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

Magnificent Hope Learns that Book Signings are Not Just About Selling Books

Hi! Dianne E. Butts here. I was so surprised when Magnificent Hope made an unannounced appearance last Saturday! There I was with author Elsi Dodge signing books at Mardel Christian Bookstore in Littleton, Colorado, when suddenly Maggie Hope’s head popped up out of nowhere!

Elsi and I were so pleased Magnificent Hope chose to make an appearance at our book signing. We took the opportunity to get our photo taken with Maggie and Dana, the store manager.

Elsi and I signed our books in the store from 10:00 to 2:00 and really kept busy. The store was in constant motion with activity and we not only signed books, but we talked with lots of people about a lot of different topics and you know what? It was all ministry. Elsi said it, and Magnificent Hope agreed, “We ministered to a lot of people. It’s not just about selling books; it’s about ministry.” I so agree. That’s the value of a book signing. We did pretty well selling books, too, but the opportunity to talk with people about Jesus was so wonderful.

For example, I got to talk with a customer about filmmaking and how I made a short film last February based on a true story in Deliver Me. You can see the film on YouTube if you want to. It runs 10 minutes: The Choice film. I talked with others about the story I wrote for Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul 2, which is also in Chicken Soup’s 101 Best Stories of Faith. The story is about how my husband and I tried to tell his Dad about Jesus and he just wouldn’t hear it. But then we learned a year after Dad died that a neighbor had visited him and told him about Jesus and Dad accepted Christ literally hours before he died! And we didn’t even know the Lord answered our fervent prayers for a whole year.

Another thing that happened was a lady walked in and said, “Dianne! You have another book out?!” It was Victoria, who I’ve ridden motorcycles with through Christian Motorcyclists Association! I hadn’t seen her for a long time! (So long she didn’t know about my Deliver Me book.) That was so fun!

Both Elsi and I had numerous books on our table. Elsi had her books about her traveling adventures in her RV with her cat friend, Dolphin. She also has two books from her trip to Israel. (I brought one of those home!)

I signed my latest book, Deliver Me, which just won a “Book of the Year” award from Christian Small Publisher’s Association and is now a finalist for the 2012 Golden Scroll Nonfiction Book of the Year (winner announced July 15). I also signed my first book Dear America, plus several other books I’ve contributed to, including the just-released, brand new Chicken Soup for the Soul: Say Goodbye to Stress.

You may know it already, but in case you don’t my coauthor Renee Gray-Wilburn and I have a new book with Pix-N-Pens Publishing coming out in August titled, Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ. It’s a compilation of twenty incredible stories of grandparents going the extra mile and creating really neat opportunities to tell their grandkids about Jesus. Elsi Dodge is one of our writers with a story in that book.

Elsi and I were thrilled when Dana, the manager at Mardel’s invited us, plus co-author Renee, back in September to sign our new Grandparenting Through Obstacles book, just in time for Grandparents Day! But you don’t have to wait—you can pre-order your copy. Pre-order Grandparenting Through Obstacles here now. We just unveiled the book’s cover on Tuesday, June 19, on our new grandparenting blog.

A funny thing happened on the way to the book signing! It was a two-hour drive for me from my home in Pueblo through Colorado Springs to the Mardel store in Littleton. I was listening to the radio, but of course the stations I usually listen to were fading as I got farther away from my home. So I went searching for another station to listen to. I heard a familiar voice—that of a host of a radio show in Colorado Springs I’m sort of familiar with. But the thing is, that day he wasn’t in Colorado Springs. He was broadcasting live from Las Vegas, Nevada. So I listened to that station to see what in the world he was doing in Las Vegas. While I was listening, he took a call from a man named Derrick back home in Colorado Springs. Hey! I know a Derrick in Colorado Springs. Could it possibly be? Yes! It was! And if you think Derrick Wilburn’s name sounds familiar but you can’t quite place it, it’s because he’s the husband of my Grandparenting Through Obstacles coauthor, Renee Gray-Wilburn! How do ya figure that? A hundred miles away from home on my way to a book signing and I catch my coauthor’s husband on a radio station I never listen to broadcasting from Las Vegas! At that moment, I knew it was going to be a blessed day.

When I told Hope about it, she just smiled. She doesn’t believe in coincidences—only God-incidents, she said.

I would like to give a hearty thanks to Dana, Heidi, Mary, and all the staff (that I’m forgetting to name!) at Mardel Christian Bookstore in Littleton, Colorado. They were so gracious in supporting me and Elsi and Magnificent Hope. They were a real blessing to us. I pray we were a blessing to them and to the store, and I believe we were.

Bio: Dianne E. Butts and Renee Gray-Wilburn co-authored Grandparenting through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Obstacles to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ, releasing from Pix-N-Pens Publishing in August 2012. The Choice film was inspired by a true story in Dianne’s latest book, Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy, a finalist for the 2012 Golden Scroll Nonfiction Book of the Year and a “Book of the Year” award-winner at Christian Small Publishers Association. Dianne writes frequently for print magazines, www.FindingGodDaily.com , www.ThinkingAboutSuicide.com, and www.TheChristianPulse.com.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Dianne received notice after she submitted this article that she is a DOUBLE finalist in Write Integrity's Books of Hope Contest - she finaled in both the fiction and nonfiction categories! 

Read more about Magnificent Hope's Journey:

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

Attends the Shrimp Festival with Annie Keys

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

Hope Tour 2012: Magnificent Hope Encounters Dianne E. Butts at CCWC

L-R: Elsi Dodge, Dianne E. Butts,
Magnificent Hope, and Paula Freeman

Last week Hope rode with Elsi Dodge to the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference, and Dianne E. Butts ran into her there. Hope said she so wanted to attend the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in Estes Park, Colorado, last Wednesday through Saturday because Estes Park is at the foot of Rocky Mountain National Park and she just had to see the magnificent mountain peaks visible from the conference center.

Hope got to meet four writers who contributed to Dianne’s upcoming book co-authored with Renee Gray-Wilburn, Grandparenting through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Obstacles to Reach Your Grandkids for Christ.

Grandparenting through Obstacles is a compilation of twenty true stories from real grandparents about the challenges they have faced in leaving an eternal spiritual legacy on their grandchildren. With the stories in the book, Dianne and Renee have included “Points to Ponder,” “Steps to Take,” Scripture to Study,” “One Way to Pray,” “Grandparents in the Bible,” tips, resources, ideas, and more. 

L-R: Elsi Dodge, Dianne E. Butts, Magnificent Hope,
Loritta Slayton, and Paula Freeman

The book is due out from Pix-N-Pens Publishing in early September, just in time for Grandparent’s Day.

Hope talked some of the contributors into a photo op with her. Here she is with Grandparenting through Obstacles contributors Loritta Slayton, Paula Freeman, and Elsi Dodge. Story contributor Abigail Paul* was at the conference but was so busy helping out she couldn’t jump into the photo.

Dianne and Hope experienced other fantastic opportunities at the CCWC. Here’s a run-down of their activities: 

• Dianne and Hope had several one-on-one meetings with editors and found open doors to send work in after the conference. Dianne is hopeful you’ll be seeing her name around the internet and on more books in the future. (And speaking of more books in the future, Dianne and Hope had extensive conversations to brainstorm three-book series ideas for the Books of Hope Contest. Did you see that on the May 10th post on this blog?!)
• Dianne sat in on screenwriting classes with Dr. Ted Baehr, publisher of MovieGuide magazine, which was a tremendous opportunity. Furthermore, Dianne got to go to dinner with Ted Baehr, Linda Evans Shepherd, and Joy Schneider at a local restaurant! Where in the world was Hope to remind Dianne to get a photo?!
• Dianne also was invited to a special class on non-fiction book proposals with Cindy Lambert, author of unPlanned with Abby Johnson. Dianne got some great feedback on her next book proposal, and learned some valuable tips to make her future book proposals better.
• Dianne talked with Rick Marschall, former editor at Marvel Comics among other things, and Craig von Buseck of CBN.com.
• Dianne also received some great advice from Kim Bangs, editor at Regal Books. As Dianne works to define who she is as a writer and what her ministry is in God’s kingdom, Kim suggested two things that really stuck with Dianne: 1.) Brand yourself, not your writing. In other words, don’t try to create a brand that describes all the books you want to write. Instead, create a brand that describes you (your passions, your ministry, your unique place in God’s plan to reach the world), and then all your books/products will naturally fall under that umbrella.  2.) To help you nail down that elusive (at least for Dianne!) description/brand, ask your family and friends to tell you what you’re about. How would they describe your passion? Your ministry? Your unique contribution to God’s kingdom? They will probably say something different from what you expect!
• And finally an extra-super special moment in the conference for Dianne was when the conference director, Marlene Bagnull, showed Dianne’s short film, The Choice. The 10-minute film screened right after Ted Baehr spoke about Christians making a difference in Hollywood. With such an audience, Dianne was a little heart-poundy, but Hope was there to hold her hand. Later, Dianne received several compliments from conferees. Even Ted Baehr said the film was good, and also gave some pointers to make her next film better. And that’s the tremendous value of a Christian writer’s conference.

Dianne and Hope said their good-byes late Saturday. Magnificent Hope didn’t say where she was off to next, but Dianne is now back home with plenty of work to keep her busy for a long time thanks to the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference.

(*Pseudonym.)

Bio: Dianne E. Butts and Renee Gray-Wilburn co-authored Grandparenting through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Obstacles to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ, releasing from Pix-N-Pens Publishing in August 2012. The Choice film was inspired by a true story in Dianne’s latest book, Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy, a “Book of the Year” award-winner at Christian Small Publishers Association. Dianne writes frequently for print magazines, www.FindingGodDaily.com , www.ThinkingAboutSuicide.com, and www.TheChristianPulse.com.

Read more about Magnificent Hope's Journey:

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

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

Hope Tour: Colorado

Only 17 days left in the Hope Tour 2012 Kickstarter campaign! Be sure to drop by our page, make a pledge, and get involved!

During the campaign, we're going to feature many of the towns on our tour. We're giving away a fun Hope Tour Gift Basket, so be sure to answer our questions for your chance to win!

After Rochester, we'll make our way through South Dakota (I can't go that far without a visit to the Badlands and Mount Rushmore, can I?) then onto Colorado where we'll visit several towns and many authors along the way. Among the authors we'll be meeting, greeting, and having some fun with include: Elsi Dodge, Michael Lee Joshua, Debra Ullrick, Renee Gray-Wilburn, and Dianne E. Butts. While we're in Colorado Springs, we'll also pop in at Kristine Pratt's awesome new bookstore The Written World. And I'm hoping we'll also be able to meet with many of the members of the ACFW Colorado group, too! Colorado is sure to be our busiest state yet!


We have some exciting news to share with you about some of the authors we'll meet in Colorado - but that will have to wait a few more weeks. Stay Tuned!

Now we need to hear from Colorado residents. Leave your answers in the comments below for a chance to win a special Hope Tour gift basket.

1) Who is your favorite local author and what does he/she write?

2) What ONE restaurant would you recommend for our Best Bites on Tour book? Remember, we don't want fancy-schmancy - just good food and hopefully a fun atmosphere, too. Be sure to tell us what kind of food it is, too.

3) What's ONE thing in your town we should not miss when we get there? This can be something touristy, or something off the beaten path - but something that represents your town like nothing else. If we took photos there, folks would know it could only be from your town.

4) Name THREE fun facts about your town. We may use these in a later post, but it will also help us get acquainted with your area.


Leave your answers in the comments below, and be sure to provide us with your e-mail address so we can contact you if you're a winner.

Be sure to stay tuned for events planned in your area.

Thanks for your help.

Check the Kickstarter page for all the different reward levels and pledge your support! We could hold a party in your honor (S'mores, pizza, or wienie roast, anyone?) If we make our goal, Kickstarter collects the money and we go on tour. If we don't make our goal, you won't lose a penny!  

Grandparent Recipes - Spinach Elegante'

During the month of November, we're going to feature recipes by grandparents to celebrate the release of Life Lessons from Grandparents: A Trip Down Memory Lane (available later this week.) The recipes come from contributors to Life Lessons, from readers like you, and from our own families. If you have a recipe you'd like to submit, read the guidelines here.

Today, we welcome Elsi Dodge. Her wonderful story "S is for ..." is included in Life Lessons.

SPINACH ELEGANTE'

I don't know which side of the family this came down on, but it was always referred to as "an old family recipe." It's the only thing I can cook. AND everyone who invites me to a holiday meal begs me to bring it! Definitely a winner, eh?

3 boxes chopped frozen spinach

1 pound sour cream

1 package dried onion soup mix

lots and lots of shredded cheese (to taste)

Thaw spinach. 

Squeeze all the juice out.

Stir in the soup mix and the sour cream.

option 1: Top thickly with shredded cheese and bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

option 2: Stir half the shredded cheese in and bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Top with shredded cheese and heat till it's melted.

option 3: Stir half the shredded cheese in and bake etc. as above. Take to the party you're taking it to. Top with shredded cheese and re-heat.

option 4: Put in little patty-pan type dishes and serve as individual little quiche-thing-ies.

option 5: Use as dip for crackers.

The recipe card I have says it serves 8. We always found it serves about 4. Mention loudly in front of the children that it's made of spinach, so they won't take any. Then there's more for you!

Elsi Dodge is a single, retired teacher of children with special needs. Living in Boulder, CO, she travels in a 30-foot RV, with the dubious assistance of her beagle and a small saber-toothed tiger, cleverly disguised as a tabby cat. In her spare time she tutors, sings in choir, co-leads Bible study, works with a church youth group, and (obviously) writes. Her blog is www.RVTourist.com/blog.