Attention Writers: Join us in Atlanta!

I'd like to alert you to an opportunity coming up on June 22, 2008 at the Atlanta Convention Center. Admission to the Catholic New Media Celebration is free to the first 600 registrants. This event will be held on Sunday, the day after the Eucharistic Conference (which is also free of charge).

Lisa Hendey writes:

"The Catholic New Media Celebration is going to be an unprecedented event in the history of Catholic media. The CNMC is a day to Learn, Share, and Explore how New Media can help the Catholic Church in the New Evangelization. The CNMC is a day to Learn, Share, and Explore how New Media can help the Catholic Church in the New Evangelization."

I am planning to attend and will be arriving in Atlanta on Friday, June 20 to enjoy the Eucharistic Congress and will stay through Monday. Please consider attending this free event - I'm confident that it is going to be a huge success and know you'll want to be a part of it.

Friends Old, New ... and Virtual

This past weekend at a retreat in Greenville, Michigan I had the opportunity to reconnect with an "old" friend, my publisher Cheryl Dickow of Bezalel Books, and a friend and fellow Bezalel author I'd never actually had a chance to meet in person before, Kathryn Mulderink.

It was an unforgettable experience, sharing the weekend with these women of faith.

You know, we really need a "Canticle retreat"!

Last Chance: Register for Catholic Writer's Conference Online!

Just a reminder that the Catholic Writers Conference Online registration ends FRIDAY! This is a free conference, with speakers from all areas of Catholic publishing--from the writer to the publisher--covering all areas of writing--from idea generation to query to contract and beyond. Sign up at http://conference.catholicwritersguild.org/.

Here's a list of presenters and their presentations.

Ami McConnell: Trends In Fiction
Audrey Shaffer: Branding and Your Marketing Platform
Barry Michaels: Feature Article--Ideas and Queries
Bert Ghezzi: Ins and Outs of Publishing
Brian St Paul--Crisis & Inside Catholic: Meet the Editors of InsideCatholic
Carolyn Howard-Johnson: 10 Ways to Let Agents Know You are an Amateur
Carolyn Howard-Johnson: Marketing Basics (with Karina)
Colleen Drippe: Driving Writers Crazy--The Editor
Heidi Hess Saxton: The Good Writer: Seven Habits of Good Writers
Heidi Hess Saxton: Meet the Editor of Canticle Magazine
Hope Clark: The Shy Writer

Hope Clark: Funds for Writers
Karina Fabian: Worldbuilding
Karina Fabian: Marketing Basics (with Carolyn)
Karina Fabian: Virtual Book Tours
Karina, Michelle Buckman, Terry Burns: Contract Essentials
Lea Schizas: Writing the Short Story
Mark Shea: How Faith Connects to Everything
Maya Bohnhoff: Show Me, Don't Tell Me--Character and Dialog
Maya Bohnhoff: Plotting Through Writer's Block
Melenie Rigney: Ethics of Memoir Writing
Melenie Rigney: Book Modeling
Meredith Gould: Self-Publishing as a First Resort
Michelle Buckman: Writing For Teens
Michelle Buckman: The Right Details
Patrice MacArthur: Art of Blogging
Patricia Punt: Writing for the Inspirational Market
Patti Armstrong--Ascension Press: Hooking Your Reader
Pete Vere: Canon Law and the Catholic Writer
Sister Maria Grace-Pauline Books: Pitch Session--Pauline Books
Steve Saffel: Working With a Book Editor
Steve Saffel: Using E-Media to Promote
Sylvia Dohram: Character Development and Dialogue
Terry Burns--agent: Pitching and Working With Agents
Tim Drake: So You Want to Write a Book?
Tim Powers: SFF and Catholicism
Tom Grace: Crafting the Catholic Thriller
Vinita Wright: Making Friends With the Creative/Spiritual Process
Woodenee Koenig Bricker: Writing With Faith But Without Bias

Prayer Request: Heidi's Mom

Update: Today (Thursday) Mom called. She is home. Apparently it was a mild heart attack, which those with a history of stroke and diabetes are sometimes subject to. They are adjusting her medication, and we hope to see her shortly after Mother's Day. Thanks for your prayers!

Today I received word that my mother was hospitalized on Sunday with heart problems. They are still running tests to determine what needs to be done.

Please add Sandy Hess (and my father, John Hess) to your prayer roster. Thanks!

Mother's Day Writing Contest!

Is there a woman in your life who has been like a mother to you ... though she is not the woman who gave birth to you? It could be a godmother, favorite aunt or teacher, sister, or friend.

During the month of April, "Behold Your Mother" will be hosting a contest to honor these special women. Send me your tribute (with her picture) by April 20, and I will post it during the first week of May. If your tribute is selected, I will send you a free copy of Behold Your Mother or Raising Up Mommy (or you can choose to send it to the honoree).

Thanks in advance for helping me spread the word!

May 2008 Issue is UP!

Congratulations to the authors whose articles are going to appear in the May/June 2008 issue.

Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle (Donna posted this one when she actually got her issue in the mail!)

Kate Wicker

Michaelene Fredenburg

Sylvia Dorham

Patricia Hershwitzky

Maura Buete

Susan Brinkmann

Patti Mansfield

Anna Abbott

Diane Spotts

Deb Richards

Jacqueline Rapp

Kathryn Landreneau

Sister Mary Catherine Vulkmanic

Mary Jo Anderson

Please post this cover on your blog or website -- help us spread the good word about Canticle! When you do, send me your link and I'll post it here. (Send it to hsaxton(at)christianword(dot)com.) Blessings ... and thanks!