I love how the internet and the media-that’s-not-really-”new”-anymore has opened many doors and windows in my life.

I’ve made friends who are not virtual in any way, though miles may separate us. We drink our coffee via Twitter, share joys via email, follow each other’s lives via blogs. We ask for sudden prayers through texts and even call from time to time to sob and pray out loud.

There is no doubt, to me, that the digital continent is a blessing in my life.

When I first started blogging, the Catholic Writers Guild began sponsoring the online conference. I attended, not thinking of myself as a “writer” in any serious way at all. It was a kind of playing for me, a hobby and a way of learning something new.

Five years and four conferences later, I’m a published author.

Last year, I put faces to names during my first foray into the Guild’s live conference. I said, when asked, that I think I might be addicted to it.

When I returned from the fun and adventure last year, I wrote a reflection on my blog, with my heart on my sleeve:

When I reflect on the Visitation, it makes perfect sense to me that Mary would drop everything and go to Elizabeth. Aside from the fact that Elizabeth was probably having a more difficult time with her pregnancy because of her age, there’s just something about BEING THERE, in real life, with someone else.

I’ve heard people argue that all this New Media stuff is a distraction from real life, but, for me, it has opened the door to many graces and blessings.

It’s common to be advised, as a writer, that you should go to a conference. You’ll hear that it’s beneficial to help you learn the trade and to meet the people.

Yeah, that’s true. But here’s my take, continued from last year:

Just as Mary rushed off to help Elizabeth, I feel like these events that bring us all together in real life offer an opportunity: to serve, to hug, to smile, to enjoy each other in the very best ways.  I think Elizabeth must have been very blessed by Mary’s presence and generosity, and that’s just how I feel after a week around amazing people.

Why should you come to the Live Conference in Texas?

So we can SEE you and TOUCH you and BE WITH you.

The rest is important too, yes. Let’s not forget, though, that we are a people of senses. We are not operating alone. The Body is not all feet, all eyes, all mouth. It’s a combination.

I hope I see you there!

image source: MorgueFile

So you call yourself a “Blogger”.  Why is that?  Why are you doing this?  I have heard people say: “It’s fun”, “It’s an amusement”, “It’s a getaway for me”, “Blogging is an outlet for my writing”………and so on.

As Catholic writers, we should not be worried about how we personally define our time as bloggers.  Instead we should ask ourselves:  “What’s God got to do with it?”  Blogging is neither a good thing nor a bad thing.  Blogging is a benign thing, a new tool in the world of communications.  Not everyone has an attraction to becoming a blogger.   If you are a person, though, who is attracted to this tool of public media, how have you prepared your attitude regarding its use?

Do you have a clear sense that you have taken on a preaching responsibility?  In the public forum any Catholic writer who comments and/or writes declarations about life in general has assumed the role of “preacher”.  Preaching is a public witness about how God is active in your life.   That is the lens that God has commanded that all of us focus through: “Jesus appeared … and said to them: ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.’” (Mark 16: 15)  As bloggers we have been given the tool that literally reaches the whole world in a single key stroke!

Sometimes we get mired in the “small picture” of why, how, what to blog.  Make no mistake, if you are one who has taken up “the blog” become aware of the “bigger picture”; proclaiming the action of God in our lives is really an act of preaching.  Blessed Humbert of Romans († 1277) teaches about that responsibility:

“We conclude that preaching is truly necessary, for without it the glory of heaven would never be realized, hell would be filled up all too soon, and the world would remain sterile; demons would rule, hearts would have neither hope nor joy in their salvation . . . and God’s Church would have no foundation, growth or stability… To illuminate the world, then, is the duty of preachers.”

If you are a Catholic blogger, be joyful at the gift you have been given.  You have a tool that St. Paul would have envied.  “But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.”  (Mk. 16:20)

John 15:16-17
You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; so that the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name.
My command to you is to love one another.

The power of prayer and the power of people praying.

MAY INTENTION PRAYER 

First John 3:18-24
Children, our love must be not just words or mere talk, but something active and genuine. This will be the proof that we belong to the truth, and it will convince us in his presence, even if our own feelings condemn us, that God is greater than our feelings and knows all things. My dear friends, if our own feelings do not condemn us, we can be fearless before God, and whatever we ask we shall receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what is acceptable to him. His commandment is this, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and that we should love one another as he commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments remains in God, and God in him. And this is the proof that he remains in us: the Spirit that he has given us.

Please leave a comment with your intention. If you have problems adding an intention, email it to Mike Hays at coachhays(at)gmail(dot)com and I will add it.  God bless.

This list doesn’t claim to be all inclusive, but it is helpful. And be aware that most of these contests require an entry fee.

One award that doesn’t require an entry fee (if you’re a member) is the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval. Sarah Reinhard gives extensive information on the SOA contest in this blog post: http://blog.catholicwritersguild.com/2012/03/seal-of-approval-now-accepting-submissions.html

Another awards contest that CWG members have been quite successful with is the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs). In 2010, my Catholic historical romance, In Name Only, won the Gold Medal in the Religious Fiction category and CWG President, Ann Lewis’, book Murder in The Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, won the Gold Medal in 2011. Other CWG members have won Bronze medals for their novels in past contests.

As well, CWG member, Karen Kelly Boyce, recently won the Eric Hoffer award (in commercial fiction) for her novel, Down Right Good.

The question is: are awards worth it? Awards are certainly affirmation that we are producing quality books. But do they sell books?

Case in point: A few years ago, at a local Catholic conference, the organizers allowed me to speak briefly in front of the 400 or so attendees. I then proceeded to tell them that my novel, In Name Only, had won a Gold Medal for Religious Fiction. Later that day, the local Archbishop came to my table. He said he was an avid reader and was interested in the book that “had won the Gold Medal.” “It’s a romance,” I replied, thinking that an archbishop would not be interested in a romance. I continued, “But it has inherent Theology of the Body themes.” “Great,” he said, “I love romance novels, especially one with Catholic themes.”

The archbishop wasn’t the only one who stopped by my table after I mentioned that my book had won a gold medal. During the next three hours, more than 40 people lined up at my table to buy my book.

While medals may help to sell books at conferences, I have to admit that the award didn’t make much difference in my online sales (in fact, I didn’t see any spike in sales following the medal announcement).

Even so, winning an award is an incredible honor, an invaluable addition to a resume and it increases personal one-on-one sales. So…what do you have to lose? The cost of the registration fee. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Contests are definitely worth it.

Copyright 2012 Ellen Gable Hrkach

I was married 24 years ago last month; that’s right, 24 years of wedded bliss. We went to Cancun for our honeymoon. Maybe I should say we went to Yucatan, because we drove ourselves to Chichen Itza for a little day trip. I’d seen photos of the Castillo there, it looked kind of ho-hum: the platform at the top is about 80’ high. The highest pyramid at Giza is about 6 times taller. Back then you could climb to the top; I was going up no matter how mundane it looked from the ground.

It’s a steep stair, with no landings or handrails; not safe by any modern Western standard.  I didn’t dare look around until I was at the top, and…wow. There was nothing but infinite flat green scrub as far as the eye could see in every direction. For any Mayan, this was the Top of the World, one step away from heaven. I have never felt higher since I stood on that 80’ artificial mountain.

You may remember the patriarch Abraham was from “Ur of the Chaldeans” in Mesopotamia.  Like the Yucatan, Mesopotamia is way flat. It’s no surprise then that the Bronze-Age King Ur-Nammu also built an artificial mountain to get closer to heaven: a ziggurat.

A couple of centuries later, God sent Abram packing off to Canaan. When Abram arrived, he too built a ziggurat: “When they had come to the land of Canaan, Abram…built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.” OK, so he didn’t exactly build a full-scale ziggurat: he just built a little one, tall enough to get his offering out of the dirt and a bit closer to God up in Heaven.

Years after, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Obedient Abraham journeyed 3 days to reach Mount Moriah; a real mountain, much higher than a mere ziggurat.  Being so much nearer to God on the mountaintop, did Abraham throw Isaac on the ground and get out his knife?  No indeed: he built yet another altar on top of the mountain. Getting up near God isn’t enough. An offering needs to be clear of the Earth as well: near what’s holy; away from what’s sinful.

Solomon’s Temple maintained this sensibility: the mountain raises the building nearer to God; the altar within lifts the offering away from the broken world.

As Judaism’s younger brother, Christianity keeps this tradition.  I’ve seen churches on European hills whose main reason for being seemed to be that the height required a church (FYI, that would include Montmartre; La Superga near Torino; Mont St. Michel; the Assumption Church in Lake Bled; and San Giorgio in Portofino).  Still today, Catholic churches  offer the sacrifice from a raised altar, much as He was once lifted up on a cross. And even if the land is as flat as Mesopotamia, the sacred space surrounding the altar is elevated at least a few steps above the rest of the church.

Readers may enjoy seeing how this content was originally packaged for my 6th-grade Catechism class: 

http://platytera.blogspot.com/2012/05/altarations.html

We may have met at my blog, Happy Catholic, which is where I “live” on the internet. Holy Moly, I just looked at my oldest post and saw that I’ve been blogging for 8 years! Quotes, art, books, tv, and … ahem … opinions are all there. It’s always about God wherever we see those glimpses of Him below the surface.

Perhaps you let me read you a story or two at my podcast, Forgotten Classics, where I try my hardest to just be about story. Science fiction, mystery, romance, and kid’s stories are all grist for my “read it aloud” mill. Uncle Tom’s Cabin proved I can’t be just about the story when there’s a chance to drag God into the conversation. Genesis (Robert Alter’s translation) proved it again when an atheist asked me to read this classic from a literary point of view.

Two Catholics talking about books, movies, and the One Reality we find beneath the surface may have led you to try A Good Story is Hard to Find, the podcast I do with Scott Danielson. Everything from Star Trek to Steinbeck is covered there. And, yes, we have discussed Flannery O’Connor stories there too.

I’m also to be found at Happy Catholic’s Bookshelf at Patheos, SFFaudio where I review audio books and occasionally join in their podcast, and way too many other places to have any time to live or write.

If we haven’t met before, you may be interested in my conversion story although I’ll tell you the super-short version: atheist parents, truth-seeking agnostic for at least 40 years and then God whacked me over the head with a 2×4.

And now you’re saying, “What? All that and why are you here at the Catholic Writers’ Guild. Helloooooo, Writers’ Guild!”

Happy Catholic: Glimpses of God in Everyday Life is my book, published by Servant Publishing (thank you!). It has quotes I like, my thoughts on them, and whenever I’m asked how one can actually be a Happy Catholic, I direct them to that book. It’s on Amazon, available for Kindle, and I’ll sign books at the drop of a hat. Just ask. I carry extra quotes with me so you can get one that wouldn’t fit into the book.

I have been invited to drop by every second Saturday of the month and tell you something writers might like (need, want) to hear. Thinking of writing for other writers and editors and story people is an interesting idea that has spurred my imagination.

I had short notice to get us started together so we will begin very simply with a poem I came across yesterday on Goodreads (yes, I’m there too).

You don’t have to be a cat lover to love this poem about writing and cats by an anonymous 9th century Irish monk. He describes perfectly the striving and dedication all writers feel, as well our triumph at solving a problem in just the perfect way.

Pangur Bán

I and Pangur Bán, my cat
‘Tis a like task we are at;
Hunting mice is his delight
Hunting words I sit all night.

Better far than praise of men
‘Tis to sit with book and pen;
Pangur bears me no ill will,
He too plies his simple skill.

‘Tis a merry thing to see
At our tasks how glad are we,
When at home we sit and find
Entertainment to our mind.

Oftentimes a mouse will stray
In the hero Pangur’s way:
Oftentimes my keen thought set
Takes a meaning in its net.

‘Gainst the wall he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
‘Gainst the wall of knowledge I
All my little wisdom try.

When a mouse darts from its den,
O how glad is Pangur then!
O what gladness do I prove
When I solve the doubts I love!

So in peace our tasks we ply,
Pangur Bán, my cat, and I;
In our arts we find our bliss,
I have mine and he has his.

Practice every day has made
Pangur perfect in his trade;
I get wisdom day and night
Turning darkness into light.

Unknown 9th century Irish monk,
translation by Robin Flowers

BONUS
Nothing to do with cats or writing, but everything to do with poetry … I have a reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Bells” just posted at Forgotten Classics. Listen to the way those words tumble and ring. I’m telling you they just roll off the tongue, urging you to read faster and faster. Then go find some Poe and read it aloud.

Catholic Author’s Wiki:  this has been a project long in the making, but we are finally at the point where we need help—writers and editors.

This is a wiki of Catholic authors, famous and new, that we want to start to promote Catholic literature and to show Catholic authors are out there in all genres.  Dave Law has been setting it up, and here’s his call for help:

I have a ‘to do’ list of broad general areas that need improvements (http://www.catholicwritersguild.com/wiki/index.php/To_do ) but I am sure once others get into it more may be added to this list. What I am looking for as far as volunteers go is either people who understand the wikimedia text formatting or are willing to learn. The basic formatting is quite easy and straight-forward to learn. The volunteer should have a passion for writers and their lives. As far as time commitment goes, given that this is quite a large project and bit helps so long as it is on a continual basis, so the volunteer should be willing to help out on the site at least few hours a month.  Anyone interested in helping out should send me at: authorswiki(at)catholicwritersguild.com a note indicating the interest as well as if he or she is a current member of the CWG.

Catholic Writers Conference Live:  If you are going to the live conference in Arlington, TX (Near Dallas) Aug 29-31, we need folks to help work the conference and the booth.  Here’s the list from Ann Lewis, annlewis(at)joesystems.com:

Presenter’s Aids: introduces speaker, makes sure presenter has everything they need. They also help with pitch sessions

Go-fer: someone who is around to help go for things

Registration:  runs registration table—hands out badges, takes new registrations, handles money (checks or credit card info) Also serves as information desk.

She could also use someone who lives in Arlington who would be willing to get some things for us like bagels in the morning (We loved bagels in the morning!) or last-minute items.

CWG Booth: promotes CWG, makes sure none of the books walk away

She’s also looking for a couple of people to help her before the conference, so if you can’t go but would like to participate, this could be your chance.  She mostly needs someone to liaise with the presenters—recruit them, answer questions for them, etc.  It’d be nice to get someone who has been to the conference before, but Ann will train you.

Also, she did not ask, but I know she spends a lot of time making name tags, creating the program, etc.  She didn’t let me know if she has folks helping her or not, but if you have skill in these, please contact her and offer her your help.

Publicity:  We are gearing up for the CWCL and could use a few more dedicated volunteers and a co-coordinator for the publicity committee.  Please contact Maureen Martin at dovemem(at)gmail.com

CONTACT:  Ann Margaret Lewis

Phone: (317) 755-2693

e-mail: president@catholicwritersguild.com

For Immediate Release

Catholic Writers to Hold Conference in Arlington, Texas

Arlington, TX–The fourth annual Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE will take place August 29-31, 2012, at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, TX. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild and the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN), and held in conjunction with CMN’s annual retailer trade show, the Catholic Writers Conference LIVE provides Catholic authors with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, fellow writers, and bookstore owners from across the globe.

This year’s conference will focus on “Writing and the New Evangelization.”  Speakers include Catholic publishing representatives Claudia Volkman of Servant Books/St.Anthony Messenger Press, Mike Marshall of FAITH Catholic Publishing, authors Ellen Gable Hrkach (In Name Only and Stealing Jenny) and Patti Armstrong (Catholic Truths for Our Children, Stories for the Homeschool Heart), Ann Margaret Lewis (Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes), and EWTN personalities Teresa Tomeo and Father Andrew Apostoli, CFR. More excellent speakers are still being confirmed.

The conference will offer “pitch sessions,” allowing authors an opportunity to meet personally with publishing professionals and pitch their writing projects. In addition, attendees have the opportunity to sign up for critique with professional editors and writers. Information for this event can be found on the conference web site.

In partnership with the Catholic New Media Conference, also taking place in the convention center, writers conference attendees will be able to attend a special track on blogging for $25. Information on this opportunity will be made to attendees upon registration.

“It’s not just writing, it’s not just fellowship, it’s inspiration, too!” says 2011 Conference attendee Sarah Reinhard, blogger and author of Catholic Family Fun: A Guide for the Adventurous, Overwhelmed, Creative or Clueless and several other Catholic family books. “It was great to put faces with names and personalities with suspicions. It was also great to share the Eucharist and evening meals in person with writers who inspire me, encourage me, and motivate me the rest of the year. I enjoyed it so much I’m afraid I’m addicted.”

The Catholic Writers Guild, a religious non-profit organization, sponsors both this live conference in August and an online conference in February to further its mission of promoting Catholic literature. “Our conferences are totally focused on encouraging faithful Catholics to share genuine Catholic culture and faith in their writing no matter what genre,” says CWG President Ann Margaret Lewis. “These events are integral to our mission of ‘creating a rebirth of Catholic arts and letters.”

Registration costs $70 for CWG members, $75 for non-members and $40 for students. There’s also a discounted combined membership. To register or for more information, go to http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.

# # #

Graphics, interviews and further information available upon request.

Click here to download the media release as Word document.

There’s something appealing about a good picture with a good blog post. I started using images as a matter of course when I noticed some of my favorite bloggers doing it.

It’s like a challenge, sometimes, finding the picture that expresses the post. Sometimes it’s a way of sending another message in the post.

Other times, it’s just a headache. Especially when you consider the copyright issues.

You need to make sure you list sources and that any images you use aren’t copyrighted. Lifting them from Google Images isn’t always kosher. (And, yes, I’ve been guilty of that in the past.)

Just as you don’t want someone just using your writing–or, to keep to the topic of blogging, your complete blog posts–without crediting you, photographers and designers don’t want people just lifting their images or artwork.

I’ve come up with a few rules in the last few months:

1. No credit, no go. Whether I use an image that’s fair game online or one that my sister-in-law took, I try to give credit where credit’s due, usually at the bottom of the post.
2. CYA. I cover myself and make sure I’m getting my photos from sources that are open source (meaning anyone can use them in a non-commercial way) or that I have permission. Period.

This is a serious issue, indeed. A favorite non-profit of mine was sued for money they didn’t have because, on their website, they had used a copyrighted image without permission. Lesson learned, for me AND for them!

Here are a few places I’ve found that are good for free, open domain images, suitable for blog posts and non-commercial content:

• Creative Commons Search
  
• Deviant (This an open online gallery and social site for artists. You can search it for paintings, cartoons, etc. that people have done. If you find something that you like and fits, contact the artist through his page and ask to use the image. Sometimes, they will want to charge. Others will be glad to let you use their image as long as you credit them. Be sure to thank them on their deviant art site and give them a link to your video when done.)
• Flickr Advanced Search (use the option for Creative Commons licensed items)
• FreeFoto
• Gimp Savvy
• MorgueFile
• Stock Xchng
• Wikimedia Commons

Here are a couple of colletions that have links to other places:

• 10 Free Sources for Open Copyright Images for Online Use
• Public Domain Image Sources via Wikipedia

Have any to add to my list?

image source: MorgueFile

Trying to decide whether to attend the Live Catholic Writers Conference this summer?  Maybe you’re like me and you’ve made plans to go, but you really aren’t sure what to expect.   I’ve been spying the lay of the land, and put together this virtual tour — call it Live Conference 101.

Start with Lisa Hendey’s photo album from last year’s conference — the best on the web.  Go take a look, right now.  See you back in three minutes.

Did you look?  Good.

All that gorgeous art and cool merchandise you see is because the writer’s conference is held every year in conjunction with The Catholic Marketing Network, the trade association for Catholic bookstores.  This year at the online conference, CMN president Alan Napleton urged us: Catholic bookstores want to stock good Catholic books — whether traditionally-published or high-quality self-published works.  The CMN works in partnership with the Catholic Writers Guild to connect writers to the small local bookstores it can be hard to reach.

When you register for the Catholic Writer’s Conference, you receive free admission to the Catholic Marketing Network trade show, and vice versa.  So register for one, attend both. 

With your registration you’ll also receive a coupon code for reduced-price entry to the Catholic New Media Conference.  You can’t go wrong with speakers like these.

So You’ve Got Books to Sell?  Scrolling through Lisa’s Album you probably noticed the author’s booths — a chance to introduce book buyers (remember all those book stores getting free admission to the CWG conference) to your work.  Don’t forget about the chance to market your books at the Catholic Writer’s Guild table.  Click here to read about how it works and what you need to do to get your book on the table.

If your book doesn’t have an imprimatur, here’s the information about the Catholic Writers Guild Seal of Approval process.  The next submission period opens July 1st.

The True 101: Writing Conferences for the Complete Beginner

What if you’re an ordinary writer — maybe even a brand new, aspiring writer — just hoping to make the most of a writer’s conference?  Karina Fabian is veteran of the conference world, and she wrote up her top ten tips for attending a writing conference here.

Watch this space for more details on the many excellent speakers and workshops we’ll be offering at this year’s conference.  There will be pitch sessions (where you propose your book idea to a real live publisher), critique sessions for honest feedback on how your work is coming, and classes on writing — and how to sell that book once it’s written.

Meanwhile I leave with you a little taste of the kind of fun that keeps writers coming back every year.

See you in Texas!