Word Praize

Good Read BookClub: An Idea

Before I was a blogger, book reviewer I founded one of the largest interracial bookclubs in Atlanta- The Suwanee Reading Social Club. And believe me...we had fun.

So I'm missing the old gang ad thinking seriously about starting anew.

This bookclub would both online and at the local level with a big goal to become national. It's objective would be to focus on fiction and non-fiction books written with a Christian worldview. We  Members can choose the books and vote on their picks via online. Authors would share the first three chapters for free. Members would purchase the books on a subscription basis. Local Booksense or a publisher would provide discount rates for this club. The club would host reader and booksigning events.

This club idea is what I'm thinking about. I would love feedback, interested parties willing to form an advisory board with me, authors wishing to be featured, and anything else that will bring to fruition. I will host online web conference in August to share what we have come up with. Anyone interested in receiving an invite to that conference, please contact me offline or at my Christian Fiction Blog.

And also join me this summer at the Sormag Online Conference. I will be teaching a beginner's writing course on POV.

Thank you. Dee

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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Today's Holy Moment

Submissions are being taken for this year's faith in fiction short story contest. In conjuntion with Relief Journal, the Daily Sacrament Short Story contest is now underway.



Related Articles:

Relief Journal/F*i*F “Daily Sacrament” Short Story Contest

Quick Question: Have you found a holy moment today?

Come by my site, GospelFiction to countdown last year's best Christian fiction novels, and celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King with some fantastic christian reads.

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Ornament

Ornament

a short story by D. Dee Stewart

On the third day of Christmas Justin handed me her love letters to him, then took the girls out for waffles and fried chicken. He had already packed my van.  It was warming in the garage and the key was still in the ignition. My annual Gospel Divas Christmas Brunch at Christ Cathedral began in less than two hours, my wait staff would arrive in thirty, and Gretchen Taylor was dropping off her infamous cranberry apple tarts at the church in the next fifteen.

I grabbed an ornament and threw it into the wall.
The love letters were unopened. He just kept them in his Bible. Said he didn’t know where else to put them.

“What about the trash?” I had asked.

He smiled, kissed me on the forehead and bounced out of our home with the girls. Three days before Christmas. Two days before our seventh anniversary.

I threw another ornament.

I made my way to the garage, hopped in the car and realized that I left my purse inside. The church was just down the street, so I figured once I unpack all the supplies and goodies I would come back for it. I think I had what I needed.

Justin was a thoughtful husband. My van was warm and toasty inside. He had placed all my supplies neatly and in a way I could see out my rearview window. The garage door was down. Safe. Secure, but thoughtless I hit reverse. Didn’t look back. Felt a huge bump and broke. I hit something.

To be continued…

If you would like to know what happened next visit my website gospelfiction this Advent season.

Dee Stewart is a publicist, marketing consultant and syndicated columnist. She hosts The Perfect Romance Christian Event Series in Atlanta, Georgia and is the 2007 Romantic Times Booklover’s Convention Coordinator for the Inspirational Workshop Panels to be held in Austin, Texas. She serves as a Christy Book Awards judge and has written for: Spirit Led Woman, Gospel Today, Anointed, Hope for Women, Precious Times Magazines and The Master’s Artist Blog. Her short story, “Straddling the Fence,” is featured in Infuze Magazine’s Best of 2005 Christian Shorts Anthology. Visit her at http://gospelfiction.com

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Pigeonholing Christ

This past Thursday Ed Bradley's passing surprised most of the world. There was a time I wanted to be a female version of him traveling the world, putting a face on humanity. What I love most about him is that he refused to be pigeonholed as the "black news guy," who only discussed news affecting African-American culture.

I refuse to be pigeonholed as the black christian fiction gal, who only writes about African-American christian culture. In fact, I don't think that Christian publishing should pigeonhole anyone based on ethnicity or gender.  Yet, we do it. We even read in a pigeonhole.

Judging the Christy's this year afforded me the opportunity to read works written by authors of various ethnicities. I learned that we all love Christ the same way.

Mary created Wordpraize to take Christian fiction out of the box and to show that we all love Christ the same way with everything in us. If you haven't heard her speak about diversity in Christian publishing, you are in for a treat.

I encourage you to write with Ed Bradley in mind on your next writing project. I've written a story about a young highschool teacher who is an angel. It's based on my experience as a teacher's ed for an urban highschool when I was in my early twenties. But my character isn't a black female. He's white. I tried to make Angel more like me physically, but my soul just kept saying that this teacher was a white man. I love this character. I can't wait to get to know him better.

Don't let anyone tell you what you can't and cannot write, but God. In honor of Ed Bradley, make your words count. :)

Dee Stewart is a mother,
book critic, publicist, book marketing consultant and syndicated
columnist. She is the founder of the Gospel Fiction Blog Alliance. She
hosts The Perfect Romance and Third Thursdays Event Series and served
as a judge for the 2006 Christy Book Awards. She’s written for Spirit
Led Woman, Gospel Today, Anointed, Hope for Women, Precious Times
Magazines and many more. Her short story, “Straddling the Fence,” is
featured in Infuze Magazine’s Best of 2005 Christian Shorts Anthology.

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The Ephiphany Factor

There are stacks of books on my tables in my living room. Most of them are some form of inspirational romance. Every day my mailman drops off another novel for me. Every day a new novel is sat on the bottom of these stacks. Some books are not read before their release date. Some novels never reach my home until after its shelf  life. And some novels move above the rest. Yet, they are read. Some find placement in one of my magazines or in a bookstores magazine. Others find placement on my site or blog. And others, I can't seem to stop talking about: here, here, and here.

 

But what I rarely see in these novels is an Epiphany factor. I define the Epiphany Factor as a moment when one is illuminated. Christ shares something new about Him that I wouldn't have realized had I not read this novel, watched this movie, heard this song, engaged in this painting, photo, and so on. It is an experience that brings me closer to a better understanding of All of This. I don't often find the Epiphany Factor. Sad to say, I rarely find it in books written by Christian authors. Why?

 

When I was asked to judged the romance category for the Christy Awards this year I hoped I would read a novel that had such a Epiphany Factor. As great as the novels were, only a few touched the hem of what I was seeking. Nonetheless, I was pleased with some of the entries. I was glad that the publishing houses, that nominated them did it. There were other books that were more popular, more showmance friendly. I appreciated and respected them for giving me quality reads to dissect.

 

There is much talk about platform and pitch and plot. About quality. Yet, I think that what should define the benchmark for Christian Romance Fiction is some version of an Epiphany, whereby we gain more clues about this great romance between God and His Church. 

 

I wrote a romance novel, two even. Decided to put my fingers where my Reaper reading red pen is(remind me to talk about this pen later.)  I've revised these novels so many times that I am disgusted with myself. Gaining the Epiphany Factor is ridiculously hard. 

 

To write on that level deserves great credit. I think more reviewers should try writing a novel first before they review one. I really do. You'll write better reviews. I think romance authors should read more and write reviews. They would become more disciplined writers. And as for me, I need to pray and study the Word more. Have more faith.

 

How do you feel about Christian romance novels? How do you feel about reviewing romance novels?

 

Discuss here or Add to the discussion in the Gospel Fiction forum.

 

Dee Stewart is a mother, book critic, publicist, book marketing consultant and syndicated columnist. She is the founder of the Gospel Fiction Blog Alliance. She hosts The Perfect Romance and Third Thursdays Event Series and served as a judge for the 2006 Christy Book Awards. She’s written for Spirit Led Woman, Gospel Today, Anointed, Hope for Women, Precious Times Magazines and many more. Her short story, “Straddling the Fence,” is featured in Infuze Magazine’s Best of 2005 Christian Shorts Anthology.Talk to me at Gospel Fiction or My Space's DeeGospel.

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Author Panelists Call

 

Next year I am convention captain for two inspirational writing workshop panels at the 2007 RT Booklover's Convention.  If you are a published inspirational author, and interested in being a panelist on one of these workshops, please goto my site- Gospel Fiction for more information.

 

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Dee's ACFW Event

      

I'm at The Master's Artist today sharing a fun quiz I created regarding the ACFW quiz. Stop by this week here and at Gospel Fiction for a week long blogging event about the ACFW conference.

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Ask Me Faqqly

 

Have a question to ask me about writing, christian publishing, the gospel recording industry or ATL? Click here and I will answer you in a flash. Faqqly is an open end interface, widget driven beta site, so it always you to interact with your favorite gospel diva or favorite author in real time.  Isn't that cool. So you don't have to run to your email, to await an answer just check in at Faqqly.

 

I'm looking for authors to feature on Faqqly for interactive interviews with your readers, contact me here if you're interested.

 

This week Essence Bestselling author and one of my ride-or-die chicks, Tia McCollors will answer my questions and yours. Want to know about her newest novel, Zora's Cry, how's new motherhood treating her, or how crazy I really am, hit the link and she'll answer you, faqqly. :)

 

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Judging Christy

 

This year I judged the Romance Category for the 2006 Christy Awards. We had thirteen books to read, rate and review. I received my shipment around the February 1st and had until the first week in April to rate them. Because I also review for Romantic Times, Anointed, Rejoice and Gospel Fiction I had to create a plan to keep track of all these books as well as read them on time. Thankfully, I had such a system. My good friend, Jackie Miller, editor of Real Reviewers gave me Waterlane's The Reader's Journal as a Christmas gift.

 

I love this book. It has great quotes from notable authors as well as plenty of writing pages to record what you read.  One of my best quotes in the book comes from Ernest Hemingway:

 

All good books have one thing in common- they are truer than if they had really happened, and after you've read one of them you will feel that all that happened, happened to you and that it belongs to you forever...

 

This month we will discuss such books and how those books relate to this quote, and how why I think they were chosen for Christy selections.

 

But before we do. I want to know how you keep up with the books you read?

 

Dee Stewart is a mother, book critic, book marketing consultant and syndicated columnist. She hosts Third Thursdays Reader Event Series and served as a judge for the 2006 Christy Awards. She’s written for Spirit Led Woman, Gospel Today, Anointed and Precious Times Magazines. Her short story, “Straddling the Fence,” is featured in Infuze Magazine’s Best of 2005 Christian Shorts Anthology.

Stop by Gospel Fiction to see my picks of the best summer reads!

 

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