Welcome to the blog of author Tricia Goyer!

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Know Thy Book, Share Thy Hope

Sometimes marketing happens when we try to connect with as many people as possible . . . other times, it's sharing with ONE.

"So, what is your book about?" It's a question I often get when people find out I'm a writer. Giving just the right amount of information to start a conversation is something we should all practice. After all, the first 30-seconds will either make the person want to know more . . . or not. It will either end a conversation, or start one that can have an eternal impact.

The first thing I do is summarize your book as simply as possible. Here is my summary for my book Generation NeXt Marriage, which will be out this fall:

Generation NeXt Marriage is a book for couples today who want to stay married for life, yet see marriage being assaulted in our generation. It’s a book that discusses our biggest concerns and shows how hope in God makes all the difference. Basically, it talks about our strengths and weaknesses as a generation. It talks about what makes marriage in our generation different from others.

After that, I'm usually asked, "What makes our generation different?" I then talk about the growing-up years of Gen Xers, how the divorce rate skyrocketed 300% when we were kids, and how our former latch-key existence leads to our struggles.

Usually, the next question I get is: "What are some of the biggest concerns?"

It is then I share chapter titles, such as: balancing schedules, communication, church attendance (or lack of), media influences, the "ease" of getting a divorce. Most people nod their heads with understanding. Then ask something like, "So is there hope for marriage?"

And after that, I share the hope we find in God to help with the specific concerns of our generation.

Are you catching on? One question, led to a conversation. Not only that, the other person LED it.

Instead of me rattling on about my book, the other person was drawn in, and they kept asking more.

Not only that, the talk about my book, led to a discussion about MY GOD.

So, why don't you try it? Write a summary for your book, then consider what information you can give to share truth with just ONE.

Monday, July 30, 2007

2 by Lewis


Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.

Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you mean 'very'; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.

C. S. Lewis
English essayist & juvenile novelist (1898 - 1963)

Friday, July 27, 2007

35 Things you need to know about writing...


Check out 1-6 here, and 7-9 here and 10-14 here
and 15-19 here!

#20: Avoid Fiction Cliches: You know those phrases you see in fiction all the time: "he spun on his heel and left," "the door was ajar," "the pungeunt odor," "a solitary tear rolled down her cheek," and "he was visibly shaken"?

There are many more; trust me.

If you've seen it enough that you recognize it, it's a fiction cliché. Strive to eliminate all clichés from your writing.

My theory as to why authors use these tired phrases is twofold. First, I think they may actually use them in real life. It takes discipline to detect and eliminate such things from your personal vocabulary. If you, like most of us, are still on the journey to that destination, the clichés you use in normal conversation will find their way into your fiction.

The other part of it, I think, is that aspiring writers want to sound like established writers. They're finally writing a novel, for crying out loud, and they're going to use all those phrases the other authors use, the phrases they've always wanted to write in a book.

The problem with clichés in fiction is that they're stale and unoriginal. They sound amateurish. Instead of coming up with a fresh way of expressing something, they revert to the tired way of saying it.

They call it a bone-chilling screech or a blood-curdling scream, when they could've said the scream was so piercing so as to shatter bulletproof glass.

She speaks in hushed tones and his heart skips a beat and his blood runs cold, when all the time they could've been doing things that were interesting to read and sounded like the author had come up with the expression on the spot.

When you see a cliché in your fiction, cut it out. Find a new way to say it.
jeff gerke

#21: Use Circularity: Early on in my writing career I discovered something that lends an ineffible sense of completeness and poetic unity to my writing.

I was reading a book on brainstorming and netting out an idea using those charts where you start with a central thought in the idea and then you "web" out spin-off ideas from there. I don't remember what the book was called, but I remember the term I learned: circularity.

The author was saying that you should create a short story or essay from the web you come up with on the page and (and here's the key) that you should begin with your central idea and, in the conclusion, refer back to it.

So if your first thought was guitar and in your webbing you come to realize your idea is really about the influence of Simon and Garfunkel on modern pop music, when you write your essay you should begin by talking about a guitar and then move on to what the idea is mainly about. But as the story wraps up you should come back to your image of the guitar.

I have found this to be a remarkable tool in fiction. Used correctly, it gives your writing a wholistic and lyrical feeling and implies that you knew at the beginning precisely where all this was going to go. Circularity makes your writing feel intentional and nicely wrapped up at the end.

You can use circularity in an entire book (wrapping up the end by referring to the beginning), in a single scene, or even with characters and themes.

How about some examples?

I began my fourth novel, Operation: Firebrand, with this line: "Today I'm going to kill a man in cold blood."

Engaging, huh? You want to know who this person is. You think he's a serial killer or something. So you keep reading.

In the scene you learn that this character is a Navy SEAL deployed with his platoon in Indonesia, and that he is the team's sniper. Now you start understanding why he could be about to kill a man in cold blood. Ah, you think, he's a trained assassin. Interesting.

But then you begin to read that he's uncomfortable with this situation, that he's undergone a change in his life and he's no longer convinced that he should be doing this job.

I end the scene the same way I began it, with a repeat of the first line. Only when he says it this time you realize it's not the mantra of a killer but a cry for help: "Oh, Lord Jesus, today I am going to kill a man in cold blood."

Suddenly, with that last line, the scene is tied together like a ribbon around a present. You realize that the author knew what he was doing when he began this journey and that you might not always know what he's going to do but that you can trust him to drive the bus well.

I don't know what it is about referring to the beginning at the end that makes something feel complete and like a solid unit, but I'm telling you, it does.

Try it in your own writing. Write a little short story or article and be conscious about constructing your beginning in a distinctive way and make sure your ending refers back to it. Maybe write the story two ways, once with no attempt at circularity and once with it. Let someone else read both and tell you which one is better.

I think circularity works best in smaller units, like a prologue or essay, as the beginning is still in the reader's mind after only a few pages. But if your beginning is distinctive enough that the reader will remember it even at the end, then by all means refer back to it.

In the same novel, Operation: Firebrand, I end the book with a reference back to the beginning. Something like: "This wasn't where he thought he'd be, way back on that day when he went out to kill a man in cold blood. It was much better."

Whether the segment you're writing now is large or small, think about how you could add a nice dose of circularity. See if you can find a way at the end to refer back to the beginning.

Your story unit will feel whole and finished and your readers will acknowledge your all-around skilz.
jeff gerke

#22: How about Stephen King's line: The road to hell is paved with adverbs. I love that line and it is so meaningful. I put it in my book.
gail gaymer martin

#23: Number #1 writing rule: Don't bore the reader!
marlo schalesky

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Thursday Tip...Find a Mentor!

Well, yes a physical mentor...a blog and newsletter can only do so much. Ha, Ha!

I've been blessed to have many people who God has dropped into my life during the writing process. I first became interested in novel writing by a friend and wanna-be novelist, Cindy Martinusen. Cindy is now an author of five novels, but back in 1992, she introduced me to the writing world.

During my first Mt. Hermon Writers Conference I met Robin Jones Gunn. The next year I joined with Robin and a few other wonderful authors in a private email prayer group. We're still praying together fourteen years later! Robin has been an amazing mentor to me through encouragement, advice, and sometimes a kick in the pants. Her life is also an example to me. She writes and lives with grace and truth.

Another mentor is my agent Janet Grant. I was one of Janet's first clients, and she has been an amazing cheerleader, advisor, and a rock for me to turn to. Whenever I'm struggling, Janet gives me a call, "Let's look at what's happening this way ..." and she can open my eyes to seeing with new perspective.

Finally, I can list dozens others I've met: Steve Laube, Ethel Herr, Gayle Roper, Lisa Bergren, Joanna Weaver, Brandilyn Collins, Robin Lee Hatcher, Anne de Graaf, Marlo Schalesky … and others, who God has connected me with at just the right time to speak wisdom and truth into my life.

Yes, it DOES take a community to raise a writer.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Deliver Me...

Deliver me from writers who say the way they live doesn't matter. I'm not sure a bad person can write a good book. If art doesn't make us better, then what on earth is it for.


~~Alice Walker

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Blogging Series...Time and Ideas!

For the next few weeks I'll be running a series on Blogs!

Blogs, BLOGS, Blogs...
What are they, who are they for, why are they effective, how to blog, and more. I encourage you all to leave your feedback and tips as well. I have lots of blogging experience, but I'd love to hear your blogging successes! Ever learning...

Part 1 in the series is about a blog's scope and reach. Go here.

Part 2 is about Who should blog. Go here.

Part 3 is about What do I need to know about blogging. Go here.

This week we're addressing: How? How to find the time and ideas to blog!

How? How do you find the time and ideas?

TIME

  1. Join forces, find other like-minded people and figure out a schedule. Gina Conroy started a blog for moms who are writers (published and unpubbed). Her blog now has 400+ links to it! Of course, our CAN blog is another great example.

Writer Mom Interrupted

http://writermominterrupted.blogspot.com/

CAN Book Marketing

http://canblog.typepad.com/canbookmarketing/

  1. Host your own blog with guest bloggers. This is great if you don’t think you can blog everyday. Ask others to contribute. I do this through my posts such as “10 Questions For . . .” and my current one “10 Things I Wish I’d Known.”
  2. Write many blogs ahead of time then post every morning.
  3. Write your blogs and then recruit help for posting. (I have an assistant who does this. I just email what I want posted.)

IDEAS

  1. Be real. Think about things you share with your friends over coffee . . . these are great things to blog about.
  2. Think about common questions you receive about your life and writing. Answer them in blog form. (Share the behind-the-scenes of your book. Talk about your motivation for writing. Tell about how you hope to touch readers’ lives. Chat about how readers have responded to your book.)
  3. Think story. Don’t only think about relating information. Use a story to relate a part of you.
  4. Think “felt need.” It’s not about YOU it’s about the reader. What are they going to get out of the blog?

When? When should I start?

Did you think I was going to say “Today”? Not quite:

  1. Pray about this possible new ministry.
  2. Write down your goals for your blog.
  3. Think about the “personality” you’d like to portray.
  4. Set priorities. (Is this a priority for you at this time?)
  5. Look at your schedule and be realistic.
  6. Check out other people’s blogs. Write down what you like and don’t like.
  7. Look at Blogger, Typepad, MySpace and other blog hosts and consider your options.
  8. Make a blogging plan and stick to it like any other writing and marketing goal.

Additional Information:

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance http://christianfictionblogalliance.com/
List of Reviewers: http://christianfictionblogalliance.com/REVIEWER_LIST.html

FAVORITE BLOGS:

Novel Journey: http://www.noveljourney.blogspot.com/

Lisa Samson: http://lisasamson.typepad.com/

Dave Long's Faith in Fiction: http://faithinfiction.blogspot.com/

Lisa Koons’s The Uprising: http://theuprising.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Marilynn Griffith's Rhythms of Grace: http://www.marilynngriffith.typepad.com/

Dee Stewarts Christian Fiction: http://christianfiction.blogspot.com/

The Master's Artist: http://tpr.typepad.com/themastersartist/

Girls Write Out: http://www.girlswriteout.blogspot.com/
Forensics & Faith: http://www.forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com/
Romancing the Blog: http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/
Deeann Gist's Blog: http://www.deeannegist.com/blog/

Mary DeMuth's Relevant Prose: http://relevantblog.blogspot.com/

Mick Silva's Blog: http://www.yourwritersgroup.com/

Terry Whalin's The Writing Life: http://terrywhalin.blogspot.com/

John Kremer’s: http://www.openhorizons.blogspot.com/

Camy Tang's: http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/

Faithchicks: http://www.faithchicks.com/

Karen Hancock's Blog Writing from the Edge: http://karenhancock.blogspot.com/

SoulScents: http://www.gracereign.blogspot.com/

J Mark Bertrand’s Blog: http://www.jmarkbertrand.com/fictionblog.asp

Charis Connection: http://charisconnection.blogspot.com/

A Life in Pages: Angela Hunt http://alifeinpages.blogspot.com/

Fallible: http://www.fallible.com/

GenXParents: www.genxparents.blogspot.com

Tricia Goyer’s It’s Real Life: www.triciagoyer.blogspot.com

Friday, July 20, 2007

35 Things you need to know about writing...


Check out 1-6 here, and 7-9 here and 10-14 here




#15: I answer these three questions about the novel before I start writing, from Structuring the Novel by Meredith and Fitzgerald:

~What's my intention (what's this book about, the elevator question)

~What's my attitude (what do I feel deeply about in this story)

~What's my purpose (How do I hope a reader will be changed or "In this story I'm trying to prove that....." I write many pages but try to get each question to one sentence that I paste on the top of my computer so I can look up there when I get lost half way through the story. When I'm finished I may rewrite these based on what's changed in the draft but then use it for revising. A great exercise for me. Might help others.
jane kirkpatrick

#16:
Always do your best. Never think it's 'good enough' or that no one will notice when you haven't done your best.
linda ford

#17: Never stop learning. Never. Take courses, go to workshops, use software, but above all, write. Write and edit and polish then write some more. The wise person who said you should write something every day was right though it might only be an observation in a journal.
linda ford

#18: Be willing to take advice. In fact, seek it out. Find people who will offer advice be it critique of a complete manuscript or brainstorming ideas. Pay for critiques if you have to. Join groups who will offer you feed back. Enter contests that give comments.
linda ford

#19: Make sure your protagonist is sympathetic from the get go. Don't expect to have an unlikable character for the first 3 or 4 chapters and then try and convince a reader to like her/him. Make sure the characters are sympathetic and honestly motivated.
linda ford


Thursday, July 19, 2007

Thursday Tip...Are your kids having a fun or a boring summer?

I have friends who DREAD summer. Personally, I think it’s because they feel they have to entertain their kids all day. (Often because the kids insist!) The kids are so used to being shuttled and scheduled they don't know how to entertain themselves.

That's another way I think my writing as REALLY benefited my family. Every afternoon, mommy would have "writing time." And the kids played. They colored, drew, played with Legos, dressed Barbies (or at least my daughter did), read books, etc. They were NEVER bored during their summers, they knew how to have fun. Of course, since they were homeschooled, for us this wasn’t just a summer thing.

Today my kids have GREAT imaginations. My oldest son is writing a novel. My youngest son gets about two requests a day for playdates. His friends' parents love having him over because he "entertains" their kids with his great imagination.

This week, my daughter is volunteering at VBS. Her job was to come up with snacks for the 6th grade. Do you think she went to the store and bought chips and cookies? No? She had these wonderful, creative snacks ... ideas that she found on-line.

In fact yesterday she made cupcakes, frosted them, and covered them with mini-marshmallows to look like popcorn. Then she wrapped them with red and white striped paper to look like popcorn bags. Man ... I should have taken a photo!

Anyway ... just a note to say don’t feel bad if you need time to follow your dreams. That solo play time WILL benefit your kids in the long wrong!

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Ha, ha, ha...

Substitute damn every time you're inclined to write very; your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.

~~Mark Twain, author and humorist (1835-1910)

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Blogging Series...What do I need to know?

What? What are important things to know about blogging?

  1. Blogging is about being true to yourself and your writing. Believe me, if you blog daily, or even weekly, you won’t be able to “fake it.” Besides, people read your blog because they want to know the real you.
  2. Blogging is about connecting with others. It’s about meeting new people WHILE you share your information, ideas, comments.

TIPS for a successful blog.

  1. Make the blog page pretty to look at. Use a design that appeals to the eye. There are plenty of free ones, or you can hire someone to create one for you.

Girls, God and the Good Life

http://girlsgodgoodlife.blogspot.com/

  1. When it comes to the content: Get to the point. Bloggers are more likely to read short posts than long ones.
  2. Get to the point. Keep the post simple. If you have more than one point, make them into different blogs.
  3. Show lots of white space—which means only a few sentences per line.
  4. Make it scannable. Bold your main points. Bloggers might only visit once a week, then scan down to see what you’ve written about.
  5. Think of catchy titles. Why would someone want to read your post in comparison to the other 60 million out there?
  6. Allow comments. Blog readers LOVE reading comments—sometimes even more than the blogs themselves. Yes, it’s true some people post bad things, but in all my time of blogging I’ve only had one or two that were SPAM. Instead I’ve made it so the comments come to my Inbox. This allows me to read what’s being posted. And if there is anything I don’t want, I delete it right away. You can also use word verification … which keeps spammers away. And you can moderate your comments, which means that you have to approve them before they are posted. (But personally, I don’t like that. I like instead feedback.)

More ideas for successful blogging:

  1. Reply to comments that people make on your page. And comment on other’s pages. (Also understand people place a value on your blog by the number of comments. If someone sees a blog that never has comments, then they figure it must not be that interesting.)
  2. End your blog with a question for readers that will encourage them to respond, such as “How do you like my new cover?”
  3. Post regularly. For some, this means daily or a even few times a day. For others it means weekly. Just be consistent. If you only can commit to weekly, let your readers know that up front.

Roxanne Henke’s Weekly Diary

http://www.roxannehenke.com/diary/

  1. Consider your boundaries—think about how much you like to share, how your family feels about your posts, how much you like people to know about you. Blogs can be personal or information … you draw the line. Don’t talk about other people unless you have their permission.
  2. Consider your brand. How are you known? How do you want to be known? What draws readers to your books? Example: Chit lit bloggers have fun, light blogs.

Excellent examples:

Angela Hunt

http://alifeinpages.blogspot.com/

Brandilyn Collins

http://forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com/

Girls Write Out

http://girlswriteout.blogspot.com/

Robin Lee Hatcher

http://robinlee.typepad.com/

  1. Remember they are real people out there who just want to connect. How can you reach through their computer screen and influence them?
  2. Read other people blogs and see what they are doing.
  3. Comment on other people’s blogs (this builds readership for your blog too!) Again, sometimes comments are the best part. Through comments you meet new people, banter, share thoughts, add insight, challenge comments, and build community.
  4. Post photos. People love a visual to connect with the words.
  5. Join communities through blog rings or blog alliances. You can also ask other bloggers to share links. There are even awards given out now for the best blogs.

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

http://christianfictionblogalliance.com/

Christian Women Online Blog Awards

http://www.christianwomenonline.net/blog_awards.html

  1. Humor works. People love to be entertained. You can write about the simplest things and yet interest people if you do it in a humorous way.

Fallible

http://www.fallible.com/

  1. Offer free stuff. Draw names from the people who comment.

What doesn’t work:

  1. People get tired to too much self-promotion or the same old stuff.
  2. They don’t like it when there are no updates.
  3. Long-winded.
  4. Unorganized.
  5. Boring.
  6. No point.
  7. Too spiritually sounding.

Where? Where do go for blogging resources?

Who is visiting? From where? For how long?

http://www.statcounter.com/

Who is talking about you and your blog? What are the most common searches?

http://technorati.com/

Help people stay connected by allowing them to sign up for your blog:

http://www.feedblitz.com/

An easy way to add links to your blog:

http://www.blogrolling.com/

Monday, July 16, 2007

I'm back from ICRS...

In a word...Whirlwind.

Here's some pictures!


Me and Sunni Jeffers


Me and Robin Jones Gunn


Karen Ball


Linda Windsor and Francine Rivers


Me and Sarah Sumpolec


Sarah Sumpolec and Nancy Rue


Me and Robin Lee Hatcher


My roommate, Tamera Alexander



JOY!

And check out Camy Tang's blog...she's captured ICRS!

Friday, July 13, 2007

Sign up for "A Chapter-a-week"!

Need some ideas? Check out the work of some other authors!

Moon Over Tokyo

by Siri Mitchell

What if God answered your prayer and you pretended not to hear him?

Though Stars and Stripes reporter Allie O'Connor has lived in Japan for two years, she still feels like a foreigner. As her best friend prepares to move away, Allie prays for a new friend. Soon after, she runs into an old classmate from high school, Eric Larsen. In school they had been polar opposites. He is definitely not the friend she was looking for.

In this journey of self-discovery in an exotic and mysterious land, Allie has a rare opportunity to examine her prejudices - to rediscover her voice, rethink her past, and reshape her future.

To read a sample chapter of this and other great new titles click on ChapterAWeek or order it at Amazon.com .

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Thursday Tip...Take advantage of opportunity!

From Christian Retailing:
Authors, media float ideas
Authors from Multnomah Books and WaterBrook Press met members of the media during an informal "Coke Float" dessert reception on Monday afternoon of the International Christian Retail Show.

Publicist Katie Schroder told Christian Retailing that around 25 WaterBrook and Multnomah authors, whose books release in 2007, shared stories and ice cream floats with between 15 and 20 members of the convention media.

"Our goal was to do a one-stop shop where media can meet our authors," she said.

Authors included Tricia Goyer, author of Generation NeXt Parenting and the upcoming Generation NeXt Marriage; Robert Elmer, author of Like Always; Lori Smith, author of A Walk With Jane Austen; and first-time author Amy Wallace, whose suspense novel, Ransomed Dreams, released in April


XXXXX
I'm home from Atlanta.
Okay, I got home last night 24-hours late ... after getting caught on the runway (for three hours) in Atlanta because of storms in Memphis--one of my two connections. (More about that on another blog.)


Knowing I would never make my connections, I called Northwest from the plane and rescheduled my flights for the next day. I'm glad because once we got to Memphis there were 200+ people in line looking for new flights.


Hotels were another problem. I didn't think ahead to reserve one of those too. (Save this info for next time ....) When I got to Memphis, the only thing with rooms was the $44 Travelodge--with doors on the outside and scary! But it was all they had!


They wouldn't hold a room over the phone, so I headed over. Before leaving I saw an editor from Revell. I gave her my cell in case she couldn't find a room.


In the end, I secured beds for three grateful editors. Vicki and I shared a room. There wasn't even a little shampoo bottle! No clean clothes. No makeup. No hairdryer. But I got to know the wonderful editor better. She's very nice!


As for the media event with Coke floats (mentioned above). I TOTALLY crashed it. My Generation NeXt Parenting book came out in 2006. One publistist mentioned the event at the booth, and I KNEW I hadn't been invited. Then, another mentioned it when I was at the hospitality suite for another media interview. I was just getting back from a radio interview with HomeWord when it started. So I stayed ... (my excuse was I introduced some of the new authors and helped them talk about their books ... which helped them). I pulled books off the decorative shelves and GAVE them to the media people. (Can you guess which ones? Yup, the books mentioned in the article!)


The funniest thing is that I really connected with the guy from Christian Retailing. He was super nice. He was a Gen Xer, we graduated in the same year, and I'm just three weeks older. I showed him the chapter titles and we started singing all the 80s songs. So ... oops. I didn't mean to crash or get my name mentioned ... but there you go!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Faster...Better!

The faster I write the better my output. If I'm going slow, I'm in trouble. It means I'm pushing the words instead of being pulled by them.

~~Raymond Chandler

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Blogging Series...What is a blog?

For the next few weeks I'll be running a series on Blogs!

Blogs, BLOGS, Blogs...
What are they, who are they for, why are they effective, how to blog, and more. I encourage you all to leave your feedback and tips as well. I have lots of blogging experience, but I'd love to hear your blogging successes! Ever learning...

Part 1 in the series is about a blog's scope and reach. Go here.

Part 2 is about Who should blog. Go here.

This week we're addressing: What are Blogs?

According to Wikipedia, a blog is a website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order.

Some blogs give information. Others are more like diaries. They can include text, images, links to other blogs or Internet sites. Sometimes they even give multimedia presentations. (I’ve played music videos on my blog before.)

According to Technorati, there are 60 million blogs online.

My Blog

My blog is a mix of my life. Thus the title: It’s Real Life. I talk about family, writing, housecleaning, Christmas shopping . . . anything that is affecting me that day.


It’s Real Life

www.triciagoyer.blogspot.com

I also have a few other blogs:

Gen X Parents

www.genxparents.blogspot.com

I also have a blog at Amazon.com, shoutlife, and CCM!


And I contribute to others a few times a month:

Girls, God and the Good Life

http://girlsgodgoodlife.blogspot.com/

CAN Book Marketing

http://canblog.typepad.com/canbookmarketing/

Why? Why is blogging a great way to connect with readers?

  1. Blogging gives you an outlet for sharing YOU. Your thoughts, ideas, information, opinions, photos.
  2. Blogging gives you more material present on the Internet. So when someone does a search on any of the topics you’ve blogged about, it will come up. (I’ve had people comment on blogs I’ve written months ago after they found it in a search engine.)
  3. Personally, I get between 20 - 50 hits a day in each of my blogs. (I’ll tell you more about figuring out statistics later.) One half of these visitors every day are people who like me and have visited my blog once before. (Some people read my blogs daily.) One half of these are NEW readers. In fact on my blog, It’s Real Life, I’ve already had 160 new visitors this month (and since I’m writing this on December 6, that means 160 new visitors in six days).

To check out my statistics, look for “View my Statistics” on the sidebar on each of my blogs. From there you can see how much people visit my blogs, where they were from, how long they stay, etc.)

From Jan 2006 – Dec 2006 these are my stats. The first number is page loads (which means if they read numerous posts, they refreshing numerous times). The second number is unique visitors. The third number is first time visitors. The last number is returning visitors.

8,187

5,916

3,295

2,621

  1. Blogging is another venue to talk about your books in fun and interesting ways.
  2. Blogging gives you connect with readers. You become real to them. They get interested in you, and in return they become interested in the writing process and your books.
  3. Blogging allows you to share information about your subject, such as facts, bits of research, interviews etc.

Monday, July 9, 2007

Coming in July 2008!





















And the winners of the Christy Awards ...



Contemporary Stand Alone: Winter Birds by Jamie Langston Turner!

Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas: The Brethren by Beverly Lewis!

Historical: Madman by Tracy Groot!

Lits: Sisterchickes in Gondolas by Robin Jones Gunn!

Romance: The Measure of a Lady: by Deeanne Gist!

Suspense: Plague Maker by Tim Downs!

First Novel: Where Mercy Flows by Karen Harter!

Young Adult: William Henry Is A Fine Name by Cathy Gohlke!

Congrats to all the winners!

Friday, July 6, 2007

I interrupt this blog...

Greetings from the Minneapolis Airport. I'm sitting here checking email and waiting for my flight to take me to Atlanta, Georgia for the International Christian Retail Show.

I'm excited because for the next two days I'll be at a fiction workshop, hanging out with my writer-friends and also attending a workshop with Donald Maass. I LOVE his workbook, "Writing the Breakout Novel," and I've been using it faithful as I've written the last four books or so. It will be an interactive workshop, and I'll work on my third novel in The Chronicles of
the Spanish Civil War series. The title is A Whisper of Freedom.

Please pray that I'll be rested during this trip, and I'll be able to absorb this great teaching. Pray I can connect with old friends and meet new ones, and that I'll be able to let God's love shine.

I hope I can update lots over the week ... if I don't get the chance, please pray for me for next Monday and Tuesday, especially as I meet with editors about possible future projects, speak to International booksellers (my books have been translated to Spanish, French, Dutch, and German, yeah!), and sign books for booksellers.

Mostly pray for Divine Appointments. I'm heading to Atlanta with the expectation that God will do great things. I'm eager and trusting in all He does.

P.S. Finally, I interrupted writing this blog to give some of my postcards to three women who were sitting by me at the airport and talking about their favorite books. It takes me about five minutes to talk myself into jumping into conversations like this, but then I'm so glad I did. After all, who knows why I sat by these people??? God does, and maybe it will be a great connect!

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Prayers, PLEASE!


I would love your prayers for July. (Yes, all of July.) Today I’ll be flying to Atlanta to attend the International Christian Retail Show. I am going to a fiction writer’s retreat, various banquets, having a book signing, speaking to International booksellers, doing two media interviews with national programs, and having three meetings with very important editors. Your prayers are SO appreciated!

Also, everywhere I’ll be will be wonderful people in the Christian retail industry. Please pray for DIVINE APPOINTMENTS. I’m eager to see what God is up to!

Mostly, I want to “spread the love” to everyone I meet. ICRS can be SO overwhelming, and I’d love to show love those who need it. I’m praying God’s love will shine through me … and that’s a lot of love!

Also, my novel is due July 21st. (I still have 25,000 words to write.) The next day I’m heading to children’s WOW camp. And I’m leaving from there to attend a writer’s retreat in Coeur d’ Alene. That’s not mentioning the two radio interviews I’ll be doing from home mid-July, and the two articles due—one for Focus on the Family and the other for Christian Single. Can you hear me saying, “In my weakness God’s strength is complete?!”

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Reading, reading, reading...

A great part of a writer's time is spent in reading, in order to write; a man will turn over half a library to make one book.

~~Samuel Johnson, lexicographer (1709-1784)

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Goyer-esque...

I read a new review last week from one of my regular readers (see below). Her word "Goyer-esque" made me smile. It also made me wonder ... what is Goyer-esque? Would people know if they just started page one that it is a novel written by me?

Personally, I have a REALLY hard time describing my writing: historical, some romance, lots of war, historically accurate, intrigue, suspenseful, multiple-POVs that come together at the end ... but how do I describe that simply? Or can I?

In fact, I've been having problems with new proposals lately. Mostly because I know what I do, but I don't know how to describe myself. (I'm also having trouble with proposals because current deadlines have kept me from jumping in fully ... full research, character development, etc.)

So can you help? If you read one of my novels before ... how would you describe my writing?

Thanks!

Tricia Goyer

www.triciagoyer.com

Review by Judy Fedele:

The first novel in a new series about the Spanish Civil War, A Valley of Betrayal unfolds with a distinctively Goyer-esque feel to it. In this book, author Tricia Goyer does another brilliant job bringing history to life with vivid characters searching for their meaning in the midst of conflict, each wanting to contribute their utmost for their cause.

In this time and place in history, it's the middle of the Spanish Civil War. The Nazi's are exerting their influence from one side, strong-arming Fascism over the country. At the same time, Russia is enticing the area with the idealistic vision of Communism. Spain is divided between the two political perspectives, and the resulting battleground ravages the country in the process.

The most serious fighting isn't found on the front lines, though, but in the internal struggle of every individual who must decide who they are and what they truly believe in. Some of the characters are natives of Spain; others from different countries who are drawn to the area for their own reasons. Some come to fight, and some to serve, but they all discover themselves in the process. Each naturally feels that their side has the most righteous cause, and all are willing to risk everything in the effort to win the war.

Goyer tries to communicate the struggle of a people searching for themselves amidst the rubble of their ideals. It's not an easy struggle, nor an easy story to read considering the cost of the war. But despite the fact that no one seems to emerge on top in this bloody battle, the novel itself is a winner. I highly recommend A Valley of Betrayal by author Tricia Goyer, and eagerly look forward to the next installment in the series.