Deadline Diva Indeed

Kathleen Y'Barbo, author, publicist, mentor, critique partner, and dear friend used the coolest phrase the other day. I'm not sure if she coined the the term or heard it somewhere, but I swooned at the glamorous image the words conjured.

"Deadline Diva." Sigh.

"That's me," I crowed, since I recently signed my first contract with my very own deadline tucked inside.

I had it all planned. My calendar chart pinned up (in my mind at least) with my minimum daily word count, my critique submission schedule, one day of the week set aside to edit, and another set aside to rest.

I'd have my masterpiece rolled off the assembly line and shipped to my editor with time left over to rest before whipping out book two in the series.

Well, guess what. Deadline Divas exist in the same world where life is fair and authors make loads of money.

Where reality lives a deadline means late nights, early mornings, a dirty house, neglected spouse, missed appointments, unwalked dogs, broken promises, unanswered phones, unanswered email, fast food, frozen dinners, visible roots in stringy hair, no social life, no fun, stiff joints and a dead behind.

Oh yeah. And ten extra pounds.

Okay, twenty.

Today I stared at my frightening reflection in the mirror and wondered who I was. Hardly my former idea of a Deadline Diva!

I leaned close and asked myself: "You really wanted this?"

Myself grinned back like a demented Cheshire cat and answered: "Honey, I was born to it."

Now that's a real Deadline Diva.

TRICIA GOYER & Sanctity of Life Week

This week I'm featuring Tricia Goyer as sort of a guest blogger on my site. Tricia is the talented author of first-rate fiction and life-changing nonfiction. I witnessed Tricia's dedication and commitment in person when I had the opportunity to sit in on a class she taught at the 2007 ACFW Conference, so I proudly endorse any endeavor she sets her hands to.


HOLLYWOOD MAMA DRAMA

How Babies Have Replaced Bling as the Cool Fashion Accessory and Why You Need to Know What to Do if Your Friend Buys Into This

There's a baby boom in Tinsel Town, and many of its biggest stars are taking part. Already this month, singer Christina Aguilera and her husband welcomed a son, and Nicole Richie, girlfriend of rocker Benjie Madden, gave birth to a daughter. Others are mamas-in-waiting, proudly showing their expanding bellies and giving interviews on when their engagement may take place. Still others allow the media to guess who the father might be.

Popular magazines cover every moment of their pregnancies and likely would have sent reporters into the delivery room if allowed. Designer diaper bags have replaced designer purses as the cool new Hollywood accessory. Baby showers take precedence over wedding showers, and the wedding does not necessarily come before the birth.

It all looks so glamorous and exciting. Who wouldn't want a beautiful bundle of joy to lavish love and kisses on? And yet, sometimes that bundle arrives under circumstances that are not God's best. Take, for example, Jamie Lynn Spears. One moment she was a squeaky-clean teen television sensation and star of Nickelodeon's Zoey 101. The next, she's in the news not for her acting but for being a pregnant teenager. With one decision, her reputation is now in shreds and her television show is under the threat of cancellation. One decision; huge dilemma.

This week is Sanctity of Life week. And because of the Hollywood Mama Drama, it is also a perfect time to understand that mama drama doesn't only happen in Hollywood. Every year nearly 1 million teen girls find themselves pregnant, and unlike Hollywood stars who have the money and fame to carry them, these girls wonder what they should do. Many choose abortion, and because of this they not only sacrifice the life of their child, but this decision also brings heartache they must carry for the rest of their lives. Perhaps YOU can be the one who can make a difference.

Who was the first one Jamie Lynn Spears turned to when she found out she was pregnant? Not her mom. Not her sister. She turned to a friend. What if you were that friend?

As a teen what can YOU do when a pregnant friend comes to you for advice?

Remain calm and loving. Your friend most likely feels alone, frightened and extremely sensitive about her pregnancy. The most important thing you can offer is your continued friendship.
Show God's love and forgiveness. Your friend may have been looking for love by giving herself intimately to a guy. Now she might feel ashamed and unworthy of love at all. Point her to God, who loves her unconditionally.
Celebrate life. She may consider this baby a "mistake"--a barrier between her and "normal" life. Lovingly remind her that no matter how the baby was conceived, he or she is a gift from God.

Be available to share ... and to listen. Your friend has big decisions to make, and although you can't make those decisions for her, you can be available to help her consider her options. Share information you've discovered on fetal development and on the physical and emotional trauma of abortion. Most of all, be willing to listen to your friend's deepest concerns.
Find help. Your friend is most likely in need of more answers than you can give. Visit a local crisis pregnancy center with your friend, or call CareNet for help at 1-800-395-HELP. Encourage her to tell her parents and to seek the counsel of a pastor or youth pastor.
Partner with her to make better decisions in the future. My Life, Unscripted (Thomas Nelson) is a book for teen girls and encourages teens to script their lives instead of being caught up in the drama and emotions of the moment. Read it together. Talk about the importance of making good choices.Give her a book to help her face her unique issues, such as Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being Young Mom (Zondervan).

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Of course teen pregnancy isn't the only drama young women face. If you or someone you know has made a positive decision as a teen, Tricia Goyer wants to hear about it.

***Video Contest for teens. Watch the video for the contest here! Here's the scoop! Attention TEENS! Want to win an iPod? Yeah, me too! (Just kidding.) Tricia Goyer, author of the teen non-fiction book My Life, Unscripted (Thomas Nelson) is hosting a video trailer contest! My Life, Unscripted uses the metaphor of screen writing to challenge young women to "script" your lives, rather than be blown along by the next emotional drama or temptation! (Been there, done that!) You could be one of three lucky contestants to win an iPod! All you have to do is make a short (or not-so-short) video trailer sharing concepts shared in the book: My Life, Unscripted ... such as: how you've overcome temptation, or survived peer-pressure, or dumped the Loser boyfriend, or restored a relationship with your parents, or found your strength in Christ! Be creative ...interview your friends (or even better, make them wear dorky costumes) and add some cool music. Then just post it on GodTube (video must be approved by GodTube before it is broadcasted, which takes a few hours) or YouTube! You also must include three things in your video:1) the book title: My Life, Unscripted2) the author: Tricia Goyer3) and these words: "Check it out!" After you finish the video, email your name, age, video link, and your address to: bookmarketing@triciagoyer.comThe winning videos will be the top three with the most views as counted on GodTube or YouTube on March 31, 2008 at 11:59 p.m. This contest is open to young women ages 13-19. So go ahead, tell your friends, your teachers, your youth leaders ... and your parents friends to check it out!

***Videos with inappropriate content as decided by Tricia Goyer will be disqualified (G-rated please). For your best chance to win, only upload videos to either GodTube or YouTube. Choose one. We will not add totals from more than one site together.

Three winners will receive an iPod Nano 4G.


Tricia Goyer writes articles for national publications such as Focus on the Family and is a columnist for teen moms through MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International: (www.mops.org/teen)For more information, go to: http://www.triciagoyer.com/

Shameless Plug!

It's been awhile since I posted because I've been hurtling at warp speed toward the deadline for my first book. Very scary stuff.

So I've crawled out of my cave to brave the sunlight only long enough to toss out the aforementioned shameless plug. I recently found my copy of a Barbour press release sitting in my email box. Since I've sort of decided to chronicle my journey in this tucked away, seldom viewed forum, I felt it appropriate to post the press release here:

Barbour Publishing Affirms Commitment to Fiction
Signs Exclusive, Multi-Book Contracts with Five Authors

Uhrichsville, OH—Demonstrating its continuing commitment to fiction, Barbour Publishing has signed five authors to exclusive, multi-book contracts. Current authors Mary Connealy, M.L. Tyndall, Christine Lynxwiler, and Kelly Eileen Hake, and new author Marcia Gruver, will write a combined 30 books for Barbour over the next few years.

"Barbour has long been known for doing inspirational romance well, and we have plans to continue to grow that strength with the launch of our cozy mystery series in January 2008 and with more full-length fiction novels on each new list," said Rebecca Germany, fiction editor for Barbour.

Mary Connealy, whose first two books Petticoat Ranch and Golden Days released in February, is known for bringing humor to historical settings. Connealy has agreed to write nine books for release over the next three years, beginning with Calico Canyon in August 2008 and Gingham Mountain in spring 2009. Following that series, she will write a series of humorous romances set in Montana. Her next book, Of Mice…and Murder, releases in early 2008 in the Heartsong Presents Mysteries book club.

M.L. Tyndall, who earned a 2007 Christy Award nomination for her book, The Redemption, has agreed to writing six books over the next three years. Tyndall, who has written three inspirational pirate romance novels set in the Caribbean, will release The Falcon and the Sparrow in August 2008, a stand-alone novel set in England during the Napoleon Wars, followed by a trilogy about three sisters set in Charleston, SC, prior to the American Revolution.

Award-winning author Christine Lynxwiler is set to release six books, starting in spring 2009. Lynxwiler, who won a book of the year award from American Christian Fiction Writers, writes lighthearted contemporary fiction. Barbour reports strong sales for her latest release, Forever Christmas, and her Arkansas story collection has become a Barbour bestseller. Her next book, Along Came a Cowboy, is due out in fall 2008.

Kelly Eileen Hake, the daughter of bestselling author Cathy Marie Hake, has become a reader favorite as part of Barbour’s Heartsongs Presents program, where she has released several books. Beginning in the fall 2008, Barbour plans to release a three-book historical brides series set in Nebraska. At the same time, Kelly Hake also plans to pursue a master’s in fiction writing.

Joining the Barbour family will be first-time author Marcia Gruver, who has agreed to a three book series. Gruver, who lives in Texas, found out about her contract when Germany made the annual surprise announcement at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in September. The first book in Gruver’s historical Texas Fortunes trilogy, Diamond Duo, is scheduled for a fall 2008 release.

There, now. I've shamelessly plugged. But not just myself. I've also tooted the horn for a few other writers--amazing writers with whom I feel unworthy (but so honored) to be numbered.

In case you missed it, that's my name right there at the end. Oh, and at the beginning, too. In the sentence that reads "new author Marcia Gruver will write a combined total of 30 books for Barbour over the next few years." ;)

July 31st? That was my last post? My how time flies when you're awarded a contract at the ACFW conference in Dallas from Barbour Publishing for a three book series entitled Texas Fortunes including Diamond Duo, the first title, followed by Chasing Charity, and then Emmy's Equal. gasp!

You read right. I received my first contract! A THREE-BOOK contract. Bless you Rebecca Germany and Barbour for your faith in me. I won't let you down!

And that's the reason/excuse I have for neglecting my blog. I have a DEADLINE. Wow. It's like a roller coaster ride over the Grand Canyon. Thrilling and terrifying all at the same time.

Deadline or not, I've been hauled from my cave by the ear--thanks to my lovely, sweet critique partner, Jessica Ferguson.

I've been tagged. Not like a deer or a dead body. This friendly little tag is worse in some ways. It requires me to tax my memory, to go back in my mind to times and places I might not care to revisit. But, hey. A soon-to-be-multi-published-author can be a good sport, so here goes:

My life 10 years ago: I had just awakened from the fog of new-found love and realized I'd actually married a man with four boys. (Took me five years to wake up.) Hubby was on the road, and I was home alone with a ten-year-old and three teen aged boys. Yikes! I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

20 years ago: Living in Virginia, attending a school near D.C. to learn computer programming. Watching my daughter fall in love with a Virginia boy who would later become the father of my two oldest grandsons.

30 years ago: Now we're taxing my mind. This is too close to the 60's for my memory to be of any use at all. :) If you'd asked about 40 years ago, I could've told stories of thigh-high boots and waist-length hair, of riding on the backs of motorcycles, surfing, attending Beatles concerts.

In the 70's I was a reformed hippy, redeemed Christian, and the mother of a beautiful eight-year-old daughter. So, I guess they were great times after all.