tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65577250165673405852024-02-22T13:37:21.581-05:00Florida Christian WritersThe 25th annual Florida Christian Writers Conference,
March 1-4 2012.Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-83971702446274171042012-10-31T22:17:00.001-04:002012-10-31T22:17:32.389-04:00Gearing up for the 2013 Conference!<br />
<br />
February 27-March 3, 2013 at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center.<br />
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Friend us on facebook (Florida Christian Writers Conference) and get ready for the launch of the new website at a brand new address.<br />
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Keynoters include: Steven James, Sally Stuart, Dan Walsh, Alton Gansky.<br />
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Many speakers, editors, and agents coming to FCWC for the first time!<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-32703797092654046962012-06-13T17:43:00.000-04:002012-06-13T17:43:09.895-04:00SYMPATHY<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">All of the conferees for the past twenty-five years extend sympathy to our director, Billie Wilson at the death of her dear husband, Doug, on June 12,2012. Please pray for Billie and her loving family at this sad time.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-64718834670052977282012-02-27T21:52:00.002-05:002012-02-27T21:53:19.981-05:00CONFERENCE EXCITEMENT by John Vonhoff<div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgje68QGC3i3sQVnFHmhPnp_6DGZ1uirROFjt9xTcSNmSp9RtROWyA4YFYbBDTOUg226VfW0mt0ADVwt9bcNMeh4iwVEaCyibInyZdlUwxH2sf-7gcyRbhSSXEUvlCB_ZiV96Zhtrk53Fty/s1600/john+photo-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgje68QGC3i3sQVnFHmhPnp_6DGZ1uirROFjt9xTcSNmSp9RtROWyA4YFYbBDTOUg226VfW0mt0ADVwt9bcNMeh4iwVEaCyibInyZdlUwxH2sf-7gcyRbhSSXEUvlCB_ZiV96Zhtrk53Fty/s200/john+photo-2.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Are you excited? I am and here’s why:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">This week is the 25<sup>th</sup> Florida Christian Writers Conference near Orlando. Twenty-five years! Wow.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Six continuing classes, mentoring tracks, 56 elective workshops, and 12 After Hours workshops.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Cecil Murphy is the keynote speaker. He alone is worth the price of admission.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">An amazing faculty of excited 46 authors, agents, editors, and publishers.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">One-on-one meeting with the above 46 encouragers.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Opportunities to have your submissions read and critiqued by the faculty.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Opportunities to meet with exciting faculty for manuscript CPR.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Worship in song and word.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Great food.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Opportunities to sit with your any of the 46 faculty during meals.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Getting to experience Billie’s southern humor.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Opportunities to connect with the conferees throughout the conference.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The chance to learn what type of writing excites the conferees.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Hearing the great ideas in the conferee’s queries and proposals.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">And finally, I am truly excited to share my workshops with the conferees. I have been fine-tuning my four workshops and two After Hours sessions. It’s fun. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">One more. I have been building my Wednesday night pre-conference session, called, “Reasons.” We’ll have fun.</li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve been using my iPad to build my presentations. Capturing images, adding text and photos, managing transitions, making changes on the fly, adding newly found content – I love my iPad.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I look forward to seeing you Wednesday night or Thursday for sure.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">John Vonhof</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-26727889336758628752012-02-27T15:56:00.000-05:002012-02-27T15:56:23.606-05:00SCHEDULE AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT CONFERENCEMOST ANSWERS ABOUT SCHEDULE FOR THE CONFERENCE CAN BE ANSWERED BY CHECKING THE <a href="http://www.flwriters.org/">WEB SITE</a> AND CLICKING THE SCHEDULE TAB. Looking forward to a great conference. Registrsation will start at 9:00 on Thursday, but I know we will see some of you much earlier. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flwriters.org/">www.flwriters.org</a><br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-56861241022581862122012-02-25T20:40:00.000-05:002012-02-25T20:40:14.164-05:00A REFLECTION ON THE FLORIDA CHRISTIAN WRITERS CONFERENCE AND SPIRITUAL RETREAT<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">by Elaine Creasman </div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">It's hard to believe 25 years have passed since I first entered through the doors of the Florida Christian Writers Conference as a mom of young children and a new writer. I battled many unresolved emotional issues in my life, but felt God had called me to write personal experience articles about how He was intervening in each of these.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">For the first few conferences, editors terrified me. It seemed they had the power to mend or break my heart with one word--"yes" or "no" when it came to my meager offerings. Often I would ask myself, "What am I doing here?" But along the way, God helped me find favor with editors and improve my writing. Much of the writing which I've had published--including numerous articles, poems, gift book contributions--is a result of connections I made at FCWC.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Even though I came to the conferences to learn about writing and later on to also help writers move on in their writing journeys (as I joined the staff,) the Florida Christian Writers Conference has also been more. It became a place for a spiritual retreat--an oasis away from the sometimes chaotic happenings in my life--to hear from God.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">At the early conferences Peter Lord, who wrote the book <em>Hearing God</em>, helped to open the door to believing God wanted to speak truth to me about Himself, about me, and about my writing. And at each conference (I've attended 23 out of 24 conferences) He has spoken truth. I have found myself coming home at times much more excited about how God was changing my thinking and healing my emotions than how many pieces editors said "yes" to. Over time I discovered these changes helped my writing. </div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">God convinced me at early conferences that He didn't want me merely to focus on my writing at the conference, but He desired I embrace how He wanted to heal me and help me as a Christian. He reminded me that If I wanted to be an excellent Christian writer, it was essential to also work on the "Christian" part of that title.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Along the way God has spoken life-changing truths to me at FCWC through the wisdom of Billie Wilson, through speakers, through faculty and fellow writers, and through times alone as I have sought Him in prayer. Times alone have become one of the most important parts of the conference, which I encourage all conferees to pursue.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">One experience I had at a conference where Peter Lord spoke was a turning point in my relationship with God, the Father. I wrote about it, and it was published as part of a piece in a women's magazine and more recently on CBN.com. </div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/BibleStudyAndTheology/Discipleship/Creasman_Faraway_Father.aspx" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank">http://www.cbn.com/<wbr></wbr>spirituallife/<wbr></wbr>BibleStudyAndTheology/<wbr></wbr>Discipleship/Creasman_Faraway_<wbr></wbr>Father.aspx</a></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Excitement is mounting about the conference again. Yes, I'm preparing as far as the writing end of things goes, but I'm also getting my heart ready to hear from God.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening. </div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">How about you? Is your heart and mind open to hear what God has to say about Himself, about you, and about your writing? Are you eager to draw closer to Him as you take time away from your everyday life?</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">I pray God will bless you at FCWC 2012 as you seek to hear all He has to say to you. I'm confident it will be life-changing.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-9557030977681986822012-02-22T12:16:00.000-05:002012-02-22T12:16:36.900-05:00COMMENTS & CONTINUING CLASS<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<!--StartFragment--> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieN7K2jZNEbK2VsunhP1lOCUX3tN9YyR1ffZK3jwlrn70SAW-bGtfCnvOr5nStvckdf0M-baU3dlJ03PuezPQFeNYvbfRIHqJL6AMCtroFMUYDGwMyeXQ0vx1B6pPR1DeB5qMKsFUET4ki/s1600/karen2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieN7K2jZNEbK2VsunhP1lOCUX3tN9YyR1ffZK3jwlrn70SAW-bGtfCnvOr5nStvckdf0M-baU3dlJ03PuezPQFeNYvbfRIHqJL6AMCtroFMUYDGwMyeXQ0vx1B6pPR1DeB5qMKsFUET4ki/s200/karen2010.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.<a href="http://www.karenwhiting.com/">www.karenwhiting.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">The Florida conference connected me to the world of publishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I help with it behind the scenes and teach at it. I’ll be teaching the continuing class on marketing again but it is never the same twice.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Each conference has a flavor one might say-that makes it unique. Florida has always been full of hope, graciousness, and friendliness. For me, returning each year is also a reunion of friends, including the editors and a place where I meet new friends.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">No matter where you are in the process of writing this is a conference that will help you move forward. I have seen the people who persist and apply what they learn succeed, although the timing is always in God’s hands.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I bring in guests to speak and add some of their experience on various aspects of marketing covered. We start each session sharing information about marketing. And then the participants divide into two groups where we brainstorm how to apply the marketing principles to their own books. Making it individual helps each one start his, or her, own marketing plan.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Behind the scenes I try to help spread the word about the conference and work with ReachFM on interviewing some of the faculty and sharing about the conference throughout the year.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When you come, pray for God to set up the right meetings with people. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Come ready to listen and accept advise. The faculty members want to help you improve and get published. They are experienced, so listen.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Come eager, but pace each day as it can be overwhelming. Take breaks and don’t try to do everything.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Come and make friends. Gather emails and make connections and plans to stay I touch with at least a few people.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Let God plan the agenda.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Blessings,<br />
Karen<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-47752543037098216802012-02-18T20:31:00.001-05:002012-02-18T20:31:30.883-05:00AFTER HOURS WITH EDNA<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCtwN1IszEr0mNpxtzAsEzf3DBEb45E4AYouDo8duUQtX9-5GgjzRRiSVXPNHZeIAClO9Al-65RL8gbrY7AKkq7uf1euzVQLZY0WwcXF9ENDWbfbsS4-YP7lOALPl1PdELdD1tqYZzWQg/s400/edna+ellison.jpg" width="400" /></div>Hey, everyone! Can't wait to see you at the FCWC this year. I've attended for the past 8 years (can it be 8? I think so.)<br />
When you get there, find the sheets explaining the "After Hours" conferences. (They're really not too late, but after the evening sessions.)</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm teaching some of the same confrences I taught last year, since many people emailed asking us to provide them again.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* On Thursday, You'll find out how to get started on a poetry-writing career or just writing poetry for family and friends. We'll cover poetry basics and then more in-depth information on creating and publishing your poetry. Go to room 343 for "Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Poetry," by Edna Ellison. Bring poetry to read, if you like.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* On Friday, we'll have fun discussing "How to Write a Bible Study that Can Change the World." You won't believe how God has blessed me: of the 23 books I've written, 13 of them are Bible studies. I've got a new one coming out this fall, and I'll tell you how it came to be born. I know God is about to bless you in more exciting ways! I hope you change the world with your future Bible studies of all kinds.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">* On Saturday, let's have our final After Hour session on "Writing for Women." We'll cover how to appeal to women who read articles, books, poetry, and Bible studies you can sell to publishers to satisfy the longing in today's women for God's heartbeat in their lives and the lives of their families. Women of influence, come on over to the After Hours sessions every night.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Oh, yes! As you come into any of these sessions, win a prize by telling me you saw this online. </div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't wait to see you at Lake Yale!</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6557725016567340585&postID=4775254303709821680" style="color: #0000cc; font: normal normal lighter 10px/normal Verdana, Arial;"><img align="absMiddle" border="0" /></a> In Christ,<br />
Edna<br />
<a href="http://www.ednaellison.com/">Dr. Edna M. Ellison</a><br />
170 Buckstone Lane<br />
Spartanburg, SC 29307 </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-26892106766221535822012-02-16T20:07:00.001-05:002012-02-16T20:10:40.754-05:00AVA'S THOUGHTS ABOUT COST<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrxLVVxbzIJzIgCiQcsQW_Y55jhz_CfYhuAqOtzmY9gzkIOf5-B-0Eqr63L0he0qybniKXHfdHTAr9UhOWHk8_K24mEiS9rwmqKTU4DKQ2TX6R7K28dRb7RRWxXFuhJQ7cCIur2xfTcJx/s1600/ava.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrxLVVxbzIJzIgCiQcsQW_Y55jhz_CfYhuAqOtzmY9gzkIOf5-B-0Eqr63L0he0qybniKXHfdHTAr9UhOWHk8_K24mEiS9rwmqKTU4DKQ2TX6R7K28dRb7RRWxXFuhJQ7cCIur2xfTcJx/s320/ava.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cost or Investment?<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> by Ava Pennington <a href="http://www.AvaWrites.com/">www.AvaWrites.com</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">February – the month between paying off your Christmas bills and collecting the documents you’ll need to file your taxes. Money is tight, and can you really afford a writers conference right now?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The answer to that question is…it depends. It depends on whether you want to:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>develop your writing skills. </div><div class="MsoNormal">(Think your writing can’t be improved? Think again!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>learn how to prepare for the day when that book contract arrives. </div><div class="MsoNormal">(Hint: marketing yourself and your writing begins long before you sign on the dotted line.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">3.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>network with other writers. </div><div class="MsoNormal">(Let’s face it: no one understands a writer better than another writer!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">4.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>meet agents and editors.</div><div class="MsoNormal">(Where else will you be able to meet with agents and editors who are there to meet with you?)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">5.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>listen to editors and agents speak about what they’re looking for and what they’re not looking for. </div><div class="MsoNormal">(The publishing industry is changing faster than Apple’s schedule for new iPhone releases. Don’t be left behind with outdated information.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">6.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>hear from giants in the Christian publishing industry such as Cec Murphey.</div><div class="MsoNormal">(Unless you’re not interested in learning from an author of more than 120 books, including New York Times bestsellers?)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">7.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>develop new friendships</div><div class="MsoNormal">(Yes, this is a business conference…but we have fun, too!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">8.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>discover publishing opportunities.</div><div class="MsoNormal">(I met the editors of my books at a Florida Christian Writers Conference!)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">9.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>be blessed by the generosity of others.</div><div class="MsoNormal">(Scholarships are available. See the FCWC website for more information. <a href="http://www.flwriters.org/">http://www.flwriters.org)</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Don’t view attendance at the Florida Christian Writers Conference as a cost, view it as an investment. Are you ready to invest in your writing future?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-39070992971055419462012-02-11T10:36:00.000-05:002012-02-11T10:36:34.221-05:00AVA ON "WRITING FOR ANTHOLOGIES"<!--StartFragment--> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DZWOAwzBLu4focm3uGHZ2mlvKBeKJ6S44FgC84W74Ml7dROhADH94zj-jrVnBqzXgbetNcfbdWuVKbhWsJA3XGE_Q4jcc4LNE-s5Qlg8CpfrLW_B866aM3UPV6iaDyEV_l1kPJ1dRPHP/s1600/ava.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="54" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DZWOAwzBLu4focm3uGHZ2mlvKBeKJ6S44FgC84W74Ml7dROhADH94zj-jrVnBqzXgbetNcfbdWuVKbhWsJA3XGE_Q4jcc4LNE-s5Qlg8CpfrLW_B866aM3UPV6iaDyEV_l1kPJ1dRPHP/s200/ava.jpg" width="200" /></a><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Writing for Anthologies</span></u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.AvaWrites.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">www.AvaWrites.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How do you develop credibility when you’re an unpublished writer? Artists have their portfolios. Managers have their resumes. Unpublished writers have…? And that’s the problem. How does an unpublished writer prove to agents and publishers that he or she is serious about writing and publication?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One way is to build a history of published work by writing for magazines and anthologies. An anthology is a collection of short works. It can be poetry, flash fiction, creative non-fiction, or songs. An example of a well-known anthology is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chicken Soup for the Soul</i> series. Series such as this one are continuously seeking excellent content.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The first submission for which I was paid was a short story for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chicken Soup for the Soul</i>. Since then, I’ve written for a variety of magazines, including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lookout</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Evangel</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Light and Life</i>, and Focus on the Family’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clubhouse</i>. These publishing credits helped prepare me for the publication of my first book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One Year Alone with God: 366 Devotions on the Names of God</i> (Revell), as well as the two children’s books I co-authored with Crystal Bowman in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Faith Basics for Kids</i> series (Standard Publishing).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Having been published in more than twenty different anthologies, including sixteen <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chicken Soup for the Soul</i> books, I’ve learned some things about what makes one creative non-fiction submission stand out from the rest of the competition. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned in two workshops at the Florida Christian Writers Conference on Saturday, March 3, at 1:30 and 2:45. In the first session, we’ll discuss the components of a winning story. We’ll spend the second session in a hands-on exercise as we transform a mediocre story into a winner, using the principles learned in the first workshop.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ll also be facilitating an After Hours session Saturday evening for participants who want their anthology stories critiqued, so bring something you’re working on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope to see you there!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-83458609821805232652012-02-08T15:30:00.000-05:002012-02-08T15:30:15.833-05:00NEW SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY<div align="center"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">BE THE FIRST TO ENTER</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">GO TO THE <a href="http://www.reachfm.org/contests.cfm">WEBSITE</a> BELOW</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.reachfm.org/contests.cfm">http://www.reachfm.org/contests.cfm</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-82096381589979773582012-02-06T19:38:00.002-05:002012-02-06T19:45:12.161-05:00FIRST OF THREE POSTS by Ava Pennington<div class="MsoNormal"><u><a href="http://www.Avawrites.com/">My First Writers Conference</a></u> by Ava Pennington www.Avawrites.com</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUi7iZpVNGf4tg1AZPM3FmDsX1btLCTwI3G3sZjp2FEeWa0RZheeuKe3frwpLtrGud6uJY07lp3NGDUGspRNr9WyANfQ6VGoe5WQ-jH38xIWHYcHRjwBe9dWwTYj7mMMl7cMPJKPX6bR_/s1600/ava.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="87" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUi7iZpVNGf4tg1AZPM3FmDsX1btLCTwI3G3sZjp2FEeWa0RZheeuKe3frwpLtrGud6uJY07lp3NGDUGspRNr9WyANfQ6VGoe5WQ-jH38xIWHYcHRjwBe9dWwTYj7mMMl7cMPJKPX6bR_/s320/ava.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">I attended my first Florida Christian Writers Conference (FCWC) full of hope and a suitcase packed with five copies of three different book proposals. Why so many copies? Because I was sure editors would fight over my work, and I wanted to ensure enough copies for everyone! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Not only did no one offer me a publishing contract, editors were less than complimentary about the quality of my writing. In tears, I called my husband that Friday night and apologized for wasting his money on what was clearly an out-of-reach dream. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As you can imagine, I had much to learn about publishing!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Was my first writers conference a disaster? Absolutely not! At that same conference, I learned just how much I did not know about writing and publishing. I learned about queries and proposals. I discovered acronyms such as POV and RUE. I met agents and editors who took the time to explain the basics of this industry to a neophyte who didn’t know how much she didn’t know.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I found prospects, too. One magazine editor reviewed my writing and gave me an opportunity to submit a magazine article to him…which he published a few months later!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Other editors and agents encouraged me to persevere. Over and over, what I heard was not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No</i>, but rather <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Not yet</i>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That was in 2006. I returned to the FCWC in 2007 and 2008. Each year I learned more, honed my skills, and was encouraged to continue persevering. I built up a substantial portfolio of publishing credits writing for magazines such as Focus on the Family’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clubhouse</i> and anthologies such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chicken Soup for the Soul</i>. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">During the FCWC in 2009, I met the editor who acquired my one-year devotional, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">One Year Alone with God: 366 Devotions on the Names of God</i> (Revell). At that same conference, I met the editor who acquired a co-authored project called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Faith Basics for Kids</i>, including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do You Love Me More?</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Will I See You Today?</i> (Standard Publishing).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In 2010, I taught a workshop on writing for anthologies which I will teach again this year.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Have I arrived? No. I’m still learning, still writing, and still attending the Florida Christian Writers Conference. <br />
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How about you?<a href="http://www.Avawrites.com/">MY First Writers Conference</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-41109696398640000802012-02-02T11:02:00.000-05:002012-02-02T11:02:12.705-05:00NOTE FROM BILLIEI can’t believe this will be our 25th FC writers conference and I’m looking forward to seeing published projects as a result of our 2012 conference. It is exciting to go through all the emails flooding my Inbox. I just received this from Laura N. <br />
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<em>Last year's conference was my first and was a huge a motivation for me as a writer. As a result of my consultation with Jesse Florea, I received a contract for one of my children's short stories from Clubhouse Jr. In addition, my first children's book in the God's Secret Garden Adventure series was published. I will bring some to put in the conference bookstore this year. </em><em><br />
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<em>I received priceless mentoring in Christine's workshop, and as a result, my second children's manuscript is ready to put out there. Also, the first draft of the third book is almost done. I intend to work on it in her class this year. Needless to say, last year's conference lit a fire in me, so I'm even more excited about what I will learn and the contacts I will make in 2012, with God's help.</em><br />
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</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-78096626164324999962012-02-01T20:47:00.002-05:002012-02-01T20:52:33.844-05:00INVITATION FROM MARTI PIEPER<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGICoLP3sYhH52R5gN92Xzr6NSM9zsbMFidDJcGfHJXF5XfSlngYrFVEQYBgggReoZlHA9ypfgn7eUxwi2U9Mneadrbb4R_p_0FbVXENqUQDCy6jQ6rnaNQDdoNvLOTYC23zan1p7Kb3sR/s1600/marti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">,</span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGICoLP3sYhH52R5gN92Xzr6NSM9zsbMFidDJcGfHJXF5XfSlngYrFVEQYBgggReoZlHA9ypfgn7eUxwi2U9Mneadrbb4R_p_0FbVXENqUQDCy6jQ6rnaNQDdoNvLOTYC23zan1p7Kb3sR/s1600/marti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
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Dear Writer WannaBe,<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGICoLP3sYhH52R5gN92Xzr6NSM9zsbMFidDJcGfHJXF5XfSlngYrFVEQYBgggReoZlHA9ypfgn7eUxwi2U9Mneadrbb4R_p_0FbVXENqUQDCy6jQ6rnaNQDdoNvLOTYC23zan1p7Kb3sR/s1600/marti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></span></span>I know you’re out there. And today, I’m thinking of you.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You’ve slogged it out alone for so long. You sit at your computer and dream of creating a masterpiece (okay, several). And you know God wants to use your words.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Maybe you’ve written a novel or a chunk of a nonfiction book. Perhaps poetry bubbles from your pen like foam off an overfilled glass of Coke. Are you working on a screenplay? Or do you prefer to tackle shorter pieces like devotionals, greeting cards, or Bible studies instead?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">But, yes, my friend, you have a problem. You don’t know how to get your work out there, do you? These days, you hear so much about self-publishing. What’s up with that? And then there’s the whole “agent” thing. Who needs one, and why? </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I understand. You'd love to meet some editors in person, to find out firsthand what they need and want. You know you should keep improving your craft, but when will you find the time, and where will you find a teacher? Could you take the chance to have a professional evaluate your writing and give you some tips to make it shine? </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Of course it sounds scary—but imagine the possibilities. After all, Mom’s opinion can only take you so far. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You're right. Those are some deep needs and extreme expectations. But did you know, my WannaBe friend, that you can find hope, help, and encouragement at a writers' conference? Please take time to consider attending the 25<sup>th</sup> annual </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Florida Christian Writers Conference</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <a href="http://www.flwriters.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">(FCWC)</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">, March 1-4, 2012.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Allow me to share some reasons this conference could meet your needs (and a few of your wants as well):</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Superb Speakers:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Best-selling author and collaborator <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://themanbehindthewords.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Cec Murphey</span></a>y</span> (<i>Gifted Hands, 90 Minutes in Heaven</i>) will keynote this year’s conference. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Terrific Teachers:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> The FCWC offers continuing seminars (including fiction and nonfiction mentoring clinics) as well as individual workshops, all taught by industry professionals. These people know their stuff and share it<i>, </i>too. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Amazing Appointments:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> Dedicated time with your favorite author, editor, or agent to discuss you, your work, or the sad state of the economy (Okay, I was kidding about the last part—but it’s your fifteen minutes).</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Fantastic Friendships:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> You'll love spending time with other WannaBes. You speak the same language, so make sure you stop talking long enough to improve your writing.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Stellar Setting: </span></b><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.lybcc.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center</span></a> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">in Leesburg provides a tranquil, beautiful setting. And the meals rival Rachael Ray’s (or your mom’s).</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Don’t have the money? Let’s talk about that. If you or your child wanted to play the piano, wouldn't you do your best to find the funds for lessons? And then there’s your pet. When Scruffy needs something, you make sure she has it. Right?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You invest in what you value. Isn't it time to put your money where your words are?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">By the way, the FCWC offers a unique opportunity for teen Writer WannaBes (I know you’re out there): hours of hands-on Teen Track training with fantasy author and teacher extraordinaire<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1919041890"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.daviscrossing.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Bryan Davis</span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> at a discount price. Teens, seniors, or in-betweens can<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_461737093"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.flwriters.org/register.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">registe</span></a>r</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">, check on scholarships, and discover many other details at the </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial;">conference website</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Do the research. Pray about it. </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1980908705"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Send me questions</span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">.(martipieper@gmail.com)But consider this my personal invitation to shed some Florida sunlight on your writing. I'd love to have you join me at the FCWC.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Your friend and fellow Writer WannaBe,</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Marti </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">P.S. Read descriptions of the workshops I'll teach at the conference </span></i><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.martipieper.com/www.fcwc.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">here</span></a></span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">. Have you attended the FCWC or another writers’ conference? Please add to my letter via your comments!</span></i><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;"><br />
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</div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-78084492126278696002012-01-28T22:04:00.000-05:002012-01-28T22:04:02.723-05:00Note from Director, Billie Wilson<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Conference details are looking good and it is not too late for you to register for the 25</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Florida Christian Writers Conference. We have additional lodging available at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Lake</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">Yale</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><u></u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">and I am asking you to let everyone on your contact list know about the conference.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-16013686918130086682012-01-28T21:21:00.000-05:002012-01-28T21:21:37.223-05:00<div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Hello Fellow Writers,</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; clear: left; float: left; font-family: 'lucida sans', 'sans serif', verdana, arial; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="photo - Crystal Bowman" height="200" src="http://www.crystalbowman.com/images/bowman_07.jpg" width="190" /></span>If you are trying to decide whether or not to attend this year's Florida Christian Writers' Conference, I have one word for you--<em>come</em>! </div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Whether you are a novice writer or a published writer, there are classes designed just for you.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I first attended in 2006, and it was worth every penny. I attended classes, ate lunch with other writers, and had meetings with editors. As a result of that conference, I received several book contracts. I have been a part of this conference ever since, and it just keeps getting better. </div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This year I will be teaching the continuing classes on writing for children. We will cover</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">everything from board books and picture books, to beginning readers and Bible storybooks. We will dissect all the sub-genres within the genre of children's literature, and you will leave knowing how to write like a pro for this age group. Class sizes are small and personal.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The dress code is comfortable and casual. Bring a jacket or sweater for chilly evenings and air-conditioned rooms.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Forget fashion and wear comfortable shoes.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I hope you decide to come, because you will be glad you did. You will meet some amazing people, learn a lot,</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">and laugh a lot.</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">See you soon!</div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #888888;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: #888888;"><div>Crystal Bowman</div><div><a href="http://www.crystalbowman.com/" style="color: #0000cc;" target="_blank">www.crystalbowman.com</a></div><div></div><div> </div></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-70731496142173792282012-01-25T15:03:00.001-05:002012-01-25T15:04:42.902-05:00RESULTS OF CONFERENCE<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Billie has asked me to share this note with the followers of Florida Christian Writers' conference. Exciting results from last year's conference. Check it out by clicking to links in note. Congratulations C. Kevin Thompson. </span></span></span></div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Note from Kevin:</span></span></span></div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The time has come! My debut novel, </span><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Serpent’s Grasp</span></span></i></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, is set for release mid-February 2012 by </span><a href="http://www.oaktara.com/bookpage-theserpentsgrasp" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1327521508_0" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">OakTara Publishers</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">! I have attached the news release for you to see! It shows all the distributors who will be selling the book as well as telling you about it!</span></span></span></div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">You can also check out my website, </span><a href="http://www.ckevinthompson.com/" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1327521508_1" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.ckevinthompson.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, to find out the latest, stay informed, and get a sneak peek at the book!! On that website is the Official Book Trailer, but you may also see the book trailer at </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dCIOIfC_wQ&feature=youtu.be" rel="nofollow" style="color: blue; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1327521508_2" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">YouTube.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">!</span></span></span></div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Calibri; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: navy; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thank you for your support!</span></span></span></div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Best Regards,</span></span></i></div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv2110440964MsoNormal" style="display: block; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: x-large; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Papyrus; font-size: 24pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><img alt="Ocean.1.1.1.Email format.2" border="0" height="85" id="yiv2110440964Picture_x005f_x0020_1" src="http://f1620.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=1%5f55298%5fAOfTi2IAAATdTx8jYQvX3HDdRBA&pid=1.2&fid=Inbox&inline=1&appid=YahooMailClassic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="408" /></span></span></i></b></div></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-16912841244910407572012-01-23T18:58:00.001-05:002012-01-23T18:59:49.894-05:00ARE YOU PREPARING?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA49yOsJzUuLZux7Yq0UZAFaBXdKyydREHwsWV6by6w-JnPZGXsqF0znjLt9YinhqHziZ0Lt-LQp7PL0jRGUo3d52ac4bgHsPeuuQMz-7PIsrOWLKaBKq2ggnAPaEDlwn79qbV0JDy1kjG/s1600/man_desk_working_lg_clr.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA49yOsJzUuLZux7Yq0UZAFaBXdKyydREHwsWV6by6w-JnPZGXsqF0znjLt9YinhqHziZ0Lt-LQp7PL0jRGUo3d52ac4bgHsPeuuQMz-7PIsrOWLKaBKq2ggnAPaEDlwn79qbV0JDy1kjG/s200/man_desk_working_lg_clr.gif" width="180" /></a></div>Every year I resolve to be more prepared for the conference. This year is no exception, but I looked at the countdown clock and realized only 37 days until the day. For some reason, seeing it in writing may be just what I needed. I'm taking another look at the editors and publishers who will be attending. I'm dragging out a couple of devotions that I thought I might polish up a bit and submit to Mary Lou Reddick. I am so glad she will be with us this year-a lovely lady.<br />
I decided this afternoon that I needed to establish a time table and a few goals for the next few weeks. My Kindred Hearts will be ecstatic to know they have finally persuaded me that goals are a good thing.<br />
Guest posts for this blog would be so welcome. Perhaps you have some good memories you would like to share, or some of the writing tips you have gleaned from the conference would encourage an undecided conferee.<br />
Maybe you have a list of items that an individual needs to bring to the conference-for example, unless something has changed hair driers are not furnished. I realize that has very little impact on your manuscript, but when we meet editors and fellow writers, it does help our self-confidence to feel we are at our best.<br />
Just e-mail me clellac73@gmail.com and I will be glad to share your post on this blog.<br />
Thanks<br />
Clella<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-28518439005972713122011-12-14T22:18:00.000-05:002011-12-14T22:18:14.726-05:00NOTE FROM BILLIE ABOUT 2012 CONFERENCE<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Register by December 24</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">th</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">to get a $20 discount for early registration.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The 25<sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">th</span></sup> FCWC is right around the corner – March 1-4 and we have a ton of events planned for the celebration. Cec Murphey is our Keynote speaker – can’t get any better than CEC! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> I just received the following email from Edwina: "</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I think of the lepers Jesus healed and how only one turned to say thank you. It's time I turn around and say thank you. Because of the Florida Conference, I've meet Rebeca Seitz and Steve Feldman and signed with Reclaim. Thank you for this opportunity."<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Agents Andy Scheer (Hartline), Amanda Luedeke (MacGregor), Mary Sue Seymour (The Seymour Agency), Les Stobbe (Stobbe Literary) will be open for appointments with you. Les received an award for placing the most first time authors industry wide. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sam Feldman from the Sam Hill Group and Rebeca Seitz founder of <u></u><u></u>Glass Road<u></u><u></u> are PR specialists will equip you to make your project stand out in the marketplace.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Register by December 24<sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">th</span></sup>to get a $20 discount for early registration. Our 2012 faculty is the BEST yet we’re still receiving emails from editors that hope to attend. Continue to check our website for updates – will be posting conference news often.<u></u><u></u></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Billie</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-82091820942413906752011-11-11T21:39:00.000-05:002011-11-11T21:39:23.646-05:00IS IT WORTH IT?<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><i>The following post is an article I found when organizing some old documents. Thought it might be worth re-posting. I still have this opinion. :-)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">IS IT WORTH IT?<br />
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“It was wonderful!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend had just returned from a writers’ conference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another friend sent an e-mail recently after she came home from Write to Publish to tell me that she had an agent and two editors interested in her book. She was fired up and ready. Writers’ conferences can many times be the answer to our publishing dilemma, but much more than an opportunity for publication can be found at a conference. In the past, I have had individuals ask if I think a writer’s conference is really necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I think it is worth the cost?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me list at least five “things” I have found at a writer’s conference.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CONTACTS</b>:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contacts are usually friends, but they fall into a different category. Dan Penwell, who was my editor, is a friend, but not in the same way as my Kindred Hearts. (My first book came from my meeting Dan at a conference.) Contacts are those individuals in the business who know some way or someone who might be interested in your writing. Contacts are in the business of publishing and are at the conference to find material. And not to sound worldly, but publishing is a business like any other business and it is necessary to be where publishing people are…”It can be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">who</i> you know.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Face to face contact and time spent with these individuals is always time well-spent and a personal blessing.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TEACHERS:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teachers can always be found at a conference. Workshop leaders and speakers who have knowledge and experience are always willing to share with the conferees. Workshops, panel discussions and speakers bring an expertise to the fledgling writer as well as the experienced author. I find teachers who were not scheduled on the program, but I learned much from them at the dining table, the after-hours gatherings or the break between classes.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MATERIALS:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sheets of writers’ guidelines, samples of magazines, handouts from workshops and business cards are always available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most authors have books for sale at a reduced price and are willing to sign them. Also available for take home bags are CD’s of each session and addresses and e-mail addresses of the participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My satchel overflows after each conference.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FRIENDS:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contacts of all kinds can be made at a writer’s conference, but friends are more than contacts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Friends are those people you meet with whom you have an instant rapport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ones who understand your writing dreams, your funny jokes, your fears of failure and most of all your last article or chapter. Kindred Heart Writers are friends not contacts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found them at a writer’s conference and continue to be blessed by them.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">INSPIRATION:</b> A group of people with common interests and goals can be a stimulation to each other. Christian writers in one large group teaching and encouraging one another always thrills me and challenges me to be a better writer. To be a part of the fellowship of believers whose purpose is spreading God’s message to the world is always a blessing for me, and I leave inspired to continue working at what I believe God has called me to do for Him.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">IS IT WORTH IT</b>?<br />
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I think so. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><!--EndFragment--><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-25235175952384461142011-11-10T20:51:00.000-05:002011-11-10T20:51:05.453-05:00REASONS TO ATTEND 2012 CONFERENCE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kathy Cassel has started a list of "Reasons to Attend Florida Christian Writers' 2012 Conference". Check it out on Facebook. As always, Kathy's pictures tell a story.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHd2HIjS8d5pSZAYNsuBjQ3AzWw8qPlcgOgUgVseSjD_JWECZKuPYhzrw8khtSq7BGxaJrFVTktaR5hKVE1Elo3R2BDdWlghnmiFuDAzLuaO8aInNRfLF38D74T7Ces0xDUCdiN0wgafvD/s1600/flwriters2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHd2HIjS8d5pSZAYNsuBjQ3AzWw8qPlcgOgUgVseSjD_JWECZKuPYhzrw8khtSq7BGxaJrFVTktaR5hKVE1Elo3R2BDdWlghnmiFuDAzLuaO8aInNRfLF38D74T7Ces0xDUCdiN0wgafvD/s320/flwriters2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
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Three of my favorite women at conference.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvidFRwd4IeqD649DBzPHNEDPV3FozQEvddiXZarDEB86aIcNamIF8qoaUMg2ue79m8R0fk5J9sMHhc6LCNecF39y08eRG2aEDJzGPoCE3QZ7RQ9YlzRGdM1_4V-Gztv3mgnJHok7lXfpu/s1600/flwriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvidFRwd4IeqD649DBzPHNEDPV3FozQEvddiXZarDEB86aIcNamIF8qoaUMg2ue79m8R0fk5J9sMHhc6LCNecF39y08eRG2aEDJzGPoCE3QZ7RQ9YlzRGdM1_4V-Gztv3mgnJHok7lXfpu/s320/flwriter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Jesse and Tory acting tough.<br />
Love these guys.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">STAY TUNED </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">FOR</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">NEXT PAGE</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks Kathy Cassel</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-6863475516377188692011-10-02T19:11:00.001-04:002011-10-02T19:12:31.032-04:00AGENTS & PUBLICITY SPECIALIST<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">EXCITING NEWS!</span></b></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">THESE AGENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR APPOINTMENTS AND TO REVIEW YOUR CURRENT PROJECTS.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">MARY SUE SEYMOUR-THE SEYMOUR AGENCY</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">LESLIE H. STOBBE-THE STOBBE LITERARY AGENCY</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">ANDY SCHEER-HARTLINE LITERARY AGENCY</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">AMANDA LUEBECK-MacGREGOR LITERARY</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">PR SPECIALIST REBECA SEITZ - GLASS ROAD</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">PR SPECIALIST STEVE FELDMAN- THE SAM HILL GROUP</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">B<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">e part of our celebration for the 25</span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Florida Christian Writers Conference </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">March 1-4. Make plans to be join us at the <u></u><u></u>Lake<u></u> <u></u>Yale<u></u> <u></u>Conference<u></u> <u></u>Center</span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><u></u><u></u> for the best writer’s conference ever!</span></span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-86294602623317484562011-09-26T20:44:00.001-04:002011-09-26T20:50:54.966-04:00SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE!<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">NOTE FROM BILLIE WILSON</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cecil Murphey Scholarships are available for first time applicants. If you’ve received a Cecil Murphey Scholartship in the past you are not eligible for a second one but I encourage you to apply for a conference scholarship. To apply for either scholarship email to me a brief bio, sample of writing and statement of your financial need. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Billie's e-mail address: billiewilson@cfl.rr.com </span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-32644221593432238522011-09-15T21:52:00.000-04:002011-09-15T21:52:46.759-04:00CONFERENCE TIME IS APPROACHING<div class="yiv1411860430MsoBodyText" style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoBodyText" style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> </span></span></b></span></span></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoBodyText" style="display: block; font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">IT'S TIME!</span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span> </span></b></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">September is here, and plans for the 25th Conference are now falling into place. From now until conference time, we will be posting information about the conference as we receive the latest word from Billie and the participants.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span> </b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">NEWS FLASH</span></b></span></span></div></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoBodyText" style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoBodyText" style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoBodyText" style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DTo53IQmOtKhWvxjc7E6YraRMtTCE_d05gUkg-O70lOhkLi4OuP_9U5pj-85n_AETbqx8ir_PZZI8Nq5KMurWr2wJ3xwWiw-CHCzkkcpHDyiZJ0Ax5xpjNFlQ7xFkCGQzjEP9puFs6a2/s1600/CecMurphey_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DTo53IQmOtKhWvxjc7E6YraRMtTCE_d05gUkg-O70lOhkLi4OuP_9U5pj-85n_AETbqx8ir_PZZI8Nq5KMurWr2wJ3xwWiw-CHCzkkcpHDyiZJ0Ax5xpjNFlQ7xFkCGQzjEP9puFs6a2/s320/CecMurphey_1.jpg" width="216" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">KEY NOTE SPEAKER<br />
2012 FLORIDA CHRISTIAN WRITERS' CONFERENCE</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoBodyText" style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoBodyText" style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">RETURNING </span></b></span></span></span></div></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoBodyText" style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span> </span></span></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoBodyText" style="display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Veteran author and speaker Cecil (Cec) Murphey has written or co-written more than 120 books, including the </span><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">NY Times</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> bestseller </span><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">90 Minutes in Heaven </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">(with Don Piper) and </span><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Gifted Hands: The Ben </span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1316131199_0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Carson</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> Story</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> (with Dr. Ben Carson). Some of his more recent titles include </span><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Knowing God, Knowing Myself</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">, </span><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">When Someone You Love No Longer Remembers</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">, and </span><i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-style: italic; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">When a Man You Love Was Abused</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">. His books have sold in the millions and have brought hope and encouragement to countless readers around the world. Cec offers writing tips and advice twice a week at </span><a href="http://www.cecwritertowriter.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" title="blocked::http://www.cecwritertowriter.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1316131199_1" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">www.cecwritertowriter.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">. For more information, visit </span><a href="http://www.cecilmurphey.com/" rel="nofollow" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" title="blocked::http://www.cecilmurphey.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1316131199_2" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">www.cecilmurphey.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">.</span></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span></div><div class="yiv1411860430MsoNormal" style="display: block; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Plan now to attend the 25th annual </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">FLORIDA CHRISTIAN WRITERS' CONFERENCE</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> AT LAKE YALE RETREAT CENTER</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div align="center" class="yiv1411860430MsoNormal" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-25633685021376137502011-06-13T20:47:00.000-04:002011-06-13T20:47:17.110-04:00NOTICE FROM BILLIE<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Billie is without email and her husband (Doug) just received a diagnosis that he has an aggressive form of carcinoma (skin cancer). He will have surgery later this week.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Billie is working on the 25th Florida Christian Writer’s Conference faculty. If you are emailing her about that please be patient until she can get email.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557725016567340585.post-34384444211585272082011-05-19T22:34:00.002-04:002011-05-19T22:42:48.404-04:00Another Happy First Time ConfereeBillie recently received this letter and Pat has given us permission to share this with our readers. It is always so good to hear from those who have attended conference. If you have comments you would like to share about this year's conference in March, or if you would like to suggest something for next year, e-mail Billie at billiewilson@cfl.rr.com or Kindred Heart Writers at clella37@yahoo.com. <br />
<br />
<br />
Hello Billie<br />
I just wanted to take the time to thank you for the wonderful experiences I had at the 2010<br />
Florida Christian Writers Conference.This was my first conference and everything was new to me but everyone I met made me (and my husband) feel welcome. Many of my new acquaintances now seem like old friends!<br />
<br />
I especially appreciated the workshops by Crystal Bowman. She is an excellent teacher, a great writer and a wonderful person and I learned a great deal from her.<br />
<br />
Myappointments with Jesse Florea from Focus on the Family and Elaina Meyers from Standard Publishing, who each reviewed one of my manuscripts, were encouraging and helpful and I now have the opportunity to submit stories to both of these publishers. (I can hardly believe this!)<br />
<br />
I enjoyed every workshop and meeting with other faculty and staff and every minute of the Conference. I can hardly wait for the next one.<br />
I want you to know that I appreciate all the hours of work you must have put in to arrange such a helpful, inspiring event. (Your sense of humor is inspiring, too!)<br />
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God Bless you and thank you again.<br />
Pat Schmidsrauter<div class="blogger-post-footer"><a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=FloridaChristianWritersBlog&loc=en_US">Subscribe to Florida Christian Writers Conference Blog by Email</a></div>Kindred Heart Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01616420759270086476noreply@blogger.com0