Shawn McDonald, Jason Gray, and Downhere

Last night I had the opportunity to interview Shawn McDonald, Jason Gray, and Marc from Downhere. I didn't find out about the interview until 5 pm, and it was supposed to happen at 6:15. I freaked a little, and had to make rush babysitting plans and come up with interview questions in the car (with no research!)

Fortunately, I had already planned to go to church and the concert after, so the boys were dressed and we were headed out the door. My 9yo acted as my secretary and took dictation while we drove to my parents'  house.

I didn't have time to be nervous, but I got nervous anyway. This was my first interview with strangers. All of the interviews I've conducted, so far, have been people that I know - missionary wives and women who have dealt with stillbirth or early infant death. I've done a few 'man on the street' type interviews of kids at concerts, but nothing like this.To add to the pressure was the fact that they were professionals, and had been interviewed before. So, they would know a good interview from a bad interview. Talk about sweatin'.

All in all it went well. The guys were incredibly gracious. They said the questions were good, but who knows if they were just being nice. The concert after was awesome, except for the fact that my 9yo got a tummy ache and we had to leave right before Shawn McDonald hit the stage. Bummer. But, my hubby and I have the privelage of taking them, their crew, and spouses out to dinner tonight. I'm sure we'll have a blast.

Homeschool mom by day, Christian rock journalist by night. Yeah right?!

8:47 AM - Apr. 17, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Mount Hermon Minglings

Here are some of the amazing people that I met at Mount Hermon. I don't have pictures of all of them, since I didn't carry my camera with me.

Ethel Herr, author of Introduction to Christian Writing. I've used this book for the past two years during my course with The Chritian Writer's Guild.

Behind us is Rebecca LuElla Miller, who has a great writing blog.

Judy Vandiver, a writer and speaker who made me cry in the San Jose airport. She told the story of her son and how he recently adopted his 13 yo stepson. The story was close to home, with a few twists and had me bawling like a baby.

Barbara Curtis, mother of 12, writer, speaker, blogger. She was one of the persons that I REALLY wanted to meet. She critiqued an article of mine, and gave great feedback. I didn't get a picture with her because she left before the autograph party. Boohoo.

Brandy Brow, blogger and mother of six. She is raising her family of eight in 832 square feet and living to write about it. She seemed to be very experienced and incredibly professional. She was also a Cecil Murphy scholarship recipient.

Susan Mackinnen, (picture below with yours truly) a mother whose son survived a horrific car accident, but lost his best friend. She is writing his story for the healing of her family. She's from British Columbia, and she and her hubby came down in an RV. Her hubby hung out at the RV park while she hob-knobbed with other writers. He is a very sweet guy!

Sharon Norris Elliot, who has two gorgeous grown sons. She is writing a book on raising boys in the image of God. She made me life like crazy in the Mount Hermon coffee shop. What a hoot! I had to miss her workshop because I had a meeting with an editor. Oh well.

 That's all for now. I have to check my other stash of business cards to add more folks.

1:18 PM - Mar. 26, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Family Woman

1:33 AM - Mar. 18, 2008 - comments {2} - post comment

Angela Hunt

1:30 AM - Mar. 18, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Mount Hermon Update

I’m exhausted. I have two more days to go. My body is really starting to revolt. I’m going to bed early tonight. I’ve met some great people here, and I’ve learned that I’m a good encourager. My favorite part of this conference has been to help people, to listen, and to point them in the right direction (if I can.)

More later…

10:36 PM - Mar. 16, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Finally Here

After a long day of traveling yesterday, I am finally here. God is so funny. I was so worried about missing a flight of having a delayed flight. Well, apparnently, according to the news, yesterday was Southwest's worst day for cancellations. I knew some funny things were going one, after eavesdropping on my flight attendants, but I didn't experience any problems. We had one stop that wasn't scheduled, but we were only 30 minutes later than expected. God just has a great way of taking care of things.

Here's a pic of an airplane...just for my boys. I thought they might enjoy this. I love you guys, and I miss you lots.

Mount Hermon is THE most beautiful place I have ever seen...and I've seen lots of places. I've been all over Europe and in more than half the states, but nothing tops Mount Hermon. Here are a few pics, but they do it justice at all.

If I can't be inspired and get a fresh word from God here, than there is no hope for me. More later...

4:34 PM - Mar. 13, 2008 - comments {1} - post comment

Pre-Conference Crazies

Pounding away at the laptop has left me with a sore neck and achy fingers. I've gone into overdrive the past two weeks with all the Mount Hermon prep that I've been doing. On Friday, I finally mailed off my articles for the pre-conference critique. Due to my serious procastination, it cost a whopping $30. Can anyone say 'tax deduction'?

I've also had to design business cards, which was more painful than an aggressive gyno with an extra-large speculum. In order to 'properly' design business cards, this overwhelmed-mom-writer had to consider "branding". Branding is the ugly business cousin to the art of writing. I'll post more about branding later on my writing blog. If you know me in real life, and you want the website, email me and I'll let you know.

Two days to go...all I have to do is pack, clean, pack, and make sure the boys' clothes and shoes are in their proper place. I'd hate to leave my awesome hubby trying to scramble for four sets of shoes. Seriously, do you know how many half-pair of shoes we have? We could shoe an entire village of one-footed little people.

1:56 PM - Mar. 10, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Writing Miscellany

With the conference less than six weeks away, I'm getting pretty nervous. I need to have a portfolio of work to take with me, and I just haven't been very productive in the writing department.  In December I was churning out lots of material. Then around the New Year, I just couldn't focus. I felt like I lost  my edge or my steam. I couldn't figure out what was wrong.

Turns out I was pregnant. We concieved around New Year's Eve, and I officially have pregnancy-brain. I am so grateful for the pregnancy, but I wish I could focus. There is so much to get done before the conference, and my fears are starting to kick in.

• Will I be able to get it all done?
• What about housework, meals, kids, hubby, and oh, yeah...homeschool?
• What's the point...if no one likes my writing?
• Will I lose any more weight before I leave?
• Will I be too embarassed to get on the plane?
• How am I going to face hundreds of strangers in a strange place?
• Will they just see a big, fat, dummy or the woman that God has created and is always perfecting?

So there you have it, my stupid fears (and some reasonable ones). My goal is to have five articles to take with me. I have two that I can use, one is a published article, the other is the scholarship essay that I wrote. At the very least, I need three more pieces. I'm considering the following...

1. The Reemergence of Big Families
2. Career Mom (this is specifically for one of the publications represented at the conference)
3. Alone in America (a story of a missionary wife who has been without her husband for two years)

The Lord is good, and I know that He will equip me if it is His will.

10:03 AM - Jan. 29, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Quivering What-Nots

     I stayed up late last night finishing another Angela Hunt novel. I borrowed the first two of a four part series from the library: The Silver Sword and The Golden Cross.  I have to say that they are not my cup of tea. I don't do romantic fiction. They were good stories, with great plots, settings, conflicts, etc. But there was no super Biblical truth, no life altering message.

     It seems like romance and historical romance are a large part of the Christian market. I just need to gag for a minute! I have never been a romance reader. I like mystery and espionage, conspiracy and good prevailing over evil. I don't want to waste my time writing or reading something that is not meaningful. I don't want to entertain or be entertained. I want to inform and be informed.

     Another thing, is that Christian romance authors need to be really careful not to feed readers' lustful appetites or unrealistic romantic notions. Marriage isn't a romance novel, and in this day of hyper sexuality the smallest hint of sex in a novel can lead some people down the wrong path. When readers finish a book, their minds should be left with new pictures of God, not images of burning passions and quivering what-nots!

Oh well, there I go...ranting like the idealistic maniac that I am.

9:52 AM - Dec. 12, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Help a Fat Girl Choose a Flattering Picture

I've been in a frenzy all afternoon over a picture. The article that I was working on yesterday will be published in the December issue of a local magazine!!!  I am thrilled....except....I have to provide a picture to go with my byline.

I thought that my avatar picture was just too "edited" looking, plus its too close up.  The first two are the originals that I posted for a vote.  Then, I found a few more, and got busy with some editing software.  Hey, a fat girl with forehead wrinkles needs all the help she can get!  So, now there are four to vote from.

Leave a comment please and tell me which one you like.

#1 - School Marm

#2 - Hi, I'm trying too hard to look good!

#3 - Edited like crazy to soften the skin and get rid of that forehead wrinkle.  It didn't work!

#4 Black & White version

6:46 PM - Nov. 28, 2007 - comments {12} - post comment

My First Pitch to an Editor

WOWOWOWOWO!

Okay, I got a little carried away.  Let me try that again...wowowowow!

     In case I'm being too subtle, let me tell you that I'm excited!  Yes, really.  Tonight I got a call from the editor of a local upstart Christian publication.  I have sent him samples of my work, and hopefully, we'll be meeting soon for "lunch".  Just so you know, this man is a man of integrity.  He did not invite me alone, but both my husband and I.  I wouldn't have gone to lunch alone with a man who is not my husband, but I was so excited that he automatically invited us both!   

     This whole situation is a such a God-thing!  Hubby came home from work the other day with a free Christian magazine that he had picked up on his lunch break.  He knew I'd be interested in it as a possible market, plus we were both excited that it was available locally.  I left the editor a voicemail the day before Thanksgiving, and he called me back tonight.  Of course, my three year old answered the phone and didn't say anything.  So, the man hung up.  He called back later, and I had to explain that I have three little ones, and there might be some noise in the background.

     While we were talking, he asked me what kinds of things I write about.  Out of nowhere, an idea that I have had simmering for awhile popped from my mouth.  I told him that I was interested in interviewing pastors and learning about their individual visions and how they run their churches. He then told me that in January they were beginning a column that would feature a different pastor each month.  Can you say Hallelujah!  The editor seemed impressed that we were on the same page and that I was interested in interviewing.

   I'm so excited! Even if this goes nowhere, it is an opportunity to practice speaking with an editor and pitching ideas.  Groovy.

10:31 PM - Nov. 25, 2007 - comments {2} - post comment