My business coach, Denise Martin (who is amazing), asked me to do an exercise a few weeks ago. I hemmed and hawed a bit, then finally got to it. And I was shocked at the repercussions. You may know me as a driven person. I certainly know myself this way. I don’t like that, and [...]

Late Wednesday night, I received a package in the mail from CreateSpace. I tore into it to find The Quarryman’s Wife staring back at me. What a dream! What a blessing! I still can’t adequately describe what it’s like to hold something you’ve written in your hands, to leaf through it, to touch the pages. [...]

Here’s the reality writers live in these days: We have to market. Whether we’re self published, epublished or traditionally published, we have to find ways to stand out among the masses. Here are 22 ways you can get started marketing, a freebie article by yours truly. As you consider your next step as a writer [...]

For those of you tired in your jobs, or frustrated that the dizziness of working 9-5 (and beyond) prevents you from seeing your kids or living your life, Justin’s story will inspire you. He started off living a dream, only to find out that dream didn’t hold what he wanted. I have a feeling there [...]

I always love meeting (at least by cyber means) successful, entrepreneurial women. A while back, I started reading The Inspired Room blog by Melissa Michaels. It rocks! I emailed her privately (cold turkey) and told her I loved her blog, and had she considered writing a book? Well, ta da! She has. It’s called Not [...]

I have the privilege of introducing Cara Sexton to you. She and I will be attending the Relevant Conference next week, and we both feel privileged to do so. We both won a scholarship to go! If you browse around the Relevant 11 website, you may just want to come yourself! Well, next spring, Relevant [...]

I had a good time at ACFW, the American Christian Fiction Writers conference, this last weekend. If you’re a novel writer, this is a terrific place to hone your craft, meet other crazies like yourself, and network with industry professionals. While I experienced all three of those aspects, one thing lacked, something I realized (sadly) [...]

As a book mentor at The Writing Spa (http://www.thewritingspa.com) and a published author, I receive requests (like this made up one) weekly, sometimes daily. I’m sure that some of you, in your profession, also receive similar correspondence. Dear Mary, I have an amazing, outstanding story. And I know that once it’s in book form, it [...]

It’s an interesting pattern we find in Scripture. First folks break down, then God breaks through. This leads to breakout. Look at Joseph. His breakdown happened slowly (but painfully) over many years as he suffered rejection by his brothers, was sold into slavery, framed by Mrs. Potiphar, and landed in jail. His breakthrough came when [...]

Last week I let discouragement hug, then mug me. Physically, I just didn’t feel right. Though I work out and watch my diet, nothing seems to move that scale. And in my career, some frustrating things piled on top of me at once, darkening my perspective. But two significant things happened that day that changed [...]