hybrid publishers: traditional meets vanity

I don’t know much about the following publishers but they present themselves as “hybrids.” Apparently some aspects of their work are like those of traditional publishers. Others are like those of subsidy or vanity publishers. And/or some of their books are published the traditional way, others not. Might be worth checking into if you have a book you’re looking to get published. But be careful. Don’t agree till you’re sure of what’s going to happen.

 

Promontory Press   http://www.ihpg.ca/

 

Lanico Media House  http://www.lanicoenterprise.com/lanico-media-house.html

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & betrayal.   http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs   http://elmams.wix.com/elma  http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/

 

subsidy ["vanity"] publishers: two categories

As we know, there are companies that will publish and promote your book in return for a financial outlay on your part. Some are legitimate and do a good job. Others aren't and don't. Here's an enlightening article on the latter group: http://tinyurl.com/ou2k8zw

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & betrayal.   http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs   http://elmams.wix.com/elma  http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/

 

pain and suffering

Scottish philosopher John Macmurray said: “The maxim of illusory religion is: Fear not; trust in God and He will see that none of the things you fear will happen to you. Real religion says: Fear not; the things you are afraid of are quite likely to happen to you, but they are nothing to be afraid of.” I don’t think Macmurray meant to downplay suffering. He probably had more of a Psalm 23 frame of mind: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou [God] art with me.”

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & betrayal.   http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs   http://elmams.wix.com/elma  http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/

 

Thomas King's THE BACK OF THE TURTLE wins GG award

Thomas King just won the Canadian Governor General’s fiction award for his novel The Back of the Turtle.

 

Here’s the publisher’s description: “This is Thomas King’s first literary novel in 15 years and follows on the success of the award-winning and bestselling The Inconvenient Indian and his beloved Green Grass, Running Water and Truth and Bright Water, both of which continue to be taught in Canadian schools and universities. Green Grass, Running Water is widely considered a contemporary Canadian classic.

In The Back of the Turtle, Gabriel returns to Smoke River, the reserve where his mother grew up and to which she returned with Gabriel’s sister. The reserve is deserted after an environmental disaster killed the population, including Gabriel’s family, and the wildlife. Gabriel, a brilliant scientist working for Domidion, created GreenSweep, and indirectly led to the crisis. Now he has come to see the damage and to kill himself in the sea. But as he prepares to let the water take him, he sees a young girl in the waves. Plunging in, he saves her, and soon is saving others. Who are these people with their long black hair and almond eyes who have fallen from the sky?

Filled with brilliant characters, trademark wit, wordplay and a thorough knowledge of native myth and story-telling, this novel is a masterpiece by one of our most important writers.”

 

It’s available from several sources including Amazon and Chapters Indigo at http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/home/search/?keywords=the%20back%20of%20the%20turtle&suggest=1

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & betrayal.   http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs   http://elmams.wix.com/elma  http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/

 

mystery & thriller fiction opportunity

Seventh Street Books invites submissions of mystery and thriller fiction: http://www.seventhstreetbooks.com/submissions.html

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & betrayal.   http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs   http://elmams.wix.com/elma  http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/

 

Grandmothers' Necklace: from Canadian to African grannies

Grandmothers' Necklace is an anthology of stories by and about grandmothers. New editions come out regularly. Proceeds from the sale of this book go to assist the grandmothers of Africa, aged anywhere from their 40’s to their 80’s who have lost their adult children and are raising their grandchildren, alone, under unbelievably impoverished circumstances. These children were orphaned due to the death of their parents from AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses. More info at www.valleyartisans.com/grandmothersnecklace.htm .

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & betrayal.   http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs   http://elmams.wix.com/elma  http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/

 

faith & novelist Dean Koontz

I’ve never read Dean Koontz’s books. They’re not my type. Faith & Family magazine warns: “Disturbing scenes include violence, gore and frightening portrayals of great evil; some sexuality.” However, Koontz’s life story is inspiring. He came from a United Church in Christ background, later becoming a Catholic. He says his Christian worldview is becoming more and more evident in his novels. Maybe I’ll read some of those books, maybe INNOCENCE or THE CITY. There’s more about Koontz at http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/2013#ixzz3JRW3pKDB

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & betrayal.   http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs   http://elmams.wix.com/elma  http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/

 

dashing hero

Frank Warkentin is the dashing but troubled hero of my 1940s novel CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS. Here's Janet Sketchley's "interview" with him: http://janetsketchley.ca/category/interviews-2/

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & betrayal.   http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs   http://elmams.wix.com/elma  http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/

 

writing & publishing news: Scout Report

 

The Scout Report

November 7, 2014

Volume 20, Number 43

 

 

A Publication of Internet Scout

Computer Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

If you know of other great resources fitting this special edition theme, please let us know on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/InternetScout ), by Tweeting @IntScout, or by emailing us at scout@scout.wisc.edu

 

1. National Novel Writing Month

http://nanowrimo.org

 

Freelance writer Chris Baty declared November as National Novel Writing Month in the fall of 2000. Since then, the number of participants has grown from 21 aspiring authors hacking away at manuscripts to over 300,000. The project's "No Plot? No problem" slogan tells it all. No perfectionistic haute culture here. Participants are simply encouraged to put at least

50,000 words on paper between 12:00 am on November 1 and 11:59:59 on November 30. Scout readers can explore this official website via section subheadings such as, About, How It Works, Press Information, and Testimonials to find out all about the process. Signing up to participate in the challenge is easy and free, and the website will help track your progress, link you to support in your geographical area, and provide platforms to meet fellow writers in person and online. NaNoWriMo, as it's called, is a great resource for encouraging novice and veteran writers alike to work through their writer's block and delve into their creativity.

[CNH]

 

 

2. Writing and Publishing Solutions

http://www.novel-writing-help.com

 

Anyone who has ever tried to write a novel will agree on at least one basic

fact: it's deceptively difficult. This site, from novelist Harvey Chapman, provides beginners with helpful step-by-step advice. He lays it all out in simple, digestible categories including, The Writing Process, Becoming a Writer, Elements of Fiction, and How to Write. Each category includes helpful, targeted articles designed to take some of the sting out of putting words on screen or paper. For instance, How to Write a Novel Step-by-Step breaks down the novel writing process into eleven linear stages. Prose Writing 101, found under How to Write, is another great feature of the site that details the importance of writing with a clear, concise, and uncluttered style. [CNH]

 

 

3. How Writers Write Fiction

http://courses.writinguniversity.org/course/how-writers-write-fiction

 

The International Writing Program at the University of Iowa is often considered the best fiction writing program in the United States. Not everyone can dedicate the blood, sweat, and two years it takes to complete the program, but this new MOOC series allows fiction writers to engages with the material over a few short weeks. The course is free and the teachers are extremely well known literary novelists. After signing up, access to videos, transcripts, assignments, and tools will be at your fingertips. Through video lectures and various writing assignments, the series is a great way to learn about the writing process and interact with other students/writers working on their craft. [CNH]

 

 

4. Fiction Writers Review

http://fictionwritersreview.com

 

If you want to write, read. And if you want to read about fiction writing, a good place to start is the Fiction Writers Review. Completely free and jam packed with writers writing about writing, this continually updated online periodical will fill you up with ideas and images. Start with the homepage, where you can explore numerous Features, ranging from interviews to essays. Then explore Popular Posts to see what other visitors have found valuable. There is a lot of fantastic stuff on this site, and author Philip Graham's praise is quite illuminating: "I no longer much bother reading The New York Times Book Review, and your site is one of the reasons- what great work you're doing for literature." [CNH]

 

 

5. The Official SCBWI Blog

http://scbwi.blogspot.com

 

There are many great resources for those who want to write stories for adults. But what if your market is more in the seven to twelve range? Well, then this site, the official blog of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), is for you. Continually updated, blog entries offer a variety of topics ranging from interviews with award winning children's book authors, editors, and publishers to advice on innovative marketing techniques, writing, and networking in children's literature. It is a must for anyone looking to engage in the wide world of writing and publishing for kids. [CNH]

 

7. The Purdue OWL: Conducting Research

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/8/

 

Good research and good writing go hand in hand. This site from the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) introduces students to the principles of conducting good research. The clear and helpful information on the site is divided into six digestible categories: Research Overview, Conducting Primary Research, Evaluating Sources of Information, Searching the World Wide Web, Internet References, and Archival Research. Within each of these categories are numerous informative subcategories, such as Research Ethics and Searching with a Search Engine. This last area is a great tool for students learning how to conduct better searches, including information on Boolean operators. [CNH]

 

18. Merriam-Webster

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary-apps/android-ipad-iphone-windows.htm

 

Every writer needs a dictionary. The Merriam-Webster app provides "America's most useful and respected dictionary," plus synonyms, antonyms, example sentences, and many other bonus functions. It's free, it's easy, and it's available for iPhone and iPad (iOS 7.0+) as well as Android (2.3.3+). [CNH]

 

 

    From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2014.

    https://www.scout.wisc.edu

 

 

debut author wins Giller Prize

A debut author writing about music just won the Giller Prize. Details here: http://tinyurl.com/n7v9wkx

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & betrayal.   http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs   http://elmams.wix.com/elma  http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/

 

need help writing your novel?

Good articles here on novel-writing: http://tinyurl.com/m3kxlrt

 

 

Elma Schemenauer CONSIDER THE SUNFLOWERS: 1940s novel about love, Mennonites, faith, & betrayal.   http://elmams.wix.com/sflwrs   http://elmams.wix.com/elma  http://elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca/

 

Canadian books with a Christian worldview

Canadian Books with a Christian Worldview is an interesting new Facebook page for readers and writers. It’s at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1556810521217247/

 

Elma Schemenauer "ELMA MARY OF THE PRAIRIE," author of 75 books, editor of many more, elmams.wix.com/elma , elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca

 

Janet Sketchley's new novel SECRETS & LIES: my review

The men in Carol's life have caused her plenty of grief. Her aptly named husband, Skip, skipped out on their relationship, devoting himself to womanizing and a rock-music career. One of their sons died of a drug overdose. Carol's brother, Harry, is in prison for rape and murder. He claims to have become a Christian and says he prays for her. Carol isn't impressed.

Prayer hasn't "worked" for her in the past, and Harry's crimes have thrown her into serious trouble. He was wealthy before he went to prison, and the drug dealers he was involved with claim they have a right to his money. The think Harry hid it and they can lay hands on it through Carol. But she doesn't know where it is.

Carol and her sixteen-year-old son, Paul, move to Toronto to escape the money-hungry harassers. But the drug dealers soon find them, and start pestering and threatening them. Carol gets a police detective on the case, and tries to create a normal life for herself and Paul. In the meantime she meets two men who show a romantic interest in her.

One man is a deejay and reformed drug addict, Joey, who encourages her and her son to commit their lives to Christ and trust God with their precarious future. The other man, Patrick, is a sophisticated and cultured widower mourning the loss of his beloved wife.

Paul, Carol's son, prefers Joey. He tells his mother that Joey is "better than that Patrick guy….He's plastic. Nobody living inside."

Is Paul right or not? That's only one of Carol's many concerns. As his mother, she wants him to grow up to be a better man than his father, Skip. In her view that would include not becoming a musician.

On the other hand, Paul loves playing the guitar. Making music is almost as vital to him as breathing. Can he "serve his gift" without letting it take over his life in ways that hurt himself and others? Joey thinks so. He says, "You can be brilliant in one area, but if you keep your balance with the rest of your world, you can add to it instead of taking away."

Author Janet Sketchley (pictured here) has a deep understanding of keeping that balance, and explores it in this book. Also important in the book is her exploration of the virtue of trust. At one point Carol says, "If I can't trust people, how can I risk trusting God?" Her journey toward answering that question is marked by bumps, detours, and life-threatening situations. I'm glad to have shared her journey through reading the book.

Secrets & Lies is not as straightforward as Sketchley's earlier novel, Heaven's Prey. I didn't always understand why the characters acted as they did, or why things happened as they did. However, Secrets & Lies is still a good read.

One of my favourite passages begins with this advice given to Carol by one of the other characters: "'Since fear is a behaviour pattern for you, your mind will go back to it. Like a path worn in the grass. It takes time for the grass to re-grow while you wear a new path.'

"A heaviness settled in her stomach. 'So I’ll have more nightmares?'

"'Whenever you catch the fear response starting, or if you have another nightmare, remember you don’t have to surrender. Say it out loud. Things like, 'Jesus is my shepherd. I don’t have to be afraid.' Believe it’s true even if you don’t feel it, and change will come.'"

Wise words from a wise author.

Secrets & Lies is 320 pages long and sells for about $17 on Amazon and elsewhere. The e-book version, also available from Amazon, sells for about $1.12.

Elma Schemenauer "ELMA MARY OF THE PRAIRIE," author of 75 books, editor of many more, elmams.wix.com/elma , elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca

"a good word" magazine: RUMINATE

From RUMINATE MAGAZINE’s submissions guidelines: “A good word, in and of itself, can be a spiritual endeavor expressing the beauty, creativity, and ironies of the human experience. Because of this, Ruminate publishes work with both subtle and overt associations to the Christian faith as well as work that has no direct association.” They invite general submissions and run contests. They also have a critiquing program. Website http://www.ruminatemagazine.com/submit/

 

Elma Schemenauer "ELMA MARY OF THE PRAIRIE," author of 75 books, editor of many more, elmams.wix.com/elma , elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca

 

devotional-writing contest

This contest is for devotionals 400 words long and runs till December 15. If clicking the link doesn’t work, copy it and paste it into your browser. http://tinyurl.com/oj6yyv8

 

 

Elma Schemenauer "ELMA MARY OF THE PRAIRIE," author of 75 books, editor of many more, elmams.wix.com/elma , elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca

 

treasury of writing advice

Here’s an impressive collection of helpful articles on writing: http://writersrelief.com/writing-techniques-and-craft-tips/

 

Elma Schemenauer "ELMA MARY OF THE PRAIRIE," author of 75 books, editor of many more, elmams.wix.com/elma , elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca

 

2 new literary agents

Linda Scalissi is excited to join 3 Seas Literary as their newest agent. Linda is interested in representing authors of women’s fiction, thrillers, young adult, mysteries and romance. How to submit: E-queries only: queries [at] threeseaslit.com. No attachments; paste everything into the email.  The subject line should begin as follows: “QUERY FOR LINDA: (The title of the manuscript or any short message you would like to relay to us should follow.)” Please email the first chapter and synopsis along with a query letter. Also, be sure to include the genre and the number of words in your manuscript, as well as pertinent writing experience in your query letter.

 

New The Seymour Agency agent Julie Gwinn is seeking: Christian and Inspirational Fiction and Nonfiction, Women’s fiction (contemporary and historical), New Adult, Southern Fiction, Literary Fiction and Young Adult. How to submit: E-query julie [at] theseymouragency.com. Be sure to include: genre/target audience, word count, contact information, references (conference, recommendation, etc.). No attachments, please. All of The Seymour Agency agents ask that you paste the first five pages of your manuscript into the bottom of your email. “Simultaneous submissions are acceptable for queries and partials. However, we only review complete manuscripts on an exclusive basis.”

 

 

 

Elma Schemenauer "ELMA MARY OF THE PRAIRIE," author of 75 books, editor of many more, elmams.wix.com/elma , elmasalmanac.blogspot.ca