Category Archives: Writers and Books

Christmas Reading

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I thought I’d start something new… Friday conversations. After all, part of the fun of blogs is getting to chat with people.

Since we’re into the Advent season and I just reviewed Melody Carlson’s The Christmas Dog, I thought I’d ask:

Do you like reading Christmas-themed stories this time of year? Does it help give you that Christmas feeling — or does it add to the sense of “I’m not ready yet!”?

For me, sometimes I enjoy reading a Christmas book over the holidays but it’s not something I seek out except… every year between Christmas and New Year’s I read Seeker of Stars, by Canadian author Susan Fish. It’s a novella about Melchior, one of the Three Wise Men, and I don’t fully feel I’ve celebrated the season until I’ve visited Melchi and his crowd. Must review this one so I can tell you more about it….

If you’re looking for short Christmas fiction, check out this month’s Christian Fiction Online magazine. Dee Stewart’s Multicultural Fiction column features eight short stories — and one of them’s mine!

So let us know… do you enjoy Christmas stories or not? Have any favourites?

How Many Canadian Christian Authors Can You Name?

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There are more Canadian authors who are Christian than we know. Lots of times it’s because if we see their books in the stores, especially published by an American company, we assume they’re US authors. I always feel a bit of family-type pride when I see a Christian making it in the world of publishing, and if they’re Canadian it’s that much stronger.

Let me say clearly that I’m not claiming Canadians are better, nor am I saying my favourite authors are all Canadian. Neither statement would be true. But today I want to do a bit of flag-waving.

Of all the Canadian Christians who write, in book-length, short, poetic or lyrical form, many belong to The Word Guild and/or InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship. A good number belong to American Christian Fiction Writers as well or instead.

If you’re in the vicinity of Toronto (Scarborough), Ontario, on Friday 20 November from 7-9pm, you’ll find a gathering of more than 30 Canadian Christian authors at Faith Family Books and Gifts’ Christian Writers’ Expo. For directions, click here.

Wherever you are, if you’re interested in discovering more about Canadian Christian authors, a good place to start is The Word Guild’s annual Readers’ Guide.

Congratulations to Judith Millar

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Canadian writer Judith Millar produces a very funny weekly blog, MillarLITE. She’s also a fine writer of serious fiction, and winner of the 2009 John Kenneth Galbraith Literary Award.

Judy writes, “To have my name in any way linked with Galbraith’s is, for me, a huge honour; to be the first woman to earn the award since its inception is the icing on my cake!”

Take a few minutes to read her winning story, “The Insomniac“. It’s sensitive, evocative, a bit sad, and “the last word” satisfies. She really made the story come alive, and I’m still thinking about it.

To have my name in any way linked with Galbraith’s is, for me, a huge honour; to be the first woman to earn the award since its inception is the icing on my cake!

One Book / One Conference

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Out of 12 nominations, The Church Library Association of Ontario chose one book for everyone at their 2009 fall conference to read and discuss. It’s quite an eclectic list, and the ones I haven’t read I’ve heard good things about. What a great way to raise awareness of quality Canadian writing.

Nominated books were:

The Book of Negroes, by Lawrence Hill

Broken Angel, by Sigmund Brouwer

The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven Galloway

Christianus Sum, by Shawn J. Pollett

Cibou, by Susan Young de Biagi

Hot Apple Cider, N.J. Lindquist and Wendy Elaine Nelles, editors

Love Comes Softly, by Janette Oke

Mohamed’s Moon, by Keith Clemons

One Smooth Stone, by Marcia Lee Laycock

The Shack, by William P. Young

Shaded Light, by N.J. Lindquist

Vengeance, by Donna Dawson

I’ve read a lot of these books, although some were before I started doing regular reviews. If you want to see which ones I’ve reviewed, just click on the “reviews” tab at the top of this page.

Each one would have been a fine choice, and the most votes went to Hot Apple Cider. Since it’s an anthology from 30 Canadian authors who are Christian, covering a variety of topics in non-fiction, poetry and fiction, there’s sure to be something to please each participant in the One Book / One Conference event.

Congratulations to each author whose work was nominated!

Battle for the Soul of Canada, by Rev. Ed Hird

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Battle for the Soul of Canada, by Ed HirdIn Battle for the Soul of Canada Rev. Ed Hird pairs readings from 1 & 2 Timothy with historical and cultural vignettes in a series of messages challenging us with the importance of raising up the emerging generation of Christian leaders in Canada.

Ed writes, “the key to renewing the soul of Canada — and the heart of this book — is to be found in raising up Timothys”. And that’s exactly what Battle for the Soul of Canada sets out to equip us to do.

Each chapter is short and informative. There’s also a companion study guide available: Seeking God’s Solution for a Spirit-Filled Canada.

For more information or to contact Ed, visit Battle for the Soul of Canada. To read more of Ed’s writing, see Canadian Authors Who Are Christian, where he’s a regular contributor.

Writing Contest

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InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship has announced details of its annual fall contest.

This year there are four categories:

  • Poetry – free verse – maximum 40 lines
  • Short story for adults – maximum 1,500 words
  • Devotional – maximum 500 words
  • Essay to theme – This year’s theme is: “What the Lord Requires” (Micah 6:8) – maximum 1,500 words

Entries must be postmarked by August 21, 2009. See InScribe’s Fall Contest page for rules and entry information.

Check out the InScribe home page for links to writing tips and information on the Fall Contest, featuring speakers Bonnie Grove and Kathleen Gibson, with Barbara Mitchell and Marilyn Hahn. InScribe’s Fall Conference will be held in Edmonton, Canada, September 25-26, 2009.

It must be awards season…

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A number of books you’ve seen on my free books page are up for awards these days:

Finalists for The Word Guild Christian Writing Awards (winners announced at The Word Guild Awards Gala, 17 June, 2009) include:

Cibou, by Susan Young de Biagi: in both Book—General Readership and Novel—Historical categories.

Vengeance, by Donna Dawson: in both Novel—Contemporary and Novel—Mystery/Suspense.

Stories from the anthology Hot Apple Cider are short-listed in seven categories: Article—General Readership (two), Article—Inspirational/Devotional (two), Article—Personal Experience, Article—Profile/Human Interest, and Short Story.

Finalists for the Daphne du Maurier contest (winners announced at the Romance Writers of America National Convention, 16 July, 2009) include:

Suspicious Minds, by Christy Barritt: Inspirational Romantic Mystery/Suspense.

Finalists for the Faith, Hope and Love, RWA Chapter’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest (winners announced at the RWA Conference in July) include:

Shadows at the Window, by Linda Hall: Romantic Suspense

[This one hasn’t been one of my free book offers yet, but Shadows in the Mirror, previous book in the series was.]

Congratulations to these authors and to all the others who are up for these and/or other awards!

What’s so special about Write! Canada?

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Write! Canada is a unique opportunity for Canadian Christians who write and/or edit to gather for professional development, networking, encouragement and more. It’s the largest conference of its kind in Canada.

Here’s a video from 100 Huntley Street, done at the 2008 Write! Canada. Watching it made me homesick… glad there are only five more days…. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYrp1hIKUf8&feature=channel_page]

Write! Canada

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Write! Canada is Canada’s largest conference for Christians who write and/or edit, coming up June 18-20, 2009 in Guelph, Ontario.

Wondering if you should go? Check out this video:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGqK-zLXqnM]

For me, Write! Canada is three events bundled into one: professional development conference, worship retreat, and now that I’ve been there a few times, it’s a family reunion too.

Got my registration in, my flights booked… can’t wait.