The Plight of the Christian Author in 2015

 

Like any product, marketing is the key to successful book sales

I read a lot of Christian writers, both fiction and non-fiction. Add to this, that I am a Christian writer, both in that I am a Christian who has a number of published books under my belt, and that two of them were specifically written for the Christian market. To make my authority on the subject of this post even more clear, I am a marketing consultant with over 45 years of marketing experience. Finally, most of my books have been quite successful, and those books have been published through everything from Warner Books to me.

As a marketer, I have ushered thousands of new products to market. I have seen fantastic ideas go nowhere, and I have seen average products make millions. If I could summarize the primary reason for the failure of the great products, it would be lack of marketing expertise or lack of funding to execute a good marketing plan. In other words, you can offer gold at $5 an ounce, but if nobody knows about it, there's no chance it will sell.

Up until 10 or so years ago, the only realistic way an author was going to get his book in front of large audiences was through the traditional book store model. That meant selling the book to a publisher who could then get the book onto the shelves. Even then, new authors had almost no chance of moving the product off the shelves unless there was a marketing campaign behind the book. Almost no publishers spent money then or now on new authors. It was up to the author to use publicity, advertising, reviews, radio, book signings, and speaking engagements to get books sold.

That has not changed at all!! No matter if you are self published or published by Random House, an author has to provide marketing backup to have an significant chance of success.

What has changed are the avenues open for marketing. The internet has created a form of democracy for authors. A new or relatively new author can theoretically find an audience through online efforts just as easily as the established author. What this potential has created is authors who wrongly believe that an internet only approach will result in great results for their books. There has even sprung up any number of companies that will be happy to help fledgling authors to pursue this unlikely route to success. And the money spent on these approaches is rarely recovered in book sale profits.

I self published my latest book, "God Called - He Needs Your Decision!" about one year ago. The total cost to make the book ready for sale and to buy some soft cover copies was close to $5000. That included a top-of-the line editor doing a full professional editing job.

I have now sold around 500 copies of the book, which is the second least of any book I've ever penned. I have depended on the internet, including this blog, to create sales. I have used huge amounts of Twitter and done some YouTube videos. But I have NOT done any speaking or advertising. My reviews are only those on Amazon. I have NOT worked to get any newspaper or magazine reviews. I have NOT done any radio or even tried to get radio shows.

Bottom line - there are many, many, many fine Christian books out there. To be sure, there are many so-so one's, as well. Any author today who wishes to sell their books must still get the word out through the very same channels, publicity, advertising, reviews, radio, book signings, and speaking engagements, as before. PLUS the internet.

P.S. Of course, you can sell your book to a publisher, but then you will still need to do all of the very same things to move the book, and you will make far less for each book sold. The advantage is that the publisher pays the upfront costs. The advantage is even greater if you get a substantial advance.

Que Sera, Sera, What Will Be, Will Be

by Lorilyn Roberts

Even though I don’t know my future, I will sleep well tonight. If I were a betting woman in my dreams, I’d make two predictions—I will not win a million dollars in the lottery—I don’t play, and I will never be President—thank goodness. You couldn’t pay me enough for that job. My older daughter used to tell me I’d make an excellent President—back before I became dumb during the teenage years. Fortunately, I have become smart again, since she turned twenty-one.

Now I get to go through being dumb all over again. My second daughter is at that age when boys flirt and cars excite. I worry once more—and remind myself God knows my heart-felt prayers for my children. Maybe I’m a little wiser—certainly a little older. At least I know what to expect the second time around. I have to admit, I look forward to the day I become smart once again, unless dementia sets in. We won’t talk about that.

When I was nine, one of my favorite songs was Que Sera, Sera; Whatever Will Be Will Be. My dreams for the future did not include infertility, infidelity, and all the injustices that come from living in a fallen world. When we are young, we are closer to God—before innocence is torn from us by sin. Kids easily believe in miracles or magic—call it what you want. No wonder when we are old, we must become like little children. Are we redeemed enough to see our Savior through the darkened glass of shattered dreams? A child sees the glory of a risen king—and asks no questions.

In retrospect, I am thankful God did not give me most of the things I wanted. He gave me what I needed. God’s gifts don’t always come wrapped in pretty boxes.  They arrive in more mysterious ways.  Sometimes it takes time to see His workings, and for somebody like me who is impatient, that is tough.

It would have been much easier to go to a store and pick up a book that read, How to Get Your Life Straightened Out, or How to Fix Your Broken Marriage, or How To Be Dumb During the Teenage Years.”  Just kidding. I didn’t need a prompt for that. I could read the book in a weekend, and bravo, come Monday morning, I’d have my life all straightened out. That would be so efficient.  So like me. 

God knew better.  He knew I needed time—only time would grow me into the Christian woman He wanted me to be. Only through the years where wisdom seeds itself would understanding be revealed—to write the passion of my soul and feel God’s Spirit through my words. God knew above all my heart and how I longed for children. Only He knew how to make that a reality (Lord knows, I tried).
        

Isaiah 55:8 says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. Someday I hope to fully understand what that means. It’s one of those “mysteries” that God will need to explain to me—if I still wonder after I see His scarred hands and feet. When I was married and shortly before my husband left for good, I read this passage and implored of God, “Oh, please, let not your ways include divorce. I don’t want a divorce.” I became paranoid. I trusted man more than God. I trusted a husband who had been unfaithful more than I trusted my heavenly Father who died for me. I feared the ridicule of my family and church, the whispers, and that the ugly wounds from childhood would bite me once again. Was I not even good enough to keep a husband?

Now I chuckle. On any given day, I may not be good enough for the most mundane task. I have learned to laugh at myself—even when I am the only one laughing. My daughters will tell you.

I remember that the time is fleeting, the pain temporary, and the future extraordinary. So I peck away at the typewriter, certain that I won’t go to jail for not filing my taxes—I just finished them today, and am glad to live another day. Why? So I can get out of bed in the morning, go to work, and pay more taxes.

I will remember to feed the dogs in the evening (or they will yelp), set the air conditioner to 77 when I go to bed (or I will sweat), and will fill up the car with gas—usually it’s on empty. That makes life exciting. I won’t speed down 39^th Avenue where that female police officer lurks behind a sign (I would know), and I will get my half and half at Publix so my coffee will taste almost as good as Starbucks. I am still working hard to kick that habit.

If your life is like mine, most of it boils down to the mundane, the ridiculous, or the absurd. Without my Lord and Savior to remind me that this is “my passion,” I think I’d go insane. God’s voice inside me removes the edge, lowers my blood pressure, and convicts me of what’s important. He helps me to remember to pray for those who are hurting, and I delight myself in His Word—and wonder why I fail to read the Bible more often. Or curl up on the sofa with my Kindle and get lost in one of the books begging to be read—and write reviews for authors who wait with baited breath. I would know that, too.

I’d fail to find goodness in the land of the living without my relationship with Jesus Christ. His Spirit brings me hope—for my daughters to marry Christian men and have a dozen kids; for my future—to live into my 90’s like my grandparents; and forgiveness for my past sins—even the ones I don’t remember.

God gives me the drive to live life to the fullest—work hard, play hard, and not to sweat the small stuff. The small stuff is what trips me up, but I remind myself I will never run out of stories. I just need to be careful I don’t trip over my seven-pound cat. Even our Border collie knows better.

Regrets—don’t play that game. You will never catch a glimpse of the marvelous future held in store for you if you keep looking back. Even though the future is not ours to see—we see through a glass darkly for a little while longer—thankfully, we have an awesome God who sees clearly—in colors we can’t imagine. And I bet even wrinkles, gray hair, and fat bellies look grand. Que sera, sera; whatever will be, will be.

*~*~*

Please visit http://LorilynRoberts.com to learn more about Lorilyn Roberts.

Staying Power

James is speaking to me. Over and over. He is rather insistent that way.

Other biblical writers take a more roundabout path, craft a message that isn't too in your face. But James is not like that. He is so straightforward, it's hard to take sometimes. And for two weeks, I've not gotten past his first eighteen verses.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

Heck, I can barely get past that.

Troubles are an opportunity for great joy. I know, in retrospect, that this is true. I didn't usually know when troubles were actually in my way. It's kind of difficult to see the joy when the trouble is filling your entire windshield and blocking the view of anything else. But I know, deeply, that these verses are true. I know that the steadfastness (the word the ESV uses for endurance) I feel in my faith is a result of the extreme pains of the past, and I feel nothing but grateful for that. But the knowing when pain suddenly pierces your side – that is far more difficult. Only falling back on my history with God, and on his words, will remind me.

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”

I know when people read this, they think, “But I can never ask without doubt. Isn't that beyond human ability? Besides, God doesn't always give us what we ask for, so how can we not doubt we will get it?” 

I believe that's a misreading. James isn't implying we will receive what we ask for. He has no stock in the name it and claim it gospel. His point is not that we never doubt the outcome but that we never doubt God. The faith should be in the One we are praying to, not in the thing we want. 

Do we doubt God himself, his goodness, his power, or his love? Do we pray to him but hedge our bets, putting real trust in something else in case God doesn't come through? Can we joyfully say when we pray, “Your will be done. If I never see any result, if I live in trials from this day forward, I will trust in you”? Like Job, in other words, can we mean, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him”?

That's the faith James is talking about. And “God, I'm stamping your name on what I want, and I know you'll deliver” is an anemic substitute for that kind of faith.

Plus, let's not forget he's encouraging us to ask for wisdom, not a grab bag of stuff. Specifically, wisdom to endure trials and know how to mine the joy from them and leave the junk. I can only imagine what American Christianity would look like if more of us asked for wisdom first before asking for anything else. It might be a good Lenten discipline right now.

“Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements. God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, 'God is tempting me.' God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

We're talking priorities here. Going through trials with faith and endurance, rather than impatience and blaming, creates in us the kind of maturity God seeks. The kind that shines like a light for others going through pain. So it makes sense he would follow up those lessons with a reminder that, in this tiny slice of eternity, our relative abundance of possessions or security doesn't matter at all. What matters is how we react to the circumstances of our lives. Choose joy and faith, or choose complaint and striving? Either way, the moments of our lives fade quickly. So why spend them chasing after what will splinter and dissolve even faster?

I don't know what that is for you. Maybe it's a new house, but you'r sacrificing time with those eternal beings known as your family to get there. Maybe it's a job promotion, but you're living and breathing in dissatisfaction every time you get passed over. Maybe it's notice and appreciation for something you've done, but you're letting bitterness and resentment keep you from tangible love for the offending person (who probably doesn't even know you're waiting).

I don't know. I just know, from experience, that chasing what I don't have ruins all chances of living in gratitude for what I do.  [tweet this]. If I'm tempted to disbelieve, doubt, and chase, it isn't God tempting me. It's me wanting what God is not offering. That is such a waste, considering what he does offer.

"So don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession." 

Is it good? Then it's from God. Does it feel good, look good, or sound good? It may be from God. Then again, it may not. Good doesn't always feel good. Sometimes, it feels an awful lot like pain. Sometimes, good appears as great hurt that peels away at our selfishness and pride and exposes the raw, vulnerable flesh of repentance and surrender.  [tweet this]. And that, my friends, is very, very good. You can trust that kind of good, because it doesn't depend on circumstances or feelings. It depends on the character of God, which never changes.

Our feelings go in and out like the tide. His core being remains like the sun, the center around which we must orbit. Maybe that's why James uses such a beautiful, evocative name for him – the Father of Lights.

I feel deeply ashamed, when confronted with brothers and sisters who are losing their lives rather than doubt their Father. Sisters who watch their children murdered; brothers who see their wives and daughters sold into slavery. Because they are people who chose not to doubt their Father.

Meanwhile, I live in a culture where we desert churches because we don't like the choices they make for a building project or an outreach ministry, or we just wanted to be noticed and appreciated and don't think we were. I live in a world where Christians expect God to come through for them because they've prayed a prayer and thought positively, so that job, relationship, bank account should be safe and secure. And when it isn't? Oh, we are driven and tossed by the wind of doubt and disbelief.

We have no concept of steadfastness.

I have no concept of it.

Lord, give us steadfastness. Give us wisdom. Give us perspective on what is real trouble and what is our selfish response to temporary discomfort, offense, or inconvenience. Make us a people of lights that rely on the Father of Lights so that others will know – you are good. You are totally, unflinchingly, everlastingly, good. 

Sometimes We Slip Back

A blogging fuss, an alarming trend, and my own predictable skid.

These past few days, Christian bloggers seemed to have lost the ability to choose an original topic. Scores of creative minds, all at the same time, addressed a particular subject. It didn’t come from Scripture, though I'm sure some wisdom from the Word eased its way in. No church movement demanded the united efforts of Christ-centered writers. The increasing severity of persecution around the world couldn’t inspire such single-minded consternation. The attention grabber, the issue challenging the keypads of blogging Christians, was a movie.

The book the movie is based on stirred some fuss as well, but not like this. A movie premier is in your face. It’s on your TV. It’s something to see. An event to spark a reaction.

And this one got it. Not just from our hedonistic society, but from the Christian community. I didn’t know much about the book or its offspring of a movie, so I picked a blog from the many that used rhyming words like “Nay” or “Pray” in the titles. Just one. I opted out on getting fifty opinions of the same sin. The blog I chose was written by Albert Mohler. He started by implying the release of the movie  is more serious than most Christians realize. He ended with a call to unify what is good and true and beautiful in our hearts and minds, and in our bodies.

I agreed with Mohler’s warning that we need to be aware of the changing level of acceptance regarding what is nothing less than pornography. But I still wondered why so many Christian writers had to shovel more publicity onto the heap for this movie. I get the point—it’s not good for me. I don’t need repeated expositions. But…maybe someone else does.

Pornography is an attack on our senses and our souls, even among Christians. It's been an issue primarily for men, but this new wave of perversion to God’s good plan targets women. So maybe it’s not hard core. Maybe it’s just romance. The title is intriguing. The commercials are practically enchanting. Like a fairy tale. That’s what women want, right? I don’t know how this story turns out, but I’m betting the girl's Prince Charming is a wolf. 

One night I’d had enough of Christians begging me to boycott a movie I had no plan to see, so I turned off the computer and settled in with my Prince Charming to watch the news. And, of course, the news was all about the movie. The premier. The crowds rushing to buy tickets. And then there was the author. She sat before an assembly of fans. They came with their copies of her book and she signed them. She didn’t look like a porn proponent, just an average woman with a smile on her face. And fat wallet in her purse. I didn’t know how fat until the news anchor told me. A hundred. Million. Dollars. Off the sales of one book.

My jaw dropped. I’d spent the day going through first-round edits on my second novel. My debut novel, so far, is not a bestseller. My wallet’s not a whole lot fatter than it was before I was blessed to get a book published. For a fleeting breath of a moment, I considered the sheer waste of time and energy I’d devoted to Christian fiction. And I pondered an abrupt end to my effort.

I lifted my head from Prince’s shoulder and said, “There aren’t many things that make me want to quit. But that does.”

He rubbed my arm and encouraged me. And God caressed my spirit and reminded me of my calling. I have something to write about. It’s not popular, but I try to make it entertaining. It doesn’t often result in prosperity, but that’s not my goal. It’s just that for a minute I wondered why people loved her book when she has nothing to offer but sin.

Oh yeah. It didn’t take me long to get it. She supplied what the people wanted. That’s who they are. It’s who we once were and sometimes we slip back. So I suppose God had His hand in packing the Internet with all those movie-bashing, sin-revealing, sanctifying blogs. Some of us must have needed it.  As for me, my sin was much simpler. I just wanted what she got. A bestseller. Maybe a little recognition for a darn well-written novel.

I repented.

How would you describe true love?

“I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me”—Matthew 25:34-36 (MSG)

If you were asked to describe true love, how would you answer? Look up the synonyms for love in a thesaurus and you’ll find the following words close in meaning: affection, appreciation, devotion, emotion, fondness and friendship, along with several others. But these are man’s words.

 

I like the definition for love found in God’s Holy Word: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).

 If we don’t love, how can we, as Christians, be the light He calls us to be in the world?

From a secular viewpoint, love is often associated with the physical aspects of a relationship and the expression of that love through gifts such as candy, flowers and cards as seen on Valentine’s Day. While there’s nothing wrong with these things, from a Biblical perspective, true love is found in the spiritual. True love is not just between a man and a woman but is found in all of our relationships when we seek a higher calling.


Although we don’t usually associate Jesus’ words to His disciples in Matthew 25:34-36 with love (see above), I think it’s an example of the calling we have on our lives if we seek to love our fellow man, even our enemies. As Christians, we are to be God’s representatives to the world. He tells us plainly in Micah 6:8: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

 If we don’t love, how can we, as Christians, be the light He calls us to be in the world? I like the version of this passage found in “The Message.” In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus said, “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

When we reach out to others, even strangers, we are witnesses to His great love. When we provide for the physical needs as well as the spiritual needs of others, we become His hands and feet.

Isn’t that the definition of true love?

For more inspiration from Carol, check out her blog at www.carolaround.com. 

TRIALS ARE GOOD

Rough times are God’s invitation and reminder for us to trust Him and lean on Him 

 

Quite often, when we ask the question “Why?” we imply that something hasn’t gone the way we expected or the way it should have gone. We imply that a mistake has been made, and we need an explanation. 

We don’t direct our “Why?” questions only to each other. We direct them to God as well, and that is okay. He has the answers for all of them. We might not agree with His answers at the time, but He helps us see things His way eventually.  

Let us consider this: if, without asking God, we always had what we needed, and things always went our way, when would we express dependence upon Him for anything or express faith in Him? After all, He admonishes us to “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV84). When would we ever ascribe our successes to His power and grace? Success would be all about us. All the glory would be ours and ours alone. We would claim, “I did this,” and “I did that,” and “I did the other, too.”  

If we didn’t have issues we could take to God, how would we know He could fix them? Had He fixed them before we ever asked Him, He would not receive any glory from us for fixing them. So, God allows trials in our lives to direct us to Himself and His awesome power. In fact, down here on earth, we will have troubles again and again, but they are good for us.

When things get rough, let us go to Him, not to ask why, but to express confidence in His ability to take charge, and work them out for our good.   

Rough times are God’s invitation and reminder for us to trust Him and lean on Him. Those hard experiences are times to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). When we lean on Him, He intervenes in unimaginable ways to demonstrate how much He cares about us.

God does not take pleasure in our pain, struggles, hurts or difficulties. Rather, He uses these situations to redirect us to Himself, because He is interested in a deeper relationship with each one of His children. May God help us to see suffering, pain, disappointments, and the like from His perspective, and to be thankful.  

Things will not go smoothly all the time. Otherwise we would try to claim for ourselves the glory that is due Him. He has already said “I will not give my glory to another” (Isaiah 42:8 NIV84). NO EXCEPTIONS!

Walk with Me a While and Hear My Heart

Who can you talk to when your Christian walk is a crawl?

I am sure glad for that saying right now: "The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints." I don't feel much like a saint these days.

But I just have a sneaky suspicion that a huge percentage of us sickly saints don't really want to talk about our current maladies. Oh, we are all too quick to ask for prayer for our physical illnesses. For many, it gets pretty sticky to ask for prayer or guidance for our emotional or relational troubles. But when it comes to a broken spiritual bone or strained prayer muscle, that is almost never brought up in the small group or Sunday School class for direction and prayer.

So I'm going to break that tradition. I'm going public. My prayer life is dry bones. I'm so busy with work, family, play, and yes, I admit it, TV, that I can't even get into the right posture and place for prayer.

I just wrote a book on all this. It gives all the good reasons for being a great disciple. And at the top of the list is that it is going to make my life better. I get that. It is also pleasing to God. Check that.

Well.  I do read my Bible once a week. You see, I lead a weekly Bible study, so I study each week in preparation. But, check it out. The other day, the cable went down, and somehow that also took my phone connection to the internet. I looked at the 4 walls for a while hoping to be reconnected to the rest of civilization. I realized I no longer have a radio except in my car. No newspaper. No magazines. I considered just picking up the Bible and reading. My excuse for not doing so. I've read every word in the Book at least 8 times, and some 5 times that. Dry bones.

I'm in church, go to men's ministry meetings, belong to another small group, and rarely miss any of those. I listen to sermons or other Christian radio programs any time I'm in the car. And, I'm always blessed by what I hear. Sounds all great.

I'm not off doing something horrible. Just the normal sins. Little white lies and exaggerations, a bit of gossip hear and there, and failure to think about my relationship with God or pray specifically as I process decisions.

Probably I'm disappointed with God. Except, I already worked THAT out! I read in a fantastic book by Tim Keller called "King's Cross," that getting all upset because my expectations of how God is going to act didn't pan out is pure pride. And I believe it in my head, and it is sort of clear in my heart. And I remind myself daily that regardless of any missing pieces in how I think God should be handling my life, I have an AMAZING life. Really!! Today, Feb 14, it was 84 in my back yard, the jasmines are blooming, and I have great health and a fine business to support me and my family.

So, if you want to pray for a stranger, I'm asking. I need to get back to being excited about prayer and Bible study. I need to be willing to do what is necessary to get still and take the time to lay my head on Christ's bosom. Who else needs that kind of prayer. Share in the comments. I would love to walk a while with you.