3 Foreign Authors Walk into a. . .

There's just no good way to end that sentence, is there!

ACFW conference in Dallas back in September provided several highlights for me.

Plenty of workshops and appointments aided in helping me figure out how to build the platform that will work for my writing, as did the keynote address by Michael Hyatt.

This was my fourth conference so hanging out with friends is also a major focus for me. And this time, much of the fun lay in meeting our Beyond the Borders group (any ACFW members from outside the USA), some of which are familiar names on this blog. We had breakfast together two mornings. Here's a photo from one of the days:

Back: Valerie Comer (Canada), Anita Mae Draper (Canada), Lucy Morgan-Jones (Australia), Cherie Gagnon (Canada), Ian Acheson (Australia), Cathy West (Bermuda), Cathilyn Dyck (Canada)
Front: Christine Lindsay (Canada), Iris Munchinsky (Canada), Grace Bridges (New Zealand)
Missing: Kara Isaac (New Zealand)

Cathy and I figured out early on that our flights left from the same terminal at a similar time, so we arranged to meet and head over together. Getting through security didn't take long. We found we had plenty of time for lunch and had just settled into a "window" booth at TGIF when we saw Kara walking by. Of course we waved her in!

With all the sleepless nights and the stress of pitches behind us, we formed quite a giddy threesome that somehow forgot to request our bill be divided up. No doubt the waitress would have refigured the amounts, but we decided we could handle it. Kara, being from New Zealand, had little need of her remaining American dollars. I live near the USA border so can always use cash, but wanted to use up some. Cathy goes to the States the most often, but didn't have small bills. We wound up spreading out our collection on the table as we redistributed funds until we had the right amount for the waitress (with a tip, of course) from each of our wallets.

I hadn't laughed so hard in a long time.

The moral of this story? There probably isn't one, unless it's that hanging out together outside of "regularly scheduled activities" can bring tighter, faster bonding than within the confines of conference, and certainly more quickly than email loops only.

If you get the chance to attend a writing conference, whether it be a large one such as ACFW or a regional venue close to home, be sure to schedule time away from the schedule to get to know people. It's totally worth it.

Three foreign authors walked into a TGIF. They ate, they laughed, and they parted as closer friends than when they went in. The end.

Valerie Comer's life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local food movement as well as their church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily ever afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.

Her first published work, a novella, was released in the collection Rainbow's End from Barbour Books in May 2012. Visit her website and blog to glimpse inside her world.

Christian Fiction Writers Wherever They Are

St. Louis, Missouri, site of recent
ACFW conference

I avoided the American Christian Fiction Writers for years. It was originally called American Christian Romance Writers, and I am definitely not a romance writer. I write coming-of-age stories set mostly outside of America. But I am living in the States now and looking for a shot in the arm for my career. I have been assured that ACFW is not just romance anymore so this summer I took the plunge and joined.

I meet ICFW's Valerie Comer at
the recent ACFA conference.

There are regional chapters all over the country and even one for non-Americans headed by ICFW’s own Cathy West. My local chapter sponsored a retreat this summer where I met lots of writers, most of whom were not doing romance. I regret that family events and travel have kept me from getting to any regular chapter meetings yet. (Maybe October…) But when I do, I know I will have friends.


ACFW offers tutorials, on-line classes, links to recommended books on writing, and other resources. What I have found most valuable so far is the extensive e-mail network.


I admit I was put off by the main list that receives 60 to 100 messages per DAY! But there are also smaller genre lists that put you in contact with people writing books similar to yours. I signed up for both historical (because of my Glastonbury Tor) and young adult (my other published works) so I receive a much more manageable number of messages. G-mail lets me set up filters so they don’t crowd my in-box and I can sort through them at my convenience. The historical list has recently hosted discussions on the differences between historical and contemporary fiction, what readers expect from Regency novels, the difference between preachy and a meaningful theme, and which Bible translation to use to be understandable to modern readers while remaining culturally authentic. The YA group has less activity (so far mainly announcements of book giveaways or questions about the coming conference), but it is a place to network with potential endorsers or information sources.

My primary motivation for joining ACFW at this time was the annual conference held this week in St. Louis. That, too, is all organized on-line. There are bios of the editors and agents who will be present, summaries of workshops, schedules and (of course) an e-mail list for first timers. (That is on top of the e-mail list for new-comers to the organization that introduced me to the website, regional chapters, genre groups and how to use the lists without being overwhelmed.) The first-timers-at-conference list not only answers questions about what to wear, what to bring and where to go, it has also given us tips on what agents are looking for, what goes into a proposal and links to blogs on taking advantage of a conference experience. Cara Putman, the moderator, even critiqued our elevator pitches. (An elevator pitch is a one- or two-sentence summary of your novel, designed to hook the interest of an agent or editor in less time than it takes to go from one floor to the next in an elevator.) Not only were Cara’s suggestions on my pitch worthwhile, but reading other people’s pitches and their critique was also educational.


ACFW aims to be "the voice of Christian fiction." I am impressed with how they use technology that does not depend on physical proximity, something that allows for participation by writers all over the world. There was even an alternative conference running on-line last week for people who couldn’t physically make it to Saint Louis, Missouri. Participants might be anywhere from Australia to Zambia.

Author Rachel Hauck leads worship

The conference in Saint Louis this week has been bathed in prayer both before and during. The times ofworship have been awesome. Sunday morning an improvised choir sang Rachael Phillips' beautifularrangement of Fanny Crosby’s “Tell Me the Story of Jesus”, turning it into an author's prayer. "O Living Word, give me the words to tell your story to a dying world." Workshops are geared fordifferent levels of experience from novice to author of multiple published titles.I have met so many people. Some had names that were familiar from the Internetor book covers. Others were new. But the atmosphere has been one ofencouragement--we are in this together to make a difference for eternity—not oneof competition. We have exchanged business cards and plans to stay in touch inthe coming months.

Agent Natasha Kern talks about what
your agent should be doing for you.

Authors can signup for meetings with editors, agents, and/or mentors. Since my agent retired and I am lookingfor a new one, I chose several from among the list (on the internet) thatdescribed what kinds of manuscripts they were looking for. The experience israther like speed-dating. The agent sits at a small desk in a room with severalother agents. When it was my turn for my first meeting I went to the table andhad fifteen minutes to present my pitch and discuss it with the agent. Ithought I was trusting the Lord on this, but I admit my heart was not keeping its normal, regular pace when I went in. By the time I came out, it was. She was sonice! I felt like I had found a kindred spirit even if she doesn’t choose torepresent me.

The weekend wasextremely intense. By the end of it, I was exhausted, but wondering why I putoff joining ACFW for so long. Perhapsthis community and its resources would be useful to you in your writing journeywhether or not you are physically in America.

___

At ACFW LeAnne Hardy pitched a YA novel about a promising South African figure skater, scared to death that people at the rink will find out her parents have AIDS. You can find out more about her published books and travel adventures on her website and blog.

YESTERDAY'S TOMORROW--A Review by Christine Lindsay

I love it when I find a heart-rending and ultimately satisfying love story that captures my heart and mind for years. I found such a story in Yesterday’s Tomorrow. Debut author, Cathy West, has written a new type of Christian inspirational, and one I find refreshingly authentic. What makes it even more exciting is that this author is a fellow International Christian Fiction Writer.

The main character, Kristin Taylor is haunted by the childhood memory of her journalist father leaving to go out on assignment to Vietnam in the mid 1950’s, and never returning. A number of years later Kristin, now also a journalist, follows in her father’s footsteps.

At the height of the war in Saigon, she meets Luke Maddox, a photographic journalist. Kristin isn’t really sure what Luke is doing in Vietnam, but suspects he’s more than just a photographer. As much as they’d prefer to avoid each other, events throw them together. Tension rises as they see the war from different viewpoints.

Author Cathy West drew me into this bravely written story with her amazingly researched details of Vietnam in the 60’s——the whisper of helicopters in the distance, the scents and color of the country and the people, the pathos of young American soldiers far from home. While Yesterday’s Tomorrow realistically portrays the war, it does so without using overly graphic images. But there is enough detail for the reader to grasp the emotional despair of Kristin and Luke as they watch soldiers laying down their lives for democratic freedom.

Kristin and Luke each in their own way try to salve their grief. As Kristin spirals downward in her emotional despair, she and Luke find solace in each other’s arms. But Kristin begins to wonder about Luke’s secrets, and she fears the exposé she’s written about the CIA involvement in Vietnam will tear them apart. When despair and passion leads Kristin and Luke to a level of premature intimacy, they both must deal with the guilt that brings. As Kristin’s life turns upside down, she receives the news that Luke is listed as MIA.

This story took me from New England to Vietnam to New York, and is a beautiful love story that satisfies my heart. But I love Yesterday’s Tomorrow because it’s about believable people—people like me with flaws. None of us come to the cross without the scars of sin. Once or twice, in moments of extreme stress in the middle of a warzone, some of the characters in this novel swear. Some struggle with the desire to drown the horrific images of war by drinking. Kristin and Luke’s spiritual journey as well as their emotional one, is a story that will encourage the struggling faith of readers in this decade.

Set against this very human drama is the war of Vietnam, showing the hearts of the courageous men and women who served in it. The author gives honor to these military and journalistic heroes, an honor they so rightly deserve.

Bravo, Cathy, a very brave and very deserving novel.

Leave a comment with your email address spelled out and I'll chose a winner on Sunday and contact you.

AUTHOR BIO ON CATHY WEST:


Educated in Bermuda, England and Canada, Catherine holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. Catherine and her husband live on the beautiful island of Bermuda, with their two college-aged children. Catherine is a member of Romance Writers of America, and American Christian Fiction Writers, and is a founding member of International Christian Fiction Writers. Catherine’s debut novel Yesterday’s Tomorrow, will release in 2011, through Oak Tara Publishers.

I've enjoyed writing this review for Cathy. I hope I've inspired you to read her novel. Drop by Cathy West's website Catherine J. West to find out how to purchase her book, or to her publisher Oak Tara.

And if you'd like to find out more about me, drop by my website.Christine Lindsay