New to Forum

[james_pence]

Hi everybody,

I'm new to the forum and I just wanted to introduce myself.

My name is James (Jim) Pence, and I'm a full time freelance writer who lives near Dallas, Texas. I guess you could say I'm a "tent making" missionary as well. I write to pay the bills, but my ministry is to inmates incarcerated in the over 100 units of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. As God opens the doors, I go into various units and do gospel chalk artistry and musical programs.

God has graciously allowed me to write a couple of Web design books for Osborne/McGraw-Hill, and I have a novel that (God willing) will be released by Tyndale house sometime in 2003.

I love writing and discussing writing, and I'm looking forward to plugging in to the discussions on this forum.

In His Grace,

Jim Pence

[Rebecca]

Welcome, Jim! Good to have you aboard! :)

Let me know once your first novel is released.. I'll be more than happy to post a nice promo on-site for you.

Rebecca

[james_pence]

Thanks, Rebecca. I would really appreciate that.

The release date was supposed to be around February of next year, but editorial just kicked it back for another round of rewrites. (Sigh.) That will probably push the release back to later in the spring.

Oh well, I guess it's back to the drawing board--er, word processor. ;)

Jim

[ladypreacher]

Hey Jim,

I'm a new kid on the block also. I like your zeal and attitude. It's good to hear of your heart for the inmates and of your writing successes.

I've been known to go to the jail and minister to the women with my best friend, who is a chaplain at the county jail. It's a fulfilling ministry to be sure.

I've also completed my first novel but am still in the early stages of bringing it to print. I wanted to wait until I completed the second and third to the trilogy before marketing it but have a gal who's stepping in pretty much to be my agent. I was sharing with a girlfriend today and accidently stumbled upon the last line of the third book. It leaves me excited and anxious to fill in the rest. It took me literally years to write An Angel of Mercy but it was well worth the effort. I don't have the luxury of writing full time. I'm a busy wife and mother with other hats that I put on all through the day...I work as a part time receptionist, secretary, and also do respite care for special needs children. I borrow time at night to write as I can't write with noise or distractions. I guess I need to hear myself think.

I'm rambling. Again, welcome and God bless you in all you do.

Sincerely,

Ladypreacher

[james_pence]

Congratulations on finishing An Angel of Mercy, LadyPreacher. Writing a novel on spec while working, taking care of a family, and wearing multiple "hats" is no small accomplishment. That's how I wrote my novel that will be coming out next year. Ironically, I couldn't find anyone interested in publishing it until the Lord opened the door for me to write my Web design books. It sat on the shelf for a couple of years and then, all of the sudden there were three publishers competing for it.

I'd encourage you not to wait until you've finished your entire trilogy before marketing An Angel of Mercy. Since that novel is complete, it's entirely possible that a publisher who buys it could also give you a contract to write the other two, simply on the basis of a synopsis and sample chapters. No guarantees, but if they are enthusiastic about the first one, it could happen. Then the advance money could enable you to cut back on your work schedule (or at least trade in the receptionist's hat for a writer's hat). :)

Have a great day.

Jim

[cawheat]

Jim:

Glad to have you here! Your postings really encouraged me and the others.

[james_pence]

Thanks.

I've been looking for a good Christian writers' forum for quite a while. I'm glad I found this site, and I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Jim

[justonevoice]

Welcome and I also have enjoyed your posts, they have been encouraging. I hope to see more