Submissions Call for New Holiday Book by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson
From the co-authors of the highly popular CHRISTMAS MIRACLES, Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson are seeking submissions for their follow-up book, CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, to be published by St. Martin's Press in the fall of 2011, with a foreward by New York Times bestselling author, Debbie Macomber.
The project seeks true stories that emphasize the significance of the Christmas season. We get caught up in the busy-ness of the season—the shopping, the family drama, and the event planning--that we lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. Sometimes, through God's grace or what some call a twist of fate, we're able to step back and grasp the real meaning of Christmas and our lives are enriched. This is a great opportunity for authors of all kinds to participate in a successful compilation.
The Knight Agency will be closed from Monday, December 21st until Monday, January 4th, 2010.* We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday! See you in the New Year!!!
*If you are a Knight Agency client and have any questions about our holiday schedule, please contact your indivdual agent directly.
Christmas Week Guest Blog and Giveaway DAY 4: Twila Belk
UPDATE: The winner of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson is Sarah! Congrats! Please send your physical address to contests(AT)knightagency.net.
A Note from Jia (a.k.a. the wizard behind the green curtain of this blog): Don't forget that we're having our annual online holiday party TONIGHT @ 9pmET. Chat with the CHRISTMAS MIRACLES authors Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson, along with contributors like Twila Belk! More than a dozen "presents" will be given out, in addition to a first chapter manuscript critique by one of our agents! Click here to bookmark our chat room. *hands mic to Twila* ----------------------
Deck the halls with Christmas miracles, fa la la la la la la la la.
As I sit here trying to come up with a brilliant blog entry, I could use a couple Christmas miracles right now. Number one would be that I actually get the blog entry written before it needs to be posted. Number two would be that my house would miraculously decorate itself. Am I the only one in the world with a naked Christmas tree and zero decorations on display? I shouldn’t be concerned—I have at least another week before Christmas, right? Then there’s the pile of presents to wrap. And the cookies and banana nut bread and bran muffin mix I wanted to make. There’s a ton of stuff hanging over my head right now.
But as I think about it, that’s the kind of stuff that doesn’t really matter in the long run. Christmas isn’t about decorations or presents or bran muffins. It’s about miracles—and one miracle in particular that happened in the little town of Bethlehem many years ago when a baby with the name of Immanuel (God with us) came on the scene. That was the first Christmas miracle, and God has been doing Christmas miracles ever since.
The dictionary describes a miracle as “an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.” I describe a miracle as “a big wow.” “Wow” is about the only thing I can say when something that doesn’t seem possible in the physical realm happens.
I work full-time with bestselling author Cecil (Cec) Murphey as his manager and personal assistant. He and author Marley Gibson joined forces to work on a wonderful book project called CHRISTMAS MIRACLES, published by St. Martin’s Press. It was already in its third printing before it released on October 13. I did a lot of behind-the-scenes work on the book. I’ve handled much of the publicity for it. I’ve worked very closely with the 44 contributors. And, because I’ve personally experienced many “wow moments,” I was able to contribute two of my own stories: “Poinsettias from God” and “It Took a Miracle.”
The book has 48 real-life stories of everyday people who have experienced life-changing moments of hope, comfort, and transformation. Some of the stories involve God’s perfect timing. Others showcase God’s provision or loving care at a difficult time. Some make the reader smile. Others bring tears to the eyes. They all serve as reminders that God still does miracles TODAY. They serve as reminders that GOD IS WITH US. That’s an encouraging message.
As I’ve corresponded with the contributors, I’ve learned of a few heartwarming stories that have happened because of the book.
The contributor copies of the book were a bit late arriving because of going into the third printing. Here’s what one contributor said: “I couldn't wait, so I ran to Barnes and Noble and picked up a copy of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES. It's beautiful! My friend and I were perusing it when a homeless man asked us about it. Long story short, God used that wonderful little book to bring a lot of hope and encouragement to him. It really was transforming for him. He went from very discouraged and depressed to eyes brimming with tears and filled with hope. He even started talking about his lost dreams and who God had created him to be.”
In a note I received this week, another contributor mentioned that she had a couple of memorable experiences because of the book. Her story, “Sean’s Question,” is the last story in the book. It’s about losing a child and how God touched her during that time. She said, “I happened to be sitting next to a man in a public place who had lost a child. I knew that this person had struggled with anger and other emotions due to the circumstances of the loss. Because someone talked about the book and he overheard, we were able to have a conversation about our common experience. I told him about sharing my story in the book and gave him a CHRISTMAS MIRACLES postcard. A week later I received a phone call from him at work, and he told me that he had gone out and bought the book after we talked, and that he had read my story and some of the other stories in the book. He said he didn't think it was a coincidence that our paths had crossed and that we had talked. He wanted me to know how much he appreciated it. He seemed very touched by the book.”
Isn’t that just like God? He does miracles around the book about miracles!
Are you longing for a touch of the miraculous in your life right now? I’m not talking about the finish-the-blog-entry type of miracle or the getting-the-house-decorated miracle. Maybe you’re discouraged because of circumstances beyond your control. Maybe you’re wondering how you’ll make it through the next few weeks. Maybe you’ve run out of hope. I want to encourage you to remember that God is with you. He’s still in the miracle business. And Christmas is the perfect time to let God show you Himself in a fresh and new way.
May your eyes and heart be open to the miracles God wants to do on your behalf, and may your days be filled with joy, peace, and hope in abundance.
Merry Christmas!
BTW—You’re invited to join us for lots of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES talk tonight in the TKA chat room. Cec, Marley, and many of the contributors will be there. We’d love to “meet” you.
CHRISTMAS WEEK CONTESTS: Remember, there are TWO ways to win! Each day this week (December 14th - 18th) a guest blogger will give away a signed book to one person randomly chosen from the comment section. Today's prize is CHRISTMAS MIRACLES by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson! Check back in this post tomorrow morning to find out if you are the winner!
Also, at the bottom of each post there is a scavenger hunt question. The answer can be located somewhere on the author's website. Send in all 5 correct answers* to the scavenger hunt questions, and you will be entered in a drawing to win a TKA Surprise Christmas Stocking filled with books and holiday treats!!!
SCAVENGER HUNT QUESTION (4 of 5): Which one of the CHRISTMAS MIRACLES authors (Cec or Marley) once worked as an elementary school teacher? Visit www.ChristmasMiraclesBook.com to find the answer!
*Please note, that the correct answers to the scavenger hunt questions must be sent in at one time. You must collect all 5 answers and send them in one email. Entries for the scavenger hunt will be accepted from Friday, December 18th thru Sunday, December 20th at midnight. The winner will be announed on this blog Monday, December 21st, 2009. If you have any questions about this contest, please contact contests(AT)knightagency.net.
UPDATE: The winner of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson is Rain Maiden! Congrats! Please email your physical addy to contests(AT)knightagency.net. Sorry for the late announcment. It's morning somewhere! :-)
Leave your name in the comment section to win a copy of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES by Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson! The winner will be announced tomorrow morning. Also, don't forget that Cecil and Marley will be the featured authors at our annual online holiday chat party! TKA Santa will be on hand to give out more than a dozen prizes, including a first chapter critique by a TKA agent. See the post below for futher details!
The 411: A man lies gravely ill in the hospital on Christmas when he hears angels singing and immediately makes a full recovery. A little boy with dyslexia sits down to read a Christmas book and realizes that his disability has vanished. And a woman’s faith is renewed by the chance discovery of a simple nativity set.
Many ordinary people experience God’s grace during those special moments when Christmas becomes more than just a holiday, but a time for miracles. Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson bring you the real-life stories of everyday people who have experienced these life-changing moments of hope, comfort, and transformation—all during the most wonderful time of the year.
TKA's Annual Online Holiday Party - Be There or Be Square!
Every year, The Knight Agency holds the best holiday party in town. Why is it the best? Because you don't have to go outside into the cold, snowy night, shop for the perfect outfit or make polite conversation with tiresome co-workers. *wink* Best of all -- we've give out prizes. Lots of prizes.
This year we are featuring the authors of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES, Marley Gibson and Cecil Murphey, along with the book's 50 contributors on December 17th @ 9pm ET. Prizes include copies of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES (natch!), plus selections from other TKA authors and a first chapter critique by one of our agents with a ONE WEEK turnaround!* Wowza! Make sure you mark your calendars for this event!!
The 411 on CHRISTMAS MIRACLES:A man lies gravely ill in the hospital on Christmas when he hears angels singing and immediately makes a full recovery. A little boy with dyslexia sits down to read a Christmas book and realizes that his disability has vanished. And a woman’s faith is renewed by the chance discovery of a simple nativity set.
Many ordinary people experience God’s grace during those special moments when Christmas becomes more than just a holiday, but a time for miracles. Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson bring you the real-life stories of everyday people who have experienced these life-changing moments of hope, comfort, and transformation—all during the most wonderful time of the year.
EVENT DETAILS:
What: Online Chat with the authors and contributors of CHRISTMAS MIRACLES
Where: TKA Chat Room When: Thursday, December 17th @ 9pm ET How To Chat: (1) Click on this link: http://client1.sigmachat.com/sc.php?id=115545 (2) Enter a username and password (any combination) (3) Click Login
*The winner of the first chapter critique will not be able to submit their work for the one week turnaround until after our holiday break (we need rest too!). So, anytime after January 4th, 2010 this prize can be redeemed. If you have questions about this contest or chat, please email info(AT)knightagency.net.
Shannon K. Butcher Chat Transcript Available & CHRISTMAS MIRACLES Gift Basket Giveaway
Last night, TKA hosted a chat for Shannon K. Butcher, author of BURNING ALIVE and FINDING THE LOST in THE SENTINEL WARS series. We had an amazing time and gave out a lot of fun prizes. If you missed it, you can read the chat transcript here!
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Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson are on a mega blog tour this week to promote their book CHRISTMAS MIRACLES. If you visit one of the blogs below and leave a comment in their post, you'll be entered in a contest to win the very special Christmas basket featured below. November 23rd is the last day to enter a comment.
Today is the last day before the agency officially closes for the holidays, and we're playing Christmas music and munching on the delicious treats that many of our clients and industry friends have sent to the office. The Harry & David truffles are decadent, but extremely dangerous. Besides listening to Santa Baby and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, we'll also cap off the day with our annual office holiday party. During the festivities, we're giving out our Secret Santa gifts. I can tell you I was personally struggling at 9:30pm last night trying to figure out what to get my secret person. Thank God for extended holiday hours! Take a piece of advice from me; don't wait until the last minute to do your shopping. Well, I suppose from this point forward – everything might be considered last minute... Ha! Good luck!
We've got a lot to celebrate at the agency this year. As of today, we have surpassed last year's sales by almost 50%! We are truly proud of this accomplishment. Consistently, this year TKA agents have been able to make excellent deals for our clients. We've also expand our agency in a multitude of ways. New website. New employees. New message board and newsletter. This unprecedented growth has only increased our endurance and strength for the year ahead. We intend to press forward and continue to think of dynamic ideas that will keep TKA on the forefront. But also as Christmas descends upon us, we want to recognize our industry peers that are facing layoffs and pay cuts during the holidays. We will be keeping everyone in our prayers, and hope that a solution to the current economic turmoil will come as soon as possible.
So, from Deidre, Jud, Pamela, Nephele, Lucienne, Elaine, Melissa, Jamie and Jia -- we wish you a wonderful and safe holiday!
The Knight Agency will officially be closed from December 23rd until January 5th. Clients, if you have any questions about the holiday schedule, please contact your individual agent.
Marley Gibson Takes On Christmas: Submissions Needed for Christmas Miracles Book
I'm thrilled to announce a new book I am working on with New York Times bestselling author Cecil Murphey, CHRISTMAS MIRACLES. It will feature short stories from everyday people who've had their lives miraculously touched at Christmas-time.
I can't begin to describe how excited I am to work on this book! Not only are we with an amazing editor and a powerhouse publisher, Rose Hilliard at St. Martin's, but I get to work with The Man Behind the Words, bestselling author Cecil Murphey!!
I've had several people ask me how this all came about and all I can say is that God brought us together. A couple of years ago, Cec lost his house in a tragic fire. He lost everything. Our agent, Deidre Knight, contacted her clients to let them know about Cec's loss and asked if any of us could reach out to him, to please do so. I only knew of Cec from his book 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN, but Deidre speaks the world of him, so I just had to do something to help.
My office was moving at that time and we were in huge de-clutter and dispose mode. We had stacks and stacks of office supplies that were either going to go in the trash or to a local charity. All I could think of was that Cec is this amazing writer...and he has no office supplies. So, I got a ginormous box and filled it with everything I could get my hands on that was going to go to File 13 anyway...a laptop case, paper, pencils, pens, ruler, paper clips, binders, scissors, post-its, tape, staples, stapler, staple remover, tape dispenser, pen cup, markers, highlighters, index cards, etc. I received the nicest letter ever from Cec, who was blown away at my generosity. Of course...it was the right thing to do!
Flash forward to early this spring when Cec and I met face-to-face for the first time. It was like seeing a dear friend. Deidre took one look at us and said, "Y'all need to write a book together." (Imagine it being said in Deidre's lovely accent.) So, we brainstormed and played around with ideas with Deidre and thus, CHRISTMAS MIRACLES was born.
The great thing about this project is we need your submissions! If you or anyone you know has a true story of a Christmas Miracle, we want to hear it! Here are the guidelines for submission as per our Christmas Miracles website:
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Christmas Miracles is a book project by New York Times bestselling author Cecil Murphey and young adult author Marley Gibson who have contracted with St. Martin's Press for late 2009 release. We seek true stories of miracles that took place at Christmas. They must revolve around that special time of year.
We prefer first-person narratives.
This is an excellent opportunity to see your writing in a book with other outstanding authors. You must follow these guidelines: • Deadline for stories is December 24, 2008. • All entries must be double-spaced, 12-point font, Times New Roman, Word document. • Stories may run from 900 to 1,300 words. We will not consider longer pieces. • We will edit all stories we accept so that they have a unified voice. • Your name will be listed with your story and you'll have a four-line information/resume paragraph at the end of the book. • Every story must have a positive solution that results from a miracle through events or timing at the Christmas season. • Every story must have a positive application. That is, you must tell us what you learned from that miracle or how it changed your life. • You may send an original or a reprint. (If a reprint, please tell us where it was published and assure us that you own the reprint rights.)
If we accept your story, you will retain rights. You'll also receive a $50 honorarium and a free copy of the book when it is released in October 2009. We will offer special discounts for contributors who wish to buy additional books. (We will send that information to you.)
From the co-authors of the highly popular CHRISTMAS MIRACLES, Cecil Murphey and Marley Gibson are seeking submissions for their follow-up book, CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, to be published by St. Martin's Press in the fall of 2011, with a foreward by New York Times bestselling author, Debbie Macomber.
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