Today, we are honored to have with us author Kathy Ide for a little Q & A. She has two new books out (21 Days of Grace & 21 Days of Christmas) that are inspiring, encouraging and full of grace. And from one momma to another, I know we can all use some grace for this journey!
Both of Kathy’s new books can be used as a devotion, and both can be used in a group setting or you can read it on your own. They are both fiction but packed full of truth and, I know you’re going to love them!
SO…without further ado .. grab a cup of coffee and hang out with Kathy Ide for a little Q&A about 21 Days of Grace…
Tell me something about yourself.
I’ve been writing for publication since 1989, and I’ve been a full-time freelance editor since 1998. I wrote Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, published in January 2014, to help writers and editors learn how to proofread their manuscripts according to the industry-standard guidelines. I teach at writers’ conferences across the country, and I’m the founder and director of two organizations for freelance editors: the Christian Editor Connection and The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network.
Tell me about your new book.
21 Days of Grace: Stories that Celebrate God’s Unconditional Love is the first in a series of Fiction Lover’s Devotionals, published by BroadStreet Publishing. It’s a collection of short fiction stories, all written by different authors—some new, some intermediate, and some well-known, beloved best sellers. Each story is followed by a brief Life Application, written by the author of the story, that suggests how the messages inherent in the fictional tale can be applied to the reader’s daily life.
What’s unique about this series?
A lot of readers today love Christian fiction. But in their quiet times with the Lord, they want something with a little more depth … and something a little shorter than a novel. There are lots of compilations with short true stories out there. The Fiction Lover’s Devotionals are for readers who enjoy fiction. For people who haven’t discovered the joys of Christian fiction, these short stories will be a great introduction to it.
Which authors are included in this book?
21 Days of Grace has chapters by Angela Hunt, Deborah Raney, Cindy Woodsmall, Tracy Higley, Cecil Murphey, DiAnn Mills, Kathi Macias, and more. Bios of contributing authors are featured at the end of each chapter, so you can get something new from the novelists you already know and love as well as samples from other authors you can add to your favorites list.
How do you see people using these devotionals?
The books are being published as hardcover gift books—small enough to take with you wherever you go, and with chapters short enough to read anywhere. You can enjoy these stories over breakfast, at lunch break, before bed, or curled up in your favorite chair with a cup of coffee or tea. They make terrific gifts too!
Can these books also be used in group settings?
Absolutely. They’re great for a book club, Bible study, life group, Sunday school class, or just getting together with friends. There’s a study guide available as a free PDF on www.FictionDevo.com or as a 99-cent e-book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, which can be used for groups or more in-depth individual study.
What are the other book titles in this series?
21 Days of Christmas: Stories that Celebrate God’s Greatest Gift came out September 1st. 21 Days of Love: Stories that Celebrate Treasured Relationships, is scheduled for next Valentine’s Day. And 21 Days of Joy: Stories that Celebrate Motherhood, is for Mother’s Day.
How do you find the authors for your books?
I’ve been in the Christian publishing industry for almost twenty years, and I’ve attended a lot of writers’ conferences in that time. That has given me an opportunity to meet numerous authors at all stages of the writing process. Most of the authors in 21 Days of Grace are people I’ve met in person or are editing clients of mine. But I’ve put call-outs on my website and social media, and I’ve received several great stories from authors I’ve never met or worked with before.
How do you choose which stories to include?
It’s not easy! Especially since I can only choose 21 chapters in each book. The main determining factor, to me, is whether the story touches my heart, whether I can sense the Holy Spirit speaking through the characters and their situations. Almost as important is the use of good fiction-writing techniques. Even the best story can be powerless if it’s not told really well.
Do you edit the submissions?
Every single one. What can I say? I’m a freelance editor—it’s what I do! I do my best to keep the author’s voice and style intact. But I can always find a few things to tweak that, in my opinion, make the story stronger. When I send my revised versions to the authors, I always encourage them to work with me on any changes I made that they’re not totally satisfied with. I want the final product to be something we’re both excited about.
Where can people purchase the book?
The print version of 21 Days of Grace can be ordered online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook, Walmart, Target, and Cokesbury. It’s also in most Christian bookstores and several Walmarts and Barnes & Noble stores. The e-book is available from Amazon, BN.com, iBooks, and Google Play.
What do you want readers to take away from the book?
I am a huge fan of Christian fiction. The Holy Spirit has spoken to me many times through novels, as I relate personally to the characters and their situations. And I’ve heard about others whose lives were changed through a fictional story they read. I believe the same thing can happen through the short stories in these devotionals. Also, when I’m looking for a new book to read, I tend to go for the authors I’m already familiar with. It’s tough to decide which new novelists to try because I don’t know what their style is and whether it’s something I’m going to like. Reading short stories from a variety of novelists all in one book will give fiction fans an opportunity to sample different authors and find new ones they enjoy.
What can readers do after they read the book?
There’s a forum on www.FictionDevo.com where people can post responses to the book and the stories in it. They can also do that on www.Facebook.com/FictionDevo. I’m very excited about reading what the Lord is doing in people’s hearts and lives through these books.
Are you looking for stories for future books in this series?
If the first books sell well, the publisher will continue the series, so we would have more titles. For now I am accepting submissions on any topic or theme. Writers’ guidelines as posted on the www.FictionDevo.com website.
How can people find out more about you?
Kathy Ide is the author of Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, 2014) and the editor/compiler of the Fiction Lover’s Devotional series (21 Days of Grace, 21 Days of Christmas, 21 Days of Love, and 21 Days of Joy), published by BroadStreet Publishing.
Kathy has been a full-time freelance editor/writing mentor since 1998, working with new writers, established authors, and book publishers. She teaches at writers’ conferences across the country and is the director of the Orange County Christian Writers’ Conference. She is the manuscript critique team coordinator at Mount Hermon. Kathy is also the founder and director of the Christian Editor Connection (www.ChristianEditor.com) and The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network (www.TheChristianPEN.com).
To connect with Kathy visit:
Website: www.KathyIde.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathyIde.AuthorEditor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathyIde
- Ch…ch…ch…CHANGES Are Coming in 2017 for TMI - December 27, 2016
- What New Thing Are You Ready to See God Do in Your Life in 2017? - December 26, 2016
- Heaviness and Newness - December 23, 2016
