Author Archive

Posted on December 28, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson

A Christmas Visit

Good morning!

And welcome to my home. You’ll have to pardon me. I’m still a little frazzled from the weekend: attending three Spirit-filled church services, seeing War Horse (excellent movie, btw), and then spending all day Monday celebrating, first at my in-laws with only twenty-two relatives, then at my brother’s home with 34 more family members. Uffda, there was a ton of food (no lutefisk, thank goodness), and chaos, and music, and laughter. Loved it!

How about you? How did you celebrate?

Would you care for something to drink? I made coffee–but, I’ll warn you, since I don’t drink coffee, I have no clue if it tastes good. Perhaps you’d rather have hot chocolate. Oh, and my kids made a bunch of delectable cake-mix cookies to share with you. Try one of the fudgies too. They’re my personal favorite.

Please, don’t worry about your shoes. No snow was tracked in with our brown Christmas. It reached a record-high 52 degrees here on Monday! That’s nearly swimming weather. Next year, we’ll have snow piled roof high, I’m certain. I hope …

But, I digress, you came to see my house, not talk about the weather, you want the tour!

See that curving advent candle holder on our kitchen table? We get that out during Advent and read devotions before supper. I love that time! It’s a perfect way to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Although, my kids informed me that it’s time I choose an Advent devotional geared toward adults rather than children. <sigh> I suppose my kids aren’t little anymore.

Why don’t you follow me into the dining room? The ceramic gingerbread village on top of my hutch is still lit–probably will be for another week. I love the cheer beaming from the church, coffee shoppe, and train station. Hopefully in the coming years I’ll be able to put more of the homes out, but our two-year-old kitty is still a mite too rambunctious.

The silver and crystal nativity set on the table doesn’t fit with the gingerbread theme, but it does add a touch of elegance. (Besides, I have yet to find a ceramic gingerbread nativity scene.)

Please, come on downstairs and get comfy on the couch. Oh, I know, our artificial tree is nothing to brag about. It’s older than my two boys, and branches keep breaking off, but to us it’s beautiful. Most of the ornaments you see are either our annual family ornaments, or ones crafted by the kids. It has no theme, other than highlighting family. That’s what makes it beautiful.

The Christmas train stocking holders on the mantle are cute, aren’t they? But that isn’t what our children love the most. That clock at the end, the one surrounded with furry critters, that’s what the kids beg me to drag out of storage. You see, it’s a count down clock. It starts on December 1st and, on the hour, it counts down the days till Christmas. First, it’ll sing out the number of days till Christmas, then it’ll chime a quick Christmas tune.

But my favorite decoration is the porcelain doll nativity set in front of the fireplace. That reminds me of what Christmas is all about.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. My door is always open–just don’t count on the coffee.

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas

and I pray you have a blessed 2012!

Posted on December 14, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson

Is Your Heart Prepared?

A little over a week ago, I was preparing to host a book club at my home. Anyone who has readied their home for guests knows how this goes.

The house requires a thorough cleaning which means unraveling those cobwebs in the corners of your 20 foot ceilings and evicting all the dust bunnies residing beneath your furniture and on top of your fridge. The windows must sparkle, the stove top should gleam. Then, of course, there’s the bathroom … and I’ve got two teenage boys. ‘Nuff said.

Now this book club meets to do more than just talk about the selected book; the hostess also makes a meal. Typically, these meals are uber-fancy. So, not only does my house have to be in spotless condition, but I have to create a gourmet dinner too! Now for many of you, that’s not a hardship, but my expertise lies with creating Crock-Pot roasts. Give me a recipe with more than three ingredients, and I’ll ruin it. Guaranteed.

Heaped on top of cleaning and cooking is the fact that it’s Christmas season. That means my house should be decked out in full Christmas adornment. The trees should be dressed with lights and ornaments. My gingerbread village should look alive with lights and little people. The nativity scenes should be laid out with reverence.

Oh, what we do to prepare for guests!

But, do you do the same for Jesus?

The season of Advent is meant to be a time of preparing our hearts for Jesus, but how much effort do we put into that preparation? How much time do we spend clearing out the cobwebs and dust bunnies from our heart? When we create a sumptuous meal and put up dazzling displays, who are we trying to impress?

Hmmm …

So, how do I prepare my heart?

The next time I stress over having an immaculate house, I’ll look inward at the cleanliness of my heart. I need to come clean before Jesus and lay my sins at his feet. And leave them there.

The next time I worry about creating a gourmet meal, I’ll feed my soul with the nourishment of His Word. I can begin and end each day in the Word and share family devotions around the Advent candles.

The next time I fret over setting up decorations, I’ll let His light shine through me instead. What gifts can I bring to Jesus? Perhaps give a toy to a child who otherwise wouldn’t receive one. Pack meals at Feed My Starving Children. Spend time with my family. Sing.

When I focus on Him, I take the spotlight off of me, and my heart opens to receive the Gift of God’s
Son.

Now, that’s an event worth preparing for!

By the way, that book club meeting I told you about? My dust bunnies rested without fear of eviction. The meal was Crock-Pot pork and baked potatoes. Christmas decorations remained in their boxes. And we still had a good time. Imagine that.

Posted on December 10, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson

The Perfect Gift

I met Mari Keisling through church a few years back, but only recently discovered that she writes devotions–beautiful, heart-felt, thought-provoking devotions. So, when Inkspirational Messages decided to host 12 days of devotions, I couldn’t think of a better person to write this weekend’s post than Mari. Please welcome her to Inkspirational Messages today.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

I need just the right gift, a special gift! What’s the point of it all if they are just going to return it, stuff it in a closet or give it away to someone else?

Gift buying can be one of the most stressful activities of the season. There are those who love it. They keep their list throughout the year; making notes and checking sales so they are all set when it’s time to shop. Then there are those who tend to be in denial most of the year. At the last minute, they run out and buy whatever they can find.

When all is said and done, what really makes a gift special or meaningful?

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’” Matthew 2:1-2

In Matthew 2, the Magi had been watching, waiting and preparing for the coming Christ child. The day had finally come and in their preparation they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They were not just gifts for a simple baby. These gifts were suitable for a King, a God, and a Sacrificial Lamb. They acknowledged who Jesus was and why He came.

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’” Luke 2:15

In Luke 2, the shepherds were minding their own business working the late shift. They were startled and afraid at the appearance of an angel announcing the birth of the Savior. The shepherds were not expecting this news. They were not prepared for the coming King and had no expensive gifts with them. But they heard the message of their Savior and they went to Him. Upon seeing Jesus, not a grown man as a King, but as a baby, they spread the word about what had happened. They gave themselves, told their story, and served their purpose for God.

So which of these gifts was special, more meaningful? The truth is they all held the same significance to God. Each person, regardless of background, position, or wealth, recognized the significance of the birth of Jesus and came to Him bringing what they had to offer. God has given us the perfect gift; the most precious gift He could, His one and only Son. The most important gift any of them gave was themselves in worship to their King.

Something to Consider…

God’s perfect gift of Jesus expressed His love and desire to be in a relationship with us. What will your gifts to others, whether purchased, homemade or simply a gift or your time, say about your relationships and their importance in your life?

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus, consider the difference He’s made in your life and the special place He holds in your heart. What will the time you spend worshipping and sharing the gift of Jesus with others say about your relationship with Him?

Introducing Mari Keisling …

My desire and passion is for women to live the life Jesus died for them to have. The resurrection life is a life of freedom, abundance and joy. We each have choices to make. First, choosing to trust Jesus and accept His gift of salvation. Second, choosing to follow Jesus and live by His example.

I have not always been a Christian. I struggled for years with difficult questions and what seemed to be even more difficult answers. If we do nothing to earn salvation, how do we explain to others why what we do matters? What does it mean to live out our faith in the same way Jesus did? Does what we do or say point others to Him?

Faith is meant to be experienced. As Christians, our lives should be an example, a reflection of our relationship with Jesus. We are to live a life worthy of the calling we have received and speak the truth in love. Through my writing, I seek to encourage others to put into practice the truths of God’s Word.

Visit my blog, LYF Moments…because faith happens, at www.liveyourfaithministries.com.

Posted on November 30, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson

All I Want for Christmas

All I want for Christmas is a book to read,

A book to read,

I need a book to read.

Gee, if I could only have a book to read,

Then I would have a Merry Christmas!

Well, that may be a slight exaggeration. I’ll have a merry Christmas regardless of whether I get a book to read or not, but for as long as I can remember, books have filled my Christmas list. And I love gifting books even more, especially ones autographed by my fellow Inkspers!

This year I have three books on my list, two of which I’ve read already (thanks to my local library), books I’m certain I will read over and over. I haven’t read my third choice yet as it doesn’t release until December 3, but it sounds like perfect Christmas reading.

So, if you happen to draw my name this year, here’s a little hint of what I’d like to receive:

 

DESERT GIFT, Side Roads Series #2, by Sally John (Tyndale House 2011). Jillian Galloway is nationally known marriage expert. As she’s about to fly off to market her first book, her husband blindsides her by telling her he wants a divorce. Is everything she’s built her life and career around a sham?

Sally John has long been one of my favorite authors. She’s never been afraid to delve into tough subjects or gloss over real life, rather she paints it with all its grittiness. Desert Gift is no exception.

 

THE FIRST GARDENER by Denise Hildreth Jones (Tyndale House 2011) – Mackenzie and her husband, Tennessee Governor Gray London, tried for years to have a child and are finally blessed with Maddie. Then tragedy strikes as Gray prepares for reelection. Depression threatens to swallow Mackenzie, but the man who’s been tending the governor’s mansion gardens for years does more than cultivate soil, he also tends broken hearts.

This is the first novel I’ve read by Hildreth Jones but it definitely won’t be the last. She not only writes a heart-wrenching/heart-warming story, but she tells it with poetic eloquence.

 

SAVANNA’S GIFT by Camille Eide (White Rose Publishing 2011) – I only recently discovered this e-book novella written by debut novelist Camille Eide. It sounds absolutely perfect for a Christmas read. Here’s the back cover blurb:

When Savanna gets a second chance at the love of her life, will her dream that divided them get in the way?

Forced to return to the ski lodge where she once worked, Savanna Holt is reminded of one special Christmas and how ambition led her to make the worst mistake of her life: Leaving Luke Nelson.

Stunned to discover Luke never left, but worked his way up from lift operator to manager, Savanna sees the opportunity as a gift from God. She’s determined to win Luke back. But Luke wants no reminders of his past hurt, or a relationship with the woman who put ambition before love. Can Savanna convince Luke she’s changed and her interest isn’t because of his position? And when her dream job beckons, will she sacrifice her dream for a second chance at love?

See, they sound good, don’t they? I can’t wait to add them all to my bookshelves

What books are on your Christmas wish list? Which books would make perfect gifts for others?

*         *         *

If you leave a comment on our Hot Reads posts between November 21 & December 2, your name will go into a drawing for Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh. For more details, click here.

 

Posted on November 23, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson

Christmas Reading Wish List

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful,

And I have chocolate to eat,

So I’ll read! So I’ll read! So I’ll read!

Can you think of anything better than snuggling beneath a fleece blanket in your favorite chair, a lit fireplace warming the air? You’ve got whipped-cream-topped hot cocoa in one hand and a novel in the other? Nope. Nothing’s better than that. Especially here in Minnesota where the temperatures sink below freezing for months at a time.

The hard part is choosing a book. There are so many good ones out there, I could spend the entire winter in that cozy chair. But, for you, I’ve narrowed down my Christmas reading wish list to two.

With Dickens you’ll sing a song

When Scrooge says he is wrong.

So I’ll hum and I’ll tap a beat

While I read! While I read! While I read!

A MARRIAGE CAROL by Chris Fabry & Gary Chapman (Moody Publishers 2011) — One of my favorite new authors is Chris Fabry (June Bug, Dogwood, and Almost Heaven). I can’t wait to read his and Gary Chapman’s version of the Dickens’ classic.

Jake and Marlee, a typical couple, are about to call it quits. Over time they have drifted apart; the sparks are dead. Marlee is convinced she married the wrong man and Jake feels tied down to the wrong woman. Jake is distant and tired of being controlled while Marlee is tired of being the only one trying to the save their marriage.

They go to bed Christmas Eve, in separate rooms, each rationalizing…life is too short to be miserable…love shouldn’t hurt like this…their marriage must end for happiness to return.

But their lives are about to take a turn. The ghosts of Marriage Past, Marriage Present, and Marriage Future reveal to Jake and Marlee how past choices, present realities, and their potential future might look if they do not change their “stories.” Jake and Marlee experience a Christmas gift that will radically change their thinking and cause them to look at marriage not for what they can get out of it but for what God can do in and through their marriage.

That O. Henry, he makes me cry

In The Gift of the Magi.

So keep the tissues handy

When you read! When you read! When you read!

PAPER ANGELS: A NOVEL by Jimmy Wayne & Travis Thrasher (Howard Books 2011) – Travis Thrasher is probably the king of writing across genres. And he does it well. So, it’s no surprise to see him tackle a Christmas book along with country singer/songwriter Jimmy Wayne. I look forward to reading this one too. (I may even keep a box of tissues close.)

Kevin Morrell is a forty-three-year-old husband and father who runs a successful design and marketing firm that’s crashed into the suffering economy. Attempting to navigate the busyness of the mall at Christmas, Kevin is humbled when he stumbles across the Salvation Army‘s Angel Tree Project. His wife insists that he take a paper ornament.

The name on the ornament is Thomas Brandt, a fifteen-year-old still reeling from the implosion of his family—from years of verbal abuse from an alcoholic father to a mother who finally left him behind, only to find herself and her children penniless and struggling. The only thing has allowed Lynn to survive is her faith. Thomas shares that faith, but he also wonders why God has seemingly abandoned them.

This is the story about a man and a boy one December. A man whose life is changed by a simple expression of kindness, and a boy who takes that expression of kindness and shows the true meaning of Christmas.

If that doesn’t convince you to keep tissues handy, check out this music video by Jimmy Wayne: Paper Angels.

What’s on your Christmas reading wish list? Do you have any favorites from past years?

* * *

If you leave a comment on our Hot Reads posts between November 21 & December 2, your name will go into a drawing for Remembering Christmas by Dan Walsh. For more details, click here.

Posted on November 16, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson

A Letter to My Teenage Self–You Are Never Alone

Dear Brenda,

I understand it’s a lonely time in your life. Making friends has never come easy. The same holds true for many your age. I wish I could say that struggle will ease over the years, but few things worthwhile are achieved without effort. As you strive, always remember to be yourself. God made you uniquely you and He treasures who you are. Remember, you are never alone.

And don’t forget to look for friendship within your own home. Siblings make the best of friends and will always be there for you.

Those dreams you have of writing a book, they’re more than just dreams. God has crafted that gift especially for you. Don’t  bury those longings where you’ll never find them, but act on them. Receive God’s gift and multiply it. You’ll find no greater act of worship.

You’re growing up on a farm, one of the best places in the world, but it won’t always be there for you. Take time to enjoy the beauty around you. Cradle the kittens and roughhouse with the dog. Take walks through the cornfields and sing down by the lake. Throw snowballs and go sledding. Bike. Swim. Walk. Enjoy the skies dotted with innumerable stars and be awestruck by the northern lights. Breathe in lilac’s spring bloom and autumn’s spicy harvest.

Always accept your grandma’s offering of molasses cookies. Nothing fills her heart more than watching her children and grandchildren enjoy her baking. Your acceptance of her gift is her treasure.

Never stop making music, be it blending with a choir, harmonizing with friends, or playing guitar alone by the lake, praising the Creator of song. Music will always unlock your stoic facade and sing the truth to your heart.

And, in all things, remember the One who breathed life into you, the Giftor or your dreams, the Painter of nature, the Architect of music. Your life will climb peaks, slide into valleys, and plateau on the plains. Yet through every moment, He is with you.

Even when no one else is around, you are never alone.

Sincerely,

Your older, wiser, and always-learning self.

Posted on November 2, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson

Writing 101: Using the Six Senses

Six senses? Ahem, last you checked there were only five, right. Well, bear with me a moment and see if I can convince you otherwise.

But, let me go back to the beginning.

What do you think about this line?

Carrie walked into the garage and picked up a hammer.

I know. Yawn. It lacks life. There’s no texture, no flavor. In other words, it’s bo-o-oring.

So how do we spice it up? By using our SHIFTS: See, Hear, Instinct, Feel, Taste, Smell. (Notice, that’s six).

SHIFTS, or sensory images, are what add depth to your story. They help establish setting, time of day, historical period. They help set the mood or tone for your story and add perspective to your characters. Senses breathe life into the setting; they make it real, tangible. They take your story from blasé to brilliant.

The difficulty can be in applying them. I created a writer’s sensory chart to which I added the sixth sense: instinct/intuition–you know, those goose bumps you feel when something’s not quite right or when you think someone’s watching you. Another way to describe it would be the nudgings of the Holy Spirit, the knowing that God is talking to you.

Now, let’s put this chart into practice. What I do is mentally place myself into the setting. I close my eyes, shut out the world, and observe.

Imagine you’re Carrie walking into your garage and then picking up a hammer.  Write down everything you see. Now close your eyes and listen. What do you hear? Sense? Smell? Reach out and touch something. Describe its texture. What do other surfaces feel like?  Is your character eating something? Chewing gum perhaps? Maybe she’s recently eaten supper.

Fill out your chart with all your sensory observations.

Now it’s time to incorporate them into your scene. Remember, when you include the desired details, dress them up with strong words. Use onomatopoeia (words that sound like what you’re describing), words like clank, rattle, and zap. Utilize strong action verbs–pelt, slap, strode—that paint vivid pictures. Avoid the adjective trap by using specific nouns, words that evoke a precise image: Rolex, hummingbird, cinnamon.

In every scene, apply at least three senses. It’s easy to employ *seeing* and *hearing*, but the rest of the senses add greater depth.

I love to read books with flowing descriptions, but that’s not true for everyone. I love elegant prose that transports me into the setting. My gracious critique partners, Lorna and Shannon, will tell you I’m constantly asking for more details.

But, there is a point when it’s too much, often called Purple Prose. Is the detail you’re using important to the story? Does it help establish setting, or is it *description* simply for the sake of description? Does your imagery pull your reader away from the story, rather than draw them into it? It can be a fine line, and it can be very subjective. If you’re writing an action packed scene, long descriptions will slow it down. But if you’re a literary writer, or someone who relies on musical prose to relate your story, then flowing descriptions are precisely what the reader wants. In other words, know your audience.

Okay, now let’s go back to that generic first line (Carrie walked into the garage and picked up a hammer.) to see if using all the senses makes it any better.

Carrie strode into the garage, the door to the house banging shut behind her. The antifreeze and exhaust fumes embedded into the walls smelled so much better than her burnt spaghetti. Probably tasted better too.

She spit on a concrete floor already stained with oil. Nothing tasted worse than charred noodles. If the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, she’d blown it big time. Kyle would never want to see her again.

Clenching her fists, she stomped around her Ford Escort to the metal workbench and picked up a hammer and nail. The hammer’s rubber grip was far more comfortable than a wooden spoon, and the recipe for building a birdhouse was so much easier to follow than anything by Betty Crocker.

Why had her mother’s culinary gene skipped her?

She poked the nail into a two by four and slammed the hammer down. The head crashed into her thumb and she jerked her hand away. The board and nail clomped onto the concrete; the nail skittered beneath her work bench. Stifling the urge to curse, she blinked away tears.

The hairs on the back of her neck bristled. Was he watching her? Please, God, no.

Chin trembling, she spun around.

Kyle stood by her Escort. Smiling. Smiling!

He winked and nodded to his Prius waiting on the driveway. “How about I treat you to Marcellos tonight? Tomorrow, I’ll make you supper.”

Much better, isn’t it? And see how nice that 6th sense worked in there?

Now it’s your turn. I dare you to take that boring sentence and, with information from your SHIFTS chart, tell your own mini-story using at least three of the senses. And, if you’re brave, I’d love you to post it here.

Posted on October 29, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson

Celebration Time!!!

Remember a few years back when you were in elementary school, the days you looked forward to the most (besides weekends and vacations of course) were the holiday celebrations. Those were the days you actually wanted to go to school. You’d get to dress up for the Halloween parade, share a gift with a fellow student for the Christmas celebration, make a Valentine card to give to everyone in your class, etc. Food was usually involved in some way too.

Well today we’re interrupting our Writing 101 class to celebrate Publication <insert confetti throwing and noisemakers>. Yes, two of our esteemed authors  here at Inkspirational Messages–Jerri Lynn Ledford and Shannon Taylor Vannatter–have new releases out.

It’s time to party!

I’ve brought bars to share (reminder for non-Minnesotans, bars in this case are not the place you go to drink alcohol, rather they are highly sweetened, often chocolate treats, usually layered in a pan. Calories? <shhh. We don’t talk about them.>) Anyway, I digress.  If you’d like to bring something to share, that would be great!

So please come celebrate with us as we honor two of our very own.

Jerri’s debut novel, Biloxi Sunrise, released just this week. You can find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble for just 99 cents. Yes, you heard me right: only 99 pennies. I already have it on my Kindle. Don’t have a Kindle or a Nook? No problem. Both Amazon and Barnes and Noble have computer apps you can download. So, no excuses.

Want to know more about Jerri? Stop by her terrific website: http://www.jerriledford.com/. You can also *like* her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jerri-Lynn-Ledford/147815135313371

BILOXI SUNRISE

The Biloxi Series

Debut Novel by Jerri Lynn Ledford

Deep South Press 2011

He hadn’t protected them.

When Homicide Special Investigator Jack Roe’s daughter is killed in an auto accident and his wife dies from a drug overdose, he abandons a promising career as a Military Police Officer. If only he’d been there when they needed him, he could have saved them both.

Posted on October 19, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson

You Prepare A Table …

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Psalm 23:5a

I’ll admit, this verse and I have had a bit of a wrestling match over these past couple of weeks.

If I take this verse literally (and being a literal thinker, I tend to do that), it says He prepares a table, a feast, bounty for me. It’s true, I do have everything I need, but then I live in the United States of America, the land of abundance.

What about those who live in Sudan? Ethiopia? India? Where is their feast?

And then the verse goes on to say He prepares this feast in front of my enemies.

Enemies?  I don’t have any enemies. Maybe there are a few people I don’t really care for, and I’m probably not their favorite person either, but we’re not enemies.

Back when King David penned this Psalm, he  was intimate with the word enemy, from fighting lions and bears, to besting Goliath, and then warring against nations. David knew God always provided, and his enemies were witnesses to those provisions.

But what about us today?

It took a while for this to sink in, but the feast and the enemy this verse speaks of today is far more spiritual than literal. The fact is, I do have enemies:

• Insecurity
• Doubt
• Fatigue
• Frustration

And anything else that keeps me from a full communion with God, that prevents me from experiencing His abundant love; they are deadly enemies.

But God has provided a banquet in my enemies’ presence.

When I question my value, God loves me with me an outpouring of His words, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; …” Psalm 139:13-14.

When I question His existence, He gifts me with a sunset ribboned with a harvest of colors, and tree leaves dipped to match.

When fatigue and weariness weigh me down, preventing me from giving my all, He grants rest: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened; and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

Posted on October 5, 2011 - by Brenda Anderson

An Introvert’s View of the ACFW National Conference

In the six plus years I’ve been writing, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and getting to know many an aspiring author. I’ve had a front row seat as many of these new friends have had their manuscripts requested, then signed with an agent, and finally earned their first publishing contract (not always in that order).

For me there’s no greater motivation to keep going, to keep learning, than through witnessing the success of others. If they can do it, so can I!

One of those friends is Stacy Monson. I met her a couple of years ago when she started our Minnesota chapter of ACFW, MN-NICE: Novelists Inspiring Christian Excellence. In the short period Stacy’s been writing seriously, she’s achieved phenomenal success, placing in a myriad of contests. Here’s a peek at the impressive list:

• 1st Place – 2010 Heart of the Rockies Contest
• 3rd Place – 2011 Great Expectations Contest
• Semi-Finalist – 2011 ACFW Genesis Contest
• 1st Place – 2010 Gotcha! Contest
• 1st Place – 2010 Duel on the Delta Contest
• 1st Place – 2010 Touched by Love Contest
• 3rd Place – 2010 TARA Contest
• 3rd Place – 2010 Dixie Kane Contest
• Bronze Finalist – 2010 Frasier Contest

With that kind of resume, I don’t expect it will be long before we see Stacy’s name on the front cover of a book.

Stacy gives much of the credit for her successes to attending conferences so I’ve asked her to fill in for me today and share what she’s learned. You can also learn more about her at: http://stacymonson.com/

 

An Introvert’s View of the ACFW National Conference

by Stacy Monson