I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR JESUS 

"I wanted to be Jesus' defender and shield when it was his job to be mine."

 

Confessions of a Prodigal Daughter

Hey, friends! Hop on over to my "Embracing Life" blog to see my latest post! Here's an excerpt:

"I walked into the counseling office, barely holding my heart together as, little by little, I felt it shredding inside my chest. When had things gone so wrong? How far do I travel back in my history before finding where the pain all began? And at what point did my heart start to go off the rails? ..." 

When the Darkness Closes In

I sat down to a little research before moving forward with my WIP on Gethsemane. I picked up my commentary and began reading about Jesus being fully God and fully man ("The Christian's Reasonable Service" by Wilhelmus a` Brakel, p. 503-510). Powerful stuff! The quiet of my house was a little too quiet, so I opened iTunes and clicked play.

Casting Crown's "Oh, My Soul" sucked me in, reminding me that I am never alone. I thought of Jesus in Gethsemane. As he lay face down on the garden floor, he knew he would suffer in a way no other child of God had ever or would ever suffer (Mark 14:32-42). Yes. He would take our place. We would never, ever have to face the darkness alone. No matter how abandoned we might feel at times in our trials, in our sufferings, we are never truly alone. God promised his people that he would never leave us. He would never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5b). Instead, the Father would forsake Jesus as Jesus took our sins upon himself at the cross.

Jesus knew this was coming. He knew the cup of the Father's holy wrath would be poured out upon him. He knew this would separate him from the Father in a way he had never before experienced. Prostrate on the garden floor, his tears, sweat, and blood soaked the ground beneath him as he pleaded with the Father to find another way. 

"Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me (Mark 14:36)." 

Does this sound like a familiar refrain? How many times have we prayed this very thing? For Jesus, this was too much to bear. This impending, unfathomable, unbearable horror of the Father's wrath and rejection - the separation from the Father and his love, was too much to bear. The Father who had said of him, "This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased," would turn his back on him (Matthew 3:16-17). And all for you and me.

I cannot imagine facing anything in life without the love, mercy, favor, and presence of my Heavenly Father.  But Jesus faced that very thing. And he did it for us. For all his pleading, when it came down to it, Jesus uttered that well-known refrain: 

"Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done (Luke 22:42)." 

As I listened to my pastor, Dr. Derek W. H. Thomas, preach on this breathtaking passage, curious questions niggled at my mind. Why? How? As the darkness closed in on Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane that day, what was the tipping point for him? What caused him to utter those words, "not my will, but yours be done?" This is the question at the heart of "Through Gethsemane's Gate." What, do you think, took Jesus from utter anguish to unwavering submission? And while we will never experience the wrath of God and utter darkness that Jesus did on that day, how do we respond to our own crises? Is there a tipping point for us when we say this with Jesus?

"Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

*Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references quoted are from the ESV.

Brainstorming Content and Titles - A Must for Every Writer

Working Title: Through Gethsemane's Gate

As I sit to fill my current manuscript pages, I realize how important it is that there be certain fundamental beliefs that should be clear in order to understand the significance of my subject matter. My brain starts firing and I start to go off on one tangent only to think of three more things I should include in this manuscript. That's when I stop. I pull away from my keyboard and think. What is truly needful for this book? Focus is always hard for me when it comes to writing books, articles, or even school papers. I am a very detail oriented person. This is a gift, yet it so often feels like a curse. Rather than struggling to come up with words, I struggle to limit my words. But that's what I must do. Every great writer knows which words should remain and which words require the delete button. I am an organic writer which means I have ideas in my head, but there is no outline. I sit down and I start writing as things come to me. This form of writing requires that I edit each section as I write before moving on to the next scene or chapter. And while this is a nonfiction book, the rule applies. I did do some brainstorming and wrote a list of 25 things I'd like to discuss in this book. I'm quite sure I'll have to pare it down, but the list makes for great writing prompts when I'm not sure what to write next.

My brainstorming also led me to check Amazon to see if there were any other books with the title, "Through the Garden Gate," and of course there were six of them. This caused me to backtrack and figure out how I could change the name to something less generic that would still encapsulate what I wish. I pared it down to "Through Gethsemane's Gate." This is still a working title, meaning the publisher can change the name if they believe there is a better name to be had. However, I searched Amazon and there is not a single book titled, "Through Gethsemane's Gate." So, for now, it's a win! One of the reasons I work so hard to come up with a solid working title is that is helps me to keep the necessary focus of the book. As I write, I continually go back to the title, reminding myself the purpose of the book, and realign my writing accordingly.

Writers: How do you remain focused? How do you come up with a working title?
Readers: Is there a particular book in which you really like the layout? What makes a book easier for you to read?

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

My Silent Pen Awakens...

My pen has been rather silent over the course of the past 4 1/2 years. God has faithfully walked me and often carried me through some very dark seasons of life and these past few years have been some of the darkest. I can't say that the dark days are gone forever. As long as we live in this world, there will always be dark days, dark seasons of life. We so often ask where God is in the midst of our suffering. I hope we will be able to answer this question in such a way that the Lord will lift us above our circumstances to find the joy with which Jesus seeks to fill us.

This is the working title for my nonfiction WIP.

"Through the Garden Gate" is about what Jesus' experience in the Garden of Gethsemane tells us concerning the trustworthiness of God in the darkest moments and seasons of our lives. It has been through life experiences and the faithful preaching and teaching of God's Word that an understanding of this particular moment in the life of Jesus has been born and my faith is built up. I write about it in hopes of developing an even deeper understanding of God and the building up of both my faith and yours. Won't you join me in this journey through the garden gate?

Linnette Visits "Believing Out Loud"

A Life-changing Romance

Scanning through my blog, I run across a video I posted of Steve Camp’s song, “Love That Will Not Let Me Go”. As I listen, God’s love pours into my heart and overflows into unimaginable freedom, and happiness.

In this weary world,

Chasing after dreams

Just led me back where I started

I couldn’t see my way

Or find a hiding place

For the broken-hearted

You spoke softly to my soul

And with one touch I was made whole

Chorus:

There is a love that will not let me go

I can face tomorrow because You hold me forever

Stronger than the mighty winds that blow

I’m safe within Your arms

Love that will not let me go

Lord You always knew

The road that I would take

But then you saved me just in time

And what I owe to You

I could not repay

So I pledge You my whole life

Never trusted love before

But I won’t be afraid anymore

Chorus:

Now I know that there is a love that will not let me go

I can face tomorrow because You hold me forever

Stronger than the mighty winds that blow

I’m safe within Your arms

Love that will not let me go

~ Steve Camp, Doing My Best album

I know these feelings of ecstasy won’t last forever. Life’s trials will come in and sweep them away much too easily, but for the moment I’m soaking it all in and praying that this sprouting of hope and deep abiding joy will take root. You see, God has been challenging me on a particular malady of the heart for a long time and I think I have finally - maybe, begun to grasp what he’s been trying to teach me.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

~ Luke 14:25, ESV

Wow! That seems super extreme – especially for this loyal-to-a-fault kind of girl. What can Jesus possibly mean? His Word tells us over and over again to love one another as he loves us, so it can’t possibly mean I am to actually hate my family, can it? ...

To read the rest, visit - Believing Out Loud!

Intimacy That Just Might Blow You Away

As I listened to my Bible reading this morning, the words of John 15 struck me anew. Jesus loves me. Jesus wants me to love him. Not only does he want me to love him, he wants me to be wholly devoted to him. He wants to be my every breath, my very life-blood.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and ever branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:1-5, ESV

When I think of the word abide, I'm overwhelmed by the level of intimacy Jesus indicates. What does it mean to abide in him?

According to dictionary.com, abide means: to remain; continue; stay; to have one's abode; dwell; reside; to continue in a particular condition, attitude, relationship, etc. Then, I put that together with how tightly knit a branch is to its vine. It's impossible to tear them apart. Even when a branch is dead or diseased, its nearly impossible. You have to cut them apart.

Could Jesus have picked a more perfect analogy? As I reread those verses and think about what "abide" means, I'm filled with awe. We can't bear fruit unless we abide, dwell, reside, make our home in him... for without him we can do nothing. Does it blow you away like it does me?

Donna Clark Goodrich on Friday with Friends

Friday with Friends welcomes 

Donna Clark Goodrich, 

author of A Step in the Write Direction!

A Step in the Write Direction is an indispensable guide to writing and marketing your work and will help you build the skills you need to launch and build a successful writing career, including:

* Choosing your field of writing

*Writing your manuscript

*Other sources of income

*Income taxes for writers 

... and much more.

Here's an excerpt:

Chapter 4

Writing Devotionals and Fillers

Introduction

We live in an instant gratification world. We pop a waffle into our toaster or a frozen dinner in our microwave and voila! instant meal. By the same token, we want to pick up our Bible and devotional book in the morning, read a few verses, and shazam! Instant religion.

Just as the commercials spell “relief” with the name of a popular antacid, so some Christians spell it with the letters “d-e-v-o-t-i-o-n-a-l.” Take one in the morning for relief

of spiritual heartburn all day.

Because devotionals are short, you may feel they're easy to write when, in fact, this very brevity makes it harder. You have to get an important truth across to your readers in 300 words or less. As you gain experience, the writing will become easier and the struggle less. But don’t allow yourself to get to the point where you just “dash one off.” Go to your knees before you go to your keyboard.

A good definition of a devotional comes from a Daily Guideposts reader who wrote, “The best devotional is something I can read in five minutes and remember for a lifetime.”

Differences between a Devotional and a Filler:

There are several differences between a devotional and a filler.

Length:

A devotional may range from 100 to 300 words, depending on the specific periodical and guidelines. Your devotional may be shorter than the given length, but should never be longer.

On the other hand, a devotional filler is just what the word implies: a short piece of inspiration to fill a column or page in a newspaper, magazine, or weekly take-home paper. It can be as short as 50 words or as long as 750 words. Markets for these are numerous.

Don’t worry, however, about the length or editing when writing your first draft. Concentrate more on simply getting your thoughts on paper. Correcting grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation can come later.

Format:

Devotional format. For an individual devotional, place your name, address, phone, and e-mail in the upper left-hand corner of the page. If it’s an assignment, type your name, address, phone, e-mail, and dates of assignment on a cover page, along with a brief bio sketch. (The editor may also request a photo. This is a good time to put in a supply of

3x5 or 5x7 black and white or color glossies.) For a multiday assignment, begin each day on a new page.

A devotional format will depend upon the publisher’s guidelines. One editor may ask for a single Scripture verse with the devotional; another will request related scriptures. Others may ask for a prayer, a quotation, or a verse of a song. An assignment packet will include these guidelines and usually a sample devotional.

Body of devotional. A devotional includes three parts:

1. Scripture verse

2. Illustration or anecdote

3. Spiritual application

The illustration is what makes this devotional uniquely yours. Nothing happens to anyone else exactly the same way it happens to you. Sharing a specific experience helps your reader identify with the thought you're trying to get across.

Ask yourself: If an editor could select only one devotional out of several written on the same passage of Scripture, what would stand out in your brief piece of writing to grab his or her attention? Often it’s the illustration, so make it strong.

This illustration or anecdote doesn’t have to be personal. It can be an event in the life of a friend or family member, a biblical or historical illustration, or an item in the news. (See chapter 14 for “Where to Get Ideas.”)

~

A Step in the Write Direction--the Complete How-to Guide for Christian Writers was one of the books on my "bucket list." The second one, released in May of 2012 (Comfort Publishing), is The Freedom of Letting Go, sharing how to let go of grief, possessions, failure, success, control, children and other things that drag us down.

A Step in the Write Direction may be purchased from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or from the author at: www.thewritersfriend.net

The author of 24 books and over 700 published manuscripts, Donna lives in Mesa, Arizona, with her husband Gary. Also a freelance proofreader/editor and speaker, she enjoys helping beginning writers get started and encouraging advanced writers not to give up. Contact her atdgood648 @aol.com or www.thewritersfriend.net. She also blogs every Monday at: http://donna-goodrich.blogspot.com

Linnette here. Sound like an amazing book? I'm definitely interested! If you have questions or comments for Donna, please be sure to leave them here. :D

Author Shanna Groves on Friday with Friends

Welcome Author Shanna Groves to 

Friday with Friends! 

Check out her latest book!

~at CrossRiver

Sit, Wait, Trust: A Writer-Mom’s Journey

By Shanna Groves

After two days of being holed up with a badly injured foot, I lost it.

My husband had been taking care of our three young children and household duties—things I should’ve been doing. My heart pounded as my one-year-old son screamed when I yanked my crutches away from him. “No,” I told him. “Hurt.” I felt lightheaded as my eight-year-old son attempted to carry his baby brother up the stairs to their bedroom. “Careful!” I pleaded with them. Then there was the stinky odor that wouldn’t go away. I hobbled to the washing machine, and there they were—my bathroom rug and toilet seat cover that sat in mildewed water for 48 hours.

My life pre-foot injury could have been summed up as “God is in control—but only when I’m not.” As a micro-managing momma, I felt empowered knowing that I had mine, my three kids’ and my husband’s lives under perfect control. My husband was well-fed and encouraged. My children never had to worry about hot breakfasts, clean underwear or how to get to school, because I was on top of things. I even had my friends’ lives under control. Whenever they needed me, I was there, doling out endless advice, prayers and relentless reassurances of “You know I’m here for you.” People could depend on me for anything.

After tripping off a porch step and badly injuring my left foot, I couldn’t walk. Neighbors and church friends fed my family; I couldn’t maneuver well around the kitchen in crutches. My parents, who had driven from out of state to help, made sure my older two children wore clean underwear and socks to school. Friends took turns babysitting my one-year-old son because I wasn’t able to carry him. My husband took a week off from work to do grocery shopping, run errands and make sure all of us had a hot breakfast.

All the while, I sat on the sofa and wondered how I would ever get back on top of things. I felt like I was riding a rollercoaster without a seatbelt on; not being able to control things around my house. I knew I had to give up my need to control things, but it was hard. I had to learn how to be still, wait for things, depend on others, and earnestly pray for healing.

One day, my cell phone rang.

“What are you doing?” asked my very busy mom friend.

“Just hanging out,” I mumbled.

“How’s the foot?” Her voice competed with toddler squeals. “Hey kids,” she called out. “Quit putting rocks on the dog’s head.”

“The foot’s still sore,” I said, “and I don’t know what to do.”

“So, how are you?” she asked. “Is your husband home now?”

“Yep, he’s here.”

“Well, that’s good.”

“It is?” I answered, smugly.

My friend giggled. Then I started giggling. The tension and guilt rose from the pit of my stomach, to my chest, up my throat, and out my mouth. I busted out laughing; I just lost it.

“You okay?” she asked me.

I continued laughing but attempted to answer. “I’m a one-footed momma. I can’t do anything without my husband right now!”

My insatiable need to do things without help—it had to stop. I had to start trusting God as the Divine CEO of my home, family and life.

“Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” Moses wrote in Genesis 18:14. Without God and the helpers he provided during my recovery, there was no way me or my family could’ve managed. I believe that is exactly what I needed to learn. To just sit on that couch, give up my crazy need to control, and learn how to depend on him completely.

After faithful prayers from family and church friends, my foot healed and I was able to walk again less than a month after the injury. But I will never forget the lesson God taught me—slow down and trust him.

~

How about you? Is this a lesson you've had to learn? Having chronic Lyme's disease, I can definitely empathize with Shanna on this issue. What lesson has God taught you recently? Leave a comment with your email if you'd like to be entered for a free e-book of Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom.

*To be entered into the drawing, please leave your email address in a comment which must be left before Monday. Please leave a space on each side of @ in your email address in order to help avoid spammers. Winner will be notified via email. Thank you! :D

~

Shanna Groves now walks, not runs, to the next appointment. She is learning patience at this very minute as she waits for the laundry load to finish so she can throw it in the dryer. When the kids are in school, she works as a writer. One of her books, Confessions of a Lip Reading Mom, will be published any day now. Visit her at www.ShannaGroves.com.

Find out more at CrossRiverMedia.com!

David Fessenden - Book Review and Author Interview

David Fessenden

&

Writing The Christian Nonfiction Book: Concept To Contract

A Must Read for Writers

“Another ‘how to’ writing book,” you say. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

I hear you! I’m not a non-fiction reader. I’m not a “how to” reader. Put the two together and I’m gagging. Majorly! I’ll take a lecture any day over having to read a manual.

So why am I even talking about David’s new book, Concept to Contract? Because I’ve finally found the help for writers like me! David magically encapsulates all the things a writer needs to know from the conception of the book idea to the signing the contract while encouraging the writer every step of the way. Even authors of other “how to write” books are impressed.

James N. Watkins said, “I’ve…composed two of my own books for writers. Plus I’ve taught writing at hundreds of conferences and colleges during the past thirty years. But I have to admit I’m just a bit jealous of David’s … Concept to Contract. He’s managed to collect and communicate – in his warm and witty style – all the basics from ‘concept to contract.’ A great resource! I jut wish I had written it.”

You’re a fiction writer? Still, this book is for you. David packs so much basic information into this less than 200 page book that even a fiction writer can glean a tremendous amount of help from it. Seriously! You’ve got to get your hands on a copy of this book and keep it handy for when those nagging questions pop up.

Here’s a list of topics it covers:

1)      The Mysterious Process

2)      Brainstorming: Corralling Your Ideas

3)      Research: Public and Private

4)      The Dreaded Outline

5)      Book Proposals: The Front-End Method

6)      The First Draft: Begin and the Beginning

7)      Revisions: Where the Real Writing Begins

8)      Fine-Tuning the Manuscript

9)      Landing the Contract

Appendix A: Checklist for Revision and Finalizing of Manuscript

Appendix B: Sample Permission Letter

Endnotes

Looks simplistic, doesn’t it? Don’t be fooled. These chapters are packed with nothing but helpful, easy to read and understand information. Even the lay-out within the chapters grabs you and keeps your focus, and it’s easy to thumb through and find answers to specific questions without necessarily having to read everything in succession. My advice is to read through it once to get the over-all picture and then go back and study it or keep it handy for things you need refreshing on. As W. Terry Whalin said, “Read this book. No, do much more than read it, you need to study it carefully.”

Marlene Bagnull said it “…is must reading for every Christian writer who hopes to one day have a book in print. David’s practical advice is presented clearly and sprinkled with humor. Highly readable and highly recommended.”

Harold Sala said, “…Whether you are a seasoned author or a novice, this book takes you through the process from start to finish. It can be the difference between success and frustration! I recommend it wholeheartedly!”

So, if you’re looking for the guide to writing a non-fiction book – or even a fictional book - Concept to Contract is the book for you!

Want to know more about the author?

Keep reading for an interview with Dave.

Linnette - When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 

Dave - At the end of high school, as I thought about what to pursue in college, I realized that I had always enjoyed every writing assignment I had ever done in school, so I started looking toward journalism.

Linnette – Cool! Do you have a specific writing style? 

Dave - I tend to see the ironic side of life, so much of my writing is sprinkled with humor. I have always been a great admirer of comedy writers such as Robert Benchley and James Thurber. And Jim Watkins is one of my favorite contemporary Christian writers.

Linnette – You? Ironic? No way! And Jim Watkins? Gotta love Jim! :D Speaking of Christian writers, if you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? 

Dave - Well, C.S. Lewis was the first Christian writer I ever became aware of. Rudolf Flesch got me interested in communication as an art and craft. And Sherwood Wirt, the founding editor of Decision Magazine, was an early mentor of mine, because he taught at the first Christian writers' conference I ever went to, while still in college.

Linnette – I know how special those “firsts” are. DiAnn Mills, Mark Littleton, and David Fessenden are at the top of my list! What inspired you to write Concept to Contract? 

Dave - It's the result of answering questions from writers for 20 years. Teachers always say there are no stupid questions, but there are some questions that are asked that don't make any sense, that require a voluminous response, or that contain false assumptions. So I decided to put together a book that lays out the full process of writing a Christian book. I tell people that Concept to Contract is everything I know about writing --- and more!

Linnette – You’re welcome! Because I know I’m one of those people who’ve bombarded you with questions. LOL You mentioned eight steps to writing a book in Concept to Contract. Can you tell us what they are and why they are important?

Dave - The eight steps are: brainstorming, research, outlining, writing the proposal, writing the first draft, revising, fine-tuning, and marketing the manuscript to a publisher.  They are important because when writers get stuck, it's usually because they have skipped or ignored one or more of these steps.  And if they complete their manuscript, but have trouble selling it to a publisher, it can often be traced to a weakness in one or more of these steps.

Linnette – Interesting. Do these steps hold true for fiction writers, too?

Dave – You got me there.  I consider myself a rank amateur in fiction. But I am sure most of what I share could be adapted to fiction — I have been told, for example, that editors and agents are now asking for proposals that are structured more like a nonfiction proposal. And every author has to do brainstorming, research, outlining, drafting, revision and so on.

Linnette - Do you feel this method is the only way to write a book? 

Dave - To my mind, it is a natural way to write a book. There may be other methods, but I'd venture to say they cover most all of these steps.

Linnette - If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? 

Dave - Yes, I would have written it sooner. I had the basic outline and idea for years.

Linnette – Yes, but then I wouldn’t have written this awesome review and we wouldn’t be having this amazing interview. :D  What was the hardest part of writing your book? 

Dave - I think the hardest part was something I struggle with every time I write a book --- fighting the desire to say everything I want to say at once. It's like when you build a house; you have to lay the foundation before you erect the walls, and you have put the roof on before you can carpet the floors.  I can get so excited about explaining how to write a book that I can get the information out of order if I'm not careful. Then it doesn't make sense.

Linnette – Yeah. I can totally see you doing that. :D  Did you learn anything from writing your book? If so, what was it? 

Dave - It doesn't matter if this is your first book or your fiftieth: writing a book is a lot of hard work!

Linnette – Amen to that! Do you ever experience writer’s block? 

Dave - Oh, yeah. Before I learned how to write a book, I kept getting stuck because I was stumbling around, learning by trial and error. Now I get writer’s block mostly because of laziness. I just don't want to do the work. So if you would like to pray for me, ask the Lord to help me be diligent.

Linnette – LOL Will do and you can do the same for me! I’m in desperate need of heavenly intervention in this next month! But, back to you. How long does it take you to write a book?

Dave - Most of the books I've written have been stewing in me for years. But when I buckle down to write them, I can get it completed in a few months, even while working full-time.

Linnette – Like that work of fiction you have sitting in your hard drive, begging for attention? Oops! Sorry. Was I not supposed to mention that? Couldn’t resist. :D  Ahem… Anyway… Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? 

Dave - My book ideas have grown out of personal experience: my editorial work with authors led to Concept to Contract; my Sunday school teaching experience led to my book for Cook Communications, Teaching with All Your Heart. Others came from things I read: a short story about Thomas Barnardo, who rescued homeless children from the streets of London in the late 1800s, led me to do more research and write a biography about Barnardo, Father to Nobody's Children.

Linnette – Teaching with All Your Heart… I like that. Sounds like you. How many books have you written?

Dave - I have written five actual books on my own; several others have been collaborations with other authors, or the study guides for books by other authors. And of course, I've edited dozens of books.

Linnette – Because you’re so often giving to others… Love your work on A.W. Tozer’s Attributes of God, by the way! Haven’t read through it all, but I like what I’ve read so far. Which is your favorite? 

Dave - I guess I'd have to say Father to Nobody's Children; it was my first book, and it was written with an eye to bringing out the drama of a man who rescued orphans from the streets and changed their lives, both physically and spiritually.

Linnette – I read it! It’s good. Do you hear from your readers much?

Dave - Not in the early years of my first book. With the 10th anniversary reprinting of Father to Nobody's Children, and the purchase of 15,000 copies of the book by a home school distributor, I began receiving quite a lot of feedback. And with social networking, I now hear more often from readers of my later books.

Linnette – Social networking makes communication so much easier! What kinds of things do your readers say? 

Dave - Most people say they were inspired by Barnardo's story, more confident in their teaching because of Teaching with All Your Heart, and encouraged in their writing ministry by Concept to Contract. One woman called after reading Father to Nobody's Children and said it changed her life. That kind of response makes me realize that something beyond my own writing is taking place here. I feel humbled to think that God uses my poor efforts to reach someone's heart.

Linnette – Wow! Writing is an amazing ministry! Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? 

Dave - Buy my book! :-)  Read everything you can about writing, by Christian and secular authors. Study books you admire and analyze how they are structured, how the authors lay out their arguments for each main point. Attend a Christian writers' conference. Find a good group of fellow writers who will encourage you and spur you on.

Linnette – Yes! Buy your book. I totally agree with you there! Speaking of writer’s conferences, that’s where you and I met and became fast friends. You’ve been a huge encouragement to me through the years. I can’t thank you enough. Thank you for writing Concept to Contract and thank you for taking time – out of your vacation, of all things – to answer these questions for me. If readers would like to get a hold of you, where can you be reached?

Dave – Check out my blog — fromconcepttocontract.com — or email me at dfessenden@clcpublications.com.

So, dear writers, be sure to check out Dave’s book and let me know what you think!