Coming Up

Our April 8th speaker is Karen Mayer Cunningham who will share her miraculous story of hope. Invite a friend to attend this luncheon.

February Luncheon Workshop Announcement

Writers On The Storm
the Woodlands, Texas chapter of ACFW

invites you to attend a luncheon and writing workshop,

"Co-Authoring. . .A Novel Idea"

on Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
featuring authors

Janelle Mowrey and Elizabeth Ludwig

at TaiPei China Bistro, 25807 I-45, The Woodlands (281)363-9188)
from 11:00am--1:00 pm

$5 at door
Random Doorprizes!
Bring a guest--if they Join ACFW National and our chapter you win an ACFW t-shirt!

RSVP zarcom1@aol.com

Check out Linda Lou's Book Trailer Park

A place for trailer reviews and news!

http://booktrailerpark.blogspot.com/

Booksigning with Gayle Wigglesworth

I will be signing and discussing my Claire Gulliver Mysteries at Read It Again and Again, a small, independent book store, which is celebrating it’s relocation to 38 Braeswood Square, Houston, TX 77096, 713 283-9188, www.ReadItAgainHouston.com .

As you know, in order to have these small stores available to us, it is important we support them. Maria Galloway, the owner, would be very happy if you stopped by sometime to see her selection of new and used books and I would be delighted if you could make that visit on the evening I will be there at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2009.

I look forward to seeing you and please share this information with your reader friends.

Gayle Wigglesworth author of the Claire Gulliver Mysteries

www.gaylewigglesworth.com

Submissions Wanted!

Almost every family has a dysfunctional member or two. What about your family? Did your father-in-law make a totally embarrassing toast at your wedding reception? Does your cousin Vinny have an enormous collection of gnome statues in his yard? Did your Aunt Martha leave all of her fortune to her parakeet? Or does your grandmother dye her hair pink and ride a Harley?

I’m coauthoring the upcoming book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family, and we are looking for your true stories and poems about your off-the-wall, goofy or just downright strange family members. Stories can be serious or hilarious, or both, and should make readers realize that their quirky families are not so different from those of other people!

To submit your stories, go to http://www.chickensoupforthesoul.com and click on “Submit a Story.” Be sure to select “All in the Family” as the book title when you fill out the form. Submit under your real name, but rest assured that we will allow you, if requested, to use pen names for publication and change the names of family members to protect the innocent (or guilty!). We prefer stories and poems written in the first person of no more than 1,200 words.

[Note: We are not looking for stories about divorce or the normal trials and tribulations of raising children and teenagers.]

If your story is chosen, you will be a published author and your bio will be printed in the book if you so choose. You will also receive a check for $200 and 10 free copies of the book, worth more than $100. You will retain the copyright for your story and the right to resell it.

DEADLINE IS JUNE 30, 2009. Book is scheduled for publication in October 2009, in time for the next holiday season!

Don’t Be A Jane Eyre Head!

The January meeting of Writers On The Storm started off with a bang at Taipei China Bistro in The Woodlands, TX. Board members met briefly before members started to arrive. Seven ACFW/WOTS regulars and two visitors (including our guest author) were in attendance. Visitor, Jackie Weidemeyer, was awarded the January door prize.

Multi-published author, Anita Higman spoke on the topic of “Gothic Christian Fiction.” Our own ‘word wizard’ Linda Kozar entitled Anita’s talk “Don’t Be A Jane Eyre Head.” We learned that gothic fiction is a genre that combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothic “Christian” fiction is of course written from a Christian worldview. Anita pointed out that Christian publishing houses are accepting subject matter in novels that would never have been acceptable in the past. Her current release, in fact, has a character who is believed to be a vampire! Several well known Christian authors have pulled off writing about formerly untouchable topics quite successfully. Some examples are:
A demon possessed house – House by: Ted Dekker & Frank Peretti
Pregnancy as a result of rape – Atonement Child by: Francine Rivers
A Christian man falls in love with a prostitute – Redeeming Love by: Francine Rivers
An interview with a demon – Demon by: Tosca Lee
The search for Bigfoot – Monster by: Frank Peretti

A few tips Anita recommended for writing gothic fiction: Read a lot of the genre. Write a lot in the genre. Find your natural voice. Use your own personal experiences to enhance your writing.

Anita ended her talk by answering questions from audience members and signed books one and two of the Volstead Manor series, “Another Stab at Life” and “Another Hour To Kill.” She also had copies of her newest book, “Love Finds You In Humble Texas.”

Our members had a couple of announcements. Linda Kozar and Dannelle Woody learned the release date for Babes With A Beatitude, Devotions For Smart, Savvy Women of Faith is Oct 1st by Howard/Simon & Schuster. The book will be released in hard cover. Way to go girls! Annette O’Hare and Kathy Burnett were pleased to announce they would both be attending the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference in April.

Join us next month when our guest speakers will be Janelle Mowrey and Elizabeth Ludwig who will be speaking on the subject of Co-Authoring A Novel Idea!

The Castle of Otranto

For those of you who attended Anita Higman's workshop "Don't Be A Jane Eyre-Head--Writing Christian Gothic 101," the following link is to the book she mentioned. The entire book is downloaded to a blog format. http://castleofotranto.blogspot.com/

Wanted: Submissions

Peggy Blann Phifer: NEW Writer's Blog: 

http://www.writer-to-reader.com

Writer to Reader

"If there is anyone who would like to submit something, have 'em send it on. I'd love some material. The email address is: mairead@writer-to-reader.com."

JERRY JENKINS ON HISTORY CHANNEL

Jerry Jenkins will be interviewed on a History Channel 2-hour special, “Seven Signs of the Apocalypse,” to air Monday, January 5. The program is part of the History Channel’s “Armageddon Week.” Air times are 9PM both Eastern and Pacific, 8 PM Central, and 7PM Mountain time.

Our January 7th Speaker--Anita Higman

Award-winning author Anita Higman has twenty-two books published for adults and children, and she has five more coming out. She's contributed to nine nonfiction compilations and was selected as a Barnes & Noble
"Author of the Month" for Houston.

Anita donated her manuscript I Can Be Anything to Literacy Advance of Houston. The book helped raise many thousands of dollars for literacy. She served on the Board of Directors of Literacy Advance and received both the Bell Ringer and Volunteer of the Year awards for her contributions to literacy.

Anita's book Who Will I Be for the Rest of My Life? (co-authored by Dr. Ruth Vaughn) appeared on the Houston Barnes & Noble best-seller list. The Celestial Helix, a collection of one-act plays through Lillenas Publishing Company was recommended in the national theater magazine,
Stage Directions, in a review.

One of Ms. Higman's books (A Tribute to Early Texas) has a foreword by Elmer Kelton and has won a San Antonio Conservation Society Citation as well as a Westerners International Book Award.

Ms. Higman has also written for radio, television, newspaper, ezine, advertising, and animation. She enjoys giving speeches and presentations at conferences, meetings, and schools.

She has a Bachelor of Arts (functional) degree in speech communication, art, and psychology. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Christian Humor Writers' Group.

Anita was born and raised on a farm in Western Oklahoma but has lived in Texas for the past twenty-three years. Besides writing, her other interests include reading, going to the movies, and cooking brunch for her friends. She lives with her family near Houston, Texas.

Writing Contests--You'll Never Win if You Never Enter!

http://www.amazon.com/b?node=332264011  AMAZON 2009 NOVEL BREAKTHROUGH AWARD! Enter this one!

No fee. $100 to winner. Publication of winning entry. http://www.readingwriters.com/contest.htm  

ACFW NEWS from Camy Tang. . .The Genesis contest will be MOSTLY the same as last year.

So, if you have questions about the 2009 contest, most of your
questions will be answered on the ACFW website:
http://www.acfw.com/genesis/ and on the Genesis FAQ page:
http://www.acfw.com/genesis/FAQ.shtml.

Faith, Hope and Love's 2009 IRCC

Happy New Year to you all. We're a tad later than usual, but Faith, Hope, and Love's 2009 IRCC is open for entries. You can enter online or print out the form and send it via snail mail. If you have any problems or questions you can contact me. This is the link to the entry forms and rules. http://www.faithhopelove-rwa.org/contests.htm

Our categories are Short Contemporary, Long Contemporary, Short Historical, Long Historical, Women's Fiction, Romantic Suspense, and Novella. We're looking forward to a great contest. Thank you for your entry.

God Bless,
Nancy J. Farrier
IRC Contest Coordinator

Inspiration for Writers Contest

First prize: Gift package worth over $500, including a professional edit and critique of up to 15,000 words, books on the craft of writing, and more.
Entry fee: $40. ALL ENTRIES receive a complimentary edit of the first 500 words, a detailed critique of the submission package, and an electronic copy of the Inspiration for Writers Tips and Techniques Workbook.
Entry Deadline: January 15, 2009. Inspiration for Writers will announce the winners on or before March 31, 2009.
Submit a one-page synopsis and first three chapters. Additional information at www.InspirationForWriters.com/contest.html or call Sandy Tritt at 304-428-1218.