I attended the recent West Coast Christian Writers’ Conference, online, October 8-10. The cost was low; and the conference was well planned with a balance between pre-recorded instruction sessions and interactive Zoom game breaks and lunch chats.

I enjoyed seeing several familiar faces and appreciated each morning’s devotions, led by one of the planning team.

Jan Kern’s devotion from Isaiah 55:1-3 spoke to me. “If you are thirsty, come–there is water for all–come closer–my words give life!”

And Kathi Lipp spoke on Rooted Marketing. Yup, marketing – an idea I dislike strongly. Let me research and write a book, but don’t ask me to market myself. However, Kathi put a different spin on this word when she reflected that the purpose of marketing is to show readers the possibilities in:

• The Work – what the reader can expect
• Themselves – what they can learn of or about themselves. Writing leads us to great possibilities: and
• Their God – Expand the readers’ view of how God interacts with us. She spoke of redwood trees which have shallow roots, but intertwine their roots beneath the soil to strengthen and support each other. As writers we build those interconnections by serving others in a way that strengthens and builds them up.

There were other presentations I enjoyed and learned from. But let me close with this awesome example Kathi gave of being generous with each other, of being rooted together like those huge redwoods. Keala, the singer, was nervous. Watch the change in her demeanor as she connects with the man in the purple hoodie in the second row. He was hired just for the day – wasn’t in the movie at all – but was so generous with his support. Watch how his subtle interactions with her bring her alive. It still has me in tears even after watching it multiple times!

So you are part of my audience. I cherish your prayers as I continue writing my novel (working title OUT OF RUSSIA). Pray that I will write for God and serve my readers in ways that bring out the best in them.

Father, out of Your honorable and glorious riches, strengthen Your people. Fill their souls with the power of Your Spirit so that through faith the Anointed One will reside in their hearts. May love be the rich soil where their lives take root. May it be the bedrock where their lives are founded so that together with all of Your people they will have the power to understand that the love of the Anointed is infinitely long, wide, high, and deep, surpassing everything anyone previously experienced. 

Ephesians 3:16-18, The Voice

Bless you, my reading friends!