ACFW ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH--AND "SPOTLIGHT ON STEEPLE HILL"

Are you 2009 ACFW-goers as tired as I am? Yet at the same time energized from all the “book talk,” touching base with writer friends, and making new friends? What a jam-packed four days!

As I write this, I’m sitting at the Denver International Airport, awaiting my flight to Phoenix. It’s cold and rainy and foggy this morning, quite a change from the beautiful weather we enjoyed at the conference these past several days. But the gloom is brightened by memories of time spent with my fourteen Seeker Sisters and the “Friends of Seekerville” who we got to meet in person!

One of the many highlights of the conference was meeting Tina James, Senior Editor at Steeple Hill Love Inspired. For those of you who may be interested in writing for Love Inspired (contemporaries, historical and suspense), here are some tips Tina shared at the “Spotlight on Steeple Hill.”

Love Inspired Contemporaries (word count 55-60K)--and all three lines in general: The editors are looking for stories about home, family, children. No urban or “corporate world” settings, but rather small towns, communities of people who care about each other. They want 3rd person point of view stories with a heart-tugging emotional conflict, a strong spark between the hero and heroine, and a compelling “voice.” Get those heroes and heroines together on the page as early in the first chapter as possible--on the first page is even better. Start the story in the middle of something--not with a long, leisurely ramble about the hero/heroine’s background.

The editors prefer that heroes/heroines not be actors, singers, or dancers. No married heroes/heroines unless they are separated. No conflicts over property, please. Locales can vary, but Texas, Colorado, and Oklahoma are popular with readers. Reunion romances and stories of military heroes returning home are also especially enjoyed by the Love Inspired readership. Stories may be stand-alones or intended as a part of a series.

Love Inspired Suspense (word count 55-60K). Tina said (with a smile) that 50% romance and 50% suspense doesn’t mean the first half of the book focuses on suspense and the second half on romance. Both must be woven together with the faith journey throughout the book. They are not looking for “cozies” at this time, nor corporate/office settings. She needs high energy, high suspense stories set in small towns with a regional emphasis. The stories must be in 3rd person point of view (not 1st), and angels can’t step in at the last minute to save the day!

There must be a deeper conflict keeping the hero and heroine apart than just being on the run. Love Inspired Suspense does have a witness protection program series, but other non-series stories about a witness protection program are welcome. She emphasized that the stories should be suspenseful and compelling, but not “scary” or too violent. You want to keep the reader turning the page--not make her uncomfortable.

Love Inspired Historicals (70-75K words). In case you haven’t already heard, there's good news for you historical writers! Love Inspired Historical will be expanding from two releases per month to four per month in early 2010. Again, they’re looking for small town settings and compelling openings. Americana, European settings, Tudor, Regencies, Victorian, and Scottish settings are welcome, as are stories all the way up to World War II. Missionaries abroad are welcome as well if you have a familiarity with those foreign settings to lend authenticity.

Odds & Ends

Someone at the Steeple Hill spotlight asked about submitting novella-length stories targeted for the holiday-themed releases (Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, etc.) and Tina indicated submission for those is by invitation only.

I believe Tina also said that in 2009 Love Inspired has acquired eleven brand new authors (Ruthy & moi among them!), and with the expanding lines they still have room for new authors.
Proposals should consist of the first 3 chapters and a synopsis with a minimum length of 5-7 pages which give a strong sense of the story--internal and external conflicts, turning points, faith journey, etc. (FYI: My most current synopsis was 10 double-spaced pages, but I recently learned that a number of LI authors--especially suspense--submit synopses of up to 20 double-spaced pages so the ins and out of the story are fully clarified for the editors.)

I don't believe Tina specified the font in which she prefers to see proposals and manuscripts, but I do know that my editor, Melissa Endlich, prefers double-spaced 12 point Courier or Courier New.

The average turnaround time on a query is approximately three months. If you haven’t received a response in that length of time, Tina says it’s okay to contact them to inquire about the status.

Senior Editors Tina and Melissa (and several others) read all the first chapters, so you need to hook several of the Love Inspired team with the opening line, the first page, and the first chapter. If they’re all hooked and want to continue reading the rest of your proposal, they know their readership will be hooked as well--and that could result in a request for the full manuscript. So make sure that first chapter is a powerful one that grabs them and won’t let them go!

Well, I guess that about sums it up! If I missed anything, feel free to jump in here and add to it.

I wrapped up my days in Colorado with a bus tour of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Beautiful aspens at their color peak! But it was cold and windy up there--a little rain and even a few (aaack!) snowflakes. I understand that some of the areas I was in on Sunday are now under a winter storm warning and will see 6-16 inches of white stuff by Wednesday morning!

Glynna

P.S. My very first published book officially releases a week from tomorrow! YAY! If you leave a comment today and your email address (remember to write "at" not "@" so spammers can't get your addy), you're eligible to be included in a drawing for the giveaway of one copy of "Dreaming of Home." The winner will be announced in the Weekend Edition.
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An ACFW "Genesis" and RWA Faith, Hope & Love "Touched by Love" award winner, GLYNNA KAYE'S first published book DREAMING OF HOME is an October 1, 2009 Steeple Hill Love Inspired release. http://www.glynnakaye.com/