Welcome Gail Gaymer Martin and A Family of Their Own

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

GAIL GAYMER MARTIN is a multi-award-winning novelist who writes Christian fiction for Love Inspired and Barbour Publishing, where she was honored by Heartsong readers as their Favorite Author of 2008. Gail has forty-eight contracted novels with over three million books in print. She is the author of Writers Digest’s Writing the Christian Romance. Gail is a co-founder of American Christian Fiction Writers and a keynote speaker at churches, libraries and civic organizations and presents workshops at conference across the US. She was recently named one of the four best novelists in the Detroit area by CBS local news. Gail has a Masters degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and was an educator and licensed counselor for many years. She was also an adjunct instructor at Davenport University for five years. She lives with her husband in a northwest Detroit suburb.

A FAMILY OF THEIR OWN
by Gail Gaymer Martin
Published by Love Inspired

ABOUT THE BOOK

Four Makes a Family

With her daughter's health back on track, Kelsey Rhodes counts her blessings. But life is still not easy for the sweet single mom. She craves compansionship, yet finds it difficult to trust anyone. Ross Salburg seems like the perfect match for her. The handsome single dad also struggles to keep his daughter healthy. Can Kelsey convince Ross to take a leap of faith and meld their two families into one?

I'd be happy to give away one of the novels if you have a method of selecting the person. Just send me the address and info when it's over and I'll sign it and get it in the mail.

Readers, buy your copy of A Family of Their Own (Love Inspired) today!

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR FEATURE AUTHOR

A Writer’s Life

Had I known how much my life would change as a writer, I know I would do it again, but the reality of what it meant to be an author came as a surprise. People who aren’t writers probably think, as I did, that I would write a book, an editor would love it and soon it would be in print. That statement is a speed of light comment rather than reality. Yes, I wrote a book. I wrote several books that were continually rejected, but as I learned I reworked some, studied the craft, networked with other writers, and started writing a new one. One day to my joy, I received a “we want to publish your book” email.

That was the day I learned about the process which consists of revisions, line edits, copy edits, galley proofs, cover art fact sheets, all elements of publishing that involved work for me. After waiting, it seemed forever, I saw my first novel. I cried with excitement. Gaining another publisher for my fiction, I learned about balancing book deadlines, as well as all the edits and revisions that came into play. Then as my fan base grew, I learned about book signings, answering reader mail, promoting my upcoming releases, getting involved with social networks: FaceBook, Twitter, Shoutlife, Linked In, Shelfari, and more. Soon I realized how that cut into my writing time, but I loved the contact with readers so I accepted it as part of writing.

Next I had to deal with my mind. Everything I did, every piece of interesting conversation I heard, every newspaper article, every experience in my life, every experience told to me by my family and friends became fodder for a novel. These tidbits of stories fill my head. I found little “niches” where I tuck the information along with more space for blossoming stories. Now when my husband asks me if I’ll ever retire from writing, I explain I don’t think I can. With all those stories growing in my head, all the ideas tucked into my brain, what would happen without a release. . .without getting them on paper? I figure my head would blow up. So I’ll continue to write until “the end” comes to me just as it does my novels.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. God is awesome. He gave me this career late in life. He’s touched my stories with his grace. He’s allowed my novels to win contests, to garner many fans, and to multiply. Today I have forty-eight published or scheduled to be published novels, and I’m working on new ideas. My head is still filled with stories that haven’t been sold so I will keep looking for an editor who will love them. Today I have over three million books in print which means for every one book out there a multitude of people have read it and been touched by the story in some way. Christian novels both entertain and serve as a reminder to people from where their help comes. The stories reveal God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, grace and salvation through Jesus. What more could a reader ask for, and what more could an author desire?

* * * * *

Thank you, Gail, for sharing with us today.

Guest Question: Did I mention something about writing that you hadn't known before? If you're a writer, what is your greatest joy in being one? What is mine?

ENTRY RULES Readers, leave your email address (name at domainname dot com/net) along with your answer to the question(s) for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of the book above. If you do not answer the question, and your email address isn't provided, you will not be entered.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

Spotlight on Writing the Christian Romance and Gail Gaymer Martin

Today is a special day. I know I normally only feature fiction books and authors here, and this author *does* write fiction. However, her book today is not fiction; rather, it's *about* writing fiction...about writing the Christian romance novel, to be precise. So, for anyone out there who would like to know more about this sometimes-shunned profession, this book's for you!

Gail will be giving away a copy of her August release, In His Dreams, for those who leave a comment and are entered in the drawing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Growing up in Michigan and still living there with her husband Bob, award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin, writes Christian women's fiction, romance and suspense for Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Selling her first novel in 1998 after writing fiction for one year, she has now signed forty fiction contracts with over one million books in print. Gail writes non-fiction worship resource books and and presently writes for the ezine, The Spirit-Led Writer. Gail is the author of Writer's Digest's, Writing The Christian Romance.

Gail's books have been awarded a National Readers Choice Award, two Booksellers Best, two Holt Medallions, a Winter Rose, ACFW 2002 Book of the Year for Short Inspirational, and the 2002 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award.

Gail is a cofounder of American Christian Romance Writers and a member of the advisory board. A popular inspirational keynote speaker and workshop presenter, Gail has spoken at libraries and writer's conference across the country and in England, as well as a keynote speaker at women's business, civic and groups. Visit Gail's web site and click on her Speaker and For Writers pages. You can also check out her blog as well.

WRITING THE CHRISTIAN ROMANCE
By Gail Gaymer Martin
BUY YOUR COPY TODAY

SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW

1. This isn't your first foray into the realm of nonfiction, but this time you've got a book about writing romance, something a lot of fiction writers and readers would love to know. What inspired the idea for this book?

Yes, I've written 23 worship material books – which includes programs, plays, skits, with explanations to use them so this isn't my first non-fiction book, but it *is* the first book I've written on writing – and probably my last, but then who knows.

The idea was suggested to me by the editor of The Christian Communicator when I was writing a Christian romance column for the magazine. I had thought about writing this book briefly, but when Lyn Johnson suggested the idea, it made the idea doable. When mentoring writers, I looked for quality books on writing Christian romance and found none. Books are available on writing romance and on writing Christian fiction, but no book focuses totally on the Christian romance genre. I love mentoring new writers and because I don't have a lot of time to be involved in one on one mentoring, providing a book that would answer all of their questions seemed a great alternative. We all need to learn more about our genre, and I learned while writing the book.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the content of this book?

I've taught writing at most of the major writing conferences across the country so naturally the content of my workshops gave me material to begin the writing of this book, but writing a lengthy book is much more challenging than presenting an hour workshop. My purpose for this book was to explain the differences between secular and Christian romance, but I also wanted to provide excellent examples to explain the concepts and I also wanted to provide quality "how-to" information to not only illustrate the differences but show how to write Christian romance effectively. Since I've written forty Christian romances, I was able to use my own expertise in the field as well as gathering ideas from other well-known Christian authors.

3. What sorts of topics are featured in your book? How can the advice and "how-to's" help an aspiring romance writer? An experienced or published one?

The book is broken into eleven chapters, dealing with understand the romance genre, creating characters, developing the hero and heroine whether Christian or non-Christian, understanding a variety of POV and how to use them effectively, creating real emotion and using the senses to enhance emotions and characterization, understanding the differences between sexuality and sensuality in Christian romance, techniques to present spirituality in Christian romance, dialogue, introspection, and preparing a book proposal. Each chapter ends with a set of exercises to help the writer practice what was learned.

These chapters provide all of the information new writers ask. As well it provides examples and instructions on how to accomplish it so an aspiring writer can gain valuable information and a published author who is writing outside the genre will learn what's expected in Christian romance. Even a published author can benefit by gaining some new insights into aspects of their writing that they want to more fully develop or change.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The most difficult part of writing the book is what information comes first. Each part seems to depend on another so deciding the order of the information took a great deal of time and thought. As well the "how-to" is complicated and took much time to present the techniques into understandable steps using the best language and examples possible.

The favorite part was having so many well-known Christian novelists volunteer to provide excerpts from the own writing so that I could have a variety of examples and explanatory quotes other than my own. I was very grateful for their participation.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next novel is And Baby Makes Five, a Barbour Heartsong Presents book, and the first in a series set in the Monterey Peninsula. It was released in mid-October of this year. This book is set in Salinas and Corral de Tierra, California, a lush valley between Salinas and Monterey. This story revolves around a widowed and pregnant migrant worker and the wealthy owner of the lettuce ranch who's trying to raise two rambunctious twin daughters on his own, following the death of his wife. The story illustrates how power, poverty, wealth, or prejudice cannot destroy true love when it's blessed by God. The book can be ordered from Amazon.com. It will hit the bookstores in a couple of months. My next Steeple Hill Love Inspired, Family In His Heart, will be released in January 2008. It's the last of the Michigan Island books.

* * * * *

Thank you, Gail, for being in the spotlight. Readers, leave a comment for your chance to be entered in the drawing for a FREE, autographed copy of Gail's August Steeple Hill Love Inspired - In His Dreams, Top Pick in Romantic Times. If you don't wish to be entered, but still wish to comment, say so when you post. This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.