A thought for today...

I have a sign above my computer desk with this saying on it. It's always an inspiration to me when I sit down to write:

 

"Make time for the quiet moments

as God whispers and the world is loud."

What a Mission Statement IS... and What it's NOT

Your mission statement should be a simple summary of who you are and where you're going in life. It reminds you and others of what your call is.  

Here is a helpful list of what your mission is NOT.

Your mission is NOT: your JOB. Your current JOB is not the same as your mission. Your job will change several times during your lifetime; your mission most likely won't.

It is NOT: your ROLE. First, you were a baby, then a child, then a teen, then a college student, then a "real" adult, then an employee, then possibly a husband or wife, then maybe a mom or dad, a businessperson, an artist, a writer, and so on. But your role is not the same as your mission. Don't let your current role overshadow your mission.

It is NOT: your TO-DO LIST. I don't know about you, but I sure do have the tendency to let my to-do list take over my day sometimes. And when I do, I notice the empty feeling I have when I realize that my relationships with God and others have taken the backseat to "urgent" tasks that are really unimportant in the grand scheme of things.    

Other truths from The Path:

You probably are already living your mission in some form or fashion. You just need to think about it, define it, limit it enough that it can be helpful, and then use it.

You are important enough to have a mission. Everyone needs one.

Your mission doesn't have to be grandiose. You can change the world one life at a time, even if your job or ministry is behind the scenes or seemingly not that important.

Your mission doesn't have to be full of suffering to be valuable.

Your geography is not your destiny. If you're not living in a place or situation where you can fulfill your mission, move on!

If you're not married and you are involved in a dead-end relationship that is keeping you from fulfilling your mission in life, ditch it. Life's too short! Focus on what God has gifted you to do.

What's Your Mission?

Author Karen Dinesen wrote in Out of Africa, "My biggest fear was that I would come to the end of my life and discover that I had lived someone else's dream."

We were put on this earth for a reason. As Christians, artists, writers, or people from any walk of life, we sometimes wonder if we've arrived at that mission or if we're just wandering through life without any real sense of purpose. Creating a personal mission statement can help you get in touch with God's call on your life and keep you from "living someone else's dream."

In her book The Path, Laurie Beth Jones writes, "My uncle once told me that during World War II if an unidentified soldier appeared suddenly in the dark and could not state his mission, he was automatically shot without question. I wonder what would happen if we reinstituted that policy today...A mission statement is, in essence, a written-down reason for being-whether for a person, or for a company. It is the key to finding your path in life and identifying the mission you choose to follow."

Jesus' mission statement was, "I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). He also said, "The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).
 

Laurie Beth Jones continues, "There are three simple elements to a good mission statement.

1. A mission statement should be no more than a single sentence long.

2. It should be easily understood by a twelve-year-old.

3. It should be able to be recited by memory at gunpoint."

Now, hopefully, you'll never be called on to recite it at gunpoint, but her point is that you need to be able to remember and recite your mission statement in order for it to really work for you and change your life.

Tomorrow, I'll blog about some of the false assumptions that people make about their mission statements. Please stop by Leap of Faith!  

 

Blessings-

 

Marla

Best Mexican Food in the World

Okay... as a foodie, I just have to give a shout out to my friends at Cristina's Fine Mexican Restaurant in Frisco and let my readers know that this restaurant serves the best Mexican food on earth. Plus, the service is fantastic. The waiters and waitresses have become personal friends of mine and are just the best EVER!!!!

Also, the manager, Francisco, is truly a wonderful man who will ensure that every element of your experience is fabulous. 

The chips and salsa are the bomb (best chunky salsa anywhere, ever - try it if you don't believe me). I love the chicken fajitas, tacos de fajitas, and so many more dishes... and my husband thinks the chicken flautas are the most amazing dish, which they are. Oh, and for something a bit healthier, the chicken tortilla soup is fabulous, as well.

If you live in the Metroplex and you've not tried Cristina's, you are missing out, folks. Stop by and say hi, and tell them I sent you! :)

Here is the website for more info: cristinasmex.com. The address is 8210 Highway 121, Frisco, Texas, 75034. The phone number for reservations or parties is: (214) 618-8230.

Enjoy!

Share the Reason for the Season...

Halloween season is now transitioning into the TRUE Christian holiday season - the time of celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas. At this time of year, we begin to invest more mental and emotional energy into focusing on spiritual issues. Our thoughts and desires naturally turn toward spending time with family, giving thanks for all we have, celebrating another year of God's blessings, and planning special ways to help our families commemorate Christ's birth, which ushered God incarnate into the world over 2000 years ago.
Unfortunately, the holiday season is also a sad time for many people. Those who have lost loved ones, those who are lonely or depressed, those who are ill or have no family nearby, may be experiencing a spiritual struggle or a crisis of the soul. This year, when every person you meet will naturally be thinking about deeper issues of God, faith, and family, why not start some spiritual conversations with others? If you need help knowing how to do this, our book Generation Hex will help you engage others in a way that is genuine, open, truthful, and compelling. Why not help others discover the best Christmas gift ever given - salvation through Jesus Christ? Introduce someone to faith in God this holiday season.

Wake Up, O Sleeper!

Wow! This Halloween, stores are decked out like never before. Have you noticed that Halloween is now a SEASON, not just a DAY like it used to be?
       This year, for the first time, I saw that some stores have "Countdown to Halloween" calendars that look just like Christmas advent calendars. Also, today at Target, I decided to roam through the Halloween aisles to try to find a candy dish that wasn't too creepy looking. I started down one aisle and saw some of the scariest display stuff ever. An array of gargoyles and freaky skulls stared me down. I also saw for sale a "coffin sofa cover" that you can put on your couch to make it look like a coffin. And then, next to one of the gargoyles, was...
       A SATAN HEAD. 
       Yes, a Satan head that would have given me nightmares as a child. It looked like the picture of Satan that was in the children's Bible that my mom used to read to us. It had horns and lightbulbs in the eyes that lit up red.
       I felt torn. On the one hand, I didn't want to even look at it. I felt sick inside. Then I thought, I should buy it and get rid of it so no one else has to see it. But of course, I couldn't justify purchasing such a hideous item. Then I thought, I really should write a letter to Target and tell the management that I'm disappointed that they would carry such a thing.
       All this to say, folks, that if you are still in the dark about the fact that witchcraft and darkness are taking over our culture, please WAKE UP!!!!!! 
       Our book Generation Hex shares the truth about our culture's spiritual trend toward witchcraft. Most Wiccans and witches are NOT Satan worshipers in a literal sense, but he still is leading many away from God's truth. In Generation Hex, we interacted with Wiccans and pagans in a way that creates open dialogue and seeks to build bridges of understanding from Christians to those of pagans faiths. I hope each of you reading this post will choose to read the book and be informed about the influence of Wicca and witchcraft in our culture, especially among young people.  
       The Bible says that Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). As Christians, we need to be able to recognize and counteract his evil and destructive work in the world.  
       Blessings-
       Marla

Upcoming Interviews for Generation Hex

Dillon and I have quite a few live interviews lined up for the next two weeks. We'd love to have you tune in and give us your feedback! NOTE: These stations also allow you to listen to archived interviews, so if you miss the live interview, simply click on the link and you can listen to the interview afterward via streaming audio.

Here is the schedule:
Oct    Central Time    Station
22      2-3 pm            Chris Fabry Live, Moody Radio, Colorado, multiple stations moodyradio.org/brd_programarchive.aspx?id=18894
25      12-1 pm          Janet Parshall’s Talking it Over, Moody Radio, multiple stations moodyradio.org/talkingitover.aspx
29      7:30-8:30 am   KBJS Radio, Jacksonville, TX kbjs.org/common/content.asp?PAGE=247
29-31 3-4 p.m.          Prime Time Live, Moody Broadcasting, Chicago, IL 
30      7:10-7:30 am   Moody Broadcasting, WMBI, Chicago, IL
30      11:15-11:45 am    TLC Radio
30      5:15-5:45 p.m.      Live from Criswell College, Dallas, Texas
WJSL Radio, Quest for Character, Mike Dunn, St. Louis, MO- Rescheduled- New date and time TBA
On Halloween, Dillon Burroughs, co-author of Generation Hex, will be involved in outreach at the screening of the movie Pray 2 in Woodland Park, Apex, NC. 
Dillon also will be involved in an outreach at Tennessee Temple Oct. 24-25 and Oct. 31. For more info, see his website at readdb.com.

Recommended Books for Teens: Alternatives to HP

My friend Sarah Anne sent me these recommendations for exciting, well-written Christian-based fantasy books:

 

The DragonKeeper Series by Donita K. Paul
The Restorer Series by Sharon Hinck

I also had another friend recommend Christian author Bryan Davis' excellent fantasy fiction series published by AMG, called Dragons in Our Midst. Check it out! 

Also, my darling teenage friend Grace sent me the list below. I have wanted to post this for some time. It's a list of GREAT ALTERNATIVE BOOKS for teens to read besides those with dark witchcraft-related themes. Here they are:

The Eragon series by Christopher Paolini
Anything by Francine Rivers - Her books aren't fantasy but I personally love her writing.
Ted Dekker books, especially the Red, Black, White series
Books by Frank Peretti (This Present Darkness, etc.)
Proof by Bill Bright and Jack Cavanaugh
The Last Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly
The Shining Company by Rosemary Sutcliff
The Gammage Cup by Carol Kendall
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

Grace says, "I also really like classical books, I'm currently reading a lot of Jane Austen and Charlotte and Emily Bronte. I think a lot of girls would like their books." There you go! Can't go wrong with the classics. Thank you, Grace!

Q & A Time with the Poet

Hello, my fellow writers and poets! I am going to start posting questions and answers about writing on my site. Today's questions come from C.M., a young man who e-mailed me with questions about getting poetry published. His basic questions were these:

QUESTIONS 

1. How do I find competitions and venues for publishing my poems that aren't scams?

2. How do I improve my poems enough so that I will be ready for entering these competitions? 

He mentioned that he had entered a contest through the National Library of Poets, but then later discovered that the competition was a scam. 

ANSWERS:

       Thanks for your message. I'm so sorry about your bad experiences with the National Library and other contests. Yes, you definitely have talent and potential as a writer! If you submit to the magazine Poets & Writers, or go online to their website at pw.org, you will find a list of real, vetted competitions to enter each month. Here is the list for this month: pw.org/content/deadlines. All of these competitions are legitimate, so you won't have to worry about scams. 
     
       The best way to improve your poems is to read as much contemporary poetry as you can and revise, revise, revise! Keep your audience in mind. Use specific language. In poetry, the nouns/objects carry the weight. Use a thesaurus and a synonym dictionary to be sure you are using exactly the right words. 
 
       Most Christian publishers don't publish poetry, but there are a few Christian poetry journals that you can submit your work to:
 
              -IMAGE
              -Relief
              -Rock & Sling
              -Toward the Light
 
        Most people who publish poems today, including myself, publish in the contemporary poetry (secular) market. Those poems typically have more of an outward focus rather than an inward focus. For some idea of what I mean, stop by a Barnes & Noble or other bookstore and pick up a bunch of their newest poetry and literary journals and read through them for a couple of hours. The Paris Review, Missouri Review, and others should give you an idea of what kind of poems are being selected. Also, you should purchase the following books online; they will really revolutionize your writing.
 
             -The Triggering Town by Richard Hugo
             -The Poetry Home Repair Manual by Ted Kooser
             -Several collections of poetry by Billy Collins
 
        Also, check out this website and you will be able to read many contemporary poems there: poets.org. Discover which poets you like and then figure out why you like them. What elements do they use that you might be able to focus on more in your own poems?
 
       Poets & Writers Magazine also includes lists of the winners of all of the major poetry contests. Reading the poems of the winners, printing them out and looking over them and seeing what they did and how they used language, will be one of your best tools for writing winning poetry!
 
       Also, if cost is a factor, you may want to focus for now on writing poems and submitting them to journals (which is free). After you work on your poems for a while, then you can start entering competitions. Definitely stick with it! Blessings!
Marla

Poetry Updates

Marla Alupoaicei recently won awards in two poetry competitions. Her poems "Ode to the Theory of Everything," "Prodigal the Prodigal," and "The Cutting" won a Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg prize in the amount of $2500. For more information and to read all of the prizewinning poems, please visit dorothyprizes.org.

 

Marla also won a prize in the Writer's Digest 77th Annual Writing Competition (Rhyming Poetry Category, 4th place). If you're a fellow poet, Marla would love to hear from you. Please post updates here of your poetry writing, publications, awards and accomplishments. Marla would like to hear about how God is blessing your work!

You are Loved by God...

Some quotes to inspire thought:

 

     And did you get what

     you wanted from this life even so?

     I did.

     And what did you want?

     To call myself beloved, to feel myself

     beloved on the earth.

                       -Raymond Carver

 

 


     We fill our hands when they are
     empty. We empty ourselves when we have held too much too long.

 

                     -Kathleen Graber, "Book Nine"

Is Satan Real?

What’s the Difference Between Wicca and Satanism?
 
            One of the most common questions we receive from Christians is, “Don’t all Wiccans worship Satan?” Actually, no. Most Wiccans and proponents of other New Age religions will be quick to tell you that they do not believe in absolute evil. In fact, they do not believe that Satan exists at all; they consider him to be part of the Christian tradition. Wiccans believe that by admitting that Satan exists, they name evil and allow it to have power over them.
           Truth is, however, Satan does exist. He is alive and well in the world, seeking to lead people astray and destroy them. To put it simply, Satan counterfeits God. He seeks to usurp God’s power and glory, and he tries to distract and mislead people from recognizing God as the one true and holy God. Interestingly, the Scriptures tell us that we can have power over Satan's evil by clearly naming it and rebuking it in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 16:18; 19:13; Matthew 4:10).
            The New International Version of the Bible includes 47 verses that specifically mention Satan by name. What types of actions does Satan perform in the world? The following chart lists some of them.
 
Satan…                                   Scripture Reference





convinced King David to take a (prideful) census of the nation of Israel.


1 Chronicles 21:1




presented himself before the Lord along with all the other angels.


Job 1:6; 2:1




told God that he had been “roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”


Job 1:7; 2:2




suggested that Job worshiped God only because God protected and favored him.


Job 1:8–9




afflicted Job with painful sores.


Job 2:7




stood at the right hand of Joshua to accuse him.


Zechariah 3:1




was rebuked by the Lord.


Zechariah 3:2




tempted Jesus in the wilderness.


Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13




was personally rebuked and sent away by Jesus.


Matthew 4:10




caused some people to say that Jesus’s power was from Satan rather than from God, which was blasphemy.


Matthew 12:26; Mark 3:23–26; Luke 11:18




caused Peter to prioritize the things of men over the things of God.


Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33




will be cast into eternal fire.


Matthew 25:41




takes away the Word of God sown in some people’s hearts before it can take root.


Mark 4:15




fell like lightning from heaven.


Luke 10:18




prompted Judas to betray Jesus.


John 13:2




can get a foothold in our lives if we do not control our anger.  


Ephesians 4:27




schemes to destroy people; we must put on the full armor of God to protect ourselves.


Ephesians 6:11




lays traps for God’s people.


1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26




holds the power of death.


Hebrews 2:14




causes people to harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in their hearts.


James 3:14–15




will soon be crushed underneath our feet by the God of peace.


Romans 16:20




masquerades as an angel of light.


2 Corinthians 11:14




displays all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders.


2 Thessalonians 2:9




is our enemy; he prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.


1 Peter 5:8




leads the whole world astray; will eventually be destroyed.


Revelation 12:9




will be bound for a thousand years.


Revelation 20:2, 7




will be thrown into the lake of fire forever.


Revelation 20:10



 
Satan does have some measure of power as the "prince of this world." However, God's power is far greater. Let me know your thoughts! Thank you.

6 Myths and Truths about Wicca

Hello, friends! Here are some interesting myths and truths about Wicca to keep you informed during WICCA AWARENESS MONTH! And if you have not yet snapped up your personal copy of the new book Generation Hex, please do so now on amazon.com. We hope you will take this opportunity to become informed about this influential cultural and spiritual trend!

 
Generation Hex: Uncovering the Truth about Wicca
Myth #1: You can tell a person is a Wiccan just by looking at him or her.
Truth: Jami Shoemaker of Llewellyn Publishers said, “The average witch is a beautiful twenty-five year old.” Wiccans do not necessarily dress “Goth,” nor do they ride on broomsticks!
Myth #2: Wiccans are Satan worshippers who sacrifice living beings.  
Truth: Wiccans do not worship Satan directly. They consider Satan part of the Christian tradition; most don’t even believe that he exists. They do not perform human or animal sacrifices.
Myth #3: Wiccans are trying to convert others to their religion.
Truth: Wiccans read books on Christianity and other religions. However, they typically do not try to convert others to their faith.
Myth #4: Wiccans don’t follow any rules. 
Truth: Wiccans follow the Wiccan Rede, which states, “’An it harm none, do as ye will” (translation: “As long as it doesn’t harm anyone, do whatever you want”). They also follow the Rule of Three, which states that the consequences of a person’s actions, whether positive or negative, will return to that person threefold.
Myth #5: Wicca and Christianity are compatible.  
Truth: Scripture clearly states that Christians are not to participate in any form of witchcraft. This includes séances, casting spells, palm reading or fortune telling, using Tarot cards, communicating with spirits, playing with Ouija boards, or playing occult-related video games.   
Myth #6: Arguing with a Wiccan about God or the Bible is the best way to lead that person to Christ.
Truth: Wiccans enjoy engaging in honest, open dialogue about their faith. If you show genuine interest in them, most will be glad to discuss their beliefs and experiences with you. When you have the opportunity, share your positive personal testimony about how God has transformed your life through Christ.
 
 
BIO: Marla Alupoaicei (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary, 2002), is an author and speaker as well as a writer for East-West Ministries. She and Dillon Burroughs (ThM, 2002), recently released the book Generation Hex: Understanding the Subtle Dangers of Wicca with Harvest House Publishers. Marla and her husband, Catalin, operate a ministry called Leap of Faith for intercultural couples. For more information, please visit Marla’s website at marriageleap.com. Marla also mentors and encourages writers and authors at her author site, marlawrites.com.

Author Dillon Burroughs' Website

Hello! Thanks for stopping by Leap of Faith. For those of you who are seeking additional info on Wicca, check out the website of author and speaker Dillon Burroughs: readdb.com. Stop by for a visit, and feel free to e-mail him if you have any questions! Thanks!

Join the Gen Hex Club - It's Wicca Awareness Month

Hello, friends, and welcome to Leap of Faith! October is Wicca Awareness Month! So what do you need to know about Wicca? Here are ten pointers:

1. According to recent studies, Wicca is America's fastest-growing religion.

2. Wiccans believe in a God and a Goddess that are equal in power.

3. Wicca is the most popular "brand" of witchcraft today.

4. Wiccans have homeschool networks, just like Christians do.

5. Wiccans do not worship Satan directly. They don't even believe in him.

6. Wiccans use candles, crystals, and other objects to pray and perform spells.

7. Wiccans love nature and seek to protect the environment.

8. Wiccans shouldn't be feared. They are people just like the rest of us. God loves them.

9. You WILL have opportunities to share your faith and create open dialogue with Wiccans, pagans and those of New Age faiths. Your care and preparation will determine whether you do a good job of this or not.

10. We want every person to be well-equipped to understand Wicca - what it is, and what it is not. Our book Generation Hex will equip you to know more about Wicca and to share your faith in a positive manner with people of a variety of belief systems.   

Pick up your copy of Generation Hex today on amazon.com or at your local bookstore! Thank you.

Know Before You GO: It's Wicca Awareness Month!

Hard to believe that October's here. I know that we all have football games, Oktoberfest, pumpkins, falling leaves, hot chocolate, Halloween and other fall-related festivities on the brain, but let's not forget to be a light to the world. In fact, why not join us in our commitment to make October Wicca awareness month?

Wicca is America's most popular form of witchcraft. Its popularity is skyrocketing, and its membership doubles at least every 30 months. Yet many of us still don't know what Wicca is or how to carry on a compelling spiritual dialogue with a person of a Wiccan, Pagan or New Age belief system.  

If that describes you, never fear - GENERATION HEX is here! Dillon Burroughs and I have written an informative book on the topic of Wicca that will help you learn about this trend. We interviewed over 20 Wiccans and pagans (some of whom later became Christians), and we include their powerful personal stories in the book. We give a simple overview of what Wicca is, what Wiccans believe, how influential it has become, and more. We also compare and contrast Wicca with Christian beliefs. We've received fantastic feedback from many Wiccans and pagans, and we know of at least two  Wiccans who have already accepted Christ as a result of hearing our radio interviews.  

Here is what one former witch wrote to us recently: "In serious desperation, I picked up a copy of your book this past weekend. I was happy to get it, as it was the only copy of its kind on the shelf. Words cannot express how much it has helped me, and I want to sincerely thank you both... I want to commend you for talking about this subject and encourage you to do more. I'd love to see another book about people who have come out of the craft... Bless you for having the love and courage to write the book Generation Hex." -N.H., California  

This month, I am offering a special: you can order Generation Hex directly from me, autographed, for $8. Simply mail me a check, and I'll mail you the book. You can also purchase the book on amazon.com or at any local bookstore.  For more info, please e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com! Thank you for helping to spread the word about Wicca Awareness Month! I appreciate your support.

Sharing the Wealth

I've been so blessed by authors, readers, and friends sharing their writing tips and personal stories with me. Recently, I attended a writing clinic in New Jersey hosted by bestselling author Cec Murphey. Before the clinic, I felt exhausted and run down, maxed out by all of my projects - and life in general. In fact, I seriously considered not even going to the clinic because I felt that I hadn't really had time to prepare physically or emotionally for it. But I went anyway.

I'm so glad I did. I'm amazed at God's way of redeeming situations. I stayed with a fantastic family in the beautiful hills of Milford, NJ. Cec encouraged and inspired me. The other women had incredible stories of how the Lord led them through adversity and pain to a place of redemption and how He had prompted each of them to share their life experiences through writing.   

Some of the lessons I learned:

1. You are not alone.

2. Every person has a story to tell - and that story is worth telling.

3. Many, many people in this world are worse off than you are.

4. Our pain gives us a platform to minister to others.

5. We must do our part and then trust God to do the rest.

 

Thanks to Cecil Murphey, the Moore family, Annalee, Carol, Carole, Ronie, Lisa, Leslie, Dawn, and to Twila for helping make arrangements for me. 

Cec has only ONE more three-day clinic available. I highly recommend it - his pointers will transform your writing! The conference will be held in Toronto.  For more information, check out Cec's website at themanbehindthewords.com.

CowABUNGA!

Come and join us for an exciting chat on Abunga Books! Tomorrow on abunga.com/?d=authorsatabunga (Wednesday, Sept. 17), Dillon and I will be giving an online chat interview for Generation Hex. Just click on the link and then click on "Authors@Abunga" under the heading "Cool Stuff." You can ask questions and join in the conversation! We'd love to hear your perspective on the issues related to Wicca, Christianity and the dialogue between the two.

The chat will be held from 1-2 p.m Central TIme (2-3 p.m. Eastern). To check it out and join, you may also visit Abunga.com/FeaturedAuthorBurroughs. Thank you!

 

Blessings-

 

Marla

Insightful Article for Those Contemplating Intercultural Marriage

A friend just recommended that I check out this article, written by an American man who married a woman from Japan. He shares some excellent insights about intercultural marriage as well as some important warnings and advice for those contemplating intercultural marriage. Here is the link to the site: larabell.org/cross.html

Thanks for the recommendation, J.!

Enjoy Writing More!

Hey, all you freelance writers! Feeling maxed out, burned out, stressed out over your writing schedule? Frustrated with a project? Then check out this great article: "9 Ways to Enjoy Freelancing More." Here's the link:  freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/9-ways-to-enjoy-freelancing-more/

I am going to start posting more intercultural marriage articles on Leap of Faith, as well. My new intercultural marriage book, Your Intercultural Marriage: A Guide to a Healthy, Happy Relationship, will be released in July by Moody Publishers. It's now available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

Questions, concerns, tips about intercultural marriage? Share them here! Thanks!

Join Me for a Book Signing in Terre Haute on Saturday!

Hi! I am going to be holding a book signing for Generation Hex on Saturday, Sept. 6th (that's THIS Saturday) from 2-4 p.m. at The Open Door Christian Bookstore in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Open Door is located behind Honey Creek Mall, at 3125 Third Place, Terre Haute, Indiana, 47802. You may also visit the website at opendoor-christian-store.com.

I hope you will join us! We will have a drawing for several GREAT door prizes and enjoy coffee and pastries from the newly opened Gingersnaps cafe located in the back of the bookstore. You'll also have the opportunity to browse the store's fantastic selection of gifts, books and music.

I look forward to seeing you there! I truly appreciate your prayers and your support for us and our book. If you have any questions, feel free to call me at (214) 497-4614. Thank you!

Want to Make the World a Better Place?

Then follow Michelangelo's advice - “Criticize by creating.”
If you don't like the way something is done, change it! Do it better.

Principles for Sharing Your Faith

Over the past several months, Dillon and I have been giving radio and TV interviews for Generation Hex, and one of the common questions we are asked is, "So how do I share my faith with someone who doesn't share the same beliefs?"

Here is what I've learned:

1. Listen first and talk later. Ask a person, "What's your spiritual background?" or "Did you grow up going to church?" These questions are open-ended and unjudgmental.

2. Throw your legalism, stereotypes and misconceptions out the window. But hang onto your personal faith and your wisdom.

3. Don't freak out at a person's response to your questions. In today's culture, it's not that uncommon for a person to say, "I'm a witch," "I'm a Rastafarian," "I'm an atheist," "I'm agnostic," "I'm New Age," "I'm no religion," and so on. Heck, someone might even tell you that he has seven wives, or that she was a member of David Koresh's compound in Waco. Everyone's experiences are different. And each person's story gives you clues into what makes that person tick.

4. Identify elements of that person's experiences and spiritual beliefs and use those to build natural bridges for sharing your own faith. For example, most of the time, people will throw the door wide open for me by saying, "I've tried Buddhism, and that's pretty interesting. And I spoke with a Jehovah's witness once, and that sounded good, too. I think that there are many paths that lead to God. There's no one way." And THAT will easily allow you to share, "I understand. There are many ways that seem right, but do you know what the Bible says? "There's a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death." But Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me."

I'll share more helpful principles in the days to come! Questions, comments, concerns about Generation Hex or anything you heard on one of our radio interviews? Please post a comment here.

Gen Hex Interview on Prime Time America

Today, Dillon and I gave an interview on our new book, Generation Hex, for Prime Time America on the Moody Broadcasting Network (WMBI in Chicago, 90.1 FM). The interviews will air for 2-3 days at the very end of October during the 4 p.m. Prime Time America show. At that time, you will be able to simply click on this link: moodyradio.org/brd_ProgramToday.aspx?id=11694 and then click on "Listen Live." Thank you for your support!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like... Halloween

The other day at Barnes & Noble, I noticed a new table set up with a sign reading "For Teens." At least 80 percent of the books on that table were related to dark fantasy, witchcraft, Wicca or the occult. They included the four titles from Stephenie Meyer's bestselling series, Twilight, as well as dozens of other books. Some of these series were even geared toward children and tweens, including Sarah Mlynowski's Magic in Manhattan Series, including books with titles like Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions.

Let's face it: witchcraft has become an extremely influential element of our culture.
Let's say you were to strike up a friendly chat with a stranger at the mall, at your child's soccer game, or at a restaurant. If that person said that he or she was a Wiccan, would you know:

     -What Wicca is?
     -What Wiccans believe and practice?
     -How popular and widespread Wicca has become?
     -Why our culture says that witchcraft is "harmless," and how that viewpoint is skewed?
     -What the premise is of the Harry Potter books, Charmed, Buffy, and Sabrina?
     -How to share your faith with  a Wiccan or a pagan?
     -How to converse intelligently with a pagan without stereotyping him or her?

You know, before I began researching Wicca, interviewing pagans, and writing the book Generation Hex, I didn't know the answers to all of these questions, either. But now I do! And I want you, my readers, to discover what I did about Wicca and to be equipped with the truth. Check out Gen Hex on Amazon.com now! It just may be the best six bucks you've ever spent!

Want to Buzz Your Book?

Trying to create a BIG BUZZ for your book? If you are an author or media person working hard to market your book, check out the following incredible marketing resources:

 
      The best I've found is From Book to Bestseller by Penny Sansevieri. It contains fantastic, fresh ideas and also contains the addresses and phone numbers of tons of marketing venues, reviewers, and more. For me as an author, this book has been invaluable. NOTE: Be sure to double-check addresses, editor names, name spellings, etc. The most recent issue of the book was released in 2005.   
 
      Penny also has a book called Red Hot Internet Publicity that I have not bought yet, but plan to. If it's anything like the previous book, it's a must-have for every author.  
     
      Also check out Beyond the Bookstore by Brian Jud. It's about $25 on Amazon, and worth every penny.
     
      I also enjoyed the book The Making of a Bestseller by Brian Hill and Dee Power. This is an intriguing book featuring interviews with the industry's bestselling authors, editors, publishers, and others in the business. Very helpful.
 
      Also check out Jacqueline Duval's Publicize Your Book. It's similar to Sansevieri's book.
 
      Also see Dallas news reporter Jeff Crilley's awesome book, Free Publicity. It contains great ideas for getting your book and your business or ministry featured on TV, radio, and in print media.
     
      Will Work from Home is a great new bestseller that gives useful business and marketing tips for any writer/freelancer who works from home.
  
      Got more suggestions for me? Please post them below. Thanks so much!

Write a Review, Win a Gift Card!

Welcome to Leap of Faith! We are currently featuring a FREE $25 Starbucks gift card giveaway. Anyone who posts an AWESOME review of Generation Hex for us will be entered into the drawing to win the gift card! If you purchase a copy of Marla and Dillon’s new book Generation Hex and post a review on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or another retailer’s website, we will enter you to win. I know that all of you faithful readers love to curl up at Starbucks with a great book and a grande latte! I sure do, especially on a rainy day.

 

Here’s the Amazon link to purchase the book: amazon.com/Generation-Hex-Understanding-Subtle-Dangers/dp/0736924019/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217798029&sr=1-2

 

We appreciate your support and we look forward to receiving your feedback about the book! Thank you.

Quotes to Change Your Life

... one tidbit at a time.

 

Here's one: Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.

Big News: Harry Potter Movie #6 Moved to Next Summer

Just found this out yesterday: The sixth Harry Potter movie, which was set to release on November 21, 2008, has been moved to next summer. It will release on July 17, 2009. That's a huge decision for the studio to make! 
      In place of Harry Potter, on November 21, 2008, we will witness the release of the first movie based on Stephenie Meyer's bestselling Twilight book series. The movie is called "Twilight" and is based on the teen vampire romance novel of the same name. Expect LOTS of interest and buzz surrounding the releases of both of these movies.
      NOTE: The Twilight series is not directly related to Wicca itself, though it does contain references to vampires.
      If you haven't purchased Gen Hex yet, snap up a copy and read up on the trend of witchcraft before these influential movies come out! Here's the link to buy the book on Amazon: amazon.com/Generation-Hex-Understanding-Subtle-Dangers/dp/0736924019/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219083894&sr=8-1

Gen Hex Interviews... Listen Live Online!

Dillon and I have an interview tonight night at 8 p.m. central time on Raw Talk in Albuquerque.
   Please listen in online! Here are the next four interview times.
  
   Note: After the interviews are completed, you can listen to them on podcast on the sites listed below.   
 

   Sunday, Aug. 17
   8-9 p.m. CT
   Raw Talk
   M88, Albuquerque, NM - Go online to m88.org/rawtalk.asp and click on "Listen Now." 
 
   Monday, Aug. 18 
   5-6 p.m. CT
   Life Today Radio
   KGFT, Southern Colorado - Go online to kgftradio.com and click on "Listen Live."
  
   Friday, Aug. 22
   10-11 a.m. CT
   The Matter at Hand
   WGRC, Lewisburg, PA - Go online to wgrc.com/wgrc-christian-radio-programs.htm and click on "Listen Live."
  

   Monday, Aug. 25
   9:30-10:30 a.m. CT
   Prime Time America, Moody Broadcasting Network
   WMBI, 90.1FM, Chicago, IL - Go online to moodyradio.org and click on "Listen Live." After the interview, click on "Podcasts" to listen to the interview.

NEW Free Books for August!

Well, my quirky and fun English teacher from Sarah Scott Junior High School, Mrs. Everly, would be telling me "You're a day late and a dollar short" right now. I'm a bit late (like a week) announcing the FREE books that we are giving away this month on Leap of Faith. But it's worth the wait!

 

This month's FREE books are:

 

-The Shack by William P. Young

-150 Ways to Raise Creative, Confident Kids by Silvana Clark

-Walk with Me Today, Lord: Inspiring Devotions for Women by Emilie Barnes

-What Can Be Found in LOST by John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs 

 

Want to enter the drawing? Simply e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com and let me know which book you want to win, or post a comment below. I will put the names for each book into a bowl and draw the winners on Aug. 31. If you are a winner, I'll contact you personally, and I will also post the results here on Leap of Faith.

 

For every person you direct to Leap of Faith to enter the contest, you will receive one extra entry to the drawing for the book of your choice. So send 'em on over here, folks! Blessings, and enjoy the books!

It's Easy: Sign Up for the Blog Tour!

Lots of friends and fellow writers have been asking, "How do I sign up for the Generation Hex blog tour?" It's simple! And it's not too late! 

 

Just e-mail Tina Howard, blog tour aficionado and tech-savvy writer extraordinare, at toddntinahoward@gmail.com. Let Tina know that you want to participate in the Gen Hex tour, and she will give you all the info you need. She will contact our incredibly generous publisher, Harvest House, and ask them to send you a copy of the book to read. Then, you can just visit the Gen Hex centralized website where Tina has posted articles and interviews about the book. You may copy and paste blurbs from that into your personal blog site or web site, or you may add your own comments and reviews of the book as you feel led.

 

Thanks, friends! We truly appreciate you and your support of Generation Hex. With your help, we can get the word out about Wicca - one of the most influential spiritual trends ever to sweep across our nation.

The Latte Factor

I've been reading a book called Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach. It was recommended to me by a Christian friend who knew that my husband and I are working on tightening up our finances so we can reach certain financial and ministry goals. 

 

Bach talks about "the latte factor." He talks to many women who say they can't save money, but when he asks them about their morning routine, they admit that they stop by Starbucks every morning for a latte and a muffin... or coffee cake... or a scone. That adds up to at least $6 a day. Bach says that if you can cut out the latte and save that money, you can save $180 or more a month. Not bad!

 

I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but the other day, I decided to try a McDonald's vanilla iced coffee. (The summer temps in Texas soar above 100 degrees every day, which is CRAZY!) Anyway, the iced coffee was delicious, and I shelled out exactly $1.72 for a small one, which is in a Starbucks venti-sized cup.

 

SO... if you can't completely forego the coffee, maybe try Mickey D's! :) Read below for some great summer snack tips.

Great Snacks under 100 Calories!

So... I've been writing so much about Generation Hex that I decided to share some great health tips with you today! I try to stay in shape, eat well, and keep my "temple" in good condition. Sometimes it's tough, though, when that chocolate brownie ice cream starts calling my name from the freezer...  

 

Let's face it - I like SNACKS! What kind of snacks are actually healthy? Here are 20 snacks under 100 calories:

 

1 Fudgsicle or popsicle

3 cups of air-popped popcorn

1 large apple

1 small banana

1/2 whole-wheat bagel with 1 teaspoon peanut butter or lowfat cream cheese

1 cup Kashi puffed wheat cereal or plain Cheerios

6 vanilla wafers

1 handful Triscuits, Wheat Thins, or Club crackers

1 small pear

2 ounces of low-fat cheese

6 ounces of nonfat yogurt (I like Yoplait.)

1 small orange

1 kiwi fruit

1/2 cup of fruit sorbet

6 ounces of apricot nectar

3 tablespoons of raisins

4 Hershey's Kisses

2 tablespoons of almonds

1 cup of Teddy Grahams 

1/4 cup of dried fruit

 

Have other suggestions? Please post them here.

Get "Generation Hex" on 8/08/08!

It's here! Generation Hex has officially launched. We are asking friends and family to buy the book on FRIDAY, 8/08/08 - the day of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies.  

 

The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com and christianbook.com. I believe christianbook.com has the best value, for only $7.99 plus shipping. You can also stop by and pick up a copy or two from your local bookstore! 

 

You may also order an AUTOGRAPHED copy from yours truly for $9, which includes the price of shipping! Please consider ordering a few personalized copies for family, friends, or parents who may need to know more about Wicca and the influence of witchcraft in our culture. And if you know anyone involved in Wicca, by all means, please give them this book! We hope it will change their lives.

 

To order an autographed copy of Generation Hex, simply e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com and send me your address, and I'll ship the books out to you right away. Thanks so much! 

 

WIN A FREE STARBUCKS GIFT CARD! If you would be willing to write and post a review of Generation Hex on a website like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or another site, you may enter our drawing for a free Starbucks gift card. Just let us know when you've posted your review! Thank you!

Join Our Blog Tour for Generation Hex!

On August 1, Generation Hex was released by Harvest House Publishers. Wicca has become America's most popular form of witchcraft and our country's fastest-growing religion. Yet most Christians don't even know what Wicca is!  
 
Generation Hex reveals some of the reasons for the skyrocketing interest in Wicca, New Age and pagan spirituality in our nation. Through our research and personal interviews with Wiccans and pagans, Dillon Burroughs and I provide intriguing insights into these belief systems and the people who follow them. In the book, we also dispel stereotypes about Wiccans and equip you to create open dialogue with pagans in order to effectively share your faith with them.    
 
To help kick things off, Dillon and I will be holding a blog tour for Generation Hex from September 2-12. We're asking YOU, our faithful readers, to participate!
 
Harvest House Publishers has graciously agreed to send out a FREE copy to you if you will participate in the tour. Our blog tour coordinator, Tina Howard, will be setting up a centralized website which will contain all the information you need for posting: bios, photos, media releases, and some canned interviews. You can simply copy and paste information and blurbs from this site into your own blog or website as needed. Dillon and I would be happy to conduct personal interviews for you, as well.
 
If you are interested in participating in our blog tour, please e-mail our blog tour coordinator, Tina Howard, at toddntinahoward@gmail.com with your mailing address and your blog or website address. Tina will be sending out more detailed instructions to make posting as streamlined as possible. If you've never participated in a blog tour, don't worry! Tina will answer all of your questions. She helped me with the first blog tour I participated in, and it was very simple and fun!
 
Also, please pass on this info to any other bloggers or friends who might be interested. We're hoping for a great response! We appreciate your help and the incredible support you've shown for us and our writing ministries. Thanks so much! 

Blessings-
 
Marla Alupoaicei

Get Real!

Cec Murphey, the writer extraordinaire who has written and co-authored several runaway bestsellers, including 90 Minutes in Heaven, shared these excellent thoughts recently on The Writer's View. We were discussing the issue of how to be more authentic and vulnerable in our writing. Cec says:

 

"Of course it's difficult to be real (another word for vulnerable). And let's not make this a gender issue. It may be more difficult for males, but that's not a reason to hold back...

 

What would have happened if Moses had used the same argument and not told about killing the Egyptian? Maybe David shouldn't have written Psalm 51. Don't overlook Elijah's dark, depressive experience.

 

For me, being real is the most difficult aspect of writing; it's also the most rewarding. When I'm real (vulnerable, naked, honest, transparent, open), that's when I connect with people who hurt. And yes, I get blasted by a few people. And yes, that hurts, but it doesn't stop me.

 

When other writers open themselves and show their real selves, they give me permission to keep trying, despite my failures. I'm bored with those writers whose illustrations teach us to believe they rush from victory to victory and never fail.

 

One final curmudgeonly comment: Reader identification is the mark of good writing in fiction or nonfiction. I can identify with reality; I'm turned off by perfected saints."

 

Great points by Cec, who calls himself a "Curmudgeon of the First Order"! For more information on Cec's ministry or to sign up for his great newsletter, please visit his site at themanbehindthewords.com.

What Marks a Real Writer

I enjoyed this snippet from an interview with Anthony Snider, the winner of the 2006 Bridport Prize Competition:
 
“To steal a great line from Czeslaw Milosz: ‘I am a poet because I am always thinking
of something else,’” Snider says with a smile. “There is a back burner that is going all
the time, and if someone says something in a conversation that is an interesting turn
of phrase, or I hear somebody put something together that is interesting, I’ll write it
down and put it away in a little journal of snippets... Sometimes poems are
just begging to be written... Everything flows through.”

Great Work Advice-Don't Do These 5 Things!

I thought this was a fantastically helpful article from Robert Half International. It appeared on MSN Careers:

 
5 Ways to Tarnish Your Professional Rep
 

Without a doubt, getting ahead in your career has much to do with your skills and on-the-job contributions. But a lot also depends on how you are perceived by your colleagues and managers. The impressions you make with others can greatly affect your advancement potential. Are you taking the right steps, or are you inadvertently sabotaging yourself?

 

Here are five ways to jeopardize your professional reputation -- and career prospects:

 

1.      Not raising your hand.

A colleague needs someone to take on a few of his duties while he's out of the office next week, and the boss asks everyone on the team for volunteers. You sit quietly until a co-worker offers to help out. Bad move. Taking on projects that fall outside your normal responsibilities can help you expand your skill set and explore new avenues for professional growth. While you may not always have the time to volunteer for an extra assignment, passing on every opportunity also will prevent you from being viewed by your manager as a go-to person in the deparment.

 

2.      Overpromising.

You may be the hardest worker in the company, but if your boss and co-workers cannot rely on you to deliver results you've committed to, you may be passed over for plum assignments. Avoid the urge to promise more than you can realistically deliver, and let people know when you hit a snag that could prevent you from meeting your deadlines. You won't acquire more responsibility if people can't depend on you.

 



3.      Being a know-it-all.

It's smart to offer feedback during brainstorming sessions and to colleagues who are stuck on challenging projects. But keep in mind that there can be too much of a good thing. If you are blunt or forceful with your opinions, it can seem like you are giving orders and not offering suggestions, and consequently lead to resentment among your colleagues. This attitude can be especially harmful during group projects, when effective collaboration is key. Be tactful when presenting your thoughts and respect others' right to disagree, no matter how strongly you feel about your ideas. Co-workers will appreciate your feedback and desire to help, even if they don't follow your guidance.

 

4.      Never admitting your mistakes.

Creating an excuse to justify poor performance is dishonest and unprofessional. Plus, chances are your ploy won't stand the test of time. If you make a mistake, step up to the plate; then go further by devising a plan for both correcting and avoiding similar incidents in the future. Employees who accept ownership demonstrate professional maturity and confidence.

 

5.      Being part of the rumor mill.

When there's bad news to share or complaints to be made about situations at work, you don't want to be the person leading the talk at the water cooler. There's nothing wrong with bonding with co-workers, but being associated with negative discussions makes you seem negative -- which won't please managers and can harm relationships at work. It's best to remain above the fray as much as possible.

 

A major snafu at work isn't the only thing that can harm a promising career. Sometimes it takes just one minor misstep. Make sure your own actions aren't derailing new opportunities from coming your way.*

 

*Featured on MSN Careers, July 24, 2008 See msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1563&SiteId=cbmsnhp41563>1=23000

Wildfire Marketing

If you need help with marketing your book or expanding your speaking ministry, I highly recommend that you e-mail Rob Eagar. Even better, meet with him in person! His ministry, Wildfire Marketing, will be instrumental in helping you shape and hone your message and focus your ministry for maximum impact. For more info and AWESOME free resources, including great articles and free e-newsletters, visit Wildfire Marketing's website at startawildfire.com. You'll love it! And please tell Rob I sent ya.

 

Blessings!

Belonging...

Here's an intriguing quote:
 
You must learn one thing.
The world was made to be free in.
Give up all the other worlds
Except the one to which you belong.
 
-David Whyte

The Smallest in Christ

If I had to choose one Bible verse to characterize the cry of my heart and the attitude I want to have toward the Lord, I would pick Psalm 19:14: 

 

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.



 

When everything is stripped away and I'm hunkered down at my desk with a messy stack of papers, books, a tall cup of Starbucks and a cat wedged between my monitor and my keyboard in a blissful state of "desk sprawl," I just want to be obedient, available, and willing to express the message that the Lord wants me to share with the world.  

 

Recently, I was reading a missions report from a Russian pastor. This humble, godly man risks his life to drive his car hundreds of miles over frozen lakes with NO ROADS and NO SIGNS to visit Christians in isolated villages in Siberia. Often, his car breaks through the ice and almost falls into the freezing water. It's a true miracle that he makes it across that frozen taiga. Every few miles, he faces a life-threatening situation, and God rescues him. Over and over. At any moment, his life could end. And sometimes he does all of this to reach JUST ONE PERSON for the sake of Jesus Christ. Most amazing of all, at the bottom of the page, after describing these truly harrowing adventures, this man signed his name "The Smallest in Christ."

 

Wow. Ouch. God, is my desire to be THE SMALLEST IN CHRIST? Do I consider it a privilege to be last so others can be first? As an author, (yes, even as a Christian author) I see that there's a lot of positioning and placement done, lots of fuss and seeking after fame, lots of buzz about "who's the next big name," "who's the next rising star." 

 

I'm pretty sure that God is calling us to eliminate all of that and instead, to call on the Name that is above every name.

 

Like Christ, we have to be willing to give up any vestige of glory and allow ourselves to be THE SMALLEST IN CHRIST. Let's make His name large. He must increase. We must decrease.     

 

Comments? Please share them here. Thank you!

Relevant quote for Generation Hex

“You don’t always have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it, too.”
– Anne Lamott
 
I love Anne Lamott's quote, especially in light of our call to always be ready to provide a reason for the incredible hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Comments? Please post them below.

My "Book Baby" Has Finally Arrived!

Other authors have told me that holding that first copy of your new book makes a writer feel a bit like a new mom holding a newborn in her arms - a fitting analogy. I don't have any kids yet, but today, I received the FIRST copy of my latest book, Generation Hex. Wow! It's amazing to have a year's worth of research, blood, sweat and tears pay off and hold that slick, shiny tome in hand. Definitely a joyous, surreal moment!

 

Dillon Burroughs, my co-author, and I are planning an exciting "8/8/08 Book Launch" on, that's right, AUGUST 8, 2008. We hope you will be willing to go online and buy a copy of the book on that date! It's also the date when the Olympics starts, so please let that remind you. :) Gen Hex should be in stores by then, and the book is also available on christianbook.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and more.

 

Of course, we also encourage you to support your local Christian bookstore, so stop by and pick up one or two copies for yourself, friends, your pastor and youth pastor, teens or family members. In Generation Hex, we take a unique approach by creating open dialogue with Wiccans and New-Agers and interviewing many actual pagans in order to present a true and balanced perspective on Wicca, New Age and pagan spirituality. However, we also approach the book with solid theology and a conservative biblical foundation, rooted in Scripture. For the book, Dillon and I interviewed numerous practitioners of Wicca and other pagan faiths to discover what they really believe and how Christians can most effectively reach out to them with the gospel.

      

Publishers Weekly offers some fantastic reviews of newly released books. Here's a cool one related to Generation Hex: publishersweekly.com/article/CA6577725.html?industryid=47139

 

We're asking YOU - our friends, family members, author pals, fabulous and wise intercultural couples, fun colleagues and website cohorts - to participate in a blog tour for Generation Hex, and we hope you'll help us out!!! If you would like to be on the blog tour and receive a FREE copy of the book from Harvest House, please e-mail Marla at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. Thanks! We appreciate you.

Write Award-Winning Poems-Great Tips!

R U A Poet? Me, too. Here are some tips for those of you who are just starting out... and those who are already experts in your craft. One of the greatest things about being a writer - and one of the most freeing - is the fact that you'll never be perfect, but you'll always be getting better! Hope gets us through the day. Hope and hard work, and the ability to look at what we wrote today and realize that it may be just a little bit better than what we wrote yesterday.

 

Anyway, back to POETRY. These tips are guaranteed to improve your work significantly!

 

1. First of all, remember that in poetry, the NOUNS carry the weight. They convey the semantic force of your sentences. Nouns are the wheelbarrows that carry the blossoming flowers of your verbs. Use active verbs, but focus even more on using surprising and relevant nouns. (All of you prose writers know that in prose, the VERBS carry the weight.) To be a successful poet, you have to change your thinking about the way words work. 

 

2. Get a thesaurus or synonym finder and use it. As Mark Twain said, "The difference between the right word and the almost-right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug."

 

3. Read as much contemporary poetry as you can. Some of my fave modern poets are Louise Gluck, Li-Young Lee, Marianne Boruch, Kathleen Peirce, Linda Pastan, Mary Oliver, John Hodgen, and Robert Bly.

 

4. Don't rhyme. If you must rhyme, write the poem in free verse first, and then go back and rhyme it.  Make the sense of the poem serve the rhyme, not the other way around. Use a rhyming dictionary to help you come up with good rhymes that aren't forced.

 

5. Avoid connecting words. In a poem, you aren't telling a story. Leave some elements to the imagination. Don't explain why someone did something or qualify their acts, and don't use time modifiers. For example, instead of saying (and I know this is totally random):

  

        Freedom is its own harvest

        because it knows what it wants.  

 

You would say:

 

        Freedom is its own harvest.

        It knows what it wants.

 

See the difference?

 

7. Take associative leaps. Don't censor yourself too much. Once you know your subject, try putting together new combinations of words. Say, my subject is my desk, and on my desk are the following objects:

 

-paper with clouds printed on it

-speakers

-paper clips and binder clips

-a razor knife

-a cross carved of faux stone

-a can of dust remover

-a flashlight

-a book called "Wild Mind"

 

So, from the objects on my desk, I could use free association to come up with something like this: 

      My desk is a clean sheet of paper. The wild mind speaks

      like a razor in the clouds. A cross carved from dust.

      A stone, a flash, unbound.

 

Cheesy example, but you get the idea! And it really works. I hope these tips are useful to all you poets out there.

Generation Hex

Our culture is obsessed with power. Not convinced? Just turn on the TV. Go to the movies. Pick up a magazine. Grab any book on the bestseller list. Check out a popular blog. Every industry is capitalizing on people's desire for more power, wealth and influence. 

 

Over the past few years, witchcraft, New Age and pagan religions have seeped into our culture. TV personalities, talk show hosts, and bestselling authors like Eckhart Tolle are taking people down the New Age path, yet most of their fans don't even know that this is what's happening.

 

Yet, as Christians, we also don't want to overreact or panic. We shouldn't attack those who are misled or those who are holding to other belief systems. Our goal is to create open dialogue, share the truth, and draw people in so they can discover the reason for our hope: our faith in Jesus Christ. Only He can offer us "the hope that does not disappoint."

 

For our new book Generation Hex (See christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?isbn=9780736924016), Dillon Burroughs and I interviewed a wide variety of people involved in Wicca, witchcraft and the pagan movement in America. We discuss this disturbing, yet fascinating trend and share the causes for the recent spike of interest in pagan spirituality. Through intriguing and sometimes shocking first-person accounts and interviews, we answer questions like:

What is Wicca, anyway?
What do Wiccans, New Agers and Pagans really believe?
Are books and shows like Harry Potter, Charmed, Buffy, Sabrina, and others truly harmless for kids and teens?
What kinds of stereotypes do Christians normally have about Wiccans?
What types of spells do witches perform? 
What does the Bible say about witchcraft?
Can a person be both a Christian and a Wiccan or a witch?
What is a good way to bring up spiritual matters when I am talking with a person of a pagan faith?
How can I share the gospel with a Wiccan?
Do Wiccans worship Satan?
How can I tell if a person is a witch? 
What are the warning signs that one of my children or students may be involved in witchcraft?
Who was Jesus? Was He the Son of God, or was He a sorcerer or a witch? 

...and more! If you're a parent, a student, a pastor, a teacher or anyone who cares about trends in contemporary spirituality, please visit your local Christian bookstore and snap up a copy of Generation Hex. We appreciate your support! We pray that you will be blessed and educated by the book.

Notes on the Writing Life

Natalie Goldberg's writing uplifts me, inspires me, makes me laugh, and makes me think. In her book Wild Mind, she writes:

 

       I said to my friend, "Writing is so lonely."

       He lifted his eyebrows. "Is there anything wrong with loneliness?" he asked.

       "No, I guess not," I said.

       "Anything you do deeply is very lonely."

       "Are you lonely?" I asked him.

       "Of course," he answered. "But I do not let it toss me away. It is just loneliness."

       So there you have it. There are days I think, how did I get into this writing? But here I am. And the truth is, I wanted it.*

 

Solitude and serenity are vital to the writer's life... and to the spiritual life. Yet there are ways in which we can be alone without being lonely. We have the Holy Spirit guiding us, teaching us, accompanying us everywhere. I'm often alone, but I'm rarely lonely. In fact, I cherish my quiet time and use it to fuel up for the fun times I spend with my husband, family and friends.

 

How do alone time and solitude figure into your spiritual equation? 

 

*From Natalie Goldberg, Wild Mind, 129-130.

A Royal Dose of Perspective

There I was, frantically scurrying to get my writing done, plus wash the dishes, do laundry, cook dinner, work out, and post on my website. I had just started a new job when I got called, of all things, for JURY DUTY. Now, for me, jury duty ranks right up there with getting a root canal or having my fingernails extracted one by one with pliers. NOT my idea of fun times.

 

But I went, thinking, "Oh, this will only take 1-2 hours, tops." That's what everyone had told me. Then I walked into a huge room at the Denton County Courthouse and I saw... about 300 people sitting there. Immediately, I thought, "Okay, maybe that's going to be 3 hours..." PLUS the hour drive there and the hour drive back home.

 

So... they called my name. I was in a smaller group of 45 people who had been - yes, specially hand-selected by either the prosecution or the defense to be interviewed for possible selection for a felony trial. Yowza. And, you guessed it - I got picked. Yep, only twelve people out of 300, and it was yours truly up there for three days. I ended up missing one of my writing-from-home days, plus two full days of work at my brand new job.

 

Now, I had a choice here. I could either have a human perspective, which, to be perfectly honest said, "This sucks." Or I could try to see this situation from God's perspective. I knew absolutely that God wanted me there. But it was a bit tough to let go of my schedule. I was planning for an important conference and had so much to do. 

 

Suddenly, this question reverberated through my mind: "CAN I MULTIPLY YOUR TIME?"

 

Totally foreign concept. I knew that this had to be from God.

 

"What, Lord?"

 

"CAN I MULTIPLY YOUR TIME?"

 

Gulp. "Yes, I guess you can. You're God, after all."

 

So I chilled out after that. There's a great Yiddish proverb that says, "Mann traoch, Gott lŠuch" (We plan, God laughs). So true.

 

I gave it my all. And being a juror ended up being serious business. As soon as I was picked, I saw why. It was a domestic violence case, and I ended up feeling so strongly about it. It felt shocking to be in a place where I was partly responsible for justice being served in the life of a battered wife and her children. Yet, as a follower of Christ, I also wanted to be balanced and gracious toward the defendant in hopes that God would change his life and help him to walk a better path.  

 

The trial turned out to be extremely eye-opening, rewarding, heartbreaking and touching, all at the same time. I met several amazing people and, in fact, I ended up being selected as the presiding juror. The Lord put words in my mouth and strength in my heart that I honestly did not know were there. It was truly Him speaking through me. I felt very pleased and relieved when we reached a unanimous decision after deliberating for only two hours. God multiplied my time, just as He had said He would. But I had to let Him.  

 

What's got you in a tizzy today? God may be asking you, "CAN I MULTIPLY YOUR TIME?" You should let Him. He's good at that.

 

Comments? Please post them below. Thanks!

WIN A FREE NEW BOOK from Leap of Faith!

Hi, friends! Good news: the Fab Leap of Faith FREE Book Drawing is back! And for each new friend you refer to Leap of Faith to enter the contest, you will receive one (1) additional entry to the FREE book drawing. You can't beat that! At midnight on July 31, I will draw names for the winners of the following three books:

 

Life After Birth: What Even Your Friends Won't Tell You about Motherhood by Kate Figes and Jean Zimmerman
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian
Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper

 

If you want to enter the drawing for one of these books, please post a comment below or e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com and let me know your full name and which book you want to win. Also, please forward my site link to your family and friends and let them know that they can sign up to win a FREE book from Leap of Faith. Thanks!

How to Get Happy

Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote, “It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and in creative action, that man finds his supreme joys.” Mobilizing our giftedness and reaching a state of flow involves a unique combination of adventure, victory, and creative action.
The definitions of flow and joy are closely related. The authors of The Power of Flow write, “Flow is the natural, effortless unfolding of our lives in a way that moves us toward wholeness and harmony. When we are in flow, occurrences line up, events fall into place, and obstacles melt away. Rather than life being a meaningless struggle, it is permeated with a deep sense of purposefulness and order. Flow has a tremendous power to transform our lives, for it is dynamic and moves us unerringly toward joy and aliveness.
            Most of us have had experiences of being in flow. In those times, we know we’re in the right place at the right time doing the right thing. We feel both exhilarated and at peace, somehow connected to something larger and greater than ourselves. Life is rich with meaning, magic, and purpose. We feel vital, alive, joyful. But for most of us, it doesn’t happen often enough or for long enough. We feel glimmerings of flow, and then they fade away.”
            Now, what is joy? I’ve always thought of joy as a more “watered down” or “spiritualized” version of happiness, so I was surprised to find that joy is actually a feeling of greater intensity than mere happiness itself. One source defines joy as “intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness; the expression or manifestation of such feeling.”
What makes people experience this type of joy? I believe that having a fulfilling relationship with God plays a vital role. Knowing and loving the Lord offers us a kind of deep joy that transcends circumstances. It goes hand-in-hand with what the Bible calls “the peace that passes all understanding.”
The gifted composer Richard Wagner wrote, “Joy is not in things; it is in us.”
Dr. Dan Baker lists the following ten qualities of happy people. They: 
 
1.      Believe in themselves.
2.      Know their true North. (In our case, that’s God!)
3.      Take personal responsibility.
4.      Have courage.
5.      Are altruistic.
6.      Embrace optimism.
7.      Are proactive.
8.      Appreciate life.
9.      Are wise and share their wisdom.
10.  Persevere.
 
Joy is not contingent on “what happens to you”; you can choose to be a happy, positive person. When you do, your art, as well as your spiritual life, will benefit.

Want to Get Published?

When I (Marla) have the chance to meet new people and share with them what I do, they often tell me, "I have an idea for a book. How do I go about getting it published?"

 

Mentoring new authors is vital part of our ministry here at Leap of Faith. As a published author and editor with a number of years of experience in the industry, I'd love to provide you with encouragement and professional advice to help you begin a career as a writer. I can help you develop your book idea, edit your work if necessary and help you create a winning proposal to submit to publishers. For more information and pricing, please contact me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. Thank you!

 

Also, Mary DeMuth, an experienced author and speaker, has a fantastic blog called So You Want to Be Published? On her blog and website, she offers excellent model query letters, a REAL book proposal you can download, and loads of helpful articles for new writers just starting out. Check out Mary's site at wannabepublished.blogspot.com/ and sign up for her informative newsletters.

 

I would also suggest that you subscribe to magazines like Writer's Digest, Poets & Writers, and Christianity Today. You'll gain invaluable inspiration, writing tips, and markets from these magazines. Also, you may want to buy the following books: The 2008 Writer's Market, The 2008 Christian Writer's Market, and the 2008 Guide to Agents, Publishers, etc. by Jeff Herman. You will turn to these books time and time again! All the best to you and I look forward to seeing your books in print!

New Networks

Welcome to Leap of Faith! I've recently joined some new networks, including FaceBook and LinkedIn. Please click on this link to access my FaceBook profile and become a friend: facebook.com/profile.php?id=719307509

If you are a member of these networks, please let me know, and I'll be happy to add you as a friend! Thanks!

You'll Be the Same Person in Five Years Except For...

...the people you meet and the books you read.

 

What are the most influential and life-changing books you've ever read? I'll list a few of mine here.

1. What's So Amazing about Grace? by Philip Yancey

2. Night by Elie Wiesel

3. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

4. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon VanAuken

5. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

6. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

7. Beloved by Toni Morrison

8. The Hours by Michael Cunningham

9. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

10. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

 

Please let me know what your favorites are and why they influenced you. Was it the writing itself? The subject matter? The plot and character development?

The Gift of Listening

In our culture, so filled to overflowing with noise and confusion, listening has become a lost art. Author Natalie Goldberg writes:

        "Writing is ninety percent listening. You listen so deeply to the space around you that it fills you, and when you write, it pours out of you. If you can capture that reality around you, your writing needs nothing else. You don't only listen to the person speaking to you across the table, but simultaneously listen to the air, the chair, and the door. And go beyond the door. Take in the sound of the season, the sound of the color coming in through the windows. Listen to the past, future, and present right where you are. Listen with your whole body, not only with your ears, but with your hands, your face, and the back of your neck.

        Listening is receptivity. The deeper you can listen, the better you can write. You take in the way things are without judgment, and the next day you can write the truth about the way things are. Jack Kerouac in his list of prose essentials said, 'Be submissive to everything. Open. Listening.'

        Basically, if you want to become a good writer, you need to do three things. Read a lot, listen well and deeply, and write a lot."   

        Please share your comments below and pass on the link to our site to your friends! It's marriageleap.com.

Question of the Day

Jesus pointedly asked Peter, "Who do YOU SAY that I AM?" How we answer that question reveals just as much about us as it does about Christ.  
 
My friend Dave Sterrett is writing a fantastic book called Why Trust Jesus?. In the book, he presents a variety of intriguing dialogues he has had with people - rock stars, theologians, sports figures, professors, students, and ordinary folks - about who Jesus is. Check out this interview with Bono that Dave includes. I love his comments:     
In a conversation with Michka Assayas, Bono, the lead singer of U2 observed this logic.
 
Assayas: "Christ has his rank among the world’s great thinkers. But Son of God, isn’t that far-fetched?"
 
Bono: "No, it’s not far-fetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of the other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn’t allow you that. He doesn’t let you off that hook. Christ says, No. I’m not saying I’m a teacher, don’t call me a teacher. I’m not saying I’m a prophet. I’m saying: “I’m the Messiah.” I’m saying: “I am God incarnate.” And people say: No, no, please just be a prophet. A prophet we can take. You’re a bit eccentric. We’ve had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don’t mention the “M” word! Because, you know. We’re gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no, I know you’re expecting me to come back with an army and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he’s gonna keep saying this. So what you’re left with is either Christ was who He said He was -- the Messiah -- or a complete nutcase. I mean, we’re talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson…I’m not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that’s far-fetched…"
 
From Timothy Keller, The Reason for God, 229.

Fickle, Fearful, or Faithful?

The flow of creativity is a constant. We are the ones who are fickle or fearful.
 
                                              —Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way
 
  
               The editors of Toward the Light, a Canadian-based literary journal, share the following thoughts about flow:
 
               "Have you ever had a unique concept for a work of art, music or piece of writing which you followed with deep enthusiasm, but then suddenly you became too busy to complete it? You know: your car broke down. Your kid got the mumps. Your boss dumped some overtime on you. Days or weeks or years later, looking back, you identify that it wasn’t busyness at all that prevented you from forging forward. Though the busyness made the avoidance look very legitimate to everyone but your inner knowing. You know that if you had the courage, the time would have found you. Nothing would have stopped you. Rather it was an unconscious intuitive knowing that following that creative thrust to its conclusion would take you to your inner “scary places.” Perhaps having to give up someone’s approval. Or noticing that it’s time to change jobs.
               An interesting question. What fears do you avoid by not completing your creative process in whatever form it takes?
               Still, when we are ready to begin again, we discover that the stream of creativity, unjudgmentally, is willing to carry us again. And, somehow, our floundering has been incorporated into our work and we are stronger as creatives.
               I have these wobbles. Every time I navigate one of them, I tell myself, “never again.” Yet, it happens again. I wonder, is our fickleness and fear actually a part of the creative process? Something that makes us stand still for a while to integrate our fears and strengthen our courage into a new creative expression? If we were never afraid would we have reached deeply enough to produce something new rather than our safe, same old, same old?"
               I once heard Bible teacher Kay Arthur say, “If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” In truth, our busyness usually covers up fear, just as the editors wrote above.
               In my own life as a writer, I often feel like a salmon swimming upstream. In order to be refreshed and to “write from a good place,” (which is my daily prayer), I must consistently go against the trends of our culture. I must be a counter-cultural Christian in every sense of the word. When others say I have to fill my life with noise and stress and busyness, I must embrace silence and solitude. When others say I have to overextend myself financially to “keep up with the Joneses,” I have to make a concerted effort to let the Joneses just go their merry way. So I'm asking you today - are you fickle, fearful, or faithful?

Let the Inspiration Flow...

Wow! I've been so encouraged by the news I've received this week from several of my "mentees" - those I've been blessed to help in their own path to becoming published authors. One friend recently moved to New Orleans to pursue a master's degree, and we are working to get her first book proposal polished and ready to send to the publisher. I'm also editing a book for a friend and former colleague - his first book. And Catalin and I are celebrating the news that Moody Publishers has accepted my book Taking the Intercultural Leap for publication. We're thrilled!

I'm amazed at how God always uses situations in our lives for His glory. Every experience, every conversation, has a purpose. So often, it's not until years pass that we realize what God's plan was in a certain circumstance. I'm so thankful that, truly, ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. 

What "leap of faith" is the Lord leading you to take today? Leap, and the net will appear.

Blessings!

Setting Healthy Boundaries

Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
—Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend
 
As artists, sometimes we’re all over the map, creatively speaking. We like to be involved in everything, with a finger in every pie. Our spirits and souls overflow with creative energy, and that energy then flows through everything we do. We like to get involved—sometimes too involved in too many things. At times, we can barely tell where we end and others begin.
That’s why we need boundaries.
Oooh. Even the word makes me cringe a bit. I’ve never been that good at setting boundaries. But I’m getting better!
Karol Ladd and Terry Ann Kelly share some challenging points about boundaries in their book The Power of a Positive Friend. They write,
 
By nature most women are people pleasers. We tend to be nurturers who want to fix situations and make everything right… we need to realize that just because we can doesn’t mean we should! 
Boundaries are not brick walls meant to keep people out of our lives; they’re simply helpful guidelines to guard us from squandering our time, talents, and treasure on the selfish demands and whims of others.”61
            As creative people, we know that setting appropriate boundaries remains crucial to our ability to stay healthy and inspired. On his website, fine artist Steve Henderson writes,
 
“I don’t handle a high stress lifestyle very well. For years, I vaguely thought that there was something wrong with this inability, but as I age, like a wine, I realize that perhaps I’ve got something going here. We frequently comment that a wine or cheese mellows with age, but the very word 'mellows' implies serenity, balance, equilibrium— not frenetic energy, a wild and constant shaking of the bottle.
As an artist, my stock in trade is the ability to concentrate, to see things on a deeper level, to determine the best way to bring out those hidden elements subtly, in layers. I can’t do this when my mind is fractured.
Don’t get me wrong. I live in the 21st century too, and as bucolic and pastoral as Dayton, Washington, is, I still have bills, kids, yard work, and an extensive Absolutely-Must-Be-Done-Today list. But I work hard to make sure there’s plenty of white space around my pages.”
White space. Margins... in which God can write. How do your boundaries look today?

Inspiring Quote

While we strolled down the ramp in London's Heathrow airport, I noticed an ad with the following quote:
"The way you view the world is the way the world views you." Isn't that so true? I love this quote because it reminds me to be the one to make the first move, to reach out with love and to share my faith with others. It reminds me to remain fun-loving, positive, loyal, and faithful as an example to all those around me - no matter what anyone else may say, do, or think. It encourages me to put others first and to treat them the way I want to be treated. How does this quote inspire you today?

We're Back!

We're back now from Romania, where we had a fabulous time. Catalin's sister, Andreea, married the love of her life on Saturday. We are thrilled for the happy couple! The wedding was beautiful, and we met so many fantastic people and had the chance to spend some precious times with family and friends. The Lord was faithful to give us excellent weather and to make our travel plans work smoothly, so we felt blessed. Thanks for your prayers!

Off to Romania!

Well, friends, we are off to Romania early on Monday morning, May 5th. Catalin's sister, Andreea, will be married to the love of her life on May 17th in Cluj, Romania. We look forward to our visit with Catalin's family and friends! Those of you who know me know how much I love Romania and the people, and the culture, and the landscape, and the food, and the language... I could go on and on! I have not had the privilege of visiting there since 2003 - way too long!

I will try to check e-mail occasionally while there. If you need to contact me, please e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com. I will do my best to respond to your messages as soon as I can! You may also call me at (214) 497-4614 and I will call you back when I return. We will be back late on Sunday, May 18th. Thank you and blessings to you!

Happy May Day-New Book Drawing!

Happy May Day, everyone! I am pleased to announce Leap of Faith's fantastic new drawing for the month of May. We had a great response to the April drawing for Marla Taviano's books, so I thought long and hard about which books to offer for this month that my readers would be excited about, as well! Here's what I came up with. I tried to offer a variety of books so at least one of them (hopefully) will appeal to you and your interests. To enter the drawing, simply choose the book you would like to win and e-mail me at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com to let me know. Or you may post a comment below.

 

1. Jesus by Chuck Swindoll (the newest book in his bestselling biography series)

2. The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile by Noah Lukeman

3. Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

4. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

5. The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner

 

I also have a fun women's book to give away called Winging It: A Tale of Turning Thirty by Elizabeth Tippens. So I decided to host another little contest for all of those women out there who are about to turn 30. Please post a comment below explaining why YOU should be the one to win the book. I will choose the best entry and give you the book! Good luck!

You Are the Champions, My Friends...

Congratulations to Leap of Faith's April FREE BOOK WINNERS! Thank you to everyone who visited my site and entered to win April's free books from author Marla Taviano. And the winners are...

Megan for Is That All He Thinks About?
Embassie for From Blushing Bride to Wedded Wife
Larry G. for the book Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus!

Congratulations to all of you. Please e-mail me your mailing addresses, and we will get the books sent out to you right away! Blessings!

Inspiring Quote of the Day

I love this quote: "You will make all kinds of mistakes: but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce, you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her."

-Winston Churchill

Speaking and Book Signings

I just returned from Indiana, where I was blessed to have a fantastic time visiting with my parents, family and friends. I had the opportunity to visit several of my teachers from my high school, Terre Haute South. That meant so much to me! Isn't it remarkable the influence that a teacher can have in a student's life? I doubt if I would even be a writer today if it hadn't been for the powerful encouragement of several of my teachers. And God's grace, of course!

 

 

Recently, I've had the opportunity to speak in several different venues on the topics that Dillon Burroughs and I researched for our new book, Generation Hex, which will be released by Harvest House publishers in August. We're thrilled about the interest in this book! Our goal for the book was to create open dialogue with Wiccans and others of Pagan faiths in order to discover what they really believe. In the book, we share our findings and shed light on Wicca's past, its beliefs, its influence, and the rise of interest in New Age and Pagan spirituality. We include many stories and the fascinating results from hundreds of personal interviews.

 

 

Please e-mail Marla at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com if you would like to receive more information about having Marla speak at your church, school, women's group, book club, or writer's group. Thank you!

 

 

We're also excited about our upcoming BOOK SIGNINGS! Our next one will be held on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 from 2-4 p.m. at THE OPEN DOOR CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE IN TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA. We also plan to hold additional book signings at Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks, Mardel, and Family Christian Stores. We will keep you posted!

Want Your Editors to LOVE You?

I'm working on a few book editing projects and thought that I'd share some editing tips for all of you authors out there. If you REALLY want to sharpen your writing, try incorporating the following elements: 

       


 






Focus on using more strong verbs and eliminating the use of "is," "are," "be," etc. This is vital to the "hook" and readability (as well as the sales!) of your book. People want to read vivid, exciting action words. They want to be entertained and to have lots of stories/description in a book. Get a thesaurus, read through your manuscript, and replace every boring verb with a powerful one. 
 

 







Eliminate the construction of "There are/there is" as the subject and verb of a sentence. Ask yourself what the REAL subject should be. There's always a way to fix this. :) Or, I should say, you can always find a way to fix this. :)   

 
 
 




Remember to add lots of sensory/emotion words to draw in your audience. Ask yourself: What did it look like? What did it sound like? What did it taste like? What did it smell like? What did it feel like? What color was it? How did the person feel? Most book buyers are women, so work hard to make that emotional connection in every paragraph. 
      
 
 





Use more stories/illustrations if possible - at least one per page. People like to read about other people. 
      
 
 





Cut down on the number of endnotes. Most publishers are leaning toward including as much info in the text as possible to make it more reader-friendly. (Most of your readers won't take the time to turn to the back of the book to look at the endnotes, anyway.) Also, include all Bible references in the text itself rather than using footnotes or endnotes for the Scripture references. 
      


 


 



       I promise that integrating these elements into your writing will make your editors fantastically happy!

Inspiring Quotations

I just received the fabulously helpful marketing book From Book to Bestseller in the mail today. It contains some great quotes for those of us of the writerly persuasion! Here are just a few of my faves:

 

       There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs. -Author unknown 

 

       Be yourself! Everyone else is already taken. -Author unknown

 

       If the doctor told me I had six minutes to live, I'd type a little faster. -Isaac Asimov

 

       When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing. -Enrique Jardiel Poncela

 

What do you think? Have you heard or read any other inspiring writing quotes lately? If so, please share them by posting a comment here! Thanks!

April Book Giveaway-Sign Up Now!

I've decided to offer a book this month for the guys to sign up for, too. Since MARRIAGE AND ROMANCE are our themes for this month, I will give away a new hardcover copy of the classic Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by Dr. John Gray. Please sign up - your wife or girlfriend will thank you for it! :) 

 

The two women's books that are being offered in the drawing this month are:

       -From Blushing Bride to Wedded Wife

       -Is That All He Thinks About?

 

Both are fantastic new Christian books by Harvest House author Marla Taviano. Please post a comment here or e-mail me privately at marla_alupoaicei@yahoo.com if you want to enter the drawing for one of these three books! Thank you.

Poetry Quote of the Day

William Carlos Williams is one of my favorite contemporary poets. In addition to his exceptional giftedness as a writer and author, he excelled as a medical doctor and possessed special skill at discerning the needs of people and writing about the human condition. In one of his poems, he wrote: 

  





                   "It is difficult 

     to get the news from poems

             yet men die miserably every day 

                   for lack

         of what is found there."

                             

 

Just let that sink in for a moment. Isn't it so compelling? What are your thoughts? Please post a comment here.

Want to Win $3000?

Well, friends, it's here: the 77th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition, offering a grand prize of $3000 and a trip to New York to meet agents and publishers. You can enter in one or more of the following ten categories:

 

Inspirational Writing (Spiritual/Religious)
Memoirs/Personal Essay
Magazine Feature Article
Genre Short Story (Mystery, Romance, etc.)
Mainstream/Literary Short Story
Rhyming Poetry
Non-rhyming Poetry
Stage Play (*submission by mail only)
Television/Movie Script (*submission by mail only)
Children's/Young Adult Fiction

 

I hope you will take this opportunity to enter! For more information, guidelines, and a printable entry form, see the Writer's Digest website at writersdigest.com/annual. Blessings!

Hook, Grab & Pull

Hook, grab & pull - that’s how we reel in our readers and keep them engaged in our stories. Of course, like many things in life, doing this sounds easier than it actually is! The August 2007 issue of Writer’s Digest magazine contains an excellent article on this topic by Les Edgerton. He writes:

 

“The opening of your story carries an awesome responsibility. Consider this: The goals of your opening scene are:

 

     1. To successfully introduce the story-worthy problem.

     2. To hook the readers.

     3. To establish the rules of the story.

     4. To forecast the ending of the story.

 

If your opening fails to accomplish any one of these elements, then guess what - your opening will fail.”

 

Wow! If you sit there and ponder these four points for a moment, you will realize just how much skill is required to write a compelling story opening. These four points were especially enlightening to me because I’ve just begun plotting out two novels. I went back and read the opening lines of several of my favorite novels to see how each author accomplishes these four objectives in his or her writing. Try it; it’s fascinating!

 

Questions? Comments? Tips for other fiction writers? If so, please post them here. Thank you!

Fab Poetry Quote of the Day

"-this is freedom. This is the force of faith. Nobody gets
what they want. Never again are you the same. The longing
is to be pure. What you get is to be changed."

 

                              -Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jorie Graham, from "Prayer"

Radical Gratitude

Today's post is from Mary DeMuth's blog. Mary is a gifted author and a dear friend who has encouraged me so much in my writing journey. She discusses gratitude today. By the way, one of the best books on gratitude that I've ever read (and one of my favorite books ever - and that's saying a LOT) is Ellen Vaughn's Radical Gratitude. Vaughn's compelling voice and expert storytelling will captivate your heart!

 

Now, for Mary's thoughts on gratitude:

 

"I want you to remember back when we met," my friend said to me. "Our daughters were in second grade, and you were just starting to write a column in your local paper." She smiled. "Now, in your wildest dreams, would you have guessed that in seven years, you'd be where you are today? Five books? Four more on the way? An agent? A speaker?

 

My friend confirmed something God had been juggling inside my heart. I'd taken to complaining a lot, whining about the writer's paycheck, letting that small, petty thing color the beauty of what God had done. "You're right," I told her. "I wouldn't have guessed it."

 

My friend Hud says that the greatest measure of the Christian life within us is our gratitude quotient. How thankful are we? Do we whine and complain through life, forgetting the many, many, many blessings of God? Do we grumble? I do.

 

I nearly missed out on the surprising, amazing journey God had brought me on by focusing on such a small, silly thing. When I stopped and looked over the past seven years, I realized how very blessed I am. I write. I write for a living. I have the privilege of turning phrases for the Kingdom of God's sake. When I speak and write, there are times folks write to me, or pull me aside, and tell me how those words have changed their lives. Others read blogs and are changed.

 

I morphed from bookless to bookful. From being unagented and unknown to being agented and relatively known. The dream I had from my elementary years to write a novel was realized. And that I was a finalist for a Christy on my first book just shakes me up inside (in a good way). What a privilege. What a surprise!

 

Eugene Peterson renders Psalm 116:5—8 this way: “God is gracious—it is He who makes things right, our most compassionate God. God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, He saved me. I said to myself, ‘Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; and you, Foot, were kept from stumbling.’”

 

My writing journey has been full of the compassionate footprints of God. I simply have to remind myself. Because, really, I want to be a grateful girl.

 

How about you? In terms of your own writing journey, how can you count your blessings today? How has God orchestrated circumstances beyond your wildest dreams? I'm all ears."

 

Thanks for sharing, Mary!