Dan Walsh is the award-winning and bestselling author of eight novels, published by Revell and Guideposts, including The Unfinished Gift, Remembering Christmas and The Reunion. Reviewers often compare Dan’s books to Nicholas Sparks. His latest project is a 4-book fiction series with Gary Smalley. The first book, The Dance, just released in April. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Dan now writes fulltime in Port Orange, FL. He and his wife Cindi have been married 36 years. You can email him or follow him on Facebook or Twitter. There are buttons to connect to these on his website at http://danwalshbooks.com.

I (interviewer, Lynda Schab) had the pleasure of meeting Dan and his wife at a writer’s conference a few years ago, when his first book (The Unfinished Gift) was just coming out. It’s been fun to watch his career take off, and I’ve enjoyed every one of his books so far. Now, he answers a few questions about his own writing journey, and offers a bit of encouragement for not-yet-published authors.

LYNDA SCHAB: You recently retired from twenty-five years as an ordained pastor of one church. While many pastors seem to write non-fiction books, we don’t hear of many who go on to write novels. Have you always wanted to write fiction or was this something that God suddenly dropped into your heart? Continue Reading…

It’s April already – and did you realize that at the end of this month, the cost of the 2013 FaithWriters Writing Conference will increase? So, don’t wait until May (or June!) to register for this extremely affordable, highly beneficial, and especially fun experience.

And besides – the sooner you register, the more likely you will grab one of the FREE but limited extras, whether it’s an hour-long appointment with Deb Porter, a speed critique with Deb or Cori Smelker, or a book design critique. It’s first registered, first served on these valuable opportunities!

The conference is less than three months away – so register now. Here are the details:

WHAT: 2013 FaithWriters Writing Conference: Nurturing the Whole Writer

WHERE: Radisson Hotel Portland (OR) Airport

WHEN: Friday, June 28, 2013 at 6pm through Saturday, June 29, 2013 at 8:30pm

COST: Early Bird: FW Platinum members $75, others $85 – through April 30

General Rate: FW Platinum members $85, others $95 – May 1 and following

Price includes Saturday morning breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack, all workshops and options. Price does NOT include transportation or room charges.

Workshops will feature FaithWriters favorites/regulars Timmy Boyle with his Upstanding Comedy, David Ian, Rick “Hoomi” Higginson, Amy Michelle Wiley, Deb Porter, and Cori Smelker, as well as multi-published authors and speakers Sally Stuart (who keynoted the first FaithWriters Conference in 2007!) and Leslie Gould, digital and print-on-demand specialist Lisa DeSpain, and book design firm owner Tamara Dever. Something for everyone – and, as a repeat attender, I can tell you the workshops will be wonderful, and the fellowship will be unforgettable.

So, what are you waiting for? Check out the FaithWriters Conference page for more details and to register.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIV

Photo Credit

Sometimes it is hard to find the good in our struggles. Yet, the day our Savior died on the cross is called Good Friday.

Maybe you’re having a “Good” Friday like Jesus did – or a “good” week. Or month. Or year. Maybe you’re asking why God has forsaken you. (Matthew 27:46)

Just remember: if you are His child, it isn’t forever. And He can and will work it out for your good (Romans 8:28). And Good Friday isn’t the end.

Photo Credit

He is risen indeed!

The FaithWriters family wishes you and your family a thoughtful Good Friday and a blessed Easter/Resurrection Sunday

Congratulations to these FaithWriters’ members for their writing accomplishments!

Bruce Fottler‘s Christian drama, The Juncture, is now available on Amazon and Smashwords.

Melanie Kerr‘s poetry book, Wider Than the Corners of the World, is now available in ebook format.

Joanne Sher‘s nonfiction book, Ailing Body Nourished Soul won the One Hope Nonfiction Contest, sponsored by Write Integrity Press.

Lori Dixon‘s Wellspring blog contest entry was recently published in Christian Woman Magazine in Australia.

I so love hearing about your accomplishments. Would LOVE for you to share them with me so I can post them here. Either drop me an email at joannesher@faithwriters.net, or post it in the cheering section on the FaithWriters boards – otherwise, I may not find out!

Congratulations, all!

It’s time to announce the FOUR cash winners from hundreds of entries in this past quarter of FaithWriters Writing Challenge.  Beginning this quarter, the highest scoring entry in EACH LEVEL over the entire ten-week quarter will receive a $50 cash prize.

This past quarter was music-themed, with topics from FLAT to STAFF to ACCENT. The variety of entries, and quality, was impressive. But there can only be one winner (in each level, that is).

And now, without further ado – our winners (with their thoughts).

Beginners-Level 1

Creations Philharmonic Orchestra by Graham Insley

“While I’m excited and obviously pleased with winning, I don’t really deserve the credit. My desire as a writer is simply to become the baton in the Master Conductor’s hand. Even though I am not yet fully surrendered, any win is more a reflection of this happening than any ability that I may have. ” Graham Insley

Intermediate – Level 2

Today I will be in Paradise by Dave Walker

“I am SO excited to hear about my win.

“I worked in the Middle East and know what a struggle many Muslims have with the identity of Jesus. Speaking to converts, it is when they get that right — usually through divine revelation — that they break through.I  loved interacting with Muslims and grew very fond of them. It shows that when you write about something close to your heart, it has impact.”

“I know there is so much more to Faithwriters than I have discovered and I am keen to explore the avenues. (The testimony competition is my next target). What a blessing to have a community like this. Thank you, Mike and Bea, for the way you are carrying it forward.” Dave Walker

Advanced – Level 3

A Denominational Allegory by Jack Taylor

“It’s always humbling to feel that the words you create in private can have impact in hearts and minds all over. I am grateful to those who took the time to read ‘A denominational allergory.’ I believe there is so much we can accomplish together if we realize that though we speak the truth of Jesus differently we are all on the same team. The community is watching us as we interact with each other. Our witness with each other is powerful.”Jack Taylor

Masters – Level 4

I’m In Charge Around Here by Noel Mitaxa

“I’m honoured to receive a prize, as an endorsement of my aim to help readers discover real people stepping out of familiar biblical events and stories (which I like to call “paralell-ables.”)

“I thank God for how FaithWriters has opened doors for my writing, with the Weekly Challenge a constant encouragement. Receiving positive feedback is a great buzz, but the creative treatment of topics by other members is also to be inspired to explore new writing genres” Noel Mitaxa

The FaithWriters Writing Challenge is currently on a break, but will return on Thursday, April 4 with a new quarter of topics. Hope you’ll enter when it starts up again – YOUR name could be here at the end of next quarter!

Congratulations, Graham, Dave, Jack, and Noel!

Nicole O’Dell is an author, speaker, wife and mother of six — including a set of triplets! I (interviewer Lynda Schab) met Nicole a few years ago through an online critique group. She had just signed a contract with Barbour Publishing for her first book series, Scenarios for Girls, an interactive fiction series for tweens about the tough choices they face every day. Since then, Nicole has gone on to publish several more fictional books (including her most recent series, Diamond Estates), as well as non-fiction and devotionals for young girls and teens. She is also a sought-after speaker and founder of the successful CHOOSENOW Ministries, which includes an annual mother-daughter conference in Chicago. If you have teens, or know someone who does, I encourage you to visit her website (http://nicoleodell.com/). It contains loads of excellent information for parents and teens.

In the meantime, Nicole has graciously agreed to answer a few questions about her journey to publication, the writing life, and how she does it all!

LYNDA SCHAB: As the author of several YA books focused on the choices that tween and teen girls are faced with every day, it’s obvious that you have a heart for girls of this age. Was there one particular event that sparked your passion or did it evolve gradually?

NICOLE O’DELL: I do have a heart for teen and pre-teen girls. I think it’s because I suffered through those years and want to help girls avoid the same mistakes I made and not have to face the angst that resulted.

Continue Reading…

When I hear the word neighbor, two different images come to mind (and maybe the same thing happens with you, too).

One is from my Bible, and one from my childhood in front of a television set. And, even though this is a Christian blog, we’re going to be focusing on the latter rather than the former (though, of course, we will not discount Christ’s teachings).

Today would have been Fred Rogers’ 85th birthday. The Presbyterian minister and star of the well-loved PBS children’s show Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. To Mr. Rogers, we were ALL neighbors. And, if I may say so, he made every child feel special and important – and cared for, just as the Good Samaritan did for the robbed and beaten man in Luke 10:25-37.

Whether we are evangelizing, writing, teaching, or just living our lives, we can treat our neighbors as Jesus would – and we can make people want to be our neighbors, as Mr. Rogers (and Jesus, of course), did.

Won’t you be my neighbor?

Who is my neighbor?

What does being a good neighbor mean to your writing? How are you treating the people in your neighborhood?

We have winners for last month’s Writing/Blogging contest – which focused on equipping young adults to defend their faith, partly through the ministries of CrossExamined.com and the video-linked copy of Gravity. Those who entered, whether they won or not, have certainly made an impact on equipping young people to defend their faith! Thank you

And now, without further ado, the winners!

First Place – winner of $100 and having their piece posted on 100 Christian blogs:

A Christian Parent’s Worst Nightmare by Linda Berg

Second Place – winner of a $75 cash prize

Are You Prepared To Lose Your Kids?  By Joseph Veseli

Third Place – winner of a $25 cash prize

Fact or Fairy Tale? by Paula Titus

And…best silver entry – winner of a free one-year gold membership:

The Agenda by Vince Martella

And hear what our first place winner Linda Berg has to say about her win, the contest, and FaithWriters:

I wasn’t planning to enter this blogging contest, Equipped to Defend, but when I saw the topic, I knew I had to. Children raised in Christian homes and struggling with their faith, even departing from it, is not just a statistic for me, it is personal. When our daughter struggled with this we really didn’t know how to support her.

Part of living a life of faith is a matter of the heart and the will: the gift of choice as given to us by God. Our role as parents and as church leaders is to give our youth the information and the tools to process clearly God’s truth and provide them with the necessary tools to defend it. The resources offered by the ministries of Cross Examined and Gravity help answer those questions often asked of youth about their identity in Christ and the authenticity of the gospel message.

Faithwriters and the opportunities offered there for development of writing skills and spreading of the Gospel message is a blessing! Thank you Mike and staff.

Want to read the winning entries – and the others? Check out this thread. And watch here for the next writing/blogging contest!

Congratulations, Linda, Joseph, Paula, and Vince!

What’s Your Passion?

By Linda Yezak

In a recent discussion on ACFW’s Women’s Fiction loop, author Sharon A. Lavy said, “I really care about the relationships between people of all kinds. Parents and children, siblings, friends. I really have a passion that women need other women. So every story I write includes the close friendship of women. No matter what else is going on in the story.”

Whatever an author is passionate about shows up in their work and often fills the characters with life and the strength of their convictions. Sometimes the passion is just there, quiet and subtle, like Sharon including close friendships in all of her works; sometimes it whacks you across the face with a wet towel, as in stories written by authors on a soap box (not recommended, by the way). But the author’s passion can make the difference between ho-hum characters and memorable people who live in the pages of our books.

Specificity is important when writing about our passions. Although Sharon “really cares about relationships” in general, she’s passionate about the idea that “women need other women.” What’s implied in her statement is that along with her husband, her children, her family, a woman needs female friends. As a reader and a woman, I can relate to that. I need my friends. I need the opportunity to be just a woman–not a wife, daughter, mother, or any other tag that goes along with being female, but just a woman associating with other women who understand me.

Continue Reading…

We’ve all likely been told there are two ways to get better at writing:

We need to write…and we need to READ.

Read writing craft books. Read in your genre. Read out of your genre. Read the classics.

You can learn so much to improve your own writing by reading others’ words. You can get ideas for how to work out a problem in your manuscript. Inspiration for a new idea. Or even great of examples of how NOT to write.

So, what are YOU reading right now?

I’ll go first:

My daily devotional book for this year is Daily Strength for Daily Needs by Mary W. Tileson (my first time using this devo. Jury’s still out.)

I’m also reading through the Bible in 2013 – this time chronologically – and am using the One Year Chronological Bible. (Like it!)

I’m about 1/3 of the way through One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (which, it seems, everyone has read besides me. LOVING it – and recommend you pick it up too).

And, I’ve just started the newest release by one of my very favorite authors: Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White.

So, what are YOU reading? Let us know in the comments!