Book Signings! The Joy of Your Labor!

Woo Hoo! It' a book signing day!

Some authors don't enjoy book signings. Not me.  I'm a people person. It takes discipline to sit at my computer and write all day. Discipline is painful. Meeting readers and signing my books does not hurt. It's the joy of my labor.

The sweet couple (in the above photo) came as strangers and left as friends. Their marriage is strong because they work at keeping their love alive. Laughing, they left with We All Married Idiots and plans to read it together every night before sleep. Hmmm. You see why I love book signings!

I still pray for the hurting woman years ago who came to my table. She didn't look at me. She picked up my book Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Wives. Reading page after page, she eventually looked up and said, "I have every intention of leaving my  husband, but first I'm going to read this book." I hugged her and prayed with her right there in Barnes & Noble. You see why I love book signings!

Join me in prayer for the people God already planned to stop by my table today. Maybe it's you!

Meet me at the DeWitt Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Boulevard East, DeWitt, NY from 1:00 to 3:00 today, Saturday, February 2, 3013.

 I'd love to wish you Happy Valentine's Day! There will be kisses!!! Hersheys, that is.

After the book signing, I drive to Rochester, NY where I am speaking on marriage at the Trinity Alliance Church, 1275 Spencerport Road, Rochester, Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Kudos to Pastor Denes House who is preaching a series on marriage! He's giving his pulpit to me this Sunday. Brave man!!!

If you are in the Rochester area, come see me at Trinity. I won't give you kisses (Hersheys), but lots of food from God's Word to nourish your marriage.

Praying for a Splashes of Serenity in a building filled with books and readers and a church filled with Bibles and worshipers.  Ahhh! Feels like good places to be on a snowy weekend!

Why I LOVE Book Signings

I LOVE book signings. Being a people person, I crave meeting readers face to face. Screen time can frustrate an extrovert like me. Get me out into the public — now!

Plus, the God appointments at each signing leave me amazed at how God works.

I remember my first book signing of my first book, Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms. I stood at the store's entrance and handed a book to every person who walked in. Inviting them to take a look, I assured them they didn't have to buy and explained Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms were short devotional stories of real moms whose lives have known pain and experienced victory.   

One customer listened to my "sales pitch" and started to cry. She shared with me:

 "I'm visiting my daughter. She just learned her 18 month old daughter will never walk. She and her husband are at their home devastated. I decided to give them some time alone and I went for a walk. I've never even seen this book store. I'm not from this city. But as I walked down the street it was as though God told me to go into this store. Then, the first person I meet is you who hands me this book for drained moms. I know I'm to buy it for my daughter."

 I prayed with her and stood in awe at God's divine intervention at a book signing. I will share similar stories in the future as my book signings often bring a stranger in need.

If you are in the Syracuse area, I'll be signing all three of my books this Saturday, September 8 at Sacred Melody bookstore (the same store where the above happened), 3501 James Street in Syracuse from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. I'd love to meet you.

Please pray for me as I am a guest on Bridge Street, News Channel 9 WSYR TV this Friday, September 7 live at 10:00 a.m. and recorded at 8:00 p.m.

 

 

May we never miss the opportunity to be a splash of serenity in someone's life.

Thanks for your splash of serenity to me!

God's Divine Book Selling Appointments

Our waitress bubbled, "I'm so excited! My husband just graduated with a degree in journalism and we're moving south!"

A degree in journalism! My ears perked at those words.  "Hey, if your husband likes writing, he might be interested in reading my new book!" I handed her a postcard of We All Married Idiots book cover.  (Yes, authors, carry postcards or book marks and be ready to hand them to anyone anywhere.) 

She took my postcard and left. Within minutes she was back beaming in her sweet southern accent,  "Where can I get this book?"

 I told her it was available on-line or at bookstores or she could buy one from me. (Yes, authors, always carry copies expecting these God appointments.)

One book sold. One marriage helped.

She returned smiling, "Do you have more books? People in the back want to buy one. Can they download it on Kindle or Nook?"

More God appointments!

A different waitress arrived, not to take our order, but to buy a book.

Another God appointment. Another marriage encouraged.

The second waitress returned a second time asking, "Do you have more with you? One of the other waitresses wants a copy really bad but she has no money. I thought I'd buy it for her."

Wow! The God appointments keep on coming!

Our smiling southern waitress returned with our check and a plea: "One more? The cook wants a copy?"

The cook himself arrived at our table saying "I've only been married a year and things aren't going well. My wife will be so pleased that I bought a book admitting to her that I'm an idiot!" He smiled, but I sensed his pain for his hurting marriage.

"Hold on to your marriage!" I told him." I packed my husband's bags three times our first year and we will soon celebrate 42 years together."

"Wow!!! That makes me feel better. Thanks!" He smiled deeper now and returned to the kitchen with hope and a copy of We All Married Idiots.

What a day! Four books sold in a restaurant to four hungry people.

The world sits at the edge of their seats waiting for someone to serve them hope. Authors, God gave us our books and we should not be embarrassed to market them. The words we say and the books we write give splashes of serenity in a world that is drained.

Perhaps your marriage needs hope. You can order  We All Married Idiots: Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can at http://www.amazon.com/We-All-Married-Idiots-Marriage/dp/0984765522/ or on this website.

May God bless our ministries!

Feeling Like An Author—Whatever That Feels Like

Giving birth to my third child, I finally felt like a mother. I still didn't know what I was doing, but I had three little ones running around the house, which proved I knew how to produce.

Well, it's taken three books for me to feel like an author. My first book seemed like a fluke, but it's now in its third printing. My second book arrived unexpectedly. Now We All Married Idiots: Three Things You'll Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten things You Can releases next month. I don't know what I'm doing, but I feel like an author—whatever that feels like.

I'm not sure how an author is supposed to feel, but here are my feelings:

I feel responsibility to speak and write truth. Words influence and I am responsible to represent Christ and be like Christ in every area of my life.

I feel passionate about my Bible reading and prayer time because without this, I can do nothing.

I feel disciplined to exercise and eat right and sleep well so I can sustain the fast pace planned in the months ahead.

I feel trust that God Who gave me this book will give me the energy and wisdom to complete the tasks ahead.

I feel joy knowing that the words God placed in my heart will be read by strangers I could never have reached otherwise.

I feel festive. Writers spend months isolated in their little offices zoning in on the book they are writing. Now I want to celebrate!

I feel different. Writing two books on marriage has made me a more loving and understanding wife. The quality of our marriage skyrocketed.

I feel thankful. I'm in awe of God, Who called me to this ministry and Who teaches me so I can teach others.

I feel obedient to God's call to write and speak. There were other important ways to spend my days, but I said no to them and yes to God. 

I feel blessed by so many friends who pray for me and encourage me on this journey. I thank God for YOU! One of those friends sent me this passage. I love her for it. Sort of sums it all up:

"Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me." Psalm 71:18 (NLT)

I feel blessed that the God Who allowed me to get old and gray has not abandoned me. He allows me to proclaim His power to a new generation as I write of God's mighty miracles to all who come after me.


Splashes of Serenity and Joy to you today,

Elaine

From File Drawer to Book Store—My Writing Journey Continues

So, how did my first book go from a file drawer to a bookstore?

In earlier blogposts I share how God called me to write Cleanse My Heart: Bathtime Meditations for Moms. Rejected by four publishers, I placed that manuscript back into my file drawer. Content that I had obeyed God, I laid it to rest. But, God is in the resurrection business and He had other plans.

My friend Kelly Molinet visited one day. Kelly and I cried, prayed, and shared life together when her son, Liam, was born with Cystic Fibrosis. I wrote this dear victorious mother's story in Cleanse My Heart.

"Would you like to read what I wrote about Liam?" I asked her. She did. She liked it. A published author herself, she asked, "Why haven't you sent this to my publisher?"

So, I did. I sent Cleanse My Heart to Green Key Books. Within a few months, a contract arrived in my mailbox.

When a contract is signed, the author gives the publisher rights to your words. Which means, they can do with them whatever they please. Cleanse My Heart could have become a comic book.

Green Key didn't give me a comic book, but a beautiful hard cover gift book. Other authors tell me a first-time unknown author would never get a hard-cover book. That never happens. Well, with God all things are possible. And God was in this book from its conception.

But wait! What happened to Cleanse My Heart? The publisher also has the right to rename your book. Green Key renamed mine Sink or Swim (S.O.S.): Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms. I'm glad they asked my opinion and that I stated, "I think Sink or Swim sounds too severe. Can we change it?" Pete and Krissi Castor at Green Key Books were willing, but wanted to keep the S.O.S.

I put my thinking cap and prayer hat on and within seconds, God whispered, Splashes of Serenity. I've been splashes of serenity ever since. I love it. A breath of fresh air! A ray of sunshine! A splash of serenity!

What joy to have my first reflection be "No Room in the Tub for Me!" A story written in my bathtub the night before my baby left for college. How appropriate for this drained mom.

Within months Splashes of Serenity (S.O.S.): Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms  sold thousands and a second printing was ordered. It is now in a third printing. Mothers around the world have been blessed and encouraged by this book. If you'd like an autographed copy, you can order it at my bookstore (see tab above) or contact me at SplashesofSerenity@yahoo.com.

So, what did you learn from this post?

Well, that God's plan for your book won't be thwarted even when you put it where no man can find it.

A publisher can make a comic book from your words if he wants to, but a publisher desires to give you the best-selling product they can afford.

A publisher has the final say on the title, but most publishers will listen to your heart and consider your thoughts.

One day your wildest dreams could come true and people will line up at your Barnes & Noble book signing. Who knew? Not me. Only God had this plan. My job was to obey. I'm so glad I did.

Hoping this was a splash of serenity and an encouragement to you,

Elaine

Getting a Book Published 101

Every writer dreams of a book signing at Barnes & Nobel with strangers standing in line for an autographed copy. Please don't wake me up! Today you sit at a computer with an idea in hopes that one day you'll sit in a book store signing your book? How do you get from here to there? I've blogged about this before, so check my previous posts. Today I give some more thoughts because last week I was asked twice, "How do I get my book published?"

1. Go to a Writer's Conference. They are all over the USA, so google and find the one that best meets your needs.

2. Learn how to write a query letter and a book proposal. The best place to learn this is guess where? Right! A Writer's Conference. You can also learn this online. www.MichaelHyatt.com is a great resource for learning the publishing business.

3. Get an agent. How? Go to a writer's conference or mail your query and your proposal to an agent. But, at a writer's conference the agent meets you face to face, realizes you aren't a serial killer, and your opportunities for a contract increase. Plus, attending a writer's conference demonstrates your commitment to invest in your career. Red flag any agent who wants you to pay them. A legitimate agent receives a percentage of your advance and your royalties. They receive nothing until they sell your book to a publisher. If an agent asks for money upfront, please flee.

4. Get published in a magazine or in a book compilation. Book publishers want to see some sort of resume. Start with articles. How do you do that? Well, you'll never guess. I sold my first article to "Salvation Army War Cry" and had 8 small devotionals published in Penned From the Heart
when I met the editors at Montrose Christian Writer's Conference. Am I making a point?

5. Obtain a copy of "Writer's Market." This is a thick book published each year with lists of magazines, book publishers, and other markets where you can sell your writing. All libraries should have it, so take a look.

6. Read, read, read. Read books in your genre. Read books on writing. Two books I try to read every year are: "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser, and "The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White. "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott and "Run With the Horses" by Eugene H. Peterson are great encouragers to writers--and we all need encouraging. This is not an easy business.

7. Write, write, write. Write everyday and, thereby, hone your craft. You don't have time? Do you have an hour? Write an hour a day. Or, write a page a day. The average book has 120 pages. Your first draft is finished in 120 days if you write only one page a day.

8. Develop a platform. Publishers want writers who can sell their product. Start speaking on the subject of your book. Blog. Create a website. Become an expert in social networking. Just today I listened to a radio interview, made a comment on facebook about the interview, and the person being interviewed wrote back asking to interview me. Networking sells books. Publishers like authors who can sell books.

9. Educate yourself. The internet is filled with tips for writers. I try to read something every day that will make me a better writer.

10. Join a Writer's Group. The creative energy in a room full of writers is contagious. They will see things in your writing that you missed. I blogged about this previously.

"Marketing Your Ministry" and "A Writer Speaks" are two classes I teach at writer's conferences. For $5 each plus $2.50 shipping, I'll send you a CD and email you the notes that went with the class. That could be your first step in educating yourself. Comment below or send an email to SplashesofSerenity@yahoo.com if you would like to purchase a CD.

Remember, writing is not about ego. Writing is a calling. If God wants your book in print, it will happen. Our job is to do it as unto the Lord and put forth our best writing and the greatest product so lives will be transformed.

Enjoy your journey! It's hard work. Some days are discouraging. But, the first e-mail that arrives saying your book changed a life makes it all worth it. I hope to see you at Barnes & Noble--I'll be first in line!

Any questions? Please ask. I'd love to help you.

I'm also interested in any books you've read that have helped you become a better writer. Let me know please.

That's my Splash of Serenity for writers today.

Elaine

I Am Not Responsible for What Happens in Your Bathtub!

One of the joys of being an author is hearing from your readers. Often their stories are amusing. Such was the case last week, when I was told of two bath time adventures! Although different circumstances, both suggested my books should come with CAUTIONS!

One woman drew a hot, bubbly bath, immersed herself for some Splashes of Serenity, literally. Enjoying my book in the bathtub, she relaxed to the point of dropping it in the water. WARNING: Although Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections... will give you hours of Bathtime fun, it is not waterproof! I'm happy she loves the book and ordered a replacement, even without the WARNING.

Another woman laughed that she gave her pregnant daughter Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms. She reported her daughter didn't make it to the hospital, but gave birth in the bathroom. I'm pleased my book is such a page turner you can't stop reading it, even when in labor. WARNING: If having a baby while reading this book, please stop reading immediately, and get thee to the hospital!

These stories brought a smile to my face. Hope they did to yours as well.

Have a Splash of Serenity today, but take note of all WARNINGS! I can't be held responsible for what happens in your bath tub!

Hugs,

Elaine

Why Attend a Writer's Conference

If Christians stop writing, what choices will people have at the bookstore and the super market check-out aisle? Trips to the grocery store are enough to spur me on to write and to encourage Christians to publish their stories.

"Get thee to a writer's conference" is my first suggestion to anyone who asks how to get their book published. At Montrose Christian Writer's Conference I sold my first article and learned to write a proposal that became my first book. At Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer's Conference I met my sweet agent, Diana Flegal. My writing world expanded as fellow scribes became precious friends at writer's conferences. Not to mention, you'll laugh yourself silly. Fill a room with writers and let the wit roll. It's worth it just for that dose of medicine.

Last summer during Family Bible Conference at Delta Lake Bible Conference Center, I was approached by two people who share my passion for writing. Debbie Tuthill, a student enrolled in the Christian Writer's Guild, and Dave Fessenden, managing editor for CLC Publications, both came to me within hours of each other with the same thought: Delta Lake would be a great place to have a Writer's Conference. That afternoon Debbie, Dave, and I met under a maple tree. It was apparent this was God's plan for Upstate New York and Delta Lake Bible Conference Center.

The fruit of that meeting grew into the first Upstate New York Christian Writers' Gathering being held at Delta Lake Bible Conference Center in Rome, New York, on July 8-9, 2010. Please consider joining us for two high-energy afternoons. Six seminars covering fiction, non-fiction, writing for adults and for children, and dramatic scripts are offered for a total cost of $25. That's a deal! Faculty include Jon Graf, founding editor of Pray! magazine and the author of six books; Dave Fessenden, managing editor for CLC Publications and the author of four books; Hope Marston, author of numerous children's books; Jim Bogoniewski, writer of over 120 plays; and yours truly, Elaine W. Miller, author of two books. Bring your family and enjoy the added atmosphere of Family Bible Conference with programs for all ages. For more information, please contact me or www.DeltaLake.org under the tab, "Family Camp."

My passion to encourage writers won't end at Delta Lake this summer. I am thrilled to join many authors, editors, and publishers on the faculty at Montrose Christian Writer's Conference in Montrose, PA, July 25-30, 2010. Montrose holds a special place in my heart as this is where my dream and God's call to be a writer was realized. I'll be leading two workshops: "Marketing Your Ministry" and "A Writer Speaks." For more information please see WWW.MONTROSEBIBLE.ORG.

You are the only one who can write your story. Please don't let what God has done in your life remain in your computer or your brain, never to be read by a world hungry for God. Write it and write it well. Learn how at a Christian Writer's Conference. Hope to see you there. Introduce yourself to me. I'd love to share some wit and some splashes of serenity with you.

Blessings on your writing,

Elaine W. Miller
Author/Speaker
www.SplashesofSerenity.com
SplashesofSerenity@yahoo.com