Variety is the Fun of Life!

I am always amazed when I meet other authors. We are such a varied bunch of people. I used to worry about so many people writing books. I was afraid that they would take the dollars from my sales. I don't worry about that any more because the authors and their books are as different as the readers who purchase them. I have had a ball getting to know authors and readers via the internet and book signings. Everyone has a story. God can use any genre to get His message to the people whether it be Bible study material, non-fiction, fiction, or poetry.
The next author I want to introduce you to is David Hurst. I met him through a mutual friend on face book. He is also a Tate Publishing and Enterprises author.

David I am so happy that you are taking the time to join me here on my blog and newsletter.

1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
My name is David L. Hurst. The name of my book is: "a Daily Walk with the Lord"

2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I would like for the readers to know what my relationship to God is. I am a Christian, a child of the King,
a born-again believer. Jesus is my Lord and Savior.


3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
After my father passed away in 2004 I started writing poems. My poems gave me strength, comfort, & peace. In the process God was drawing me closer to Him.
I knew that I wanted to be a writer when I shared some of my poems with my family and co-workers and I knew that God was using me to be a blessing to someone else.


4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods? I guess my strong points in my writing is that I speak from the heart. I go to the deep emotional places
where we meet with Jesus and he walks with us. I go to the places where we have a fresh encounter with
the heavenly Father.

5. Are you a reader? What are you reading right now? I like to read the Bible and I enjoy other devotional books. I love to read inspirational poetry. The book I am presently reading is the Bible.

6. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.I would love to write another devotional book. In the near future I hope I can write another inspirational book--if the Lord is willing and I have the time.

7.What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them? I believe my biggest obstacle is overcoming writers block. I like what one author said: it was something like this, inspiration does not come before writing but after the writing has begun. Many times God has blessed
me with a poem when I began to write.
My book is for encouragement, to help people draw close to God by taking a Daily Walk with the Lord.
I write about time. I would like for everyone to understand the day of our departure is at hand. Loved ones will be called. Death will come knocking at the door. My deep desire is that God will use the poems in my book to bring that loved one to Christ before the midnight hour.

8. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
The readers can contact me dailywalk4u@aol.com
I have a web site www.christiandevotions4u.com I will share some of my poems on line.
my book can be purchased at Tate Publishing & Enterprises
www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore This is the link that will take you directly to my book.
http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?=978-1-60799-080-2


Thank you so much David.

"Nan's Journey" is now on the Christian Book Video website!

On Friday I was happy to see the book trailer for "Nan's Journey" on the Christian Book Video website. I am blessed to have my book listed among the other titles. There are some very creative book trailers on there and the books look like the kind I really like to read....so many books....so little time...

This first week of March I am supposed to get the "mach-up" for "Elk's Resolve" in the mail to review and sign the approval form. I will keep you posted. You will probably see one happy author holding a brand new book!

Marketing

Like many people who dream of becoming an author, I had some lofty ideas of what being a published author was like. It must have come from a "Hollywood" movie or something, but I had dreams of going up on a mountain in the quiet of the woods and typing away on my laptop while my publisher marketed my most recent brilliant work of fiction. There were visions of book signings with rabid fans waiting in long lines just to meet me. (Did I tell you I have a vivid imagination?) I hate to burst any one's bubble, but it just doesn't happen that way for most first timers out there.I am so blessed to find a publisher who will read unsolicited manuscripts. I participated in a web instruction event by a book agent. He said that most of the "stuff" he got in the mail was pitched after the first paragraph. If it didn't "grab him as something fresh and compelling" in those few words, it wasn't worthy of his time! After listening to his brilliance for an hour I was one very depressed author. The experience with Tate Publishing and Enterprises is a very personal one. Every phone conversation has been productive and helpful. The professionals assigned to each phase of the book development are invested in the success of each book.I have to say that marketing is not something I knew much about, but after reading a ton of information and studying the blogs of various authors and groups, I have gotten my feet wet. I keep a journal about every last thing that I have tried. Each attempt is marked with the number of books sold or people affected by the event. Every mail out is registered as to how many cards, letters, author/speaker brochures, or event fliers were sent and what the response was. I think I will have a better idea of how to spend my marketing dollars for my second book, "Elk's Resolve".At a book signing in a small book store the proprietor told me that Tate is very aggressive in putting their author's names and titles "out there". With every box of books from Ingram/Spring Arbour are fliers about the offerings from Tate authors. I was impressed with that bit of information. There have been time when I had felt that I was shouldering a lion's share of the marketing, but after talking with her, I realized that there is so much more to the publishing business than I will ever learn or know. I am glad to leave those parts to Tate. The very next time I looked at a blog from a group of authors, I saw that they were discussing how their "big house" publishers were having them do their own marketing. They were upset that times had changed. At this time those publishers are downsizing and a bunch or authors were let out of their contracts. I imagine they would be glad to do a little marketing if they had a chance.I said ALL of that to say this. Tate does a lot of things for the author that we do not see every day. Eventually we see the effects of it. It takes a lot of publicity to get name recognition for authors. If you don't believe me, ask "the man on the street" to name their favorite author. They will most likely say someone from the New York Times best sellers list. Then ask them who their favorite Christian author is or to name ten television preachers. I promise you that the majority of Christians are somewhat stumped. We have to be out there with our face and our voice connecting with people. That has been the best way that I have found to market my books.Elaine LittauTate Authorof"Nan's Journey" and "Elk's Resolve"