Check out this interview with Frank Peretti. When someone’s sold 12 million books, it’s worth learning some lessons from their habits.

He sees movies as a great way to lean the craft of storytelling:

I don’t watch television. Barb and I disconnected the TV years ago. We watch a lot of movies, practically every night. I watch them to see how the story is handled. It’s like in music when you listen to others who play your instrument to learn how they play it. You learn by observing others.

And note the secular fiction he reads:

…Michael Crichton — I like the way he constructs his story, his cinematic style and his eye for detail. He’s easy and fun to read, he moves his stories along. He’s always in a techno-thriller thing and I like that kind of thing. Mostly, I just like the way he handles his craft. I also like John Grisham. He’s a pretty good writer. I read a little Dean Koontz every now and then. I read a little Stephen King because I keep being compared to him. I can’t see the comparison.

Joel Miller–senior editor at Nelson Current–just posted an entry called, “Book Publishing and the Market.” In it he says,

Because I have so few publishing slots, I’m supposed to be the king of cynics, the Simon Cowell of books, e.g.: “I’m sorry, but it’s really bad. Really, really bad. Honestly.” Sentiments to that effect are communicated all the time. I’m nicer than that, of course. But book proposals are many, actual slots on the list are few. My job is similar to Cowell’s; I’m supposed to filter through the many to find the few. But it’s right at this point where everything gets difficult.

Read More

This from Thomas Nelson’s President Michael Hyatt’s blog, on WestBow Press publishing “More Innovative Fiction”:

Thomas Nelson’s WestBow imprint is quickly gaining a reputation for publishing more innovative CBA fiction. Launched in late 2003, WestBow’s intention from the start was to raise the bar. “Our primary goal isn’t ‘edgy’ fiction but stories with a real, authentic voice that are entertaining, culturally relevant, and God honoring,” said publisher and industry veteran Allen Arnold. “When we find those voices, we don’t shy away from the edgy elements—or sugarcoat them.”

Read more on the From Where I Sit blog.

There are two Christian writers events that are particularly relevant in the industry–the Calvin Festival of Faith and Writing (held in Grand Rapids, Michigan), and the Baylor Art and Soul Festival (held in Waco, Texas).

The faculty, the workshops, the atmosphere—these are the places where writers meet to encourage one another, and contacts are made between the people that write and the editors that want to publish them.

I’ll be attending the next Baylor Art and Soul Festival starting Thursday, April 7th. I’ll be working a booth in my capacity as managing editor of Fire By Nite.

If you’re going, drop by and say ‘Hi’. If you’re not going, drop by swshinn.com where I’ll be posting updates live from the Festival.

For more information, visit the Baylor Art & Soul Festival Web Site.