Christian Goodreaders discussion

Our group bookshelves now include a written-by-group- members shelf. All of you who have written published books are invited to post your titles there --a little publicity never hurts!

Hi everyone,

I'm the author of Unconventional, the inspirational story of janitor-turned-author James Frost.

Unconventional on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65...

The first edition of Lifeblood, my vampire novel written from a Christian perspective, has been on our written-by-group-members shelf for some time; but it's been out of print since last year, when the publisher went out of business. I'm happy to announce that there's now a self-published edition available through Lulu! (I'll be listing that one here on Goodreads, and "combining" the two editions, shortly.) The URL for placing an order is:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback... . It's priced at $9.87, plus shipping and handling (which will vary depending on your chosen method). Regrettably, this edition doesn't have the pretty cover art by Lisa Victoria; but the printing quality is great otherwise.

If anyone is uncomfortable making purchases online, I regret that this is the only way to buy a copy at present. (Eventually, I hope to find a traditional publisher to do a reprint; but this edition is a temporary stopgap in the meantime for folks who'd rather not wait indefinitely for that possibility.) You could try to get your local bookstore to special order it for you --but they probably won't, because Lulu doesn't offer a discount for bookstores.

Midwest Book Review said "Lifeblood is a powerfully moving supernatural romance, filled with rich details and fast paced action. Lind has a brilliant way with words, creating a vivid atmosphere and filling it with characters that come to life with his words." Several people have also reviewed the book here on Goodreads; you can read their comments by clicking on the book listing via our group bookshelf. Check it out, if you want to!

Werner wrote: "The first edition of Lifeblood, my vampire novel written from a Christian perspective, has been on our written-by-group-members shelf for some time; but it's been out of print since last year, when..."

Werner,

Who was your publisher? Have you heard of Mindstir Media? I own them. Please check them out: http://www.mindstirmedia.com.

J.J., my publisher was Silver Lake Publishing, a small secular traditional press that specialized in speculative fiction. (They didn't give me any trouble about the Christian content; ironically, every Christian publisher I'd tried had rejected the book out of hand because the vampire element.)

I visited your website just now (good job!), and wish you all God's blessing in your publishing venture. As I said, I'm looking for a traditional publisher to do a reprint, so I'll try to send you a query letter soon --though it will probably be next month. My time for working on anything to do with my writing ministry is pretty limited, unfortunately.

Earlier this afternoon, I got an e-mail from Lulu informing me that they're running a special discount through the end of the month. If you order a book in September, and enter the code LULUBOOK at the checkout page, they'll deduct 10% (up to $10.00) from the actual book price you pay, though not from S & H or any applicable sales tax. I thought you all might want to know about that!

Werner wrote: "J.J., my publisher was Silver Lake Publishing, a small secular traditional press that specialized in speculative fiction. (They didn't give me any trouble about the Christian content; ironically, ..."

Actually, I think marketing the book as a "Christian Vampire Novel" might be the way to go. Thomas Nelson joined the Vampire world last year with FIELD OF BLOOD, and the novel did well...

I'd heard of Thomas Nelson's recent publication, and also of Multnomah's soon-to-be-released Thirsty, which is supposed to be in a similar vein (no pun intended! :-)). I haven't read either of these, but my Goodreads friend Sue Dent is familiar with them, and says the portrayal of vampires is so un-traditional that in her opinion they aren't "real" vampires. (I'm not qualified to form an opinion either way!) Her latest vampire/ werewolf novel, Forever Richard, is published by The Writer's Cafe Press, a Christian small press that specializes in speculative fiction. They've also reprinted her first novel, Never Ceese.

My book,Paths of Intimate Contention, has been named the Fantasy Book of the Month (February) in the adult readers category by Fantasy Book Review of the UK! This book is the second book of the Christian fantasy series, The Sixth World of Men. Check out the site and review at http://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/.

Congratulations, Walter!

Thanks, Werner!

Hello everyone ~ just wanted to introduce myself and my book really quick.
My name is Amanda, and I'm a Christian romance/suspense author. My book, The Price of Trust, was voted for the March read on the Contemporary Christian Fiction group. (would love it if you would join us for the discussion)

*shameless self-promotion is over now*

Thank you for the group. I look forward to getting to know you better!
The Price of Trust

Welcome, Amanda!
LOL on "shameless self-promotion" part. There's nothing wrong with mentioning your book.:-)

Darby wrote: "Welcome, Amanda!
LOL on "shameless self-promotion" part. There's nothing wrong with mentioning your book.:-)"

Provided it doesn't become spammy and in every post by the poster, regardless of topicality.

Amanda, I've just added your book to our shelves. And welcome to Goodreads, and to this group! Hope you make yourself right at home, and find rewarding fellowship and discussion.

Hi Darby,
Thanks for the encouragement ~ I always feel so bad even mentioning it!

Thank you, Jon ~ I do appreciate the nudge in the right direction! ;) Helps keep me from embarrassing social blunders, lol

And, thank you as well, Werner, for adding my book to your shelf. I certainly appreciate it whenever it's added somewhere! I'm sure I'll be quite comfortable on here, but I cannot promise much chatter...maybe! jk

Amanda, members who just read what others post are welcome, too --after all, there wouldn't be much point in posting without somebody out there who'd read it! :-)

I belong to another group that talks about making it to the top of the Amazon best seller list. Right now it is discussing tagging. Supposedly the more people who tag you, the more hits your book will get, we hope leading to sales. There are not many Christian books on there and I don't expect to be tagged. Wondering if we might do that for each other, or do you feel that is somehow unethical if we haven't read the book. I always tag the books I review.

My book is One Touch from the Maker, Second Edition

I did tag Unconventional and No Child Left Behind? on here. They look like worthy books.

I join discussions on here that have nothing to do with my book, so hope this doesn't come off as hard-sell.

No, Pat, it doesn't come across as self-promotional; we understand where you're coming from, and this subject is of interest to all the authors in the group. And no, I don't think tagging other group members' books on Amazon is unethical at all, as long as you're sure that you're using the right tags --all you're doing is helping other people locate the listing for the book when they click those tags.

Werner wrote: "No, Pat, it doesn't come across as self-promotional; we understand where you're coming from, and this subject is of interest to all the authors in the group. And no, I don't think tagging other gr..."They have a list of tags with each book. I just use one or two that are there.

Hi all!

I'm a (former) teacher, mom, homeschooler and YA author. I write mainstream fiction for kids, but it's from a Christian worldview. In other words, clean, substantial adventures! They're only 2.99 on Kindle and Nook. Links, trailers, blubs, paperback on my website: http://www.michelleisenhoff.com


The Color of Freedom
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...

The Candle Star
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...

Broken Ladders
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11...

Werner wrote: "Our group bookshelves now include a written-by-group- members shelf. All of you who have written published books are invited to post your titles there --a little publicity never hurts!"

How do you post to the group bookshelf?

My debut novel is BURNING HEARTS (arson/murder, action and romance).

It's historical romantic suspense set in the post WWII era on the Great South Bay of Long Island, NY. I love the 1940s and attempted to transport the reader into that era in American history.

Nike, at the group home page, click on the "bookshelf" link (it's one of those in a list near the top, on your right as you face the screen). The program will take you to the bookshelves, where the screen will have an option for adding books on your upper left; it has a search box where you type in the book you want, and click to search. When the book you want comes up, click the "add" button; it will add the book to the "read" shelf automatically, but click "choose shelves" to add written-by-group-members. If you have any problems or questions, let me know!

Werner, I do fine until I get to my book. I don't see an "Add" or "Choose" button anywhere. What am I doing wrong?

Karin, I'm not sure what the problem is. The "add to group" button isn't very close to the picture of the book that comes up on the left --it's more over in the middle of the screen; but that's not all the problem. I tried twice just now to add your book, clicking on the button more than once each time, after intervals of waiting; but nothing happened. I'm not sure yet if this is one of Goodreads' glitches, or a malfunction of my own PC. For now, I'd say keep trying at intervals, and keep us posted on the results. We may need to report the problem to Goodreads Feedback if it doesn't correct itself soon!

OK, I'll try to add it now and then, and I'll let you know if it works. Thanks, Werner.

Good luck, Karin!

Karin wrote: "Werner, I do fine until I get to my book. I don't see an "Add" or "Choose" button anywhere. What am I doing wrong?"

I don't see an add button either when I do it. :)

Werner wrote: "Good luck, Karin!"

It seems everywhere is having techno problems lately. Grrr

Nike wrote: "It seems everywhere is having techno problems lately. Grrr"

Isn't that the truth? Goodreads, Facebook, Blogger. No wonder I never have time to write. The sites are time-consuming enough when they work!

Karin wrote: "Nike wrote: "It seems everywhere is having techno problems lately. Grrr"

Isn't that the truth? Goodreads, Facebook, Blogger. No wonder I never have time to write. The sites are time-consuming enou..."

They're constantly trying to update technically and offer more so they don't fade away and that bring techno issues. Grrrr

I also think they get under attack from hackers, just as individual accounts do.

Nike and Karin, I've just successfully added both of your books. This time, I was using my office computer rather than the one at home (I'm on my meal break), and the software worked as it's supposed to. I'm not sure why it didn't work for you two --it should have!

Thank you, Werner! I appreciate it. Who knows why these things don't work sometimes. It never makes sense. The mystery of computers...

Werner wrote: "Nike and Karin, I've just successfully added both of your books. This time, I was using my office computer rather than the one at home (I'm on my meal break), and the software worked as it's suppo..."

Thanks, appreciate it. Good group here.

Best wishes to you both with your writing, Nike and Karin!

Werner wrote: "Best wishes to you both with your writing, Nike and Karin!"

I'm interested in what others are reading...and if they're writing do they have time to read anymore. If nobody answers here, I'll start a discussion on that.

Right now, my schedule isn't normal, and I don't have any significant time either for reading or for writing and related activities. But when I do have a normal schedule, I allot time for reading every day, and make it up if I have to miss a day. I typically spend more time in a week reading than I do on things related to writing (and my lack of output shows it!).

I have a site called Christians Read that I post reviews on so that keeps me reading, but life got in the way for about three and a half months and all I read were a few grocery-store magazines. I'm hoping to get a more regular schedule now.

Christians Read

Werner wrote: "Right now, my schedule isn't normal, and I don't have any significant time either for reading or for writing and related activities. But when I do have a normal schedule, I allot time for reading ..."

I do get in writing, but I'm finding that marketing the book that's out takes up much more time than I'd ever anticipated. I guess it comes out of my reading time. But lately, I've insisted on making time for reading.

Pat W. wrote: "I have a site called Christians Read that I post reviews on so that keeps me reading, but life got in the way for about three and a half months and all I read were a few grocery-store magazines. I'..."

I hate that when real life gets in the way. :)

I took a look at your blog. Very nice. Is it Wordpress?

Nike wrote: "Pat W. wrote: "I have a site called Christians Read that I post reviews on so that keeps me reading, but life got in the way for about three and a half months and all I read were a few grocery-stor..." It's Typepad. Wordpress may be just as good but I started with Typepad. Typepad bills themselves as the only site good enough to charge--yearly bill. Yeah to your comment about life getting in the way. I like John Lennon's quote: "Life is what happens while you are making other plans." My grandiose future has to wait while I do the dishes.

Pat W. wrote: "Nike wrote: "Pat W. wrote: "I have a site called Christians Read that I post reviews on so that keeps me reading, but life got in the way for about three and a half months and all I read were a few..."

Oh yeah, the dishes...and walking the dog. Doesn't the world know we have important literary lives to lead??? Apparantly not. LOL

Pat, your site sounds interesting. I have more time during the summer months and Thanksgiving and winter break. BJ Robinson

Nike wrote: "Pat W. wrote: "Nike wrote: "Pat W. wrote: "I have a site called Christians Read that I post reviews on so that keeps me reading, but life got in the way for about three and a half months and all I ..." LOL

BJ Robinson wrote: "Pat, your site sounds interesting. I have more time during the summer months and Thanksgiving and winter break. BJ Robinson" Thank you. I'm trying to get it up and going again.

Nike wrote: "Pat W. wrote: "Nike wrote: "...Oh yeah, the dishes...and walking the dog. Doesn't the world know we have important literary lives to lead??? Apparantly not. LOL "

Washing the dishes yes. Everybody has to eat. But having a pet is a choice. Is it more important for you to have a pet or to have time for something else like writing in this case?

Swantje wrote: "Nike wrote: "Pat W. wrote: "Nike wrote: "...Oh yeah, the dishes...and walking the dog. Doesn't the world know we have important literary lives to lead??? Apparantly not. LOL "

Washing the dishes y..."

Having animals around me is like breathing. Writing is like breathing.

Pet vs writing? Writing vs. pet?

It's a toss up.

My husband is heaving a huge sigh of relief that nobody asked about spouses. LOL

I have pets, and I find they don't distract from my writing life, but add to it :) My cocker spaniel is a character in Last Resort :)I wouldn't give them up for writing. BJ Robinson

I like to put pets in my novels.

I have Blanka the cat in Burning Hearts.

Goodbye Noel is pet free with a mere mention of Blanka.

The thrid to come out in the series, Perilous Shadows will have Aggie, the Boxer, (named after Agatha Christie).