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This last episode of Publishing Today: Clear Direction for a Changing Industry will explore the power of doing your homework when choosing a publisher. There are so many options that “sound” so good, but using critical thinking and comparing the insinuations and promises in the sales pitch to the actual fine print on the website can save an author time, heartache, and lots of money. Listen as we discuss with 3 different authors their experience with publishers who over promise and under deliver, and discover why Redemption Press is your best choice as a publisher.

In this day and age, the art of connecting with your readers is perhaps the most important of all. In order to stand out from the crowd and have your message heard, you must engage your audience in creative ways and endear them to you. This takes intentional action steps where you, as the author, reach your readers to inspire, stimulate, and evoke authentic emotion and meaningful response. There are so many ways to accomplish this, but how do you know which would work best for you? How do you discover the most effective strategies? This episode of Publishing Today will provide the opportunity for you to learn from experts in the industry, Suzanne and Shawn Kuhn, as they share their vast wisdom on this topic.

Join Publishing Today host and industry pioneer, Athena Dean Holtz, as she celebrates the Declaration of Independence in Publishing in honor of the 4th of July. In this show she will discuss the positives and negatives of traditional publishing as well as independent publishing, why you would self-publish and more importantly, why you wouldn't self-publish. She will also address the power behind purpose and the right motives, along with some of the ways she has seen God provide funds for the publishing process. Don't miss this informative and inspirational episode on the power of publishing, purpose and provision!

Annually, there are more than 550 significant writers’ contests in America, offering a variety of prizes that include such things as plaques and certificates, publication in national magazines, cash payments, college scholarships, tuition to writers’ conferences, and even book contracts. Our guest today will explain how to discover and enter writing contests, how to give yourself the best advantage for winning a contest, and also ways to benefit from contests even if you don’t take first prize.

In today's publishing landscape, the importance of branding to an author is vital. If done right, it can enhance your career in ways that translate into a larger platform which translates into more books sold. If done wrong, it can slow things down and inhibit your ability to clearly communicate through your website, blog and social media. Simply put, you can't afford to ignore the power of a brand! Join us this Saturday, 6/20 as my guest, award winning novelist and marketing and branding guru, James L. Rubart, shares insider secrets to effective author branding.

Join me for another lively discussion from the Write to Publish Conference on the campus of Wheaton Bible College in the Chicago area. Three writers who've used the power of the pen in articles will share from their success how you can use article writing to effectively promote your book. Learn to use article writing as a gateway to publication as these professionals provide useful wisdom to help you increase your platform and exposure for your writing. Don't miss it!

Join me for a lively discussion from the Write to Publish Conference on the campus of Wheaton Bible College in the Chicago area. One of the best gatherings around where professional writers, editors, agents, and industry professionals equip and empower aspiring authors, veterans authors, and everything in between. I'll be serving on the faculty of the conference, so while there I'll pull aside those who've used the most effective promotional strategies to sell more books and share them with you. We'll also discuss the power of promotion with writing coach Rochelle Melander and you'll discover the best ways for an author to master social media. The publishing landscape continues to change and evolve, with thousands of unpublished authors entering the market every day. All the more reason to find the most effective ways to promote your book and stand out from the crowd!

Did you know that the number one fear across the boards, second only to dying, is public speaking? That's right, the one thing that can most help your book sales could be the most frightening act of your life. That's why you'll want to tune in this Saturday and join us as we discuss The Power of the Spoken Word. As an author, you just can't avoid the word platform when hearing about what it takes to have a successful publishing career. And no matter how you publish, independently or the traditional route, or somewhere in between, as the author, you are encouraged to establish a speaking platform in order to sell more books. Don't miss this dynamic topic. My guests and I will provide you with valuable take away and ideas for taking your speaking strategy to the next level.

Words have the power to attract or repel, to draw a reader in or cause them to lose interest. They have the ability to heal or to wound. They are the power of life and death. The importance of words and the way in which they are crafted can fan the flame of a growing writing ministry or completely extinguish it. On this Saturday's episode, we'll be discussing The Power of Words, and why every author needs an editor. Not just someone who calls themselves an editor, but a professional editor who knows the rules and has successful experience. Join me as I interview three women whose lives revolve around the written word and shine with excellence.

Do you need an agent to become a published author? Is the only door into a traditional publisher through an agent? What is the role of an agent, and how important is it? These are some of the questions we’ll be answering on the next episode of “Publishing Today: Clear Direction for a Changing Industry.” Join Athena Dean Holtz and her guests to discuss “The Power of Representation” and find out the inside scoop on literary agents from some of the best in the business. Over the last 25 years, the Christian publishing industry has changed their acquisitions model dramatically. Gone are the days of “slush piles” of hundreds and sometimes thousands of unsolicited manuscripts where in house readers and editors reviewed the work of potential authors and responded to 90+ percent of the submissions with a rejection letter. Today in the publishing industry, agents play a vital role in the traditional publishing process. Listen in and discover the power of representation!

The power of connection is crucial if you really want to grow in your craft. Writing is a lonely business. Putting words on paper (or into your laptop) takes concentration and quiet. Coming together with other writers, authors, and professionals in the publishing industry is anything but quiet, but it's necessary. Learning from others who've been successful in their publishing journey, sitting down with an agent, editor, or publisher, having a meal with a fellow aspiring author and encouraging one another ... these are life changing moments sure to help you learn the necessary steps for you to accomplish all that God intends for your writing career. During this episode of Publishing Today, we'll be discussing the power of connection with three women who lead some of the most influential Christian writers conferences in the country.

Do you have a story to tell? It may be your personal story of a transformed life, the history of your business, or a resource that spotlights the story of your ministry. Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, curriculum, or a children’s book, the power of a story can change hearts and communicate facts like nothing else can. In this debut episode of Publishing Today, you'll be introduced to three gifted storytellers who’ve put the power of the pen to work in both novels and non-fiction issue based books. The discussion will include many aspects of touching lives with the written word. New York Times bestselling novelist, Karen Kingsbury, will be featured in the first segment, and listeners will be encouraged to text in to win a free copy of each authors’ latest work. A closing portion of the show will include Ask Athena, where your host, industry expert and publisher Athena Dean Holtz, will answer email questions from the listening audience about publishing and everything related.