Saturday, January 10, 2009

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!

1 comment:

Linda Kozar said...

Excellent Annette--If I hadn't been there, I would get just as much out of her workshop. Thanks for providing this for those who couldn't attend, and for supplying the resource quotes for those who did and didn't think to take notes. Keep up the good work:)

Category 5 Winners Announced at:

Category 5 Winners Announced at:
the Meet The Christian Authors Event!

Contest Deadline Extended!

Our Category Five Contest deadline has been extended to August 31st, 2011. If you missed the previous (July 31st) deadline, here's your chance to send your entry(s)!

Contest Details--UPDATE

Hi friends,

Janice Thompson here. I'm sending an updated version of an earlier email about our Writers on the Storm Category Five Fiction Writing Contest. We've added more information. We would like to ask three things of our WOTS members and/or Houston area writing friends:

1). If you are unpublished (on not traditionally published) please consider entering the contest.
2). Please help us spread the word to other writers by placing this information on your facebook page, blog, etc.
3). Please pray for our organization as we move forward with this, our first-ever writing contest.

Thanks so much for your support. Now, here's the updated information about the contest (per Linda Kozar):

Dear Writers,

Details for entry to the Writers On The Storm "CATEGORY FIVE" Writing Contest are below. The contest is open to unpublished and non-traditionally published FICTION authors, both members and non-members of the Writers on the Storm group. NOTE: If you have previously been "traditionally" published, you are not eligible. However, if you paid to publish your book(s), you are eligible and encouraged to participate.

Judges are all published authors and/or industry pros, though not members of our chapter. Entering a writing contest is a great way to get feedback or accolades, and we hope you will enter this one with great enthusiasm! The WOTS Chapter Board invite you to BLOW THE JUDGES AWAY with your fiction writing brilliance!

Our Cat Five Writing Contest OPENED on JUNE 1st and CLOSES on Friday, JULY 29th. Judges will receive entries for review on August 1st, 2011. Winners will be announced at our MEET THE CHRISTIAN AUTHOR event on September 17th, 2011 and winners will be notified by phone.
Our Five Categories (novels and/or short stories)
1. Romance (Historical and Contemporary)
2. Women's Fiction
3. General Fiction
4. Mystery/Suspense
5. Young Adult/Children's
Contest Fees:
Members-$20 per entry (Two or more entries $15/per entry)
NonMembers-$25 per entry (Two or more entries $20/per entry).

Make checks out to: Writers on the Storm

PRIZES:
The overall grand prize (for the highest scoring entry) is the FICTION WRITING MASTER COURSE from www.freelancewritingcourses.com, a $249 value. The grand prize winner will also receive a plaque, a press release he/she can share with others and a news splash on our website. The category winners will each receive a free edit of the first chapter of their book from a multi-published author, along with a certificate. Their names will be listed on our website, as well. We will also post the list to facebook, twitter, the ACFW loop, etc.

Instructions:
Send the first 15 pages of your novel or short story. If you have a prologue, you may send the prologue and part of chapter one or just 15 pages of chapter one if chapter one exceeds 15 pages. The total pages of your entries may not exceed 15).

Entries must be double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 point on white paper.
Entries should reflect a Christian world-view.
Entries with inappropriate content (i.e. profanity, pornography, extreme violence) will not be considered.
Entries will not be returned to contestants via the U.S. Post Office unless a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) is enclosed with each entry submitted.
Judges are all published authors and/or industry pros, though not members of the Writers On The Storm chapter.
Send your entries via SNAIL MAIL to:
Linda Kozar
7 South Chandler Creek
The Woodlands, Texas 77381
Questions? Contact Linda Kozar at zarcom1@aol.com

Category Five Contest Entry Form

Registration Form Name:_____________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________City_______State____ZIP_____ Email address:_______________________________________________________ Member of WOTS: Yes….. No….. Category Entered: 1. Historical/Contemporary Romance ______ 2. Women’s Fiction ______ 3. General Fiction ______ 4. Suspense/Mystery ______ 5. Young Adult/Children ______ Amount Enclosed: __________ Check:___ Money Order:______ Make Checks out to: Writers On The Storm Checklist: Correct Manuscript Form ___ SASE Envelope ____ Registration Form ____ Check or money order ____ Mail entries to: Linda Kozar 7 South Chandler Creek The Woodlands, Texas 77381 Contact: If you have questions. Linda Kozar: zarcom1@aol.com Martha Rogers: marthalrogers@sbcglobal.net Janice Thompson: booksbyjanice@aol.com

SATURDAY, May 7th from 9:30-11:00 followed by a booksigning 11-12:30

The Multiple-Author Booksigning will feature Patrick Scott, Martha Rogers and Linda Kozar!

Patrick Scott currently serves as the Founder / Design Architect for Creative Solutions, LLP.com. Patrick Scott is the creator and author of the Archangels: The Saga™ comic book series. First published in 1995 - 2010; the series has sold over 1.2 Million copies.

Patrick Scott pioneered the Christian comic book market in 1995 and is a 12 time published author, a trading card game creator (Timestream: The Remnant™) and has developed and published 15 inspirational posters. Under his leadership, Cahaba Productions, Inc. received the International Christian Retail Show’s highest honor by receiving an “IMPACT AWARD” in 2003.

Patrick Scott has over 17 years of graphic design, venture capital fundraising and business experience within mainstream and the International Christian Retail Marketplace. Over those years Patrick Scott has developed a professional working relationship with Lovell-Fairchild, Dynamic Marketing, Focus on the Family, Propeller Consulting, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Dickson’s Inc., Cactus Game Design, Universal Designs, Lifeway Christian Stores and many more.

Writers On The Storm presents...

Writers On The Storm presents...
Category Five Writing Contest

Patrick Scott--May 7th Speaker

Patrick Scott--May 7th Speaker
Christian Comic Book Author

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