Word Praize

If the Shoe Fits

Marilynn Griffith sent me a nice Thanksgiving gift last year, a copy of her latest gospel diva read- If the Shoe Fits.

Summary:
Shoe designer, Rochelle Gardner's love life is raining men, honey. She
has a deacon on her right, her baby daddy on the left and a young
waiter trying to push himself up the middle to her heart. Which man
does God want her to be with, if any?

This novel is too many things and a touch too close to my own love dilemmas. (Y'all know about it!!) Anyway...

After
reading the first few pages I called Mary. Called her. Y'all I don't
have time to call people about their books anymore. But I had to call
her and tell her. That this novel is her upside down and sideways. Mary
is funny, smart, on point, crazy, God inspiring, just too many things.
And I love this story. I love washing the feet--something we do every
Mother's Day in my home church. I love the rituals. The cool things the
Sassy Sistahood get her into. This book is light and fun and a good
pick me up on a cold, toe curling, man-hating da

Now in its second printing. You can If The Shoe Fits (Steeple Hill Cafe) right here.


Dee Stewart is a christian entertainment publicist, book enthusiast, and speaker. You can find her at Gospel Fiction.

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Spring Reads Nominations Open

I'm at The Master's Artist Today praying about my Mind and Soul.

Over at Gospel Fiction I'm seeking books to nominate for great Spring and Summer reads. If you have a book that you think deserves to be on this list, hit me up here or at either Gospel Fiction or Christian Fiction Blog.

 

I added Kate Mosse's Labyrinth to the list. She also has a fantaberific site. They you can learn more about over at Gospel Fiction. Note: this book is not a CBA title or what you would call Christian Fiction. Be advised.

 

Check out my book review for Jacquelin Thomas' Defining Moments and Kendra Norman-Bellamy's More than Grace in Romantic Times Magazine's April edition, which are on major magazine stands and your local public library.

 

And I have two more slots open for Dee's Storyteller's Workshop. Contact me for details.

 

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Pen/Faulkner Award: The March

 The PEN/Faulkner Foundation will announce today that E.L. Doctorow has won its 2006 fiction award for his novel The March. It is the second PEN/Faulkner award for the much-honored Doctorow, who won in 1990 for Billy Bathgate.

 

Pearl fell forward to her knees and clasped her hands. Dear God Jesus, she whispered, make a place fer dis good woman beside you. An me, yore Porhl, teach me to be free.

 

Click here to read the full excerpt.

 

I'm adding this novel to my buying wishlist, because I could only get through chapter one when I received a stack of books to judge for an award contest. Now, this book wasn't published by a Christian publisher, but there are some elements in there very illuminating.

 

So...you have until May to pick up this book, because I'm nominating it for our first Gospel Fiction Summer Reading Project. If you have any books you want to nominate, hit me up, give me a nomination and tell me why they should win. Seven books will be featured to vote upon and one will win. I will upload nominations from now until May 15, 2006.

Dee Stewart is editor of Christian Fiction News and also hosts Atlanta’s Third Thursdays: Altartainment Event Series. She's written for Spirit Led Woman, Gospel Today, and Precious Times Magazines. Her short story, "Straddling the Fence," is featured in Infuze Magazine's Best of 2005 Christian Shorts Anthology. She can be found at Gospel Fiction dot com.This month she's hosting a Storyteller's workshop at her site.

 

 

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SIMON & SCHUSTER ACQUIRES HOWARD PUBLISHING.

General-market publisher Simon & Schuster, a division of CBS Corp., has acquired Louisiana-based Howard Publishing. Howard will become an imprint of the Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Division. Simon & Schuster President-CEO Jack Romanos said the deal “offers us strategic and immediate entry into the increasingly important Christian and gift publishing marketplace.” Howard Publishing founder John Howard will serve as executive VP-publisher, and editorial and publishing staff will remain in Louisiana. Acquisition terms weren’t disclosed.

Christian Anthology

Felicia Catchings, co-author of SECOND CHANCES, is accepting submissions for a Christian anthology about the first moment when you knew you were loved...by Jesus!

Submissions should contain short stories written by people recounting actual experiences and feelings felt when realizing for the very first time that God truly loved you for the person you were right then (not the person you would become). Remember the wonderful, euphoric feeling you experienced the moment the one true love of your life first whispered the words "I love you" to you?  Was that not a magical moment in time you wish you could recapture and relive forever?  Now remember the wonderful feeling of realizing for the first time that God, the Creator of the universe, loved you just as much, even more in fact. These experiences are what we are seeking to include in our anthology. These stories should contain dynamic accounts of truly life-altering encounters with God. People invited to contribute their experiences include individuals from all walks of life: athletes, business executives, entertainers, students, secretaries, department store employees, teachers, policemen, social workers---everyone and anyone who truly loves God and acknowledges Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Guidelines:

Any length, any subject, please, no vulgar words, no excessive violence or sensual content. Contributions from believers welcomed. Reimbursement in copies of publication and acknowledgement of your contribution with "by-line" in publication.

Contact Information:

Felicia Catching at

fcatching2@aol.com

In the subject line of your e-mail, please put "Submission for Spiritual Anthology"

God bless,

Felicia

Marilynn Griffith featured on Christianbook.com

Marilynn Griffith's article, "Finding Purpose in Your Pen" is currently featured in the Writer's Corner on Christianbook.com. Click here to read it.

Warner Faith/ACFW Genesis Contest

Could 2006 be the year for you to get a book contract?

YES!

If you enter the 2006 ACFW Genesis contest, that is. The top scoring entry will be considered by the Warner Faith publishing committee for a book contract! The deadline is February 14, 2006 so pull out that novel you've been laboring over, polish it up and send in the first 25 pages and the appropriate forms and fees to the contest NOW!

There is a multicultural category this year, but if there aren't enough entries it will be tossed in with general fiction. Since only 100 entries will be allowed in each category, that's a big deal. So come on people, for four years we've been talking about writers and writing on Word Praize, now it's time to hear YOUR high notes!

Go for it!

Angela Benson on Essecen Top Ten!

   Angela Benson, 2001 Christy Award Finalist and author of AWAKENING MERCY and ABIDING HOPE, has landed on the February 2006 Essence Bestseller list in Hardback Fiction with her THE AMEN SISTERS, her latest release. Congrats Angela!

Bookstore Chain Hosts Short Story Contest

As part of its year-long 35th Anniversary celebration, The Shrine of the Black Madonna Cultural Center & Bookstore ("The Shrine"), one of America's largest and oldest Black-owned bookstore chains, is sponsoring a nationwide Write is Might short story competition open to all new and unpublished writers. Along with cash prizes, the winning entry will be published on the website of the Black Issues Book Review, the only large circulation forum solely devoted to covering both fiction and nonfiction books written by Black authors.

The submission deadline for the Write is Might competition is January 31, 2006. The pieces must be no longer than 4,000 words of a previously unpublished, never before submitted short story. A $10.00 entry fee must accompany each manuscript. The Contest Committee, comprised of the Shrine of the Black Madonna Cultural Center & Bookstore Staff, will read each story. The ten best entries, as determined by the group, will be forwarded to the finalists judges who will pick the three winning submissions. Award winners will be notified by mail or email before May 1, 2006.

Click here for detailed information on submission guidelines and contest rules.

Thomas Nelson Forms Spanish Language Division

Thomas Nelson Publishers has announced the formation of Grupo Nelson, a Spanish-language division, to replace its current single imprint, Caribe-Betania Editores, for all future Spanish titles. Read more here.

Denise Stinson in Detroit Free Press

Walk Worthy Press Publisher, former literary agent and licensed minister Denise Stinson was recently featured in the Detroit Free Press. Read the article,"Faithful to the Book," here.

Children's Illustrator Dies

Author and illustrator of African-American children's books dies
Fred Crump Jr., author and illustrator of children's books for more than 15 years, died Oct. 29. He was 72.

Crump, whose final book, Three Kings and a Star, released last month from Urban Ministries Inc., devoted his career after 30 years as a public-school art teacher to retelling popular children's stories for an African-American audience. Some of Crump's more than 40 titles included Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, The Ebony Duckling, Mgambo & the Tigers and Favorite Bible Stories.

Real BibleZine in Time

REAL Biblezine (Thomas Nelson) was featured today in Time Magazine's "Inside Business" section in a piece called "Glossy Scripture." The latest in a line of bibles in magazine form, REAL was compiled by Michele Clark Jenkens and Stephanie Perry Moore and is focused toward the urban/hip-hop market. Listen our interview with Stephanie Perry Moore here.

Kendra Norman-Bellamy #3 on Essence Best Seller List

Kendra Norman-Bellamy's CROSSING JHORDAN'S RIVER (Moody Press) is #3 on the September Essence Best Seller's list. Hear our interview with Ms. Bellamy here. Congrats Kendra!

Walk Worthy Authors Join Blogosphere

  Debut authors Cheri Paris Edwards (Plenty Good Room) and Xenia Ruiz (Choose Me)have started blogs to chronicle their lives as new authors. Edwards blog can be found at http://www.cconfusion.blogspot.com and Ruiz' blog is at http://laequis.blogspot.com/. Surf over and check out these authors and what happens to them on their book tours and beyond.

Tia McCollors makes Essence BestSeller List

Tia McCollors' debut novel HEART OF DEVOTION ranked #3 on the August 2005 Essence best-selling books list. Based on sales reported from 20 of the top African American bookstores, this list shows reading trends among black readers across the country. Congrats to Mrs. McCollors and Lift Ev'ry Voice/Moody Press. To listen to Tia's Word Praize interview, click here. Visit her website at http://www.TiaMcCollors.com.

Specialty Bibles Do Well in Multicultural Markets

With recent statistics showing spiritual trends among minorities and more urban products marketwide, more specialty Bibles are being sold. Booksellers and industry professionals chime in on whether current offerings meet growing needs. Read it here.

Derek Jackson at Gospel City

Author Derek Jackson (A Man Inspired, Walk Worthy Press, 2005) is featured on GospelCity.com, a website featuring gospel music and more. Check it OUT.

Listen to our Word Praize interview with Derek Jackson.

Stacey Hawkins Adams on cover of SORMag

Stacy Hawkins Adams is the feature author in this month's Shades of Romance Magazine. Vanessa Davis Griggs is in the issue as well. Congrats, ladies!

Moody Authors on Magazine Cover

Moody Lift Every Voice authors Stephanie Perry Moore and Tia McCollors were featured on the cover of Booking Matters magazine this month.  Both had great interviews inside as well. Congrats!

Vanessa Griggs on Eye on Books

Listen to member Vanessa Griggs' interview on Bill Thompson's Eye on Books. Congrats Vanessa, both on the interview and her latest release, Wings of Grace, in bookstores now.

Claudia Burney Places in Faith*in*Fiction Contest

Member Claudia Burney placed in the Christmas story contest on Faith*in*Fiction, a writing blog by Bethany House editor, Dave Long. Check out her story, Home for Christmas. Congrats, Claudia!

Kendra Bellamy and Jacquelin Thomas in Publishers Weekly

List members Kendra Norman-Bellamy and Jacquelin Thomas were mentioned in the Publisher's Weekly article, Let the Readers say 'Amen'. The pair were also recently interviewed on national television on Black Entertainment Television. Congrats ladies!