God Uses Broken Vessels: contest

Showing posts with label contest. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Twitter Mini-tutorial

I've been asked a few questions about twitter and thought this mini tutorial might help. I sent it to one person and then realized it might help a bunch more if you aren't feeling confident about the twitter monster yet ;)
Here's a real tweet I'm using now and what my tweet means broken down into segments:

Goodreads #giveaway 3 books, A Healing Heart by @angbreidenbach http://ow.ly/klvWJ 1 man can help, but can she trust him?

1. The tweet is 125 character spaces long, but can go to 140. If you use all the characters, there's no room for people to retweet or add a comment on it. Try to leave 15-20 character spaces. Punctuation, characters, and spaces count in the 140 character space message.

2. I used the # (number sign is called a hashtag) to specify giveaway is a topic on twitter that people follow so #giveaway might be a topic on twitter.

3. A Healing Heart by @angbreidenbach is both my book title and my name, but I used my twitter handle so other twitter folks can follow, but also so I know the tweet has happened. Then I can thank the person, favorite the tweet, and retweet the tweet. I can also check to see if I'm following the friends who tweeted for me if my twitter handle shows because it alerts me to a tweet about me or my book. Without it, I never see the tweet come through and have no way to track or respond. Lately I've used this a lot to specify my "book title by author's name". It will easily bring anyone back to my twitter account where my website is listed on my bio. I used to just use my actual name, but then realized the marketing opportunity I was missing. So I added my twitter handle as my name in shared tweets.

4. The shortened link means I've gone to hootsuite (or another website that lets me put a long link in and get a short one that looks like this: http://ow.ly/klvWJ Here's what the link really is: http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/50843-a-healing-heart Do you see how much longer and how many more characters it takes? This gives me a lot more room to write more of my message.

5. Other websites that shorten links are places like bitly. You sign up for a free account, copy/paste the long link, and click shrink. Then you can copy/paste or use as needed the shortened link for purposes like twitter or saving space in the html coding on your blogs and website and newsletters.

6. Here's my hook to get people to click the link and sign up for the contest: 1 man can help, but can she trust him?

7. I use hootsuite.com to preload my social media for twitter, facebook, linked in, and my facebook fan page. I have a free account that allows up to 5 different social media accounts. I can switch between them right on the home page. I can shrink links too. I often write the tweet, then copy/paste to send out via email for friends to tweet. But I know the length and have shrunk the link in hootsuite first. I've also preloaded it to go out to the social media for the date and time I want in advance. I'm getting better at this each day, I hope. :)

So when you send your tweets, put in those elements. Put in your twitter handle, not mine, lol. Then you'll see when people tweet for you. Use a hashtag on an important word that could be a trending topic on twitter. Some are #mustreads, #fiction, #contest, #Amazon, and more. You can create your own too. But the reason for the hashtag is that you want to be in a line of topical conversation. the # sign means you can use that word to search out that topic on twitter.

Do you tweet?

And yes, I'd be honored if you copy/pasted my original tweet into your timeline and told folks about the Goodreads contest!

Here it is again:

Goodreads #giveaway 3 books, A Healing Heart by @angbreidenbach http://ow.ly/klvWJ 1 man can help, but can she trust him?

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Guest Susan Sleeman shares her contest for new release, Behind the Badge!

Enter to win a copy of Susan Sleeman's Behind the Badge

and a $50 Amazon gift card!

Susan Sleeman here. Behind the Badge, my second romantic suspense book for Love Inspired Suspense will release on June 6th and in honor of all of you, the readers, I am hosting a special contest on my website for the month of June.

Let’s face it. Without you, the wonderful readers, books would not exist and I wouldn’t be able to wake up looking forward to a job that is fresh and exciting each and every day. Praise God for this incredible opportunity!

Now back to the contest. All you have to do is read the excerpt below then go to my WEBSITE and answer the following question. That's it. You're entered to win.

If you'd like to sign up for my mailing list to learn of other contests in the future you can do that at the same time, too. Full contest rules are on the entry page. Remember only one entry per person.

QUESTION: What item let Russ know the bike was street legal?

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.

Her books include Nipped in the Bud, High-Stakes Inheritance, Behind the Badge, and The Christmas Witness. Also watch for the first two romantic suspense books in her Justice Agency series coming from Love Inspired suspense in 2012 and featuring a private investigations firm specializing in helping those who traditional law enforcement has failed.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan visit her website, Facebook , or Twitter.

"YOUR SISTER IS NEXT!"
A killer is threatening the life of rookie cop Sydney Tucker's sister-unless Sydney turns over evidence from a drug bust. But she doesn't have the evidence. Not that the thug believes her. Now she and the sibling in her care are under the watchful eye of Logan Lake police chief Russ Morgan…but will his protection be enough?
The killer is closing in, picking off the people and places that mean the most to Sydney. A list that now includes Russ. To protect her loved ones, will she pay the ultimate price-her life?

The Morgan Brothers - Bk 2

Love Inspired Suspense June 6, 2011

ISBN-10: 0373444478

ISBN-13: 978-0373444472

READ AN EXCERPT:

Chapter One

Gunshots split the inky darkness.
Deputy Sydney Tucker hit the cold ground, a jagged rock slashing into her forehead on the way down. She reached for her service weapon. Came up empty handed. She'd stopped after work to check on the construction of her townhouse and left her gun and cell phone in the car.
Dumb, Sydney. Really dumb. Now what're you gonna do?
Inching her head above knee-high grass, she listened. The keening whistle of the wind died, leaving the air damp and heavy with tension but silence reigned.
Had she overreacted? Could be target practice. But at night? Maybe. Hunters did crazy things sometimes.
Footfalls pounded from below like someone charging through the brush. No. Two people. Maybe a chase. One person after another. A loud crash, branches snapping.
"What're you doin', man," a panicked male voice traveled through the night. "No! Don't shoot! We can work this out."
Three more gunshots rang out. A moan drifted up the hill.
Not target practice. Someone had been shot.
Sydney lurched to her feet, dizziness swirling around her. Blood dripped into her eyes. She wiped it away, blinked hard and steadied herself on a large rock while peering into the wall of darkness for the best escape route.
Heavy footfalls crunched up the gravel path.
"I know you're here, Deputy Tucker," a male voice, disguised with a high nasally pitch, called out. "We need to talk about this. C'mon out."
Yeah, right. Come out and die. Not hardly.
Praying, pleading for safety, she scrambled deeper into the scrub. Over rocks. Through grass tangling her feet. Her heart pounded in her head, drowning the prayers with fear.
"I'm losing patience, Deputy," he called again in that strange voice. "You're not like Dixon. He had it coming. You don't."
Dixon? Did he mean the man she arrested for providing alcohol to her teenage sister and for selling drugs? Was that what this was about?
Rocks skittered down the incline. The shooter was on the move again. No time to think. She had to go. Now!
Blindly she felt her way past shrubs, over uneven ground. Dried leaves crunched underfoot. Branches slapped her face and clawed at her arms, but she stifled her cries of pain.
"I hear you, Deputy."
She wrenched around to determine his location. A protruding rock caught her foot, catapulting her forward. She somersaulted through the air. Her knee slammed into the packed earth and she crashed down the hill. Wrapping arms around her head for protection, she came to a stop, breath knocked out of her chest, lying flat on her back in a thick stand of weeds.
"So you want to play it that way, do you Deputy? Fine. Just remember, you can run, but you can't hide. I will find you. This will be resolved one way or another." His disembodied laugh swirled into the night.
The darkness pressed closer. Blinding. Overwhelming. Terrifying.
She was easy prey. Even with her bulletproof vest, a few rounds fired in her direction would take her out. She had to get up.
She rose to her knees, but pain knifed into her knee, keeping her anchored to the ground.
Lord, please don't let me die like this. Give me the strength to move. I need to live for Nikki. She's only seventeen. She has no one.
Sydney uncurled and came to a standing position. Taking a few halting steps, she tested the pain. Nearly unbearable. But she could-no she had to do this for her sister.
Thinking of Nikki, she gritted her teeth and set off, moving slowly, taking care not to make a sound.
Out of the darkness, a hand shot out. Clamped over her mouth.
Screams tore from her throat, but died behind fingers pressed hard against her lips.
A muscled arm jerked her against a solid chest and dragged her deep into the brush.
God, please, no.
She twisted, arched her back, pushing against arms like iron bands.
She dug her heels into the ground, but he was too strong. He kept going deeper into the brush before settling them both on the ground behind a large boulder.
"Relax Sydney, it's Russ Morgan," Logan Lake's Police Chief whispered, his lips close to her ear.
Russ Morgan? What was he doing here?
"Sorry about the hand." His tone said she was nothing more than a stranger instead of someone she'd known for years. "I didn't want you to alert the shooter with a scream. I'm gonna remove my hand now. Nod if you understand me."
She let all of her relief escape in a sharp jerk of her head. His fingers dropped away.
"Once the shooter rounded that curve, you would've been a goner," he whispered while still firmly holding her. "Good thing a neighbor reported gunshots."
Sydney started to shiver and breathed deep to steady her galloping pulse. Air rushed into her lungs. She was alive, but barely. No thanks to her own skills.
"You okay?" he asked, his breath stirring her hair.
"Yes." She willed her body to stop shaking and eased out a hiss of disappointment in her performance as a deputy. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough to hear the shooter claim he's hit Dixon and is coming after you next," he whispered again, but urgency lit his voice and rekindled her fear. "This have to do with your arrest of Carl Dixon the other day?"
"I don't know," she whispered back. "I just stopped to check on the construction of my townhouse on my way home from work."
"Off duty, huh? Explains why you don't have your weapon drawn."
"I left my duty belt in my car." She waited for his reaction to not carrying, but he simply gave a quick nod as footfalls grated against gravel.
"Shh, he's about to pass us." Russ leaned forward and drew his gun with his free hand, but didn't release his hold on her.
Crunching steps came within a few feet of their location. Halted.
"Can you feel me breathing down your neck, Deputy? I'm inches from finding you." He didn't know the accuracy of his words.
She felt Russ's breathing speed up, upping her concern and washing away the brief blanket of security his arms provided. Adrenaline urged her to move. To keep from panicking, she focused on Russ's unwavering weapon.
The shooter took a few steps closer. Her heart thumped, threatening to leave her chest. Russ tightened his hold as if he knew she wanted to bolt.
The shooter spun sending gravel flying then headed up the path.
As his footsteps receded, she tried to relax taut muscles. The warmth from Russ's body helped chase out her fear and the chill of the night. Thank God Russ was here. If he hadn't come.
She refused to go there. God had watched over her. Provided rescue, just not in the form she'd have chosen.
Not only was Russ an officer from the city police force-a team often in competition with the county sheriff's department where she worked-but a man she'd had a crazy crush on in high school. A man whose rugged good looks still turned women's heads.
She let out a long sigh.
"I know this's awkward," he whispered, "but hang tight for a few more minutes. We need to wait for him to head back down the hill."
She wanted to protest and suggest they flee now, but not Russ. He thought clearly. Taking off now gave the killer the advantage of higher ground, making them moving targets. They'd have to sit like this until he passed them again.
If they made it out of here, which the approaching footfalls told her wasn't at all certain.
They pounded closer. The shooter moved at a quick clip this time as if he thought she'd gotten away and he was fleeing. Or maybe he was heading to her car to lay in wait for her.
As the footsteps receded again, she felt Russ's arm slacken.
"Time to roll," he whispered. "Stay here."
"But I-"
"You have a backup?" He referred to a back up gun officers often carry.
She shook her head.
"Then wait here." He gave her the hard stare that'd made him famous around town and crept toward the path.
She leaned against the boulder and wrapped her arms around the warm circle on her waist where he'd held her. Without his warmth, she couldn't quit shaking. The reality of the night froze her inner core.
She should listen to Russ. Lay low. Wait until he apprehended the killer.
That was the safe thing to do.
The easy thing to do.
The wrong thing to do.
Not for everyone, but for an officer of the law, letting a shooter escape without trying to stop him wasn't an option. Even if that shooter had her in his sights, she'd make her way to her car for her gun and help Russ stop this maniac before he hurt anyone else.
*****
Near the ditch, Russ came to a stop and fought to catch his breath. Taillights on a mud splattered dirt bike roared up the trail. He'd warned the suspect to stop, but short of shooting him in the back, Russ couldn't stop him from fleeing into the dark.
At least he'd accomplished his primary objective. To protect Sydney and keep her alive. Now he needed to alert his men and the sheriff's office to the suspect's whereabouts.
He lifted his shoulder mic and ordered a unit from his office to stake out the end of the trail for the motorcycle and an ambulance in case Dixon survived. Then he asked dispatch to patch him through to the county sheriff's department to make sure they knew he'd taken charge of the scene so none of their hotshot deputies arrived with the hope of usurping control.
He turned on his Maglight and headed up the hill. The beam of light skipped over gravel and lush plants lining the winding path. Midway up, rustling brush stopped him cold. He'd left Sydney higher up. Nearer the lake.
Was a second shooter hoping to ambush him?
He flipped off his light and sought protection behind a tree. His breath came in little pulses in the unusually cold air for a typical Oregon fall. Adrenaline with little time to ebb away came roaring back, but even as the noise grew louder, he resisted the urge to take action.
Maybe it was Sydney. The Sydney he used to know wouldn't have listened to his directive and stayed put. She'd trounce down the hill, her chin tilted at the same insolent angle as when he told her he didn't return her crazy crush her freshman year of high school. Not that he'd wanted to send a beautiful, lively girl like her away. He could easily have dated her, but he was four years older, in college. With their age difference, it wouldn't have been right.
Bushes at the path's edge shook then parted. Slowly, like a sleek panther, Sydney slipped out. He watched until she stood tall on those incredibly long legs he'd admired since she was sixteen before lowering his gun and aiming his flashlight at her.
She jumped. Peered up at him, an impudent look planted on her face. This was the Sydney he'd known as a teen and heaven help him, in less than thirty minutes, she'd sparked his interest again.
"Care to shine that somewhere other than my face." She perched her hand over her eyes, warding off the glare.
He moved the light but not before he caught a good look at a gaping wound running from her hairline to eyebrow, covered in congealed blood. He lifted his hand to check out her injury, but stopped. He wouldn't probe a wound on one of his men's faces. As a fellow LEO-law enforcement officer-he wouldn't treat Sydney any differently.
"I told you to stay put." He infused his words with authority.
"I wanted to help. Wish I'd listened. I tripped over the body." She held out blood-covered hands. Her eyes watered as if she might cry.
Man. Don't do that. Don't fall apart. He couldn't remain detached if she started crying. He'd have to empathize, maybe give her a reassuring pat on the arm. Maybe feel her pain and resurrect all the reasons he'd left his homicide job in Portland.
He changed his focus. Nodded at the brush. "Show me the body."
As a faint whine of sirens spiraled in the distance, she limped into tall grass, a grimace of pain marring her beautiful face. He followed, illuminating the area ahead of her. About ten feet in, she suddenly stopped. He shone his light a few feet ahead of her.
Diffused rays slid over a young male lying on his back. Russ swung the beam to the man's face landing on open eyes staring into the blackness above.
Sydney gasped and swung around him. She rushed toward the main path. Even though Russ knew it was a lost cause, he bent down to check for a pulse. No question, this man hadn't made it and no question about his identity. Carl Dixon, a man every LEO in the area knew from his frequent blips onto the police radar and the most recent arrest for selling drugs.
All that ended with three gunshots to the chest at close range from what Russ could see with his flashlight. Once they thoroughly processed the scene, he'd know better. But first, they needed to vacate the area before further contaminating the scene.
He found Sydney near the path, gaze fixed in the distance, hands clasped on her hips and exhaling long breaths as if trying to expel what she'd just seen.
Haunted eyes peered at him. "He's dead, right?"
"Yeah."
"And what about the killer?"
"Couldn't catch him. He took off on a dirt bike."
Disappointment crowded out the fear on her face. "Did you at least see him?"
"From the back. He was my height or a little taller, but lean. Wore a black stocking cap. The bike has a plate so it must be street legal. I caught the first few digits."
"That's something, then."
Russ didn't want to tell her it would do little for them in terms of searching DMV records as three digits would return thousands of bikes, but he didn't think she could take any more bad news so he kept quiet. "Let's head down to the parking lot."
He gave her the flashlight and urged her to take the lead down the steep hill. Once on solid concrete, she handed it back to him. Holding it overhead, he watched her closely for dizziness or other impairments from her fall. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, but a head injury could mean a concussion. He'd have the EMT's check her out when they got here.
He pointed at a rough-hewn bench. "Maybe you should sit down."
"I'm fine " Her voice cracked and she seemed embarrassed over reacting to the murder.
"It's okay to be upset, Syd. A horrible thing happened tonight."
"I'm fine really. I'll be back to a hundred percent by morning."
Text copyright © by Susan Sleeman
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Faith Girls Annual Shoe Contest Happening!

I just want to let you all know that there are tons of prizes over at http://www.writingbyfaith.blogspot.com for our Who's shoe's the shoe contest this week. It runs through next Friday and we'll have hints through the week. We giggled our way through the shoe shots at conference including pulling in three mystery agents!

Prizes include books, a Starbuck's card, journals, and more. Brought to you by the Faith Girls :-)

Angie, Suzanne, and Shawn Kuhn at the ACFW Awards Banquet

This month and next, I have the honor of interviewing Shawn and Suzanne Kuhn in the Christian Fiction Online Magazine. Be sure to stop in and learn how to turn an author book signing into a successful event.

You'll also learn about the Christian Store Day on October 23rd in both the October issues of the Afictionado, ACFW's ezine, and the Christian Fiction Online Magazine. How do I know? I just raced the clock to turn those articles in!

Speaking of clocks, thank you to Linda Rohrbough for my new Writer's Clock now hanging above my computer and TBR (to be read) pile. I am loving it!

Writer's Clock

If you could run a contest, what would it be?

If you could design your own clock, what would it look like for your chosen field?

Thursday, September 09, 2010

Angie's interview on Hope for the Journey

Fun radio interview! I enjoyed talking with Yvonne Ortega on her radio show this past Tuesday. Click on the link or the longer link below to hear the interview in full. Hope for the Journey is a radio show hosted by Yvonne Ortega with the goal of encouraging and bringing hope to women with breast cancer. She often asks guests that are medically related, have a message of hope, or are breast cancer survivors. For me, it was the message of hope.

Yvonne keeps the shows archived. I hope you'll enjoy it. It's a half an hour, but it felt like 3 minutes because Yvonne is so interesting and such a good show host.

Radio show long link: Just click and it will take you to the blogtalk radio page.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/show.aspx?userurl=hope-for-the-journey&year=2010&month=09&day=07&url=interview-27-angela-breidenbach

I'm just thrilled with the media opportunities our day and age provide! From internet to radio to internet radio. It's amazing!

If you listen in, leave me a comment. I'll do a drawing for your choice of the e-books (in full color) Creative Cooking for Colitis or Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance on Sunday :-)

Be sure to mention something from the show that you think will help someone else.
Also, please give me a way to contact you with your prize, should you be the winner. You can leave your email by breaking it up so the spammers can't read it or by messaging me on facebook too.

My facebook profile is AngelaBreidenbach :-)

Have a terrific week!
Angie

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Special Easter Drawing

Hi Friends,

My new release is Creative Cooking for Colitis. I wanted to share with you that I'm doing a drawing for everyone who chooses to follow the blog that goes with the cookbook. The winner will get a free Creative Cooking for Colitis E-cookbook! It's full of photos, recipes, tips, and even research websites! Here's one of the photos for Easter Sonrise. I tell you how to make it over on the Colitis Cooking blog and it's so simple!

So the rules are:
Follow http://ColitisCooking.blogspot.com for 1 entry.
Comment on each post for 1 more entry per comment on the Colitis Cooking blog.
Name will be drawn on Easter Sunday.

It's that easy :-)

Happy Palm Sunday and a blessed Easter week to you,
Angie Breidenbach

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Life Lessons from a Horse Whisperer

LIFE LESSONS from a HORSE WHISPERER

Angie's Take:

I really enjoyed the analogies drawn between training a horse and personal growth. When Lew shares his failures, I was right there with him learning from his admission and then the character choices he made from what he experienced. In the vulnerability of telling these life lessons, I was able to peek into what true humility and confidence look like in a godly man.

Now I can't end without mentioning the beautiful photos. They brought me into a personal connection with the horses and the storyteller. Do you want to be a better parent, spouse, or person? This book offers a gentle learning opportunity in patience and relational skills. I am so glad to have this in my library!

ABOUT THE BOOK!

A champion trainer and true horse whisperer, Dr. Lew Sterrett has used patience and a firm but gentle hand to earn the trust of more than 3,500 horses. In this book, Lew tells the stories of his work with these horses and the lessons each one has taught him. Sometimes heartbreaking and often uplifting, Lew has condensed his lifetime of learning into messages for the Christian life. Today, Lew shares these messages with more than 50,000 people each year through horse training presentations at Miracle Mountain Ranch and nationally through his Sermon on the Mount Ministry.

The author's engaging style and adroit mixture of well-tested anecdotes and thoughtful instruction make this a winning read-and not just for horse lovers.

Interview with Dr. Lew Sterrett

Author of Life Lessons from a Horse Whisperer

Q: HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH HORSES? AT WHAT POINT DID IT BECOME YOUR LIFE’S PASSION?

A: I was but eight when my neighbors got horses and then my sister followed suit. Somehow it struck a chord with me, for I had already been infatuated with the likes of Roy Rogers, Stony Burke, the Rifleman, etc. I rode my sister’s horse looking more like a peanut on an elephant than a cowboy on his steed, but I was hooked. From that time on this fantasy began to become a reality. When I was 14, I was asked to train for someone else. It was all downhill after that. In part because of my intense enjoyment of horses, in part it was my safe place from family issues, and in part because I began to experience affirmation from others in what I did.

Q: THE TITLE OF YOUR THIRD CHAPTER IS 'ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING POORLY' – WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

A: Of course this statement opposes the more popular line that 'If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well'. However we must understand that no one ever starts anything at the top of their game. Starting is often clumsy, messy, and many times,embarrassing. The key is 'get started' for you will never learn any younger, and you really have no place to go but up! The emphasis here is to learn how to take the initiative and to keep getting up when you fall.

Q: YOU'VE WORKED WITH AND SPOKEN TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AUDIENCES - AT RISK YOUTH, HOMESCHOOLERS, CORPORATE RETREATS, AND OTHERS. HOW CAN HORSES SPEAK TO SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE ALL AT THE SAME TIME?

A: Our audience is a broad spectrum. It includes all ages and ranges from very secular to very Christian, and total horse enthusiasts to non-horse observers. But we do share things in common: we are all people and we all share the same relational situations. The very principles that profit a horse/trainer relationship help humans to see their needs more objectively. Illustrating these with horses helps people appreciate God’s greater purpose for their lives from a relational and not necessarily “religious” perspective. The context is fundamentally sound, pithy, yet entertaining and non-threatening.

Q: YOUR EARLY YEARS AT Miracle Mountain Ranch WERE DIFFICULT. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT LEADERSHIP? WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CONTINUE?

A: The very nature of the work at MMR is 24/7/365 and mandates living in a fishbowl. I soon discovered that leadership is more about responding responsibly to crisis than about position or perks. Reading II Corinthians 10:8, 13:10, I learned that the authority the Lord gave me was for building up and not for tearing down. I began to realize that when we face resistance or criticism from either an animal or person, it is a great temptation to react and use whatever power or position we have at our disposal to protect or save ourselves first. The result is usually unsavory both to our own palate and to others. Leadership is all about crisis and the more prepared we are for win-win results the more satisfying the job. Though often tempted to quit, I am still integrity bound to a “response-able” mandate.

Q: IN CHAPTER SIX, YOU MEET BERRY AND DESCRIBE HIM AS “THE HORSE THAT WOULD CHANGE MY LIFE.” HOW DID HE CHANGE YOU?

A: Berry, though outwardly beautiful and inwardly kind and cooperative, came to a place in his training that seemed impossible to surpass. As chapter 6 tells you, we thought Berry had reached his pinnacle. Finally, instead of trying to force the issue, I went back and started some basic training to increase his flexibility. Eventually, he overcame the physical challenge that was holding him back before. What I learned from him impacted me. Character is a reflection of the heart and will always surpass natural beauty and talent in the long run.

Q: WHAT IS THE “10,000 HOUR RULE?”

A: When I use the phrase “It'll take a lot of wet saddle pads” my coaching audience looks baffled. However when I tell them that the only thing their team lacks is sweat equity, then the lights go on. I am very quick to emphasize that practice never makes one perfect. Otherwise we would not repeat the same dumb arguments with our spouse or kids. But it is essential to rehearse repeatedly in order for us to react automatically in crisis...kind of like forgiveness.

Q: WHAT IS A SOFT ANSWER? HOW IS IT USED IN HORSE TRAINING? CAN WE USE IT IN OUR LIVES?

A: Often an action provokes a reaction, such as a harsh reaction to a harsh statement. It would be like jerking the horse’s mouth because he doesn't respond well. Whenever a trainer or parent reacts to an immature action he or she loses perspective and becomes childish. Soon the child or animal begin to push the buttons of the authority and thereby exert their will over the parent. A soft answer is not one of low volume; rather, it is a response to the need that keeps the real objective in view. It actually turns away wrath and provokes a responsible response. It includes seeing and responding to the need and not merely reacting to the words.

Q: WHAT DOES THE PHRASE “ASHES TO BEAUTY MEAN” TO YOU? AND HOW HAS WORKING WITH HORSES TAUGHT YOU THIS?

A: God the Creator is always in the business of redemption. In my opinion, we were a pretty poor purchase for the sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. With all respect, I see Him as a garbage collector: He takes our garbage and in exchange offers forgiveness and cleansing. He gave His life as complete payment for our sin offering eternal life to all who would receive Him. What a deal!! Only a fool would turn it down and that is precisely the point. Furthermore, He takes the ashes of broken lives and gives us a purpose to do His good and perfect work. The testimony of His regenerate work in a person’s life parallels seeing that of a horse whose life was headed for destruction being restored to a place of useful and honorable service.

Q: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WATCHING SOMEONES ACTIONS AND WATCHING HIS/HER REACTIONS?

A: If the truth were told, we all have two personas: the first is the role we portray and want others to see us in. The second is that which comes forth when we are caught by surprise. I learned this about myself when I was faced with my own reactions and realized that my true character shows up in crisis. It is often thought that when push comes to shove we will always 'rise to the occasion.' In reality, when a crisis comes we will always 'fall to the level of our true character and training.' This can certainly be unnerving, yet represents all the more the need for a work of God in our hearts. A horse’s true relationship with his trainer is revealed when he is frightened suddenly or when he is given the liberty to act out his true self. We like the horse are the person of our reactions not our actions.

Q: YOU WRITE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WRITING TO YOUR STEP FATHER TO ASK HIS FORGIVENESS. HOW DID THAT EXPERIENCE CHANGE YOU? IS THIS ALWAYS THE CASE WITH FORGIVENESS?

A: I am embarrassed to say that I was married and living in California before I realized that my bitterness and rebellion toward my step-father had truly made a slave out of me. Forgiveness had far less to do with my step-father’s faults then it did with how I processed hurt and disappointment. Blaming him and rationalizing the anger and resentment I felt only festered into an angry vengeful messy abscess in my heart. Though I professed to love God, in truth I could only focus on myself. Not only did I forgive my father from my heart for the wrongs I felt were done to me, but I also wrote and followed up with a phone call to ask his forgiveness for my anger and disrespect I'd acted out toward him. To his credit—and my surprise–he not only readily and completely forgave me, but truly conferred his blessing upon me. Not all situations come out this way, but God puts the emphasis upon us taking responsibility for our offenses before Him, for if we do not forgive, neither will He forgive us.

Q: IF THERE IS ONE MESSAGE YOU WANT READERS TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK, WHAT IS IT?

A: Every trainer wants a relationship with the horse. Man’s ways are opposite to God’s—we are deceitful and addictively self-absorbed—but God wants a relationship with us. To get there, God often has to corral us and get us to face the futility and deception of our own reasoning. Like the horse, we can’t 'save ourselves.' The story of this book is that not only does God want a relationship with every reader, but He has already sent the trainer, the Lord Jesus Christ, into our arena to speak our language and to elevate us to fellowship with him. It is our privilege to respond to Him in humility (repentance) and trust (faith) in His offer of forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe in Him for salvation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR!

A champion trainer and true horse whisperer, Dr. Lew Sterrett has used patience and a firm but gentle hand to earn the trust of more than 3,500 horses. Dr. Lew Sterrett (Ph. D) had little idea that his boyhood interest in horses would open doors internationally for speaking and training. During his years in 4-H, he savored many opportunities to train and show horses and earn national recognition. As a student leader at Penn State University he benefited from many mentoring relationships from which he received valuable training, experience and honors. This foundation provided a basis for an extensive horse career with a unique emphasis on training youth and community leaders.

Lew has served as the Executive Director of Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions, Inc. (MMRM) since 1977. MMRM, located in northwestern Pennsylvania, is home for a summer youth camp, and a leadership training center for youth, adult, and family groups. He has also promoted safety in public riding programs, serving as President of the Certified Horse Association for 7 years. A licensed pastor, certified Youth, Marriage and Family Counselor, he earned his PhD from North Tennessee Seminary in 2007.

Find out more about Dr. Lew Sterrett on his website: http://www.sermononthemount.org/

BUY THE BOOK!

READ AN EXCERPT!

http://store.kregel.com/client/excerpt/978-0-8254-6316-7.pdf

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE!

Here's the link to the blog tour. http://ow.ly/169ym

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Please share your opinion with me

Are you a regular reader of this blog? Are you a new reader?

Do you have favorite blogs? What makes them a favorite?

I would like to make a request. If you respond, you'll have the chance to win a purposeful life coaching session with me. (For those who haven't had a chance to explore purposeful life coaching, please see my website www.MyGemofWisdom.com for some ideas of things you might like to talk about or gain insight.

Please share what you find valuable in this blog. What you'd like to see more of so that I can continue to hone, meet your needs, and become one of your favorites. Not for empty accolades, but because I am trying to improve my blog to better meet your needs and interests.

The goal of God Uses Broken Vessels is to add value to the lives of others. Help me to know you, your challenges, and dreams so that I can better support you through intriguing posts.

Do you like book reviews/blog tours?
Do you like discussing women's issues?
Do you like learning about life, job & interview skills?
What about weight loss, fitness, & recipes?
Family issues?
Relationships?
Brain donation?
Something else? I'm open to suggestions :-)

Now is your chance to share what you'd like to see.

I'm in the process of taking speaking/workshop/women's retreat bookings as well as finishing my certification requirements. I'd love to know what topics truly intrigue you? What would you like to know more about?

If you comment, I'll be sure to read them (I always do) and address your interest. I'm going to give away a purposeful life coaching consultation to one commentary today. So comment away for your chance at a 45 minute purposeful life coaching session. I'll draw the winner by Sunday.

Thank you,
Angie

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Angela Breidenbach is awarded Mrs. Montana International

Hi Friends,

I wanted to share a very exciting experience with you. A few weeks ago, I was awarded the title of Mrs. Montana International 2009! It's been a whirlwind ever since :-) I'll be competing for Mrs. International this July 14-18, 2009 in Chicago. The pageant is open to the public, and tickets are available by visiting the North Shore Centre for the Performing Arts.

Some of the unique items I've had to complete are online questions for the entire world to read as they get to know me. I included them here, with one answered. If you'd like to read all my answers to the interview, you can click over to the Mrs. International Contestant page and then click on Mrs. Montana International (hey, that's me) and see some photos too. I'd be honored if you would :-)

I thought it would be fun to hear all you lovely ladies answer these questions too! I'd love to learn about you. I'm going to post a different answer to one of these questions over on the six author blog, WritingbyFaith, with the same request to learn more about all of you. Please feel free to visit there also.

On this blog, I'll be sharing photos and posts about the journey to Mrs. Montana International and on to Mrs. International. Please join me on June 15th, 7p.m. Mountain Standard, (6p.m. Pacific, 9p.m. Eastern) for an hour long live interview event. I'll post the website and how to join the webinar/radio interview next week.

Might I mention, if you're an author or you might be writing a story for future generations, these questions are awesome character exploration opportunities.

On to the interview, tell me about yourself :-)

How do your personal / unique qualities best fit the International Pageant system?

What is something that few people know about you?

What do you do to stay healthy?

Everyone talks about "family values", what are they?
Instilled through our examples, our values show in how we live, laugh, cope with difficulty, express affection, and give of our time or blessings. It's what we do, not say, that reveals our values. By showing and building relationships, we gain the benefit to share our gems of wisdom.

What is your worst habit?
Why?

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Every Sunrise by Tricia Goyer

Angie's Take: I am enjoying Tricia's book so much. I identify easily with Charlotte and her friends. She's a young grandma with lots of responsibility and a deep love for her grandchildren that comes out across the pages to touch hearts. This book is also one that reaches across generations because of the varying ages of the characters. Nice work, Tricia!

About Every Sunrise: The bleak winter days make February on Heather Creek Farm a test of endurance, and as winter wears on, Sam becomes more and more withdrawn and unhappy. Bob is busy planning a surprise for Charlotte, and Christopher is excited about a local writing competition, while a Valentine’s Day flower from a secret source lifts Emily’s spirits. But when Sam disappears from the farm one night, chasing a memory of the father who abandoned them all, Charlotte and Bob need all the help—and prayer—they can get to bring him home safely. This broken family needs God’s help like never before, but their trials remind them all that every sunrise brings a new beginning.

About the Home to Heather Creek series: Charlotte Stevenson's world is turned upside down when her daughter, Denise, dies in a tragic car accident. She ran away at eighteen and Charlotte has never forgiven herself. Now, Denise's children, abandoned by their father, are coming from California to live on Heather Creek Farm in Bedford, Nebraska.

Charlotte is uncertain about her ability to care for three grandchildren who are not thrilled to give up the beach and sunshine for snow and farm chores! But she sees a chance to make amends and will do whatever it takes to keep her fragile family together. Feel the courage, strength and commitment of this family as their lives unfold in the Home to Heather Creek series.

Link to buy book: http://www.guideposts.org/heathercreek/linked_pages/book7.html The books come in a series and you can order those at the link. However, if you just want to order Every Sunrise you must call the customer service number (1-800-431-2344). Please include this information in your post!

About Tricia: Tricia Goyer is the author of eighteen fiction and non-fiction books, including Blue Like Play Dough. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. Tricia writes magazine articles for publications like Today's Christian Woman and Focus on the Family. Tricia also enjoys speaking. She and her family makes their home in Montana.

Contest: Okay…this book is loaded with yummy food: strawberry cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, baked chicken with cornbread, chocolate cake, pancakes with homemade syrup, French onion soup, parmesan crusted chicken…well you get the idea! So the contest for this tour will be the EVERY FOODIE contest! Leave a comment on the blog tour post (http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2009/02/every-sunrise-blog-tour-and-contest.html) at Tricia’s site with your favorite meal and a recipe (feel free to post more than one recipe!)! She’ll choose the one that most tantalizes her taste buds to receive an entire set of the Home to Heather Creek series (books 1-7)! Five runner’s up will win a copy of Every Sunrise (or another Tricia Goyer book of their choice). Let the mouth-watering commence!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Love Finds You In Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell

Summary: It's 1877 and Alexia Travers is alone in the world. Her father has died unexpectedly, leaving her burdened with a heavily mortgaged horse ranch. Marrying one of the town's all-too-willing bachelors would offer an easy solution, but Alex has no interest in marriage. Instead, she dons men's trousers and rides the range, determined to make the ranch a success on her own.

But despite Alex's best efforts, everything seems to go wrong: ranch hands quit, horses are stolen, and her father's gold goes missing. Alex is at her wit's end when wrangler Justin Phillips arrives in Last Chance with his young son, looking for a job. But there seems to be more to Justin's story than he's willing to share. Will Alex ever be able to trust him? More importantly, will the independent woman finally learn to depend on God?
Hey, not only is this a great book but you have the opportunity to check out the product from a new publishing line from Summerside Press. I've had the chance to chat with the head honcho from Summerside and am enthusiastic about seeing the upcoming work from that publisher. There is a whole line of books by different authors in the Last Chance series. Nice people with a desire to touch lives. I like them!

For your chance to win this book, please leave me a comment after you read the interview with Miralee :-) Don't forget to visit over at the Faith Girls blog, www.writingbyfaith.blogspot.com for the other part of today's interview!

Let's have fun getting to know Miralee with an interview:

Angie: Your publisher is running a series of Last Chance books, aren't they? How do you figure out which characters to use?

Miralee: Some of the authors already had a story line in mind prior to being contracted, and others chose their story lines based on the town they chose. In my case, I had a story line already built, and was able to easily adapt it to the historical town of Last Chance. Of course, my characters had to fit my time period and flow with my story line. In an Old West historical you 'must' have some rougher characters, horses, maybe a little gun-play, a sheriff, pastor and cowboys, LOL!

Angie: So I heard you actually took a trip to the ghost town of Last Chance. What was your favorite part?

Miralee: The entire trip was enlightening and enjoyable, both from a personal and a research aspect. My husband and I loved exploring the area where Last Chance once existed, as well as getting to travel the two hours to the site. It was amazing to consider what the pioneers and miners must have experienced as they traversed the incredibly steep canyon country on the way. And seeing the large meadow behind the town with the spring and small pond, as well as finding remnants of old bottles, cans, one-hundred-fifty year old cedar fence posts, and the cemetery head stones was a thrill.

Angie:Did any of your characters come out of real life people that once lived in Last Chance?

Miralee: Only the reference to Allen Grosch, the miner who got lost in the snowstorm and died in Last Chance, on his way to San Francisco to raise money to fund his new silver claim.

Angie: If you could help a young woman setting out on a goal, what are a few things you would mentor her to do in order to achieve her goals?

Miralee: First and foremost, prayer is the most important. Make sure you're in the center of God's will with the goals you're pursuing, so you don't waste your time or your life striving do to something God hasn't fitted you for. If after praying you know it's the direction you're to seek, then do so with all of your heart. Continue to bathe the project in prayer and ask the Lord for His wisdom and guidance, and above all, never lose site of the goal, and never give up.

Angie: You are a horse fancier, aren't you? Tell us about your horse.

Miralee: Yes, I've owned horses for 35 yrs. now. I've owned Arabian horses almost exclusively and at one time, owned a stallion and 6 mares and did a bit of breeding and showing. At this time I own one older Arab mare and use her for trail riding. We live 9 miles from town and have wonderful wooded trails starting right at the end of our driveway. My daughter and I ride together a couple of times a week when the weather is good. It's relaxing to get away from the computer and hit the trails on my horse!

Angie: Do you see yourself strictly as an author, or do you envision your career broadening in any way beyond writing?

Miralee: It’s funny…when I started this journey a little over 3 yrs ago, I envisioned myself as heading more toward speaking than writing. Now, I’m writing nearly full time and haven’t seen as much happening in the speaking arena. I’m hoping to turn that around and even it out this coming year, as I approach historical societies, schools and women’s groups and offer to speak.

Love Finds You In Last Chance, CA. by Miralee Ferrell
Summerside Press
4 1/2 Stars with Romantic Times Magazine
The Other Daughter--Kregel Publishing

Web Site www.miraleeferrell.com
Blog: www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for visiting with Miralee and me today! Remember to leave your comment for your chance to win a copy of Miralee's new book.
Angie

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Have you always wanted to ask a an author how?

Ask a How-to Author! Margie Lawson's High Energy Interview Series

Wednesday, February 25th -- Featured How-to Author: HALLIE EPHRON!

Hallie's how-to book, WRITING AND SELLING YOUR MYSTERY NOVEL: How to Knock 'em Dead with Style was nominated for Edgar and Anthony awards.

Hallie's psychological thriller, NEVER TELL A LIE, garnered a starred review from Publisher's Weekly.

Margie Lawson features a how-to author on the Five Scribes blog each month. The last Wednesday of the month is your opportunity to dig deep and ask how-to authors your hot questions.

Drop by www.fivescribes.blogspot.com, post a comment and you may win:

-- A signed copy of WRITING AND SELLING YOUR MYSTERY NOVEL, How to Knock 'em Dead with Style, by Hallie Ephron

-- A Lecture Packet from Margie Lawson

Hallie Ephron's parents were famous Hollywood screenwriters. She's one of four sisters, all published authors. Hallie's screenwriting sister, Nora Ephron, is known for Silkwood, Sleepless in Seattle, and When Sally Met Harry.

Meet Hallie Ephron this Wednesday! Circle Feb. 25th on your calendar.

www.fivescribes.blogspot.com

See you there!

Best......................Margie

www.MargieLawson.com

Monday, February 23, 2009

Mrs. Elite Ambassador Pageant Results

I'm excited to share a new accomplishment with you all today. I entered an essay in the Mrs. Elite Ambassador Pageant, a national level contest.

The point of this pageant is community service, something very close to my heart. I live very intentionally with a heart of volunteerism. I believe everyone has a niche, something they are passionate about. For me that is helping others to have better relationships and teaching awareness about brain donation. I hope to continue educating people about the importance of brain research in solving mental illness and other brain diseases and disorders.

Each year, one Mrs. Elite Ambassador is added to the sisterhood. She keeps her title for her lifetime and continues her work in her own niche.

This is the second year of the competition. The rules are that she must be married for at least 6 months and write an essay about what marriage means to her as well as what she plans to do with the Mrs. Elite Ambassador title.

I won 1st Runner-Up 2009!

Thanks for sharing my fun today! Maybe I'll have the chance again sometime to win, but it was worth taking the risk for the opportunity to reach out for something I believe in.

Do you take chances?

If you had the opportunity to win a title like this, what would be important enough to you to share with others?

Angie

Friday, January 16, 2009

2009 ACFW Book of the Year Contest!

Many people love writing contests. This one is no exception. As the new ACFW publicity officer, I get to share in promoting the 2009 ACFW Book of the Year contest. So here to introduce the details, I'd like to turn it over to the contest coordinator, Ronie!

Howdy, y'all! Well, I'm absolutely thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of the ACFW 2009 Book of the Year contest. The contest officially launches Monday, JANUARY 19, 2009 and will receive books through March 31, 2009. The various Boards have discussed and implemented several considerable changes to the contest this year, so if you plan to enter, please be sure to read this email (or those posted online at acfw.com/boty.shtml later next week) in its entirety. Let's also remember not to discuss the contest or guideline changes on the loop as this is not appropriate loop discussion. Direct all questions to me, privately, please.

Also, I will send out an official launch email and FAQ on Monday. PLEASE be patient and wait until I've posted the FAQ before emailing any questions. Hopefully, your questions will be answered in the FAQ email. We're still crazy-busy getting things tidied up and ready for your precious babies! :-D If you don't see your qeustion answered Monday with the FAQ, please feel free to email me at boty@acfw.com.

What follows is the full text of the 2009 official guidelines, but I will first highlight a few changes.

**PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED***

ELIGIBLE PUBLISHERS
I am delighted to announce a change that will be good news for many. We are opening our contest to small presses that in the past have not qualified! Here is the criteria this year regarding publishers that qualify:

Books must be written from a Christian worldview in any genre, and the publisher must:
1) not offer subsidy contracts in any form,
2) offer advances, AND
3) be a royalty-paying publisher.

SCORE SHEETS
Second, after much discussion among the Boards and myself, the scoring system has been changed. Judges will no longer fill out lengthy score sheets but will fill out a tally card on which they'll place their score for each entry. These tally cards will NOT be returned to the entrant at the end of the contest.

PAYMENT
We are now allowing electronic payments in addition to checks and money orders. On Monday, the entry form can be found online, along with the address to send the books to (please be aware that the address changed from last year) and a link to make your payment online. If payment is made online, please be sure you send your application/Contestant's Agreement and books to the coordinator. Your title is NOT entered until all three items (books, fees, entry form/Contestant's Agreement) are received by Ronie Kendig, the coordinator.

Please note: the online payment link is not active since the contest is not yet open.

WINNERS
This year at the Gala Awards in Denver (you are coming, aren't you?) while we will announce the top five finalists in each category, only the first-place winner will be announced and recognized. This decision was borne out of the significant increase in entries we received, and as a result, the number of finalists (many categories had ties) made the ceremony too lengthy. As usual, we will recognize the editor of the winning entry.

DEBUT AUTHOR
Last year was the first time we offered this category to recognize up-and-coming authors who had their first book released. I love this category and was delighted that we had roughly two-dozen entries. How awesome! However, we quickly realized a necessary change--if you enter a title in both Debut Author and a genre category (the only exception to a title being in more than one category), then you must pay for both category entries (in other words, $35 for each category, for a total of $70 for that title). This is because I still have to secure judges, which means we incur the costs of mailing additional books.

2009 ACFW Book of the Year

Rules and Guidelines

a.. The contest is open to published ACFW members in good standing. An author can join ACFW at the time of entry by filling out a membership application and submitting the application along with the membership dues.
b.. Books must be written from a Christian worldview in any genre, and the publisher must: 1) not offer subsidy contracts in any form, 2) offer advances, AND 3) be a royalty-paying publisher.
c.. All contest entry information and appropriate fees must be received by the contest coordinator no later than March 31, 2009. Failure to meet the appropriate deadline shall result in disqualification, and the entry fee shall be forfeited. The author is responsible to make sure all materials (books, fees, and application) are submitted on time to the contest coordinator.
d.. All deadlines are final.
e.. Fee of $35.00 per title entered must be paid online via PayPal, credit card, money order, or check (online payments made through the ACFW website www.acfw.com/boty.shtml). If entering a title as both Debut Author and a genre category, this is considered two entries and two fees are required (for a total of $70 for that title).
f.. The author shall select the appropriate category for entering the work. However, the work shall be disqualified if the word count does not match the category requirement (see "Categories" below for established word count requirements).
g.. No single entry shall be entered in more than one category (with the exception of the Debut Author category, in which case the book may be entered in BOTH Debut Author and the entry's genre category).
h.. There is no limit to the number of eligible books an author may enter in each category.
i.. In any category, if fewer than seven (7) entries are received, the category shall not be judged as General Fiction category of the contest and judged therein.
Exceptions:
1. If fewer than seven (7) entries are received in the Short Contemporary Suspense category, the category will dissolve, and these shall be entered into the Short Contemporary category of the contest and judged therein.

2. If fewer than seven (7) entries are received for the Mystery category, this category will dissolve, and these shall be entered into the Suspense category of the contest and judged therein.

3. If fewer than seven (7) entries are received in either the Long Contemporary or the Long Contemporary Romance categories, the two categories will be combined.
a.. Books entered shall not be returned.
b.. Entrant shall understand and agree that all scores are final once returned from the judge and entered into the database. Scores are assessed by individual judges who score according to an established score card. There will be no discrepancy judging or altering of scores submitted (unless there has been a computational error in determining the final score). Score cards will not be returned to the entrant.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
a.. Entry must be a work of original fictional narrative prose that is offered for sale to the general public through print media. The author must not participate financially in the production or distribution of the work.
b.. Entry must have an original copyright date (printed on copyright page) between January 2008 and December 2008.
c.. Books must be written from a Christian worldview in any genre, and the publisher must: 1) not offer subsidy contracts in any form, 2) offer advances, AND 3) be a royalty-paying publisher.
d.. Entry may NOT have previously been entered in the Book of the Year contest.
e.. Entry must be an English-language edition.
f.. Electronic and audio books may not be entered.
g.. THREE copies of the book must be submitted (unless entrant is a first-time author and eligible for the Debut Author category, then SIX are needed).
h.. All entrants are required to sign the Contestant's Agreement located on the entry form indicating their acceptance of terms.

PROJECTED CATEGORIES
a.. Contemporary Novella (between 15K and 35K)
b.. Debut Author (at least 50k)
c.. General Fiction
d.. Historical Novella (between 15K and 35K)
e.. Lits (includes chick-lit, mom-lit, lady-lit, lad-lit, etc.)
f.. Long Contemporary (70K+)
g.. Long Contemporary Romance (70K+)
h.. Long Historical (including all sub-genres)
i.. Mystery (judged in Suspense if fewer than 7 entries)
j.. Short Contemporary (Includes series/category, 45K-65K)
k.. Short Contemporary Suspense (Includes series/category & cozies, 45K-65K)
l.. Short Historical (45K-65K)
m.. Speculative (includes science fiction, fantasy, allegory, etc.)
n.. Suspense (includes thriller and romantic suspense,**excluding series/category suspense unless series word count exceeds 65K**)
o.. Women's Fiction
p.. Young Adult

PROJECTED TIMELINE
a.. January 19, 2009 - Contest officially opens.
b.. March 31, 2009 - ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED (not post-marked) by the contest coordinator. Entries must have an entry form, entry fee, and three copies (or six if entering in the Debut Author category) of the entered book.
c.. April 15, 2009 - Books sent to judges.
d.. July 15, 2009 - Score cards due back to contest coordinator.
e.. August 01, 2009 - Finalists Announced. Score cards will not be returned to the entrant.
f.. September 2009 - Winners announced at the ACFW Conference Denver, CO.

AWARDS
a.. Winner in each category receives a plaque.
b.. Editors of all winning entries receive a certificate.

E-mail Coordinator Ronie Kendig at boty@acfw.com.

Mail books and signed entry form to: (can be found the on the entry form online)

So, fabulous loopers, there you have it. REMEMBER: The contest officially launches January 19, 2009. DO NOT send books before then, please. If you have any questions, please contact me offlist at boty@acfw.com.

Blessings, y'all!!

:-)Ronie Kendig
BOTY Coordinator
Dead Reckoning (Abingdon Press, March 2010)
www.roniekendig.com
http://supernaturalcraving.blogspot.com