Why I Recommend the Frasier Contest

Last year I was polishing a manuscript, and I noticed the announcement that The Frasier Contest was open. Several friends were members of My Book Therapy, the Craft and Coaching Community for Novelists founded by Susan May Warren, and they always had wonderful things to say about it.


I read through the Frasier guidelines, saw the terrific line-up of final judges, and figured I might as well enter. If I made it to the final round, I'd be a clear winner since I would get feedback from Susan May Warren, a top agent, and a top editor. Expert advice isn't easy to come by in this business.

Last year was pretty rough on me, but entering this contest was a bright spot, because on the day they announced the finalists, I got a message on my answering machine--from Susan May Warren herself!

I quickly made a house rule--no one deletes the message from Susie. No one! (Yes, I listened to it many times in the upcoming months!)

The winner would be announced during the MBT Pizza Party at the ACFW National conference, and I was actually attending the conference for the first time.

Did I win? No, but I truly was not disappointed. For me, being one of the final five was winning.

Not long after, I received all of my score sheets. When I read through the comments of the final judges, I was filled with gratitude. They all gave great suggestions and were very kind and encouraging. I reworked the opening 100 pages as a result!

Besides the great advice, I benefited in a few other ways. As a finalist, I had the opportunity to write an article for the now-retired e-zine, Voices. My Book Therapy also pays to advertise the finalists of The Frasier in the ACFW conference program, and several people I'd never met congratulated me. Ego boost! The pizza party gathered a small army of writers, and Susan herself made a point to encourage each finalist. This woman's generosity amazes me!!

I have been writing full-time for six years. There has never been a time that I didn't welcome expert advise. I still need it. I'll always need it. This kind of knowledge is precious.

What are you waiting for? The Frasier Contest can only help your writing!

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Entries for the 2013 MBT Frasier Contest for unpublished novelists will be accepted through Saturday, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. The contest is open to Voices members. The winner will receive a scholarship to a My Book Therapy coaching retreat ($500 value). Final round judges are award-winning author Susan May Warren; literary agent Steve Laube and a TBD fiction acquisitions editor. For more information, FAQs and to enter, visit www.mybooktherapy.com. 

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Have you entered The Frasier contest? Are you considering entering this year? I'd love to cheer you on!

Have a terrific weekend!

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Celebrity Reports: ACFW 2012

I recently returned from the 2012 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference. Many of you know I LOVE magazines, so while I was there, I couldn't help thinking the conference was a celebrity event. No, Jennifer Aniston wasn't there. Nor was Denzel Washington or Sandra Bullock. These stars are small fries compared to the big potatoes I saw!

Only the BIG celebrities were at ACFW, and I got to meet many of them!

First up, the shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Who did I ride with? None other than the super cool Amy Clipston! Amy writes Amish and contemporary Christian fiction, and she was so friendly and welcoming, I couldn't believe my trip had started on such a high note!

Within minutes, I'd shoved my junk into my hotel room (see the stellar view from our room below) and sprinted back down to the lobby. I did not want to miss my two superstars arrive--Cynthia Herron, my fab roomie, and Jessica Patch, my dear friend. But before they showed up, I met Jennifer Fromke!! Jennifer writes women's fiction AND she's familiar with mid-Michigan where I grew up. It's always fun to use the words "tractor pull" and "demolition derby" in a sentence and have someone nodding in complete understanding. :)

I can't even begin to tell you how many friends I finally was able to meet in person. I just started writing them out and had to come back and delete because I realized this post would be forty-five pages long! Before I continue, though, I have to say I've been beyond blessed to deepen my friendships with both Cynthia Herron and Jessica R. Patch. These women are genuine, honest, and classy. I'm honored to know them.

It's funny how certain people have an automatic "buzz" around them. People clamor for their attention. We get excited and elbow each other when they're near. Who are these people? Every agent, editor, and best-selling author there! If only I had pictures to show the ACFW version of  "Stars: Just Like Us."

You'd see for yourself that editors get their own coffee (shocking!) and they wait in line to buy a Diet Coke in the gift shop (what??). Agents GO TO THE BATHROOM (I know!! Who knew they had bladders?). Best-selling authors? They attend workshops! (Wow!)

While I get as star-struck as anyone, the people I completely flipped over (besides my friends) were(in the order I met them) Becky Wade, Lisa Jordan, Liz Johnson, and Judy Gann.

I'd read My Stubborn Heart over the weekend and concluded I could NEVER write as good as Becky Wade, and if I could meet her at the conference my life would certainly be complete. Well, guess what? She was in the first-timer's meeting too! I may have (definitely did) overly hugged her, but she was just awesome, which made me love her even more.

Lisa Jordan and I have been friends for a long time online, and she's always so warm and friendly that I couldn't wait to meet her. She's even more beautiful in person, and she gives the best hugs, and she even forgave me for completely blanking on life details when we first met, which I thought was very classy. Let's just say this little brain can only handle so much information in a conference full of people and it had reached its limit! Watching Lisa accept the Carol award for her short contemporary romance, Lakeside Reunion, brought tears to my eyes. Congratulations, Lisa!

Moving on to Liz Johnson. Liz and I share the same agent so I knew we'd get along great--and we did! Liz is even more down-to-earth and fantastic in person! Liz, too, was up for a Carol award. It's probably wrong to say she was robbed so I won't. :) So now I have an out-of-control girl crush on Liz, too. I might have to form a fan club or something...

One of my new favorite friends is Judy Gann. Judy is a Bookie (represented by Books & Such Literary Agency) too, and I met her on her birthday! Happy Birthday, Judy! Judy and I bumped into each other off and on throughout the conference, and I'm convinced God sent her to help me. I realize with all the exclamation points it looks as if I had the time of my life. Let me set you straight. The conference was a real challenge for me. Judy comforted and encouraged me throughout my stay, and we were able to have a nice long talk on the final day. I'm SO blessed by Judy!

There are dozens of other people who made a huge impact on me. Susan May Warren is such a special person. I know she personally touched many writers' lives over the weekend, and I'm very thankful to her. I could go on and on, but I'll save my other friends for another post.

The bottom line? The conference solidified one thing I already knew: it's not what I can take away from a conference, but who I can add to my life that makes all the difference. I'm SO blessed to have new friends.

What did you do last week? What are you doing this week? I've missed you!

Have a blessed Wednesday!

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