October 9th: Voice with Michelle Stimpson

Voice

Voice is what keeps readers coming back to your work page after page, story after story, book after book.  Though every work has its flaws at some level, voice forgives a multitude of sins and engages your reader from beginning to the end.  The beautiful thing about voice is that it's unique and natural – it’s YOU!

Let’s face it: next to a great idea, voice is what appeals most to editors and readers. Absent this essential human trait, a computer could have been programmed to spit out your novel. So how do you include your own voice without overwhelming the reader? And how can you bring “you” into a third-person narrative so that readers will fall in love with the way you tell a story? In this session, we’ll take a stab at those questions by analyzing bestselling authors’ works to discover their unique voices and practice techniques to kick up the voice in your own novels.

Bio:

Michelle Stimpson is an author, a speaker, and an educator who received her Bachelor of Science degree from Jarvis Christian College in 1994.  She earned a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2002.  She has had the pleasure of teaching elementary, middle, and high school as well as training adults. 

In addition to her work in the field of education, Michelle ministers through writing and public speaking.  Her works include Boaz Brown, Breaking Bondage to Biscuits, Divas of Damascus Road (National Bestseller), The Good Stuff, Trouble In My Way, and the upcoming release, Last Temptation.  She has written and published over 40 short stories through her educational publishing company at www.WeGottaRead.com. She also ministers to women through her blog.

Michelle lives near Dallas with her husband and their two teenage children. She is active in the Creative Tyme Ministry at her home church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. Visit Michelle online at www.michellestimpson.com.

November Meeting - Lynne Gentry

Ever shower your characters, dress them in clothes, and then send them forth in your story with no further consideration? Or perhaps your characters merely toss glances back and forth?
He smiled.
She looked at him.
His deep blue eyes cause her heart to pitter-patter. . . .

DFW Ready Writers has a solution to your problem for the same old, worn-out drivel and flat, lifeless characters that so often appear in many manuscripts.

Saturday, November 14th, Lynne Gentry, an instructor of stage presence and body language, will be presenting: Paper Dolls - Utilizing the costuming and body language techniques of the stage to help flat characters leap from the page.

Come learn the character development tricks of the stage and costuming techniques that create and flesh out interesting and unforgettable characters. Lynne, with many years of teaching stage presence, will help you gain insider tips on how to dress your character to create interest and literary symbolism for your reader. She will also help you learn body language observation techniques that will hone your ability to decode the signs of both controlled and involuntary body movements. Lynne will also show you how to create word usage that communicates the corresponding emotions.

So, if you don't want to have flat, lifeless characters that continue to say meaningless and over used phrases, you won't want to miss this opportunity to hear Lynne Gentry on November 14th.

Date: Saturday - November 14, 2009
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Meeting Place: La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant
5250 Hwy 121, Colleyville, Texas
(Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnson and Glade).

October Meeting - Elizabeth Ludwig

What better timing!

You’ve been to conference and now you’re ready to send out those proposals the editors or agents have requested. Or maybe you couldn’t attend conference but you have your manuscript and five page proposal done and your finger is itching to click Send.

Wait! Don’t touch that button.

Is that manuscript or proposal the best you can do? Are you sure? Well, let me tell you, nothing kills a proposal faster than a poorly prepared submission. And I have a solution for you.
This Saturday October 10th DFW Ready Writers is offering a two-hour workshop with published author and speaker Elizabeth Ludwig. The first hour Elizabeth will speak on “Self-Editing for the Fiction Writer.” She will demonstrate the most common mistakes authors make when submitting their manuscripts and proposals, and she will give tips for improving the quality of the overall submission. Attendees will learn how to locate problem areas such as: repetitive words and phrases, show vs. tell, and much more!

And Elizabeth will talk about “The Ins and Outs of a Writing Partner.” She has partnered together with Janelle Mowery to write three mystery novels and knows the joys and woes of a long distance writing partner. She’ll explain what works and what doesn’t, how to avoid the pitfalls while partnering with another author, and how to end up with a saleable finished product—a novel.

So please join us for some fresh ideas on how to make your manuscript and proposal stand out in the crowd of hundreds.

There will be a charge of $15.00 at the door for the two-hour workshop.
Date: Saturday – October 10, 2009
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Meeting Place:
La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant
5250 Hwy 121,
Colleyville, Texas
(Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnson
and Glade).

Lunch is Dutch treat.

September Meeting - Speaker Harry Olson

Nothing Like Old Mother Nature

Would you like to add some tension and realism to your story? Weather related events can up the stakes of peril, relationships, loss, and even death to your work in progress (WIP).
Ahh. . . . You have never experienced a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, or even a flood that can wipe houses off their foundation? Allow me to tell you how you can obtain the knowledge of how people are affected and learn to survive these catastrophes.

On Saturday, September 12th, 2009, at 11:00 am—1:00 pm, DFW Ready Writers will be hosting speaker Harry Olson, a catastrophe insurance adjuster since 1994. He has experienced most storm related happenings as a first responder at national disasters and has seen firsthand how lives can be devastated and changed forever.

Dealing with individuals who have lost everything within a matter of hours, even minutes is heart-wrenching and life changing. Harry will be sharing first hand knowledge of weather related happenings that have taken place throughout the United States and will give you ideas how these actual events can come to play with weather related realism in your WIPs.
So don’t miss out on this month’s meeting. Making your novel the most that it can be by having weather as an antagonist in your WIP can bring relationships, death, and realism to the forefront, causing your book to come alive to your readers. Plan now to attend.

Date: Saturday – September 12, 2009
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Meeting Place:
La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant
5250 Hwy 121,
Colleyville, Texas
(Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnson
and Glade).

Hope to see you there.

August Meeing: Richard L. Mabry, MD

MEDICAL DETAILS IN YOUR FICTION: GET THEM IN, BUT GET THEM RIGHT

Want to draw your reader into your fiction? Throw in a medical detail—injury, surgery, heart attack or stroke. But how do you make your account accurate without being so graphic or technically complex that it turns your reader away? In this presentation, Dr. Richard Mabry, a retired physician and published author of medical suspense fiction, will discuss a number of common medical scenarios and give advice on how to find the information needed to make your story believable.
Dr. Richard Mabry, physician and medical suspense author, will discuss incorporating medical scenarios into your fiction, suggesting ways to get the information needed to add authenticity to your writing.

RICHARD L. MABRY, MD Bio
Dr. Richard Mabry retired from medicine in 2002 after more than 35 years in practice as an ear, nose & throat specialist, the last ten of them spent as a professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. During his medical career, Dr. Mabry lectured all over the world and held the office of president or vice-president of every major organization in his specialty. He has written or edited eight best-selling medical textbooks, and well over 100 of his papers were published in medical journals.
Dr. Mabry entered the field of non-medical writing after the death of his first wife, writing The Tender Scar: Life After The Death Of A Spouse, which was published by Kregel in 2006. The Tender Scar is now in its third printing and is in use by numerous pastors, counselors and seminary professors, as well as providing a tool for healing for thousands of people who have lost a loved one.
His first novel of medical suspense, Run Away Home, will be published by Abingdon Press in early 2010. He has completed the second novel in the Prescription For Trouble series and is now at work on the third.
Dr. Mabry’s work has also appeared in Christian Communicator, In Touch Magazine, Upper Room Devotional Guide, and Grief Digest, as well as a number of online ezines.
In September 2009, Dr. Mabry will be speaking at the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Conference in Denver, Colorado, and in 2010 he will speak at the Mount Hermon Conference in Santa Cruz, California.

July Meeting- Barbara Harrison

Barbara Harrison aka Leann Harris, is a multi-published author who will be speaking at DFW Ready Writers’ meeting on July 11th. Barbara will give tips on writing for Love Inspired Suspense, word length, topics, and the in-and-outs of writing for the line. She will also cover the difference between suspense and mystery. Come and learn how to write for Steeple Hill.

Barbara Harrison, writing under the pen name of Leann Harris, has always had stories running around inside her head. When her youngest child started elementary school, she finally gathered her nerve and began writing. She joined RWA in 1987 and is a charter member of Dallas Area Romance Authors and former president. Her first published novel was a finalist in Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest and was nominated by Romantic Times as one of the best first novels.

The author of 12 novels, Barbara’s latest book Guarded Secrets is scheduled for an Oct. 2009 release from Steeple Hill Books.

Barbara has a BS in speech from the University of Texas at Austin and is a certified teacher of the deaf. She has taught math and science to high school deaf students. She is also an avid gardener.

Visit Barbara’s author Web site http://www.blogger.com/www.leannharris.com

The meeting is:
Date: Saturday – July 11, 2009
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Meeting Place:
La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant
5250 Hwy 121,
Colleyville, Texas
(Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnson
and Glade).

Hope to see you there.

June Meeting - Lena Nelson Dooley

How to Write a Believable Salvation Scene

Writing a salvation scene is easy, right? Just throw in some “God” words, then use the system taught during Sunday school class.

If that’s what you think, do I have news for you!

Learn the things that make a salvation scene work for your book during this workshop. Lena will show you how to write the scene without being in your face, over the top pushy, or blatant with your message and yet communicate the need of salvation to your readers.

The attendees are encouraged to bring a salvation scene they are working on if they’re willing to share it with the group and have it analyzed.

Lena Nelson Dooley
is a multi-published author. Four of her novels published by Heartsong Presents, the romance division of Barbour Publishing, were voted top ten favorites in Heartsong’s annual readers’ poll. One of her novels received a second place award in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year contest at the 2004 national convention. The Scraps of Love novella anthology, also published by Barbour Publishing spent five months on the CBD fiction bestseller list. Three of her books—Pirate’s Prize, Minnesota Brothers, and Gerda’s Lawman—were on a bestseller list in the UK. Pirate’s Prize went to #1 on that list. Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner, an April 2007 release was on the CBD fiction bestseller list within two weeks. Her novella The Spinster and the Bride was a finalist in Book of the Year. Montana Mistletoe, which released in September 2007 was on the CBD list, too. Snowbound Colorado Christmas was on the CBD bestseller list for three months, as well as on the Barbour Fiction bestseller list. In 2008, Lena was voted one of the top ten favorite authors in the Heartsong readers’ poll.
A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, she has been a speaker on both the regional and national level. She’s also president of the local chapter—DFW Ready Writers. In 2006, she received the prestigious Mentor of the Year Award at their national conference. She also teaches writing seminars and has spoken at writers’ groups in two states. Besides speaking for writing events, she has spoken for women’s groups and women’s retreats both in the US and internationally.
Mrs. Dooley and her husband James will celebrate their 45th anniversary this year. They live in Hurst and are involved in the lives of their children and grandchildren.
Before she started writing full time, she was also on retainer from a publishing company where she headed a writing team that produced a two-year American History course for at-risk students. She has completed other major curricula.
Snowbound Colorado Christmas was her 18th book release, and five books will release in 2009—The Prairie Romance Collection, Wild Prairie Roses, Cranberry Hearts, Wild West Christmas, and Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe. Summerside Press will release Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico in 2010.

April Meeting: "Just the facts, Ma'am!"

Join us as Detective Linda Crum of the Dallas Police Department will be our speaker for April 11th, 2009.

Have you ever wondered about police established methods? Would you like to have nothing but the facts, ma’am, of real life situations that will help you present you book with accuracy?

With Detective Crum’s extensive and varied background in police work, she will be speaking about her duties—real life situations and how they are handled, not the made up kind we see on television. This is your chance to hear a knowledgeable veteran Detective, with over thirty years of experience, explain police procedures, lockup, on duty calls, domestic violence, and all the rest that come under the heading of day-to-day police procedure.

At the end of her program, Linda will answer questions that have been submitted in advance by email. Then, if there is time, we will open the floor for questions from everyone present. This will be a great opportunity to ask those difficult unanswered questions about police procedure that you have always wondered about and would love to write into your manuscript with accuracy. Those questions you didn’t know who to ask.

Come hear Detective Crum on Saturday, April 11th, 2009
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Meeting Place:
La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant
5250 Hwy 121,
Colleyville, Texas

(Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnson and Glade).

Detective Linda Crum’s Bio:

Detective Linda Crum works for the Dallas Police Department. She is married to a retired Dallas Police Sergeant (helicopter pilot) with three stepsons, and seven precious grandkids.

Born in Ft. Worth, Texas, raised in Rendon, Linda Crum was the youngest of four children. When she graduated from Mansfield High School in 1973, she immediately enrolled in the fall at TCJC-N, where she obtained an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. On May 17, 1976, the Dallas Police Department hired Linda, and as a requirement, attended the police academy, graduating October 7, 1976, to begin her long career in law enforcement.

Linda’s first job as a police officer was working patrol in Oak Cliff. Since that time, she has worked the Youth Division as a detective, and later assigned to the Youth Action Center of the DISD schools. At one point in her career, she covered 23 schools, including Kimball and Carter High Schools.

In May of 1992, she completed her degree in Criminal Justice at DBU, and in May of 1993, transferred to the Crimes Against Persons Division. Her first assignment as a detective was to investigate aggravated assault offenses. Later she moved to the Homicide Unit and while in that position she became a licensed Texas State Polygraph Examiner for the department. Today Detective Crum is currently working Cold Case Homicides for the Dallas Police Department.

March Meeting- Jane Thornton our "Grammer Girl"

What’s Grammar Got to Do with It?

Who cares if your participle dangles?

Jane Thornton does and so should you. “What’s Grammar Got to Do with It” takes a realistic look at an author’s need (or lack thereof) for familiarity with grammar. It includes a shot of relevant basics which won’t trigger that catatonic state you endured in junior high English class. Jane will have you laughing at her fun, concise ways to understand the simple essentials that will help you edit your work in progress and make it the sterling piece editors love to read.

If you live in or around the Dallas/Fort Worth area, make plans to attend the DFW Ready Writers’ meeting and enjoy the fun of learning together. Come share lunch (Dutch treat) and get to know fellow writers in the area.

DFW Ready Writers will meet March 14, 2009.

Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Location: LaHacienda Ranch Restaurant

5250 Hwy 121,

Colleyville, Texas

Directions: Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnsonand Glade.

Biographical Sketch: Jane Thornton lives with the joys and doubts of being an educator. Beginning with her younger sister, she started teaching at the age of four and continues today as a high school English teacher. She knows first-hand that some of the toughest kids are also the most lovable.

After graduating as salutatorian of Huntsville High School, she attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a BBA in accounting. However, a short time as an auditor convinced Jane that, although the job was valuable and someone had to do it, she didn’t want to be the one. After sticking with it long enough to earn her CPA, lest anyone think she couldn’t hack it, she returned to school and earned her teaching certificate in English.

Writing fiction fulfills a life-long dream of Jane’s. In order to improve her craft and connect with other writers she became a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), DFW Ready Writers, and two critique groups.

February Meeting

DFW Ready Writers monthly meeting will be with Lenora Worth, speaker and author of inspirational woman's fiction. She has written 35 books for three different publishers. Her books have won both regional and national awards and she has over 1 million books in print.

Currently she is writing both Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense for Steeple Hill. Lenora will be giving tips about writing for Steeple Hill Books--everything from do's and don'ts to what editors are looking for and what not to send. With quotes from first time authors who've just sold to SH to established writers who've been with them for years. She will offer suggestions on how to sharpen your synopsis and chapters to catch the attention of the SH editors.

We would love to see all our members for Valentines lunch (Dutch treat) as we learn invaluable information from Lenora Worth as she presents "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know about Writing for Steeple Hill."

Lenora will also be offering signed copies of her books for sale.

Date: February 14, 2009
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Meeting Place:
La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant
5250 Hwy 121,
Colleyville, Texas
(Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnson and Glade).
Hope to see you there.

Since it's Valentines day, of course, let there be chocolate. So come see what's happening at February 14th's meeting.

November Meeting

Saturday, November 8, 2008

La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant
5250 Hwy 121
Colleyville, TX
(Southbound access road from Hall-Johnson)

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Our special guest is a former US Marshall who is now a PI for a large law firm. You can ask him all kinds of questions for information you need for your WIPs.

Should you want a preview of the PI firm he works with go to www.mmwa.net. If you want to know more about our speaker, click on associates and then Jesse Guzman.

Visitors welcome.

August Meeting -

Lena Nelson Dooley will be the speaker -- Painting Historicals With Authenticity. One of her historicals is a finalist for Book of the Year. She will share lots of ways to find information you need to make your setting authentic to the time period.

She'll also present this workshop at national, so if you're not able to attend national, or if you want to take a different workshop during that time period, you won't want to miss this meeting.

Meeting takes Place at:
La Hacienda Ranch restaurant
Hwy. 121 in Colleyville.
(Between Glade and Hall Johnson)
August 9, at 11:00 am.
We meet on the second Saturday,


BIO
Lena Nelson Dooley is a freelance author and editor who lives with her husband in Texas. She and her husband have two grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. They love to spend time with their family. They also enjoy traveling, including taking vacations in Mexico, visiting and working with missionary friends.

During the years she has been a professional writer, she has been involved as a writer or editor on a variety of projects including: a regional Christian newspaper; a TV movie and Public Service Announcements; curriculum for public school, private schools, children’s Sunday School, and Children’s Church for three different denominations; International business reports; technical manuals, and sketches for a Christian comedian. She has edited several books for clients. She developed a seminar called “Write Right,” which she taught several years as a faculty member of the Fine Arts Academy in Bedford, Texas. She hosts a writing critique group in her home and has mentored a number of now-published authors. After years of working for a church, she now writes full time at home.

Lena often speaks at women’s ministry meetings and writing events and conferences. She has had speaking engagements in two states, Mexico, and Guatemala.
Several of her Heartsong books have appeared on the Top Ten Favorite lists. She’s even been on the Top Ten Favorite authors list. And she has been a finalist in Book of the Year four times. His Brother’s Castoff took second place. Once again, she’s a BOTY finalist.

July Meeting - Sonya Vasquez

We have been on the lookout for people with interesting occupations to spark our creativity. Our speaker for July 12 is a wax sculptor for Ripley's museums. Sonya Vasquez will bring pictures and samples of her work. In addition to her presentation, she'll answer our questions.

This looks to be a very interesting meeting.

Bring a notebook and curiosity.

Sonya Vasquez working on a sculpture of Marilyn Munroe she is doing for a museum that's set to open in August in London.

Speaker's Bio
Sonya Vasquez is a wax sculptor for Ripley's museums all over the world. She was hired by them her senior year in college, and she's worked for them for over 10 years. As far as she knows, there are only a few wax sculptors in the US, and she is the only woman. It typically takes about 3 months and $20,000 to create a new wax figure.

Meeting Info:
We meet at La Hacienda Ranch

Where: Colleyville, Texas

On the southbound freeway access road between Glade and Hall Johnson

Time: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

June Meeting: Clopton's Exciting Proposals

Debra Clopton will join us on June 14th to discuss how to make proposals exciting

Come to LaHacienda Ranch Restaurant

5250 Hwy 121
Colleyville, Tx.

(Between Hall-Johnson and Glade on the north-bound service road)

Time: 11:00 - 1:00pm

Award winning author Debra Clopton hit the ground running in 2005 with the release of her first book THE TROUBLE WITH LACY BROWN published by Steeple Hill Love Inspired. It was a Golden Heart finalist and won the Faith Hope and Love Inspirational Readers Choice award for 2006. Since then her subsequent books have won several awards and nominations including The Writers Guild Award, The Barclay Gold Award and her 2006 book NO PLACE LIKE HOME was a proud finalist in ACFW BOTY contest for short contemporary in 2007. Most recently her book DREAM A LITTLE DREAM was named one of the recipients of a Holt Medallion Award of Merritt in romantic comedy for 2008.

A prolific author Debra has created a unique world filled with characters readers don't want to give up. A place created especially to make readers join in on the fun—and sometimes the trials and tribulations...but always a place where readers can forget their own worries and spend a relaxing few hours in the company of their friends of Mule Hollow.

Debra is known for her unique voice, her humor and the ability to weave in relevant issues while still leaving her readers with a smile. She has 3 books scheduled for release in 2008 NEXT DOOR DADDY (Jan 08) HER BABY DREAMS (April 08) and THE COWBOY TAKES A BRIDE (July 08) she has 4 books on the horizon for 2009...all are continuing her series set in Mule Hollow. Her editor on all of her books is ACFW Editor of the Year Krista Stroever who she credits with sharing her vision for Mule Hollow.

You can visit her website at http://www.debraclopton.com/

April 12 Meeting- Review of the Early Bird Session

Four of our esteemed member's of DFW Ready Writer's will be presenting what they learned during the 2007 ACFW Conference Early Bird Session. Come hear the different perspective from these wonderful ladies.

Meeting begins at 11:00 at the La Hacienda Ranch in Grapevine.
We will have lunch before the speakers begin.

The restaurant is located on the service road between Hall-Johnson and Glade on the southbound side of Hwy 121.

Meeting ends promptly at 1:00 pm.




Lee Carver

Lee Carver has retired from her globe-trotting life as the wife of a senior vice president of the world’s largest bank. She and her husband have served as volunteer missionaries for the past six years, where he was a bush pilot in the Brazilian Amazon. Lee ran their home as a free missionary guesthouse.

Lee lived in six foreign countries and studied nine languages. She has taught biology and chemistry, served as volunteer church musician, and is a potter.

The Carvers moved to Texas in November, 2006, to care for his parents and enjoy their extended family.

Janice Olson
Janice Olson writes fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Her devotionals appear regularly in Journeys in Faith weekly e-devotionals and she is currently working on a daily devotional book and a suspense novel. She received the NTCW 2007 Best of Conference Award in Children’s Fiction, September 2007, and her short story My First Tea was published in Chicken Soup for the Tea Lover’s Soul in October 2007. Janice is an active member of ACFW, SCBWI, TXLA, RWA, and Historian for DFW Ready Writers. Though she enjoys writing mystery/suspense, her ultimate aspiration is to inspire others to reach higher heights and greater faith in God through her writing and teaching.

PacJac Carroll
Patricia (PacJac) Carroll has been writing for more years than she’d like to admit. But in 2006, she became serious about writing as a career and calling. A member of ACFW and DFW Ready Writers, she also attends a weekly critique group in the home of multi-published author Lena Nelson Dooley. She also attended the ACFW conference in 2006 and 2007.
Patricia loves to write, travel, and laugh. She has completed one historical romance and is currently working on a contemporary romance. She enjoys the writing process and has many more unfinished stories waiting impatiently in line to be written.

Margo Carmichael

Margo Carmichael writes suspense.
She acted as charter president 2005-06 of local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers, DFW Ready Writers.

Her passions are reading and acting (she’s played in M*A*SH, background in “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and “Jaws III”). She has also played Constanza in “Enchanted April.”

Margo loves painting, writing, piano and art. She grew up in Florida and has traveled to Paris, Tokyo, London, Scotland and Israel.
The more I study the Bible, the more I see our awesome God's hand in my life.

Martha Rogers - Sensational writings

On Saturday, March 8, 2008, the DFW Ready Writer's will be honored with a special guest, Martha Rogers for a special presentation on the importance of using all five senses in our writing.

Although Martha’s primary writing experience is in non-fiction, she has been writing fiction for a number of years. She revised seven Bible studies for First Place Health Program, published by Gospel Light, and wrote one original for them. Martha also had several articles appear in Christian magazines. In addition, ten devotionals are included in the 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006 editions of Penned From the Heart, and nine others appear in Today is the First Day, a devotional book published by Gospel Light/Regal Books. Her first novel, Not on the Menu, was published in the spring of 2007 in the novella collection, Sugar and Grits.

In addition, Martha has two stories in Wayne Holmes’ compilations, Whispering in God’s Ear and Embrace of the Father as well as stories in compilations by Karen O’Connor and books by Janice Thompson Debra White-Smith.

Martha resigned in 2004 as editor of an eight page monthly newsletter for the writer’s organization, Inspirational Writers Alive! after five years as the editor. She serves as President of the state Inspirational Writers Alive! and also the director for the annual Texas Christian Writer’s Conference. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers for whom she writes a devotional every week.


We hope you'll come join us for this wonderful treat. We meet at La Hacienda Ranch restaurant off Hal-Johnson and Highway 121. The restaurant is on the Southbound side between Glade and Hall-Johnson.

Meetings start at 11:00 am and end at 1:00 pm. Come join us for lunch, visiting and learning. Visitors are welcomed. You must be a member of ACFW to join DFW Ready Writer's.

February 9, 2008 Meeting

The DFW Ready Writers meeting on Saturday, February 9, will feature aspecial guest speaker--ACFW member Sandy Glahn.

Sandra Glahn, Th.M., teaches creative writing and journalism classes in the media arts program at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), her alma mater.

Sandy also teaches classes on homiletics and women’s history. She is pursuing a Ph.D. In Aesthetic Studies (art/history/ philosophy) at the University of Texas at Dallas. And she serves on the board the Evangelical Press Association and the women's executive committee for bible.org. She is editor-in-chief of Dallas Seminary's award-winning quarterly magazine, Kindred Spirit.

Her books include The Coffee Cup Bible Study series (featuring AMG's Mocha on the Mount, Espresso with Esther, Java with the Judges, Solomon Latte, Cappuccino with Colossians and Premium Roast with Ruth) and the medical suspense thriller, Informed Consent (Cook).

She has also coauthored seven books: When Empty Arms Become a Heavy Burden (Broadmanand Holman); Sexual Intimacy in Marriage (Kregel, now in its third edition); Lethal Harvest (Kregel, a CBA best-selling Christy fiction finalist); Deadly Cure (Kregel); False Positive (WaterBrook) ; The Infertility Companion (Zondervan); and The Contraception Guidebook(Zondervan ). She has contributed to several additional works and numerous publications.

Her passions include helping writers get published (see www.aspire2com/writing. htm), speaking on bioethics, and discussing issues of particular interest to women. She frequently speaks at women’s retreats, as well as, at marriage and infertility conferences. She and her husband, Gary, have been married twenty-eight years and have one daughter.

She will bring these books to sign at the meeting:

Fiction:

Informed Consent

False Positive

Lethal Harvest Deadly Cure

Non-fiction

All the coffee cup books

Sexual Intimacy in Marriage

The Infertility Companion

January Meeting Announcement

Ready Writer's 2008

If you live in or near the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, you're invited to start the new year with DFW Ready Writers.

Our first meeting of the year will be Saturday, January 12.
We meet at La Hacienda Ranch restaurant in Colleyville. Take Highway 121 to Hall Johnson exit. The restaurant is on the west side of the freeway.
Meeting starts at 11:00 am to 1:00 PM.

In January, our new president Dawn Morton Nelson will share her vision for the year for our chapter.

The program will be presented by Lena Nelson Dooley on the topic, "Understanding the Father Heart of God and Applying It to our Writing."

You'll not want to miss out on this special treat if you can help it.

Announcing the October 13 Meeting

Margo Carmichael will speak on giving our characters quirks that make them real.

Join us for a wonderful time of food, fellowship, and learning our craft.

From Margo:

"I will be teaching at next Ready Writers on some psychological quirks that could give our characters extras layers--and challenges--as well as those who live around them. ADHD, Bi-Polar Depression, Depression, Narcissism, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and so on."

Come on the The La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant located on Hwy 121. The restaurant is located on the west side of the freeway between Hall Johnson and Glade.

Meeting begins at 11:00 am, but you can come a little early for fellowship time. We eat lunch together, conduct the business meeting, then have our guest speaker's presentation. Meetings end at 1pm.

Upcoming Meetings:

November - Writer Organization
Deborah Rather (Arlene James)

December - Christmas Party
Lena Nelson Dooley

Keep checking back for all the exciting speakers we'll have appearing next year.

Happy Writing.

Ready Writer's September Meeting

September DFW Ready Writers
will meet on Saturday the 8th at 11:00 am at LaHacienda Ranch in Grapevine off Hwy 121, between Glade rd and Hall Johnson.

This month's topic:

Will this year's national conference in Dallas be your first one? Do you have questions you'd like to have answered?

The September meeting of DFW Readywriters will supply the answers.

Do you wonder if your one-sheet will pass muster? Are you frightened by the thought of pitching to an agent or editor?

Let those who've gone before you help.

Lena Nelson Dooley lives in Texas with her husband James. They are active in several ministries of their church. Both she and James are interested in missions and have been on a number of mission trips. She speaks at retreats and conferences. A full-time author and editor, Lena holds a BA in Speech and Drama. She has had nine novels published by Heartsong Presents and been a part of nine trade paperback collections. Visit her web site at http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/ and her blog at http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/