I heard from my editor the other day. I need to make revisions on my latest manuscript. This is something most writers have to do. Seldom does a publishing house take a manuscript “as is” and let it go to press.
So, needless to say, I’m going to be busy over the next four weeks. I’m just glad I have a laptop to take with me to the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference next week.
I’ve never attended this conference, however, I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. North East, Maryland is my hometown, and I recall some of my high school buddies would work at Sandy Cove during Christian conferences and retreats to make extra money.
I am also acquainted with some of the people on the staff, and they’ve told me how much they enjoy working as faculty at the Sandy Cove conference each year.
If anyone goes, I’d also recommend a side trip into downtown North East. I’m using the term of downtown extremely lightly. The town is a main street with a few side streets, but since I left this town, when I went away to college, it has grown a bit. They’ve added a lot of quaint, interesting shops, and I understand that North East is now appealing to tourists.
Click on the link below to access the flyer for ACFW’s mega booksigning in Dallas!
I won’t be participating in the signing since I don’t have a book out at the present time.
No, I’m not talking about the sweet adorable toddler who runs around our house making all kinds of noise! I’m talking about my manuscript! I just submitted the manuscript that I blogged about the other day. I’m hoping I can find a home for it. I felt it was a strong story, however, I’m not sure if the editor would feel the same! I need to just forget about it and start focusing on another project, but it’s hard for me to forget about my baby, being carted off to New York City to the publisher’s office!
My family and I attended the Greenbelt Labor Day Festival yesterday. It was the first time I’d brought my son to this annual event. I usually go so that I can browse through the used books for sale. I wasn’t able to browse since my two-year-old wanted to wander around the fair, and he had no interest in my browsing through the books. With my limited browsing time, I did purchase these titles:
I have no idea when, or if, I’ll be reading these titles. My sister borrowed The Wishing Jar. I have so many books as is, that they’re almost bursting out of my house!
I’ll be participating on Sormag’s Blog for their online conference. Sormag is the award-winning online magazine for readers and writers of multi-cultural literature.
Currently I’m scheduled for:
August 28, Meet the Christian Author
August 29, Panel Discussion: Inspirational Writing – CBA vs ABA
Feel free to register and stop by! They’re also giving away prizes!
I’m a bit under the weather, plus I’m still swamped with work. I’ve been able to grab a few precious moments here and there to read a Karen Kingsbury novel and a Love Inspired title. I’ll be reviewing those within the next week!
Things are still crazy at my day job, and I’m trying to finish up a manuscript to send to a publisher. I’m hoping I can find a home for my latest novel.
Things have been kind of hectic at my day job, plus, I’m trying to finish up a manuscript. Hopefully, I’ll be blogging more within the next day or so.
Do authors write novels to get over their issues? This thought popped into my head tonight as I was getting my toddler son ready for bed. I’m wondering if authors have problems and issues that they’ve been struggling with, and to deal with these problems/issues, they write novels, letting their characters resolve their problems in the story.
Just a thought….
Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com
This conference is truly awesome, especially if you’re trying to break into the Christian fiction genre. Last year was the first year that I attended and I had a great time meeting authors, both old and new. Among the few I met last year were Irene Hannon (author), Tiff Amber Miller (author), Lee Hough (agent), Steve Laube (agent), Stephanie Broene (editor, Tyndale House), Liz Curtis Higgs (author and keynote speaker), Brandilyn Collins (author and speaker), Marilyn Griffith (author and ACFW Board Member), Claudia Mair Burney (author), to name a few. I’m sure there are others whom I met at last year’s conference whose names I can’t recall, or my cluttered brain may just be too crowded to remember!
Since this conference focuses on fiction only, that’s why I find it appealing. If you go to the link, you’ll see just about every major CBA publishing house will be present, as well as a host of editors and agents.
I’m a fan of writers conferences since attending them allowed me to enter the realms of commercial publication!
I recall going out to dinner with the MidAtlantic chapter of ACFW! We had tons of fun eating at a restaurant that served huge portions! Some of the people present at this dinner were: Linda Windsor (author and friend), Cynthia DiTiberio (editor of Avon Inspired and editor to Linda Windsor), Laurie Alice Eakes (author), Dani Pettrey, Christy Barritt (author), and probably a host of other people whose names I can’t recall.
The Harp and Bowl was wonderful, and it was great to sit and worship while listening to the music. I also enjoyed eating lunch with editors and agents who sat at assigned tables at lunch. Talking about books, writing, rejections, and publishing experiences made the conference worthwhile for me.
So, if you’re an aspiring (or published) Christian Fiction author, I highly recommend this event! You don’t want to miss this!
Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com
This sounds like a really great writers event, especially for high school scribes! It’s past the deadline to apply(although, if I understood the instructions, you can still apply if they have open spaces).
Speaking of high school writers, I wish I’d discovered my calling to write back then. I’ve always been a voracious reader, however, I never thought that I could write a book. I didn’t attempt to do it until my late twenties!
Oh well, I’m just glad that I finally found my passion!
Cecelia Dowdy
www.ceceliadowdy.com
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