Your Opinion, Please

During the next couple of weeks we're going to be revamping Pix-N-Pens, and we want to hear from you!!!

We want to know what you'd like to see here at Pix-N-Pens. What do you like about this blog? What do you dislike? What would make it better?

I've created a small poll, but it is by no means all-encompassing. If you don't see an answer you like, please feel free to add your own, or even send me an email sharing your opinion. I'd love to hear from you!!! Email tracyruckman @ gmail. com (remove the spaces please)

Merry Christmas, my friends. May God fill your homes and your hearts with His love, joy, and peace.

Entry: The Bean Seed Grows Up

THE BEAN SEED GROWS UP
By Debbie Roome

It was cold and wet under the dark brown soil and the seed shivered. There must be a mistake. He was supposed to be a tall, green beanstalk. “God.” he cried out. “What’s happening to me? I’m supposed to be a tall, green beanstalk”

God whispered back. “Wait.”

And so the seed waited. He waited all day and all night and all that changed was his skin became loose. “God!” he cried out. “What’s happening to me? I’m supposed to be a tall green beanstalk.”

God whispered back. “Wait.”

And so the seed waited. He waited all week. Seven days and seven nights and all that changed was his skin fell off and a root started to grow. He liked the root for it pushed him up through the soil, closer to the warmth of the shiny, yellow sun. But he was still worried. “God!” he cried out. “What’s happening to me? I’m supposed to be a tall, green beanstalk.”

God whispered back. “Wait.”

And so the seed waited. He waited another week. Seven days and seven nights and all that changed was the root pushed him above ground and he grew two small leaves. He was happy to be in the sun, but he still wasn’t a beanstalk. “God!” he cried out. “What’s happening to me? I’m supposed to be a tall, green beanstalk.”

God whispered back. “Wait.”

And so the seed waited. He waited two weeks. Fourteen days and fourteen nights and all that changed was he grew some more leaves and roots. He knew he was getting stronger as the rain watered him and the sun warmed him, but he wanted to be tall. “God!” he cried out. “What’s happening to me? I’m supposed to be a tall, green beanstalk.”

God whispered back. “Wait.”

And so the seed waited. He waited another two weeks. Fourteen days and fourteen nights and at last his dream came true. He looked down at himself and he was tall and green and strong with healthy leaves and small white flowers which nodded in the sun. “God!” he cried out. “Thank you for making me a tall, green beanstalk.”

God whispered back. “You’re welcome.”

Submitted by
Debbie Roome

Do You Write for Children?

We're pleased to welcome Marti Kramer Suddarth as our guest judge this week. Marti has written a new book entitled Ping Pong Words and 30 More Children's Sermons.



"Children's time" - a brief lesson specifically targeted for preschool and elementary age youngsters - is an important part of the Sunday morning worship service in many churches today. But many of those who are called upon to provide these lessons feel too intimidated to write their own material. For pastors, children's ministry leaders, and Sunday school teachers who need fresh, exciting messages that captivate their young people, this collection of easy-to-prepare lessons is just what the doctor ordered.



Geared toward the typical age range of the "children's time" audience - toddler to age thirteen - "Ping-Pong Words" is a valuable resource for anyone who presents children's sermons or devotionals. Each of the 31 lessons is scripture-based and runs three to five minutes in length, and many include demonstrations using simple visual aids such as ping-pong balls, family pictures, a flashlight, and clothespins to illustrate common precepts in ways that clearly communicate God's word to young ears, eyes, and hearts. The lessons are flexible and can be incorporated into a variety of churches and ecumenical settings. Appropriate for Sunday School, worship services, religious schools, and day care programs, Bible clubs, and anywhere else where children gather to learn about God, this volume is certain to earn a trusted place on the bookshelf.



This week, our contest will focus on children. Submit a story geared with children as your target audience. Please keep submissions under 1000 words, and get your entry to me at tracyruckman @ gmail. com by Friday, midnight, for your chance to win an autographed copy of Ping Pong Words by our guest. Because of the upcoming holidays, the winner will be announced on Saturday afternoon.


Marti Kramer Suddarth is an elementary schoolteacher and freelance writer who lives in Corydon, Indiana. Her stories and music reviews have appeared in several publications, including Heart-Stirring Stories of Love and Chicken Soup for the Shopper's Soul, and she is the author of Mini-Musicals for Special Days (Contemporary Drama Service). Suddarth is an active member of Community of Hope Nazarene Church in Corydon, and she is a graduate of Oakland City University and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

What Lies Within by Karen Ball

Today, we're having FUN FRIDAY! I'm so pleased to present the following review for talented author Karen Ball's latest release. Karen is one of my very favorite authors, and What Lies Within is on my Christmas wish list - I can't wait to read it! Karen's books are always fun, rich, and carry a few surprises. (And they usually have a doggy or two in them - if you're a dog-lover like me, that's an added bonus!)



If you haven't read any of Karen's books, I urge you to check her out - you won't be sorry.

What Lies Within by Karen Ball

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
What Lies Within
Multnomah Fiction (November 20, 2007)
by
Karen Ball

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Karen Ball , bestselling novelist, is also the editor behind several of today's bestselling Christian novels. Her love for words was passed down through her father and grandfather - both pastors who shared God's truth through sermons and storytelling. Blending humor, poignancy, and honesty, Karen's writing style is a powerful force for revealing God's truth. She lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, and their "kids," Bodhan, a mischief-making Siberian husky, and Dakota, an Aussie-terrier mix who should have been named "Destructo."



ABOUT THE BOOK:



Nothing’s going to stop Kyla…


until the ground crumbles beneath her feet.




Kyla Justice has arrived. Her company, Justice Construction, is one of the most critically acclaimed, commercially successful companies in the Pacific Northwest. And yet, something is missing. Not until she’s called on to build a center for inner-city kids does she realize what it is: her sense of purpose. Now nothing can stop her, not the low budget, not supply problems, not gang opposition, not her boyfriend’s suggestion that she sell her business and marry him–and most especially not that disagreeable Rafael Murphy.


Rafe Murphy understands battle. Wounded in action, this Force Recon Marine carries the scars–and the nightmares–to prove it. Though he can’t fight overseas any longer, he’s found his place as a warrior in the civilian world. So he soldiers on, trusting that one of these days, God will reveal to him why Rafe survived the ambush in Iraq. That day has arrived.


Kyla and Rafe both discover that determination alone won’t carry them through danger and challenges. When gang violence threatens their very foundations, there’s only one way to survive: rely on each other, be real–and surrender to God. In other words, risk everything…

How To: Nonfiction Book Proposals

This week, we are pleased to welcome Mary E. DeMuth as our guest judge and guest blogger.

Mary helps people to turn their trials into triumphs. An expert in Pioneer Parenting, Mary enables Christian parents to navigate our changing culture when their families left no good faith examples to follow. Her parenting books include Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture (Harvest House, 2007), Building the Christian Family You Never Had (WaterBrook, 2006), and Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God (Harvest House, 2005). Mary also inspires people to face their trials through her real-to-life novels, including Watching the Tree Limbs (nominated for a Christy Award) and Wishing on Dandelions (NavPress, 2006).

A pioneer parent herself, Mary and her husband, Patrick, reside in Texas with their three children. They recently returned from breaking new spiritual ground in Southern France, where they planted a church.

Mary has created a new product to help us writers, and I asked if she'd share some of it with us. She also offered to give one away as our prize this week! Read the details below.

Are you ready to write a nonfiction proposal
that grabs attention?

by Mary DeMuth

First things first: You need to know a few things before you start.

1) Know your passion. I’ve alluded to this earlier. A good book proposal emerges from a passionate idea. Examine yourself. Think about the topics you get passionate about when you talk to folks. Talk to others who know you well. Share your book idea and see if they catch your passion for it. It’s a huge undertaking to write a proposal, so be sure you have the passion to carry an entire book.

2) Know your book. What genre is your book? Where it would be shelved in a bookstore? How well do you know what the book will be about? Do you have access to good research, great interviews? How unique is your book? Will a pub board find it unique?

3) Know your immediate audience. The first audience of your proposal is actually the agent or publisher you’re querying. Find out everything you can about the agent or publisher. Do they specialize in the genre you’re writing? Do they take new authors? How many? Have you attended a writer’s conference and spoken directly to the editor or agent? What kinds of books are they looking for? Purchasing a market guide is a great first step. Analyzing books already represented or published is another great step. (If an agent already represents three mom authors, chances are he/she won’t want to take on another mom author.)

4) Know the bookselling industry. Do you know what is selling in the industry? What has oversold? What trends are up and coming? Go to bookstores and walk the aisles, sign up for newsletters and updates from the publishing industry, go to conferences, talk to booksellers. It’s absolutely imperative that you know what you’re getting into before you embark on this journey.

5) Know yourself. Writing a proposal is the first step in a very long journey. Do you have what it takes to count the cost of bringing a book to fruition? Can you take constructive criticism? Do you have the time it takes to not only write the book, but to edit it in a timely manner and promote it when it releases? Do you have a critique group to support and help you through the process? Author Jan Winebrenner says publishing a book “is like giving birth to an elephant—only more painful.” Are you ready for that?

Excerpted from Nonfiction Book Proposals that Grab and Editor or an Agent by the Throat (in a good way!) by Mary E. DeMuth.

You can purchase the download for only $10!

Or, you can win one this week, with our contest.

Since Mary writes a variety of genres, and a variety of topics, AND she is also a talented photographer, our contest this week is WIDE OPEN. Submit any type of writing (short story, article, essay, letter, poem - your choice) or photography for your chance to win Mary's designation of BEST OF THE BEST! Just limit your written portion to 2000 words or less, and your photographic submissions to no more than 4 photos per entry.

Email your entries to me at tracyruckman @ gmail. com by Friday, December 14th for your chance to win! I'll post the entries as they arrive and Mary will judge them over the weekend. The winning entry, announced on Monday, December 17th, will receive a free copy of Mary's download, and all the regular promo perks.

You can learn more about Mary DeMuth at:

www.marydemuth.com
www.relevantblog.blogspot.com
www.pioneerparenting.blogspot.com