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Opinions Needed {Day 1}
Hello, sweet friends. I’ve been doing something for the last few years, and it’s time to let you in on my secret. Eek. I’ve started to write a devotional for the newly diagnosed, and I think I’m ready for my favorite friends to have a sneak peek (that’s you!). I am hoping to release a devo twice a month, but eventually the whole devo will be available for free as a download on my blog so you can forward this on to those who may need the encouragement. Here’s where you come in. I’d LOVE your feedback! No, really, I’m serious. I’ve looked at this devo so many times that…
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Those Who've Read The Book Will Appreciate These {And, Happy 19th, Babe!}
Yesterday I stumbled upon this while cleaning out my office: Can you guess what it is? If you’ve read When God Intervenes, you’ll remember I mentioned the coloring/activity pages the elderly man gave me at church. Can you believe we kept this gem of a book after all these years? A smile crossed my face as I remembered how far my husband and I have come. You see, today is my 19th wedding anniversary (Woohoo!), so I thought I’d share some special moments I mentioned in the book along our journey. Like the Gazebo where Jason proposed on Palm Beach, and the crazy lady tried to have us arrested: …
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A Recent Speaking Event
Back in October, I shared part 2 of my story at my church’s Seasons event for women (right after I had just gotten over pneumonia…hence the random throat-clearing–praise God my cough was gone!). For those of you who could not attend, take a peek. PS Some of the ladies in attendance at this event remember when I was pregnant with Asher in the ICU and acknowledged that they were at church the Sunday morning back in July of 2005 when Jason asked for prayer from the pulpit. Pretty cool stuff! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezai7DDJT_M[/youtube] Thank you Calvary Church and Kevin for the recording!
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What Every Chemo Patient Should Know (***Warning, PG13*** Guys just skip this one)
There is a reason the beginning of chapter 14 in the book starts with, “I never knew pain could be so cruel.” The following cut content is what should have followed. In hindsight, I’m glad this more graphic part was axed. But, for those who have started treatment or know of someone going through treatment…I wonder if this wouldn’t have helped in some way? All I know is I wish I would have been warned. *** Hours later, I woke with intense discomfort in a rather private area. Never experiencing this type of irritation before, I drove to the store for medicine. The initial contact from the cream sent…
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How to Make the Most of a Writers' Conference
A few people have asked how I finagled a contract with Tyndale House Publishers. It wasn’t easy, and even though I felt this uncomfortable compulsion to finish this project, I had no guarantee the book would be picked up. The following is a guest post I wrote for my agent, Rachelle Gardner. Whether you’re a writer or business owner, I think there’s a lesson here to be learned. When God puts a desire on your heart, run after it. Please. *** I’m not a writer, per se. I’m a speaker who learned the craft of writing and secured a contract by her second writers’ conference. But intense work was involved;…
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Opinions Needed
One of the things I’m often asked is if I speak at churches or events. And I do. So I finally stopped dragging my feet and found a way to share clips of me speaking. This required lots of sleuthing and then pretty much begging the hubs to teach me a thing or two about video editing, however I think I only want to post one snippet for viewers to see. Any chance you can help me decide? If you have a minute or two, take a look at the YouTube videos below and let me know what you think. Which video would you choose to feature on my *Speaking*…
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Have You Seen My God? (And Prayer, Please.)
Some days I need a reminder that my God is bigger than I give Him credit for. On those days, I re-read some of the sticky notes tapped to my desk. My favorite by far is the hot pink PostIt attached to a framed photo (the one above) that says, “Have you seen my God?” Indeed I have. He’s living and active and still in the business of performing miracles. Today is a day that I need to remember that all He has brought me through really isn’t about me, but what He wants to do through me. I say this because this afternoon, July 1, 2013, at 6pm EST…
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Tell Me How Fabulous You Are (And Win a Copy of the Book)
The proof is in the pudding, so they say. Next week I will send a list of names or “Influencers” to my publisher. So, what is an influencer? I’m glad you asked. Honestly, I’m still trying to figure this out myself. An influencer is someone who reads the book and spreads the word. Pretty simple, right? When I started the book-writing process, I imagined the hardest part would be finishing the manuscript. This next part, the marketing part, is trickier yet. That’s where influencers come in. I am looking for two or three people who are great word-spreaders. Take a glance at a few chapters under the “Look Inside” on…
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The Video I Wanted to Reshoot
Let’s get one thing straight, friends. This Friday, May 10, I will not be Debbie Downer when I speak at Calvary Church in Jupiter.Why do I need to clarify this? Well, our ever-talented Creative Director from Calvary, Kevin, chided me yesterday that he was going to insert faux tears on my video announcement they played that morning at church because I looked weepy. I laughed. I knew he was kidding. But, of course I looked weepy. He knew the emotional stuff would bubble out as soon as the camera started rolling. I think that was his plan all along. (Kevin!) You see, I arrived at the shoot with a clever…
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And The Book Cover Is…
After all the votes were tallied, here’s what you decided: 1) E: 35 (Headshot cover) 2) B: 28 (Blue cover w/ rushing doctor) 3) C: 16 (Collage of three photos) 4) D: 13 (Clouds, When God Intervenes) 5) A: 10 (Red and yellow cover with doctor) Jason and my sister, Christine, picked the top two (rushing doctors) and tried desperately to sway me in that direction for all the reasons most of you mentioned: “Sense of urgency, action.” But which was my *original* favorite, someone asked? The one most of you picked. The cover showcasing the headshot, because this looks the most memoir-ish and I appear normal. Not sick. Coming in second was the…
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Which Cover Would You Choose?
Tyndale House Publishers designed amazing covers for this project. I’m curious, if the choice were up to you, which would you choose? A) B) C) D) E)
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Fellow Wordsmiths: Help (said in my most desperate voice)
“She’ll Never Make it Through the Night”: A football-sized-tumor and the decision keep her child initiated a battle of nine life-threatening illnesses The quoted words are the title of my book. The tagline following, well…that’s what I’ve been playing with. Help, please. Since taglines play an important part in drawing your reader in, I’d really love candid feedback, suggestions, or a complete rewrite. Any of these’ll work. I’ll even check my feelings at the door so you can share from the gut. Here are some options: “She’ll Never Make it Through the Night”: 1) A football-sized-tumor and the decision to keep her child initiated a battle of nine life-threatening illnesses 2)…
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Silly Prayers
Cacophony popped into my head the other day. Yeah. I didn’t know what the word meant either, and I certainly didn’t know how to spell it. Turns out it means “A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.” I laughed. How perfect is that. I was writing a chapter where I felt something was missing, and this obscure word appeared out of nowhere and fit the description perfectly. It’s moments like that when I realize God listens to prayers. Silly prayers. The ones I throw His way, like, “Please help me find the perfect word,” or “my phone,” or “write this book because most people who know me, know my big secret.…
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The Power of Prayer
Last Wednesday I entered Wonderland. Jason dropped me curbside at the airport for my Denver flight. While standing at check-in, a teenager asked to use my phone. She was waiting for her dad, she said. “Where are you?” she yelled. “Pick me up now! Now. Did you bring my meds? Get here!” She handed it back, turned, and sneezed. Loudly. If you know me, you won’t be surprised by the dousing of antibacterial I slathered over my phone, luggage handle, and front and backs of my hands. After checking my over-sized bag, I stood in the security line with 35 minutes to spare. Perfect for our tiny West Palm airport. “Dabney Hedegard,”…
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Help
I have title envy reading the words Kisses from Katie. There. I said it. The words roll off my tongue making my mind want to read further. And therein lies the problem. I’m in the process of writing a not-so-fun book proposal for an upcoming Writing for the Soul conference in February. This handy-dandy packet either opens or closes the door to my publishing dream. The only problem: I don’t have a title. That’s when I humbly admit my need for help. I so desire for my brain cells to unite or for God to shower down words from above or for friends who really love me to suggest the…
