In preparation for our Husband Project 21 Day Challenge in October, I am going to be giving away five copies of the book this week. (If you already have a copy of the book, this would be a great opportunity to win one for a friend to do the Project with!)

So today, please let us all know one thing you really LIKE about your husband – yes, I know that you LOVE your husband because he is kind and loves God, but let’s be a bit more superficial – what do you LIKE about your husband.

• The way he can BBQ the chicken without drying it out.
  
• The fact that he will watch a chick movie with you.
  
• His Jim Carrey impression.
  
• The way he looks in his jeans.
  

(Just so you know, Roger qualifies for three out of four of those listed. And he doesn’t do any impressions…)

Leave your comment here and let me know why you like your husband and you will be entered into the drawing to win the book. Check in tomorrow to see if you won and if you didn’t, you will have a chance to win tomorrow.

I was trying to be nice and include a little extra gift for all the winners. Unfortunately, it made the package too “lumpy” (for some of them) and I’ve now had two returned. If you have not received your prize, please e-mail me and I’ll be quick to get another one right out. Sorry! I hope it’s worth waiting for.

Thanks for the grace!

Kathi

Attention All Winners…

Yep – I get that a lot.

So many people have a story to tell. Whether it’s their own, or one they made up in their head. And of course, the smart thing to do is get some advice from someone who has walked that path before.

So here is an excerpt from a letter I sent to someone – maybe like you – who asked the question – “How do I get started?”

Dear Friend -

You may know some of this stuff already, but in case you don’t, this is where I would tell any friend to get started.

First – here is my agent’s blog http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com

Rachelle represents about 1/2 Christian market and 1/2 ABA (American bookseller asst.). She has GREAT info on her site for anyone in publishing. I always say, don’t tell her I referred you without reading EVERYTHING on her site about her process of submitting your manuscript. (And even then, let me know you’re dropping my name!)

Also here is another agent’s site for an agent who represents only ABA books:

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/

 I love his posts. I would recommend that you look thought their old posting and look at Rachelle’s most asked questions. That would be a great place to get started.

Also, I would take a look at books that are similar to yours in genre. If you were writing a book about your cross-country trip with your cat you would need to decide is it more “Honeymoon with my Brother” but with a cat, or “Dewey- The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World”,  but on the road. (I know each book is unique, but it helps to know where it fits to be able to describe it.) You need a concise way to describe it to editors and agents. (And don’t say, “There has never been a book like it in the history of publishing. You’re wrong. You just haven’t looked hard enough…)

Finally, the best way to get picked up by an agent/editor is to attend a conference. Start googling writer’s conferences and looking at what might work for you.
A writer’s conference is a crash course in getting published. Classeminars.org has a great conference each year, as well as the Writer’s conference at Mt. Hermon CA. but I’m sure there are some that are much closer to you if you’re on the east coast. 

For non-fiction, you will only need an outline and usually the first two or three chapters. (Fiction you need the whole book to be finished. Those pesky editors want to make sure you have a good finish to the book!)

Those are just some things to get you started.

Q4U – If this is something you are interested in doing  – writing – what are your questions? I will answer them in the coming days.

“Kathi – I have a quick question for you…” The First Steps if you want to be a writer

Serves 4 to 6. Cooking time – 45 minutes.

Mirepoix

• 1 c. chopped onion
• 1/2  c. chopped celery
• 1/2  c. chopped carrot

2 T. olive oil

1 t. chopped garlic

1 bay leaf

1 t. cumin

1 t. dried thyme

1/2 t. smoked paprika

1/4 to 1/2 t. chipotle pepper*

1 small to medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into chunks

1 pint of chicken stock

Black pepper to taste

1 can of white beans (I use Trader Joe’s Cannellini beans)

Sauté Mirepoix and garlic in olive oil until veggies are translucent. Add remaining spices, stir for about 2 minutes. Add stock and squash, cook till tender (approximately 30-45 minutes). Break up squash into bite-sized pieces, add white beans, serve when fully heated through.

We like our soup with a hearty whole-wheat bread on the side. We buy ours from the Costco bakery – it’s a wonderful, chunky bread, high
in fiber and flavor. We buy about 8 loaves at a time and freeze them.

*Yeah, this soup has a tiny kick to it – a tiny one. But my husband and I love spicy food and we’re raising our kids to like a little heat, too. Whole milk is great for cooling the tongue, and they’ve learned to take a slug of milk, or a bite of bread, if the heat becomes too much for them. We keep things on the mild side, but I like that my kids, at 8 and 4, are learning to eat from a variety of ethnicities, flavors, and textures. And if they don’t finish it – no big deal. It’s about exposing them to new things, not about them loving it every single time.

My guess is

(Slightly) Spicy Butternut Squash and White Bean Soup