Everyone's Story welcomes back author Laura Hilton. Without fail, whenever I read anything by Laura, her words stir me and I want to shout a "yes!" in agreement. I hope you will find this also true when you read Laura's encouraging words she shares with us this week. Please check out her lovely BookGiveaway. Both Laura and I look forward to hearing from you.
Laura is generously offering 1 copy of any her novels, including the recently released THE POSTCARD to 1 randomly chosen commenter. The winner will be announced here on Friday, July 17th between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment.
Writing
A Faith-filled Novel In Today’s Market
by Laura Hilton
by Laura Hilton
We live in a rapidly
changing world. We’re used to the internet and instantaneous gratification. You
want something, you can stay in your pajamas, go online, and order it. With
one-click purchase, it’s super easy to buy what you need and it’ll be in your
mailbox in two or three days. Or in the case of e-books, instantly available to
read on your device.
With this kind of
service, gone are the days of planning a trip to a bookstore, and browsing
shelves, wondering if your favorite author has a new book out. The joy of
finding out there is, and pulling this crisp, new paperback book off the shelf,
hugging it, and reading the back cover. Then opening it up and reading the
first chapter before you either continue shopping for another new book—and
maybe discovering a new author—or take your treasure and going to the checkout
counter.
One winter a book I
really wanted to read came out. It was titled “Snow.” I lived in Michigan at
the time, and we had braved the icy, messy road conditions in Grand Rapids to
go to Alpine Avenue to do some needed shopping. I asked my husband to stop at
the Christian bookstore for a moment. I went running into the store and
startled the employees who probably had planned for a quiet evening with no
customers. The man working asked me, “May I help you?” And I said, “I’m looking
for Snow.” He looked outside, at the white flakes falling, the messy parking
lot. “Don’t we have enough already?” The store did carry the book. I grabbed
it, hugged it, read the back cover, paid, and went home happy.
With bookstores
closing faster than most people change their sheets, it’s a challenge for new
authors to try to break into the traditional market. Publishers don’t want to
take a chance on a newby. They want tried and true. They know what is selling
(and it may not be your favorite genre.) And with so many established authors
out there who’ve already been proved to sell, how is a Christian author
supposed to get their work out there in a rapidly diminishing market.
The professionals
will tell you, story matters. Make your story sing, the characters alive, the
words so gripping the acquisitions editor won’t be able to put it down. And they are right. But I’m not here to
tell you that good advice or even how to do it. Your way isn’t my way. Your
favorite reading material is different than mine. I’m here to tell you to give
your writing to God and write the story for Him and Him alone.
Pray, before writing
any words. Write the story He tells you to write, even if it’s too preachy, or
addresses tough issues. He knows who He wants that story to reach. It may not
be millions; it may be one of your critique partners. If the
story changes even one life for God, it’s worth it, even if it doesn’t get a
second look by one of the top five Christian publishers.
Once your story is
written, edited, and told the way you feel God intended, there are plenty of
other options for publication. Small press – and I don’t mean vanity press –
that sell books mostly online. Or you can self-publish. Write a good story and
readers will find you. Word of mouth works the best of any marketing plan out
there. If a reader is touched by your story, they will tell a friend, “I just
read this amazing story. You’ve got to read it.”
To quote a
well-known writing coach, pray and then “go, write something brilliant.”
Laura's previous Everyone's Story's blog feature: Amish Fiction Author and Advice On Your Passion and God's Permission
Laura's Ah-hahs To Tweet:
Author Laura Hilton
@Laura_V_Hilton: Writing A Faith-filled Novel In Today’s Market (Tweet This)
Everyone’s Story:
Visit with #AmishFiction author Laura Hilton @Laura_V_Hilton (Tweet This)
Like #AmishFiction?
Check out Laura Hilton @Laura_V_Hilton’s #BookGiveaway! (Tweet This)
Author's Bio:
Award winning author,
Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five
children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home
mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.
Her publishing
credits include three books in the Amish
of Seymour series from Whitaker
House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the
2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised
to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013
Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered
Love and Awakened Love followed
by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as
the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Birdhouse in September 2015.
Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series.
Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book
reviewer.
Places to connect with Laura:
Goodreads
****Please take a moment to take this month's new Poll: When the first paragraph of a novel loses its grip on you. (found on the right-hand sidebar) Thanks so much!
****Please take a moment to take this month's new Poll: When the first paragraph of a novel loses its grip on you. (found on the right-hand sidebar) Thanks so much!
