Cathy Bryant's Blog

AUTHOR INTERVIEW with DiAnn Mills (& Free Book Giveaway!)

WordVessel is proud to welcome author DiAnn Mills! Let's learn more about her and her books.

Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over forty books in print and has sold more than a million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on February 11, 2009 at 9:05am — No Comments

BOOK REVIEW: "Breach of Trust" by DiAnn Mills (& Book Giveaway!)

Author DiAnn Mills treats readers to a suspense-filled read with her newest book, Breach of Trust, due out in March 2009.

The story's heroine, Paige Rogers, is an ex-CIA operative, who has gone into hiding in a small town in Oklahoma. To protect her family and loved ones, she has even faked her death and changed her identity.

As the town's librarian, she thinks she has the perfect cover, until...

(See http://wordvessel.blogspot.com for the rest of this review.… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on February 10, 2009 at 8:50am — No Comments

What I've Learned About Self-Editing, Part 3

I wish this picture was my hands during the self-editing process. (My hands did look like this during NaNoWriMo, when I was trying to get These Roads Lead Home finished.)

But I've discovered that the self-editing process is much more slow and laborious.

Since I'm a "like-to-see-results" gal, this has been extremely difficult for me to deal with. Thank goodness I'm also a "perfectionistic-dog-with-a-bone-not-gonna-give-up"… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on February 6, 2009 at 8:02am — No Comments

What I've Learned About Self-Editing, Part 2

Gone are the days when a writer could submit a diamond-in-the-rough story and expect an editor to chisel it into a polished gem.

Yes, editors, do still make changes to stories, but most manuscripts are expected to be well-edited before they land on the editor's desk.

This is especially true for unpubbed writers like me, which explains why I'm currently in the process of self-editing my novel, These Roads Lead Home.

Quite frankly, I'm glad that I'm editing… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on February 5, 2009 at 9:01am — No Comments

What I've Learned About Self-Editing, Part 1

Many of you have asked how my writing has been going, so I decided it was time for an update (especially since one of the purposes of this blog is to chronicle my journey into the world of writing).

As you know, I wrote my lousy first draft during NaNoWriMo 2008. I took December off from working on my novel because of a trip to China and the holidays.

Then at the beginning of January, I started the process of self-editing. WHOA!

While it's a fun part of the… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on February 4, 2009 at 8:37am — No Comments

More Word Nerd Funnies!!

Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.

(See more at http://wordvessel.blogspot.com!)

Added by Cathy Bryant on February 2, 2009 at 9:53am — No Comments

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Donald James Parker

WordVessel is proud to welcome author Donald James Parker. First, some background information.

Don is a 1968 graduate of Madison Central High School in Madison, South Dakota. He graduated from Dakota State University in Madison in 1972 with a degree in secondary education. He taught school and coached for several years in South Dakota. After moving to Washington State in 1981, Don studied computer programming and turned his writing efforts to software. Don, who has two daughters 24… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 29, 2009 at 11:31am — No Comments

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jeanne Damoff

WordVessel is proud to post this interview with author Jeanne Damoff. (If you haven't had the opportunity to hear about her memoir, Parting the Waters, please take the time to read the book review from yesterday. This is a book everyone should read!)

Hi, Jeanne, and welcome to WordVessel. Tell us...

(Read the rest at http://wordvessel.blogspot.com!)

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 28, 2009 at 9:41am — No Comments

BOOK REVIEW: "Parting the Waters" by Jeanne Damoff

Ever so often, I will read a book that touches me profoundly.

Parting The Waters by Jeanne Damoff is a book I recently read that had that effect on me.

Here is the back-cover copy:

(See http://wordvessel.blogspot.com for the rest of this review and a book giveaway.)

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 27, 2009 at 9:43am — No Comments

How To Drive Traffic To Your Blog, Part 3

Last week we began our study of ways to drive traffic to your blog.
Today I want to focus in on how to get the word out that you have a blog everyone needs to check out!

Here are a few things I've learned:

(See http://wordvessel.blogspot.com for the rest of this post.)

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 26, 2009 at 12:10pm — No Comments

The One and Only God - Part 2

In my first post on this topic, I mentioned that I would post more about who God is throughout the year.

Here is more of what I've learned as I've read my Bible on a Bible reading plan to carry me through the entire Bible in a year.

God is gracious, compassionate, patient, and mercifully loving.

"Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity." (Joel 2:13b,… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 25, 2009 at 5:23pm — No Comments

How To Drive Traffic To Your Blog, Part 2

Here's the second part of "How To Drive Traffic To Your Blog."

BREAK YOUR CONTENT INTO MORE THAN ONE POST

I did this in yesterday's post, but I didn't do it merely to get you back here today. Posts that are too long tend to turn readers off. Not all content will allow you to do this, but some will. Take advantage of it.

I also...

(See http://wordvessel.blogspot.com for the remainder of this post.)

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 24, 2009 at 9:14am — No Comments

How To Drive Traffic To Your Blog, Part 1

We all enter into the world of blogging for different reasons.

For some it is a place to share thoughts and opinions. For others it is a source of income. For yet others it is an outlet of creative expression, or maybe an attempt to educate and influence others.

Whatever your reason for blogging, we all have something in common. We want our message to be heard.

The only way to accomplish that is by increasing traffic to your blog.

How to do that? Let… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 23, 2009 at 8:17am — No Comments

Marty Norman - Author Interview

Let me introduce my ShoutLife friend, author Marty Norman! Welcome to WordVessel, Marty! Let's learn more!

Marty Norman is a wife, mother, and grandmother, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas . She is the author of Generation G – Advice for Savvy Grandmothers Who Will Never Go Gray...

(See http://wordvessel.blogspot.com to see the rest of this interview and to enter drawing for book giveaway.)

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 16, 2009 at 9:54am — No Comments

Betsy St. Amant - Author Interview

WordVessel is happy to welcome author Betsy St. Amant! Let's learn more about her and her work.

Betsy Ann St. Amant, an inspirational author in North Louisiana, has a heart for three things - chocolate, red polka dot shoes, and sharing the amazing news of God's grace through her writing.

Her published works include...

(See http://wordvessel.blogspot.com for the rest of this interview.)

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 15, 2009 at 9:57am — No Comments

How To Tame The Internet Monster

One thing that everyone has in common is limited time.

Many different activities vie for our time, and life often becomes an exercise in juggling that time judiciously.

The internet is one area that can be prone to stealing or wasting time, but it can also be a useful tool in staying connected, learning new information and remaining current.

So the question becomes: How can I best use my time on the internet? The answer...

(See… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 14, 2009 at 2:02pm — No Comments

"Generation G" by Marty Norman (Book Giveaway!)

I owe much of who I am today to my grandmothers.

Not only did their lives greatly influence me, but their prayers for me have impacted my life for eternity.

This wonderful book, Generation G: Advice For Savvy Grandmothers Who Will Never Go Gray by Marty Norman, is about the wonderful opportunity of being a GRANDmother.

Generation G covers many topics facing grandmothers today, such as...

(See http://wordvessel.blogspot.com for the rest of this review… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 13, 2009 at 8:41am — No Comments

Word Nerd Funnies

I'm a self-confessed word nerd.

Many of my friends are word nerds as well.

In fact, I dare say that the population of word nerds is much bigger than most people realize.

I stumbled across this, and being the word nerd that I am, thoroughly enjoyed it. Thought I would pass on the mirth!!!

(Read the rest at http://wordvessel.blogspot.com.)

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 12, 2009 at 9:23am — No Comments

How To Approach Suffering

If God is so loving, then why do people suffer? In particular, why do bad things happen to good people? These questions are as old as time itself.

In my chronological Bible reading plan, I've been reading from the book of Job. (Yes, you heard me right. Though the book of Job may not have been written until much later, there is evidence to suggest that Job may have lived at the same time as Abraham.)

For those of you who may not be familiar with the story of Job, he was a… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 11, 2009 at 2:13pm — No Comments

Cardboard Testimonies

Have you ever had one of those moments when you sensed God's Spirit telling you to do something?

One of those moments much like what Peter must have felt when God told him to put his nets down once more? You don't really have time. You don't really want to do it.

That's what I experienced recently when I stumbled across this video. I gave in and took the time to watch it, and was moved to tears by how gracious and loving our heavenly Father is.

(See… Continue

Added by Cathy Bryant on January 9, 2009 at 10:51am — No Comments

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