Deliver Me: True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy Book

Speaking on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

2012-01-21T16:31:00.000-08:00

Another reminder:

I'm the guest speaker at the Southern Colorado Pro-Life's "2012 Hour for Life" on Sunday, January 22 at 2:00. This is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.

My talk will be based on my book, Deliver Me.

Location: the Knights of Columbus, 1200 Acero Ave., at 2:00. Open to the public. If you're in the area, feel free to come. And bring a friend.

Booksigning Friday - The Greatest Gift Bookstore

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a reminder:

I'll be at The Greatest Gift Bookstore on Friday from 10:00 to 2:00 or longer. I'm signing Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy.

Located at 505 N. Grand in Pueblo. Stop by if you're in the area and have a chance.

See you then!

More on www.FindingGodDaily.com

2012-01-18T06:30:00.000-08:00

Didn't get a chance to let you know about these other articles on http://www.findinggoddaily.com/:

Finding God in Nature in the Andes in Bolivia posted January 14, 2012.

Find God After Sexual Abuse posted January 13, 2012.

Finding God in the Gift of Life Movie posted January 12, 2012.

Find God in Beauty (hilarious video!) posted January 7, 2012.

Finding God in the New Planet: Kepler-22b posted December 29, 2011.

I hope you enjoy each of these. Please Tweet or Facebook them to your friends!

If you're wondering why I didn't have a chance to share these earlier, I've been too busy writing!

Prophecy Article about Israel Posted

2012-01-17T07:00:00.001-08:00

My latest article posted to http://www.findinggoddaily.com/ today. You can read Finding God in Prophecy About Israel here.
If you enjoy the article, please consider sharing it using the buttons at the bottom of the article. Thanks!

Dear America has a new Book Review!

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

My first book, Dear America, has just received its first-ever review on Amazon! I can't tell you how excited I am?

Why?

Well, eh-hem, because the book came out ten years ago. Have you read it yet? I wrote it in the days following 9/11.

I'm delighted that this book is enjoying new life since the tenth anniversary of September 11th. I'm hearing great comments about it, which of course thrills an author's heart.

The information about grief and the Christian faith and Muslims is timeless.

Sancity of Human Life Sunday : Speaking at Pro-Life of Southern Colorado's "2012 Hour For Life"

2012-01-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is January 22. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated a Sunday in January nearest the date the US Supreme Court decided the Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion on demand as National Sanctity of Human Life Day.

Pro-Life of Southern Colorado has invited me to speak at their "2012 Hour of Life" on Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Their theme this year is "When a Child is Born." and they've asked me to share from some of the stories in my Deliver Me book.

I'm planning to share from three of the more than fifty true stories in the book.

The event takes place on Sunday, January 22, at the Knights of Columbus, 1200 Acero Ave., Pueblo, Colorado, at 2:00. Open to the public.

Dear America - Now in Amazon's "Look Inside the Book" program!

2012-01-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

You know Deliver Me was not my first book, right? I wrote Dear America: A Letter of Comfort & Hope to a Grieving Nation ten years ago, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Now Dear America is part of Amazon's "Look Inside the Book" program! You can read portions from the book by clicking on the "Look Inside" icon.

Here is some of what you'll find in Dear America:

Ten useful tips to help you or a friend through the loss of a loved one.
A fascinating presentation of the Bible as a five-act story. Understand and explain the story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation in five easy steps.
An intriguing Q & A section. Discover answers to some of your questions about Muslims, their faith, and how it is different from Christianity, including: Who are the Muslims? Where did the religion of Islam come from? Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God? How can we know Christianity is true?
Ten practical tips to help beginners in how to start reading and understanding the Bible.

The topics are timeless. So is the help and encouragement.

If you haven't yet read Dear America, I hope you'll take a few moments to take a look inside the book.

Book signing at The Greatest Gift bookstore

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

To commemorate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, The Greatest Gift bookstore has invited me in to sign my book, Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy.

The signing will be Friday, January 20th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm (or longer if there's reason to hang around!).

The Greatest Gift bookstore is located at 505 N. Grand in Pueblo.

Check out their Facebook page.

If you're in the area, please stop by and say hello!

Signs of the End Times? - My Prophecy Series Begins on The Christian Pulse

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

My 2012 articles for http://www.thechristianpulse.com/ will be about "End Times" prophecies and whether what we're seeing go on in the world today is prophecy coming true right before our very eyes. I'm quite excited about this series!

My articles are scheduled to appear on the first Friday of each month. The Christian Pulse has posted the first article here: "Israel in the Promised Land."

When you visit, please leave a comment, rate the article, and Tweet and/or Facebook it. Thank you!

I hope you enjoy this serires of articles on Prophecy that may be "Signs of the End Times."

Interviewed by The Wordsmith Journal

2012-01-11T05:00:00.001-08:00

The Wordsmith Journal interviewed me recently about my Deliver Me book and more. You can read the interview on this page on the "Author Interview" page of the January The Wordsmith Journal.

Scroll down. I'm the last interview on the page. The title of the interview is simply Dianne E. Butts.

I hope you enjoy this interview by The Wordsmith Journal.

I'm Guest Blogger on "Live Out Loud" Today

2012-01-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

Today I'm honored to be the guest columnist over at Jennifer Slattery's wonderful blog "Live Out Loud." Jennifer blogs about "learning to follow Christ one day at a time." She talks about broken lives saturated by grace.

The topic is "Intentional Healing from a Haunted Past." She did a marvelous job with my bio on the Deliver Me book and me, and added links! Wow!

I hope you'll enjoy it and leave a message and/or Tweet it and Facebook it. Thanks!

And my thanks to Jennifer for the awesome opportunity to write for her blog and to live out loud today.

The Star of Bethlehem

2011-12-25T04:28:00.000-08:00

What, exactly, was the mysterious Star of Bethlehem?

I recently saw a DVD with new research that explains the phenomona with convincing details. I wrote a short article about it which you can find here on http://www.findinggoddaily.com/:

The Star of Bethlehem.

Enjoy. And have an awesomely Merry Christmas.

Finding God in a Baby

2011-12-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

It's the night before Christmas. Are you remembering what it's really all about? Here it is. Don't miss it!:

Finding God in a Baby

Have a blessed and wonderful Christmas. And remember Jesus is the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas.

Single Moms at Christmas Time

2011-12-23T04:30:00.000-08:00

Single Moms, single Dads, orphans... We often think of them at Christmas time. Many people reach out to them to make thier holiday special.

There's another unwed Mom we should remember this time of year: Mary. She may have been single, but she had Joseph.

Here's more for those in an unplanned pregnancy:

Finding God in an Unplanned Pregnancy

You may be single, but you're never alone.

"The angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger'" (Luke 2:10-12, NIV).

When Loss Dims Your Holiday

2011-12-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

Many things are escalated during the Christmas holiday. Excitement! Reverence. Expectations!

And loss.

If your sense of loss is heightened, if you're need a little encouragement, you'll find some in this short article:

Finding God Through Loss

May your Christmas and New Year be bright with gain!

Getting through Christmas in Tough Times

2011-12-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

When we're experiences tough times, the expectations of Christmas seem to make them feel all the tougher.

I remember that feeling, and the feeling of loss, after my brother was killed when he was 22. I was 18. If you're feeling loss this holiday season, I have a little blog coming on December 22 just for you.

Today, I'm hoping this will help: Recently, I was honored to be part of a new book:

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times: 101 Daily Devotions to Inspire and Support You in Times of Need

The book released just this past October, and it's available both as a print book and for immediate download on Kindle.

My story is about how the death of my brother, Fred, affected me.

I always think of him around Christmas because his birthday was December 14th. Who are you missing this Christmas? Will you let Christ and forgiveness fill that hole in your heart? Hang on. He loves you.

Christmas Prophecies and Ebenezers

2011-12-19T06:58:00.000-08:00

Less than one week until Christmas. Do you need a little something to get you back to the Reason for the Season? Here's a short article you can share with your family on Christmas morning:

Christmas Prophecies

And here's another one just for fun: Do you know what an Ebenezer is? And I'm not talking Scrooge!

Finding God in an Ebenezer

When you visit, please comment, share to Facebook, or Tweet. And enjoy the countdown to Christmas this week!

New review for Deliver Me posted

2011-12-14T07:11:00.000-08:00

A new book review was posted 12/12/11 for Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy.

Read it here: A Sandy Path Book Reviews

Or here on Amazon: Deliver Me book page.

This reviewer says she wants to help other women in unplanned pregnancies, and the book fed that desire in her. How cool!

Finding God Daily.com Features Deliver Me book!

2011-12-09T11:09:00.001-08:00

The new website, http://www.findinggoddaily.com/, is featuring the Deliver Me book today?

Find it here: Finding God in an Unplanned Pregnancy

I'd love it if you'd use the Share buttons at the bottom of the article to Tweet it, post it to your Facebook, or other networks. Thank you!

Finding Deliver Me

2011-12-07T04:30:00.000-08:00

Do you ever just Google yourself to see what comes up? I did and here are a few interesting links I didn't know were out there:

Long Hollow Baptist Church in Tennessee has Deliver Me on their pages.

Deliver Me is available in Australia!

Deliver Me is also available in New Zealand!

How cool is that? You just never know what Google will bring your way, now do ya?

Newest Article "Christmas Prophecies" posted

2011-12-05T08:11:00.001-08:00

Want a little info about Christmas and the Bible to keep you focused this season? Or maybe you'd like something about they true meaning of Christmas to share with others? Perhaps you're hungry for a little Bible study about Christmas? My latest online article is "Christmas Prophecies."

Please stop by http://www.thechristianpulse.com/ now and rate the article, leave a comment, or use the share buttons to pass it along.

It's amazing what God's has said to us through His prophecies of Christmas!

Another book review for Deliver Me book.

2011-12-01T01:49:00.000-08:00

Another new book review for Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True stories of Unplanned Pregnancy has been posted on Ramblings of a California Couponer.

You can also find this review posted on the Amazon page for Deliver Me. There's a button you can press if the review is helpful to you.

Again, please visit either the blog or the Amazon page (or both!) and Like it, Tweet it, and/or Facebook it. The blog has share buttons at the bottom of the post. On the Amazon page, you should see share buttons way, way at the top of the page -- in a shaded bar that runs along the very top of of the Amazon window.

When you recommend the book to friends and acquaintances, they are more likely to take a look themselves. This is how together we can get the book to those who really need it, those who the book can help. Your friend may not need it, but they may know someone who does.

You can also leave a comment on these blogs. Thank you!

Thank you for helping me get the word out about Deliver Me. If you have a pregnancy center in your area, or other similar organization, please send them a link and a note also. If they're helping people in unplanned pregnancies, they would surly want to know about this book, don't you think?

NaNoWriMo update

2011-11-30T15:54:00.001-08:00

Whoo-hoo! I made it. The last day of National Novel Writing Month, but I passed the 50,000 word mark early in the day.

It was harder than it has been in past years and at times I didn't know if I would make it. But then I always think I'm not going to make it, and I almost always have.

NaNoWriMo is a huge boost to my writing every year. If you're a writer (or if you want to be a writer) and haven't participated, I strongly encourage you to give it a try. The benefits are out of this world. You can learn in a month what it takes others years to learn. Highly recommended!

My intentions for December are to slow down and enjoy the holidays!

Deliver Me: new book review

2011-11-29T05:06:00.000-08:00

New new book review for Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True stories of Unplanned Pregnancy has been posted on The Jolly Blogger.

This review is also posted on the Amazon page for Deliver Me.

Please visit either (or both!) and Like it, Tweet it, or Facebook it. This blog has a Facebook Like button and a Tweet button and a Submit to StumbleUpon button at the top.

On Amazon, you can click a button if you found the review helpful. Did you know you can also Tweet an Amazon page? You should see a Twitter Share button at the very top of the Amazon page in a thin brown bar.

When you do these things, this helps spread the word about the Deliver Me book to your circle of acquaintances so if they know someone who needs the encouragement and resources and hope in the book, they can share it with them.

You can also leave a comment on the blog.

Might anyone you know be interested in Deliver Me? Might they have an unplanned pregnancy in their past? Why not let them know about the book through this new review? Thank you!

Racing for NaNoWriMo

2011-11-28T07:13:00.001-08:00

It's been a little quiet here at the blog. That's because I've been racing to meet other writing deadlines, including NaNoWriMo.

Do you ever wonder how a writer gets it all done? In spurts and fits and any other way possible.

Each November I plan to take part in National Novel Writing Month. It's a challenger to write 50,000 words in one month. Anyone can take part--even you! I've taken part many years now--I need to go back and figure out when I first started. But this is one way I make a lot of progress on at least one project. Some years I work on more than one, so if one runs out of steam I can switch to another.

Only three more days left to make my 50,000 words, and I'm running behind, so I must get back to my NaNoWriMo-ing!

We WON! The Wordsmith Journal ad for Deliver Me

2011-11-21T14:19:00.001-08:00

You did it! You helped me win the author's contest at The Wordsmith Journal!

We won a free ad for the Deliver Me book! Whoo-hoo! Thanks to all of you who signed up for their e-mail list under my name and helped me win. This ad will help get the word out about Deliver Me.

I have a lot to be thankful for this week!

Together, we're spreading the word so those in an unplanned pregnancy, or those who have an unplanned pregnancy in their past, can hear about the book and find the compassion and help they need. I'll let you know when the ad runs.

Dr. Bruce Wilkinson speaking tonight at Pregnancy Center Banquet

2011-11-19T07:41:00.001-08:00

Looking forward to attending A Caring Pregnancy Center Annual Fundraising Gala this evening.

Dr. Bruce Wilkinson is the speaker.

Should be a very enjoyable evening!

(OMG. Now what am I going to wear. . . ?)

More New Toys on Deliver Me: True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy

2011-11-17T05:30:00.000-08:00

A couple more new items to notice on the revamped blog:

There are now three links over on the right, at the top. These link to the book's web site, my writer's web site, and the new ad that's running. (Jeepers, I didn't I have a link to the sites before now?! An obvious oversight on my part!)
At the bottom of each post there are now share buttons, so you can share every post you like to your Twitter or Facebook account, or e-mail it to a friend. You can also post it as your blog post with a simple click. And you can recommend it on Google. I hope you'll make use of these buttons to share the blog and help spread the word about Deliver Me!

I'm hoping these new "toys" on the blog will help to spread the word about the Deliver Me book so that those who are in an unplanned pregnancy, or have one in their past that they still struggle over, can find this book that's filled with kindness and compassion and true stories that will help them.

National Adoption Month and Day

2011-11-16T07:09:00.001-08:00

Did you know November is National Adoption Month?

And this coming Saturday, November 19th, is National Adoption Day.

Did you know that Deliver Me has a whole chapter filled with stories of women who made the incredibly difficult but loving decision to give their child for adoption? Read about it from her perspective. For example, you can read "Release" by Joyce Sykes who, pregnant at 15 years old, had no home and no way to keep her child when she gave birth at 16.

Then read Joyce's second story in the book, "Life Line," which details how God brought Joyce's daughter back into her life, rather miraculously, more than thirty years later!

These stories will bring a tear of joy to your eye and lift your spirits. Celebrate National Adoption Month and National Adoption Day today! Find Deliver Me on Amazon now.

A new look for Deliver Me: True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy blog

2011-11-14T05:30:00.000-08:00

Many readers of this blog follow or receive posts by e-mail, so you probably haven't visited the site for a while. The blog now has a whole new look!

I felt the old look was a little drab and colorless, so I played around and added some color. Of course it's kind of like remodeling a house. Once you start it, one thing leads to another... I realized the title "Deliver Me" wasn't descriptive enough. If you're not familiar with the book, then that title doesn't tell you what the blog is about. So I wanted to add some to the title also. But the entire title of the book was too much. So now the blog title is "Deliver Me: True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy."

I hope you like the new look. Stop by when you have a chance.

Unplanned Pregnancy book's new ad on The Wordsmith Journal

2011-11-11T04:30:00.000-08:00

In addition to the e-mail ad campaign mentioned in the previous post, the book now has an ad running in The Wordsmith Journal.

You can see the ad on this page: Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy. Scroll down. It's on the left.

And while you're there, consider helping me win yet another ad for the book in The Wordsmith Journal by signing up for their e-mail newsletter and telling them Dianne sent you. If I get the most people to sign up, I'll win a free ad!

Furthermore, if you're an author and you'd like an ad for your book, contact Pamela Thibodeaux at pthib07@gmail.com.

Psssst. If Pamela's name sounds familiar, it's because she, too, is a contributor to Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy!

Exciting new ad: Unplanned Pregnancy? What do you do?

2011-11-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

We've just launched an advertising campaign for Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy.

We're very excited about this new ad and hope it helps to get the word out about the book so those who need it can find it. Want to see the ad? Find it through this link:

Unplanned Pregnancy? What do you do?

Let me know what you think of it!

Winner of the Writer's Digest subscription!

2011-11-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Elsi Dodge! I'll get that one-year subscription to Writer's Digest in the works for you.

Thanks to all the e-zine readers who stopped by.

Exciting stuff on the horizon!

2011-10-31T06:45:00.000-07:00

Some really exciting projects are happening with the Deliver Me book! Can't wait for them to launch...which should be in the next day or two.

Stop back by in the next few days and I'll tell you all about it.

Meanwhile, welcome "Dianne E. Butts About Writing" zine readers! Leave your comment here!

The Wordsmith Journal - Help me win a free ad!

2011-10-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the new Wordsmith Journal? I bought an ad for Delver Me to run in November and December.

You can help me win another ad. You can sign up to receive the journal. Tell them Dianne sent you. Whoever gets the most new sign-ups wins an ad. I and Deliver Me sure could use that!

This is a new online journal aimed at reaching Christian readers, retailers, and music fans as well as libraries and other outlets. Check it out!

Sign up here: The Wordsmith Journal mailing list.

Harold Camping's October 21

2011-10-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

Have you read the article I wrote about Harold Camping's latest prediction that the Rapture would now occur October 21, 2011?

Find it here: "Here Comes Harold Camping's October 21, 2011!" at TheChristianPulse.com.

If you like it, I'd love it if you would Tweet or FB it!

The 168 Write of Passage Screenwriting Competition

2011-10-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

Today starts the 168 Project's "Write of Passage" competition!

Scripture verses will be assigned this evening -- about 5:00 PM Pacific Time.

Entrants will then have 168 hours to write a short film screenplay that illuminates that Bible verse. Twelve pages max.

Final scripts must be turned in by 5:00 PM Pacific Time next Monday.

You now what what I'll be scrambling to do this week!

Finding God Daily

2011-10-16T07:22:00.000-07:00

I have a new writing gig. My posts will appear occasionally (about once a week, not any set, scheduled day) at the new blog Finding God Daily.

This is a fun new blog with articles and short videos. Content is family friendly and should be suitable for all ages.

I would love if you'd stop by and Tweet your favorite posts!

Book signing in New Mexico and Conference

2011-10-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at the book signing in Ruidoso, New Mexico. The store made it so simple and easy to schedule the signing with them. Then they had a table and chair set up for me when I arrived. Store traffic was slow that day (due to all the bikers in town, clogging up the streets, taking all the parking slots). Forty thousand extra people in town makes business more slow?! Who knew.

Still, we sold four books. And left half a dozen more for consignment. If you're not familiar with how few books are usually sold at book-signings (unless you're famous), that's not bad.

Meanwhile, a friend to the book to the Rocky Mountain Conference for pregnancy centers and guess how many books sold there. Four.

When I got home, I had a signing at church. And sold four books.

All in all, not a bad month.

Book signing in ... (drum roll) ... New Mexico!

2011-09-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Well I'm in New Mexico for the Golden Aspen bike rally in Ruidoso, New Mexico. A nice (working) vacation. Hal and I are volunteer workers at the rally. But also, I'm working at selling Deliver Me.

On Saturday, September 17th, I'll be signing Deliver Me at Books Etcetera, 2340 Sudderth Drive, from 2:00 - 4:00.

If you happen to be in the area, please stop by!

Rocky Mountain Pregnancy Center Conference

2011-09-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's kind of good news / bad news / good news.

The good news:

The Rocky Mountain Conference for counselors and staff of pregnancy centers is holding its annual conference in Buena Vista, Colorado. Because every one of the 54 stories in Deliver Me is connected to a pregnancy center, and because the book is filled with inspiration and encouragement for pregnancy center workers, it's a perfect fit for the same people attending this conference. I learned of the conference several years ago and knew when I got the book out I wanted to take it to this conference. The good news is that it's this week -- September 16 - 18.

The bad news:

I'll be on vacation this week in New Mexico and so I can't go to the Rocky Mountain Conference.

The good news:

Laura Hicks and the awesome ladies at the Arkansas Valley Pregnancy Center in La Junta are taking the Deliver Me book to the Rocky Mountain Conference for me! How awesome is that?!

I can't go. But the book can. Isn't that how a book should be...reaching beyond where the author can reach? Thanks Laura and Ark Valley. You're awesome.

Deliver Me featured on Jeanette Levellie's blog

2011-09-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Jeanette Levellie of the blog "On Wings of Mirth and Worth" is doing a guest post on Monday, September 12th about Deliver Me over at http://www.jeanettelevellie.com/.

Please stop by. Leave a comment?

Thanks Jeanette!

Deliver Me on Facebook

2011-09-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

The Deliver Me book has it's own Facebook page. Have you Liked it yet?

http://www.facebook.com/DeliverMeBook

Like the page and keep up to date on the happenings with the book!

Deliver Me on Pathways to Publication blog - Part 2

2011-08-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

Sue Tornai has posted the second part of the interview about the Deliver Me book on her beautiful blog, "Pathways to Publication" on August 13, 2011.

Find it here: Pathways to Publication blog on Deliver Me - Part 2.

Please click over for a visit and leave a comment!

Deliver Me on Pathways to Publication blog

2011-08-09T14:28:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Sue Tornai, posted information about the Deliver Me book on her beautiful blog, "Pathways to Publication" on August 6, 2011. This is part 1.

Find it here: Pathways to Publication blog on Deliver Me!

Please click over for a visit and leave a comment!

Tune in for Dianne's interview on BlogTalkRadio's Hope for the Journey!

2011-07-31T06:20:00.000-07:00

I will be Yvonne Ortega's guest on her Blog Talk Radio show this Tuesday, August 2, 2011, at 10:00 am eastern (that's 8:00 am Colorado time!).

Tune in here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hope-for-the-journey

See you then!

Are you a Book Reviewer and a Blogger? New Opportunity!

2011-07-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

Are you a blogger? Do you review books on your blog? Check out the Christian Small Publishers Association's new "BookCrash" program.

http://www.bookcrash.com/

You get a free copy of a book to review if you promise to post a review on your blog and one other place, such as Amazon.com.

My Deliver Me book is part of this program, so you can get a complimentary copy of my book if you join the program! Click on "Women's" books and you'll see it.

Blog Post in Lamar, Colorado

2011-07-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

I noticed Jan, from my former town, Lamar, posted a note about me here: http://lamarco.us/blog/?p=972.

Thanks, Jan!

A Glimpse of my Book Signing at ICRS in Atlanta, July 11, 2011

2011-07-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

Marketing Christian Books, the blog from Christian Small Publishers Association, posted about the booth at the International Christian Retail Show two weeks ago.

Read it here: Booth #338.

In the third photo down, that's David Yanez. He's not only an author and publisher, but he also hosts a radio show. Immediately after my signing, David took Linda Evans Shepherd, me, and Joy Schneider down to the media room and did an interview with all of us. You can listen to it here: Midwatch with the Rev. Linda's interview is first, then mine starts at about 17:30 and runs around nine minutes, then Joy comes on.

If you scroll down to the fourth photo... Who is that?!

Deliver Me on Kathi "Easy Writer" Macias' blog

2011-07-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

Kathi Macias has posted a nice display with my guest post on her blog. It's the July 22, 2011, post at http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com/ I'm very grateful!

Please check it out here: Guest Post from Author Dianne E. Butts--on a very important topic.

I keep trying to leave a comment but that function doesn't seem to be working right now.

Deliver Me book reviewed!

2011-07-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

Emily M. Akin at the Tennessee Christian Reader blog wrote a very nice review of Deliver Me! It is good for me to get some reviews, since I've had very little input from outside sources. It is gratifying to hear from a reviewer that I did a good job with the book.

If you're interested, please pop over and read the review. Leave a comment if you wish.

If you're a contributor to the book or have another interest in it, please consider linking to this review from your own site or blog.

Emily also posted her review on the Deliver Me book's page at Amazon.com so you can read and comment on it there also.

Book Signing at ICRS and Radio Interview about Deliver Me

2011-07-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

What a great trip I had! So much happened I'm going to be writing about it for several posts. I took a computer with me, but I was so busy I never got a blog posted.

My book signing on Monday went really well, I think. I spent the morning walking the aisles of the convention with my little fliers I'd made with the information about my book signing. It had a copy of my book's cover, the title, and then the book signing info:

Monday, July 11

BOOTH: #338

3:00 - 4:00

Christian Small Publishers Association Booth

I'd made 500 of those little fliers (four to an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet) and I was determined to hand them all out. I didn't make it. But I did hand out a bunch of them! My goal was to get enough business to give away all the copies of my book that I had brought.

The Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA) required me to supply 75 books. At this book signing (at ICRS -- the International Christian Retail Show) we don't sell books. We give them away. (Crazy, right?)

I was one of five CSPA authors. The others are David Hope, Peter Stanway, David Yanez, and new member Joy Schneider. We helped each other with our book signings by standing in the aisle with CSPA catalogs and directing passersby to the book signing.

Don't forget that I missed all the deadlines to be in the daily newspaper that tells which personality is signing which book in which booth at what time. (Yeah, now I'm a "personality.")

Anyway, my strategy must have worked because by 4:05, all my books were gone! I've got to hand it to the CSPA folks. They seemed to know that a person can sign 75 books in an hour. I had a couple of lulls, but that was it. I would guess that 90% of the people in my line were folks I recognized from handing them a flier, so it was good that I did that.

The response to my book has been tremendously positive. I haven't had a negative reaction yet. Whenever I tell people about my book, I can see their face light up. That's a good sign. Lots of people say the cover is "beautiful," and that's huge since people really do judge a book by it's cover.

There was another CSPA author signing right before me. So as soon as he got up, I sat down and away we went. And do know who stood in line to get one of my books? It was about the second or third person in line. I looked up and there was Cecil Murphey! I have stood in line at past ICRS shows to get one of Cec's books. To see him in line to get one of mine, well... I think that might have just been the coolest thing ever. It was because Cecil graciously gave me a scholarship to the AWSA conference that I was even at the ICRS convention. What a blessing that man is.

Then, I guess it was about half way through the signing that I looked up and there was another familiar face stepping up for one of my books. This time it was Linda Evans Shepherd. Now Linda is not only my friends, but the founder of AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and it was she who urged me to join the group and come to the AWSA conference and so I wouldn't have been there without Linda either.

And if all of that wasn't enough, David Yanez invited all these authors to be on his Internet radio show! And so after I finished my book signing, Linda Evans Shepherd, Joy Schneider, and I walked down to the media room and did the interview. You can listen in at David Yanez Ministries. Linda was interviewed first, and then me, and then Joy, so if you don't want to listen to Linda's, you can fast forward. My interview starts at about 17:30 and runs about nine minutes to approx. 26:45. I hope you'll take the time to give it a listen, link to it, and/or leave a comment.

That was only my Monday! It was a great experience. More highlights from my other days to come...

I'm now a member of AWSA! And I'm at ICRS!

2011-07-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

I've known Linda Shepherd for around twenty years, and I remember when she started the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA). I have never qualified for the group before. The qualifications have been modified over the years, but at least it used to be that to be eligible to be a member we needed two books published and needed to speak outside our home state to a certain number of people so many times a year. I definitely didn't qualify! But since I just published my second book, Deliver Me, in April, I suddenly met that requirement. But the other?

Well, at the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference Linda asked me why I hadn't joined AWSA yet. I told her I didn't qualify. She said they're just looking for two forms of communication. A radio talk show. Host a TV show. Blog. Newsletter. Then she asked me what I was doing in Hollywood. I told her about some work I'm doing (which I'll tell you later) and she said I qualified! So I joined AWSA.

You might qualify for, and benefit from, AWSA too. Find more information here: http://www.awsa.com/ .

Then...of course Linda asked if I was attending the AWSA conference. I've known since Linda started AWSA that its conference was held right before the start of the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS). I also knew ICRS was in Atlanta this year. I've been to ICRS two times when it was close to me in Denver.

Even though I have a new book out, I had no plans to go to Atlanta. I don't have the money in my writing account to make the trip for the conference. And I felt the only way the expense of going to Atlanta for the AWSA conference would be worthwhile for me was if I could have a book signing at ICRS. But the chances of me, who published my own book, having a book signing at ICRS are slim and none. Unless God makes it happens. I guess God had other plans.

If you're familiar with the International Christian Retail Show, you know it's extremely challenging for a self-published author to have a signing at this convention. If you're not familiar with ICRS, it's a trade show for publishers and Christian bookstore owners. Publishers pay, no doubt, thousands of dollars for a booth at the convention. Little ol' me, as the publisher of my own book and on a shoestring budget, obviously can't do that. But Linda reminded me of the Christian Small Publishers Association (CSPA). I'd seen their booth at the previous ICRS shows I'd been to and I always thought if I self published another book I'd join. Well, I contacted them and, even though I'd missed all the deadlines, they said I could join and still have a book signing in their booth at ICRS. Of course there were fees to pay to do so. And because I'd missed the deadlines, it was too late to get my information printed in the Show Daily, so I'd have absolutely no publicity for my signing. And I still wasn't sure I could afford the AWSA conference and all those fees. Plus I have to provide 75 books (at my expense) for the book signing. All the books at ICRS are given away free. So...what do to?

Well then Linda granted me a scholarship from Cec Murphey for the conference registration. That did it. How could I say no? So, now in Atlanta. We just wrapped up the AWSA conference and the Golden Scroll awards banquet is tomorrow.

I'm signing my book at ICRS on Monday, July 11, from 3:00 - 4:00 in the CSPA booth #338. Since I won't have any publicity, I made fliers with my signing time and booth number and I plan on running around handing them out Monday. Beyond that, I'm depending on God to take care of my publicity, too.

All of this has come about in just the last couple of weeks, and I'm absolutely amazed.

Echoing Strains of "Taps"

2011-07-05T14:34:00.000-07:00

My article "Independence Day Brings Echoing Strains of Taps" appeared July 1, 2011, in the Faith column on www.TheChristianPulse.com.

If you've never read or sung the lyrics to the familiar song "Taps," you can find them in that article. To me, they are hauntingly beautiful and comforting.

Hope you had a happy and safe 4th of July. May God continue to bless America.

Book Table at Walk for Life fundraiser

2011-06-04T20:54:00.000-07:00

Whoo-hoo! It was kind of spur of the moment--only made arrangements last Thursday to have a book table at the local Walk for Life today. Wasn't sure I wanted to work yet another Saturday. But as it turns out, I'm so glad I went!

Some of my friends prayed I'd sell out of books. Those prayers were answered -- sort of! I did sell more books than I had, but I still came home with some.

I took 24 books. I sold 9. But then the very last person to visit my table wanted a whole case! She wants everyone in her Personhood organization to have one. The book comes in cases of 38 -- more than I had! So she wrote me a check and I'll order the case and have it shipped directly to her from the publisher. Cool, huh?!

I also sold a copy of Dear America!

I have a standing offer to pregnancy centers and organizations: they can have the book for half off the cover price (to sell for fundraisers, a premium to give for donations, a gift for staff members, to show donors what their dollars are accomplishing, etc.) So I will be donating half the cover price ($7.50) of those nine books to the pregnancy center that held the Walk for Life. (Not for the case because the organization that ordered the case is getting them for half off, plus shipping.)

Dianne's first book, Dear America, featured on ACEWriters for 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001

2011-05-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

This week ACE Writers Spotlight has its spotlight on my first book, Dear America: A Letter of Comfort & Hope to a Grieving Nation. I wrote this book in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on America on September 11, 2001, and it is being reintroduced for the 10th anniversary of that historic day coming in a few months.

In this small book I shared my story along with:

ten tips for getting through the grief following the loss of a loved one,
answers to questions including "Who are the Muslims?" and "Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?",
a fascinating retelling of the story of the Bible like a five-act play,
and ten practical tips to help beginners in how to start reading and understanding the Bible.

You can learn more about the book in the article on ACE Writers Spotlight. Click the link above or go to http://acewriters.com/books/, click on "Blog." See post for May 28, 2011.

This book is available on Amazon.com here: Dear America
Signed copy available from me directly: contact me at dbwrites @ juno.com
Coming soon to SignedByTheAuthor.com.

Have a wonderful, relaxing, safe, and meaningful Memorial Day weekend. May God continue to bless America. My heartfelt gratitude to those veterans who have protected America so I may live free in the land I love and serve the God I love.

Met Deliver Me contributors in person

2011-05-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

One of the really cool things about attending writers conferences is that sometimes you get to meet people that you've worked with only through e-mail or phone previously.

I've met Shirley Reynolds at the Colorado conference and got to hug her neck before. It was wonderful to see her again (although I feel like we hardly got to talk at all this time). Shirley, did I even hug your neck? Shirley has a wonderfully powerful story about adoption in chapter 7 of Deliver Me. Her story is titled "The Life Savers."

Also this year at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference I got to meet Kyleen Stevenson-Braxton. Kyleen and I have e-mailed, of course, during the making of the book, and we've talked by phone once or twice, but this is the first time we've laid eyes on each other. It was so cool to meet Kyleen. Her powerful story is titled "Sing, O Barren Woman" and appears in chapter 4.

It is always such a cool blessing to meet the writers who have so blessed me over the years. God bless you and your writing, Shirley and Kyleen!

Fun at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference

2011-05-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. The two workshops I taught seemed to go well. I got a lot of good comments on them. The first workshop was "Ten Tools for Marketing Your Book." I taught both workshops on Wednesday, at the very beginning of the conference. One dear lady came to me on her way out at the end of the conference on Saturday and said that some presenters have great information, others know how to present it. She said I had both! What a great compliment! She then said my book marketing workshop was one of her top three for the conference. Wow.

I sat on a panel about "Self Publishing" with about a dozen other authors and specialists who help people who self publish their books, and I was quite surprised that many of the questions were directed to me personally. I got to talk about my adventure of self-publishing Deliver Me. Of course I had both my books, Deliver Me and Dear America, in my hands and got to show them off. I also got to show my books during both my workshops.

I think being able to show my books helped my sales (of course). I sold eight Deliver Me's and three Dear America's, which was a very pleasant surprise! That may not sound like a lot to you, but I think it's pretty good. My pamphlets also sold well, and I sold one set of my taped seminar.

Many people said they were going to show Deliver Me to their local pregnancy center. What a blessing!

The conference was the usual long days and short nights and full to the brim. And at the end, I really wished I didn't have to leave!

If you're not familiar with my first book, you can find it here: Dear America: A Letter of Comfort and Hope to a Grieving Nation.

Introducing the Deliver Me book trailer

2011-05-08T15:31:00.000-07:00

Introducing my new book trailer! Click the play arrow and give a listen.

How cool is this?!

It's also on YouTube, where you can link to it. Or leave a comment. Just click on the title and it will take you there.

The 168 Film Project Aftermath

2011-05-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

I so totally failed to blog every day of the 168 Film Project. There was absolutely no time. Long days. Short nights.

So how did it end up? Well, we ended up with a movie. But the movie was not without its problems.

We had sound problems and weather problems. (The wind blew a lot which created some of the sound problems.) We had equipment problems. We had other problems.

Needless to say we weren't in the running for any contest prizes or awards.

So if the point was to come out of the contest with a really cool, award-winning movie, I guess we failed at that, too. But if the point was to make a movie so we could learn all we could and gain experience in film-making, then I'd say it was a shining success!

One thing that kept me busy that week was working with a reporter on an article about the 168 Film Project. A bit of a role reversal with me being the interviewee rather than the interviewer. You can read the article in the Pueblo Chieftain here.

Has it really been six weeks ago?! Life has been a whirlwind since then and I have so much to tell you! But that will take some time. So for now, let me just say that RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 168 FILM PROJECT, GUESS WHAT HAPPENED?!

Deliver Me was published! That's right. It's out!

The official release date was April 12th. That's part of why life has been such a whirlwind . . . and part of why I've been too busy to blog. (Okay. I know. Is anyone ever really too busy to blog?) Well, it seems everything in the world conspired to keep me away from the blog.

But as of this evening, Deliver Me is on Amazon.com! How cool is that?

I'll try not to leave the blog so long this time. I have so much happening that I want to fill you in on. Until next time..

Camera's Roll Tomorrow!

2011-02-16T20:27:00.000-08:00

What a whirlwind! The last few days have been so busy! You know what? I haven't been here for a few days, and at this point I can't even tell you what I did on those days. I did something. I can assure you of that. Oh yea. Bought food and props and stuff and thing.

This morning I picked up actress Martha Schad and team member Micah at DIA. Then back home by noon.

At 2:00 was interviewed by a reporter from the Pueblo Chieftain. That article will run on Saturday. Then she wants to talk to me again in a week.

Can't believe cameras roll tomorrow! At 11:00 local time.

I doubt I'll be able to do anything here on the blog for the next three days at least. Will be long days!

See you on the other side! (Pray for us!)

And oh by the way -- got the second proof copy of the Deliver Me book and it looks TERRIFIC!

(EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING AT ONCE!)

The Fundraiser

2011-02-13T20:21:00.000-08:00

The dinner yesterday went extremely well! We had a sparser crowd than we had hoped, but isn't that the way it always goes? Made enough to cover the insurance. Whoo-hoo for that!

Today we revised the script, chose the actors for the parts, called all of them, printed releases. . .

I'm tired. Going to bed. It's a wild ride! Gonna get wilder.

The Scrip! The Script!

2011-02-11T08:04:00.000-08:00

Uh oh! Did I miss a day on my blog?! Where did that day go?

The script! We're still working on the script. While time ticks away.

The fundraiser dinner is tomorrow. (Can't make it? Make a donation to our film here!)

Can you believe we roll camera in less than a week? Yikes!

Back to the script. . .

Writing with a Team - 168 Film Project script

2011-02-09T07:40:00.000-08:00

Our 168 Film Project has a Team of writers. As a freelancer, I'm used to working alone. So how do you work as a Team? Especially when people are in different locations?! Two here in Colorado. Two in Los Angeles. One in Iowa?

Not to mention all the ideas floating around.

We're working on getting a story to come together for all of us, and then working on getting it down as a script.

It's a challenge, but it's a good challenge!

*** Make a donation to our film here! ***

We got our assigned Bible verse! - 168 Film Project

2011-02-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

We received our assigned Bible Verse from the 168 Film Project! The verse we need to portray in our story is . . .

DRUM ROLL PLEASE! . . .

Genesis 9:8-10

We received our verse the evening of Super Bowl Sunday. We got ours early because we're out of the Los Angeles area. The teams in LA got theirs yesterday.

We're off an running to write a story!

*** Help us fund our movie with a donation here. ***

Read about a Crazy Act of Faith

2011-02-07T12:55:00.000-08:00

TheChristianPulse.com posted my article about the 168 Film Project last Friday. You can find it here: "A Crazy Act of Faith."

Please visit and rate the article or post a comment. Thanks!

Tonight is "Verse Night"!

2011-02-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

I know what you're thinking: What the heck is "Verse Night"?

Last summer when I was attending the Act One Program, some of my classmates and I got together as a team to enter the "168 Hour Film Project." This is a speed-filmmaking competition. We get a short time (168 hours = 1 week) to produce a short (11-minute) film based on a Bible verse! I hoped I could contribute something of value by helping the team in Los Angeles write the script from here in Colorado.

So before Christmas, our team's leader, producer Nancy Bevins, got all available team members together by phone to get the ball rolling. She asked each of us what locations we had access to. When it came my turn, I reminded her that, um, I'm in Colorado, ya know? So . . . She said, "Yeah. What locations do you have?"

I said, "Well, um, we have some mountains out here."

The conversation continued and about five minutes later I said, "Hey! I know something fairly unique that I get you in Colorado: Bikers!"

One thing led to another and guess what? We're filming our short in Colorado. The whole team is coming to my house!!

Nancy and I have been working hard to get things ready for cameras to roll on February 17th and, boy, it's a ton of work. But hey, what an education I'm getting! I'm getting to see--and take part in--the whole production side of filmmaking! Something this little writer never thought she'd get to do. Most people only get an education like this in Hollywood. But for me, Hollywood is coming to my house. Literally!

So, what is "Verse Night"? All 168 Film Teams are assigned their own unique Bible verse that we are to base our story on. Bible verses are assigned ten days before production week--this year February 6th. So, around the end of the Super Bowl, we'll get a phone call and the folks at 168 Headquarters will tell us what our verse is. That's Verse Night.

I have to tell you that there is a lot more going on at my house. Like the publishing of my Deliver Me book. But there's even more totally wild unbelievable things going on. I'll tell you more later. Right now I'm pretty swamped!

I would really like to blog every day about the 168 Film Project, like I did throughout Act One last summer, and I'm going to give it a shot. But honestly, I don't know if I'll be able to keep up. I'll try. So stay tuned. I'll let you know what verse we get!

We need a short budget to make our short film in the short amount of time. If you'd like to donate to the project, you may do so here: Harley Heat. Thank you!

The Deliver Me Proof Copies

2011-02-05T17:18:00.000-08:00

Well we had a few glitches with the book. So we've been working hard to correct them and I think we've got it whooped!

Next, we'll upload the new version of the book and get another proof copy . . . just to be sure we got it whooped. That should happen next week.

In the mean time, you wouldn't believe what has been going on at my house! Next time, I'll tell you more.

Exciting Deliver Me update!

2011-01-26T11:09:00.000-08:00

It's at the printer!

The Deliver Me book was uploaded (digitally) to the printer on Monday, January 24th! Hooray!

What's next?

Next I will receive a proof copy of the book from the printer. I should receive that within a week. We've also ordered a proof copy for my typesetter/cover lady, and it is being shipped directly to her. When we receive our proof copies, we'll take a careful look and see if everything looks as it should. Sometimes, I'm told, something can go haywire--something just doesn't turn out like it looks like it would on the computer screens. So this is our chance to check everything out and, if there's a problem, to fix it before the book gets printed.

Mark the calendar. It's a special day!

Exciting News! - Publisher interested in Grandparenting book and we need Stories!

2011-01-22T13:48:00.000-08:00

Well things just keep getting more exciting all the time. As if enough wasn't happening here, a publisher who has been considering a book proposal by my co-athor, Renee Gray-Wilburn, and I has requested the full manuscript!

This is a compliation, and so we need stories to complete the manuscript. Here are the writer's guidelines. Please consider them carefully as you decide if you have a story that might meet our needs. Thank you!

Writer's Guidelines Updated 1/10/11

Grandparenting through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandkids for Christ

Renee Gray-Wilburn and Dianne E. Butts are compiling a new book by, for, and about grandparents. Currently about one-third of all adults are grandparents, and we wish to provide a helpful book filled with encouragement and ideas through true stories of grandparents who have been successful in influencing their grandchildren for the Lord. Besides true stories, the book will contain resources including practical application points and personal study questions.

Grandparents, we need your stories! Stories need to show how you, as a grandparent, have overcome obstacles to influence your grandchild toward Christ. Examples of obstacles could be long-distance grandparenting, when your grandchildren’s parents are not walking with God or are divorced, and Christian children with whom you’ve been able to establish a successful partnership. Besides the obstacle(s) you’re working through, we need to see as a result of your influence some kind of spiritual fruit in the lives of your grandchildren. This doesn’t mean all problems are resolved or challenges met, but rather shows that you are walking through this journey with God. Examples of spiritual fruit may be the grandchild learning to pray, wanting to go to church, or asking about Jesus. Please don’t feel limited to these examples.

Keep in mind that these need to be stories, with a beginning, middle, and end, a point of conflict, and an encouraging resolution. It’s helpful to include practical tips for how you’ve reached your grandkids so we can encourage others who may be in your situation. If you feel you have a compelling story but cannot write it yourself, please contact us anyway. We can help bring your story to life!

Please know that writing under a pseudonym (changing names and shadowing minor details to protect family relationships) is acceptable and we will respect that should your story be chosen for publication.

We’d like each story to be around 1500 words. Each story published will pay $25 along with one contributor’s copy. Your bio will be included. We have a tight deadline of February 28, 2011. And, of course, sooner would be better!

Feel free to pass these guidelines along to anyone you think has a story to tell. This is a great opportunity for a writer to have a story published!

Submit stories as an attached Word file or questions to either Renee Gray-Wilburn at waywords@earthlink.net or Dianne E. Butts at dbwrites@juno.com.

Practicing Patience - Update on Deliver Me book

2011-01-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

The typesetting has been a much bigger task than I anticipated and has taken much longer than I thought it would. We are inching along on that and getting close to the finish line.

Also, you've seen the front cover of the book. (See the previous post.) But we still needed to design the back cover and the spine. That, too, is being done and is nearly finished.

As you know, I was hoping to have the book by the end of 2010. Doesn't it often seem that with everything important that we anticipate with great excitement, there comes a point when it feels like all the universe is against us, trying to stop us, trying to discourage us, tempting us to quit?

We can give up. Or persevere. I vote persevere!

We're nearly there and, again, I'm hoping to have the book available soon.

Introducing: The Deliver Me book cover

2010-12-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

You've waited long enough. I can finally post the front cover of the book! Here it is. What do you think?

168 Project's "Write of Passage" contest

2010-12-10T13:11:00.000-08:00

As you know, I was a finalist with my short script, "A Cowboy's Faith."

When they announced the winner, and the two runner ups, I was not one of them. But I'm still a winner! I got farther in this competition than I ever dreamed I would going in. (As a first timer, I was just hoping to write a coherent enough script to be a semi-finalist.) Also, as a finalist, there's a real possibility my script will be produced and made into a real short film. And since it's based on a story in the Deliver Me book, how cool would that be?!

The 168 Project has posted all the finalists scripts to their web site, so if you'd like to read my script, you can find it here: "A Cowboy's Faith."

Enjoy!

Editing, book trailer, and more for the Deliver Me book

2010-11-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

I have been so stinkin' busy I haven't updated you on the book in quite awhile! So much exciting stuff is going on. Here's a rundown:

Editing: The book has been with the editor, and I just got it back from her yesterday! So now I must go through her edits and fix what needs fixin'. She assured me there isn't that much, which pleases me. :-)

Front cover: We finalized the front cover and I love it. Hope you do, too.

Back cover: I hired a friend I met at a writer's conference to write the back cover copy for me. She does the same for some major traditional publishers, so I was thrilled to meet her and have her do this for me. She has a great mind for marketing, and had a lot of input for me, and next time I will know how to use her in many more ways. It was wonderful to have someone else write the back cover copy instead of everything sounding the same coming from me. It's cool to hear how someone else would describe the book, and it was also a great learning experience for me.

Purchased ISBNs: Had to buy my ISBNs to open the account with Lightning Source, who will be printing and shipping the book. If you don't know what an ISBN is, it's the International Standard Book Number and it is embedded in the bar code on the back of the book (as well as printed on the copyright page). It is 13 digits, and identifies my book from all others. It is required by bookstores, so if you're planning to self-publish your own book, your book will need one. If you go through a self-publishing company, they may supply you one (at a price, of course). You can't buy just one. They come in blocks of at least ten, so now I have my ISBNs for future books also. Buy your ISBNs from Bowker at https://www.myidentifiers.com/.

LightningSource.com account: It has taken a while to walk through everything needed to get this account open. I had to get a new credit card (since I had cancelled my business card some time ago when they raised the interest rate to an ungodly amount!). Took awhile for the card to come. Had to also buy my ISBN and had some other hoops to jump through. Finally: Mission accomplished.

Book Trailer: I booked the production of a book trailer for Deliver Me several weeks ago and that is now in the works. Looking forward to that! When complete, it should run around two minutes. I'll give you more details in coming posts. I've been asked what I'll do with my trailer. I can show it whenever I speak, loop it to play continuously on my laptop when I have a book table, post it on my blog and web site, point visitors to it on U-tube. I can burn it to CDs and give it out. Lots of possibilities.

Business Insurance: When I worked with my attorney to create the Publishing Agreement for each contributor to sign, she also strongly suggested I look into business insurance. I would never have thought of that on my own. Now the time has come and I've been looking into that and I think I have it arranged. What do I need business insureance for, you ask? Liability (someone trips at my booksigning), legal fees, stuff like that.

Registered Connections Press: I am publishing this book, Deliver Me, under the name of my brand new publishing company, Connections Press. So I also needed to register my publishing company (my dba - "doing business as") name with the Colorado Secretary of State. This means if someone comes looking for Connections Press, they can find me. I can also accept payments and do other business using that name. So I got that name registered.

Yep. Been busy. I'm telling you all of this because I hope it will help you to learn, possibly help you self-publish your book, or maybe even open that possibility to you.

I'm now the proud owner of Connections Press, a Lightning Source account, and ten ISBNs! It's exciting!

Now I'm a finalist!

2010-11-16T17:48:00.000-08:00

Well what do you know? Last Friday the 168 Project announced its list of finalists. The semi-finalist list was whittled down to 11. (They said they just couldn't get it down to ten!)

And guess who's on the list! http://www.168project.com/news/261.cfm

I'm especially excited since my story in my script was inspired by the Deliver Me book.

As a finalist, do you think someone might want to actually produce my script into a short film?

There will be one winner with a cash prize and a meeting with Hollywood producer Ralph Winter, and two runner ups. Those will be announced tomorrow evening, Wednesday, November 17th.

If you want to tune in and watch it live, go to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-168-film-project. You will have to set up a free account. The announcement should be around 7:30 PST. If you tune in, use the chat to let me know you're there. My user name is DianneWrites. Hope to see you there!

Whoo-Hoo! I'm a semi-finalists!

2010-10-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

I participated in the 168 Project "Write of Passage" speed-screenwriting contest last week, and tonight I listened to the reading of the semi-finalists live-streaming from California. And they called my name!

Here's the list of semi-finalists: http://www.168project.com/news/259.cfm

Two other Act Oners are on the list: Lisa England was my roommate at Act One, and Mirachelle Canada is on staff.

Finallists announce November 9th.

And here's the kicker: The story I wrote? It was inspired by a story in the Deliver Me book!

Third time's a charm? - Deliver Me cover photo

2010-10-17T17:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems as though no one can see the photo (except me). Let's try this another way. This link should take you to my Lightbox at GettyImages.com where you will (hopefully) see two versions of the same photo. I'm using the farther away version:

Deliver Me cover Photo

Good luck!

Trying this again

2010-10-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

Some people have told me they can't see the picture. Here's trying it again...

Would you like to see the book's cover photo?

2010-10-16T18:58:00.000-07:00

This week I purchased the photo I will use for the cover of the book. Here it is. What do you think?

Vote for which title you like best for my book!

2010-10-07T18:09:00.000-07:00

One drawback to self-publishing is not having a team of professionals to help you with important decisions. I've been undecided on the best subtitle for my book. I have two possibilities. Would you let me know which you like best by voting in the poll at the top right of this blog? Other input can go in the comment section below.

Here are the two possibilities:

Deliver Me: Hope, Help, and Options When You're Facing an Unplanned Pregnancy

Deliver Me: Hope, Help, and Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy

(If you are receiving this by e-mail, you'll have to go to the actual blog to vote. Click on the link at the top of the e-mail and you'll be there. Dittos for leaving comments.)

I need to decide soon so we can start on the book's cover, so you only have ten days left to vote!

Thank you so much! I'll look forward to seeing what you think.

Cover Story

2010-10-05T18:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I talked with my "cover lady." That is, the friend who will be doing the cover of the Deliver Me book.

Looks like we're going to get started on the book's cover next week.

How exciting is that?!

Uh oh. Suddenly I have a deadline!

2010-10-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

Since I'm nearing the completion of my manuscript, I talked with my editor Friday to see what her schedule looked like. She has an opening when she could edit my book starting Monday, October 18th.

I have to have my manuscript completed and to her by October 18?! Suddenly I have a deadline. Why do I find that so frightening?!

When you self-publish a book, it's up to you when you get it done. I suppose some self-publishers might have deadlines if they need a book by a certain event or opportunity. But up until now, I haven't had to worry about meeting any actual deadlines. Once I decided to self-publish this book, it was just a matter of getting it done as soon as I could while doing the best job I'm capable of.

But now, suddenly, other people are involved and I need to work with their schedules and...I have a real deadline!

I'd better quit blogging and get back to work on finishing my manuscript!

Amazing Stories

2010-09-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure I've talked much about the stories I have collected for this book.

The book is almost entirely a collection of true stories of unplanned pregnancy. There is very little commentary from me--just introductions of the chapters and some of the stories. There is so much power in the stories, there isn't much more that I could add.

As I reviewed the entire manuscript, I was reminded again just how special every story is. I absolutely love every story in this book! I can't read a single one without being moved. I hope every story will move every reader as much as they move me.

Many of the stories are from women, of course, but I also have a whole chapter of stories from men. There are stories of how an unplanned pregnancy affected whole families. There are stories about adoption. And we hear from women who chose abortion as well as women who considered abortion then chose to give birth. There are stories of heartbreak and triumph and I believe every story will reach readers with hope and help and healing--whether the reader is in an unplanned pregnancy right now and are facing decisions or had an unplanned pregnancy in their near or distant past.

Every story in the book is amazing in it's own unique way. I'm incredibly grateful to every person who lived these stories and were willing to share them with all of us.

What's Next...

2010-09-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

Now that I have all the paperwork I need to publish the book, what's next? I still have some work to do on the manuscript. While I was waiting for the Publishing Agreements to come in, I went over the entire manuscript. Because I lost a few stories and added some, I had to make some changes to chapter introductions and story introductions. I got that done on Wednesday.

On Thursday, while waiting for that final PA to come in, I went over the bios at the back of the book. I still need a few of those, so I e-mailed the writers. Some have already responded. Hopefully I'll hear from the rest soon.

Then I have two more things to do:

1.) Next I need to check the statistics I've gathered that I want to include in the book. The reports I printed off are a couple years old, due to several delays with this book. So I need to see if there are new statistics out and if so, make those updates.

2.) Finally, I want to include resources at the end of each chapter. I've gathered a bunch of those, but I need to divide them among the chapters and insert them into the manuscript.

I don't believe the rest of this work will take long, but I'm not sure I'll get it done next week. I have a short work week, plus I have a few deadlines before the end of the month that will need my attention. Nevertheless, we're getting excitingly close to finishing this book!

It's a milestone! We're There!

2010-09-23T20:47:00.000-07:00

The last time I posted, on Wednesday the 15th, I needed four Publishing Agreements. One was from a writer who had already contributed a story and she sent me another one after she signed her PA for the first. I liked the story and wanted to use it, but hadn't heard from her. I gave her a call on Thursday and she faxed it to me. One down.

I took Friday off, but then worked Saturday morning on the final story that needed finalized. The writer and I talked several times and we finally got her story down on paper. It took several rewrites, but I really like it now. She approved it. She promised to send the PA this week and she faxed it to me yesterday. Two down!

I also needed written permission from a subject in a story I already had a PA for. They said they would mail the permission last Wednesday, but I still hadn't received it by Monday so I called. They had a few questions, but once we addressed those they faxed it to me. Three down!!

On Monday I also called the fourth and final writer that I needed a Publishing Agreement from. Sure glad I called. Turns out she had e-mailed me her story with some changes she wanted, but I never received it. It's lost in cyberspace. She tried again and I got it this time. Meanwhile she put the PA in the mail to me last Saturday. So while I waited for her PA to arrive, I made the requested changes.

I took Tuesday off to attend a funeral. (The second Tuesday in a row I took off for a funeral.)

Yesterday, Wednesday, I waited for the mail, but when it came, the PA still was not there. So today I called her again. She was gracious and printed out the PA again, signed it, and faxed it to me. That's it! Number four!!

(I joked with this final writer that her PA would probably appear in my mailbox today. Nope. She mailed it Saturday. It's Thursday. It's still not here. So glad she faxed it.)

It's a milestone! It's official! I now have all the legal paperwork I need to do this book! Hooray!

What's next? I'll tell you next post. For now... Whoo-hoo! Time to celebrate.

Total Contributors: 40

Publishing Agreements received from: 40

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 0!

Check off another one

2010-09-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

Whoo-hoo! It's a big deal when I get to move a writer's legal paperwork out of the "need this" notebook and into the "DONE!" notebook. I just did that with one more contributor. I already had one Publishing Agreement from her, but needed an additional one for a new story we added to the book.

That means I'm now only waiting for:
-- one Publishing Agreement from one contributor who said she would send it (hear my fingers drumming on my desk?). I will call her today.
-- the Permissions Form from an organization that goes with the Publishing Agreement I already received from the writer/contributor. Someone at that office is supposed to be checking on that today.
-- the final story-polishing edits from a writer. I'm scheduled to have a phone meeting with this writer this evening, so I'm hoping to get the final changes tonight.
-- And an additional Publishing Agreement from an already-contributor for another story that was added. I e-mailed her last week. Haven't heard from her. I should try calling her today.

Total Contributors: 40

Publishing Agreements received from: 37

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 3 + 1 for new story

God on the Spot Part 9 available to read

2010-09-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Part 9 of my series "God on the Spot" was posted to http://www.thechristianpulse.com/ on September 3. Please stop by for a read!

Hope you'll leave a comment or rate the article.

Thanks!

Getting Closer All the Time!

2010-09-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

I've added three stories to the book. All of these are by writers who have already contributed to the book, so the contributors number doesn't change, but the Publication Agreements Needed number has increased.

I received one Publication Agreement last week, but now I need another one from the same author for a second story we've written and added to the book.
I received two Publication Agreements over the weekend. One for one of the three stories I added.

For the other PA recieved, I can't check it off my "needed" list yet because it's dependent on someone who is named in the story returning a Permission Form and I haven't got that yet.

I have one more story to polish with the author. We tried to get together this weekend but she had a family emergency, so we didn't get it done. Hopefully I'll be able to get with her soon.

I'm working hard to get the remaining PAs and the last story. Meanwhile, I'm revising the manuscript to make the necessary changes for stories that have been lost or added.

We're getting there, but still have a ways to go.

Total Contributors: 40

Publishing Agreements received from: 37

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 3 + 2 for new stories

Latest Update

2010-09-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

Looking for an update? I don't have much to report. I'm still working to get the four outstanding Publishing Agreements, plus I've added one. Over the weekend a writer who has already contributed to the book sent me another story to help fill in for one story that I lost. (Bless her!) Since she is already counted as a contributor, I didn't add one to the "total contributors" number below. However since I need her PA for this story, I've added one to the "still need PA" category. That one should be in the mail to me this week.

Of the other four PAs still outstanding:

I contacted one writer and learned her computer had gone down. She had no way to print the Publishing Agreement or even retrieve my contact information to let me know what had happened. Glad I followed up with her! I put a hard copy in the mail to her last Tuesday. With the Labor Day holiday mail delay, I hope her PA will arrive this week.
I got a verbal okay from one organization last week to tell their story, so that written form should arrive this week as well. I contacted the writer of this story only yesterday letting her know they've okayed her story and requesting her PA. Got an e-mail last evening saying she would send it.
I received an additional story from another writer whose is already a contributor. We're still working together to polish this latest story. I'm hoping to talk with her by phone today to iron out the details. I called this morning, but she was busy. I'm currently waiting for a return call. When we get the details polished on her second story, she'll send one PA for both of her stories.
I worked on the final story I've been writing yesterday. (Yes, I worked the holiday. Writers often end up working evenings, weekends, and holidays to get projects done. If you're a writer, you know what I'm saying!) I finished the changes and the polishing I wanted to do and e-mailed it to her to review yesterday afternoon. I heard from her last night that she received it and will go over it today. I'm guessing we'll still need to go back and forth once or twice to polish details, but I'm confident we'll get her story to the point where she's pleased with how it's written and then she will send the PA.

I put in a request for two more stories. I'm not sure if I'll get them or not. We'll see. Whether I do or not, I will trust that I've received the stories the Lord wants in the book (which has been my prayer all along), and I will close the opportunity to submit. Can I possibly do that by the end of this week? I hope so.

What's next? Because I've had to delete stories that were withdrawn and have added a couple stories, I have some holes to fill in in the manuscript, introductions to chapters that need updated, and transitions and introductions to stories that need changed. So the next thing I'll do (starting today, as I wait for the writer to return my call) is to start at the beginning of the manuscript and go through it, smoothing out all introductions and transitions, and inserting the new stories into their proper places. When I'm finished with that I'll also need to correct and update the Table of Contents.

After that, because the manuscript was on hold for two years while my agent shopped it to traditional publishers, I want to re-check my sources where I got my statistics that are scattered throughout the book and see if there are updated stats. If there are, then I'll need to update all of those. Either way, I have lots of statistics that I haven't yet inserted into the manuscript so I'll have to do that.

Finally, at the end of each chapter I have a section of Resources. I have a ton of resources, but haven't yet distributed some of them among the chapters or inserted that info into the manuscript, so I'll need to do all that.

I believe I still have a few writers who haven't sent me a bio for the back of the book--and I know they want one--so I'll need to follow up with them.

Those are the steps I foresee before sending it to the professional editor I've hired. Do you think I can get all that done in the next few weeks? That's my goal.

Total Contributors: 40

Publishing Agreements received from: 36

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 4 + 1

3 More In!

2010-08-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

I received one more Publishing Agreement in the mail last Saturday.

I saw a friend and contributor in church on Sunday and she handed me hers.

And then I got one by FAX on Monday!

You know what that means? I think I can see the light at the end of this tunnel!!! I'm starting to get excited. We're getting close--really, really close.

Total Contributors: 40

Publishing Agreements received from: 36

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 4

Made Contact with the Last Organization Needed

2010-08-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I made contact with the last place I needed to make contact with. I was working with the writer to see if we could get permission from the place her story involves, but she hadn't contacted them yet. Why? Turns out her work hours prevented her from calling them. Ohhh! Duh. Sometimes what's happening with another person is so simple, possibly obvious, and yet we just don't realize...

Well it was easy enough for me to make the call. And the lady at the other end seemed quite excited about having a story about their organization in the book!

What a relief. I've often been met with skepticism and mistrust, which has cause me to become somewhat gun-shy. I'm always so grateful for those who see my vision for this book and become excited about it. What an encouragement!

So...of course she needs to run it by whoever she needs to run it by to see if they will grant permission for the story to be in the book. BUT, at least it's in the works. And that is the last place I needed to make contact with. Another milestone!

Have a little ways to go yet, but we're getting there.

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 7

Just Lost Some Stories

2010-08-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

I've been working with one person who was responsible for several stories to get the permissions and agreements needed and on Friday received her final answer: no, I may not use the stories.

That's okay. All along I have prayed that God would get me the stories He wants in this book, so I am trusting He is doing just that.

I'm not as disappointed as you might think. In the past few days I had begun to think about what I might do if the answer was no (I was sure even at the time it was the Lord's prompting to do so), so when this answer came I was already in a mind to make the book work without these stories. Not having these stories means some of my current chapters will no longer work (too short or whatever). But I could combine some chapters. Or I might rearrange and revise what chapters I currently have the remaining stories placed in. I'll definitely find a way to make the book work, it's just a matter of how to do it.

In the mean time, in the last two days I've had two people asking if I could use more stories! God is providing. I'm praying He will provide me with even better stories to replace these that I loved but cannot use.

On the flip side, this means that I now have only SEVEN writers that I need Publishing Agreements from! I don't want to count my chicks before they hatch, but now having this one case resolved, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be able to get all of those that remain. Another whoo-hoo!

And the count continues...

Total Contributors (one deleted at her request): 40

Publishing Agreements received from: 33

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 7

Another Publication Agreement received - Another chapter completed

2010-08-20T09:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received another Publishing Agreement in the mail. Hooray! This one completes the second chapter in the book to be completed.

It's chapter 5: "For, By, and About Men"

Would you like a glimpse his story? Read about Scotty Vaughn here. You can see his photo here. Read more about Scotty here. And don't miss the scroll-down bar on the left -- there's more than just what you see on the screen.

I'm very pleased to have Pastor Scotty's story in my book. Can't wait for you to read it!

Here's today's updated count:

Total Contributors: 41

Publishing Agreements received from: 33

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 8

A Complete Chapter!

2010-08-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

You know how it always is when you're trying to build something and it has several different separate parts and it always happens that you're missing one thing for each part so you just can't complete anything? Well that's how this book has been. I've gotten a lot of the Publishing Agreements back. The majority, as a matter of fact. And yet I didn't have one complete chapter yet. In every single chapter I had at least one missing Publishing Agreement.

That is, until Friday! I just realized that the Publishing Agreement that came in on Friday was the final one I needed to complete Chapter 9! Hooray! Hey, it's a milestone. I'm celebrating every milestone that I can find.

If you're wondering, there are nine chapters in the book.

Unfortunately, I didn't find any Publishing Agreements in my mailbox today. But yesterday I did work with a writer on her story until she was satisfied with it, and so that P.A. should be coming soon!

One More In!

2010-08-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received another Publishing Agreement in the mail. This means that the "still needed" number is now in the single digits! Whoo-hoo!

Here's today's updated count:

Total Contributors: 41

Publishing Agreements received from: 32

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 9

Bad News / Good News

2010-08-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

I heard from one writer today. She said she wouldn't be signing the Publishing Agreement. Makes me sad, but I have removed her story from my manuscript.

That's the bad news. The good news? I guess that's one fewer Publishing Agreement I need to collect.

So here is today's count:

Total Contributors (Today, one asked to be deleted.): 41

Publishing Agreements received from: 31

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 10

Another Contributor...Another Pub Agreement in

2010-08-14T07:50:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege yesterday morning of talking with a lady whose story I wanted to include in the book and I'm getting her story! Hooray!

Because I didn't yet have her story, I wasn't counting her as a contributor. So now that I officially have her story (although we're still writing and revising it), I've now added her as a contributor. So if you've been following the countdown, that's why the total contributors has increased by one and also why the number of contributors I still need Publishing Agreements from didn't go down even though I received another one yesterday.

And by the way...I'm grateful that I did receive another Publishing Agreement yesterday!

So here is today's count:

Total Contributors (Just added one more!): 42

Publishing Agreements received from (Got one more yesterday!): 31

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 11

Another Publishing Agreement came in!

2010-08-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

If you're new to this blog, I'm working hard to self-publish my new book of true stories of unplanned pregnancy. The title (unless I change my mind!) is Deliver Me: Hope, Help, and Options when You're Facing an Unplanned Pregnancy.

I've been working on this book for a very long time, collecting stories, working out details... Now it's time to wrap it up and finish it off! And I'm working hard toward that end.

One thing I need is for everyone who has contributed a story to give me permission to use it in writing. That's what the Publishing Agreement is. I've been working hard to get a Publishing Agreement signed by all the writers who contributed stories. Some have been more challenging than others--for a variety of reasons. But I'm getting close! This is the big countdown to getting the final Publishing Agreements in.

I had another Publishing Agreement arrive in my mailbox yesterday, so here is where we stand today:

Total Contributors: 41

Publishing Agreements received from: 30

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 11

This blog is also about publishing and self-publishing. I've been a published writer for about twenty years now, so I've learned a thing or two that I want to share with other wannabe authors. For instance, if you're writing a book that has other people contributing material, I highly recommend that you put some kind of agreement on paper and ask them to sign it. I'm no attorney, but I think it should include any compensation the writer will be getting (are you paying them? how much? will they get a copy of the book when it comes out?) and state that they are granting you permission to use their story.

Speaking of attorney's, because the nature of my book is very sensitive with many stories having concerns for privacy, I had my attorney help me create my Publishing Agreement in order to make sure I'm covered. You may not need to hire an attorney, but if your topic is sensitive with potential to have privacy issues like mine, you might want to consider it.

Whoo-hoo! One more P.A. in! Eleven to go.

Latest article #8 posted in "God on the Spot" series

2010-08-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

The latest article in my series posted August 6th in the "Faith" column at TheChristianPulse.com.

This article, "God on the Spot – Part 8: Protecting the Bloodline, Preserving His Word," finishes our recap of the story of the Old Testament.

I'd love it if you'd stop by and leave a comment or rate the article. Thanks!

Three more Publishing Agreements in!

2010-08-12T15:39:00.000-07:00

Whoo-hoo! I got three more Publishing Agreements in today! Here's the new numbers as we count down to the book's completion:

Total Contributors: 41

Publishing Agreements received from: 29

Still need Publishing Agreements from: 12

A dozen more to go. Do you think we'll get them all? Every story I hand-picked for this book. I feel each one is so good and powerful, I'm hoping YES!, that I'll get to use them all.