No. Not really.

I received an email via my website a few days ago:

Dear Ms. Marquardt,

Our church (Grace Baptist in Wilmington, NC) recently produced its own Easter cantata, with several of our members contributing original music and monologues. We also adapted your monologue "My Forever Stained Hands"  as part of the program. A few paragraphs were shortened, and a few sentences added. The program, which we entitled "Silent No More" was recorded, and we would like to make copies of the DVD available for our church family. We will be making approximately 100 copies, maybe less. We will only charge them for the actual cost of duplicating the DVD. Our church family is about 500-600 people; I currently have a sheet for people to sign up so we only make as many copies as we need. I need to request your permission to make copies (since the monologue belongs to you) and ask if we need to pay you any royalty fees. Please call or email me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Ellen Ayers
Music Secretary
Grace Baptist Church

Surprised only begins to describe my reaction. How did she find me, for one? Plus, I never thought it worthy of a church's Easter program. She told me that her drama director found it here, and Ellen then found my website and contacted me.

All I asked for in return was a copy of the DVD, and that my credit includes my website. Who knows if a few of the buyers will visit me, and (staring off into space with a wistful smile) perhaps buy a book or two?

Hey, it never hurts to dream. It's what we do, after all.

My apologies for not showing my face around here much. I've been catching up on editing some stories I promised now about a month ago, and editing my own work. Plus with summer on its way (going by the calendar and not the weather), I'm super-busy at work and have no time to pop in during the day. My only free time is after Thomas goes to bed, and I want to use that to read, write and edit.

Anyone got some time I can borrow (or steal)? I'm fresh out.

G'night and I'll see you when I see you!
 

Yesterday Dave and I took Thomas to his 15-month check up. They checked his height, weight, head circumference, eyes and ears.

He's entering a shy phase, so he cried and fussed whenever a nurse or the doctor handled him.

It didn't help that at the end two nurses and I held him down as they poked each thigh with more vaccinations. Poor fella. Once they gave him a lollipop, the tears stopped like flipping a switch.

While we waited, he did enjoy trying to dismantle a small plastic human heart that opened up to show the four chambers. Heck, I thought it was cool!

For his height, he's in the 87% for his age at 32.5 inches. He's grown 1.5 inches in the last three months.

However, for weight, he's in the 0% at a feathery 18lbs 10oz. He gained a mere 6oz since his last visit.

The doctor isn't too concerned, although he told us to keep an eye on it. If he wasn't growing height-wise, not gaining any weight, or progressing slowly in other areas, then the doctor would recommend some testing to start.

I'm not concerned. He eats good, and is a typical, active toddler who's happy more often than not. He's a lucky bug with a high metabolism, methinks.

I need to take a picture of him in the bathtub, and then you'll see how skinny he is. Plus he's got the cutest little bottom (what toddler doesn't?).
 

"I'm not a writer." or "I'm a wannabe writer."

My new pet peeve. I want to smack anyone upside the head who spews that phrase.

If you write, you're a writer. Period. If you breathe on purpose, do you say, "I'm a breather?"

Me thinketh notteth.

I admit I often question my ability as a writer (as many of you know and wanted to smack me around a few times). But lamenting about my lack of talent is not the same as proclaiming I'm not a writer.

If I do, please bounce my head against my keyboard, 'kay?

Everyone writes, whether it's in a blog, email, letters (anyone remember those?), stories, poems, etc.

Still not everyone who writes considers themselves a writer. They write merely to communicate to a friend, relative or colleague. That doesn't necessarily a writer make. One who doodles on a napkin out of boredom doesn't an artist make, either.

What then makes a writer?

Passion.

It's the desire to not only to communicate, but to inspire, engage, entertain, and teach. It's the constant study to improve one's craft, and to reach as many people as possible.

Is that what drives you, oh wannabe writer? Do you burn to tell your story? If so, then call yourself a writer, and do so with confidence.
 

On Writers Digest's website is an article about how not to market: http://www.writersdigest.com/article/what-to-avoid-when-marketing-your-writing/

One point talked about how we shouldn't tell people about our writing, but to show them.

I decided to dive into serialization of my novella, "A Reason to Hope." Not here though. I have another blog which I will use for that purpose.

Monday I will add chapter one, and continue through to the end (thirteen chapters total). You can read the back cover copy and the small incentive to encourage readers now at http://almarquardt.blogspot.com

After all, readers read because they receive something in return. It doesn't have to be tangible, but in this case it is.

I think it'll be fun.
 

Thomas is now officially a toddler. He's been taking a few steps here and there for about a month, but over the past two weeks, he walks on his own with no encouragement about 60% of the time.

He also loves the outdoors (yeah, I know, big surprise). He learned a few days ago how much fun digging into the mud (and crawling in it), tearing up the grass, and throwing rocks can be.

Here's a little video of him walking around in a public play area at our local mall (you'll need Apple Quicktime to view it): http://www.almarquardt.com/images/Little_stroll.mov

In case you haven't read my entry on 4/13, I added more photos of Thomas in "Thomas" 

Hmm. Can you tell I'm a typical proud parent?

Lastly, based on the comments you left in yesterday's entry, I learned what makes a blog successful: Whenever we say it is. If we're happy with how it's written, the subject matter, and the number of views/comments, then it's a success.

How simple is that?

Happy Friday!
 

After three years, and countless blogs here and elsewhere, you'd think I'd know the answer.

Do I label a blog successful by the number of comments? The number of views?

If I count the number of comments, I'd say -- by comparing mine to others -- it's mediocre. If I judge the number of views, it's average.

I don't like being average at anything; I want to excel, darn it.

But I can only do what I can do. I can't copy better blogs by way of writing or subject, because I may not be true to myself. A reader can spot a disingenuous writer within a single entry.

When I'm feeling maudlin about my abilities I remember the line in "Trading Places" with Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy.

Eddie's character asked the butler (played by Denholm Elliot), "What do they want from me?"

"Just be yourself, sir. Whatever happens, they can't take that away from you."

I can only be myself and write about my life, my thoughts and my passions.

Whining over.

Nada made my day yesterday by stealing something from me.

You read that right.

She needed a picture for a story, and she took a photo using the cover of my book:



Pretty cool, huh? A writer and a photographer. Nada does it all.
 

First off, thank you for sharing your opinion on yesterday’s entry.

Most ended up in two categories:

         1. When writing for the Christian market, we take the risk of bouncing up against differing theologies. Some will vehemently disagree. Therefore, we should consider removing the controversial parts, or write for the general market.

         2. Telepathic abilities are not directly mentioned in the Bible, so the demonic aspect can be argued against. Not every Christian publisher or reader will see telepathy as abhorrent to God.

Everyone agreed that I must follow where God leads.

Andrea’s point of view on telepathy is not because it is mentioned in the Bible, but that witchcraft is. The only people who claim telepathic abilities (in most societies past and present), are those who dabble in the dark arts.

PlannerDan said:

“I disagree with the premise that telepathic power is demonic.

“There are instances in the Bible where great men of God had visions of future things, supernatural dreams, and abilities to divine dreams. What makes anything demonic is the presence of a demonic spirit in a life. If a Christian is filled with God's Spirit, there is no place for the demonic.

“In addition, if the gift glorifies God, it cannot be demonic. Sometimes folks spend too much time trying to identify the signs of demons and by so doing they attribute anything that appears to look like that as being demonic. The true test of the demonic is if the person is filled with God's Spirit or of the Serpent. A true child of God cannot be demonic nor can the gifts they possess.

“I would encourage you to go ahead and continue with your story. However, make it clear the character is a Child of God and that the gift they have glorifies God's Kingdom. And if you want those Biblical references, just contact me. BTW, this comes straight from an ordained reverend, with a degree in religion and years of seminary completed.”

The references he gave me are as follows:

Gen. 41:11-16 Joseph interprets dreams of Egyptians and Pharaoh

Exodus 7:10-14 Moses, casts his rod to the floor and it becomes a serpent as does Pharaoh’s sorcerers. Notice the result glorifies God.

Daniel 1:17-20 Daniel understands all kinds of visions and dreams & Nebuchadnezzar finds him 10-times better than any of his magicians and conjurers.

Daniel 2:29-36 Daniel does more than interpret a dream. He tells the king what the dream is and THEN interprets it.

Acts 16:10 Paul sees a vision that sends him into Macedonia

Acts 9:10-17 Ananais has a vision of Paul and is sent to anoint him.

My novel began with a single word: Redemption.

I expanded on the thought: No one person is so evil, God cannot forgive them.

Within minutes, Kallie Grath, telepathic assassin, was born.

My secondary thought is how many Christian books end at a character’s conversion. I think giving our soul to Jesus is the beginning of the adventure, so the book opens with Kallie’s introduction to God.

The story progresses from her conversion to the larger issue of eugenics – something I didn’t intend, and didn’t notice until I finished the first draft. I think it’s important to us today, because scientists are experimenting on designing children from the moment of conception among other genetic advancements. Dangerous stuff. I’m not against genetic manipulation as such, but we must always consider the consequences before we go too far.

But that’s another subject.

In the end, do I think telepathy is a demonic power? No. It’s like saying painting with watercolors is evil. The watercolor is merely the tool. How the artist wields the brush is what matters. We have to ask, does the artist glorify God, or not? Does the telepath glorify God with his/her ability, or not?

You’ll have to read the book once it’s published to find out.

ADDENDUM: I reread Andrea's notes on telepathy, and she said passive telepathy is scientifically possible, such as reading people's thoughts and emotions. It's the active telepathy that's not so easy to prove and thereby must have a demonic component. My telepaths have the capability to manipulate other minds including causing death, hence her concern.

I still don't agree, but I wanted to clarify.
 

For a few months now, I've thought about hiring a professional editor to go through my manuscript. I've taken it as far as I can, and need a fresh eye.

After much searching I came up with two possibilities. One, after setting up her website, offered a free ten-page critique to anyone who found a typo. I found one, and soon after (once I mustered the courage), sent in my manuscript.

Last night Andrea Graham ( http://www.povbootcamp.com ) sent back her comments to my first ten pages. I'm surprised and pleased at how fast she was.I procrastinated on looking through it until this morning.

The dread I felt after I sent it punched me in the guts, and tried to convince me not to open the document.

A few days ago, the subject of my daily devotional centered on procrastination. By putting things off, we worry, and they begin to loom larger in our mind as almost insurmountable. Yet if we tackle all we need to do the moment we think about them, then we don't have time to worry.

It's like coming home to a messy house. The more the dishes, clothes and toys pile up, the less we want to clean. Yet when we do, we feel so much better.

Andrea's edits needn't have worried me. Her suggestions pointed out mostly passive voice (which I thought I eliminated, darn it). I told how a person felt instead of showing via their actions. My chapter breaks also didn't look right, but that's easily fixed.

Heck, I'm so focused on her suggestions, I can barely write this entry! I keep editing as I go here.

That means she did her job well.

One question, though. The bulk of my main characters are telepaths, created through genetic and bio-engineering. Andrea pointed out that from a theological standpoint -- and the Bible is clear on this -- any telepathic sense is the result of demonic possession. If I am to be theologically accurate, then it changes the entire dynamic of my story -- in fact makes it useless. I can't go any further with any of my books, because in a way I'm glorifying demonic powers.

I'm not saying I will, but her thoughts give me pause.

Will other publishers, agents and prospective readers feel the same way? Should I start over with a different premise and characters?

What do you think?
 

But I promise to respect you in the morning.

I took the 21st Century Publishing Plunge, and am now offering my novella in electronic format:

For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00213K6JY

For other formats including PDF: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1412

Kindle (for a limited time) is priced at $3.99, and the other costs $4.99. You can also view the first eight or so pages on the smashwords site.

Enjoy!