Monday, September 29, 2008

Author Nancy Moser

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
John 3:16 Tyndale House Publishers (September 9, 2008)
by
Nancy Moser
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nancy Moser is the author of three inspirational humor books and eighteen novels, including
Solemnly Swear, Time Lottery, a Christy Award winner, and her latest historical, Washington's Lady.
Nancy and her husband Mark live in the Midwest. She’s earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters,symphonies, and choirs. She gives Said So Sister Seminars around the country, helping women identify their gifts as they celebrate their sisterhood. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included.
Find out more at Nancy Moser.com and Sister Circles.com
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Five people looking for a reason to keep living are about to find it in the last place they expect... In my usual "big cast" style comes a story of what happens when one man puts his faith on the line and holds up a John 3:16 sign at a sporting event. Roman Paulson's life revolves around his son, Billy, a University of Nebraska football hero with a promising life ahead of him. But when Billy's coach encroaches on Roman's relationship with his son, Roman fears he'll lose Billy forever. Roman isn't the only one whose world turns upside down. He's one of five unsuspecting people whose lives intersect on a bright fall day.
If you would like to read the first chapter of John 3:16, go HERE
The book link is:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/141432054X

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Ignore the Critics

From the book Unstoppable by Cynthia Kearsey
"Everybody is an expert in giving advice on how you cannot do something. So forget about everybody. And then, when you encounter a hurdle - and I do that every week - view it as an opportunity, not the end of the world. Do whatever you need to do to get past it quickly. If you believe in your dream, you'll definitely get there."
- Maria Elena Ibanez

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Co-Authoring is an Option!

Ever considered co-authoring a book or piece?
There are many works of fiction that feature two authors - Skipp & Spector; Preston & Child; etc.
Non-fiction is even easier, as different authors can tackle different chapters or subjects.
And when it comes time to promote your work, you'll double your efforts with each author!!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Cindy Woodsmall

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
When The Soul Mends WaterBrook Press (September 16, 2008)
by
Cindy Woodsmall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cindy Woodsmall is a veteran homeschool mom. As her children progressed in age, her desire to write grew stronger. After working through reservations whether this desire was something she should pursue, she began her writing journey. Her husband was her staunchest supporter as she aimed for what seemed impossible.
Her first novel, When The Heart Cries, released in 2006 to much acclaim and became a Christian Book Association best seller. Cindy was a 2007 ECPA Christian Book Award finalist, along with Karen Kingsbury, Angela Hunt, and Charles Martin.
Her last book, When the Morning Comes, hit the New York Times best-sellers extended list and the Christian Book Association best-sellers list.
Cindy’s real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families enrich her novels with authenticity.
Cindy, her husband, their three sons and daughter-in-law reside in Georgia. Her husband is a registered land surveyor and a vice president at an engineering firm. Their oldest son has a bachelor’s degree in nuclear medicine and works at a local hospital. Their second son and his wife are both students at the University of Georgia. Their teen-aged son keeps the household energized with his love of music, books, and writing.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Returning to the home she fled in disgrace, will Hannah find healing for the wounds of the past?After receiving a desperate and confusing call from her sister, Hannah Lapp reluctantly returns to the Old Order Amish community of her Pennsylvania childhood.
Having fled in disgrace more than two years earlier, she finally has settled into a satisfying role in the Englischer world. She also has found love and a new family with the wealthy Martin Palmer and the children she is helping him raise. But almost immediately after her arrival in Owl’s Perch, the disapproval of those who ostracized her, including her headstrong father, reopens old wounds.
As Hannah is thrown together with former fiancĂ© Paul Waddell to work for her sister Sarah’s mental health, hidden truths surface about events during Hannah’s absence, and she faces an agonizing decision. Will she choose the Englischer world and the man who restored her hope, or will she heed the call to return to the Plain Life–and perhaps to her first love?
If you would like to read the first chapter of When The Soul Mends, go HERE
“A skillfully written story of forgiveness and redemption. Woodsmall’s authentic characters illustrate beautifully how wounded souls can indeed be mended.”–Susan Meissner, author of The Shape of Mercy

“Like the stitches on a well-loved quilt, love and faith hold together Cindy Woodsmall's When the Soul Mends, the brilliantly written third story in the Sisters of the Quilt series. With deft plotting and characters that seem to jump off the page, this novel offers the timeless truth that forgiveness is the balm which heals all wounds and a blanket for the soul.”–Kathleen Y’Barbo, author of Beloved Castaway

“What a vibrant, strong, emotional story! When the Heart Cries will grip you and not let go, I promise. Highly recommended!”–Gayle Roper, author of Allah’s Fire and the Seaside Seasons series

“Reaching deep into the heart of the reader, Cindy Woodsmall pens a beautifully lyrical story in her debut novel When the Heart Cries.”–Tamera Alexander, bestselling author of Rekindled

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The 30-Second Pitch

You have a book on golf and you get into an elevator with Tiger Woods. What's your 30-second pitch? Do you have it down pat?

Every author needs a pitch, a description of his book and/or himself, and he must be able to deliver it with passion! If someone asks, he must be able to confidently tell them what it's all about. No one will buy a book from the author who stumbles his way through the description. He must believe in his work with all his heart!

Practice your pitch, in front of the mirror if you have to, until you have it down pat! It will make all the difference in the world next time someone asks, "What your book about?"

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Inspiration from "An Enemy Called Average"

From John L. Mason's book, "An Enemy Called Average"
Nugget #9
The Best Time Of Day Is Now
The first step in overcoming procrastination is to eliminate all excuses and reasons for not taking decisive and immediate action.
The fact is, the longer we take to act on God's direction, the more unclear it becomes.
In other words, don't wait - do it now!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Need a Book Editor?

At the beginning of this year, I queried numerous book editors. I found two with whom I felt comfortable and eventually selected Bob Spear out of Leavenworth, KS.

Since that time he has already edited four of my books and I have been very pleased with his services and skill. And certainly no one can beat his turnaround time, because when he gets an assignment, he focuses solely on that project until it's done!

Bob has been in the industry for over twenty years and does a lot more than just editing, too:
"Sharp Spear Enterprises is a marketing and publishing support company
dedicated to providing reasonably priced,
professional services
to the marketing and business communities and the writing and publishing communities."

So if you're looking for an editor or any of the above, please contact Bob:
(913) 772-8253

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Author Kelly Eileen Hake

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
The Bride Bargain Barbour Publishing, Inc (September 1, 2008)
by
Kelly Eileen Hake
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Life doesn't wait, and neither does Kelly Eileen Hake. In her short twenty-three years of life, she's achieved much. Her secret? Embracing opportunities and multitasking. Kelly received her first writing contract at the tender age of seventeen and arranged to wait three months until she was able to legally sign it. Since that first contract five years ago, she's reached several life goals. Aside from fulfilling fourteen contracts ranging from short stories to novels, she's also attained her BA in English Literature and Composition and earned her credential to teach English in secondary schools. If that weren't enough, she's taken positions as a college preparation tutor, bookstore clerk, and in-classroom learning assistant to pay for the education she values so highly. Currently, she is working toward her MA in Writing Popular Fiction. No matter what goal she pursues, Kelly knows what it means to work for it!
Kelly's dual careers as English teacher and author give her the opportunity explore and share her love of the written word. A CBA bestselling author and dedicated member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Kelly is a reader favorite of Barbour's Heartsong Presents program, where she's been privileged to earn numerous Heartsong Presents Reader's Choice Awards; including Favorite New Author 2005, Top 5 Favorite Historical Novel 2005, and Top Five Favorite Author Overall 2006 in addition to winning the Second Favorite Historical Novel 2006!Her Prairie Promises trilogy, set in the 1850s Nebraska Territory, features her special style of witty, heartwarming historical romance.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Set down upon the wild American plains during the 1850. Clara is desperate for a home and a future for herself and her aunt. When Clara Fields and her aunt are kicked off their wagon train, a store owner in Buttonwood offers a chance at redemption. If Clara is able to wed his grandson off to any of the local girls within a month, he'll sign over his two-story house.
Desperate to provide for the woman who raised her, Clara agrees to find a bride for the man's son--a stalwart bachelor. How hard can it be to find a bride for one handsome Doctor? Apparently more difficult than she imagined when Saul Reed seems determined to ramain single.
Will Clara's faith and wits help her wrangle a resolution to The Bride Bargain. Striking a bargain with a lonely trader to fool a head-strong doctor could lead Clara to an unexpected avenue of romance.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Bride Bargain, go HERE
The book link is:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1602601755

Monday, September 15, 2008

My Friend & Mentor, Author p.m.terrell

I get to meet a lot of fantastic people in my travels, but one of the most amazing individuals I've ever met was Trish - better known as author & speaker, p.m.terrell.

Trish has the most giving, genuine spirit, and she's helped me out in so many ways. I so admire her and hope that one day I can grow up to be someone like Trish!

So it is with great pleasure I introduce Trish as she begins touring for her latest book, "Exit 22"!

Good day, Trish!! It is an honor and delight to feature you here today.

“Exit 22” is your tenth book! How do you feel you have changed and grown as an author since the first book?

In the writers’ courses I took early in my career, I was instructed to focus on action. While that has served me well, resulting in books that readers said they couldn’t put down or that kept them on the edge of their seats—I’ve found as I progress, I give more attention now to the characters, especially those little quirks that make them memorable or unique… such as the sociopathic assassin in Exit 22 who knits baby booties when he isn’t killing.

Your current release, “Exit 22” is based in North Carolina and near your own hometown – what made you decide to place the story there? Was it easier to write about a familiar area or more challenging because you knew details had to be correct?

One of my favorite authors is Daphne du Maurier, and many of her books take place in the moors, such as Jamaica Inn. I always thought they were so haunting. When I moved to Robeson County and was searching for a place to live, I was captivated by the swamps, which remind me so much of the Scottish moors. I could see the climactic scenes in my mind’s eye, taking place across those foggy, treacherous swamps…

It was both easy and difficult to write about this area: easy in the sense that research was at my fingertips, but difficult in that I knew I had to get the facts right. I still changed some things to fit the plot, such as a Saturday afternoon paper when it actually comes on Saturday morning…

You always do so much research for your books – how long does this process usually take?

With my contemporary suspense/thrillers, I usually spend about three hours in research for each one hour of writing. This is a piece of cake compared to my historical novels, though; Songbirds are Free averaged closer to 30 hours of research for each one hour of writing!

I envy anyone who can write mystery/thriller! Why did you select that genre for your fiction work?

I can tell you the exact moment I decided to write suspense/thrillers. I was reading In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. I knew I wanted to write stories with suspense and adventure. I do not have a journalistic background and the thought of writing a true story with all of the potential liability felt daunting to me (though less so as my career has progressed) so I opted to write stories that could be true, that could be ripped straight from the headlines, but which were fictional and suspenseful. My father is also a retired FBI Agent, and I think the whole concept of crimes and investigations was instilled in me at an early age.

Every author has a unique road they followed – what is your publishing story?

If there is one thing I regret, it’s not majoring in literature in college. If I had, my writing career might have had a more direct path. Instead, I “fell” into computers at a time when the first Apple computers were rolling off the assembly lines, and my writing took a back seat to a career in computer software. I had four computer how-to books published by Dow Jones and Scott-Foresman from 1984 through 1989, but they weren’t the type of writing I really wanted to do. It wasn’t until I was asked to hide a trucking kickback scheme through the use of a computer program that I began to realize my dream of becoming a novelist. In real life, I turned over evidence to the FBI; but the experience led to the writing of my first suspense/thriller, Kickback. In the book, Sheila’s adventure and her escape from the bad guys was a lot more harrowing than my own experience! That book was released in 2002 and I began writing full-time that year.

You are co-founder of The Book ‘Em Foundation, which is an amazing organization!!! How did that all come about?

I became the spokesperson for The Virginia Crime Stoppers Association and traveled the state, telling citizens about the role the organization plays in our communities. I also donated a portion of my book sales to local Crime Solvers, Crime Stoppers and Crime Lines. I met Officer Mark Kearney of the Waynesboro, Virginia Police Department during one of those events, and we began discussing the correlation between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. I thought if I could raise money for Crime Stoppers just through my individual signings, I could help to raise even more by getting together a few of my author friends. We anticipated getting about six authors together for a Book ‘Em Event – a book fair with the slogan “Buy a Book and Stop a Crook” – but instead, we got 75 authors from all over the world! The event became an annual one in Virginia and since then we’ve added New Hampshire and South Carolina, and there are more in the works… We’ve even had tremendous support from best-selling authors Janet Evanovich, Catherine Coulter, Ellen Hopkins, Cathy Maxwell, and others.

You are very active in your community – talk a little bit of the work you do outside of writing.

Where do I begin? I am the Vice President of the Robeson County, NC Arts Council, whose mission is to nurture, promote and celebrate regional arts, including books, theatre, painting, sculpting and everything in between. I am also on the Board of Directors of the Robeson County Friends of the Library. In 2007, I started the Writers Rally in Robeson visiting author series, in which we bring in at least one author a month to speak at the Osterneck Auditorium in downtown Lumberton. We’ve had wonderful authors travel here from Scotland, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, Alabama, and from all over the Carolinas. It’s very rewarding to me to see what an impact one individual can make in his or her community.

In the world of authors, you are my hero! So many writers don’t realize how much the persona of an author really matters. What is your secret to mastering such a genuine, caring attitude?

Wow, I really appreciate you saying that, Diane! I don’t consider myself a hero at all. I believe that it’s the journey that matters. I see so many authors who are trying to make it onto the bestseller lists, and so many leave their compassion and care for other human beings behind in the process. I don’t want to be one of those people… I’ve also learned that it’s NOT “all about me”, that I am but a tiny speck on this planet. If I can make a difference in another person’s quality of life, I’ve done far more than I could ever do just by selling a book; after all, when I make it to those pearly gates, I doubt they’ll let me in based on the number of books I’ve sold!

I was at a literary event a couple of years ago that was very poorly attended; in fact, I think there were two attendees versus two dozen authors! One of the authors had just self-published his first book. After a couple of hours, he stood in the middle of the room and announced to all of the other authors how this was a total waste of his time and how he was entirely too important to be there, and he left! Soon after that, I attended an event in New Hampshire with Janet Evanovich. When she arrived at the signing, she learned they had neglected to order her books! She was already a best-selling author many times over and no one would have blamed her if she’d turned around and left. Instead, she grabbed a box of donut holes and balloons and walked around the room, chatting to other authors and attendees, handing out donuts and balloons while someone scrambled to get some books there for her. Hours later, I was still encountering star-struck readers who were saying, “Janet Evanovich offered me a donut hole!” I learned a lot from her that day. She is one classy lady.

It’s all in the journey…

After “Exit 22”, you have a prequel to “Songbirds Are Free” coming out – what else do you have planned?

After I finish the second book in the Songbirds series, I will return to another suspense/thriller set in Robeson County (those swamps are beckoning again!) Some of the characters in Exit 22 will return—but I can’t tell you which ones, or I’d give away the ending to Exit 22! My plan at the present time is to write a contemporary suspense/thriller every other year with an historical suspense in the years in between. Of course, those plans can be altered depending on the readers’ and critics’ response to my books!

What has been the highlight of your author journey so far?

There have been so many… Meeting so many wonderful, special people and getting to know their stories is always a thrill for me. I absolutely LOVE the book tours. They can get tiring and sometimes I wake up in a hotel room and wonder where I am… but I wouldn’t trade meeting all the terrific people for anything… Second to that was going to Hollywood and meeting movie producers and learning how books are adapted to the big screen.

What piece of advice would you give to a new author?

Write the best book you possibly can. Don’t let your ego get so tied up in your book that you can’t take construction criticism. Try to improve your craft with every book you write. I firmly believe those books that get published are not necessarily the best; they are the ones in which the authors simply didn’t give up.

And the last word, Trish?

Always allow yourself to hope. For without hope, what do you have left?

For more information, please visit http://www.pmterrell.com/ and http://www.maryneely.com/.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

First Proof Copy!

I hold in my hands the first proof copy of my publishing company's first official release!

I still need to go through it in detail, but at first glance, most of it appears correctly placed and formatted. I was so certain that my first time out with PageMaker and setting up for the printer would result in several major mistakes. However, I am stunned to see that I actually set up the pages, margins, numbering, etc. correctly!!!

We'll adjust a couple things on the back cover and then after that, will start sending out to book clubs and for library distribution, then for reviews!!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Wolfe Updates & More!

Cover art for Book V of The Circle of Friends and for Overcoming Obstacles With SPUNK! should be completed soon! I will be sure to let everyone know, as they both have turned out fantastic.

I have several more dates booked for next year already, including a luncheon for Administrative Professionals Week and speaking at NCAEOP's annual conference. Looks like I've timed my non-fiction book just right!

Also kicked off a busy fall season on Tuesday. It promises to be a wild ride, for which I am very grateful.

A recent issue of IBPA discussed how well downloadables sell. Fiction still does very poorly (yes, even with Kindle!) but I am excited that my non-ficiton book will be available as an e-book. It's another way I can get it into the hands of readers!

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Bob Johnson and 9/11

Last year I got to meet an incredible individual, Chaplain Bob Johnson.

His book, "I Saw God", chronicles his experience at Ground Zero after 9/11.

I recently interviewed Bob, and don't let his simple answers fool you - he's an incredibly passionate person and his book will touch your heart!

Thanks Bob for sharing your experience with the world!

Describe “I Saw God” and what readers will experience through this book:
This book was written so others could experience the events that took place at ground zero. The true dedication of those who served was incredible. They not only searched with compassion, they dug knowing this was an honorable place. When people asked ‘Where was God?’ I answered, in the workers, fire, police, ems, and other volunteers that gave of themselves to get the job done. This is what I experienced first hand.

Is there a particular incident that stands out from the rest?
There were so many, but the one I remember is when I was asked to escort a father around ground zero. His son was killed and he wanted to go where his son worked. The tour took two hours and when it was completed, I saw a father who received some peace. The story is in the book. Enjoy.

How did you become involved in 9-11?
Being part of the International Conference of Police Chaplains and a trained Master chaplain in disaster work, I was asked to respond in November and December. I served a total of approximately 20 days.

What prompted you to write this book?
I felt compelled to write about this so others could feel what I felt. So they could see that we can work together regardless of who or what we are and accomplish our mission. Unity is a great thing when we forget ourselves and serve others.

Reader response keeps me going – what response from a reader has inspired you the most?
I received a letter from a 15 year old who said, after reading your book, I see God in a new light and realized there is hope after a crisis. This really hit home to me about what I believe this book says.

Where can people find you this September?
I'll be home for most of month and they can reach me online under http://chaplainbobwtcministry.com/ or call 540-292-9100

What are your future plans?
I am gearing up for leaving the full time pastorate and working on doing speaking engagements and evangelism preaching for churches. I will come to your location, speak, and share my book as well. I also want to help church's that are struggling so they can be a healthier congregation for the Lord.


Monday, September 08, 2008

Author Claudia Mair Burney

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Wounded: A Love Story David C. Cook (September 2008)
by
Claudia Mair Burney

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Claudia is the author of the popular Ragamuffin Diva blog and the David C. Cook novel
Zora and Nicky: A novel in Black And White. She is also the author of Death, Deceit, and Some Smooth Jazz, and the Amanda Bell Brown Mysteries and the Exorsistah series for teens. Her work has appeared in Discipleship Journal magazine, The One Year Life Verse Devotional Bible, and Justice in the Burbs.
She lives in Michigan with her husband, five of their seven children, and a quirky dwarf rabbit.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
SHE HAD A VISION OF CHRIST PLACING TWO PERFECT RED ROSES IN HER HANDS...AND THEN SHE WAS WOUNDED!
If a miracle happened to you, wouldn't you tell everyone? What if they thought you were crazy?
Gina Merritt, poor in health and rich in faith is the last person to expect a miracle to happen to her. As she sits in a pew on Ash Wednesday with throbbing pain in her knees and a raging migraine, she turns her concentration elsewhere and silently prays, "Share with me, Jesus."
Instantly she has a holy vision of the Son of God kneeling before her. As tears fill her eyes, Christ kisses Gina's hands, leaving two perfect red roses. When the vision fades, Gina's hands are bleeding.
Anthony Priest, the junkie sitting beside her, instinctively touches Gina when she cries out, but she flees in shock and pain. A prizewinning journalist before drugs destroyed his career, Anthony is stunned that he is suddenly overcome with a sense of well-being and he instantly knows that he is cured of his addiction. Wanting an explanation, Anthony follows Gina home.
Is it a miracle, or just a religious delusion? It seems like everyone who knows of the mysterious stigmata has an opinion, and it's not always favorable. Putting aside their difference and their mutual distrust, Gina and Anthony embark on a search for answers. Along the way they encounter an uncertain evangelical pastor, a gentle Catholic priest, a certifiable religious zealot, and a transvestite drug dealer, all of whom lend their voices to the tale. It's a quest for truth, sanity, and grace…and an unexpected love story.

If you would like to read and excerpt from
Wounded: A Love Story, go HERE
The book link is:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1434799387

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Amazing Hero, Tim Tebow

A little off the beaten path, but it ties in with University of Florida, football, and faith - all components of my series.

Yesterday I saw an ESPN special on Florida quarterback, Tim Tebow. And now I am in awe of this young man. He is the son of a missionary and a born again Christian, and he uses his fame as last year's Heisman Trophy winner to minister & speak in unique places. He spent his spring break back in the Phillipines, where he was born, working at an orphanage. He speaks at prisons. To hear him speak is incredible, because he is so mature, personable and full of God. He wants to be a good example for young people, which is awesome!

It's amazing to see a young man so boldly proclaim his love for Jesus and go forward with the intentions of making a difference. He has given me hope! I would love to go speak of hope to others in such a fashion - perhaps not overseas, but we've so many right here in the USA than need to be reached.

Perhaps one day I will be successful enough as an author, speaker & business owner that I can make such a difference as well!

Friday, September 05, 2008

Hanna

Tropical Storm Hanna's clouds have now covered the sky and it's been raining for the past hour. We are looking at some strong wind gusts and lots of rain this weekend. And of course it will be going over us tonight - storms never seem to pass while it's light outside!

After Fran and Floyd, I am grateful this is not a full blown hurricane. I will never forget sleeping in our hallway, listening to the wind and wondering if that was the roof leaving the house... Both times we lost power for a day and if you've never experienced a hurricane, it is always incredibly hot & muggy immediately following the storm. It's a moment of celebration when the power is restored and the air conditioner roars to life.

And when Internet returns, too. (So tied to my computer!)

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Author Angela Benson

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
Up Pops The Devil Avon A (July 29, 2008)
by
Angela Benson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Angela has published nine novels, one novella, and a nonfiction writing book. Her books have appeared on national, regional and local bestseller lists. She has won several writing awards, including Best Multicultural Romance from Romantic Times magazine and the Best Contemporary Ethnic Romance from Affaire de Coeur magazine. She was also a finalist for the 2000 Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award in Multicultural Romance.
Awakening Mercy is the first book in her Genesis House series from Tyndale House Publishers. Awakening Mercy was a finalist for both the RITA Award given by Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction. The second book in the Genesis House series, Abiding Hope, was published in September 2001. Abiding Hope was awarded the Emma Award for Best Inspirational Romance presented by the Romance Slam Jam. The third book and final book of the series, Enduring Love, is not yet scheduled.
BET Books, now Harlequin's Kimani Press purchased the mass market rights to Awakening Mercy and Abiding Hope in 2000 and released mass market editions of the titles in June 2002 and June 2003, respectively.
Angela's first hardcover title, The Amen Sisters, was released in September 2005 by Walk Worthy Press. The Essence bestselling title won the Emma Award for Best Inspirational Romance. The trade paperback edition was released in November 2007.
Up Pops the Devil, published by HarperCollins (Avon A) in August 2008, is Angela's tenth novel.
Angela has a diverse education and work history. She majored in mathematics at Spelman College and Industrial Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), and worked for fifteen years as an engineer in the telecommunications industry. She holds Masters degrees in operations research and human resources development. Her most recent degree is a doctorate in instructional technology from the University of Georgia. Dr. Benson is now an associate professor of educational technology at The University of Alabama.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
This is the story of Wilford "Preacher" Winters and the four women—his fiancee' Tanya, his sister Loretta, his old girlfriend Serena, and his new friend Natalie—who complicate his re-entry into society as a law-abiding Christian man after being incarcerated for two years for drug trafficking. Two hard years in prison have changed Wilford "Preacher" Winters for the better. He did his time, now he's going to "do the right thing." But the women in his life have other ideas.
Tanya, the sleek and sexy mother of his two kids, is much too comfortable with her pearls-and-Porsche lifestyle, and she'll do whatever it takes to maintain it. His sister, Loretta, kept "the business" running smoothly while Preacher was inside, and she can't believe he'd trade Easy Street bling for a nickel-and-dime dead-end job. His one-time girlfriend Serena, now married to his main man Barnard, is hiding a secret—and if past sins come to light, they'll ruin several lives and a very new, very precious friendship between Preacher and Barnard's beautiful-inside-and-out sister, Natalie.
With his world about to explode all around him, Preacher's going to need every ounce of his new-found faith to remain strong. Because it takes a lot to become a new man, sometimes even a miracle.
If you would like to read the Prologue and first chapter of Up Pops The Devil, go HERE
The book link is:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061468509

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Book to the Printer!

The Circle of Friends
Book I ... Lori
is off to the printers as of today!!
And the cover art for Overcoming Obstacles with SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting is almost complete - and looks incredible!

Monday, September 01, 2008

Find a Mentor

From my upcoming release, "Overcoming Obstacles with Spunk! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting":
In your quest for support and guidance, you would do well to cultivate a mentor. Select an individual who has traveled your path of choice and achieved success. This person can assist you in numerous ways, probably beyond what you dreamed possible. He can help formulate a plan, warn you of the pitfalls, provide encouragement, and introduce you to others of influence. Your chances for success increase dramatically with a mentor’s careful guidance. After all, would you prefer to go through the minefield alone or follow someone who can advise you where to step?

How does one find a mentor? They are not sold in stores, but potential mentors reside closer than you think! Begin by observing the leaders in your field. Is there someone in particular that you admire and can easily access? Approach this individual and ask for a moment of his time or perhaps take him to lunch. Express your admiration and respect before seeking his advice, or you will appear very self-serving. Your goal is to build a lasting relationship, not just pump that person for information. Your mentor may become one of your greatest ally and friend if you honor and revere him. And of course, follow his wisdom and advice!

Once you begin to achieve success, you will discover others now seeking your assistance. Just as you benefited from those in a position to help you, so you should be willing to extend your hand as well. Be willing to assist others up the ladder of success. Not only will you benefit from these relationships and further expand your network, you will also continue to learn in the role of teacher.

The days of apprenticeship, where a master taught his young pupil valuable skills in a trade or craft, are long gone. We have lost so many great benefits that were provided through such relationships. The impact of a mentor is very powerful, so do not falter in your quest to locate such an individual. His influence will create a lasting impact on your life and leave you enriched by his presence.
Copyright 2008