From Dreams to Reality - Part 2

For the 2nd installment of From Dreams to Reality I'm featuring the following talented authors:

Pamela S. Meyers
Lisa Grace
Max Anderson
Valerie Comer

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Pamela S. Meyers:
My Desert Journey to the Promised Land of Book Contracts


I’ve reflected a lot on my long journey to publication, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized how in many ways my journey is similar to the Israelites’ 40-year trek from Egypt to the Promised Land.

My desert crossing began over ten years ago when I became serious about fiction writing. After taking a short story writing course, I attended a writing conference and, during an author appointment, I was encouraged to make my short story into a novel. Writing a book was not on my radar, but the idea appealed to me. I signed up for a novel-writing course, and another story took form and quickly became a novel. A good storyline I was told at a later conference, but not ready for publication

Over the following years I experienced a multitude of setbacks, including enough rejections to paper my bedroom wall, a line closing just as interest was shone in a story, and my first agent retiring from the business. Still, whenever I questioned God, something positive would happen that I took as His answer.
Keep at it. You won’t be disappointed.

This past year, I sensed my promised land--a contracted book—was closer. Still, I kept writing and praying for patient endurance.

Then, last May I received THE call from my agent. Ramona Tucker of OakTara Publishers had offered me a contract for Thyme for Love. Soon after, when she and my agent Terry Burns attended Write To Publish Writers Conference which is held in my home area, I met with them, and she handed me my contract. That day I crossed my figurative Jordan River into the promised land of publication.

On November 14, 2011, Thyme for Love will be released by OakTara, and in June 2012, my 1933 romance Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin will publish with Summerside Press.

I am constantly reminded of something another author Lena Nelson Dooly often says. God is never too early or too late. He’s always on time.
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Valerie Comer
What's Your Pot of Gold?


Like kids on a treasure hunt, most of us writers are following the clues on the treasure map hoping to find that rumored chest full of sparkling gold coins: publication. Some hints tell us to 'show, not tell.' Others remind us to seek out a great agent. Occasionally they send us off on a wild goose chase as we attempt to remove Every. Single. Adverb. From our work. We find our way back to the dotted line and keep hunting for the prize.

I'd written eight novels over nine years before I touched the fabled chest. It came in the form of a novella contract from Barbour Publishing in February, 2011. The fun thing? The title of the anthology I share with Nicole O'Dell, Cara Putman, and Annalisa Daughety is

We created a geocaching (electronic treasure hunting via GPS) event in the Lake of the Ozarks area of Missouri. (In French, Ozark is believed to mean "toward the rainbows." I hope you'll check it out when it releases in May, 2012, and read about our characters as they search for the prize...and find so much more than they bargained for.

Treasure has taken on a whole new meaning for me! Whether there's truly a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow or simply another contract or two, I'm excited to keep following the clues toward the next big X on the map: Secret treasure buried here.

http://valeriecomer.com/
Valerie Comer enjoys life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie grows much of her own food and is active in the movement as well as her church. She only hopes her imaginary friends enjoy their happily ever afters as much as she does hers, gardening and geocaching with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughter.

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Max Anderson
If I Can Do It, So Can You…Really


It’s possible that I might be the last person you would ever expect to become a published author. After you read my story, you may be even more convinced, but I also hope you’ll be encouraged as a writer.

I grew up in a family of seven children. Out of all of them, I was the only one who didn’t like to read. I used to tease my older brother because he was seldom without a book in his hand. Not me. I wanted to be out doing, not reading about it. To complicate matters even further, my father published over seventy books during his lifetime, and I didn’t read any of them growing up.

So what happened?

Through a set of circumstances after 9/11, and the economic fallout, my video production business faded away. While I was contemplating what to do next, a small voice, in my mind, kept asking me, “Why don’t you write The Scarecrow?” The Scarecrow was a screenplay I had written nearly thirty years earlier. Finally, out of frustration one day, I pounded my fist on the desk and said right out loud, “Fine! You want me to write The Scarecrow, I’ll write it.”

I found the process very difficult, but when I finished, something amazing happened. My mind was bombarded with new stories. They came complete with main character, plot, setting, and the primary thrust of a story. As quickly as I finished writing, the next story elbowed its way to the front of the line.

In the middle of this time, I met two men online who ultimately formed a company for the express purpose of publishing my action-adventures & mysteries for readers 8 – 13, especially boys. I thought I was on my way. Then, about three years later, they declared bankruptcy and I found myself at square one all over again.

In time, I signed with Terry Burns at Hartline Literary, we found two new publishers, and by February 1, eight of my books will have been published with more in the works. I’ve been at this for ten years now. Am I a well known author? Not yet. But I believe that if a writer - no matter where he or she is along their publishing journey – continues to press on, work hard, and look for opportunities, good things will come from that.

Today I write a monthly column for Christian Fiction Online Magazine http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/middle_anderson.html

My stories have also appeared in publications including Darby Creek, Guideposts Books, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Tyndale House, Angels on Earth Magazine, and many others in print and online.

Looking back, I would never have expected to be where I am right now. And I encourage you to look at your path in the same way. Many people only think about writing, or hope to be published one day. If you’ve completed a manuscript or two, you’re way ahead of the pack. Learn as much as you can, write as often as you can, and look for every opportunity. Seriously, if a person like me can wind up with a stack of books that have my name on them, chances are that you can, too. Don’t get discouraged, don’t give up, and don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t reach your goals.

Books for Boys Blog http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/

Adventure books for readers 8 and up http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

Check out some of Max's books:




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Lisa Grace

Thank you Salena for having me on Through His Eyes and for a chance to talk about the movie deal for the Angel series. As an early Christmas gift today, Wednesday, December 14th and tomorrow, December 15th , your readers can go to Amazon and download a FREE copy of Angel in the Shadows, Book 1, be fore the price goes up. Here is the link:


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052AI5W8


Anyone can read the eBook from any laptop, PC, Mac, phone, or eReader. When you hit download (or purchase, don’t worry it’s 100% free) The Kindle store looks for your Kindle app, if it doesn’t find it, you pick it from their list for your device, and it downloads in about five seconds. It’s that easy to get free eBooks, plus they give you two others free too.

Every author’s dream is to have a movie producer contact them about turning their books into a movie. I was thrilled when the first producer contacted me, but ultimately decided not to pursue that deal.

What I’ve found out through researching the industry is anyone can call themselves a producer just like anyone can call themselves an agent or editor in the book world.

There are producers who will option a book to tie it up, and then work on reselling the option for more money to a larger production company. There are the huge production companies, (like Lionsgate) that will option several books a year, but only turn one or two of them into a movie. Some authors now make more money selling their options to these studios every year or two, than they do off their books. The first producer was of the first variety, large enough to offer some money, but didn’t have enough connections, experience, or money to see it turned into a film.

I do not want to be an author who keeps reselling my option. I would like to see the Angel series on the big screen someday soon. The third type of producer, which is the second one that contacted me, was just right. His company has a track record in film and Cable TV, he is well-known and respected in the industry, and has even worked for Steven Spielberg on a project. The icing on the cake is five of his projects were Academy Award winning films. And the ice cream on the icing on the cake? The Angel series is his next project. No waiting to see if it will be a film.

One question I get asked a lot is*I write books, how do I get my book optioned?

Movie producers are like agents. They get passionate about certain books, usually within certain genres. This producer told me it’s his passion to bring family-friendly Christian world view films to market. And with the success of films like Soul Surfer, and The Blind Side, Hollywood has become receptive to funding films in this form.

The movie will be a combination of Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 and Angel in the Storm, Book 2. They’re about a fifteen-year-old girl, Megan Laughlin, who can see angels and fallen angels, yet has no special powers. The books give a strong moral message and make it clear that you are either saved or unsaved and there is only one way to get saved. There are some excellent reviews posted on Amazon. Book two is very action packed.

The movie contract will be finalized soon, and when it is, my lawyer will be taking bids from publishing houses to turn it into paperbacks. The price of the books will be raised, which is beyond my control. If you can spread the word about my “Christmas gift” (the free eBook) and send this link to your friends, I’d appreciate it.

Thanks again Salena, and if your readers have any questions about the movie, they can leave a comment here on the blog and I’ll be sure to answer. I’d love to come back once the contract is finalized and talk about the plans for the production too. God bless.

You're are always welcome back, Lisa! Thank you and best wishes!

Angel in the Ice, Book 3 should be out by January 2012, and Lisa is giving away a free iPad 2 to one lucky "angel friend" when she hits 10,00 downloads (which could happen with this giveaway). All you have to do is register on her site as an angel friend, no purchase necessary.