Christian Writers' Market Guide 2009

Do you like to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and leave a trail of your thoughts, insights, ideas? Do you feel like you have valuable life experiences to share? Do you wish to enthrall others with fanciful adventures or pass along the truths you’ve gleaned from your study of Scripture?

If so, you may want to pick up a copy of

Christian Writers' Market Guide 2009

For over 20 years, author Sally Stuart has produced this amazing resource filled with trusted content. The only one of its kind, the 2009 edition includes the latest information on more than 100 editors and publishers, conferences, writers' groups, and more. Not only are these listed and indexed in the book, but this year readers will get a code in the book and on the included CD-Rom for accessing more updates through the year on author Sally Stuart's web site, www.stuartmarket.com.

This highly-recommended resource for beginning and veteran Christian writers, agents, editors, publishers, publicists, and those teaching writing classes is completely updated and revised to feature the latest on:

• more than 1,200 markets for the written word
• 416 book publishers (32 new)
• 654 periodicals (52 new)
• 96 literary agents
• 100 new listings in Resources for Writers
• 226 poetry markets
• 316 photography markets
• 25 African-American markets, and
• 166 contests (29 new)

New from WaterBrook Press, it can be purchased through:

www.Amazon.com
www.ChristianBook.com
www.FamilyChristian.com

Never Say Diet

Just in time for the seasonal resolutions that come with the New Year territory is Chantel Hobbs' Never Say Diet. Her writing reflects the title. She does not want people to diet but rather change their lifestyle and approach to food.

The book has three parts. In the first section, Chantel explains five decisions that you, the reader, need to make in order to truly lose weight and achieve a healthy life. First is to stop making excuses! She lists twenty that can keep us from taking the first step toward a healthy lifestyle, a few of which are: “I don’t have enough hours” “I’m too old” “I have too much weight to lose” and “I have the fat gene”.

The author writes this book from experience, as she started out in 2001 at age 29 weighing almost 350 pounds. Her first step was to surrender the weight battle to God. She understood she had a choice. With God’s help, she committed to choosing to lose weight and get fit. “I didn’t need the unconditional love of strangers; I needed unconditional commitment from myself.” (pg. 15) Very openly, the author details her background, her struggles, pitfalls, the steps she took, her successes. Over and over again, she emphasizes that the most difficult aspect is changing the way we think. That has to be done with God’s help.

The second section of Never Say Diet is a suggested fitness plan, with food and meal lists, detailed exercises (with photos) and places to record progress. The third section fields common questions and answers. Also emphasized is that the lifestyle is not just for you only, but for your whole family. It’s right in tune with all the articles concerning childhood obesity that are prevalent today.

I found Never Say Diet easy to read, informative, and encouraging.

Published by WaterBrook Press, I have one book to give away.

I also have a copy of The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer to give away. The handbook is a 16 week, Scripturally based plan for healthy eating and exercise.

Both paperbacks can also be purchased from CBD and Amazon.com.

Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight

This short book, less than 200 pages, is billed as “52 Amazing Ways to Master the Art of Personal Change.” The main premise of the author, Karen Scalf Linamen, is that we are often too content to stay in the same old rut. Doing the same things repeatedly, we are often surprised when we keep getting the same results. At the end of each section, she offers questions and steps for diagnosing and pursuing changes that we desire.

I thought her main point, that we all have developed habits that produce either good or bad fruit, was well put when she wrote “Habits are the little anchors that keep us from straying very far from the lifestyle to which we’ve become accustomed, whether that lifestyle makes us happy or miserable” (pg. 54). Linamen notes that often habits are sometimes unnoticeable unless we really stop and think about why we act certain ways.

While it is humorous, I found it to be too “cutesy-poo” for my taste. Loaded with personal anecdotes, there are many of her own habits listed that she is aware of, desires to change, but so far hasn’t. I tired of the constant parenthesized side notes within sentences.

Page 120 began the meatiest portion of the book, with action #39. Finally, prayer enters the text. Even though there were a few Biblical passages previously listed for reference, it is in this section that Linamen actually suggests the reader pray, ask God, and expect to receive answers. Also presented is a very clear message of the importance of a personal relationship with Christ.

Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight is published by WaterBrook Press.
I have two extra copies if you are interested; just drop me a note.
It can also be purchased here: