Category Archives: Uncategorized

Last week, I decided today would be the day I’d settle back into blogging. I knew I’d been on a break. But it wasn’t until just now that I realized how much of a break I’d taken. I haven’t been around here since August. Wow. That’s seven-and-a-half months. More than half of a year has passed.

In that time, we’ve closed our small business, moved across the state, settled in, and celebrated a few birthdays. I’m glad to say that all the changes have worked out for the best. (Even the fact that I turned 29 again…) And I’m back here and on Twitter with a renewed sense of purpose.

I didn’t intend to take this long of a break, but I think it’s what I needed. Sometimes, we have to step back from things–even useful and good and enjoyable ones–to prioritize, to rest (even God took a break on the seventh day, and we don’t do it enough in our microwave-speed society), and to gain perspective. Sometimes a break helps us see things with fresh eyes.

As a writer, I’ve taken a few breaks. I even sat aside a manuscript for more than a year while I figured out how to be a new mom. Before that break, I plugged along at the book because I knew the plot was good. But every word was like a root canal. I struggled to get into the characters and to move the story along. After my break, I flew through the book. I had a new perspective. I realized that I liked these characters and what they needed to say. I heard their voices loud and clear. And now, I’m excited to say, the book has gone through several revisions (most of that “root canal writing” got cleaned out) and is with an agent who is considering it. And just last week, I put fingers to keyboard on that next book.

Sometimes, just like an ice cold Dr Pepper, a break hits the spot. In the case of blogging and Twitter, I’m glad to be back with you. The new blog schedule I’m proposing for myself is Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday–the heart of the week. I’ll be talking about the things that matter in this corner of the world: faith, friends, family, and a few words on the page (aka the writer’s journey). I hope you’ll join me.

See you tomorrow for a few words on praying when you can’t find the words.

I’m so excited to have another author with us for an interview this week. Today, I’m chatting with author K. Dawn Byrd, whose latest release is out this month. You’ll want to pick up this page-turner.

Your second book, Killing Time, is releasing in August from Desert Breeze Publishing. It looks like a page-turner, with a wrongfully-incarcerated heroine trying to unravel a crime while she’s behind bars. Where did you get your inspiration for the story?

I’ve always been an avid reader and planned to write a book “one day.” When I began work as a counselor in a jail, I thought that would be a neat setting for the book. I began to jot down notes about the environment such as sights, sounds, and smells. Before I knew it, my heroine had formed in my mind, begging me to tell her story.

We all come to love our characters as we write them. What stands out to you about Mindy and Drew, and without giving the whole plot away, what do you hope your readers take away from their story?

My hero, Drew Stone, is a counselor at the jail where Mindy is incarcerated. He’s still grieving the death of his wife when he meets my Mindy and after falling for her, back away because of guilt of doing a disservice to his wife’s memory and because dating an ex-inmate could cost him his job. Even though he’s a Christian, he’s dropped out of church and knows that he needs to get back in.

Mindy, who was raised by her grandfather preacher after the death of her parents in an automobile accident, is a very strong Christian. However, being incarcerated tests her faith to the limit. Even though she becomes angry with God, she retains her faith, realizing that He’s with her even in her darkest hour.

What is your favorite part about writing romantic suspense?

I love romantic suspense because the suspense keeps the plot moving and the romance is just icing on the cake.

This is your second book with Desert Breeze Publishing. Can you talk about your journey to publication?

My journey to publication wasn’t all that long. I started writing about three years ago and Killing Time was my first novel. I must have edited it a dozen times as I learned the craft. I was told by an agent that Killing Time might be hard to sell because she wasn’t sure if many women would want to read a book partially set in a jail. Desert Breeze loved it and I hope my readers do too.

What’s your advice to writers pursuing publication? For example, what’s the one organization they should join? The one blog they must read? Who should they follow in social media?

Learn everything you can about the craft (I’m still learning!) and don’t ever give up. Write something every day and you’ll be amazed at your word count at the end of the month. If you have a story on your heart, write it and revise as often as is needed to get it to publishable quality.

Anything else? You’re e-published…maybe something about e-publishers?

I believe ebooks are the wave of the future. Since I’ve learned how to read them, I seldom buy print. I read them on my netbook and my Blackberry. I think they’re changing the publishing industry forever. I don’t fear print books disappearing. I believe there will always be room for them and I’m glad for that because occasionally a book comes along that I love so much that I must have it in print.

Want to buy your own copy of Killing Time and find out all about Mindy and Drew? Click here.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1, NIV)

I’ve never been a morning person. I can wake up early. I just prefer not to. And in fact, I find I do a lot better if I don’t have to listen to the squawk of an alarm clock, so my clock wakes me up to the peaceful sounds of a stream or birds chirping.

But then I had a child. She’s been my alarm clock since before she was even born, waking me up at all sorts of random hours. Lately, she’s settled into a routine of waking up around 8:30, which is perfect for me. But no one’s accused me of being a fast mover, even after I get up. I like my routine and I don’t consider myself fully awake until after my shower. This is three-fold. One, I do my best thinking in the shower, so I get my thoughts in order for the day. Two, I like being clean. Three, I don’t drink coffee, so the shower is my Starbucks. (For the record, I like to do my quiet time in the evenings.)

God’s wakeup call for us is even better than a warm shower or a gently chirping bird. He brings His glory to rest on us. Why do we get up in the mornings? To shine. To reflect His light throughout the day to a world which needs His love. To further His kingdom and His purposes in our lives.

What a different perspective than the usual “I owe, I owe, it’s off to work I go” or “Is it Friday yet?” that most of us wake up thinking. We are given another day to reflect God’s glory. WOW.

Could you hop out of bed for that?

Added bonus: Friend my fellow Galvestonian “Billyblues G-townsurf” on Facebook. Billy Hill is a local Realtor here in Galveston who posts the most amazing pictures of early morning on Galveston Island on his Facebook feed. You will totally be blessed by his pictures of God’s glory here on the Island. You can also find his pictures and surf reports on his website.

I have a special guest today here on the blog. Kristine McGuire is the author of Escaping the Cauldron, a book about her journey through the occult and the redeeming power of Jesus Christ. I’m excited to get to share her powerful testimony with you.

What is the book about?

The book is part testimony of how I went from committed, albeit legalistic, Christian for twenty-nine years to witch, medium, and ghost hunter for eight years before God restored my faith and life. It details my personal struggle with trying to be “the perfect Christian” while being drawn to the Occult from childhood. The book is also a Biblical study that examines the current pop-cultural interest in the occult (in particular ghosts, hauntings, and mediums) and how this interest is affecting Christians as well as their beliefs about the supernatural.

Why call it Escaping the Cauldron?

This is actually the first book in a series, What Christians Need to Know about the Occult. It is a series of collections written from my former experiences as a witch, medium, and ghost hunter. This book is primarily about ghost hunting, mediumship, and the paranormal but I chose “Escaping the Cauldron” as the main title because witchcraft was truly my entry into the arena of occult interest and exploration including such things as divination, psychic ability, spirit guides, mediumship, ghost hunting, etc.

What do you think is the most important chapter of the book?

I think there are many important chapters but “Spiritual Warfare” and “How Should Christians Respond?”are the two which take everything discussed in the previous chapters bringing it all together, helping the reader understand their authority in Jesus Christ and leading the way to a ready defense for any kind of paranormal or supernatural event they may experience in their life as a Christian.

What do you hope to accomplish with this book?

I hope to inform and equip Christians with information about the occult. Additionally I pray the church will begin to acknowledge the presence of the spiritual world around us and listen to people who come forward with stories or claims of paranormal experiences without dismissing them immediately. When the church refuses to listen or offer any Biblical assistance, many people are forced to seek help elsewhere. This generally means seeking out ghost hunters, mediums, and psychics. I also hope to encourage Christians who may be questioning their faith to seek a deeper relationship with God, especially if they are stuck in a form of legalism. Our answers truly can be found in Jesus Christ.

Where is the book currently available to purchase?

The book is available in paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon. The book is also available in paperback and e-book editions at my blog site: Kristine ReMixed at www.KristineMcGuire.com andLulu Publishing.

How are you available to the Christian community?

I write a daily blog, Kristine ReMixed at www.KristineMcGuire.com, on a variety of topics including faith, marriage, prayer, spiritual gifts, and the occult. I also work with my husband through Big Fish Ministries at www.BigFishMinistries.com, ministering through speaking with him at church and para-church events about marriage, facilitating seven day or special event prayer rooms, helping the homeless, etc. I am also available to speak at any youth, women’s, or church events on a variety of Christian topics.

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Author Kristine McGuire

Find Kristine McGuire on Social Media Sites:

Follow on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/kristinemac

Follow on Twitter at: www.facebook.com/kristinemac

A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by the author in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services atwww.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.

Do you remember when you were young and people asked what you’d like to be when you grew up? Maybe a firefighter or a teacher. Or, if you were me, you decided to be a pediatric surgeon. (I even stuck with it from age 5 until college, when I realized that medical school was cost-prohibitive for someone who thought they’d ultimately like to be a stay-at-home-mom.)

What they never told you as a kid was how much prep work went into actually getting the job. The same is true of writing. Even though it’s a pretty solitary gig, one you can accomplish 90% of while still in your pajamas, you still have to treat it as a professional job. And the first gateway to getting any job is the job interview.

In the case of publishing, the gatekeeper isn’t HR. It’s agents and editors. And you have to treat them the same as you would with anyone you asked for a job.

I see a lot of agents, especially, in the tweetosphere and blogosphere talking about crazy query letters. There are even websites dedicated to them, like Query Shark , which allows other writers to critique and hone queries, and the legendary-but-now-silent Miss Snark.

Writers, your query letter is the literary equivalent of cover letter and resume. It’s a tough job market. Printing resumes on pink scented paper might have worked for Elle Woods, but it doesn’t work in the real world. Following agent and publisher guidelines when you query demonstrate that you’re a professional. That you’ve done your basic homework. That you’re someone they would enjoy working with.

In the world of HR, someone who doesn’t meet the requirements on paper doesn’t get called for a job interview. In writing, someone who doesn’t meet the requirements on paper doesn’t get asked for a partial or a full.

If you mass-query agents, send them books which aren’t in the genres they represent, or otherwise brand yourself as someone who isn’t professional, they have every right to decline your query right then and there. They’re looking for business partners. Because whatever else publishing may be, it’s a bottomline dollars-and-cents business.

And that’s okay with me. I figure it’s okay with you too, assuming you’re like me and would like to make some money off your writing. The English major in me loves the romanticized idea of F. Scott Fitzgerald writing at some Parisian cafe or Lord Byron running off to Italy for inspiration. If that’s why you write, that’s fantastic. And you can still have success on your terms through self-publishing. There are so many venues today in which to get your work into the hands of readers.

But I write because I want it to be my career, not my hobby. That’s why I attend writer’s groups and conferences. It’s why I polish my manuscript for contests. It’s why I try as hard as I can to make my daily word count. I’m treating this as a profession, not something I play at like my husband plays golf.

And above all, I try to be professional when seeking out business partners. Agents and publishers are the key to building my career as a writer. I want to partner with the best for my career path. That’s why I only query agents who work with the type of manuscripts I write. I need someone who knows my market and has built relationships. And that’s why I follow guidelines.

The Bible says “study to show yourself approved…” (2Tim 2:15, KJV) Seeking out agents and publishers for your work is no different. Study what’s expected by agents and editors you’re interested in…that will help win their approval. The writing wins over all, but it’s up to each of us to use every advantage we have to get that job interview.