Part Two in a four-part series leading up to the April launch of Kaylene’s first novel!

Today, I take a moment to honor readers. We, the writers, craft our work for you, and simply by being, you help to shape it.

But my recent journey into the deeper grooves of the publishing world – where the heavier discussions about marketing start to take place – have left me scratching my head. Yes, it’s true that many books will appeal to people with certain interests, those who have read work by writers with a similar voice, or those of a particular generation or gender. And I understand the need to focus advertising on one or two groups of people more than others so the writer or publishing team can try to sell as many copies as possible. Finally, I recognize that there are people out there who will only ever enjoy reading one type of book; anything outside of that and they say, “Thanks but no thanks!”

Yet, I believe no one really likes to be pigeon-holed. I think that every reader has a right to say, “I am open to reading a variety of things as long as they are _____ (well-written, intriguing, informative, entertaining, light-hearted, realistic, etc.).” Or “I think it’s okay to mix genres, and I like a good story that integrates a variety (adventure, mystery, romance, sci-fi, historical, fantasy, poetry, etc.) simply because it is a good story.” Or “Just because I usually read fiction, why can’t I also read some good non-fiction every now and then (or the other way around)?” Or “Isn’t it okay for me to read a certain book even though no one in marketing (or the general public) would think of me as the ‘typical’ reader for that kind of book?”

For the sake of business, my marketing plan includes a list of targeted types of readers and my novel has a sort of genre-based label (i.e. historical fiction with a literary, autobiographical flare). But I don’t want to pigeon-hole any of my potential readers. I already have great respect for each person who will read my book – both those who start it but decide to move on to read something else and those who read all the way to the end. And I know ultimately that my work will appeal to any given reader not based solely on what demographic they fit into but because it is a beautiful story about people navigating the journey of the human condition – a journey we can all relate to in one way or another.

Part One in a four-part series leading up to the April launch of Kaylene’s first novel!

Is it fair to judge an actual book by its cover? Whether or not it’s really “fair” when we have never heard of a book or an author before, don’t we all do it?

Gone are the days of plainly-bound books with nothing but a few words embossed on the spine. The pressure is on. As they design a book’s cover, the choices the writer and any publishing team members make will have a definite effect on the answers to these questions:

• Will a reader browsing books in a store or library or on a website be eager to give the book more than ten seconds of their time based on how the cover catches their eye?
• Can the reader automatically understand something of what the book is about (style, genre, etc.) based on the cover art?
• Can the colors, font size and style, pictorial contents, and other design elements convey both directly and subconsciously to the reader everything the writer is trying to communicate in the heartbeat of the story or the central concept of the book’s ideas? And can the expectations raised in the mind of the reader who judges that cover be met fully and honestly every time by what the writer includes on the inner pages?

It looks like a challenging – if not impossible – task. Therefore, during the cover design process for my forthcoming novel (a working concept pictured above), I am filled with gratitude. I am thankful for the team at Concierge Marketing and how they are helping me “say” a huge amount to my potential readers in a fairly simple cover design.

Stay tuned in coming weeks for more news about the availability of The Voice of Melody.

A few weeks ago, I was inspired to write something for current and former members of our armed forces and the family/friends who love them and worry about their safety, especially during times of deployment. The result is a song, actually, as it can be sung to the tune “Song for Rich” written by Michael W. Smith (music available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdJFSUkOw2U). Or it can simply be read as a prayer with thoughts of blessing for a serviceman or servicewoman who is in need of God’s strength, mercy, and protection.

May the Lord bless and light your way
Lead each step you take
Give you strength throughout your journey
Guide each choice you make

May His power sustain your frame
And His truth, your heart
May His hope that lives inside you
Drive away the dark

In His name, you’ve naught to fear
You will pass each test
Till His wings surround your form
And you lay down to rest

You will find Jesus at your side
Shielding you from harm
Guarding constant in the night
His peace: your warmth

May you always keep your faith
May His grace increase
And extend to cover sin,
Any shame release

May His Spirit refine your thoughts,
Cause your trust to grow,
Till you’ve carried out your mission
And He carries you home

I share this today with hope that it may speak to any heart in need of blessing – and to show my gratitude to those who work hard and give up so much to serve and defend. Your sacrifice can never be sufficiently repaid and will always be held, invaluable, in the hearts of those who cherish what is good and right.

In my recent composition class sessions, my students and I have been reviewing and applying the principles of a meaningful profile essay. The writer chooses a subject (person) to describe so that the reader can get to know the subject (or in the case of a famous person, so the reader might learn something previously unknown about the subject).

One thing has become clear to me as I read final essay submissions this weekend. A well-written profile clearly keeps the subject at “center stage” – and even if the writer decides to insert him or herself into the essay to any degree, the writer’s presence never takes over the meaning and content of the profile story line. That would essentially turn the profile essay into a personal essay.

It is difficult to write truly well across forms and genres. For apart from personal essays and poetry and some non-fiction instructional material, there is nearly no room for a writer to step in and take over a piece of writing. Even if all things must, by nature, be told indirectly from the writer’s point of view and depth of knowledge, the masterful writer will write in such a way that the profile subject, the story characters, or the helpful knowledge being conveyed all remain front and center.

And while finally achieving this balance may bring the successful writer a sense of quiet pride, the truly successful writer must not only be a silent player…he or she must also be truly humble.

Even though technology has greatly affected our methods and speed of written communication, it is still likely that all of us will write at least a few hand-jotted notes or letters in our lifetime. Just like I enjoy the feel, weight, sight, and smell of a printed book, there’s something about a letter written by hand that connects with my soul more than a typed or e-formatted letter ever could. I think it has something to do with the heart of the writer that is reflected in the personally sculpted words and sentences. And it is delightful to reach into my mailbox, sift through the bulk mailings, and find a card or note that declares quietly, “I think highly enough of you to give of my time and send you personal thoughts and wish you well.” It is a connection over the course of days between the thoughts of the sender and my heart communing with one another.

When I moved a few months ago, I tried hard to pack mindfully and toss out some old stuff I didn’t need anymore. Of course, in the final crazy hours, however, I was forced to throw a number of items in boxes…boxes which somehow magically ended up shoved in a closet… (What was that I blogged the other week about putting things off until later?)

I started going through one of those boxes last night and came across some old and very precious letters, including one of the last ones my grandmother was strong enough to write to me with her own hand – heaping with just as much love as anything she’d ever written.

Near the bottom of the stack was a series of lengthy notes from a beloved cousin. I reread them, nearly 20 years after they were first sent, and was touched by the truth I still found there. Not only truth of what a wonderful person she is, but also timeless truth about God and life. In the last of that series, she told me all she’d been learning recently about the importance of praising and thanking God more than asking Him for things in prayer. As I read, I was greatly convicted because I’ve been praying a lot lately, but the number of gratitude and affirmation statements has been so small compared with the number of requests.

I was humbled. And I went to bed and woke up praising and thanking extensively before I could even think of making another request.

Who knows if any of the hundreds of hand-written letters I have already sent will be kept by anyone for years, even after my death? But today I reflect and consider: what we write in our letters not only has power to encourage today, but it may also speak truth and impact people more than we will ever know in the future.

Back again for one more round of lines from songs that have been beautifully or powerfully written and have produced joy, comfort, or other positive results. The following list contains such lines from songs specifically connected to the Christmas season – some of them old/ancient and some of them recent/modern.

On this first Sunday of the 2017 Advent Season, I love pausing to reflect on these lines again. I hope as you read them, your heart will also receive benefits and blessings.

Son of God and Son of Man // There before the world began // Born to suffer, born to shame // Born to raise us from the grave // Christ the everlasting Lord // He shall reign forevermore – Noel by Lauren Diagle and Chris Tomlin

O that birth forever blessed // When the virgin full of grace // By the Holy Ghost conceiving // Bore the Savior of our race // And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer // First revealed His sacred face // Evermore and evermore – Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Latin Hymn written in the 4th century)

Fragile finger sent to heal us // Tender brow prepared for scorn // Tiny heart whose blood will save us // Unto us is born // So wrap our injured flesh around you // Breathe our air and walk our sod // Rob our sin and make us holy // Perfect Son of God – Welcome to Our World by Chris Rice

The hopes and fears of all the years // Are met in thee tonight – O Little Town of Bethlehem

You’ve heard it told, you think it’s odd // The whole thing fraught with complications // The play begins with a baby God // And all His blessed implications – It’s True by Sara Groves

Born Thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King // Born to reign in us forever, now Thy gracious kingdom bring // By Thy own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone // By Thine all-sufficient merit, raise us to Thy glorious throne – Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

In the comments section below, feel free to share one of your own favorite Christmas song lyric lines or share about how one of the above lines has been meaningful to you. Thanks and Happy Advent!

The other day, I was thinking about the power of words in the songs we listen to: how they can lift a mood or lift the spirit, how they can encourage someone to do good – or degrade the heart with a destructive tone.

That led me to think about some lines in songs that have been particularly powerful to me over the years right up until today. I wanted to share some of them here, hoping that they might encourage you too – and thanking all of the songwriters who have used their gifts to change the world for good.

Weak is the effort of my heart and cold my warmest thought // But when I see Thee as Thou art, I’ll praise Thee as I ought. – John Newton (“How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”)

In the silence, in the waiting // Still we can know You are good // All Your plans are for Your glory // Yes we can know You are good. – Jason Ingram and Kristian Stanfill (“The Lord Our God”)

You’ve been loving me since time began // You’re behind my every second chance. – Nichole Nordeman (“Love You More”)

So with every breath I take in  // I’ll tell you I’m grateful again // And the storm may swell even then it is well // And You are good. – Clint Lagerberg (“You are Good”)

I came to Jesus as I was // Weary and worn and sad // I found in Him a resting place // And He has made me glad. – Horatius Bonar (“I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”)

Even what the enemy means for evil // You turn it for our good // You turn it for our good and for Your glory // Even in the valley, You are faithful // You’re working for our good // You’re working for our good and for Your glory. – Bryan Brown, Aaron Keyes, and Jack Mooring (“Sovereign Over Us”)

I’ll be back next weekend with some more inspirational lyrics tied specifically to Christmas.

But I encourage anyone reading this post now to add a comment and share a favorite line from a song that has encouraged you or lifted your heart. Even if you don’t know the name of the songwriter, please include the name of the song. Thanks. 🙂