NEW MARKET: RENEWED & READY

A new publication from the Seventh-day Adventist is for the 50+ crowd and called Renewed & Ready. For seniors who still have a zest for life. Looking for articles in these categories: Decisions Ahead/Lifestyle (700-1,200 wds.); Travel (700-1,200 wds.); Relationships (500-1,500 words); Making the Best of it (handicaps, sickness, disappointments, etc.;500-1,200 wds.); Traditions (500-1,000 wds.); Mission Trips/Community Service (500-1,250 wds.); Christian Living/Church Life 500-1,200 wds.); Using hobbies/activities to reach others for Christ (700-1,200 wds.). Ginger Church, editor (Editor@RenewedandReady.com). E-mail her at that address or mail to her at 16617 Kendle Rd., Williamsport MD 21795. Call 301-223-6738 for more info.

ACFW'S BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Note: I suggest you read these titles for the genre you are interested in writing.

Debut Author

a.. Bayou Justice (Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll)
b.. In Between (Jenny B Jones)
c.. Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
d.. My Soul Cries Out (Sherri Lewis)
e.. Petticoat Ranch (Mary Connealy)

Contemporary Novella (*six finalists due to a tie)

a.. A Cloud Mountain Christmas (Robin Lee Hatcher)
b.. Finally Home (Deb Raney in Missouri Memories anthology)
c.. Mississippi Mud (DiAnn Mills in Sugar And Grits Anthology)
d.. Moonlight & Mistletoe (Carrie Turansky in Big Apple Christmas
anthology)
e.. Remaking of Moe McKenna (Gloria Clover in the Race to the Altar
anthology)
f.. Sweet Dreams Drive (Robin Lee Hatcher)

Historical Novella

a.. Beyond the Memories (DiAnn Mills in Mississippi Memories anthology)
b.. Finishing Touches (Kelly Hake in Missouri Memories anthology)
c.. Love Notes (Mary Davis in Love Letters anthology)
d.. The Spinster & The Cowboy (Lena Nelson Dooley in Spinster Brides
of Cactus Corner anthology)
e.. The Spinster & The Tycoon (Vickie McDonough in Spinster Brides
of Cactus Corner anthology)

Lits (*six finalists due to a tie)

a.. Around the World in 80 Dates (Christa Banister)
b.. One Little Secret (Bottke, Allison)
c.. Renovating Becky Miller (Sharon Hinck)
d.. Splitting Harriet (Tamara Leigh)
e.. Sushi for One? (Camy Tang)
f.. The Book of Jane (Dayton/Vanderbilt)

Long contemporary

a.. Autumn Blue (Karen Harter)
b.. Like Always (Robert Elmer)
c.. Taming Rafe (Susan May Warren)
d.. When the Nile Runs Red (DiAnn Mills)
e.. Within This Circle (Deb Raney)

Long Historical (*seven finalists due to TWO ties)

a.. Courting Trouble (Deeanne Gist)
b.. Fancy Pants (Cathy Hake)
c.. Lady of Milkweed Manor (Julie Klassen)
d.. Remember Me (Maureen Lang)
e.. Then Came Hope (Louise Gouge)
f.. Veil of Fire (Marlo Schalesky)
g.. Where Willows Grow (Kim Vogel Sawyer)

Mystery

a.. Days And Hours (Susan Meissner)
b.. Death of a Garage Sale Newbie (Sharon Dunn)
c.. Gone With The Groom (Janice Thompson)
d.. Sticks And Stones (Susan Meissner)
e.. Your Chariot Awaits (Lorena McCourtney)

Short Contemporary

a.. Heart of the Family (Margaret Daley)
b.. The Heart of Grace (Linda Goodnight)
c.. The Perfect Blend (Allie Pleiter)
d.. Wedded Bliss (Kathleen Y'Barbo)
e.. When Love Comes Home (Arlene James)

Short Contemporary Suspense (*six finalists due to a tie)

a.. Caught Redhanded (Gayle Roper)
b.. Her Christmas Protector (Terri Reed)
c.. Nowhere to Hide (Debby Giusti)
d.. Pursuit of Justice (Pamela Tracy)
e.. See No Evil (Gayle Roper)
f.. Vanished (Margaret Daley)

Short Historical (*six due to a tie)

a.. A Time to Keep (Kelly Hake)
b.. A Wealth Beyond Riches (Vickie McDonough)
c.. Canteen Dreams (Cara Putman)
d.. Corduroy Road to Love (Lynn Coleman)
e.. Golden Days (Mary Connealy)
f.. To Trust An Outlaw (Rhonda Gibson

Speculative

a.. Demon: A Memoir (Tosca Lee)
b.. DragonFire (Donita Paul)
c.. The Restorer (Sharon Hinck)
d.. The Restorer's Son (Sharon Hinck)
e.. Isle of Swords (Wayne Thomas Batson)

Suspense

a.. Abomination (Colleen Coble)
b.. Black Ice (Linda Hall)
c.. Coral Moon (Brandilyn Collins)
d.. Crimson Eve (Brandilyn Collins)
e.. Ransomed Dreams (Amy Wallace)

Women's Fiction

a.. A Promise To Remember (Katie Cushman)
b.. Bygones (Kim Sawyer)
c.. Remember to Forget (Deb Raney)
d.. The Oak Leaves (Maureen Lang)
e.. Watercolored Pearls (Stacy Adams)

Young Adult

a.. In Between (Jenny B. Jones)
b.. On The Loose (Jenny B. Jones)
c.. Sara Jane: Liberty's Torch (Eleanor Clark
d.. Sarah's Long Ride (Susan P Davis)
e.. Saving Sailor (Renee Riva)

"AT THE CENTER" GUIDELINES

At the Center, a print magazine for the last 8 years, is now only available online (www.atcmag.com). This no-expections, pro-life magazine does not usually print personal stories, although you can include a paragraph or two of your experience within your article. No fiction or poetry; prefers helpful, how-to articles to help directors, staff, volunteers, counselors, or board members. Pays $150, on publication, for about 1,000 words. Take scripture from NKJV or ESV. Prefers e-mail submissions to: publications@rightideas.us in a word document. Can mail to: At the Center, Attn.: Elaine Williams, PO Box 100, Morgantown PA 19543.

ZONDERAN EXPANDS NEW YOUNG-ADULT LINE

Zondervan announced seven new books for fall in its new young-adult line. Launched in May 2008, Zondervan is expanding its YA fiction offerings in a publishing sector the LA Times recently called “booming.” Zondervan already publishes three of the five top-selling Christian YA authors—Melody Carlson, Bryan Davis, and Bill Meyers—who all authored books for the May 2008 launch.

The October launch includes Paul McCusker’s Ripple Effect from “The Time Thriller Trilogy;” Bryan Davis’ Eternity’s Edge, book 2 in the “Beyond the Reflection’s Edge” series; Robert Elmer’s The Owling, Book 2 in “The Shadowside Trilogy;” Melody Carlson’s The Homecoming Queen from “The Carter House Girls,” and Debbie Viguié’s The Fall of Candy Corn and The Winter of Candy Canes, Books 2 and 3 from “A Sweet Seasons Novel” series.

Zondervan’s campaign includes a comprehensive marketing plan, including traditional promotional outlets combined with significant technology-driven promotion. Zondervan launched www.zondervan. com/teen that engages teens with contests, newsletters, and freebies about current and emerging YA series.

STANDARD INTRODUCES FAITH CAFE

Responding to the need people have for the connection and authenticity created in coffee shops, Standard Publishing created Faith Café. This small group resource is a topical, interactive, DVD-enhanced curriculum that combines Scripture study, thought-provoking discussion questions, and spiritual nourishment from Christian authors and musicians. It derives its material from the Faith Café talk show, currently televised on INSP's iLife TV station.

For more information about Faith Café, go to www.standardpub.com/faithcafe.

NEW: INSTORE DIGITAL MERCHANDISING

Zondervan announced exciting news during Tuesday's Super Session at the International Christian Retail Show. The publisher has created a new program designed to help Christian retailers compete in the fast-growing digital world.

Moe Girkins, president and CEO of Zondervan, announced the introduction of the first in-store digital merchandising solution for retail called Symtio, which allows consumers to purchase digital content at a bricks-and-mortar store.

Girkins explained, “Simply put, Symtio is going to do for the printed page what iTunes did for music, but will take it to the next level by combining the ease and simplicity of iTunes with a bricks-and-mortar retail experience.”

Symtio expects to have 100 audio titles available at launch, including several of their bestsellers, with more going digital shortly afterward. Baker Publishing VP of Sales & Marketing Dave Lewis has announced that they will feature a number of Baker titles on the Symtio program at launch. Lewis says, “We are excited to be a part of Symtio and have an ebook platform to offer to our authors, retailers and consumers.”

Symtio plans to also feature titles from other publishers in the future. In addition to the audiobook titles, Symtio will also feature a limited number of ebook titles at launch with more being added later.

THE ROMANCE BOOK MARKET

Someone just asked me what was happening in the Christian romance market. As the position of romance seems to change from year to year, I thought it might be interesting to note where the romance genres showed up on the listing of most popular topics from the market guide in the current edition as compared to the 2009 edition which is currently in the works.

In the 2008 edition, from a listing of 150 topics, romance showed up like this:

90. Romance
94. Mystery Romance
100. Historical Romance
120. Frontier Romance

By comparison, in the 2009 edition, with 151 topics, they came out this way:

93. Historical Romance
94. Mystery Romance
95. Romance
116. Frontier Romance