Hey Friends –
What is the #1 question you are asked?
For me, I often get asked about my journey from addiction to freedom.
Typically when others find out that I’m a former cocaine addict — turned passionate Jesus follower — they ask me how I overcame my crazy former life, and want to know the details of my transformation. I love to share how God turned my life upside down and gave me a new life in Him!
However, now that I have a video-driven Bible study releasing next month (Red Hot Faith), I receive a ton of e-mails and phone calls about my journey to publication.
The new #1 question I’m asked is how to pursue getting a book/Bible study published.
In case you are prayerfully considering publication, or know someone who is, here are a few of my recommendations –
1. Pray
Y’all know my passion for prayer, and if you’ve been following my blog, you’ve witnessed first hand how God has answered prayer every step of the way.
(Quick Red Hot Faith prayer recap: here, here, & here).
If you sense God moving you forward in publication, pray fervently, ask others to pray, and keep praying!
2. Attend Writing/Speaking Conferences
I’ve found one of the best ways to network and connect with other writers, publishers, and editors is to attend writing/speaking/leadership conferences.
Chad Allen’s blog (one I highly recommend!) had an insightful interview with literary agent Chris Ferebee. When asked by Chad Allen, “If an author wanted to pursue your representation, what should s/he do?”, Chris replied…
I hate to say it, but this comes back to doing the hard work. Most agents receive hundreds and hundreds of unsolicited calls, proposals and submissions; the “slush” pile. Some agents religiously review these, but most do not because there just isn’t time. But I cannot tell you how seriously I take the recommendations of my friends, clients and colleagues in the industry. As you do the work of building a platform, connecting with others, developing your craft, you’ll start to meet people further down the path that will be willing to make introductions to their agent, editor, etc. This will get you in the door far faster than a hundred cold calls.
How do you meet these people?
One of the best ways I’ve found to connect with others is at conferences. In fact, that’s how I met my agent (Wendy Lawton from Books and Such Literary Agency). We were having breakfast together, and she offered to represent me. Thank You, God!
Jen & Cindy
I was sharing this same information with my friend Jen Ferguson. Jen lives in Texas, and while we shared guacamole, I encouraged Jen to come to Michigan to attend one of my favorite conferences, Carol Kent’s Speak Up Conference.
(If you’ve not heard me rave about the Speak Up Conference, you can review my thoughts here.)
I was telling Jen how at the Speak Up Conference, you have the opportunity to meet 1:1 (at no additional cost) with representatives from publishing houses, such as:
- Revell
- Zondervan
- Discovery House
- Kregel
- Somersault
- Blue Water Ink
- Credo
- NavPress
- Bold Vision
Long story….Jen prayerfully considered, came to the Speak Up Conference two summers ago, and…. well, you can read the rest of her story here — it’s so exciting!!!
Sweet friend, if you dream of being published, I’d love for you to prayerfully consider attending the Speak Up Conference as well this summer.
Whereas I can’t promise you will have the same success that Jen did, I can promise you will learn, laugh, network, and come home equipped, inspired, and empowered!
Check out this amazing list of workshops here. See what I mean!
I’ll be there again this year, once again as a facilitator and workshop presenter. Woo Hoo!
And please don’t allow expenses to hold you back ~ there are scholarship dollars available to help ~ contact Bonnie for more information.
Also, for any *She Sparkles* friend that signs up, please write *She Sparkles* in the memo line, and Carol will present you with a personally autographed copy of her book Speak Up with Confidence.
And now, dear bloggy friends, whether you are able to attend the conference or not ~ I would love to give you a personally signed, autographed copy of this resourceful book!
To Win my Speak Up with Confidence book Giveaway: Leave a comment in the comment section answering this question:
Why would you like to win Carol Kent’s book Speak Up with Confidence??
RULES: Starts today, Wednesday, April 16th and ends Tuesday, April 22nd at 9 PM. Winner will be contacted the week of April 28, 2014.
Extra Entries:
•Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post
•Post this Giveaway on FB
•Follow *She Sparkles*
•Subscribe to *She Sparkles*
Please be sure to leave me a comment to let me know your extra entries.
If your email address is not connected to your ID, please leave your email address with your comment or email it to me at cindy@cindybultema.com with the subject “Giveaway”.
Do you have dreams for publication? What have you found helpful? What lessons have you learned? We’d love to hear from you!
Thanks so much for stopping by *She Sparkles*! God’s richest blessings to you!
I cannot wait to come back this year! Such a crazy, “only God!” process and journey. So grateful to have you as a friend to journey with me!
I just love you and Jen so much. I am really praying to get to be there that weekend.. my sis is having a new little woman sometime around there so I am kindof waiting to see more about when they think little one will come. Cindy I am so so proud of you!!
I’ve been praying and watching and waiting to see if the Lord would open the door for me to come back this year, and it looks like a “no.” I’m hoping that means a “yes” for 2015. 🙂 I learned so much last year and was inspired and encouraged to grow in my ministry opportunities. I would love to have a copy of Carol’s book so that I can read and review from TN to fight off “missophobia” when I’m missing Speak Up this year! 🙂
I’ve got a story the Lord wants me to shout out…but I’m lazy and chicken. Balk-balk-balk! Satan’s tossing me a slew of excuses that I can legitimize if I work hard enough; effort that might better be served by reading Carol Kent’s book, putting on the armor His quaking warrior needs, and offering my grace-given victory to other hurting souls.
I live because of the 9 lives that God has given me. I meet Carol
Kent in the early days of her ministry. I hear God’s voice but lack the faith to go forward. Filed with fears to open up my life tomall to read. Still, searching. I live because God allows me to live.
I
A friend told me about Speak Up Conference about 8 years ago. I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that “someday” I would go. Well, God has been working in my life overtime lately, and someday has come. I will be attending this year for the first time and I am so very excited!
I have never met Carol, but have heard her story. Only God can change ones heart. The power of prayer is amazing. I don’t have a dramatic story, but I do have the love of Jesus who has changed me!
I would love to win a copy if this book because I have it on my heart to open a girls shelter. I have mentored over 66 girls in the past 3 years and have watched them age out of the system (age 18) with hope. But, one by one they make a wrong turn and they have no safety net. Without a family to care for them, they are vulnerable with no place to turn. My hope is to learn from this book, how to speak up and advocate for all my sweet girls!
I’m going to call this what I really believe it is — Divine Appointment!
I have lingered back & forth with finding the right conference FOR ME. My dreams of writing WILL NOT GO AWAY! I’ve tried to trick them away by writing daily on my blog, I’ve listened to the whispers of the enemy that I’m not good enough or smart enough or awesome enough and I’ve played the comparison game. All of it, trapping me in my own fear and freezing me out of the confidence to JUST DO IT!
I know, God is in this. I will write, I will share my heart and words and I will stop living paralyzed by the lies that I can’t do it!
I missed the giveaway, but I started reading Carol’s booms almost 10 years ago when my journey with the justice system began. Her books have been one avenue of God’s sustaining grace poured out for me and I would like very much to be that vessel for others. Carol’s books could do that for me and I plan on getting one to begin that journey – hoping that God’s direction for me is what I feel I’m hearing. I will not be able to attend the event, but maybe one day.
God bless!
*books, not booms.