Christian Author Laura Davis

After you read this blog, you might think I'm nuts too, but I welcome your opinion as I am about to make a rather crazy decision. Well ... my husband thinks it's crazy, but I'm not so sure.

Come to Me, is about to get a facelift. I have been mulling this over in my mind for about a year now. When Google books decided to upload my ENTIRE book to the internet (the ending included), I noticed a drop in sales. No surprise there. After finding out that my publisher, Lulu, had given them permission to reprint my book, I knew I needed to switch publishers. After realizing that Lulu did not own the rights to my book and dropping words like "lawyer" and "illegal", Google deleted all but 38 pages.

Since that time I have had huge problems getting my book "out there". After talking with a representative from Word Alive Press at the recent Write! Canada conference, I was assured that I could republish Come to Me with them. It would have a new cover, a better marketing campaign (something I failed to really establish early on) and proper distribution into actual "brick and mortar" stores. This has been the frustrating part of dealing with Lulu. To buy my book now, you have to either live in London, Ontario or buy it through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

So, the question I would like to put out there is this: do you think I'm crazy? Should I republish a revised edition of Come to Me with Word Alive? Or should I forget about it (as my husband wishes I would) and use Word Alive Press for my next novel instead?

Well, it has been a while since I've blogged, but I have a good excuse - I was at the Write! Canada conference and then a lot of other things happened after that!

First, hands up for those who attended the conference and had a good time. I thought the courses this year were exceptional and wished I could have taken them all. I took the Eight-Step Editing course with Jim Taylor. Everyone received an 88 page booklet that I know I will turn to again and again. In fact, the day I got back I had to put my new skills to work immediately, as I had something waiting in my email box that someone wanted edited.

As for the conference itself, as always it was wonderful to see old friends again and make new ones. I had a lovely lunch at Tim Horton's with a total stranger who became (I hope) a lifelong friend by the end of the conference. Timmy's was a great place to go before the conference started. Many Word Guilder's were there!

This conference was less stressful for me than last year, in that I did not make ANY appointments at all. I didn't have a manuscript ready that needed critiquing so I didn't want to waste anyone's time. Yet, God had other plans. I had a little accident at the conference and hurt my baby toe. It was bleeding quite badly and I needed a nurse to bandage it up. I missed my workshop that day and by the time she finished treating me it was time for a coffee break. So I went to the lounge and sat with people I didn't know. We started talking and sharing as writers do, about what we were working on. The girl to my right said, "That sounds interesting. I'd like to hear more, but I have to leave." I nodded my head and said something like, "Well, we'll see each other around I'm sure." To which she responded, "Make an appointment with me." Well, it's about here that my mouth should have had a check on it, but like always it says what it wants and I blurted out, "Who are  you?"

Fortunately, Monica Leis from Maranatha News laughed and I made an appointment with her later that day. I'm happy to say that she is interested in some articles that I sent her in regards to disability issues. Neat huh? After I finally clued in about what God wanted me to do (see my last post) and then I meet Monica. She even hinted that they might like a series of articles from me.

Yep, definitely a God thing.

It's coming! Can you feel it? The excitement is in the air and we still have four months to go! Write! Canada is Canada's largest Christian Writer's Conference and offers incredible opportunities from networking and marketing to building our skills as writers. The dates this year are June 17-19 and it is held in Guelph. While I have only attended one conference, I can honestly say it was the best experience of my life. I learned so much I felt like my brain was on overload! I am praying that I will be able to attend this year as well.

Even with all the workshops and continuing classes, the plenaries and manuscript critiques, (which were all incredible) I have to say my favourite part of the entire weekend were the friendships established and renewed. It's like going to a family reunion!

This year the workshops and classes offered are excellent and our keynote speaker is Joel A. Freeman, author of the book If Nobody Loves You, Create the Demand. I'm looking forward to hearing from him.

What about you? Are you attending Write! Canada this year? If so, what are you looking forward to the most?

I know I have a few writer friends that visit here from time to time and I was wondering - how are you doing? What have you got in the works right now? I have just spent an entire day writing (well almost - at one point I had to go out and buy cat food), but once I was at my computer again I was having a grand time.

For some time now, I have been working on a book called Finding Claire. Oh, the troubles Claire has caused me. She and her friends have refused to behave and they are just now starting to cooperate. I thought I would be done this book in October, but it is taking longer than I thought. But today I woke up with so many ideas in my head I couldn't contain them. I love it when that happens!

But it got me thinking - how many of you, use outlines? Do you find it helpful? I have tried countless times to outline my books before I start to write, but I get so antsy to get started that I always give up!

I am and always will be a write first ask questions later kind of gal. How about you?

I love books! I receive about three or four in the mail each week for review. My pile has grown quite large and can get distracting,especially when I'm in the middle of writing my own. But everytime I open my mailbox and see another stuffed envelope or box I get excited.

This love of books began when I was in public school. Fairy tales, adventures, picture books - anything that would whisk me away to another land was fine by me. I was the first one in line when the book mobile came to our school and I was the last one to leave. When our school library needed volunteers, I jumped at the opportunity. I felt like a kid in a candy store! When it was time for recess I would be inside cataloguing books and when I could, finding a corner to read my favourite book series, "Little House on the Prairie". What girl didn't read those books growing up? 

At home and at school, my love of singing, combined with my love of reading, led me to write poems and then songs. In  highschool, while I spent a great deal of time singing, I also took creative writing classes and after highschool, I took more classes in writing. At the time, I was heavily involved in singing ministry, so I couldn't quite figure out, why I was so interested in learning how to write a novel.  I didn't believe I would actually write anything or do anything with that skill. Any stories I wrote were for my eyes only! In fact, the first writing class I took, the author (who had several books published) shared some wise words of advice - "If you think you are going to make thousands of dollars writing - think again! Writing," she said, "Is not a good way to make a living." She was right.

Since I was singing for a living, I wasn't too concerned. I knew what I would be doing until the day I died - and it wouldn't be writing. But God knew better.He designed me with a love of music, reading and writing. He saw the big picture and prepared me for the day when singing would no longer be an option and writing would be.

Sometimes,God takes us places that we don't want to go. Life is going along at a merry pace and then wham! Everything changes. We lose our jobs, we get sick, we have to move away from our family and friends. Any number of things can happen that we aren't prepared for. Sometimes God asks us to do things that seem impossible. But nothing is impossible with God. He tells us in His word that He has a plan for us: For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Are you going through a difficult time right now? Know this - God loves you and is giving you the opportunity to trust Him. You can cower in fear at the events going on in your life, or you can start another chapter and let the adventure begin!

"Mother Teresa once said, "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." She had it right. We're not authors, any of us. We are just the "pencils." Once we understand that, we might actually become useful to God." - The Hole in Our Gospel, Richard Stearns

Have you read The Hole in Our Gospel yet? If you haven't, you should. I'm only on page 94 and I'm finding new insights everyday. Written by the president of World Vision, it will challenge you to think about what you are really doing with your life - or not doing as the case may be.

I must confess that I feel at times I've limited myself in what I can or cannot do (change that to will not do)  for God. I've been more of an eraser than a pencil!  I have all kinds of excuses that I use for months before I finally give in to the calling of the Lord. Then I kick myself for not listening sooner!  I use excuses like - I can't stand for very long (so I couldn't possibly be called to go speak somewhere). I am a singer, not a writer (so He can't possibly be calling me to write). I don't have a lot of money (so He can't really be asking me to support a child in a third world country). He can't be asking me to just serve at home! That's way too boring! Or, here's a recent one - I can't possibly go into retirement homes and give bible studies, because I'm not a teacher.

Yet, after reading only 94 pages of A Hole in Our Gospel, I realize that God's anger could be burning against me, just as it did Moses when He asked him to talk to Pharaoh. (Ex. 4:10-14). If you read the chapter before that one, you will get a better idea of how much whining Moses did before he finally relented and went to Pharaoh. That's what I feel like I've been doing too. I lot of whining.

Out of all those excuses, there is only one I haven't followed through on and it is the Bible Studies. After I finish writing this blog, I will get on the phone to some retirement facilities here in London and find out if there would be an interest in that sort of thing. I've put this off for about 6 months now, because I kept telling myself no one would allow it  and no one would be interested anyway, plus - did I really have the time? Oh, boy talk about whining!

But, have you ever noticed how God uses people who are impossible? There's Jonah, who ran away from God. Peter who denied God, Thomas who doubted God - and _____ _____ you fill in the blanks.

One of the questions that rocked Richard Stearns' world was "Are you willing to be open to God's will for your life?" I will admit that up until this point, I thought I was! But, I can do so much better.

How about you? Are you a pencil or an eraser?

On Friday night, I was writing up several reviews for books that are going to be featured at Interviews & Reviews (speaking of which, if you have a book coming out in 2010 and you would like to be featured at I & R, please contact me soon. If this year is any indication, then next year will be full before October!). Anyway, I googled one of the books I was reviewing, only to find out that almost the entire book was available to read online at Google Books. Surprised that the publisher would allow such a thing (the ending of the book was even included!) I googled my own book and lo and behold there my book was from cover to cover with only one chapter missing! Just like the book I had googled, the ending of my book was also included. I was not pleased.  In fact, I'm pretty sure my blood pressure went through the roof! Google had illegally copied my book and made it available online. Did I give them permission? No!

I didn't know what to do, but I recalled that Google had a class action lawsuit against them for just this very thing, which apparently has already been settled. I filled out a form here and waited to see what would happen. In the meantime, I contacted Lulu (my publisher), because I noticed that they had given Google permission to reprint my book. They had no right to do that, as I own the copyright. They responded to me by saying I had given them permission. By now, my blood was boiling. So, I went on the forums of Lulu to voice my objections. It's amazing what the words copyright infringement, illegal and lawyer will do when you want to get something done! I'm also amazed at how many of my comments were actually deleted from the forums, just because of those words!

Within 3 hours all but 48 pages of my book were gone! In fact, while I was looking at the last page of my book, it disappeared! I still think that 48 pages is far too much for a preview, but when looking at the other books that Google has illegally copied I guess I can't complain.

So, my dear writer friends - check your books! They could be available online for free at Google Books. Oh, and don't be fooled by the first page, where all you see are public domain books. Make sure you actually put your title in the search bar.

It's hard to believe, but it has been almost one month since the Write! Canada Conference. So much has happened during that time, to me in particular, that I wondered how the conference (or any writer's conference for that matter), has helped you in your writing. Are you renewed, recharged and ready to get on with the business of writing?

I found it particularly interesting that weeks before the conference began, I started to lose interest in the sequel to Come to Me (don't worry I will get to it!), and instead, the Lord kept bringing me back to a story that I had started years ago, while I was writing Come to Me. I became so intrigued with where this story could go, that I started working on it and tightening it up. I did not have anything that I wanted to submit for critique and I did not want to make an appointment with anyone while I was at the conference, so I continued to work on this story, ignoring the voice in my head to submit it for critique.

The deadline passed to be able to submit anything and I breathed a little easier, yet kicked myself at the same time for not submitting anything! Then the email came that the deadline was being extended. The voice in my head went from nudging to full blown yelling. So, I reluctantly submitted the first chapter of a new novel I have been working on entitled Finding Claire. My entry was so late in it's submission that I could only hope and pray that the right faculty member saw it.

I'm pleased to say that the right faculty members did! Steve Barclift of Kregel was so interested, that he wants to see the rest of my manuscript and not only that, but he took a copy of Come to Me with him, suggesting that if Kregel were interested, they might be able to reprint it under their name.

Author Mags Storey and fellow Word Guild member also critiqued Finding Claire and passed my name onto her agent for representation.

So, what exciting news do you have from your experience at Write! Canada? I know two members of this website won awards for their books. What about you? How did Write! Canada benefit you? How has it changed you and what will you do in the coming year to build upon all that you learned at the conference?