Southern Writers - May/June 2013 #12

Southern WritersT H E A U T H O R ’ S M A G A Z I N E

Making Movies That Matter

$12.99 May/June 2013www.southernwritersmagazine.com

The Importanceof Poetry

ALEX KENDRICK

for writers

LURLENEMcDANIEL

JAMESSCOTT BELL

DialogueDo’s & Don’ts

Preserve YourFamily Stories

Scenes froma Conference

Ben Landry knew Emily Lockwood inside and out. From childhood friends to devoted young lovers, they shared an unbreakable bond. But that didn’t stop Ben from leaving town without saying goodbye…

Twenty years later, Emily now has a successful career, a stubbornly independent grown daughter, an ex-husband who rarely tests her patience, and a mother who often does. But Emily also has a secret, one that she buried long ago and hasn’t thought about since…

Then Ben appears on her mother’s doorstep, and any sense of normalcy in her life is gone. Seeing Ben does more than bring back memories. Visions of her past begin playing before her eyes and show every choice she made in a revealing new light and a startling new angle. For Emily, seeing her life in rewind makes her realize she has hard choices to make for her future—choices that could redefine everyone else’s future as well.

Before AND EVERSinceFROM NATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR

S H A R L A L O V E L A C E

Berkley Books

“So how much time do I really need to spend

on social networking?”Every author and armchair marketer wonders, “How can Social Media help me sell books?” “Do I need to be on Facebook and Twitter?”

“How do I get people to follow my blog?”

Social Networking can be overwhelming. Yet, it is a necessity for today’s successful novelist.Author, blogger, editor and My Book Therapy Social Media coachEdie Melson spells it all out in language even a newbie can understand.

New from Edie Melsonwww.thewriteconversation.com

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LETTER FROM THE EDITORWe’re excited to bring you this issue. Southern Writers promotes wonderful writers of stories, some of which should be on the “big screen” as well as on TV. In this issue you’ll find Alex Kendrick, who has made this happen. Alex shares how his team did it and gives us some names of Christian conferences and festivals for authors to check out. Movie producers are looking…your book just might be what they are looking for. Travel to exotic places with Marie Moore––like Africa, Spain, or Egypt. Marie has traveled all over the world and takes you there in her cozy mysteries. You’ll be encouraged by James Scott Bell. He left a career as a trial lawyer and became a successful author and speaker. He discusses the publishing end, which may help you make publishing decisions. Along that line, Lucy Burdette shares five markers along the road to being published. Tanya Anne Crosby, historical romance author whose books hit the bestseller lists, shares her plotting genius. Lurlene McDaniel takes a skeleton and adds dialogue, scenes, plots, hooks, and conflicts to bring books alive. Acclaimed poets Sara M. Robinson and retired judge Bill Hopkins remind us why poetry matters. We all struggle to juggle many things at once, but Laura Childs reveals how she keeps up with writing three mystery series. Angie Kay Dilmore, a top-notch writer for periodicals, explains the value of writing for magazines. Step into Ann Tatlock’s world, the “Wonder of Words” you may not want to leave. Gerald Gillis knows why writers don’t give up, why they keep going. He knows what drives the writer––do you? Did you ever want to write greeting cards? Could it catapult you into a writing career? It did for Karen Moore, author of 65 successful books. Shelly Frome shows us how to navigate a conference where writers learn more about their craft, develop friendships with other writers, and meet agents and publishers who can make dreams come true. Phyllis Porter Dolislager encourages us to write down stories from our lives to leave as a legacy for our families. Wouldn’t it be great to read something your great, great, grandmother wrote and feel close to her? Ron Cooper has some vital knowledge to pass on to writers, the Do’s and Don’ts of dialogue. Jo-Ann Costa tells us how to become an outstanding author, avoid the pitfalls, follow the curves along the road, be alert and know whom to trust. Terry Whalin tells us how to overcome proposal fears, and Barbara Ragsdale tells us how to find the “words that can be heard”. Is Pinterest for writers? Scoop up Edie Melson’s advice on this hot new platform. “Murder and Mojitos” await you down in Key West, you know, Hemingway’s old stomping ground, through the eyes of author and master marketer Michael Haskins. Lena Nelson Dooley shares her recipe for writing books. Be sure and mix the ingredients right, follow close, you too may be able to produce many books. Join Beth K. Vogt, who explores what happens when an author goes through days of not being able to write and what to do. Wendy Kupfer shares how she took a devastating event in her life and chose to fuel her thoughts to write a book to help others. We hope you enjoy this issue, featuring wonderful writers who want to share with their fellow writers.

Happy Reading,

Susan Reichert Editor-in-Chief Southern Writers Magazine