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Alton Gansky Speaking Engagements
- Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, May 20-24, 2012
- American Christian Writers
Spokane, WA September 28-29, 2012
December 27, 2010
December 20, 2010
December 17, 2010
December 16, 2010
Drum Roll Please
A little while back I wrote "Unleash Your Secret Copywriter" and announced a contest for best tagline/slogan and Scripture verse to capture the spirit of BRMCWC 2011. Quite a few of you joined in the fun. Some suggested just a slogan; others just a Scripture verse. Several of you did both. A few people gave not one tagline idea but a dozen at a time. What fun.
Less fun, is choosing a winner. There were so many good ideas that I've had trouble making up my mind. I sought advice from others and finally narrowed it down.
Drumroll please . . .
The slogan for Blue Ridge 2011 comes from Lindsay Banton: Write courageously.
The Scripture theme was submitted by Lori Stanley Roeleveld: "We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV)
The passage epitomizes the roll of the Christian writer. Our works comes from our faith; out labor is fueled by love for God and the people of the world; and we endure (persist) because of the hope we have in Jesus.
Congrats to Lindsay and Lori. Just as soon as I get their mailing addresses, I'll be sending an autographed book their way.
Thank you to everyone who participated. There were so many good ideas.
Alton Gansky
December 14, 2010
Congrats to One of Our Own
For many years, Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference has enjoyed the presence of conferee Gina Holmes. In 2011, she will be on faculty (a second time I believe). I remember sitting with her and several other conferees at one of the "rocking" stations--a place with rocking chairs and view of the verdant terrain--and talking about novels. That was some years ago. She, along with some of the other folks in that rocking chair meeting, went on to start Novel Journey, one of the most successful and highly praised blog sites dedicated to writing. Successful as that was, publication remained just out of her grasp. That is, until May of this year when Tyndale House published Crossing Oceans. The novel quickly became a bestseller and starting attracting attention like a magnet draws iron filings.
Yesterday, I learned that Gina's book won an INSPY award. Here's a blurb about the book:
Crossing Oceans focuses on issues we must all face, such as life, death, relationships, and the choices we make when faced with our mortality. Through her protagonist, Genevieve “Jenny” Lucas, Holmes addresses these through Jenny’s final months of battling terminal cancer. Jenny makes difficult choices about her daughter’s future, and her own care and relationships. In the midst of this difficulty, Holmes places the message of faith very subtly throughout the narrative. She leaves her characters flawed and human, which makes them extremely relatable.
I consider Gina one of the many success stories coming out of BRMCWC. Congratulations, Gina. You deserve it.
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In 1998, Gina Holmes began her career penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded, Novel Journey—a literary blog named one of Writer’s Digests best websites for writers. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her husband and children in Southern Virginia. Her debut novel, Crossing Oceans, won an INSPY award for excellence in Christian fiction. To learn more about her, visit: www.ginaholmes.com or www.noveljourney.blogspot.com
10 Things You Can Do Now to Promote the Novel You Haven’t Even Sold Yet (Workshop)
When you’re constantly receiving rejection letters from publishers or agents, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is publicizing a novel you can’t even seem to sell, but if you wait until your book is releasing or even about to release, you’ve waited too long. Best-selling & award winning novelist, Gina Holmes will give you practical steps to put you in the best position to promote your work so that when the contract comes, you’re well ahead of the game.
The Making of a Best-Seller (Workshop)
As founder of Novel Journey, Gina Holmes has interviewed today’s mostacclaimed and best-selling authors and found common threads that not only helped her debut Crossing Oceans hit CBA and Amazon best-selling status and can help every author improve their odds of success.
December 09, 2010
December 07, 2010
December 06, 2010
A New Addition to the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference
PRESS RELEASE
A New Addition to the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference
We’re pleased to announce Edie Melson's as the new Assistant Director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. So many of you already know Edie Melson, but for those who don’t let us introduce you.
Edie is a freelance writer and editor with over 16 years experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, publishing over 700 articles in 2010. She also has a popular writing blog (www.thewriteconversation.blogspot.com) and is a frequent contributor to many others. As a sought after writing instructor, her heart to help others define and reach their dreams has connected her with writers all over the country. In keeping up with the leading edge of all things digital Edie has become known as one of the go-to experts on Twitter, Facebook, and social media for writers wanting to learn how to plug in.
Last year, in addition to being part of the faculty, Edie helped organize, facilitate and moderate the Yahoo Group and Facebook page for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and Southwest Christian Writers Studio. These additions allowed writers to begin their conference experience months before arriving in the mountains and continue the experience throughout the year.
Edie brings experience and passion to the conferences. Her addition will help BRMCWC and SWCWS go to the next level of training and encouraging writers.
Join us in welcoming Edie to the team—and stay tuned for even more exciting announcements to come!
December 03, 2010
Shut Up, Bradbury!
On Monday I wrote about the joy I had at finding an old collection of stories while moving books from the garage into the house (a never ending task, it seems). The book is a collection of oft overlooked science fiction writer Henry Kuttner. Ray Bradbury wrote the introduction, and wrote it as only Bradbury can. In the introduction he discusses his early years with Kuttner:
At our first meeting I was seventeen, which means--in my case, anyway--I was so unsure of myself that I did a lot of running around, shouting, and speechifying to hide my confusions and private despairs. Kuttner put up with this for an inordinate number of years and then gave me the best piece of creative advice I ever got.
“Ray,” he said one day, “do me a favor?”
“What?” I asked.
“Shut up,” he said.
“I beg pardon?”
“You’re always running around, grabbing people’s elbows, pulling their lapels, shouting your ideas,” Kuttner replied. “You give away all your steam. No wonder you never finish your stories. You talk them all out. Shut up.”
And shut up I did.
Instead of giving my stories away free, by mouth, I began to write a story a week. Since that time I have never spoken about my ideas until, in their final form, they were on their way East via airmail.
Sometimes we fall so in love with our own stories that we can’t wait to share them. We talk them out instead of write them out. Such is not the way of writers. Our craft demands a closed mouth and busy fingers over keyboard.
Kuttner did Ray Bradbury a favor by being blunt. (Do notice that it took a few years before Kuttner decided to lay the truth on the line for Bradbury. His bluntness was reasoned and well considered.)
Perhaps we want reassurance that our ideas are interesting and compelling. Maybe, because writing is such a solitary affair, we hunger to share an idea before it is ripe. Could it be for some of us that we, like Ray Bradbury, are hiding our confusions and private despairs? Whatever the reason behind the compulsion, most writers learn what Bradbury learned: write it, then talk about it.
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Alton Gansky is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in North Carolina and the Southwest Christian Writers Studio in New Mexico. He is the author/co-author of 40 books and is founder of Gansky Communications. He lives in central California.
