The Personal Mission of Curt Iles:
To walk closely with Jesus, be a man God can use, and be respected by my wife and family.

On Saturday, May 8, 2010, DFW Ready Writers is happy to present speaker and author Curt Iles. He will speak on "Making Opportunities Happen: Developing Your Speaker’s Platform".

Curt Iles is self-published. Yet being self-published hasn’t stopped him from making over 20,000 sales with his fiction books.

How does he do it? Curt will explain how he developed his speaker’s platform and at the same time created opportunities to sell his novels.

In these economic times, writers are discovering it harder and harder to find publishers that will accept and publish their books. And some of the first questions asked by publishers are, “What do you bring to the table? Do you have a platform?”

Do you even know what a platform is? Do you have one? A publisher may be interested in your book for publication, but they will want to know—What do you have to bring to the table? Can you show them numbers? Strong numbers? Would you like to know how to make your platform even stronger with more opportunities to present your work?

Yearly, Curt speaks at over 100 events. This has allowed him to make many new friends, spread the word about his books, and the result? Over 20,000 books sold by word of mouth. On May 8th, Curt will show you how to spread your writing influence by speaking opportunities. He’ll explain how to go about booking engagements to various groups.

Whether you are a multi-published, conventional author, a self-pubbed author, or even an unpubbed author, every writer needs to know how to build the best platform possible. Curt is the man with the experience and know-how and the numbers to back his claim. Learn how you too can build your platform and get your numbers up so the publishers will take notice.

Curt Iles is a full time author/speaker writing from his hometown of Dry Creek, Louisiana. As a popular speaker, Curt enjoys traveling, telling stories, and making new friends. He and his wife DeDe travel extensively on mission trips to Africa, Asia, and Central America.
He recently released his seventh independent book, A Good Place. His previous six books have sold a cumulative 20,000 copies. curtiles@aol.com http://www.creekbank.net/

Brag Lines for April/May 2010

Mindy Obenhaus took third place in NTRWA's Great Expectations Contest.
Mindy and Lisa Buffaloe finaled in The Great Expectations Contest. http://www.ntrwa.org/contest/contest.aspx .

Lisa was interviewed by Julie Gorman of His Love Extended Ministries on her BlogTalk Radio show http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cwa-radio/2010/03/31/his-love-extended .

Lisa had a speaking engagement with the IdaHope writers group on 04/22/10.

Deborah Rather (aka Arlene James) just landed a 3-book contract with a continuity series to come, making that 4 books sold in one week to Steeple Hill. Color her tickled. See more at http://www.arlenejames.com and http://www.chatamhouseseries.com .

Lena Nelson Dooley had a successful book signing party last week for Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico. You will be able to buy a pre-release copy at the meeting Saturday. Lena was at the North Texas Book Festival, Denton, Texas, Saturday, April 17, as an exhibitor and panelist.

Lynne Gentry published another short story with Simon & Schuster in God Encounters with James Stuart Bell.

Utilizing the Internet, Presented by Lena Nelson Dooley

On Saturday, April 10th, multi-published author and speaker, Lena Nelson Dooley will explain how to maximize your impact with a minimum amount of time you spend online.

Publishers today want their writers to have a platform and be able to promote their books. They want to know what you are bringing to the table besides your wonderful novel.

So how do you get known? How do you get a following?

Lena Nelson Dooley is the woman with the know-how.

The Internet can be a tool to help us promote our books, or it can consume great amounts of time. Lena has learned how to utilize the Internet to the best of her ability and make it pay off. Over a relatively short period of time she has garnered a large Internet presence. Her blog has over 3,000 hits per month with a couple thousand feeds. She's also on several social networking sites sharing her expertise. However, she doesn't spend as much time on the Internet as readers perceive that she does.

Lena will explain how to make yourself a force to reckon with and become known on the World Wide Web, and all this can happen with very little expense of your time. She will share the little known secrets, hidden wealth of how, and her expertise in utilizing the Web.


Lena Nelson Dooley is a multi-published, award-winning author who loves to mentor other authors. With her 25th book release, she has close to 650,000 books in print. Her next release, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, will be on sale May 1, 2010. Look for it bookstores everywhere.

Lena has spoken at conferences and writers’ meetings in four states. She also speaks at women's retreats and event of all kinds. She lives in Hurst, Texas with her husband of over 45 years.

Lena’s door and heart are always open to those God places in her path. She seriously considers her ministry as a mentor, prayer warrior, even a champion of the downtrodden, her life’s work.

Bragging Rights for Ready Writers!

The release date of Beth Shriver's devotional book, Peace for Parents of Teenagers, is May 1st. Barnes & Noble of The Shops at Highland Village, TX, (4100 Deer Creek, Suite 100) will host the signing party on Saturday, May 22nd. Beth is also scheduled for a speaking engagement at First Baptist Church of Lewisville, TX, (1251 Valley Ridge Blvd.) on Wednesday, April 23rd. Congratulations, Beth. Way to go!

Mindy Obenhaus is a finalist in NTRWA's Great Expectations contest. Final round judge is Natalie Hanemann with Thomas Nelson.

Lee Carver came in second in Christian Writers of the West’s Phoenix Rattler Contest. The final judge was Melissa Endlich with Love Inspired Harlequin.

Lynne Gentry and Lisa Harris have launched a new blog at http://oneextraordinarygod.blogspot.com/

Dr. Richard Mabry is now working under a three-book contract with Abingdon Press. His first novel of medical suspense, Code Blue, launches April 1. The launch party will be 7:00-8:30 PM on April 8 at Legacy Books (toll road and Legacy). Ready Writers is so fortunate to have a medical doctor who volunteers opinions on our literary efforts. Let’s show our support and appreciation by turning out for his launch party.

Book two, Medical Error, publishes in September, book three next April--all are completed, and he’s getting good feedback on them. Dr. Mabry has a number of signings and blog interviews coming up, and he'll try to let the group know about them in advance.
He also has a meditation in the March-April Upper Room.

Marilyn Eudaly presented the workshop, Characters in a Writer's Zoo, at the February meeting of the CenTex chapter in Round Rock on February 20. We were treated to this presentation at our May, 2009, meeting. She has created a good seminar product.

Lena Nelson Dooley's book Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, will release May 1. There will be a Book Release party at Mardel Christian Store in Hurst, Hurstview Drive and Grapevine Highway on Saturday, May 1, 1-3 pm. You can sign up to receive a giveaway basket and you'll meet the people she dedicated the book to and find out the reason for each one. And she'll read a scene from the book.

Barnes & Noble, NE Mall, Hurst, TX will host an authors signing on Feb. 27th, 3-6pm. Featured writers are Shayla Black, Leanna Ellis, Gina Lee Nelson, Beth Shriver, Wendy Watson and others.

Mary Hollingsworth – Saturday, March 13th

What's Happening in the Publishing Industry Today?

Mary Hollingsworth will give an overview of the changes and trends in our industry today, including the influence of the struggling economy. She will talk about up-and-coming publishing options, such as e-books, print-on-demand books, and self-publishing as alternatives to traditional publishing. She'll talk about branding and how to build your writer's "brand" (identity) and platform through Social Media Marketing.
Who is Mary Hollingsworth?

Mary Hollingsworth is the author of more than one hundred books and products. Sales of her books now top seven million copies, and her books have appeared on best-seller lists more than one hundred times. Mary has been a freelance author and managing editor since 1988. During her writing career, she has had more than ninety other works published, including articles, poetry, plays, and songs.

Some of her best-known books are Just Imagine with Barney the Dinosaur—the first hardcover picture book produced with the big purple guy; Hugs for Women; Hugs for Kids; Little Taps on the Shoulder from God; My Little Bible; The International Children’s Story Bible; and many others. She is currently writing a 365-day devotional for Tyndale House entitled The One Year Book of Laughter and Joy.

Mary served as a managing production editor for Worthy Books, Word Publishing, and Thomas Nelson, Inc., for more than fifteen years. She has also served as production editor for a number of major publishers, such as Guideposts Books, Integrity Publishers, WaterBrook Press, Howard Books/Simon & Schuster and others where she supervises the editorial production team for such well-known Christian authors as Billy Graham, Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll, Chuck Colson, Pat Robertson, Women of Faith, Patsy Clairmont, John MacArthur, and many others. She has also worked with Christian recording artists such as Sandi Patty, Amy Grant, Tammy Trent, Kathy Troccoli, and Michael W. Smith on various books and recordings.

She currently serves as the managing director of Creative Enterprises Studio—a writing and publishing association that assists publishers and individuals in the writing, editorial production, printing, and distribution of their books. You can see their work and services at CreativeEnterprisesLtd.com.

Mary’s background in publishing includes a wide variety of book genres and responsibilities: trade books, workbooks and study guides, gift books, devotionals, children’s picture books, Sunday school curriculum, adult and children’s Bibles and Bible story books, Bible reference books, cookbooks, and others. She has served as proofreader, copy editor, substantive editor, rewrite editor, co-author, general editor, managing editor, cover copywriter, and art director, among other assignments.

With a Bachelor of Science in Business Education from Abilene Christian University, Mary has minor equivalencies in journalism and Bible. Her master’s work is in journalism and communication.

Mary lives and works in Bedford, Texas, with her dog, Jazz, where she enjoys reading, collecting miniature and rare books, singing, and travel.

See http://www.maryhollingsworth.com/ for a more complete overview of Mary’s publishing career.

DFW Ready Writers January Meeting

DFW Ready Writers is excited to present a two-hour session for Saturday, January 9th with Mr. Bryan Clark.
Mr. Clark, born in Taylor County, Texas, a US Marine at the age of seventeen, served our country during World War II. He holds the honorable distinction of being a WWII veteran who also fought at the battle of Iwo Jima and later became a Texas Ranger.
If you write historicals or simply are a history buff, you won’t want to miss hearing Mr. Clark. Minor characters in your books, such as a grandpa or an eccentric elderly uncle with a WWII background, add depth to your writing by adding a touch of truth from the past. And what better way to learn about history than from one who has been there and can give you a first-hand account?
Mr. Clark is a fascinating man with an amazing history. He will be speaking about WWII and what it was like to be at a place in history that will live in infamy. Three of his close buddies were among the six men, five Marines and one Navy corpsman, raising the flag on that notable day as Mr. Clark made his way up the hill at Imo Jima. Before his battalion landed, they were told the battle would take 72-96 hours. Instead, the battle raged on for a total of 37 days with 6,825 American casualties and approximately 22,000 Japanese casualties.
After the war, when Mr. Clark came home to Texas, he attended Texas Tech where he received his degree in Business Administration. He played professional baseball for the Lubbock Hubbers, and from 1969 to 1987 he served as a Texas Ranger.
This man has lived a varied and exciting life, and he will be sharing his experiences of WWII and his life as a Texas Ranger.
You will not want to miss the DFW Ready Writers’ meeting on Saturday, January 9th.
We are opening up this meeting to writers and non-writers due to the nature of the topic. Since this will be a longer session than normal, we are charging a nominal fee of $15.00 per person for the two-hour session.
Hope you will be able to attend.
Date: Saturday – January 9, 2010
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm or later
Meeting Place:
La Hacienda Ranch Restaurant
5250 Hwy 121,
Colleyville, Texas
(Restaurant sits alongside the southbound access road between Hall-Johnson
and Glade).