkeys is found in I Samuel 9

Be encouraged.

Christine Lindsay, www.christinelindsay.com

Author of the Award-winning, Shadowed in Silk

Christian Store Week

Aloha from Karen Whiting

Next week is the beginning of Christian Store Week and the publishing industry is getting ready for it. Many CAN authors will be at stores for events and book signings. 

 

With Every Letter - A New Release

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin

During World War II, Lt. Mellie Blake serves as a flight nurse in the 802nd Medical Squadron, Air Evacuation, Transport. As part of a morale-building program, she reluctantly enters into an anonymous correspondence with Lt. Tom MacGilliver, an officer in the 908th Engineer Aviation Battalion in North Africa. As their letters crisscross the Atlantic, Tom and Mellie develop a unique friendship despite not knowing the other's true identity. When both are transferred to Algeria, the two are poised to meet face to face for the first time. Will they overcome their fears and reveal who they are, or will their future be held hostage to their past? And can they learn to trust God and embrace the gift of love he offers them? Combining excellent research and attention to detail with a flair for romance, Sarah Sundin brings to life the perilous challenges of WWII aviation, nursing, and true love.

With Every Letter is the first book in the Wings of the Nightingale series, which follows three World War II flight nurses who discover love, friendship, and peril in the skies and on the shores of the Mediterranean.

 

Sarah Sundin is the author of With Every Letter, as well as the Wings of Glory series—A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, and Blue Skies Tomorrow. She lives in northern California with her husband and three children, works on-call as a hospital pharmacist, and teaches Sunday school. You can visit Sarah on her website and her blog: 

Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com

Blog: http://www.sarahsundin.blogspot.com

This new release information was uploaded by Cecelia Dowdy! Happy reading!

Special Guest: Lysa TerKeurst and her blog thoughts

Today I have special guest, Lysa TerKeurst from Proverbs 31 Ministrys chatting about blogs.

Lysa has some great insights on why she thinks her blog has become one of her greatest tools for ministry and how blogs have worked for her!

Thank you, Lysa, for your wisdom and helps!

ShoutLife and Blogging Success

The best way to get the word out about you is to share glimpses of yourself on places like Shoutlife . . . or on any other blog. In the real estate world the key phrases is: location, location, location. In the blogosphere it's relationship, relationship, relationship. We live in a fragmented world, people like to feel as if they know authors and speakers ... not just know about them.

Blogging Basics by Tricia Goyer

As you think about your marketing goals for next year, I'm going to talk a little more about blogging. I'll share more basics and talk about how blogging connects with readers.

The Benefits of Personal Blogging

This is Camy Tang, the loud Asian chick, talking about an alternative way to see if you even want to start an author marketing blog.