It’s the 4th quarter…

It’s time to finish strong…

I have an awesome friend Carol Peterson who is a planner. I generally like to have a plan too but not quite like Carol. She makes a plan, fine tunes it, reviews it, tweaks it, lives it, modifies as needed. Oh yes, then there is the quarterly review… just when I’m nodding off Carol reminds me to review my plan. I’m sure as I consider the next few words of this post she’s already working on “the plan post” for the first of the year. I like that about Carol… one of the many things that helps to keep me on my toes.

Well I think this has been a pretty good year. I published my 4th book, The Wellspring Of Life. This was my baby from the very beginning. Not too long thereafter… everything changed. God spoke to me through a friend and… chicka boom chicka boom… new opportunities blossomed.

I picked up a part-time job at my church. Geology? No, still doing that but this is in Information Technology… yep yep yep I learned a bit of how to do I.T. along the way. And the writing? Lordy yes, I’ve been at that too… writing content at church and ghost writing on environmental issues to boot. Plus finishing up my 5th book about finding your calling…

Needless to say I’m pretty stoked to settle back into a groove. But before I do I’m going to rework my websites… just like I’ve reworked my schedule! Yep, all 3 of my URL’s. My goal is to have that done by the first of the year. I’m counting on Carol and my other writer friends to encourage me and hold me accountable. Praise God! And I’ll need prayers from all of you as I have no idea what this is going to look like at the moment… just that it is time to finish strong…

How will you be “finishing strong” this year?

Image courtesy of indegogo.com

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My weekend wasn’t quite so dramatic… 😉

If you’ve ever been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans you may know at midnight on Fat Tuesday the police come through on horses, commanding “Mardi Gras is over, clear the streets!” On my two visits to NOLA for the event many years ago my casual observation was that everybody listened. The police seemed pretty serious about this; even the businesses shut down. And so rang in Lent with Ash Wednesday, a time to repent and turn our focus intently toward God.

Writing a book seems more like going to the Oscars… once the book is published my first inclination is to head to the after party. However, for many writers to whom crafting their work comes naturally, selling books is where the real sweat equity resides.

Marketing a book must seem like a prideful activity to non-writers. We talk it up all about ourselves and our book. It must seem like Vanity Fair has engaged us to throw out tidbits of self-promotion at every turn like the boozy evening of celebrities that revel through Vanity’s Oscar party. Whether you hire a seasoned PR firm, are old hat at self-marketing, or just winging it, here’s the truth:

You are the single most valuable asset to market your work, and the real work of being a successful author has just begun.

This seems to be true whether you’re published by a major house or doing it on your own; for many, the fun is done; now it’s time to bust a move. Lent is sort of like the after party for newly published writers, a turning point for so many as we focus on Jesus and His journey to the cross.

I’m going to share with you just 2 Big To-Do’s for this after party (i.e., some helpful stuff on selling books):

• Implement well. The adage goes something like 80% of our results are accomplished with just 20% of our effort. Identify the 20% and stick with that stuff. So I had a publishing guru send me this book with a bajillion good ideas on marketing a book. It remains the single best resource that I’ve found. “Guerrilla Marketing For Writers.” Here’s one essential morsel about “implement” – write a bad to the bone press release. Include it in a media kit package on your website. The ultimate compliment here is to have the press copy your release verbatim. Jubilation accompanied by 3-second handstands will be the reaction.

• Engage. Your best customers are the ones who will tell their friends or social network about what you’ve written, or recommend your book. You want to identify with the people who think of you as one of their favorite authors. So the Vanity Fair party is a one-night event. Go to it. Have fun. Then, get to work getting to know and networking with the people who are going to help you promote your work. Do this the rest of your days. In many ways this is a natural fit for the expressive and nurturing “NF’s” – the visionary and magnetic personality type that fits most authors.

For me personally, I am excited about transitioning to marketing “The Wellspring Of Life.” I love being around people and interacting, it’s a natural part of my personality. Also, I am excited about writing my next book, a vade mecum of my spiritual journey. Yep, one of them, but with a different twist as you will see…

What good advice can you share about marketing a book?

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Remember when it rains… there will be gracedrops.

“When it rains it pours.” Know it? Yep, the Morton Salt weather idiom that says when things go wrong, it seems a lot of things go wrong at the same time. Yuk how it works out that way sometimes.

Here’s my positive silver lining spin for today on getting drenched:

Jesus said, “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” Mark 9:50

Believers are thought of as the salt of the earth, the covenant leaders who help advance God’s kingdom here. Why salt? Well, it’s symbolic of the presence of God in our lives because salt penetrates and preserves. It’s also a healing agent. That’s what He did with His awesome showers of gracedrops.

Gracedrops, what’s that all about?

So you know I wrote a book about the water. It’s “The Wellspring Of Life,” set to be released on March 15th. Super soaked and stoked about it! Gracedrops are flavor that I tossed out while writing The Wellspring, they’re the cleansing shower of love that God provides. Gracedrops are in the chapter with kerplunk and pitter patter. There are scientific formulas that go along with my theories on the heart… here’s a very brief excerpt:

Flavor + Favor + Gracedrops = The Perfect Storm!

Remember, what goes up must come down – what are you sending up and out of your heart? Look around and see what you’re receiving in return…

Did you know that…

kerplunk + pitter-patter = ker-thump?

Confused? Please don’t be.

Just remember…

– Showers are a good thing because they bless us with puddles of gracedrops.
– When it rains it pours… salt that is.
– One can never get too drippy juicy wet.
– March 15th is the day to pick up “The Wellspring Of Life”

When it rains it pours.

Gettin’ good and salty with gracedrops.

Thankful.

Image courtesy of nitsrik on flickr.com

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The Wellspring – pouring into it so it will be good to the last drop!

I’m down to writing the last chapter of The Wellspring Of Life. That in and of itself is pretty exciting in my little world, but I’m finding it so fitting and meaningful at Christmas this year because this chapter is all about Jesus. The Man at the well handing out the living water, the place where we ultimately find fulfillment in a way that only a relationship with Jesus can provide.

The Bible is laced with symbolism and metaphors related to water and the blessing that it provides. Life grew out of and is sustained by water. Our lives are abundantly fruitful like the tree planted next to the stream when we delight in, apply and live by God’s wisdom. He leads us to and provides the still waters that will protect us from harm and restore us when we go astray. We find eternal life and love through the streams of water that our soul thirsts for. We can and should share this water with everyone, both good and evil, and God will reward us. The Book of Ecclesiastes says we are to “cast our bread upon the waters” – meaning life will provide both risk and reward, and that we must seize them both as opportunities. Love is the action verb of the heart, a perfect gift from above and one that we can only learn from God and live out when it flows like a river of water unconditionally from our hearts. Praise God, this water of life is drawn from the well of salvation.

This title sprouted and blossoms from Proverbs 4:23 – Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. I attempt to unlock the power of this verse with a bank of knowledge that comes from The Bible in pitch perfect harmony with an education and career as a Geologist working in Environmental and Water Resources Consulting.

The bloody organ we call the heart pumps life through our veins like Jesus offers hope for our souls. While I started this book several years ago somehow I knew it wasn’t time to finish it. I wasn’t ready and still had much to learn. While I hope to be learning much more along my journey, now is the time and I’m targeting to polish this one up and release it in mid-February.

I’m pretty stoked about this book because I believe it is needed, unique and will add value to anyone who is interested in self-improvement; anyone who is interested in improving their relationships with other people; and anyone who cares to make the most of what this life has to offer. Yep, I’ve poured my cup into this one.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse related to water or the heart?

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