Featured Book: White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner

Today's featured book comes from award-winning author, Susan Meissner. Having missed her last release, the one that was named one of the year's best books in 2008 by Publisher's Weekly, I anxiously awaited this one. That previous book, The Shape of Mercy, also took home the 2009 ECPA Medallion of Excellence for fiction, and won the 2009 ACFW Book of the Year award for women's fiction.

A tough act to follow, but in her new release, White Picket Fences, Susan Meissner proves she was up to the task.

When her black sheep brother disappears, Amanda Janvier eagerly takes in her sixteen year-old niece. Tally is practically an orphan: motherless, and living with a father who raises Tally wherever he lands– in a Buick, a pizza joint, a horse farm–and regularly takes off on wild schemes. Amanda envisions that she and her family can offer the girl stability and a shot at a “normal” life, even though their own storybook lives are about to crumble.

White Picket Fences, through its story and through its craft, challenges the belief that different is somehow not as good. Tally's upbringing is not traditional, so her aunt Amanda feels that she needs to compensate, that perhaps Tally needs to experience what she has to offer. But Tally teaches Amanda and the rest of the family things she might only have learned by walking a less-than-beaten path, things that help them to deal with the situation in their midst that finally comes to a head.

Likewise, there is little about this book that makes it overtly Christian fiction. It is not meant to convert but to entertain from a Christian worldview. It will defy some readers' expectations while providing a satisfying reading experience.

My kind of book.

The themes of fire and secrets are woven throughout this story on so many levels, some of which are not detectable until after the story is completed. The writing is so good, so seductive in its simplicity and its lyricism. I enjoyed the contemporary story of Amanda, Neil, Chris and Tally, and how it connected with the story of the Warsaw Ghetto and Treblinka, an unthinkable and important part of world history.

You may purchase copies directly from Waterbrook Press, a division of Random House, here.

NOTE: A review copy was provided to me for review purposes by Waterbrook Press, an imprint of Random House.

Ms. Meissner also offers an editorial service, called Novel Renovations.  She'll help aspiring novelists give their stories a "structural remodel" through content critique and content editing.  She's also a founding member of the Christian Author Network (CAN), a cooperative of more than 80 Christian authors focused on marketing Christian books.

GIVEAWAY: Waterbrook Press has graciously provided an extra copy for a giveaway, so post a comment and I'll pick a winner on Friday.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Tampa Bay Writing Examiner

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Announcing Harlequin's Carina Press

Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. has announced the launch of Carina Press, a digital-only publishing entity.

Carina Press will publish all genres of fiction, except young adult (and no poetry). The official press release can be seen here.

Why you might be interested?

1. You've been rejected by traditional publishers because your story doesn't quite fit neatly into a marketable box.
   
   
2. You've previously shunned ebook publishers as not having the same level of quality as traditional publishers. (Not true across the board, by the way, but hey, it's what you believe.)
   
   
3. You retain or have had reverted back to you digital rights for previously released works.
   
   
4. You don't have an agent.
   
   
5. You don't mind receiving no advance in exchange for high royalties.

Submissions to Carina Press "go (sic) through the same rigorous acquisition and editorial development processes as traditional print publishers". In this case, that means Harlequin editorial standards, I believe. Why it might not be right for you?

• Carina Press will not accept simultaneous submissions to any other Harlequin imprint. So if you've got a story waiting for response from Kimani, Steeple Hill, Silhouette or Harlequin, you'll have to wait.
  
  
• Carina Press has no plans to print publish and no distribution beyond its website, at the moment. If your dream is seeing the cover with your name on it on a bookstore shelf, Carina Press won't be the avenue to make that happen (although it could be a stepping stone).

But certainly, Carina Press is a new and intriguing option in the publishing industry. This blog post over on the Carina Press site provides a look at the Carina team, including executive editor Angela James and director Malle Valik, and more about its mission. You can read about Angela's journey from Samhain to Quartet Press to Carina over at Dear Author.

Thought this was worthy of a post outside of the usual weekly Reader/Writer tidbits. Have you considered digital publishing? Thoughts?

Peace & Blessings,

Patricia

Tampa Bay Writing Examiner

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Baseball, Reading and NaNo Don't Mix

Those blasted Yankees! Couldn't they win the World Series in four games, or preferably, have been so dominant in the first three that the League, in an unprecedented move, canceled all subsequent games so as not to interfere with NaNoWriMo?

It was impossible for me to write on the days when World Series games were airing. How could I not focus all my energies on cheering for Jeter, Pettite, Posada, and Rivera? (Of course, I've come to adore Sabathia, Rodgriguez, Texeria, Swisher, Cabrera, Cano and Matsui too.)

Three games during the first week of NaNo. Writing wasn't my first priority. I managed to scribble 72 guilt-filled words on a piece of notebook paper after game 1, only so I could say in earnest that my NaNo effort had begun. I typed another 3301 words on Tuesday, the off-night between games 5 and 6.

Then, there was the package of review books I received at the start of NaNo which contained the latest Francis Ray romance, One Night With You. Who can resist a Francis Ray? I can't. So I read it, even staying up late after Game 6 of the World Series to finish it so I wouldn't have that as yet another an excuse on Thursday. Then, I started yet another review book, a good story, but one I didn't have any trouble putting it down. (Note to writers who love to read: Only read books you don't really care about while writing. You'll move your both reading and your writing forward.) Reading, for me, really is like breathing.

Once I put all that behind me, though, I settled into a comfortable writing routine. I penned another 4,555 words between Thursday and Sunday. (And managed to finish two more review books.)

This week, more writing. Much more. And more reading, because it clears my head and relaxes me in a way writing does not.

Planning for 8-10k words. How's your NaNo progress?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Tampa Bay Writing Examiner

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Reader/Writer Tidbits -- November 7, 2009

Today is National Bookstore Day. Go here for a list of participating locations across the nation. Visit a bookstore, and buy a book!

Published authors, are you getting Google Partner Program ad monies itemized on your royalty statements from participating publishers? Are authors looking for language related to this program in their contracts? Agent Kristin Nelson thinks you might want to.

Still trying to make sense of social networking and the many community possibilities? Here's another one: Fictionaut. It describes itself as "a vibrant literary community that is opening exciting new possibilities for short fiction and poetry", "a way for readers to discover new voices and for writers to share their work, gain recognition, and connect with their audience and each other".

The Wild Rose Press offers a special submission contest for its upcoming "Jewels of the Night" series. Stories (1) must involve a blue diamond; (2) must involve a high level of danger; (3) can be in any region of the world; and (4) can be any timeframe as long as the most prevalent elements are romance and intrigue. The winning story will launch the new series in November 2010. For more details, go here.

Buying books as gifts this holiday season? Borders wants to help. With it's new "In Stock Guarantee", Borders will provide free shipping for any out-of-stock items that are available on Borders.com. Order by Dec. 16th to guarantee holiday delivery.

Honestly, I think the best use of a writer's time is writing. When not actively doing that, I'd probably put reading--including books about the craft of writing--second. But if neither of those appeals to you, and you've got some free time, how about listening to any or all of these 100 free lectures that will make you a better writer?

Win a free video book trailer for your recent or upcoming release from award-winning screenwriter and video producer Misty Taggert.

Digital Book World is offering a free webinar, "Marketing in the Digital Age: Batteries Not Included". From the promotional ad, "It's not enough to host a random blog, build a Facebook page or create a Twitter account; you need an integrated strategy to capitalize on these tools to earn your audience's attention."

What do real readers want in their fiction? Author Loree Lough interviewed readers of Christian fiction. The results were interesting, if not surprising in some cases. And, I'd dare say, the answers could apply to all fiction genres.

I know I've said it a number of times, but you can really get some great writing/publishing information from the monthly Christian Fiction Online Magazine. This month, in addition to Loree's article, author Deborah Kinnard talks about what it means to publish with a "small press" publisher.

Thomas Nelson CEO Michael Hyatt talks about a possible staged rollout of books to various retail outlets, as an answer to the raging Walmart-initated price wars.

Author Laura Resnick (Rejection, Romance & Royalties: The Wacky World of a Working Writer) says readers (and authors) should stop blaming the editors when they don't like a book. Who is really responsible when the finished product isn't up to snuff?

54 more days until Christmas...

Enjoy the weekend!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Tampa Bay Writing Examiner

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

Derek Fisher's Character Driven and November Updates

I'm featuring Derek Fisher's Character Driven: Life, Lessons, and Basketball, a memoir about character and faith contrasted against the fundamentals of the game of basketball, over on my inspirational blog.

For writers in the Tampa area, check out the local November writing events, including NaNoWriMo write-ins over at the Tampa Writing Examiner.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Tampa Bay Writing Examiner

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

NaNoWriMo...Sort Of

I'm doing NaNoWriMo this year.

In a way.

Not the way that is designed, but in a way that works for me. I suppose I'm one of many writers who can make this claim.

But hey, I'm 3200 words on my way.

I'm talking about "my way" over at Romancing the Blog today.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Tampa Bay Writing Examiner

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.

A NaNo State of Mind

Over at Tampa Bay Writing Examiner talking about this year's NaNoWriMo challenge.

I'm participating.

Sort of...

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Tampa Bay Writing Examiner

Stay focused. Be deliberate. Believe.