Kingdom Writers: A Podcast for Christian Writers of All Genres

One of the best ways to sell your book is to let your customers sell your book for you. Customer reviews and word-of-mouth referrals are powerful. Learn more in this episode of the podcast. Next week we will publicly open the doors to Christian Book Academy. Something new we have launched is a success stories podcast which allows our members to share their results with you. Listen to case studies and success stories from Christian Book Academy members here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/success-stories Join our community of Kingdom Writers! Get on the waitlist here: https://christianbookacademy.com

When it comes to self-publishing, is it possible to publish a quality book on a budget? Yes, it is! Here are 3 ways to consider… 1.) Hire the right people Many companies will offer to publish your book for thousands of dollars. Typically it will cost $3000 - $10,000. When you remove the middleman and hire the right people directly, you can save thousands of dollars. Why not use some of the money you saved for other things like marketing your book once it's published? 2.) Start small Your main expense when self-publishing will be hiring a professional editor. Most editors charge by the word or by project. Therefore, when you publish a shorter book; your costs will be significantly less. 3.) Know where you can cut costs (and where you shouldn't) For example, one of the easiest ways to save money when publishing your book is with the formatting. However, you still want to use tools that are cost-effective and give you a final product you're proud to share with the world. Want to learn even more ways to self-publish on a budget (without compromising quality)? If so, join my workshop, Procrastination to Publication here: https://procrastinationtopublication.com/ You will get all the tools and recommendations you need to publish a short Kindle eBook on a budget and can apply what you learn right away. In fact, I'm hosting a fun book cover reveal challenge inside the workshop right now. So make sure to join us and get your ticket here: https://procrastinationtopublication.com/

Self-publishing can be overwhelming and expensive. You've done some research and have been praying about the best way to publish your book. However, you have some doubts and hesitations. I've been there. We've all been there. Don't let paralysis of analysis keep your book as an unfinished project on your computer's hard drive or in your notebooks gathering dust. Instead, let's breakthrough the myths that may be holding you back. Myth #1: Traditionally published books are of better quality than self-published books. The truth is that self-published books can have the same quality as a book published with a traditional publisher. There are certain things you can do to make sure that when someone picks up your book they won't know it has been independently published. If you want to self-publish a book that has a quality interior design (on a budget), be sure to check out Dave Chesson's presentation at our upcoming Kingdom Writers Conference! Myth #2: It costs thousands of dollars to self-publish a book. The truth is that you can get a high-quality book self-published without breaking the bank. Many writers get confused between self-publishing and vanity publishing. Vanity publishing is when a small publisher agrees to publish your book at your cost. They typically charge thousands of dollars for this service. Plus, in order for you AND your publisher to make money, you have to price your book so high that it's difficult to sell. It often gets priced right out of the market. Professional editing will be one of your biggest costs with self-publishing. Therefore, if you want to learn 3 ways to cut costs with editing, be sure to check out Debra L. Butterfield's presentation at our upcoming Kingdom Writers Conference! Myth #3: Self-publishing a book is overwhelming Yes, writing a book can be overwhelming. I get it. There are so many details. However, what if you start with a short Kindle eBook? A short book is easy for your readers to consume. Plus, it's quicker to write! It's a quick win and can help you build momentum for the next book. And when you publish as an eBook there are a lot less details to manage. You can always add other versions later. If you want to learn more about the benefits of writing a short Kindle eBook (and the length I recommend), be sure to check out my presentation at our Kingdom Writers Conference. Next Steps Look back at the 3 myths we went over, choose the one that is currently affecting you the most, and take action on it! And for a whole lot more help with self-publishing on a budget (without compromising quality), check out the FREE Kingdom Writers Conference, Count the Costs edition. We've got 8 seasoned writers and publishers lined up and ready to teach you everything from saving on book cover design to choosing the best formatting software. Some speakers you might recognize include: Dave Chesson Matt Tommey Shae Bynes Thomas Umstattd Jr. Heather Hart ...and more! We kicked off yesterday, on Tuesday May 3rd and this is one event that you can't afford to miss. Click here to learn more: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/ Can't wait to see you there!

1 Thessalonians 3:9-11Ezekiel 22:30 As Kingdom Writers, we can be people God uses to help fill in the gaps (as Paul says) and also stand in the gap (Ezekiel) in order to help repair a wall of righteousness and plead on behalf of others. Our books and other writings are ways God brings us to others in order to encourage and edify their faith. Just as Paul's letters were carried to believers all over the region, our books can be carried around the world in order to help fill in the gaps that people have in their faith and answer questions others may be wrestling with. Count the Costs Self-Publishing a Book Can Be Overwhelming and Expensive. You've done a lot of research and have been praying about the best way to publish your book Introducing our KINGDOM WRITERS CONFERENCE Count the Costs Edition. A FREE Conference to Help You Self-Publish on a Budget (without compromising quality) 8 seasoned writers and publishers will teach you strategies and practical tips so you can learn how to save money when self-publishing your book. Learn more here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/

This is how I typically do prioritize my marketing tasks, but it will be different for each of you. My first priority: Will it produce income? (Long term or short term? What is the profit margin?) Will it build my email list? (Manual or automated?) My next thought process: What is the least minimum viable product? Done well, yes. But sometimes we don't need to do everything right now (ie blog) Also: What's required? Will I need to learn a new skill or technology? If I can choose something profitable with what I already have/know, I often choose it. What has worked well for me in the past? 80/20 rule. Finally: I take action and figure it out as I go. Very rarely do I have everything figured out before I take action. Book Marketing Templates to Save You Time and Money You've got a book you're proud of. Now you're looking for a simpler way to get it into the hands of more readers. One way you can do that is through social media. It's free to use...however, it can also take up a lot of your time. Good news! You can get your social media posts for the next month done in just 90 minutes so that you can reach more readers with your book (without being pushy or salesy) in the Mini-Marketing Messages workshop here: https://minimarketingmessages.com

Publishing is a very vulnerable process, isn't it? You are putting your heart and soul onto paper for the whole world to see. How do you deal with the fear that comes with publishing? Learn a few ways to reframe it in this episode. Links mentioned: Conquer the fear of sharing your story: https://www.trainingauthors.com/conquer-fear/ Download Your FREE Publishing Map If you want to write and publish a book but don't know where to start, this Publishing Map is for you. You will learn Shelley's 9 simple steps inside her publishing map that will help you gain clarity on your next steps. Download it now for free here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/publishing-map/

In this episode, you will learn several ideas for setting up systems and learning what works best for you in your writing process. Links mentioned: Video on how to organize your computer files: https://www.facebook.com/christianbookacademy/videos/848819582302598/ Writing Wheel free eBook: https://trainingauthors.com/writingwheel/ Move Forward in God's Call to Write If you don't have a copy yet, get your copy of our new book Kingdom Writers so that you can move forward in God's call to write in your life here: https://trainingauthors.com/book

We typically recommend giving yourself 90 days for each stage of the Kingdom Writers Path at the most. However, we've had members publish a book within a month of joining Christian Book Academy. For example, Jennifer Nelson published a book 10 days after enrolling in our membership. It depends on the time you have to invest and the scope of your book project. If you take at least 90 days on each stage it would look something like this... First Draft: 90 days Final Draft: 90 days Self-Publish: 90 days This means you can get your book published in 9 months. Join Our Community of Kingdom Writers Get on the waitlist for Christian Book Academy here: https://christianbookacademy.com

Many of you have visited the Redwood National Park in northern California. Shelley & I visited that area a few years ago. I remember walking through forests with lush ferns among these gentle giants in all their majesty. Imagine the Creator of those trees! -Redwoods can grow as tall as 400 feet -The oldest redwood is thought to be over 3200 years old and is known as the "President" -Some are wide enough for a car to drive through -Roots only go about 7-8 feet deep but can be spread out over 100 feet -Redwood roots are intertwined with other redwoods which allows them to remain stable even through strong storms. I see Christian Book Academy like a gentle redwood forest where our roots intertwine with one another. -A redwood cone can produce 150-250 seeds, each seed being only the size of a tomato seed. That's about the size of the head of a matchstick Our books also begin with a seed idea. That seed is then watered by God and it continues to grow into something we could have hardly imagined. Redwoods are rugged trees. Some have deep grooves in the bark, some have been struck by lightning, some partially burned by fire, some blown over by winds. Kingdom Writers are a rugged breed as we can all attest to. Many of us have been battered by various elements and yet we still stand tall with the Lord's strength. "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." – 1 Peter 1:7 NLT Among these redwood forests are also trees that have toppled over due to old age. These trees are ideal for kids and adults alike to jump up and play on. Many of these toppled trees also have new trees growing out from the middle where it might be hollowed out. These dead trees are still giving life to young trees! There will be a time when each of us topple over but we can continue giving life through our books and writings. "Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith." – Hebrews 13:7 NLT Finally, a single lone redwood tree is quite impressive by itself but a forest of these giants is spectacular. Similarly, a lone Christian writer can produce impressive stuff but it's a beautiful thing to be part of a forest of Kingdom Writers with all of our diversity, styles and varying backgrounds. We can lean on one another as the storms of life hit. Consider CBA to be a Kingdom Writers redwood forest where we cause others to look up and give glory to our great God! Your Writing Battle Plan Powerful things happen when you integrate your faith with your writing, publishing, and marketing. Learn how to create your writing battle plan so you can move forward in God's call on your life to write in our Battle Plan All-Access Pass. You'll get 15 presentations plus 13 bonus trainings including our Priestly Pen bundle here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/

There are three types of book marketing you can do. 1. Free organic marketing (usually takes longer and requires more time) 2. Paid ads (for authors the best platform is Amazon Ads but still requires a learning curve) 3. Partner marketing through strategic relationships (very powerful but requires connecting with others in your niche or those who already have a platform similar to your target audience) Free Organic Marketing: Content marketing, social media, etc. The pro is that it's FREE. The con is that it takes more time. Amazon ads: Amazon ads do take time and a learning curve. But with persistence, they can be very effective. We've done very well with ads for my book Broken Crayons Still Color. Partner Marketing: I share 11 ideas for partner marketing in this video. You can watch it here: https://trainingauthors.com/get/email-list/ 27 Book Marketing Ideas Download our free PDF with 27 different ideas to market your book here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/ideas/

There are advantages to both traditional publishing and self-publishing. I personally have chosen self-publishing (independent publishing) and love it! However, it's not always the best fit for everyone. Here are some benefits to consider: https://www.trainingauthors.com/the-benefits-of-independent-publishing-self-publishing/ If you want to go down the path of self-publishing, I'm your girl and can help you every step of the way. If you want to traditionally publish, you will need to create a book proposal and pitch it to publishers and/or find an agent to help you. Publishing Map Download our free publishing map and video explaining the self-publishing process here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/publishing-map

When you have multiple book ideas, how do you decide which book to write first? Here are a few questions to ask: When you're praying about it, do you get a sense from God which book is first? What do you feel the most passionate about right now? What are your goals right now? Does one of the books line up better with your goals? What are your goals right now? Does one of the books line up better with your goals? Which book could you get done first? Which one seems like you have the most content or is easiest to write? You learn the process, get it done, and start momentum. Move Forward in God's Call to Write If you don't have a copy yet, get your copy of our new book Kingdom Writers so that you can move forward in God's call to write in your life here: https://trainingauthors.com/book

Psalm 127:1-2 - "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones." Our workaholic society tells us to push and strain and strive in order to accomplish our goals. Many books have been written with this method…but at what cost and for what benefit? We also see many in the world today trying to protect all of the work they've accomplished in their own human strength. If we're honest, we've all done this as if everything depends on us alone. It's interesting to note that this Psalm is written by Solomon who wrote most of Proverbs, many of which instruct us to not be lazy and to work hard. Here, he's looking at the issue of going it alone without including God in the picture. Whether it's building houses or writing books, both are acceptable enterprises. They serve an important purpose. Our motives behind these things are equally important. Are we doing these things for our own glory or God's glory? Ultimately, this is why we call ourselves Kingdom Writers. We're all about building His Kingdom, not some monument unto ourselves. God makes no distinctions between the sacred and secular - Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…" God is interested in ALL of our work including all the words we write. Our books will have more substance when we partner with God, just as families will have more substance in their relationships when they build their home with the Lord. Regarding houses, they are viewed as a symbol of status. We can easily desire to have a huge, extravagant house in order to look good and be approved of by others. This kind of thing can also happen with our books. We can create something that comes off as polished and shiny in order to seek status. We can place our security in this status which is here today and gone tomorrow. Why is our work wasted? It's wasted when we trade the eternal for the temporal Your Writing Battle Plan Powerful things happen when you integrate your faith with your writing, publishing, and marketing. Learn how to create your writing battle plan so you can move forward in God's call on your life to write in our Battle Plan All-Access Pass. You'll get 15 presentations plus 13 bonus trainings including our Priestly Pen bundle here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/

We believe in the power of being surrounded by like-minded writers in community while you write, publish, and market your book… …even if that community is online. We have been coaching and mentoring writers online for over a decade and have seen the power it has over and over again. Right now, our doors to Christian Book Academy are open. WooHoo! 🥳 Christian Book Academy is an online membership where we help Christian writers of all genres, like you, write words that outlive you, self-publish books that fulfill your calling, and reach more readers with your message. Join us here: https://christianbookacademy.com/

You can still get a copy of our new book, Kingdom Writers, here: https://trainingauthors.com/book And enjoy this excerpt from our War Room prayer meeting call with our Christian Book Academy members in January. We pray it blesses you!

Today is the day we are launching our new book, Kingdom Writers. WooHoo! Get your copy today at an early-bird price (plus all the bonuses) here: https://trainingauthors.com/book This book has been in the works for over 2.5 years. We have been praying for you and believe it will help you move forward in your call to write. Here's what a few writers are saying… "If you are a Christian and feel called to write a book, but maybe you're intimidated by the process, this book by Shelley and CJ Hitz was written for you. God is a God of story, and He has given us each a story to tell; some people are called to put that story in writing for the world to experience with us. Be encouraged with the practical tips in this book, by Shelley's own story, and also by the stories of other authors who have been in your shoes whom God has helped follow His plan for their lives." - Katie Erickson, Editor, Designer, Author Kingdom Writers was written to inspire you to share your story. Everyone matters and everyone has a story to tell. God has brought you through many circumstances of life that could be a help or blessing for someone to learn they can make it too. There is no limit to what God can do and this book will provide you with practical tips, encouragement and inspire you to seek God to show you His calling on your life that can be a blessing to others. Lana Wynn Scroggins, PhD, author Get your copy today at an early-bird price (plus all the bonuses) here: https://trainingauthors.com/book

In Luke 1:5-38 we see two different people visited by the angel Gabriel. Each was presented with something impossible which would be accomplished by God. One was a priest who had an extensive religious experience. The other was a teenage girl who had very little life experience, let alone religious experience. Ironically, it was the one with extensive religious experience who didn't believe the angel's words while the teenage girl believed the impossible. How about you and I? If we're honest, we've all identified with Zechariah's response when faced with the impossible. Do we really believe God can birth books through our lives that many times feel barren of words? Like Mary, may we find ourselves saying, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." (Luke 1:38) Your Writing Battle Plan Powerful things happen when you integrate your faith with your writing, publishing, and marketing. Learn how to create your writing battle plan so you can move forward in God's call on your life to write in our Battle Plan All-Access Pass. You'll get 15 presentations plus 13 bonus trainings including our Priestly Pen bundle here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/

Get access now here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/secret/ It's hard to believe it, but… …CJ and I just finished our 70th book. It's called, "Kingdom Writers" and it's been in the works for almost 2.5 years so it's soooo good to finally be birthing it into the world. Yay! Are you in the process of writing, publishing or marketing your book? If so, you'll want to make sure you get a copy of this book. It officially launches on February 1st with an early bird discount and special launch bonuses. So stay tuned. This is going to be fun! An Out of the Box Book Launch For this book, we decided to do something different. We've never done this kind of book launch before. First of all, we created a secret book launch party via a private podcast where you can listen to an excerpt of the book, get behind the scenes tips, and lessons learned. I haven't seen anyone do this for a book launch yet and am excited to share this with you. If you want access to our secret book launch party podcast, Sign up here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/secret/ Waiting for you today inside the podcast is the episode with the introduction chapter from the book. Plus, you'll get another episode sharing how authors can use a private podcast feed to market and launch your books. I have several ideas for you. This is content that you won't get anywhere else from me. 🙌🏻 So make sure to go sign up for our secret book launch party podcast and start listening to the first couple of episodes. And be looking for information on our book launch on February 1st. You won't want to miss this. Publishing a new book never gets old. Does it? This book has been in the works for about 2.5 years and it's finally coming to fruition. I'll share more about this process and why it took us so long in an upcoming email. Click here to join our secret book launch party podcast here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/secret/ It's going to be fun!​

The goal of a media kit is to have one place where people can find your information. This can be used for guest blog posts, podcast interviews, speaking engagements, etc. When the media calls and/or when opportunities open up…will you be ready? Enjoy this short episode that is an excerpt from a recent Media Kit Workshop we hosted for Christian Book Academy members. As a member, you get access to our Media Kit template and checklist. Get on our waiting list here: https://christianbookacademy.com Marketing Templates to Save You Time and Money You've got a book you're proud of. Now you're looking for a simpler way to get it into the hands of more readers. One way you can do that is through social media. It's free to use...however, it can also take up a lot of your time. Good news! You can get your social media posts for the next month done in just 90 minutes so that you can reach more readers with your book (without being pushy or salesy) in the Mini-Marketing Messages workshop here: https://minimarketingmessages.com

There are so many decisions when self-publishing or independently publishing a book. In this episode, you'll learn one mistake to avoid when working with graphic designers who create your book cover and/or interior formatting. This episode was inspired from a question from Christian Book Academy member, Nancy, and we hope it helps you as well! Download Your Publishing Map If you want to write and publish a book but don't know where to start, this Publishing Map is for you. You will learn Shelley's 9 simple steps inside her publishing map that will help you gain clarity on your next steps. Download it now for free here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/publishing-map/

Do you want to write a book but you're just not sure how you're going to fit it into your schedule or if you have time to actually do it? Keep watching because in the next few minutes I'm going to share with you three different ways to finish a 10,000-word book. I see writers getting stuck in the stage of trying to write their first draft. What I have found is there are three main categories you may fit in where you can actually get your book done and your first draft out of your head and onto paper in a much faster time than you ever imagined. Let's do a little math together (I promise it won't make you cry). Then, let me know which way you think would work best for you.👇🏻 1 - the consistent writer 2 - the chunk writer 3 - speaking your book Your Book on Paper in Just 90-Minutes Are you ready to get your book onto paper without the frustration of getting stuck or dealing with writers' block? My very first book took me over a year to write. ❌ I was disorganized with messy notes and research scattered everywhere. ❌ I felt overwhelmed trying to figure everything out on my own. ❌ I was exhausted making so many decisions and wondering if I was doing it right. There is a real thing called decision fatigue. But then… I figured out how to use a few book writing formulas that made the process of getting my book out of my head and onto paper so much easier. I now make decisions quickly and with clarity which allows me to choose a book topic, outline my book, and finish the first draft much faster. What previously took me a year I can now do in a few weeks or a few months depending on the scope of the book project. Today I want to teach you these same book writing formulas... Because I know if you're not feeling stuck and overwhelmed yet, you may be soon. With my Book Writing Lab workshop, you're just 90 minutes away from: ✅ Choosing your book topic ✅ Creating a basic book outline ✅ Setting up the writing plan that works for you so you can finish your first draft. And oh my goodness...it feels so good to get unstuck and move forward with writing your book. 🤩 When you have clarity on your book topic + a basic outline, you can finally clear the clutter in your head and begin to see the chapters of your book emerge. Yay! It's truly an amazing thing. 🙌 Get started now at www.BookWritingLab.com

Join Shelley Hitz and several authors from Christian Book Academy who will share case studies + tips they've learned along the way. A few things you'll learn: 1. The easy path Jennifer Nelson discovered to finally become an author 2. The easy path Jennifer Nelson discovered to finally become an author 3. How Jan Cox gained both freedom and control over publishing her books (plus saved thousands of dollars) 4. The pivot Lola Oshinowo made after spending time in prayer that made all the difference for her first book. 5. How Tanecia Mitchell gained a strategy to take the first draft of her manuscript to a finished book 6. The strategy Esther Espinoza used to sell over 100 copies of her book last month. And more! Support each of these authors by purchasing their books below. Jennifer Nelson: Jennnifer Nelson's Mediakit Jan Cox: www.janiscox.com/bookstore Lola Oshinowo: https://www.iwalolaademodioshinowo.com/ Tanecia Mitchell: https://www.taneciamitchell.com/ Esther Espinoza: https://www.gigistorylibrary.com.au/ Join our community of Kingdom Writers in our online membership, Christian Book Academy here: https://christianbookacademy.com

In this story of Jesus healing a blind man in Mark 8:22-26, it seems as if this was a two-part miracle where the blind man's sight was gradually restored. After Jesus lays his hands on the man's eyes the first time, the man says he can see people but they look like trees walking around. So Jesus places his hands on the man a second time and completes the miracle. In our own journey as Kingdom Writers, sometimes it seems as though we are seeing things like trees walking around. We don't always receive the instant clarity that we would like. Like the blind man, Jesus may give us gradual clarity as we continue trusting his methods and timing for our writing. This story also reminds us that our spiritual journey is a process of sanctification rather than instant maturity or clarity. In the end, we will look back and see God's perfect plans for our lives. "Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." - 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT) Your Writing Battle Plan Powerful things happen when you integrate your faith with your writing, publishing, and marketing. Learn how to create your writing battle plan so you can move forward in God's call on your life to write in our Battle Plan All-Access Pass. You'll get 15 presentations plus 13 bonus trainings including our Priestly Pen bundle here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/

As the holidays approach I want to share 5-holiday sales strategies you can use to sell more books. BOGO deals Offer an extra digital bonus for those who buy your book during a certain time. Put together a gift-giving guide for your target audience as a PDF download. Sell a book bundle. Sell bulk orders If you'd like the workshop I taught on this topic as well as all of the templates that will make this super easy for you to implement, you can get it here: https://authors.thrivecart.com/11235-79978/

When you self-publish or independently publish your book, you need to make the decision about which format you will publish your book in. Some options include eBook, print, full-color, audiobook, translations, and large print. It depends on your audience, how well your book is selling, as well as your budget and the time you have to invest. Learn more about this in today's episode and also enjoy a case study from Christian Book Academy member, Teresa Mills, who found one particular format has sold better than others for her travel books. Join Our Community of Kingdom Writers In our online membership, Christian Book Academy, we help you write words that outlive you, self-publish books that fulfill your calling, and reach more readers with your message. Join us here: https://christianbookacademy.com/

In this episode, Shelley answers this question from Christian Book Academy member, Stephanie... "How do we balance our author life and regular day-to-day job life? When and how do we know to take the step of quitting our job to move into focusing more on our writing author life? I feel I am not focused enough on writing because of my other job. What do you do?" We know many of you have full-time jobs and therefore thought this would be a great topic to cover on the podcast. Enjoy! Christian Book Academy In Christian Book Academy, we help you write words that outlive you, self-publish books that fulfill your calling, and reach more readers with your message. Join the waitlist here: https://christianbookacademy.com/

"What can I do to help you?" Elisha asked. "Tell me, what do you have in the house?" - 2 Kings 4:2a (NLT) Have you ever been in a situation where it was difficult to make ends meet? When there was more month than money? Where the butter was spread way too thin on that slice of bread? Running on fumes and coasting into the gas station is a regular occurrence. And the bills continue coming in like one crashing wave after another against the shores of your life. That's the scene playing out in the lives of a widow and her two sons (2 Kings 4:1-7). The family breadwinner has died and now a creditor has come knocking on their door to collect. Unable to pay, the only other option is for her boys to work off the debt as slaves. But she knows a man of God in the area. In fact, her husband used to serve alongside this man known as Elisha. Down to her last thread of hope, the widow shares her predicament with this man who served under and succeeded the great prophet, Elijah. "What can I do to help you?" Elisha asked. This simple, open-ended question is one that all of us can ask when we encounter those in need. It's also a question that would have been fresh on Elisha's mind. Just two chapters earlier, his mentor Elijah asked him, "Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away." (2 Kings 2:9) Not waiting for the widow's response to this question, Elisha drills down with a more practical question, "Tell me, what do you have in the house?" Taking a quick inventory, she responds, "Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil." You can just see the wheels of faith begin turning in Elisha's head as he tells her to go door to door collecting as many empty jars as she can. Liking this idea better than becoming slaves, the two boys rustled and wrangled every jar in the area. And then the miraculous flow of oil began. Who knows how many jars were filled from that one meager flask? The oil flow was limited only by the number of empty jars available. Truth be told, those two boys could have scrounged up every jar throughout Israel and the Source wouldn't have run dry. God wants us to bring our emptiness to Him today in order to fill us with His Holy Spirit flow. Bring your empty pages so He can fill them up with words. Bring your bank account so He can provide for your every need. Bring your empty dreams and allow Him to redeem them for His glory. Whether it's a single flask of olive oil that keeps flowing or five loaves and two fish that keeps feeding, we serve the God who is more than able to meet a particular need. Jesus will multiply every meager area of our lives if we will simply surrender what little we have in complete obedience. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) Reflection: Bring your meager situation before the Lord today. How would you answer if Jesus asked you, "What can I do to help you?" Try to be as specific as possible.

Do you have fear of marketing your book because you wonder what other people will think of you? Do you worry that they will think you are being self-promotional, greedy, or prideful? If so, you're not alone. In this episode, we have some encouragement for you regarding marketing. "What you do is between you and God. What other people think about what you do is between them and God." ~ Shelley Hitz This was a question asked by someone during our 2021 Kingdom Writers Conference. Did you miss the conference? If so, you can still get all 15 presentations as well as 13 bonus training in the all-access pass here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/ We pray that this short encouragement blesses you today!

In this episode, we have some encouragement for you regarding publishing a book that has Biblical undertones without being too preachy. This was a question asked by someone during our 2021 Kingdom Writers Conference. Did you miss the conference? If so, you can still get all 15 presentations as well as 13 bonus training in the all-access pass here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/ We pray that this short encouragement blesses you today!

Do you ever struggle with anxiety when you sit down to write? Does it stop you and keep you moving forward on your book? In this episode, we have some encouragement for you when you face resistance. This was a question asked by someone during our 2021 Kingdom Writers Conference. Did you miss the conference? If so, you can still get all 15 presentations as well as 13 bonus training in the all-access pass here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/ We pray that this short encouragement blesses you today!

"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." – Romans 5:8 (NLT) On February 5th, 2017, things looked pretty bleak for the New England Patriots in Super Bowl Fifty-One. By the middle of the third quarter, they found themselves down 28-3 to the Atlanta Falcons. No team had ever come back to win a Super Bowl after such a deficit. But as can happen in sports across the spectrum, a swing in momentum can change things in a hurry. There would be no Falcons blowout that day. Instead, the Patriots would score thirty-one unanswered points to win the game 34-28 in overtime. As baseball legend, Yogi Berra used to say, "It ain't over til it's over." When it comes to a momentum swing in life, two little words can change the outcome… But God. From Joseph to Paul, we see so many But God moments. There will be moments in our own lives when the odds seem overwhelmingly against us. Defeat is a foregone conclusion. A comeback? Impossible. But God.

Disappointment is part of every writer's journey but when used the right way it can help you find your target audience, clarify the message God has equipped you to share, and expand your platform. This was the first recording with Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith for the Kingdom Writers Conference. We had some bizarre tech issues and so he graciously re-recorded his presentation. This one will be slightly different than what you heard at the conference. By the way, did you miss the conference? If so, you can still get all 15 presentations as well as 13 bonus training in the all-access pass here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/ We pray that this teaching blesses you today!

Many people want to write and publish a book but feel they don't have the time to succeed. Learn productivity principles that will help you accomplish your writing goals regardless of how full your calendar is today. This was the first recording with Dr. Tim Riordan for the Kingdom Writers Conference. We had some bizarre tech issues and so he graciously re-recorded his presentation. This one will be slightly different than what you heard at the conference. By the way, did you miss the conference? If so, you can still get all 15 presentations as well as 13 bonus training in the all-access pass here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/ We pray that this teaching blesses you today!

We are the Priestly Pens in the author of Life as we are writing our books. However, does your "pen" ever feel dry? If so, enjoy this encouragement today which is an excerpt from the kickoff presentation of the Kingdom Writers Conference. Did you miss the conference? If so, you can still get all 15 presentations as well as 13 bonus training in the all-access pass here: https://kingdomwritersconference.com/battleplan/ We pray that this short encouragement blesses you today!

"For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins." – Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT) In his classic book, Miracles, author C.S. Lewis gives us a wonderful illustration of Christ representing a pearl diver in search of hidden treasure. It's a beautiful passage that your own eyes should read, "One may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, then gone with a splash, vanishing rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the deathlike region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to colour and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks the surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing he went down to recover. He and it are both coloured now that they have come up into the light: down below, where it lay colorless in the dark, he lost his color too." (Miracles, chap. 14). Can you believe that you and I are that 'dripping, precious thing' Jesus went down to recover? If you're like me, it's a thought that seems beyond what my little finite mind can comprehend. We've become quite comfortable here in our 'region of ooze and slime and old decay.' So comfortable that we forget that we were created for much more. The Son of God volunteered to descend into the depths of darkness in order to bring us into His glorious light. Not only is this pearl diver the One who retrieves us, but his very life becomes the currency used in order to purchase us for display in the Father's kingdom collection. I can imagine the great Pearl Diver regaling the angels in heaven with stories from some of his deep dives… "I found this one in the depths of despair and depression." "This beauty was pulled from the sea of drug & alcohol addiction." "A shark tried to snatch this one away from me but I eventually got her to safety. Got a few scars to prove it but you should see the shark…at least what's left of him." Perhaps even now the angels are on the edge of their seats hearing Him tell your story. Reflection: How does it feel to know how valuable you are to the Pearl Diver and his Father? As a Kingdom Writer, can you find creative ways to weave in your story of going from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of light with your readers?

What a fun month of celebration this has been! This month marks 10 years since I took the big, scary step of faith of quitting my physical therapy job (and a regular income behind) to be full-time in our ministry and business alongside my husband CJ. And we just finished our first-ever Kingdom Writers Conference. WooHoo! Thank you to everyone who joined us. What a fun week it has been! And right now our doors to Christian Book Academy are open. We only open a few times a year so if you've been wanting to join us now is the time to get in. Go to www.christianbookacademy.com and join us. We have so many great resources for you including monthly two-day Virtual Writing Retreats to help you get your book done or your marketing finished for the month. We also have a new Mini-Marketing Messages kit for you every month. These are social media templates and email templates you can use in your marketing to easily engage with your audience and sell more books. We have so many trainings for you that go in the order of the Kingdom Writers Path as well, starting at the first draft, then your final draft, self publish, book launch and finally ongoing marketing which is in the stage called impact lives. And so depending on where you're at in the Kingdom Writers Path, you can stay focused and find the training you can benefit from in your stage of the Kingdom Writers path. We encourage you to join us if you're ready to write a book, want to publish a book before the holidays, or if you're ready to market your book before the biggest book-buying season of the year. Come join us at www.christianbookacademy.com. We cannot wait to serve you. And to continue the celebration this month, we are highlighting Christian Book Academy member Jennifer Waddle. She was also one of the speakers at our conference. Today she's going to share a case study of how she put together a profitable book bundle and how you can do the same. Join Christian Book Academy Our doors are open for a short time this week to Christian Book Academy. Get in before we close enrollment here: www.christianbookacademy.com We help you write words that outlive you, self-publish books that fulfill your calling, and reach more readers with your message.

Can you believe it? This month marks a decade since I resigned from my physical therapy job. We have been working full-time in our business and ministry since that day. Honestly, it hasn't been easy. There have been so many times we wanted to give up. But God has provided what we needed and He has brought us to the place where we are today. One of the things we're doing to celebrate is hosting our Kingdom Writers Conference...and it kicks off today the 15th of September. WooHoo! So if you have not joined us yet, make sure to go right now and claim your free ticket at www.kingdomwritersconference.com before registration closes. You will not want to miss 15 speakers over the course of five days helping equip you to move forward in God's call to write. Today I want to introduce you to one of our Christian Book Academy members and one of our conference speakers, Ruth L Snyder. She has been taking some action in her marketing and she's going to share how using a simple tool that we provide in Christian Book Academy has helped her move forward in her marketing. Plus, on a recent post she was able to get 15 book sales. Yay! I hope you enjoy hearing from her and get inspired for the marketing of your books as well. DON'T MISS OUT...Get Your FREE Ticket to the Kingdom Writers Conference A FREE 5-day event ONLY for Christian writers with 15 industry experts to equip you to move forward with God's call to write. Get your FREE ticket and join us 9/15/21 - 9/21/21 (skipping the weekend) at https://kingdomwritersconference.com

If you haven't heard yet, September 2021 is an incredibly special year for CJ and me. It marks the 10th anniversary of taking that big scary step of faith for me to quit my physical therapy job and getting a regular paycheck. CJ was already working full-time in our business and 10 years ago I took that crazy step as well. We have been two full-time entrepreneurs since that day and it has been a wild and crazy ride. We've been mentoring writers for over 11 years and also have had Christian Book Academy for 6.5 years. Therefore we wanted to celebrate! We're celebrating and kicking off this month with our Kingdom Writers Conference and we want you to be part of it. It's going to be 15 speakers over five days and starts September 15th. Join us for free at www.kingdomwritersconference.com and tell all your writing friends. It's going to be a fun, inspiring, and amazing time to come together as Kingdom writers for such a time as this. This month we also wanted to highlight some of our speakers. By the way, all of our speakers have also been academy members over the last 6.5 years and we wanted to feature them and what God has been doing in their lives. Today I want to share with you Beth Jones and the path that she took with Kindle publishing as well as the power of publishing a series. She will also share several other things that have really been beneficial In her journey of publishing over 20 books and the list keeps growing. I hope you enjoy hearing from Beth Jones and get inspired to publish your next book. Get Your FREE Ticket to the Kingdom Writers Conference A FREE 5-day event ONLY for Christian writers with 15 industry experts to equip you to move forward with God's call to write. Get your FREE ticket and join us 9/15/21 - 9/21/21 (skipping the weekend) at https://kingdomwritersconference.com

This year we wanted to do something a little bit different for September it is the 10th year anniversary since I quit my physical therapy job and went full time in our ministry and business with my husband. This is a significant milestone for us. We have been leading Christian Book Academy now for 6.5 years, mentoring writers for over 11 years and we have so many things to celebrate. We're kicking this month off with a bang by opening registration to our very first Kingdom Writers Conference. The theme this year is Battle Plan: equipping you to move forward in the writing God has called you to do. Make sure to get your free ticket at www.KingdomWritersConference.com and invite all your writing friends, it's going to be fun. We are celebrating this month all that God has done not only in our lives but in your lives as well. Therefore we want to feature different members in our Christian Book Academy and in fact all of our speakers this year have been in our academy at one time or another and now they are also helping and equipping writers. It's so fun to see the ripple effect. Today you will learn two of the writing tips Karen Lindwall-Bourg learned from Christian Book Academy that has helped her write and publish multiple books. I hope that you learn a lot from Karen as she shares some of her successes in writing. Kingdom Writers Conference A FREE 5-day event ONLY for Christian writers with 15 industry experts to equip you to move forward with God's call to write. Get your FREE ticket and join us 9/15/21 - 9/21/21 (skipping the weekend) at https://kingdomwritersconference.com

Have you had failures in your life? If so, it's a good indication that you've taken some risks along the way. A few notable "failures" John Creasey received 743 rejection slips from publishers before one word was published. He eventually published 560 books and sold over 60 million copies Michael Waltrip lost 530 races before winning his first NASCAR race in 2001…the Daytona 500 Abraham Lincoln lost 18 elections for various offices before being elected 16th President We're going to look at one of my favorite stories in the Bible about a man who took a big risk. - 1 Samuel 14:1-23 Saul & his troops were down to 600 men and only 2 swords among them (Jonathan holding one of the swords) Depressing situation under this pomegranate tree while the Philistines were wreaking havoc in every direction. Jonathan has had enough and decides to take a risk. Jonathan realized he couldn't win a battle without entering a battle. How about you & I? Have we reached a point where we're tired of seeing nothing happen with our books? Tired of allowing the enemy to run amok all around us? Jonathan seized his divine moment while everyone else was asleep. I want to touch on 4 things from this story we can apply to our own lives. When we choose to take risks as Kingdom Writers… We inspire the faithful closest to us. Jonathan's armor-bearer was with him "completely" (heart and soul) (14:7) The paralyzed are moved - Saul and his troops represent the paralyzed who were waiting for the perfect opportunity. With Saul, we learn there's a time for prayer and a time to leave the shade of the pomegranate tree to engage in battle The prodigals are restored (v. 14:21). The weak become strong (v. 14:22). Jonathan's risk motivated those in hiding to come out and join the battle No doubt you & I have felt paralyzed, prodigal or weak at various times as writers. Let's allow Jonathan's example from over 3000 years ago to inspire us to take risks for the Lord in these days we are living in. In Jonathan's words, "Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!" ‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭14:6‬b Prayer Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas …and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/

Do you want to harness the power of partner promos by borrowing someone else's audience? If so keep listening as this is one of the fastest ways to grow your audience and sell more books. My name is Shelley Hitz and I'm here with my husband CJ Hitz. We have been coaching authors for over a decade helping you reach more readers with your message by using our social media templates and bridge-building system so you can consistently market your books without feeling pushy or salesy. In each of our trainings, we promise to share at least one thing that will help you write, self-publish, and market your books so that the message of your books can impact lives. In the next few minutes, we are going to talk about the power of partner promos. When it comes to partner marketing I recommend that you do something to give first. Instead of looking for ways you can benefit, how can you help that person first. "You Can Have Everything in Life You Want if You Will Just Help Enough Other People Get What They Want." - Zig Ziglar Three ideas: Show up and like/comment on their posts a couple times a week. You will get noticed if you add valuable comments on a consistent basis. Give them a shoutout on social media and tag them. This could be a book they've written that you love or a concept they teach you recommend or a quote of theirs, etc. Anything that would highlight them in a positive way. If you want to go to the next step, read and review their book on Amazon. Then do a post on social media and tag them in it. Make it more about the book. For example "I loved this book and this is why I recommend it" instead of about them personally. But mention that you gave the book a 5-star review on Amazon and why. This will get any author's attention. Here's a courageous writer's idea. Host them on a live video either on Facebook or Instagram live. This could also work if you have a podcast to interview them. Make it all about them and featuring them and getting to know them. Once you've built a relationship with them, then invite them to do a promotion with you. A 10-book author giveaway is a great option. You can also do a top 10 favorite podcasts (or books or blogs) in your niche and feature them. You can do this on social media if you don't have a blog yet. Then reach out and ask them to share it. Since they know you they'll be more likely to share it. I gave 11 ideas in last month's podcast. Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas …and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/

Would you like to get more done without exerting as much energy? That's exactly what having a system will help you do and what we are going to talk about today. My name is Shelley Hitz and I'm here with my husband CJ Hitz. We have been mentoring writers for over a decade helping you self-publish your books in multiple formats using our publishing map and step-by-step system so that you can write words that outlive you and self-publish books that fulfill your calling. In each of our trainings we promise to share at least one thing that will help you write, self-publish, and market your books so that the message of your books can impact lives. Today we're going to talk about how systems can be YOUR secret sauce. What is a system? In the simplest form, it is a checklist you create for a repeatable task. How does having a publishing system help? You save brain power because you don't have to think about what to do next. You simply follow the checklist. What is the best way to start using systems? Start writing down the steps of tasks you do often. Include the websites you need, copy/paste text you can reuse etc. In Christian Book Academy we provide a checklist for you for each stage of the Kingdom Writer's Path. You can then adapt the checklist to the steps you take. Will you start using systems to save time and energy? It takes some upfront effort but is so worth it. I'm often asked how I get so much done and I say that systems are my secret sauce and now they can be yours too. Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas …and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/

What could happen if you devoted just 15-minutes a day to your writing? Keep listening over the next few minutes to this encouragement that when applied can help you finish writing your book. My name is Shelley Hitz and I'm here with my husband CJ Hitz. We have been mentoring writers for over a decade helping you get your books out of your heads and onto paper with our book writing formulas so that you can write words that outlive you and self-publish books that fulfill your calling. In each of our trainings we promise to share at least one thing that will help you write, self-publish, and market your books so that the message of your books can impact lives. Today we're going to talk about being a 15-minute writer. Anthony Trollope was one of the most successful novelists of the Victorian era. Over the course of 35 years, he wrote 47 novels. He did all of this while working a demanding job as a post office inspector. He committed 15 minutes of every workday hour to writing 250 words. This commitment could produce up to 10 pages of a novel each day. Trollope made the decision to turn off all distractions during those 15-minute segments, only hearing the ticking of his watch. Although this may not be realistic for all of us, this practice shows what can happen during uninterrupted 15-minute intervals. When we become intentional about scheduling these 15-minute writing sessions, it can add up over the course of weeks, months and years. Even if we haven't written 250 words, these segments could allow us to organize our thoughts or ideas. Productivity can be defined in numerous ways. What if you and I committed to writing just 15 minutes a day? Surely this is a realistic goal for each of us. Could you commit to 15 minutes of focused writing each day? Once you get going, you may get into a writing flow that seemingly never ends. Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas ...and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/

What does it look like to worship God through our writing? Read: 1 Kings 7:13-22; 40-45 Huram was an "extremely skillful and talented" craftsman from the area of Tyre in Lebanon who was commissioned by King Solomon to help enhance and decorate the temple. After reading about the precision and detail of Huram's work, we see that he was a man who glorified and worshiped God through his skills. There was thought, purpose, and intentionality in his work. Imagine all the worshipers who would journey to this magnificent temple which stood for over 400 years. Upon entering the temple, they were set in the right frame of mind to worship the Lord as they saw the beauty of Huram's craftsmanship. As Kingdom Writers, we have been given the wonderful privilege of being commissioned by God in our calling to write words that outlive us. Just as Huram was hired and appointed to furnish and magnify the beauty of Solomon's temple, we as Kingdom Writers are called to glorify and magnify the beauty of Christ. Our writings can help display a God more than worthy to be worshiped. We have no idea who will walk through the front doors of our books. Many of those readers may not notice the painstaking detail and effort we've poured into our books. But you and I can rest assured that God notices. Our books and writings are one of the primary ways we've been called to worship and glorify our great King. This is why we refer to ourselves as Kingdom Writers. Priestly Pens in the hands of the Author of Life! Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas ...and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/

Email marketing is such an important part of a long-term marketing strategy for authors and yet one most avoid. In this training, Shelley shares 11 ways you can grow your email list as an author. Here's the list: Option One: Strategic Partnerships Podcast Interviews Guest Blog Posts Social Media Takeover Social Media Swap Solo Email Swap Option Two: Gather Authors/Experts in Your Genre/Niche Collaborative blog post Top 10 Books in XX Genre Post Online Summit or Host Q&A's or Coffee Chats) Anthology Group Giveaway Group Promotions The challenge? Choose one option from the strategic partnerships and one option from gathering authors/experts in your genre/niche. Then, implement them over the next two months. Let me know how it goes for you! Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas ...and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/

Do you have a book that you've started but you've struggled to finish? If so, today we want to share with you three ways to renew your commitment to write so you can click the publish button. Ready to dive in? 1. Remember the reason you write. What is your why? When you have a strong purpose behind your writing, it will help you overcome the resistance we all face as a writer and the difficult days. 2. Who are you writing for? Who is your target audience? I want you to picture one person who is your ideal reader. If possible, choose someone you know from real life. Write down who this person is and why your book would be impactful to them. This will serve as a reminder of why you write and that your readers are waiting for you to finish your book. Start praying for your future readers and the impact your book will have on their lives. 3. Write out your commitment to God and yourself and your future readers. Write this out with pen and paper and post it where you can see it every day. I am committed to writing and publishing my book (INSERT TENTATIVE BOOK TITLE HERE) by (INSERT DATE). ______________________ (add your signature) If you write out this commitment and sign it, let us know! Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas ...and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/

Do you want to find peace in your writing? If so, CJ has some encouragement for you today from the Word of God that will help to bring calm to your chaos and peace to the panic when it comes to your writing. Kingdom Writers have access to a peace that can't be manufactured through human means. It's a fruit of the Holy Spirit. "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." - Romans 15:13 NLT Jesus confirms this with his words in John 14:27 - "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." Have you been troubled or afraid regarding your writing? Afraid of failure? Afraid of what others will think? Afraid you'll give up before your book is finished? Most of us can relate to those feelings. Jesus wants to bring calm to our chaos. Peace to our panic. If your heart and mind are feeling like that storm on the sea of Galilee, cry out to Jesus. Ask him to speak the words "Peace be still!" over your life and writing. We can be conduits of this supernatural peace through our writing. Jesus can use our words to put out little chaotic wildfires in the lives of others. How can we pray for you today? Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas ...and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/

Zechariah 4:10a My small beginnings as a runner after reading a book by Dean Karnazes After coming out of an 80 year Babylonian exile and having the glorious temple that King Solomon built be reduced to rubble, it was now time for God's people to rebuild a new temple where Yahweh would reside and be worshiped. To the younger generation, this was a huge milestone. But to the "old-timers" who saw or heard firsthand stories about the glory & splendor of the previous temple, this latest edition paled in comparison. You can almost hear the chatter among the seasoned veterans, "I miss the good-ole days" or "They just don't make em like they used to." "You call THAT a temple?" God had a message for Zechariah to pass along to both young and old alike… "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." (Zech. 4:10a NLT) Sure, this latest temple 2.0 seemed modest compared to the previous version 1.0 but God still wanted them to celebrate the fact that construction had begun. Progress was now being made. A hopeful momentum was now set in motion. Zechariah is an invitation for us to surrender our expectations of what our books have to look like and the process that we go through to finish them. It's also moving on from the "good ole days" and looking forward to what the Lord has ahead. We hear all kinds of naysayers both outside and inside our heads: "Who are YOU to be writing a book?", "My writing isn't as good as so and so...maybe I should quit this writing thing.", "This is simply too overwhelming for me to finish." One of the worst lies we can believe is that what we're writing is insignificant and will not matter in the end. We rebuke that lie in Jesus's name. It DOES matter! Our books & writings may not look like much to us at times but it's still hallowed ground that we've set aside to bring glory to the Lord. So whether it's rebuilding a temple or working on our books, we can rejoice with the Lord to see the work begin. We can also rejoice in knowing that the same God who resided in a temple made of stones now resides in these bodies of ours (1 Corinthians 6:19) thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus. With the help of God, each of us can watch the momentum build with our small beginnings! Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas ...and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/

One way to launch a new book is by using Amazon's KDP Select program. This program launched in December 2011 and I first enrolled one of our books in the program in early January 2012. The program is no longer as effective as it was in 2012, but we have still seen success with our books as well as the books of other authors. Why Free? When you are a new author it can give you exposure to new readers. We consider it a ministry and have given away over half a million eBooks on Kindle alone. For books that are part of a series, it may be beneficial to keep the first book in the KDP select program to gain exposure and interest in the rest of the books in your series. Also, make sure you put an excerpt of the next book in the back of your book as well as links to the books from the entire series. Many authors find this is an effective way to promote the next book in the series. I also recommend having a call to action within your book for readers to join your email list so that those that do read your book could continue to connect with you on an ongoing basis. You can also use your free days to get verified reviews from your reviewers. You send them a PDF copy and let them know the dates it will be free. When the book is free you ask them to download it on Kindle and post their review. Another Option One option is to use the KDP Select program to launch your new books and then remove them after your 90-day contract. This allows you to publish them to other eBook platforms. Draft2Digital is one option you can use to do this. Please note, that you have to go in and choose to remove your book from the KDP Select program or else it will automatically renew. You can do this by logging into http://kdp.amazon.com, clicking the link for the bookshelf, and then clicking "info" on the right side under the column for KDP Select. There you can choose to remove the checkmark that automatically re-enrolls your book in KDP Select. Results will Vary Realize that your results will vary. One of the most powerful aspects of running a KDP Select promotion is the free advertising Amazon will give you afterward. For each person that downloaded your book, they have also downloaded other free books or bought other books from Amazon. Amazon then figures out which books were most likely to be bought from the same customer and will include them in the list "Customers Who Bought This Book Also Bought." Therefore, your book starts showing up on other book pages and getting free advertising which often boosts your sales and rankings. Things change often at Amazon, so I encourage you to do your research and decide what is best for your books. Find out more about KDP free promotions and get our checklist of places to submit your book to here: https://www.trainingauthors.com/47-places-to-submit-your-free-kdp-promotion-for-your-kindle-ebook/ Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas ...and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/ Mini-Marketing Messages Kit We have brand new templates available inside Christian Book Academy. They are called Mini-Marketing Messages Kits. Yay! These kits will help you with your book marketing, start conversations with your audience, stay connected with your readers, get new sales for your book, and a lot more! Join us and get access here: http://www.christianbookacademy.com/

If you have published blog posts, podcasts, videos, or have given presentations; you may already have content you can use for your book. Take a moment to look over the content you have already created to see if you can repurpose it and include it in your book. For example: Podcasts and videos can be transcribed. Presentation slides can be used as part of your outline. Deleted scenes can be fleshed out and used as a free gift for newsletter subscribers. Journal content can be used when sharing your own story or journey. Even social media posts and emails can be repurposed into content for your books. Here are a few of my personal examples: My very first book, "Mirror Mirror…Am I Beautiful," was created from articles on my website. The outline for our book, "Forgiveness Formula," came from our presentations on the topics that were well received. I also used some of my journal content in this book. "Procrastination to Publication," was transcribed from one-hour audio and then edited into a book. "Prolific Publisher," was transcribed from a webinar presentation and then edited into a book. "Self-Publishing Books 101," was created from blog posts and expanded into a resource many writers have used to self publish their books. The options are limitless! Don't forget to consider the content you already have as you write. Book Writing Lab Get your book out of your head and onto paper using our 3 proven book writing formulas ...and then create a writing plan to finish your first draft. We just launched our brand new workshop, Book Writing Lab, and you can get in today for just $27. WooHoo! Get started here: https://bookwritinglab.com/