Magnificent Hope Attends Book Signing with Elsi Dodge and Dianne E. Butts

Magnificent Hope certainly had fun Saturday, June 16, in southwest Denver, Colorado (Littleton). She’s been in several Christian bookstores, but Mardel Christian and Educational Supply is simply enormous! She wandered the aisles, finding all sorts of books … gadgets … shirts … cards … dust-catchers … gifts … “What a delightful place!” she kept telling us.

“Us” is Elsi Dodge and Dianne Butts, who were throwing a book signing at Mardel. The focus of the signing was Life Lessons from Dads (Write Integrity Press); Elsi has a story in it—along with a picture of her father in the 1960s, holding a baby beaver. Between them, Elsi and Dianne had over 20 different titles they were offering: “Here’s your chance to get an autographed first edition!” Books for children, for women, for fathers, for mothers … devotionals, compilations, self-help … how to enjoy an RV vacation, how to deal with an unexpected pregnancy …

Even more than selling books, a book signing provides so many opportunities for both networking and ministry. Elsi met several people who had heard her on KPOF (AM91.org), and Dianne reconnected with a biker friend. Then there was the lady trying to deal with panic attacks—both Dianne and Elsi have experience with that. A man who talked knowledgeably about making movies, which Dianne is venturing into (and her short The Choice makes a powerful statement beautifully). A family with several disabled children. A teacher from Truth Christian Academy in Littleton.

Dana Oswalt, the manager of Mardel, welcomes local authors and was glad to meet Magnificent Hope, inviting her back in August for Grandparents Day and the release of Dianne’s Grandparenting through Obstacles (which includes one of Elsi’s stories).

Read more about Magnificent Hope's Journey:

• Book Signings Aren't Just for Selling Books
• Books of Hope Contest Finalists Announced
• Tips to Help You Win Writing Contests
• Christmas Book Writing Contest
• Two New Writing Contests Announced
• Future Writers: Passing the Mantel
• Dreams Can Come True by Ruth O'Neil
• Week 4: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope?
• A Special Treat from Jennifer Fromke (and a huge hint for the Week 2 photo!)
• Week 3: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Pays Respect
• Magnificent Hope Encounters Dianne E. Butts at the CCWC
• Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Contest - Week 2
• Magnificent Hope Arrives at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference with Elsi Dodge
• Magnificent Hope visits a Recording Studio with Zillah Williams
• Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Contest - Week 1
• Books of Hope Manuscript Contest Announced
• Rides motorcycles with Dianne E. Butts

• The Shrimp Festival with Annie Keys

• The Power of a Book at the Healing Hands Youth Ranch with Tim and Tracy Ruckman

Week 5: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Contest

This week, Magnificent Hope is hanging out with author Ruth O'Neil, whose work has appeared in Love Letters from the Heart and Life Lessons from Dads. She told us about her own mom's writing journey earlier this week, so be sure to check out that post. Now she shares with us about her visit with Magnificent Hope. Answer her question at the end of her post for your Week 5 entry in the "Where in the World is Magnificent Hope?" contest.

Since my blog post fell between two important patriotic holidays (Memorial Day and the Fourth of July) and the fact that the town where I live does have a lot of history behind it as far as the Civil War, I thought I would choose a landmark that commemorates the many men and women who have volunteered to serve and even give their lives so we can keep our freedom.

These steps are a popular place in Lynchburg, Virginia. Take a walk up these 139 steps to read about men and women who have served our country all the way as far back as the Civil War to the present day. The steps climb one of the cities “Seven Hills” reaching from Church Street at the bottom to Court Street at the top.

The building of the steps began in 1924 and was completed in 1925. Aubrey Chesterman originally designed the steps to honor those who lost their lives in World War I. However, the steps have since been redesigned and terraced to honor Lynchburg citizens who have fought in all wars since the Civil War. There is a Doughboy statue at the base of the steps and a Confederate soldier at the top of the steps. The Confederate soldier’s statue is said to have a time capsule inside containing Civil War-related artifacts, such as Confederate currency, photographs of Lynchburg area veterans, hair from Traveller (Gen. Robert E. Lee’s horse), and casualty lists.

The cousins came for the weekend when we went and visited this landmark. Hope came along for the ride and even took a couple of pictures with cousins Brandon and Nikolas. Do you know the name of this landmark?

Answer the question correctly to be entered to win a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet.

Here's how to play:


Each week, we’ll post a photo of Magnificent Hope near a landmark. If you know “Where in the World is Magnificent Hope?” send us an e-mail with the subject line CONTEST WEEK 1, CONTEST WEEK 2, CONTEST WEEK 3, etc. The person with the MOST correct entries and bonus entries at the end of the contest will win their choice of either a Kindle Fire or a Nook Tablet, a $100 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (depending on which reader your choose), and a copy of all our WIP and PNP books published any time during this year!

Bonus entries may be earned three ways:

1.  By “liking” all three Facebook pages – Write Integrity, Pix-N-Pens, and Magnificent Hope – just be sure to let us know you liked us in your first contest entry, and we’ll add the bonus points.
2. Bonus entries will also be given for anyone submitting by e-mail one or more photos taken with Magnificent Hope AND at least one of our books anywhere on her journey. One photo per location, please. (For example, if you bump into Magnificent Hope at a Jennifer Fromke event in North Carolina and take ten photos with her at that same event, only one photo will count. But if you bump into Magnificent Hope at Jennifer’s event, and then again at an event with Dianne E. Butts, you can take photos both places and get two bonus entries!) Send your photos in .jpeg format, attached to an email, and we may use them in blog posts or perhaps even a book.
3. Telling your family and friends about Magnificent Hope, Hope Tour 2012, and our books and authors – through Facebook, Twitter, blog posts, interviews with our authors or Magnificent Hope, or other ways. One share per week gets you an extra entry, so send us your links by e-mail so we can tally your points.

Read more about Magnificent Hope's Journey:

Dreams Can Come True

Week 4: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope?

A Special Treat from Jennifer Fromke (and a huge hint for the Week 2 photo!)

Week 3: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Pays Respect

Magnificent Hope Encounters Dianne E. Butts at the CCWC

Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Contest - Week 2

Magnificent Hope Arrives at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference with Elsi Dodge

Magnificent Hope visits a Recording Studio with Zillah Williams

Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Contest - Week 1

Books of Hope Manuscript Contest Announced

Rides motorcycles with Dianne E. Butts

Attends the Shrimp Festival with Annie Keys

Learns the Power of a Book at the Healing Hands Youth Ranch with Tim and Tracy Ruckman

Dreams Can Come True

Today, we welcome Ruth O'Neil as our guest blogger and participant of Hope Tour 2012. Ruth's stories have appeared in Love Letters from the Heart (February 2012) and Life Lessons from Dads (June 2012).

Many people have dreams of not only writing a book, but of one day seeing it in print. Jeri was one of those people. She dreamed of being a “real writer” ever since she was a teenager. She and her cousin would spend hours writing stories and sharing them with no one but each other.

When Jeri became an adult, marriage and children preempted her writing efforts. Once her children were a little older, she would lock herself in her bedroom one night a week to pound away on her typewriter slowly adding page after page to her novel. Finally, she had something ready for publication.

She sent it to several publishers. She received positive remarks but no acceptance letters.

Then something else prevented her from continuing her writing efforts; cancer. She passed away before she was able to see her book in print. However, the book was eventually published. Although Jeri never got to see it, her family did. She left an important legacy: never give up on your dreams.

How do I know all this? Jeri was my mother and I had the blessing of watching her and learning from her. She was always an encouragement to me. When I was a teenager and wanted to write, she would take me with her to writer’s conferences and introduced me to some of the great Christian writers of that time. If only we all had someone like that in our corner, cheering us on with each word we wrote. One of the activities outside of writing we used to do often was cook together. I took that and wrote a cookbook for children, hoping that parents and kids will work together and find just as much joy as we did.

If you are one of those people who are working on a book that you fear will never be completed or published, have confidence in yourself. Keep on writing. Keep sending out those proposals. Eventually, you’ll find a publisher who has been waiting for your book to cross his or her desk.

Learn from my mom and never, ever give up on your dreams.

Victory Song is the story of boys who leave home expecting war to be an exciting change of pace. They also thought the war would be over quickly. It was three more years before the Civil War ended. Those who had left home as boys came back as men and were greatly changed men at that. This book chronicles the 149^th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment as they fight in battle after battle. One reviewer said, “It’s history masquerading as fiction.” The author did impeccable research. The book is neither pro-North nor pro-South; instead it gives the reader a true impression of what the Civil War was really like.

Find all of Ruth's books on her website.

About the Author: Ruth O’Neil has been writing for over 20 years. She has published hundreds of articles in numerous publications. She homeschools her three children. In her spare time she enjoys quilting, crafting, and reading.

Read more about Magnificent Hope's Journey:


Week 4: "Where in the World is Magnificent Hope?" Contest

A Special Treat from Jennifer Fromke (and a huge hint for the Week 2 photo!)

Week 3: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Pays Respect

Magnificent Hope Encounters Dianne E. Butts at the CCWC

Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Contest - Week 2

Magnificent Hope Arrives at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference with Elsi Dodge

Magnificent Hope visits a Recording Studio with Zillah Williams

Where in the World is Magnificent Hope? Contest - Week 1

Books of Hope Manuscript Contest Announced

Rides motorcycles with Dianne E. Butts

Attends the Shrimp Festival with Annie Keys

Learns the Power of a Book at the Healing Hands Youth Ranch with Tim and Tracy Ruckman

Call for Submissions: Three Anthologies

We are currently seeking submissions for the following:

Life Lessons from MOMS
To be released May 2012


Life Lessons from DADS
To be released June 2012


Life Lessons from TEACHERS
To be released August 2012

We learn about life from many different sources, and WIP wants to honor and recognize folks who've taught us through the years. The Life Lessons series continues with three more books this year, and we'd love to read your stories.

Submit your 1000-word or less story by e-mail - attached to the e-mail as a Word document - by March 30th, 2012. You may include one photo per entry that may or may not be used as a black & white image within the book. Please attach photo as a jpeg image. 


Please put Life Lessons, along with the specific book you're submitting to (Moms, Dads, or Teachers), in the subject line of the e-mail. 


You may submit one story per book. 

Contributors will receive a $25 payment for their story, a complimentary copy of the book, a byline, and bio included at the back of the book.

We are currently planning some fun events for this summer, to include many of our authors. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter (in the sidebar) so you'll be in on all the announcements!

We may even award some contracts during these fun events - for manuscripts submitted to our HOPE series!

Life Lessons from Grandparents: A Trip Down Memory Lane

Life Lessons from Grandparents: A Trip Down Memory Lane now available in print and digital versions.

Amazon

Kindle

Nook

Smashwords

Call for Grandparent Recipes

In celebration of the upcoming release of Life Lessons from Grandparents: A Trip Down Memory Lane, we want to honor grandparents here on this blog all during the month of November.

We're going to share recipes from grandparents, and we'd love for you to share with us. During the month, we'll include some recipes from the contributors of Life Lessons, but we'll also share some of our readers' recipes.

To submit your grandparents' recipes, please follow these directions:

Please send the recipe and information in one e-mail with a subject of GRANDPARENT RECIPE, so I can keep them all straight. 

You may share a little about the recipe and/or your grandparent if you wish - 100-200 words, and if you wish to share one COOKING tip your grandparent(s) gave you, please do. 

If you have a picture of the food in the recipe, send it. We'll post food pictures with the recipes. Be sure to include your bio at the end, with any links to websites you'd like to share with readers. So to make it a quick list - here's what to submit in a separate Word document attached to an e-mail:

Brief Introduction of Recipe

Recipe

Cooking Tip (optional)

Food photo (optional)

Author Bio

Website Links (optional)

We will start featuring these on the WIP blog on November 1, and run them all month long. We'll start scheduling them to post as soon as I receive them - in the order they are received.

Thanks for helping us honor grandparents. 

Grandparent Stories - Reminder

Just a reminder that we're still accepting submissions for the Life Lessons from Grandparents: A Trip Down Memory Lane book releasing later this year.

Deadline for submissions is September 30th. Here are the details.


Here are some of my favorite quotes about grandparents. Maybe your stories will give us some new favorites!

The history of our grandparents is remembered not with rose petals but in the laughter and tears of their children and their children's children. It is into us that the lives of grandparents have gone. It is in us that their history becomes a future. ~ Charles and Ann Morse

A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend.  ~ Author Unknown

What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life.  And, most importantly, cookies.  ~ Rudolph Giuliani

A child needs a grandparent, anybody's grandparent, to grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world. ~ Charles and Ann Morse

Call for Submissions

We are currently seeking submissions for the following:

Life Lessons from Grandparents: A Trip Down Memory Lane
To be released December 2011

Most of us have numerous stories we can tell about our grandparents. But let's dig deeper. What lessons - directly or indirectly - did your grandparents teach you that others could learn from too? We want to compile those stories and share them in this beautiful book you'll be proud to hand down to younger generations.

Submit your 1000-word or less story by e-mail - attached as a Word document - by September 30, 2011. You may include one photo per entry that may or may not be used as a black & white image within the book. Please attach photo as a jpeg image. Please put MEMORY LANE in the subject line of the e-mail.

One "Best of the Best" story will be chosen. The author will be featured as such in the book, and will receive a prize of $100. All writers of stories chosen will receive a bio in the back of the book, and a free copy of the publication.