Before I Die available in paperback

Linda Laverly want to fall in love again, so she begins a quest to experience, just once more, that head over heels feeling of young love. The only problem is her husband.


“This book paints such a clear picture of how a couple can get so caught up in life and all of its distractions and lose focus on what a marriage should be. It is also a touching story of how there are second chances for finding happiness.” – Ann E.

Order your paperback copy from Amazon, click here.

Download on Kindle, click here.

Order a personally autographed copy of the paperback, click here.

WFTS conference near you

You still have time to register for the Christian Writers Guild’s Writing for the Soul Conference September 19-20 in Murfreesboro, TN,  near Nashville. It includes free admission to SuzyQ’s Author Bootcamp!

But act fast. Conference-special room rates at the Embassy Suites & Convention Center in Murfreesboro are available only through September 5.

You’ll also receive a free autographed copy of Jerry Jenkins’s Writing for the Soul book! 

Click here for details.

This is a new focus for Christian Writers Guild Writing for the Soul Conference. Instead of all the conferees gathering at one location one time a year, the conference has taken to the road and is being presented in different venues around the country. 

Says CWG: "Writing for the Soul will now be more accessible in terms of cost, timing, and convenient venues around the country. We’re targeting book authors with classes in three areas: how to write your book, publish your book, and market your book."

There will be a WFTS Conference in Hershey, PA in January. 

Happy writing,
Michele

Free webinar

From Christian Writers Guild:

Understanding Point-of-View Once and For All!

Ready to get serious about your fiction? We have what you need.

Here’s a free peek at the kind of teaching you can enjoy in  our professional-level Fiction Intensive course taught by mentor Kathy Tyers.

In her one-hour “Viewpoint: Hooking and Holding Readers,” Kathy shows you how to draw readers in and keep them there by giving them "that delicious you-are-there sensation."

 “An excellent webinar,” says a CWG member. “I plan to view it again.”

 To watch it free, just click here.
 
If you like what you see, you’ll have the opportunity to  fill out your application for the next Fiction Intensive class, which begins November 1  and includes a four-day residency in Colorado with mentor Kathy Tyers, Jerry B. Jenkins, and other experts.

New York Times bestselling novelist Kathy Tyers has published eleven novels, including for the Star Wars expanded universe. She makes her home in Montana.

  

 

NOTE: I took this class two years ago and learned a great deal. If you're serious about writing and publishing your fiction, it's worth every cent!

 

Happy writing,

Michele

Advice from a bestselling author

Stephen King

A writing colleague sent me the link to an article that gleans 22 pieces of advice from bestselling author Stephen King's memoir, On Writing. I've read the book, but it was refreshing and eye-opening to re-read King's advice. Surprising how in our intense efforts to become better writers we drift from the basics over time.

Here's the link so you can read the article: "22 Lessons From Stephen King On How To Be A Great Writer." (Click on the article title.)

Happy writing,
Michele

CWG end-of-summer course special

You Want to Write. CWG Will Show You How.

The Christian Writers Guild is running an end-of-summer special for its mentor-guided writing courses. Sign up for any course by September 10, give the name of the CWG mentor who referred you *which would be me, Michele Huey), and they’ll send you a free copy of one of these novels:

Prime of Life by Peter Bekendam; Book of Dreams by Davis Bunn; Matthew’s Story, Mark’s Story, or Luke’s Story by Jerry B. Jenkins

Courses include:

• YOUTH courses: Page (Adolescent)  and Squire (Teen)

• INTRODUCTORY (Apprentice level):

• Apprentice 100:  Writing Essentials  Six skills to help your writing sell
• Apprentice 110: Think Like a Writer  Establish yourself as a professional
• Apprentice 120: Write Like a Writer  Opportunities and techniques for success
• Apprentice 130: The Art of Short Nonfiction  Keys to writing print and web articles
• Apprentice 140: Fiction That Sells  Seven tools for today’s novelist
• Apprentice 150: Mastering Social Media  Build your publicity platform

• ADVANCED (Journeyman level)

• PROFESSIONAL (Craftsman)

• FAST TRACK

Keep learning and keep writing,
Michele

Operation First Novel

Have you written a novel and you haven't been published by a traditional publisher?

Look into the Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel.

Open to CWG members who have not yet had a book published by a traditional, royalty-paying publisher, this annual contest has given new novelists a chance for their work to be read. This year three winners will receive publication packages from the Christian Writers Guild and BelieversPress for a combined value of over $30,000.

For details, click here to visit the web page.

Here's the email from CWG:

 

Make Your Publishing Dream a Reality

You Can Win Over $20,000 and Be a Published Novelist by Next Year

Submit your completed novel to our Operation First Novel contest by September 3 and you could win a publishing package worth more than $20,000!

It’s easy to enter. You just have to be a Guild member (click here to join) who hasn’t yet had a book released by a traditional publisher.

Bonus Webinars
When you register for Guild membership, we’ll give you, absolutely free, a set of five recent CWG webinars on the art of creating popular fiction — a $50 value! Review all five sessions to make sure your story is ready to enter.

When You Enter
Besides submitting a 75,000- to 85,000-word fiction manuscript, you also submit:
● a logline (a one-sentence summary with plot elements and an emotional hook)
● a 750-word synopsis

Judges will review each manuscript for characterization, plot, conflict, dialogue, setting, mechanics, and writing quality.

First prize includes a full print and e-book publishing package as part of the Jerry B. Jenkins select line from Christian Writers Guild Publishing, a $21,000 value!

Second place wins a print publishing package from BelieversPress worth $6,500!

Third prize is an e-book publishing package from BelieversPress worth $2,800!

Don’t Wait
You have until September 3, 2014 to enter.

Click here for full contest rules, descriptions of the three award packages, and a link for submitting your entry.

The winners will be announced January 16, 2015 at the Writing for the Soul writing and publishing conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

You’ve written your novel. Now take the next steps to make it a winner — in Operation First Novel!


Will you be the next new voice in fiction?

Happy writing,
Michele 

New novel launched

54-year-old Linda Laverly longs to experience, just once more, that head over heels feeling of young love. The only problem is her husband.

Dear friends,

The day has finally come! Before I Die, my second novel (actually the first novel I ever wrote) has been released by Helping Hands Press as an e-book ($2.99) and paperback ($14.99) on Amazon. 

Here’s the book description:

Linda Laverly wants to fall in love again—to experience deep in her soul that head over heels, I’m-crazy-about-you feeling just once more. Time is running out, she thinks; her sister died at fifty-five, and Linda is just one year shy of that milestone. So she leaves Brian, her predictable, dependable, faithful, but unromantic husband of thirty-two years to try to find a spark again. Is her quest worth risking her family, her job, her reputation, her faith? As she wrestles with issues of aging and self-image, anger and betrayal, she finds the love she’s longing for where she least expects it.  (Women’s fiction, Christian fiction) 

Here’s what reviewer Kerin M. had to say about the book:

“I LOVED IT! I LOVED IT! I LOVED IT! My eyes were filled with tears at the end. You had the courage to write about the secrets of women our age – that longing to be loved and not just taken for granted – or to feel like we’re stuck with each other now, so let’s just make the best of it. I saw my own self in Linda. Thank you for writing this story. May God bless it and cut it loose to touch the lives of many others.” 

To download your e-book or order your paperback from Amazon, visit my Amazon author page and click on BEFORE I DIE. Here’s the link to the Amazon page where my books are listed: http://tinyurl.com/l2n6nal

If you want your e-book autographed, go to http://www.authorgraph.com/authors/MicheleHuey and request an autograph. It’s free!

You can also order an autographed paperback from me by

• purchasing it on my webpage and paying via PayPal : http://michelethuey.com/micheles-books.html

• emailing me your order (michelehuey@hughes.net) and mailing me a check for $15, plus $5 shipping and handling, if it’s to be mailed. I don’t have a problem delivering books to folks in Punxsutawney who have ordered them. If that’s the case, the cost of the book will be $15 (tax included). My address is 121 Homestead Lane, Glen Campbell, PA  15742.

Thank you for your interest. Please share this post with anyone you think would be interested in Before I Die.  

Happy reading,

Michele

Make your dialogue really talk

. . .  is the topic of tonight's Christian Writers Guild webinar.

Presented by Dennis E. Hensley
Tuesday, August 12
8:00 to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time

Dialogue has two central functions: to provide vital information and to advance the story’s action. But the way that is conveyed can involve accent, stage direction, timing, word choice, slang, sentence fragments, shoptalk, professional vocabulary, and emotional connotation.

Getting the right blend is the trick, and Doc delivers numerous tips on how to master the art of “talking the talk.” As the author of eight novels, two plays, and more than 150 short stories, Doc draws from his hands-on experience to help you make your dialogue functional, entertaining, and believable.

Dennis E. Hensley, Ph.D., is the author of 54 books, the most recent being Jesus in the 9 to 5. He is director of the professional writing major at Taylor University, and a columnist for Christian Communicator. His 3,000 freelance articles have appeared in Downbeat, Modern Bride, Writer’s Digest, Essence, War Cry, The Writer, People, Vista, Evangel, The Detroit Free Press, and The Indianapolis Star, among many others. He is a judge for the annual Christy Fiction Awards, the Evangelical Press Association Awards, and Operation First Novel contest.

Click here to register.

Coming up later this month:

Your Novel’s First 50 pages (part 2)

Presented by Jeff Gerke
Tuesday, August 19
8:00 to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time

First impressions are vital. Compelling opening scenes are key to catching an agent or editor’s attention, as well as keeping readers engaged. In this continuation of Jeff’s June 19 webinar, you’ll learn more about:
• how to bring your protagonist onstage the first time
• how (and why) to establish normal for your hero and your story world
• what exactly goes on a great first page
• what makes for a terrific first line

Jeff Gerke is a novelist and book doctor. He worked for a dozen years at various publishers before founding Marcher Lord Press. His books include The Art &Craft of Writing Christian Fiction, Plot Versus Character, and The First 50 Pages.

Click here to register.

SOURCE: Christian Writers Guild Webinars webpage.

Autograph your e-books

Authors, your readers can receive a personalized inscription that they can view in their favorite reading apps and devices! Yes, you can autograph your e-books!

Readers, you can request an autograph from an author.

This service is FREE through authorgraph.com.

A writing colleague told me about it months ago, but, true writer that I am, I put off looking into it. It was just one more thing to add to the to-do list. You know? (You know.)

But today, I decided to try it.

It's not that hard to do:

1. Sign up on the website.
2. Add the widget authorgraph.com assigns you to your blog and website. Add the AUTHORGRAPH tab to your Facebook page.
3. Make noise about it on your social media.

Happy reader, happy writer.

Here's my widget (notice I put it in the right margin below the list of my books):

 

 

Happy writing,

Michele

And the winner is . . . .

Thank you, everyone, for your input on the cover. We decided to go with this one, since, in the words of reader Sybil Nichol, "it best depicts the starry romantic love that Linda is yearning for displayed by the foot-popping kiss!"

Click here to read the book description and first two chapters.

Said ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) reviewer Kerin M.:

"OOOOOOOH, Michele!! I LOVED IT! I LOVED IT! I LOVED IT! My eyes were filled with tears at the end. You had the courage to write about the secrets of women our age - that longing to be loved and not just taken for granted - or to feel like we're 'stuck' with each other now, so let's just make the best of it. I saw my own self in your character. Thank you for writing this story. May God bless it and cut it loose to touch the lives of many others." 

 

Before I Die will be available as e-book ($2.99) and paperback ($14.99) on Amazon on THURSDAY, AUG. 14.  (I'll include the link when it goes up on Amazon.)

Email me at michelehuey@hughes.net to order your autographed copy.


Listen to the "story behind the story" of Before I Die as I discussed it on Gelati's Scoop Blogtalk radio today (above).

New novel to be released

My novel Before I Die will be released Aug. 14. I'd like your input on the cover design.

Which cover do you like best and why? Visit the book's page on the Helping Hands Press blog and leave a comment. For your feedback, you'll receive two free stories.

Writing opps, webinars, and writing conference

Writing opportunities:

Callout for stories from Marsha Hubler, bestselling author of The Loves of Snyder County and the Keystone Stable series:

"I am going to do a novel series called Where Love Abounds, and I need seven authors to help write the novel. It's about a foster home with six teen foster kids (some wild, some troubled). The novel will have a romance element in it, and it will be "Christian" in content. Click here for guidelines.

I'm also looking for short stories (5000-6000 wds.) for an Easter collection. I need those stories ready to publish by January." Click here for guidelines.

CWG August webinars:

Webinars on Marketing, Dialogue, and Beginnings

The Christian Writers Guild will feature three webinars this month:

    August 5: Dave Sheets, Why the Field of Dreams Strategy Doesn’t Work (Free)

    August 12: Dennis E. “Doc” Hensley, Making Dialogue Really Talk ($10)

    August 19: Jeff Gerke, Your Novel’s First 50 Pages, Part 2 ($10)

For more information or to register, click on the title of the webinar.

You can also download past webinars to view at your convenience. Click here for more information and for a list of webinars.

West Branch Christian Writers Conference:

Writers Beyond
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014
First Baptist Church, Milton, PA
Keynote Speaker: Bonnie Calhoun
Click here for more information.

Happy writing,
Michele