2010 ACFW & Steeple Hill Late Night Chat

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Good morning, Seekerville!

I’m writing this as I sit in the Indianapolis International Airport early Monday afternoon, waiting to board the plane homeward. I can’t believe the 2010 American Christian Fiction Writers National Conference is a memory now--and that everyone is already looking forward to 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Over 600 attendees participated in this year’s conference. Amazing. But what was even MORE amazing is how in a crowd like that, every time I turned around there would be a Seeker or a Friend of Seekerville! So much fun to see familiar faces and get to chat with those I’d only met via The Web! I know there were a number of you who attended that I “missed” meeting, but maybe next time!

What fun, too, to see the full-page Seeker ad in the conference program celebrating our 3-year blog birthday. Steeple Hill Love Inspired Authors also had a full-page ad, so including the Genesis and Carol Finalist listings and publisher-sponsored ads, Seekers and Friends of Seekerville were well-represented at ACFW!

The conference days were packed with activities and every time you’d blink they were feeding you AGAIN! I especially enjoyed the workshops taught by authors Susan May Warren and Rachel Hauck (BookTherapy.com): “Scene Therapy” and “Deep and Wide.” If you didn’t get the CD/MP3 recordings from this year’s conference, consider getting them. I listened to last year’s over and over as it not only includes the workshops, but also the sessions with publishing houses telling what they’re looking for and how to submit manuscripts to them.

Of course, the highlight of the event was seeing Pam Hillman accept her “Genesis Award” and Mary Connealy her “Carol Award,” then each evening gathering with other Seekers and BUNCH of Friends of Seekerville to celebrate.

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Here’s some info for you that I gleaned from Steeple Hill Senior Editor Tina James and Assistant Editor Emily Rodmell.
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STEEPLE HILL LATE NIGHT CHAT
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GENERAL
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The Editors of the three lines at Steeple Hill (Love Inspired, Love Inspired Historical and Love Inspired Suspense) say the lines are very popular with readers and, in fact, the historical line is expanding to FOUR a month in January 2011! That means each year they need 48 Love Inspired Historicals, 48 Love Inspired Suspense, and 72 Love Inspired contemporaries to meet reader demand!
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What will catch their eye? First off, a great opening line and a fabulous first chapter that hooks the reader. Get that hero and heroine on the page together as quickly as possible -- and he faith journey of both should be well-integrated into the plot. The editors are looking for fresh approaches to classic stories--compelling, page turning, lively tales of romance. Surprises. New twists. They prefer heroes and heroines between post-college age and forty (historical heroines may be somewhat younger). Divorced heroes and heroines are acceptable if the divorce occurred before they were Christians or if a spouse left them. Stories about professional women, women with families, or a combination of both are welcome. Stories are to be told in third person point of view.
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What are they NOT looking for right now? Readers of the three Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines want heroes and heroines they can relate to--thus famous individuals such as actors, artists, or musicians are not popular. While children are a welcome and important part of Love Inspired books, readers prefer that children not overshadow the romance. Lying is acceptable only for a “good” reason (i.e. undercover operatives, character keeping true identity under wraps while in hiding, or maintaining a secret integral to the story). See Steeple Hill guidelines on website for more details.
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SUBMISSIONS
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If you’ve never been published, don’t query until the book is completed as Steeple Hill editors will want to see the entire manuscript. Query first, then the editors will let you know if they wish to see the completed manuscript.
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If you’ve previously published elsewhere, query with three chapters and a synopsis.
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Synopses should emphasize the emotional conflicts--what the hero and heroine must overcome. And be sure to tell the ending--don’t leave the editor hanging!
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Per eHarlequin.com: query letters should include word count and pertinent facts about you as a writer, including your familiarity with the romance genre. Indicate which series your project is appropriate for, if it is completed, what you think makes it special, and previous publishing experience (if any). Also include a synopsis of your story that gives a clear idea of both your plot and characters and is no more than two single-spaced pages. No simultaneous submissions please (i.e., do not submit the same manuscript to Steeple Hill and other publishing houses at the same time).
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Also, it’s preferable to focus on one Love Inspired line rather than multiple lines because your editor will want to grow you as an author and build your name among readers of a given line.
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The average response time is 3-4 months. If you have not heard back by then, feel free to contact them as to the status of the submission.
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Love Inspired Historicals – Tina James, Senior Editor in charge of the line
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70-75,000 words – 4 books a month beginning in January 2011.

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Looking for ... stories about Americana (Westerns, post Civil War, etc.), pioneers, immigrants, missionaries and “Americana.” Settings in the West, Regency period, Victorian to WWII, foreign (especially if you have personal familiarity with the setting), missionaries to Africa or Asia. Only two POVs--hero & heroine.
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Love Inspired (contemporary) - Melissa Endlich, Senior Editor in charge of the line

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55-60,000 words – 6 books a month.

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Looking for ... stories about communities of people who care about each other. Small town medical settings. Heroes and heroines who work with rescue & therapy animals. Cowboys. Amish. Prefer small towns. However, if you have a story set in a city but it has a strong sense of “community” within the larger one, the editors are willing to look at it. Only two POVs--hero and heroine.
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Love Inspired Suspense – Tina James, Senior Editor in charge of the line
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55-60,0000 words – 4 a month.

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1/2 and 1/2 blend of romance & suspense. No “cozies.”

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Looking for ... stories set in small towns, Texas, law enforcement, FBI, secret service, bounty hunters, hostage negotiators, unlikely heroes, characters wrongly accused. Not “amateur sleuths,” but heroes and heroines with other unique careers which can be suspenseful besides the usual cops & FBI. Start off with immediate action and make it an exciting, edge of your seat, fast-paced page turner. Limited use of a third POV is acceptable for a villain.
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With lines expanding, openings for new authors are still available! Steeple Hill has acquired FIFTEEN new authors thus far in 2010! Maybe YOU could be the sixteenth!!!

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If you’d like to be entered in a drawing for a copy of my ACFW Carol-finaling “Dreaming of Home” please leave your email address in the comment section!
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Glynna
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Glynna Kaye’s Steeple Hill Love Inspired “Dreaming of Home” is a 2010 “Carol Award” finalist and “Maggie Award” finalist, as well as winner of the “Booksellers Best” and “Beacon” awards. Her next books (also set in Canyon Springs, Arizona) are “Second Chance Courtship” releasing February 2011, and “At Home In His Heart” debuting August 2011!