Dear Christian Indies,
Today on the podcast, Jen and Jamie will discuss self-editing. What do you need to do before your piece gets sent to an editor?
Jen has a system she uses that I’m betting you will find quite helpful, especially if you are new to it and don’t quite know how to get started.
We hope that you will find today’s topic useful and that you will enjoy the shenanigans and everybody’s favorite part of the podcast, the feeding of the backs.
Hope to see you there!
Tina
Winter nights in the wilderness were not what Ivan expected. Having spent his life in the city he couldn’t remember ever seeing a sky so vivid. The stars hung in the sky like a child’s mobile, some invisible strings longer than the others, so it seemed as if he could reach up and touch them. He came out every clear night he could, and stood looking up in awe at the beauty of the stars. But tonight was different. Tonight took his breath away. He knew scientific facts about the aurora borealis, seen pictures and videos, but none of that prepared him for this.
As he gazed into the sky the many colored particles danced across the sky in a ribbon that reached from the eastern horizon to the west. In his mind, Ivan heard Mozart as he watched the particles dance in perfect time. It made his chest ache so that each breath seemed almost painful.
His body shuddered from the cold and he knew he’d been standing out here too long. He should go back inside and check on his sleeping son. As he turned toward the cabin a new sensation crawled up his spine, making the hair stand up on the back of his head. He stopped to listen. The night was completely silent. He turned in a slow circle, examining every shadow among the trees. No movement. Alarm coursed through him as he realized. It was completely silent. No shrill calls of the night birds. No hooting from the owls nesting nearby. No rustling or scurrying of the many small animals that lived in the forest. They’d all gone silent.
Before he could react he saw them. Dark shadows in the shape of men rising as if spectors and emerging from the treeline. He tried to run but they were on him before he took a step. He heard the sickening thump from the back of his head more than felt it. As the sky shrunk to black in his vision he called out.
“Joshua!” and the sky faded to black.
Christina Cattane is a Christian Indie Writer who writes stories set in Alaska and other exotic locales. She is the author of a novel called ‘Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun’ which falls in the Christian Dystopian Fiction genre, but she also writes in many other genres. Tina grew up in Alaska, has lived in Saudi Arabia, and currently resides in Michigan with her husband and youngest 2 of 4 kids. Her travels around the world often influence her writing. Visit her website at http://christinacattane.com where you can see the progress she is making on her novel. Or catch up with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cmcattane
This week, we’re discussing giving away your novel for free.
Now, you’re likely thinking, “why would I give something I’ve poured my heart and soul (and possibly a good bit of money into) away for free?” The idea might seem preposterous, and certainly might raise the eyebrow of those whose names are also on your checking account, who have to date been assured that you’d be reaping the harvest of the financial and time seeds sown thus far with the release of your book.
[Read more…] about Episode 171: Book Marketing Strategies 2022: Begin with the Basics“Can you tell me a story Grandma?”
“Of course child, but you need to be sure your hands are working while I do. These fish won’t cut themselves.”
“Yes Grandma, I promise.’
“Good, then hold your ulu properly like I showed you, we don’t want any cut fingers.”
“Sorry, I forgot.”
“Very good. Now let me think, which story shall I tell you?”
“A new one, that I haven’t heard before!”
“A new one? Well I’m not sure…oh yes, I know of the perfect one. Are you ready?”
“Yes Grandma, and see, I am cutting the fish like you said to.”
“Very good. In a time long ago, before the great catastrophe, there was a baby boy born in a giant city made of strange stone. His family lived in a great tall wigwam so high it touched the sky. “
“How is that possible Grandma, to build a house that tall?”
“The strange stone had magical power not to topple over. Now this boy was a child of promise.”
“What does that mean Grandma? What is a child of promise?”
“It means he was promised to his mother by God. She prayed and prayed to have a child and promised to dedicate his life to God if he answered her prayer.”
“Oh, so she promised, and God promised too. So he’s was a child of promise!”
“Yes, Yes, very good. The boys father was a man of God…”
“What was his name Grandma?”
“The father’s name was Levi, and the boys name was Joshua. Now Levi was a man of God, and one day while he was praying, God spoke to him.”
“Did he see God?!?”
“No only heard his voice.”
What did it sound like?
“Like a still small voice within his heart.”
“How did he know it was God?”
“Because, he spoke with God often and recognized his voice when he heard it. Now listen, God told Levi to take Joshua away from the great city of strange stone, and take him to a far off land where the rivers ran turquoise and the mountains stood guard.”
“Just like our village…
Christina Cattane is a Christian Indie Writer who writes stories set in Alaska and other exotic locales. She is the author of a novel called ‘Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun’ which falls in the Christian Dystopian Fiction genre, but she also writes in many other genres. Tina grew up in Alaska, has lived in Saudi Arabia, and currently resides in Michigan with her husband and youngest 2 of 4 kids. Her travels around the world often influence her writing. Visit her website at http://christinacattane.com where you can see the progress she is making on her novel. Or catch up with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cmcattane
Dear Christian Indies,
When it comes to writing fiction, there are so many possible perils and pitfalls for the new writer to succumb to. This week, we’re focusing on one of the biggies, dialogue.
[Read more…] about Episode 166: Essential Writing Tips: Banishing Boring DialogueA conversation with myself
“I have no ideas. I’m fresh out. My head is pounding, my sinuses are so dried out I got a nosebleed this morning, and no matter how many socks I put on I can’t get warm.”
“It’s not even that cold out.”
‘I know, and yet here I sit with a wool sweater on, wool socks, an electric blanket and a space heater, and I still can’t get warm. It could be a sign of the second coming.
I’m pretty sure “Alaskan girls will be cold after 53 years being hot all the time” isn’t in the scripture
Well it should be.
You need to get it together. Focus. Get something done instead of huddling under this blanket. Maybe if you move around it’ll warm you up.
I tried that. It didn’t help.
Well do something else, get your mind off it. Do one of your courses.
I can’t focus. I can’t concentrate when I’m freezing. I signed up for that one course I was so excited about. I got so far behind, the thing ended and I was only half way through it.
I can’t believe I failed.
It’s another sign.
Again, not in the scriptures.
Whatever, go away.
And how exactly does that work?
Oh, fine, just shut up then.
I’ll shut up as soon as you stop thinking so much.
All right, let’s just watch tiktok videos, then I can stop thinking and you can shut up.
Good plan!
I know right, I always have the best ideas!
Christina Cattane is a Christian Indie Writer who writes stories set in Alaska and other exotic locales. She is the author of a novel called ‘Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun’ which falls in the Christian Dystopian Fiction genre, but she also writes in many other genres. Tina grew up in Alaska, has lived in Saudi Arabia, and currently resides in Michigan with her husband and youngest 2 of 4 kids. Her travels around the world often influence her writing. Visit her website at http://christinacattane.com where you can see the progress she is making on her novel. Or catch up with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cmcattane
Dear Christian Indies,
Sometimes we set a goal and begin to work toward it, only to discover the journey from start to completion is wrought with more trouble than we’d bargained for.
[Read more…] about Episode 158: NaNoWriMo: Should I Quit?“Am I supposed to burn this now?” asked Jack, holding up the piece of paper Roger had given him, calling it “research on the client”.
Roger’s brow wrinkled, and he pinched the bridge of his nose. Jack half expected him to pull a bottle out of a drawer and take a big gulp. Jack would bet money that’s exactly what he would do the minute Jack left.
“This guy is a ghost. He has no history, he’s not in any system anywhere. No driver’s license, no titles to anything. No social security number.”
Jack looked back at the page, ignoring the giant white space on the lower half and concentrating on what there was in the profile. He was an expert marksman, he executed with military precision, and he was ruthless.
“He may be a ghost in the states, but we live on a big sphere. Have you checked with interpol?”
“I have a call in. Seems, they’ve all gone home for the day. The French aren’t the workaholics we apparently are.”
“What about the emergency number?” Jack asked.
“I hadn’t gotten to it, and now I’m handing it over to you. It’s your headache now.”
“Thanks,” said Jack, wondering if Roger was even capable of recognizing sarcasm.
“Your Welcome,” said Roger.
Well, that answers that question, thought Jack, as he rose from the chair.
“Shall I keep you updated,” Jack asked before Roger could say the usual.
“Yes, yes, keep me updated.” Roger waved at Jack without looking up, his mind already focused on the next problem.
Roger wasn’t cut out to be a spy, that much was clear. Which is why they had Jack, who fit every stereotype ever typed onto a page, including the fact that he always got his man.
Christina Cattane is a Christian Indie Writer who writes stories set in Alaska and other exotic locales. She is the author of a novel called ‘Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun’ which falls in the Christian Dystopian Fiction genre, but she also writes in many other genres. Tina grew up in Alaska, has lived in Saudi Arabia, and currently resides in Michigan with her husband and youngest 2 of 4 kids. Her travels around the world often influence her writing. Visit her website at http://christinacattane.com where you can see the progress she is making on her novel. Or catch up with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cmcattane
“What do you guys think?”
“What do you guys think?”
An awkward silence filled the room. Nobody wanted to say what they thought, or like Nancy had no idea what they thought. To be honest her mind had been a thousand miles away and she couldn’t remember anything James had said.
She should have just stayed home and called in sick today, but her unusually strong sense of responsibility wouldn’t allow that. She was here physically, out of duty, but her mind refused to comply.
It kept going back to the mountains, the cool crisp air and the scent of pine. The tinkling of water over stones. The call of an eagle echoing off the slopes. The lapping of waves against the canoe.
And him. The sparkle in his bright blue eyes. The waves in his dark hair. The way he filled out that blue plaid flannel shirt. His laugh, so full of exuberance it startled birds from their roosts. The smell of his cologne, woodsy like their surroundings.
They’d hiked the mountain trails and canoed the river as high up as they could get. They’d snuggled at night before the fire and eaten meals cooked over it. The homey little cabin they stayed in only had one room, but it was absolutely perfect.
And right up to the end it had been the absolutely perfect celebration of their first anniversary. Her heart ached to have those days back.
“Nancy, are you okay?” James asked.
She realized the room was empty but for the two of them.
“Can I help push you back to your desk?”
“Oh, no I got it,” Nancy replied, grabbing hold of her joystick and backing her chair from the table. She smiled at James and hoped he didn’t see it was only on the outside. As she rode down the hall toward her desk the four long scars on her lower back throbbed, reminding her once more that today would have been her second anniversary.
Christina Cattane is a Christian Indie Writer who writes stories set in Alaska and other exotic locales. She is the author of a novel called ‘Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun’ which falls in the Christian Dystopian Fiction genre, but she also writes in many other genres. Tina grew up in Alaska, has lived in Saudi Arabia, and currently resides in Michigan with her husband and youngest 2 of 4 kids. Her travels around the world often influence her writing. Visit her website at http://christinacattane.com where you can see the progress she is making on her novel. Or catch up with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cmcattane
