Author Archives: Cecelia Dowdy

Strawberry And Banana Smoothie

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I met with my local ACFW writers group yesterday in Columbia Maryland. We met at Panera Bread in the Columbia Mall. It was a great meeting and while I was there, I drank a blueberry smoothie. I had not had a smoothie in ages! It was so good. So good that today, while at the store, I wanted to buy ingredients to make a pineapple smoothie, but my five-year-old son said, “Mommy, I want a strawberry smoothie.” I don’t think I’ve ever made a smoothie myself, but I’ve found it’s very easy to do! The smoothie I made today wasn’t as sweet as the one at Panera, but it was still luscious! If you want a sweeter smoothie, you could always add a little sugar. Here’s the recipe:

Strawberry And Banana Smoothie

3 6oz. containers strawberry yogurt
3 ripe bananas
6 (or more) fresh strawberries
Ice

Slice bananas and strawberries into the blender. Add yogurt. Blend until smooth. Add desired amount of ice and then pulse until smooth. Pour into glasses. Serve with a straw!

Yummy!!

My son said, “Mommy, this is good! I want some more!” LOL! 🙂

Enjoy! 🙂

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Question From A Writer

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Gina wrote to me with the following question:
I am wanting to get my first christian book published. I came across Strategic Book Publishng company who say they want to publish my book. They are telling me I need to pay $995.00 and will get royalty of 50%, then after selling 1000 books I would get a bonus of $1000.00.
Does this sound legit to you? Have you heard of this company?
Please let me know what you think.

My response?
I’m probably not the best person to ask since I’ve never paid a company to publish my work. Since I’m commercially published, I usually submit my work to a publishing house, and if they decide they want to publish it, they offer me a contract. The contract usually grants me an advance and after I’ve earned the advance back, I get royalties. I don’t get 50% in royalties, commercially published people usually get royalties somewhere between 5%-15% per copy sold, give or take…BUT commercially published people USUALLY sell several thousands of copies of books since our books are distributed widely via bookstores and places like Walmart, Kmart, etc.

Also, you have to remember, it’s a major feat to sell 1,000 copies of a self-pubbed book because you have to practically hand-sell each copy. Your book won’t have the same distribution as the books you’ll see on the shelves of most stores. Do you have a platform, or a means to sell your books so that your money is not wasted on this venture?

If you decide to pay to have your work published by this company, I’d see what kind of marketing support they give you. Also, you might want to see if there are any other writers online that have used Strategic Publishing’s services. You may want to ask Strategic Publishing’s customers if they’ve found their services useful. I just visted the site and saw that they have books advertised on the sidebar. I’d look through those published books to get authors to contact, and then see what they say.

You might also want to see if you can find other self-pubbed people who use other companies besides Strategic. I’ve heard you can publish your stuff cheap nowadays and I’ve heard others state that $1,000.00 is a bit pricey?

Another option would be to use Lightning Source to publish your novel. They’re cheap, BUT, your manuscript needs to already be edited and you’ll need your cover before you approach them. I’ve heard they publish the book “as is” so you’ll need to be sure it’s perfected before you send it to them. You might want to hire a professional editor to edit your book before you publish it yourself.

Hope that helps!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

ACFW Conference 2010

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Patricia commented on my ACFW Blog Post. Her comments are bolded:

Planning on going next year?
Probably, depending on a number of factors. I’d love to go again, though. I think I get more out of ACFW than RWA because MOST of the Christian publishers attend ACFW. Only a few Christian publishers attend RWA. When I went to RWA last year, I believe the only Christian houses attending were Bethany House and Steeple Hill.

Maybe when you’re rested, you could give us just a little about the workshops you attended?

I didn’t attend all of the workshops I signed up for since I got tired a few times and needed to rest, or sometimes I’d bump into people and we’d sit and talk and skip the workshops. This information is kind of sketchy, so read at your own risk, and take the following words with a grain of salt!

For the Continuing Education session, I attended Jim Rubart’s and Chip Macgregor’s class on Marketing Your Fiction. Basically, you need to find something you’re good at…something marketing related, and do that to market your stuff. For example, if you can’t stand blogging, then don’t start a blog! Also, you need to shock editors, agents, people, about your work. Give them material that’s not the norm. When you write a thank-you note for your rejections, think of writing something with some spark that’ll make that editor remember you! I missed part of this workshop since I had appointments. If you really want to know about all that was said, it’d be best to buy the CD. Marketing is all about getting people to like you and help you promote your material, build a tribe and they’ll help you promote your stuff. That’s all I can recall off the top of my head.

I went to Terri Blackstock’s workshop on writing suspense. Very interesting. You need to raise the stakes in your suspense stories and not make them too predictable. She used the movie Ransom? to illustrate what she was trying to tell us. We were supposed to watch this movie before attending the workshop, but I didn’t take the time to do that, but still gleaned lots of great information from her teaching.

The mock acquisitions meeting that Thomas Nelson did was quite interesting. It was great to see a re-enactment of the dialog that editors have when trying to decide if they want to publish a book. People asked questions afterwards.

That’s a brief summary of what I can recall from the conference.

Was this your first ACFW conference? If so, any thoughts from the perspective of a first-timer?
Nope, it wasn’t my first conference! If memory serves me correctly, it was my third conference. If you’re a first timer, just go and enjoy, take good notes and make lots of connections with authors!

Oh, got another rejection today! I’m not typing the full rejection on this blog post as I promised I would. Why? It’s too lengthy and I’m tired of typing. But, she gave me great feedback and I’m going to re-submit this project since she suggested I do so.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

What If Eve Had Not Tasted The Fruit?

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Genesis 3:1-6
The Temptation and Fall of Man
1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

What would our world have been like if Eve had resisted, and not eaten the fruit? What would our world have been like if Adam refused to eat the fruit, in spite of Eve doing so? Would we be living in a Garden-Of-Eden-like planet full of beautiful scenery and trees heavy with luscious, mouth-watering fruit? Would it be a natural place with no buildings or concrete, just pure natural perfection? What are your answers to those questions? This inquiring mind wants to know!

I think our earth would be just like the Garden of Eden if both had resisted eating the fruit. If only Adam resisted…well, it’s hard to tell what God would have done! Would Eve have been banished out of the garden, by herself, if Adam had obeyed God? But, if Adam and Eve had both resisted and had children while living in the Garden…well…the serpent could have tempted the offspring, I guess, then there’s no telling what would have happened! Tough question to ponder, but it would make a great discussion!


~Cecelia Dowdy~

Surrender The Wind By Rita Gerlach

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Surrender The Wind by Rita Gerlach

No, I haven’t had the pleasure of reading this book, but it does sound like a good, interesting historical novel. If you’ve read this book, leave a comment about your thoughts. If it’s on your to-be-read pile, then stop by once you’ve read it and let me know your thoughts. If you don’t have this book, I encourage you to give it a try!


When an American patriot of the Revolution inherits his grandfather’s estate in faraway England, he inherits more than an isolated manor house. He discovers Juleah’s love and a plot that leads to kidnapping, murder, and betrayal, in this stirring tale of fidelity and forgiveness. ~

Here are a few quotes about Surrender The Wind:

* * *

From author Marylu Tyndall ~ Ms. Gerlach’s historic research is evident throughout the story, and her attention to detail and literary descriptions of scenes placed me right in the middle of the action.

If a writer wishes to write a historical novel, research is a vital, essential part of developing a great story. When I began Surrender the Wind, I read numerous accountants of the Battle of Yorktown where the book opens in the prologue. I researched uniforms, dress, weaponry, food, and culture.

As the book moves forward into Chapter 1, the reader is taken to England, to a crumbling manor house in Devonshire. The historical research from this point on had to be in the details. I wanted my reader to see in their mind the scene, outdoors and indoors. Everything from a tallow candle in the socket of a brass candlestick, to the blue and white pitcher and bowl on the heroine’s washing table, adds strong visual imagery. My editor told me once that a place can become a character in a book. I feel that is true for Ten Width Manor. It’s walls hold secrets of lives past and present in the story. Because it is the ancestral home of the Braxtons, Ten Width has a stronghold on those living in it.

Then there are the historical cultural markings in a book that make up the characters. Dress. Etiquette. Traditional family life. I studied 18th century wills and marriage customs, the fashions of the period, and how the classes interacted with each other.

* * *

From author Linda Clare ~ The American Revolutionary period comes to life as Gerlach explores themes of patriotism with a faith element.

In America today there is a resurgence of patriotism. We are returning to our roots, our Constitution, and faith. In the 18th century faith played a major role in the lives of people in both the Colonies and United Kingdom. In Surrender the Wind, I bring faith into the story as a lifestyle. It is delicately woven into the characters’ personalities. One thing I did not want to do is write a ‘religious novel’. My goal was to write a novel where readers would become immersed into the characters by relating to the struggles they faced which bring about spiritual breakthroughs.

* * *

From Annette Temple ~ A Well-Watered Garden Blog’ This book is one of the most romantic books I’ve ever read. The passion and love that is poetically described between Seth and Juleah was rousing.

I am so grateful to Annette for this comment. She helped me realize that I achieved my goal. Most of us ladies want a bit of romance in our stories, don’t we? We want a hero that is tough with the world, but tender with his lady. And a heroine that is strong in the face of tribulation, but swept away by the love of a man. Romance in a novel, in my opinion, is the most intriguing when what is written is just enough to leave the rest up to the reader’s imagination. In Christian fiction a writer brings out romance deftly, love that goes beyond the material, but deeper into the heart and spirit of the characters.

I’ll close here with a romantic excerpt from Surrender the Wind . It is Seth and Juleah’s wedding night. I hope you will consider reading my novel, and keep an eye out for the release of book 1 in a new series, Daughters of the Potomac, coming out in May, 2012, entitled ‘Before the Scarlet Dawn’.

* * * * * *

In his bedchamber, which they now shared, Juleah slipped on her silk nightdress. Thin white ribbons laced the front. She sat at the dressing table brushing her hair. Tinted with the golden splendor of the candles, she smoothed it over her shoulder and ran her fingers down its length. Excitement filled her, tripped over her skin along with desire. She glanced around the room. How masculine it appeared. A fresh coat of paint would improve its appearance, and white curtains over the windows would bring it warmth and light.

She set the candlestick on the table next to their bed. The brass clock on the mantelpiece chimed out the hour. She paused to listen to the musical sound it made, while she pulled down the coverlet. The door drifted open. Seth came inside, shut it, and proceeded to pull off his waistcoat.

“Ah, have you seen the moon?” She opened the drapes wide to let the moonlight pour in. It bathed the room soft blue. “Is it not lovely, Seth?”

He joined her at the window. Wrapping his arms around his wife’s waist, he stood close behind her. His breath brushed against her neck and she sighed.

He whispered in her ear. “Doubt thou the stars are fire. Doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar. But never doubt I love.”

It pleased her that he, a Virginian rebel, had memorized the beauty of Shakespeare’s verses. Melting with longing, she turned to him. He took her into his arms. She reached up and pushed back a lock of hair that fell over his brow. “I will never doubt your love, not for anything in the world.”

He brought his lips to hers and she strained against him. Love rose within each heart. He lifted her, and her feet dangled above the floor. Holding her, he kissed her, turned with Juleah toward their bed, and took his bride away from the window.

* * * * * *

Read Chapter One: http://www.abingdonpress.com/forms/displayImage.aspx?pcid=1173111

Rita’s Website: http://www.ritagerlach.com/index.html

Surrender the Wind is available wherever books are sold. Kindle additions available from Amazon.com

Cokesbury Bookstore is having an amazing sale. http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=783958

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Rejected!

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I just received this rejection yesterday from a large publishing house. I think, when I get a rejection from now on, I’m going to post what the rejection says on this blog. Why? So that other authors and aspiring authors can see the reasons for rejection. Also, for those who haven’t started submitting yet, they can see what a real rejection looks like. I’ve placed my comments in caps and brackets. Here’s what the letter said:

Dear Cecelia,

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read [NAME OF MANUSCRIPT INSERTED HERE] I really enjoyed this project. Unfortunately, however, the general feeling was that the initial print numbers would be too small for our list. So, therefore, I have to pass.

It was a pleasure meeting you at the Faith and Fiction Retreat in Atlanta. I’m so sorry this didn’t work out for us but I wish you the very best in finding a good home for your work.

Best-
[EDITOR’S NAME HERE]

I’d submitted this manuscript on June 20 and I think this editor was nice to respond within three months. I’m glad she gave me a compliment. Although rejections stink, it makes me feel good when an editor for a large publishing house has something nice to say about my work.

I keep a spreadsheet with all of my submissions so that I can track them. I have more than one manuscript floating around out there now since I want to find a home for my books! After I receive the rejection, I keep it in a file and I remove the line from my spreadsheet since I’m no longer tracking that submission. I also try to keep track of where I’ve submitted a project so that I don’t make the major mistake of submitting a manuscript someplace twice!

Do you keep track of your submissions? What do you do to keep track of your manuscripts? If you have an agent, does your agent keep a similiar spreadsheet to track the status of your manuscripts?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Hope Undaunted By Julie Lessman

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A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman

Back Cover: The 1920’s are drawing to a close and feisty Katie O’Connor, is the epitome of the new woman–smart and sassy, with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend, Jack, fits all of her criteria for a husband–good-looking, well-connected, wealthy, and head-over-heels in love with her. But, when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Cluny McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

Julie Lessman’s books have opened up a whole new world in the genre of Christian fiction! Although A Hope Undaunted is novel #1 in the Winds of Change Series, it’s an extension of Lessman’s Daughters of Boston Series. Spoiled Katie O’Connor, the youngest member of the O’Conner clan, gives her father grief when she refuses to follow his house rules. For example, she stays out with her rich friends, breaking her curfew. As a punishment, she has to volunteer at the Boston Children’s Aid Society for the entire summer and not have any contact with her rich friends or her upper-class boyfriend, Jack during her time of confinement. She’s shocked when she discovers her new boss is none other than Cluny McGee, her nemesis – a street rat from her childhood. Both Cluny (now called Luke) and Katie have troubling, hurtful memories from their short time together as kids, and they find it hard to accept the sizzling attraction that grows between them as they work together over the summer.

This book has rich, emotional scenes between the O’Connor family and it was a treat to re-visit the characters from the Daughters of Boston Series. It’s hard to give too many details without giving spoilers, but I wanted to mention that although Katie is spoiled and somewhat of a brat at the beginning of the book, she changes drastically by the end of the story. The adventures of Katie, Betty (an office worker at Boston Children’s Aid Society and Luke’s friend from the streets), Luke and Parker (Luke’s best friend), give you a glimpse of office life during the 1920’s. Also, you get to see a glimpse of history as the story shows how the beginning of the Great Depression affects the characters. So many things happened in this book that I wasn’t expecting. It’s not predictable at all and when you read it, you’ll find a few surprises and the story is packed with emotional moments among the main and secondary characters. I also noticed that there were a few people in the book that had faced traumas in their lives (either they were disabled, sick, or disfigured in some way) but they still had faith in God, in spite of the hard knocks they’d endured in their troubled lives.

I noticed that a lot of the family scenes happened during meal time and I just wanted to pull up a chair and get my plate and eat with the O’Connors while reading this book – the characters and the situations seemed so real to me, that I felt like I was right there, part of the story. Lemonade was mentioned a lot, and I wanted to pluck a few lemons from the counter and squeeze myself a glass along with the characters, and have a relaxing time with the O’Connors.

You can read this book as a standalone if you wish, but, I think if you haven’t read this author’s books, you should read the Daughters of Boston Series so that you’ll get a chance to see how Katie’s sisters found love and romance.

This book was a treat to read, and if you enjoyed the Daughters of Boston Series, then I can guarantee that you’ll enjoy this title.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Rejected! :-(

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Hands down, this has got to be the quickest rejection I’ve ever received in my whole writing career! The project that I mentioned at the end of this blog post was submitted on September 11, 2010. I received the snail mail rejection in the mail today! Oh well, I’m not upset or anything like that. It was one of those, what I call, shots in the dark – I didn’t really think they’d take it, but it’s a completed manuscript, sitting on my shelf, collecting dust…

~Cecelia Dowdy~

ACFW Conference 2010

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I’m too tired to blog about the conference. If you have any specific questions, leave them in the comments and I’ll respond in another blog post. As I stated earlier, I’m a terrible reporter. I just don’t feel like typing up all of the wonderful details about the conference since I’m too tired and lazy right now and I’ve got to finish reading books that I agreed to review for blog tours, plus, I have some proposals that I need to polish and submit as a result of the meetings I had with editors and agents at the conference. As I’ve said on this blog before, if you want to get commercially published within the Christian market then ACFW is the place to be! All those industry professionals and writers under one roof! I had an awesome time and it was great networking, socializing and worshipping with other writers! I had a great time! Here’s some pics that other conferees took! I had my camera with me but failed to take any pictures. When I go to these events, I rarely take photos. I’m so busy having fun that I never take the time to take pics!
Me with local ACFW member Terri Haynes! Her entry was a finalist in the Genesis Contest!
Me with author Julie Lessman – the author of hot, spicy Christian romance. Her books are fantastic! I’ve reviewed her Daughters of Boston Series on this blog!
Me socializing with someone named Kathy. I met her at author Michelle Sutton’s chocolate party. If memory serves me correctly, she told me about her experiences self-publishing her book.
Me talking to author Gail Sattler. Her recent release, The Narrow Path, sounds quite interesting since the heroine is new-order Mennonite and the hero is old-order Mennonite. When I find the time, I’ll probably read her book.

Me, with a goofy, cheesy smile! I think I was winding down at this point, about ready to head back to my room to go to bed! I’d had my fill of chocolate by this time!

Me, sitting next to a woman named Cassandra at the awards banquet. I had NO IDEA this picture was being taken!

~Cecelia Dowdy~