Glorieta-Before

Glorieta Conference Center, 20 miles east of Santa Fe

Hi! Louise here...
I will be leaving for the Glorieta writers' conference in New Mexico early tomorrow morning. This blog will likely not have any new content until after I return (early in November). Please be patient and check back at that time. Hope to see many of you at the next meeting of the NJCWG on 11/14/05.

Louise Bergmann DuMont
Author & Speaker
www.cafemochalight.blogspot.com
www.louisedumont.com

Writing Op - Apples of Gold

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Peg Phifer of Word Smith Writer
http://wordsmithshoppe.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Apples of Gold - Pictures of Silver

Word Smith Writer is accepting submissions for this new feature. Devotionals, reflections, prayers, food for thought...limited only by your heart to share. If it is writing-related, great! But it does not have to be. However, it must be non-controversial and Biblically sound. It can be thought-provoking, a gentle "warm fuzzy," "slice-of-life" observations...even a short Bible study.

Quoted Scripture must show book, chapter and verse, and reflect the version cited: i.e. [KJV] [NKJV] [NIV] [LB] [AMP] [MSG] etc.

Strictly limited to 200 words maximum, excluding title and byline. Your name only will be shown. If you have a website you wish to link, it will be embedded in your name. It may seem strange, but it has happened...anonymous submissions will be rejected.

Submission must be sent in the body of an email. Attachments will not be opened. All submissions will be considered, but only those selected will be acknowledged. These will be notified in advance to being featured in The Wordsmith Writer.

This is a non-paying market at the present time, but, God willing, I hope that will soon change.
To submit, go to: words@wordsmithshoppe.com

NJCWG Meeting - Tonight

Some members at a recent meeting of the
North Jersey Christian Writers Group (NJCWG)

MEETING - TONIGHT
Monday, October 24, 2005
6:15-7:00 pm - Chat Time
7:00-8:00 pm - Lesson
Our lesson-time tonight will take a different direction. I'd like input from those of you who attend the NJCWG - A Reason to Write Conference. I'd also like to share with you some of the things that Maude, Ann & I have done to prepare for the Glorieta conference (I leave Wed-10/26 and return Mon-10/31).
8:00-9:00 pm - Critques

Up Coming Meetings & Events
2005
November
Meetings
11/14/05
11/28/05
December
12/12 - Christmas Party - More Info to Come
12/26 - NO MEETING - Holiday Break

2006
January
1/9
1/23
February
2/13
2/27
March
2/13 - NO MEETING - Louise at Mentor Clinic
2/27

Industry News

Seems there is a LOT of movement within the CBA lately--and more to come. When one editor moves, a ripple effect takes place. Others move to fill the empty spots and it keeps going until newcomers are pulled in and things quiet down. For now, here are the hotspots:

--Gary Terashita left Broadman & Holman for Warner Faith. His B&H position remains open.
--Anne Goldsmith left Tyndale for Warner Faith. Her Tyndale position remains open.
--Jeff Gerke left Realms and Siloam (Strang Communications) for NavPress.
--Linda Holland filled Jeff Gerke's position at Strang Communications.
--The editorial department of Zonderkidz was disbanded, with Amy DeVries being shifted to the Bible division (I'm assuming to work on children's Bibles), Robin Crouch was released, and Bruce Neffer continues to produce Zonderkidz books.
--Tom Dean has been moved into marketing from Inspirio, the gift book imprint for Zondervan. His editorial position remains open.
--Jenny Baumgartner has left Westbow. Her position remains open.
--Barb Sherrill at Harvest House shifted to marketing director from editorial director. The editorial position remains open.

Next Meeting - NJCWG

Some members at a recent meeting of the
North Jersey Christian Writers Group (NJCWG)

NEXT MEETING
Monday, October 24, 2005
6:15-7:00 pm - Chat Time
7:00-8:00 pm - Lesson
8:00-9:00 pm - Critques

2005
November
Meetings
11/14/05
11/28/05
December
12/12 - Christmas Party - More Info to Come
12/26 - NO MEETING - Holiday Break

2006
January
1/9
1/23
February
2/13
2/27
March
2/13 - NO MEETING - Louise at Mentor Clinic
2/27

Writing Op - Christian Gift Book

Wanted: Recipes, stories and devotionals in regard to afternoon or high tea, to be published in a Christian gift book. If you have a good family recipe for sandwiches, cookies, sauces, snacks, scones, etc. please send to Christina Slike, cladachbooks@aol.com, by December 31, 2005.

All contributors with published entries will receive a copy of the book. Christina Slike.

CLADACH Publishing, P.O. Box 336144 Greeley, CO 80633. http://www.cladach.com/

Writing Op - Reverent Submissions Journal

Reverent Submissions Journal, a new theme-based quarterly journal is accepting submissions for the February 2006 issue.

Deadline: December 29, 2005
Theme for the February: Love

Christian-focused articles – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, devotional, inspirational, etc. – are welcomed with complete manuscript up to 600 words. Please include a short bio and all contact information. Manuscripts will not be returned. We reserve the right to edit and will notify you should this be necessary. Payment will be two free copies of the issue of the Journal in which your work appears.

Manuscripts should be in MS Word for Windows or .rtf text file format. Electronic submissions are preferred. Please submit via email as attachment to reverentsubmissions@comcast.net with “submission” in the subject line or as hard copy via U.S. mail to: Reverent Submissions, 908 N 30th St, Renton, WA 98056, with “submission” in lower left corner of envelope.

Tyndale & President Bush

TYNDALE TO PUBLISH BUSH PHOTO BOOK
Tyndale House Publishers was picked by the Presidential Inaugural Committee to publish George W. Bush: Portrait of a Leader, a collection of full-color photographs from the first four years of his presidency. The book also features selected quotes and a reprinting of his 2005 inaugural address. It releases Nov. 1.

Google Legal Suit

AUTHORS GUILD FILES SUIT AGAINST GOOGLE.
The Authors Guild filed a class action lawsuit against Google, contending its plan to digitize copyrighted books without permission constitutes copyright infringement. The Assoc. of American Publishers issued a statement supporting the lawsuit.

CBA Marketplace Lists

CBA’S OCTOBER CHRISTIAN MARKETPLACE LISTS
The new October best-seller and category top-seller lists—based on August sales—are now online at http://www.cbaonline.org/TrackingLists/BSLHome.jsp

Blink Again Sudden Fiction from the Upper Midwest http://www.spoutpress.com/news.html
Spout Press seeks submissions of very short fiction, 1,200 words or less, for the upcoming anthology Blink Again: Sudden Fiction from the Upper Midwest.

Authors must reside in the following states to be eligible: MN, WI, IA, ND and SD. Blink Again is the sequel to Blink, our first anthology of sudden fiction by thirty-seven writers, including Jim Northrup, Jonis Agee, Jim Heynen, Alison McGhee, Sheila O'Connor and Jenny Lock.
Payment will be in copies of the book.DEADLINE: Stories must be postmarked by December 01, 2005.Send up to 4 submissions to: Spout Press Blink Again Submissions, P.O. Box 581067, Minneapolis, MN 55458-1067

Contests, Contests, Contests

4th Annual Stickman Review Fiction Contest
Deadline November 1, 2005
We welcome all mainstream and experimental literary fiction. We are very unlikely to consider genre fiction (Westerns, Romance, Horror, Science-Fiction, Mystery, etc.), unless the story transcends the typical requirements of that genre. 8000 words or less.1st Prize: $250; 2nd Prize: $50Email: fiction@stickmanreview.com
Guidelines http://www.stickmanreview.com/fictioncontest.html

15th Annual Acton Essay Competition.
Deadline: November 15, 2005.
Open to all seminarians, undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students studying religion, theology, philosophy or related fields are encouraged to enter, regardless of religious denomination or affiliation.
1,000-1,500 words
Theme: The human person, by virtue of being created imago Dei, is an independent being, individually unique, rational, the subject of moral agency, a co-creator, and inherently social. Accordingly, human persons possess intrinsic value and dignity, implying certain rights and duties with respect to the recognition and protection of the dignity of themselves and other persons. These truths about the human person's dignity are known through divine revelation, but are also discernible through reason.
Previously published work may not be entered.
1st Prize: $2,000; 2nd Prize: $1,000; 3rd Prize: $500
Entry by mail only including application form on web site.
Address: Lord Acton Essay Contest, The Acton Institute, 161 Ottawa NW, Suite 301, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Email: awards@acton.org
Info and Entry form: http://www.acton.org/programs/students/essay/

2005 Angel Horses Story Contest.
Deadline: November 15, 2005
Creative Non-fiction
2,000 words or less.
The Angel Animals Network (AAN) is accepting story submissions about horses who have performed exceptional acts of compassion, protection, healing, courage, or have been part of a miraculous or mystical experience. Stories must be original, based on real horses, people, and events. Preference will be given to emotionally evocative and well-written creative nonfiction stories. Please, do not submit journalistic articles, profiles, testimonials, essays, or fiction for this contest.
1st Prize: $250; Five 2nd Prizes: $25 each
Angel Animals Network, PO Box 26354, Minneapolis, MN 55426
Email: angelanimals@aol.com
URL: http://www.angelanimals.net/awardshorses.html

The Robert Olen Butler Fiction Prize
http://heh.pl/&2pR
Del Sol Press announces the Robert Olen Butler Fiction Prize for the best short story, either published (in a periodical) or unpublished
2000-8000 words
The top ten finalist stories will be published in book form in Spring 2006. Finalists will be invited to submit book-length manuscripts for consideration by Del Sol Press.
Winner Receives: A $1,200 honorarium, paid in February 2006, publication in a Spring 2006 Del Sol Press anthology, a brief introduction by the judge, and 20 copies of the anthology that features their story.
Deadline (postmark): November 1, 2005.
Stories must be between 2000 and 8000 words.
$16.00 contest fee for the first story (includes a copy of the anthology when it is published if you send a 8x10" SASE with $4.50 to cover printing and postage)

"The only reason for being a professional writer is that you can't help it."
~~ Leo Rosten

E-Courses - Word Smith Writer

E-Courses

Word Smith Writer recently wrapped up a six-week course with Janice Thompson on Creative Writing. These lessons have been archived on the Word Smith Yahoo groups page and can be accessed if you join the group. How do you do that? It's easy. Just subscribe to the Word Smith Newsletter.

Subscription Instructions:
Click on the link below. Fill in the easy (only eight lines) form. When it asks how you heard about Word Smith Writer, use the drop down list to chose Referal/Friend. The next question asks who that friend is, write Louise DuMont - word.worker@verizon.net (you must put both my name and that email address or it won't count). Everything attributed to my name will go to the NJCWG. After that you simply click subscribe. Your email box will not be filled with hundreds of emails. You only get only one newsletter per month.
http://wordsmithshoppe.com/memberdrive.htm

Once you've signed up, the lessons can be found under "Files" on the left-hand column.

I am really excited about these courses. It is a great new way to help writers. E-Courses are a more "hands-on" class than the one-hour chat classes. I sincerely hope you'll consider taking part in future events.

Writing Op - Casa Kids

CasaKids is the new (Spanish) kids' book line of Casa Creación. The stories will focus on the Spirit-filled life for children and how kids can have a relationship with Jesus from an early age. "We start from the view that there is not any kind of 'junior Holy Spirit' for kids. They don't have to wait to grow up to experience and apply the Bible's teachings in their lives," noted Pat Matuszak, children's editor for CasaKids. "Each adventure story will empower children in the areas of prayer, health, diversity, self-esteem and the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus," Matuszak said. "While there are many wonderful Christian children's books already out there, these stories will be distinct in that their emphasis will be on children experiencing God, rather than learning principles about God. There is a great thirst for spiritual things in the hearts of children today, and we want them to know that God wants to satisfy that need in a way that nothing else can." website: www.casakidsbooks

Location:
600 Rinehart Road
Lake Mary, FL 32746

Contact:
Phone: (407) 333-0600
Fax: (407) 333-7100

Writing Op - New Man Mag

New Man Magazine
Introduced: 1994
Frequency: Published 6 times per year
Publisher: Stephen Strang
Associate Publisher: Marcos Perez
Editor: Robert Andrescik
Assistant Editor: Jonathon Heide
Assistant Editor: Lorie Munizzi
website: http://www.newmanmag.com/

Writers' Guidelines
For Men On a Mission

Our Purpose

"Helping men to develop Christ-centered perspectives that will transform their lives, their families and their worlds."

Our History

With a circulation exceeding 100,000, New Man is America’s #1 magazine for Christian men.

From 1994 to 1997, we had the honor of serving as the official magazine of Promise Keepers. While we no longer serve with the organization in that capacity, we continue to work side-by-side in ministry to men.

Additionally, we have formed key relationships with other ministries working to reach and disciple men, including Kenny Luck’s "Every Man" Ministry, Patrick Morley's Man in the Mirror, the National Coalition of Men’s Ministries and more.

Our Content

New Man is about spiritual transformation. The magazine is aimed at "men on a mission" (not a specific demographic, but a TYPE of man). These are men who are passionate about God and want more of Him in their lives. Men who crave adventure, take risks and pursue truth. Men who realize that an adventure with the Creator doesn’t begin and end on Sunday morning, but everywhere, everyday!

Each issue, we profile "men on a mission"- church leaders, professional athletes, businessmen and entertainers- completed by Christ, these men are transforming their lives, their families and their worlds. Plus, we offer biblical perspectives from today's Christian leaders, and tons of candid and practical, not predictable, advice about marriage, parenting, work, health and fitness, sex, God and faith.

New Man challenges men to apply biblical teaching to every area of their lives. It is bold, in-your-face and benefit-oriented in approach. Never boring, but always relevant and Christ-centered.

New Man is described like this: Practical. Candid. Entertaining. Radical. Masculine. Gritty. Key topics of interest include: spiritual growth, evangelism, discipleship, risk taking, leadership, integrity, physical fitness, stewardship, sex, marriage and family, faith and entertainment, sports, thrill and adventure, relationships.

Here are the types of articles most likely to be published:

• Profiles With Teaching Points: Stories that will equip readers with Christ-centered perspectives and help them to grow spiritually. These should be more than historical recaps of an individual’s life. We should learn about them, AND, we should learn from them.

• Transformation Stories: Men who have experienced 2 Corinthians 5:17: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new man; the old has gone, the new has come!"

• Men’s Ministry Reports: Profiling church and parachurch ministries presenting a creative, and credible, offer of the Gospel to men.

• Trends: Investigative reports on issues affecting men today. Informing and equipping Christian men to engage the world with a biblical response.

• Spiritual Growth: Biblical perspectives on men’s issues that are practical, but not predictable.

• Faith and Risk: Stories about men who take risks, defy convention and face ridicule for God's glory.

We do not publish fiction, sermons or poetry.

Our Procedures

* New Man magazine does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Articles are developed in-house and written by free-lance writers with whom we have worked in the past. Those who would like to be considered for future assignments can send writing samples and article ideas to the address below (e-mail preferred). Please study the magazine before submitting article ideas.

* If you are a publicist looking to pitch story ideas or products for possible review in New Man, please send your materials to the address below. Please know that we consider everything sent to us. Follow-up phone calls are not necessary.

* We buy ALL RIGHTS.

Write to us at New Man magazine, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, FL 32746, e-mail us at newman@strang.com, or call us at 407-333-0600.

Cecil "Cec" Murphey's Mentoring Clinic

Just a few of Cecil Murphey's many wonderful books.

I'm so excited and I want to share my good news with all of you. I was recently offered the opportunity of a lifetime! In March of 2006 I will be attending Cec's mentoring clinic, held in Yorktown, VA. Nearly every moment between now and March will be used to prepare my manuscript for that event. Please join me in prayer that God will use this clinic to prepare me for the next step in writing for Him.

I happen to have met Yvonne (the hostess of this event) when she submitted portions of her devoational to me for critique a few years ago. She is a cancer survior and has become a most blessed friend.

There are just a few spots left for this particular clinic (Cec takes no more than 10 writers per clinic). Please pray to see if God is call YOU to attend this event.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA INTENSIVE MENTORING CLINIC
March 15-18, 2006

INSTRUCTOR: CECIL MURPHEY
Author of 100 books
Winner of Silver Angel Award 2004 and 2005

· Clinic is limited to ten writers
· Intense, daily work on your manuscript
· Clinic starts with dinner on Wednesday at 6:00 P.M.
· Classes from 8:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
· One-on-one consultations with Cecil Murphey

Cost -- $450 if paid 30 days or more in advance (otherwise $500)
Make check payable to Living Enterprises
Includes clinic, dinner on Wed evening and lunch Thur through Sat

Mail check to: Yvonne Ortega, PO Box 955, Yorktown, VA 23692

Location of Clinic: Yvonne’s home-Street address & directions to follow payment in full

Accomodations:
Yorktown Motor Lodge (1-800-950-4003)
8829 George Washington Memorial Highway
Yorktown, VA 23692
www.yorktownmotorlodge.com
Only $64.95 for single or double
10% discount off these rates when you mention the Mentoring Clinic

All rooms have free coffeemaker, microwave, refrigerator,
hair dryer, iron, ironing board, clock radio, and free cable TV

*****Required: Laptop, Flash Drive, & Manuscript*****

Writing Op - Touched by the Hand of God

I recently got the email below. I don't know anything more about this site or this person but thought some of this blog's readers might want to check it out.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I’m writing to tell you about a Web site that you might be interested in: http://www.touchedbythehandofgod.com

This is a site where people share stories of how God has opened doors, hearts and minds for them in remarkable ways, at just the right time and place. These are firsthand reports from everyday people of God’s loving grace at work in our lives. You could even call them reality stories that give God the glory.

I started the site just about a year ago and continue to be awestruck by the powerful, inspiring examples of how God so perfectly leads and blesses us! (And, of course, the stories on the site represent the tiniest fraction of such examples.) Stories come from all over, some as far away as New Zealand. The Dallas Morning News selected it as Website of the Week last spring and other news publications have featured it, too.

I hope you’ll forward this message to the Group, as well as friends, family and church members, so they can surf around the site and be blessed by what they read. Moreover, I invite everyone to submit a story for publication on the site. Sharing a story doesn’t take very long to do, it can reach more hearts and souls than we can imagine, and its impact can be everlasting! (Guidelines can be found by clicking on the “Share a story” link located on the left-hand side of each page. Learn more about how the site came to be via the “Our story” link.)

I realize that some of you are published authors. BTW, I occasionally arrange with authors to feature on the site an appropriate excerpt from their previously published inspirational stories or essays — with proper © notices, permissions, credits, etc. and even the url for their own site. Coming up late this month is such a feature from Kali Schnieders’ “Truffles from Heaven.” This arrangement enables the author’s message to reach more hearts and minds. If interested, just let me know. But, of course, one does not have to be published elsewhere to share a story with TOUCHED BY THE HAND OF GOD.

Thank you so much for your consideration. May you all be uplifted and motivated by the stories of God’s grace.

In Christ,
Ms. Barrett Batson

Wanted: Recipes, stories and devotionals in regard to afternoon or high tea, to be published in a Christian gift book. If you have a good family recipe for sandwiches, cookies, sauces, snacks, scones, etc. please send to Christina Slike, cladachbooks@aol.com, by December 31, 2005. All contributors with published entries will receive a copy of the book.

Christina Slike. CLADACH Publishing, P.O. Box 336144 Greeley, CO 80633. http://www.cladach.com/

Quotable Quote

"The only reason for being a professional writer is that you can't help it."

-- Leo Rosten