Congratulations to all of you 38 awesome writers who entered the Mother’s Love Writing Contest. You’re all winners for taking the time to write about your love for your moms. After reading these entries, I can tell you that I’m not the same person. You’ve given me a greater understanding of what transforms an ordinary woman into an extraordinary mom. Thank you for sharing this gift!

There were four other judges who helped me with this tremendous task. We wanted to be unbiased, so we devised a point system based on five categories: originality, passion, interest, literary skill/ mechanics, and takeaway (insight for the reader.) We averaged the point totals to discover the winners — and we also wanted to give each of you an award to honor or remember your mom.

I’ve compiled all of the submissions into a Word file entitled “Stories of Our Mother’s Love 2006,” which is available to anyone who would like a copy. Please send me an email, and I’ll send you this file, which would make an inspiring Mother’s Day gift (especially if you’re artistic and can decorate the cover!). My email is heatherivester at bellsouth dot net. All of the essays are found either in the comments section of the Contest post, or by following the link to the individual’s site.

Here are the wonderful writers who volunteered to help with the task of judging:

Suzanne Rae Deshchidn is a poet, editor, and book critic. She has worked with Mary DeMuth, Tim Riter, and Deborah Gyapong, among others. She’s currently a contributor to the Master’s Artist blog. You can read her poetry on her blog, siouxsie poet uncensored.

Annie Downs is a 4th grade teacher in Kennesaw, Georgia. She is in her third year teaching, though she is currently also pursuing a career in writing. So far, Annie has had three articles published on Radiantmag.com.

Elle Harden is a New Mexico-native-turned-Southern-Belle. She grew up in Gallup, NM, but has lived in Alabama and Georgia for the past 15 years. Elle keeps busy balancing her mommy/wife role with her work as a lawyer. She has two boys, ages 9 and 2. While Elle enjoys her legal research and writing, she plans to expand into creative and inspirational writing. Her newly created Fall On the Grace blog is still in the very beginning stages, but feel free to visit!

Kelli Mix is a freelance writer in Carrollton, Georgia. Her most recent publications include The West Georgia Ladies, Bluph Magazine, and The Star News. She is a contributing writer in the upcoming book, Diapers and Deadlines, and thanks her husband and children for providing endless humor for her essays.

Congratulations to the following winners! The Grand Prize Winner’s essay appears below. I wish I could print all of them here, but the file is over 50 pages single-spaced! Be sure to get your copy!

GRAND PRIZE
“A Shepherd’s Mother” by Ann Voskamp

FIRST PLACE
“No Carbon Copy Mom” by G.B. Clark

SECOND PLACE
“Blazing the Trail” by OreoSouza

THIRD PLACE
“My Mother’s Hands” by Kayin Mayne

FOURTH PLACE
“The Note of Hope that Mama Wrote” by Ruth

FIFTH PLACE
“A Letter to Mama” by Lena Diane Jennings

TEN HONORABLE MENTIONS (arranged in alphabetical order)
“A Mother’s Love” by Holy Mama!
“Mom, You’re the Top!” by Karen Phillips
“Mother’s Love” by Glenda Schoonmaker
“My Mother” by Oshee
“My Mother’s Love” by KEP
“Perfect Attendance” by Spunky
“Quiet and Still” by Julie
“Serving Grace” by Darlene Schacht
“The Art of Homemaking: A Tribute to My Mother” by lindafay
“Weaving” by Kim Anderson

AWARDS FOR MOMS (arranged in order of submission)
1. “Serving Grace” by Darlene Schacht, Most Inspiring Mom Award
2. “New Mother Syndrome” by Donna Shepherd, Mother’s Wisdom Award
3. “A Letter to Mama” by Lena Diane Jennings, Mother’s Legacy Award
4. “Monday Memories: Did I Ever Tell You About My Mother?” by Nancy S. Brandt, Most Inspiring Caregiver Mom Award
5. “My Mom” by Sara Reysio-Cruz, Most Terrific Mom Award
6. “Meet the Woman Proverbs Talks About: My Mom” by Dallas Turner, Proverbs 31 Mom Award
7. “My Mom” by Jess, Best Friend Mom Award
8. “Proverbs 31 Woman” by Angie, Most Noble Mom Award
9. “No Carbon Copy Mom” by G. B. Clark, Most Kind Mom Award
10. “My Mother” by MomKori, Most Encouraging Mom Award
11. “My Mother, my Best Friend” by Kimberlie Clark, Best Friend Mom Award
12. “A Virtuous Woman: Legacy of Love” by Rhodi Alers de López, Young at Heart Mom Award
13. “The Note of Hope that Mama Wrote” by Ruth, Most Faithful Writer Mom Award
14. “My Mother’s Love” by Mary, Mom of Strength Award
15. “Perfect Attendance ” by Spunky, Most Faithful Mom Award
16. “Blazing the Trail” by OreoSouza, Everlasting Love Mom Award
17. “Needing Mommy” by Olya, Most Blessed Mom Award
18. “My Mother” by Erin-erin-bo-berin, Mom Who At Last Knows Everything Award
19. “Quiet and Still” by Julie, Makes Every Day Special Mom Award
20. “Beautiful” by TR Thomas, Most Beautiful Mom Award
21. “Rising Up and Calling My Mother Blessed” by Crystal Lutton, Most Devoted Mom Award
22. “My Mom” by Shannon, Most Positive Mom Award
23. “Mommy’s Little Girl” by Iris, Most Thoughtful Mom Award
24. “My Mother’s Love” by KEP, Most Loving Mom Award
25. “My Mother’s Hands” by Kayin Mayne, Most Creative Mom Award
26. “Weaving” by Kim Anderson, Most Inspirational Artist Mom Award
27. “A Mother’s Love” by Holy Mama!, Most Humorous Mom Award
28. Sue Thomas: (If She Was a Value Tale It Would Be Generosity), Most Generous Mom Award
29. “The Art of Homemaking: A Tribute to My Mother” by lindafay, Best Hostess Mom Award
30. “Mom, You’re the Top!” By Karen Phillips, Most Multi-Talented Mom Award
31. “My Mama” by Jan Eppler, Most Gentle Mom Award
32. “A Tribute to My Mom” by Kim, Most Amazing Mom Award
33. “My Role Model” by Sandy, Most Wonderful Mom Award
34. “My Mother” by Oshee, Best Role Model Mom Award
35. “A Shepherd’s Mother” by Ann Voskamp, Most Humble Mom Award
36. “Mother’s Love” by Glenda Schoonmaker, Mother’s Legacy Award
37. “A Mother’s Love” by Jordan Green, Most Forgiving Mom Award
38. “My Mom” by Cheryl Goforth, Mother’s Legacy Award

I became a mother on the eve of Mother’s Day.

And when they placed that vernix-covered, wrinkled babe into my 21-year old arms that muggy Saturday evening in May, no wave of relief, or ecstasy washed over me. Being the first to caress another human being’s cheek, I only felt raw, unadulterated, strangling terror. If I could have run, I would have. My weak, rubbery legs failed me.

Newborn babe on chest drowsily opened one eye and looked into mine…and I choked. This person, so helpless and fragile, was depending on me — flawed, deficient, inexperienced me.

Tomorrow, my husband would tenderly present me with my very first Mother’s Day card. And I wasn’t ready. I had never shaped another person before. I had my own issues, my own baggage. Didn’t someone at least need a license or something before taking home a swaddled bundle of precious humanity?

And I knew, far too personally, how the struggles of a Mother affected a vulnerable child.

A mere seven days before, lumbering under extreme pregnancy, I had wandered down the hollow halls of a locked psychiatric ward…having left my own mother behind the heavy steel doors for a 72-hour stay. One hand on my swollen belly, my other hand had brushed away the hot, stinging tears. My dedicated Mama was weary from battling her own demons, fighting for her own sanity…living out the carnage of a life bestowed upon her by her own troubled mother. I had prayed that her three days of quiet might bring a measure of peace.

My Mama had suffered through her childhood at the hands of sexually abusive fiends. And I had suffered through my early years as she wrestled to lie her past down. Then in the autumn of her 26th year, with 2 preschoolers at her side, and a 3 week old in her arms, Mama witnessed her 18-month-old daughter fall under the crushing wheels of a delivery truck in our farmyard. Mothers never dream of tucking their babies into shiny black coffins and burying them in cold earth. The haunting of her past united with horrors of the present, taking my Mama away from me to hospitals and psychiatric wards throughout my childhood. As I stood ready to embark on my own right of passage into this maternity society, I felt all too well the weight of motherhood’s mantle. Who was worthy of tending to the formation of another human being when oneself was marred and flawed?

That first long night in the darkened hospital room, my hand traced the fingers and toes of this new little person. Could I do this? The lump in my throat grew. Failure was certain. I was going to let this little boy down. I found it hard to breathe. A Bible lay open on my side table. I ran my hand over the crinkled page, knowing the words that whispered somewhere on that darkened leaf.

Isaiah 40:11
…he gently leads those that have young.

In the dark of that room, that was all I had to cling to: The gracious Shepherd leading this little babe and me on. He would show the way.

The next morning dawned Mother’s Day. My own Mama knocked gently at my door. I smiled shyly as I pulled back the blankets to reveal her first grandchild. We both cried as she rocked him close.
“This is for you,” she quietly offered. I took the bag from her outstretched arm. Inside I found an intricate, homemade cover for our hand-me-down car seat.

“Mama…you must have stayed up all night?!” I marveled, knowing that none of us expected this babe to arrive 4 weeks early.

She nodded.

“Oh, Mom, you must be exhausted. You really shouldn’t have. Really, Mom.” I reached out to embrace her and cradled baby.

She pressed her cheek close to mine.

“Relationships cost,” she whispered. In spite of her own anguishing battles, Mama, time and again, chose to pay the price of relationship.

Taking this hours old person from Mama’s arms, I bundled him into his made-with-love car seat. I held his wee hand…and I knew. I was willing to follow Mama’s lead—the Shepherd’s lead—and pay the price of relationship. Whatever the cost. Wee one already had my heart.

Turning to Mom, I laughed lightly, hoping my levity masked my lingering doubts.

“Think I can do this, Mom?”

Mama took my hand and squeezed.

“It’s not that you aren’t going to blow it, Ann. It’s what you do with it afterwards.”

Over the years, Mama, though good intentioned, had missed events, spoken harshly… disappointed me. Yet my love for her coursed deep and sure. For she had listened and heard my pain. She had simply and humbly owned the failures, apologized for the disappointments, and fervently attempted to pay the cost of relationship.

And over the last decade of mothering, Mama has sung her refrain of assurance to this trembling heart over and over again.

Relationships cost. And it’s not that you aren’t going to blow it. It is what you do with it, when you do.

Yes, there is something more beautiful to experience than a perfect Mother. It is the wonder of experiencing a committed Mother who simply humbles herself. Like that Shepherd who knew the cost of relationship, chose to pay the price, and staggeringly “humbled Himself… even to the point of death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). Out of the ashes and brokenness of our sin, rises the breathtaking exquisiteness of humility and grace, the Cross. And out of the anguish and woundedness of Mama’s life, surfaced a gentle humility and a dogged devotion to relationship. Regardless.

I was now ready to be a Mother and take our new human being home. I understood. Motherhood does not require, thankfully, perfection. It simply requires commitment and humility.

Ready to depart with bag in one hand, I remembered my first Mother’s Day card sitting on the windowsill. I had feared I would never be a Mother’s Day card Mother. Mama had shown me that I didn’t need to be. The faithful Shepherd had indeed shown the way. He was not leading this Mother to be a glossy, embossed Hallmark version of perfection. But rather a committed, humble, real one.

© Ann Voskamp
Ontario, Canada
Holy Experience

There are many of you out there who love to write, and I wanted to pass along a few writing opportunities I’ve heard about recently that you may be interested in. I’ve gathered a short list of authors and publishers who are actively seeking stories with deadlines coming soon. (Please contact the websites or editors listed below and not me directly — this is all I know!)

Call for Submissions

Mothers are amazing people. They’re caring, selfless, energetic, optimistic individuals brimming with unconditional love. When you think of all the experiences you’ve shared with your mother, is there one special moment or incident that stands above the rest?

This is a unique opportunity to acknowledge one of the most important people in your life, and to share your experience with an appreciative audience.

Adams Media, Inc., publishers of A Cup of Comfort and The Rocking Chair series, is compiling a second anthology of stories, written as letters, for a new book tentatively titled Letters to My Mother: Tributes to the Women Who Gave Us Life—and Love, to be published in Spring 2007. Letters to My Mother follows on the heels of the highly anticipated anthology Letters to My Teacher: Tributes to the People Who Have Made a Difference which was published in April 2006.

Like its predecessor, Letters to My Mother will contain true stories written by people of all ages — who celebrate the valuable lessons learned from the mothers in our lives. They are letters that demonstrate how great an impact our mothers have had on our lives, as they worked tirelessly to help us in our journey toward becoming better people …

Letters should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, and be approximately 500-750 words. Contributors whose letters are included in the book will receive a payment of $10. The author whose letter is chosen as the most inspirational will receive $100. The best letter submitted by a child will receive $50.

Of much greater value, our contributors will receive national writing exposure with a major publisher, a complimentary copy of the book, and bragging rights.

For guidelines and samples check out Writing Tips and Submission Guidelines, Letter Samples, and Letters Written by Kids. If you have additional questions or would like to send a submission please email us at barbnrick@cablespeed.com

Deadline is June 1, 2006

Happy Writing!

Hello Writer!

Adams Media is creating another devotional book in their Cup of Comfort series: A Cup of Comfort for Moms. I’d like to invite you to consider being part of this project. A CUP OF COMFORT is Adams Media’s flagship inspirational series.

Adams has known stunning success to date with these books of devotionals and stories. Their commitment is to bring uplifting stories by “ordinary folks” to the marketplace. (For series information, see http://www.cupofcomfort.com).

To complete the project we’ll need 180 devotional pieces. We will choose the pieces that best fit our needs from all the devotions submitted, and those authors will receive $20 – $25 per devotion used. You will receive one free copy of the book, we’ll print your bio, and you’ll get author discounts on any copies you purchase through Adams. (Payment will be upon publication). For this project, we are only seeking submissions from women-sorry guys!

Adams is eager to get this book processed quickly. Deadline for all submissions is May 15; however, we can start using submissions immediately to meet a May 1 partial-book deadline.

Please feel free to pass this along to your other Christian writing friends. May you experience God’s inspiration as you share His comfort with other moms.

Contact:
Jeanette Gardner Littleton
Author/Editor, for Adam’s Media
3706 N.E. Shady Lane Dr., Gladstone, MO 64119
CupofComfortforMoms@earthlink.net

From author Trish Berg of Simplifying Motherhood:

Calling ALL Moms….

I wanted to let you know that I have 2 books that are scheduled to be released in early 2007! God has opened amazing doors this year for my writing, and I am looking to all of you for your help…

Rattled – Surviving Your Baby’s First Year without Losing Your Cool is scheduled to be released in March of 2007 by Multnomah, and Supper Swapping – Faith and Friendship through Co-op Cooking is scheduled to be released in May 2007 by Cook.

I would LOVE to get as much input as I can from moms (and dads) whether you are in the midst of mothering young children, have older kids in your home, or are a grandparent. You all remember that first year of motherhood!

I am working on the manuscript right now. It is due July 1st…so time is of the essence…

I would love quotes from moms (and dads as well…) about your first year as a mom (or dad).

If you could forward this information to as many moms as you know, and ask if they are interested in sharing a story or quote with me for possible inclusion in the Rattled book.

Anyone who would like to submit a story or quote from their first year of motherhood, can simply e-mail it to me at trishberg@trishberg.com.

If I use their quote in the book, I will let them know, and get their formal permission in writing.

So please include your name, mailing address, phone, and e-mail with each submission so I can get back to you for notification and formal permission.

Sample questions below: (Dads, answer each from your own perspective…)

1) How did you find out you were expecting? How did you tell your husband?

2) What was the best advice someone gave you on motherhood? The worst advice?

3) What surprised you the most when you became a mom?

4) What was your labor and delivery like? Any funny stories?

5) During the 1st year of motherhood, what changed the most in your life? How has becoming a mom changed you as a person? Changed your marriage?

6) What is the funniest thing that happened to you that first year you were a mom? The best? The worst?

7) What advice would you give to a new mom? Someone who is expecting her first child?

Any other comments, stories or quotes on that first year of motherhood?

(I cannot pay for submissions, but will give you the byline in the book if I use your story or quote……)

Thanks so much for ministering beside me on this motherhood journey! I look forward to reading your wonderful stories! Keep them coming!

Blessings in Christ,

Trish Berg

I am working on a chapter that deals with raising adult kids, for my new book, Fantastic After 40 (Harvest House), so if you have a story already written — or one you long to tell, please share it with me. All I need are shorter illustrations—between 2- 5 paragraphs (no more than 2 pages). It’s like a story that packs a punch (or punch line) — things that make the reader laugh or brings them to tears.

Here are some topics I’d love illustrations on:

— Marrying off a child (any mother’s of the bride/mother’s of the groom out there?)
— Having to set boundaries with a prodigal over 18
— Happy ever after story of an adult child returning to the faith (what was the thing you did (or didn’t do) that you believe helped them turn around?)
— Ideas for coping with your own feelings as you learn to let go and release-or as you deal with disappointment, anger and frustration!
— Forging new family traditions as kids get older, marry, begin their own families.
— Working out in-law relationships — how to build a bridge to your new on or daughter in law’s heart, etc.

I also need stories of single women over 40. If this is you, please contact me, and I’ll send you a survey. Thanks!

Also, if you have survived something huge since your 40th birthday and you’d like to tell me how God brought you through it— email me and let me know what it is and I will see if I can use it.

It’s not a paying gig, but if you are used in the book, you’ll get a copy and discounts on it if you want to buy extra copies for gifts or for sale at your book table. Let me know if you any anyone else in the story wants you to use your real names; otherwise I will change everyone’s names to protect their privacy.

Please send with your mailing address as well. (If I use I will send you a permissions form to sign too).

I am excited to offer this opportunity — as many of us who are authors of numerous books started out with just a story or a devotional in a book — then God gave the increase! And for those who are authors, being in other’s books is great free advertising for yours!

ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE NEEDED BEFORE MAY 14.

Contact Pam Farrel of Ferrel Communications.

From author June Varnum:

I am soliciting stories for my book tentatively titled Get Up and Go: Inspirational Stories of Seniors Who Found Their Silver-Lined Retirement. My premise is that God never offered a 401K plan but asks retirees to keep going, to give back to mankind from past experiences.

The giving back may consist of volunteering at a hospital, library or school, fulfilling a long-term dream or working on a new dream, going back to school, taking art/music lessons, working at an archaeology dig, teaching English to refugees or learning a new language, writing your life story and hundreds of other ways of basking in God’s retirement plan.

Just by their example, these senior retirees encourage others to get up and do something. They can find renewed value in their lives and encourage others to get up and do something for their community and for themselves. Everyone can do something.

One editor is very interested in the book, so I’m looking for stories that include: who or what circumstance led you to the activity you are doing; is it a new experience; do you love doing the activity; will you continue or try something else; have other job opportunities developed from this one; are you making new friends, discovering what you can still do, enjoying happiness and fulfillment.

Tell me about yourself as well as what you are doing. No detail is too small or unimportant. I will write the stories so they will be consistent. Please include your age.

I am a published author of short stories, magazine articles and devotions. I don’t have a contract yet, so I can’t offer payment, but I will promise a copy of the book. I truly believe in this book and the editor is enthusiastic. My deadline is May 31, 2006. You can contact me, June Varnum, at jvarnum@psln.com or PO Box 236, Loyalton, CA 96118. Thank you for considering my request and I look forward to receiving your stories.

From me, here at Mom 2 Mom Connection:

If you’d like to continue learning about future writing opportunities, there are many places that post upcoming needs and deadlines.

Three that I recommend are:

The Spirit-Led Writer ezine, published by Lisa Crayton. This ezine is always full of encouraging articles and writing opportunities. Lisa Crayton is an author and speaker who has a passion for developing talent in new writers, and her magazine is one of the best I’ve seen.

The Dabbling Mum. This site offers great articles on dozens of topics, and you can also sign up for a newsletter that is full of writing opportunities.

TWV2 online writer’s group. This is a Yahoo group that is moderated by published authors, editors, and agents in every genre. It started last month, and the group is open to anyone who has an interest in Christian publishing. Each week, a different topic is presented, and the members leave posts about this topic, which are moderated by the panelists. It’s a great way to connect with other writers, editors, and agents.

One more note from me: 🙂

A few people have written me to ask how to get started in publishing. I wish I could answer each of you individually, but my schedule has gone haywire this month with the end of the school year!

The best ways I’ve found to break into publishing are to take writing courses, attend a writer’s conference, and join a writing group. You can take courses at your local community college, online, or through the snail mail. The feedback you’ll receive from a writing teacher or mentor will be extremely valuable and motivating.

It’s absolutely essential that you own a copy of Sally Stuart’s Christian Writer’s Market Guide. This lists all the magazine and book publishers and what they’re looking for. How else will you know where to send your writing if you don’t have a market guide? It’s worth every penny. The first article or story you sell may pay for the cost of this book!

In the past few years, the trend from many book publishers is to only work with authors who have an agent. This is not always the case, but most of the writers I know who publish books year after year have agents who represent them. The only way to get a good agent to look at your work is to have something professional-looking to show him or her! And it helps to have smaller writing credits to prove that you’re capable of following through on assignments.

If you have the chance to attend a writer’s conference, this is also helpful, as is joining a writing or critique group! There may be a group in your hometown where each person contributes by writing and critiquing each other’s work. Check your local newspaper or community guide to see if anyone is advertising, or start asking around at your church. American Christian Writers has a database of hundreds of local group contacts.

It takes time and persistence, but if this is something you feel God is calling you to do, the right door will open if you keep on knocking. If you show yourself faithful in the small things, God will open the door for bigger things. You’ll never know until you try!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our first annual Mother’s Love Writing Contest. I’m amazed at the power and beauty of your words. We received such a wide variety of submissions — Thirty-seven daughters and one son wrote about their moms, from six different countries!

What shocked me most of all was going to many of your sites and reading comments from your friends, family members, and even your moms in response to your words. THAT, my friends, was the whole point of this contest. I was grabbing my box of tissues while I read your positive words of love.

Now it’s not even 9 am, and I had to go to the store this morning to buy a big bag of greasy potato chips and comforting sour cream dip. Because this is stressing me out! Some of you dipped into a deep well of pain to write your essays, and from it you found forgiveness and even joy. What overwhelms me is the grace many of you give your moms. As adults, you realize she wasn’t perfect, but now you’re able to surround her with love. One of you wrote, “When I was a child, my mother knew nothing. When I became a mother, she suddenly knew EVERYTHING!” We should write this sentence on a bookmark and stick it in our Bibles, for those days when we feel unappreciated!

I hope this will inspire some of you moms who have children at home who may not be RISING UP to call you blessed. In fact, they may be telling you to GO AWAY. Well, there’s a message of hope from this contest, and that is — one day, they’ll appreciate you. So hang in there!!!

I’ve compiled all of the submissions into a file called, “Stories of Our Mother’s Love 2006,” which will be available to anyone after the contest. Please email me next week if you’d like a copy of this file. All of the submissions are under copyright of the individual authors, and I’ll add a little copyright sign to demonstrate that. For privacy’s sake, I’ve removed the pictures, and I’ve included only the name you have available on your blog. For some of you, that’s only a first name or a pen name.

It’s my personality to say, “All of you are winners — woohoo!” But I know we must choose only one winner — and you’ve made it very hard. I’m glad I’ve got other people to help me judge, and we’re going to use a point system that is used in other writing contests to make it a systematic process. This will force me to take off my blogger hat and put on my old English teacher’s hat and see if it still fits. We’ll post the winner here next Monday, May 8th.

I want to apologize that the link kept changing every day, so if you linked to the “Writing Contest” post, it kept changing. Sorry about that! I didn’t know how else to keep the post at the top — and I didn’t want to take a week and a half off from blogging! So here’s the PERMANENT LINK to the contest, if you wanted to update it in your archives.

If you wrote something in your blog or at this site for your mom, I hope you’re able to show it to her or give it to her for Mother’s Day. I’ll probably never know all the behind-the-scenes stories, but I know without a doubt this is something that has been on my heart from God. I REALLY appreciate each of you taking the time to write and submit something that I know took a lot of time and emotional energy. Thank you again! {{{{{GROUP HUG}}}}}

I’m working on a post that will announce several writing opportunities from authors and publishers who are seeking stories and poems like these. I’ll plan on posting these on Thursday and include links to the publishers’ and authors’ sites. So be sure to check back in and see where your story might fit. I believe many of these stories will be published in print form someday!

I also want to pass along the news that Sallie of Two Talent Living has gone on extended maternity leave, so she’s also taking a break from sponsoring the Carnival of Beauty. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to write for this Carnival and fellowship with like-minded women bloggers! I had signed up to host in May, but I think it’s best to respect Sallie’s desire for a time of rest as she prepares for her baby. I’ve met so many of you through this Carnival — it’s certainly been a blessing!

If you’ve been a participant or a reader who has enjoyed this Carnival, it would be nice to leave Sallie a note to thank her for all the work she did in sponsoring. I’m sure she put in countless hours responding to emails and answering questions since last December. I know that many of us in the Beth Moore Living Beyond Yourself study met through the Carnival of Beauty. It’s been a nice way to connect with Christian women who enjoy writing online.

Final update 5/1:
Today’s the last day! These stories, letters, essays, and poems are incredible! I hope you can take some time this week to read through these. I worked over the weekend gathering them into one file to make it easier for the other judges. We now have an accomplished poet, school teacher, and a professional writer who are going to help with this. You are all already winners for taking the time to give honor to your moms with your words.

What’s New? 4/29
Only two more days left! We’ve had new entries come in from Slovenia and Germany, so that brings our contest up to SIX countries represented so far! I’ve also found a wonderful, experienced teacher who is going to help with judging. And here’s the best news: I know of several book publishers who are looking for stories like these! Check in next week, and I’ll be posting several opportunities that have upcoming deadlines. I wish I could contact each of you personally and encourage you to submit your story or poem for publication, but God will have to prompt your heart. I do think some of you will see your stories in print someday. What an amazing way to bless your moms with positive words!

Made me smile, 4/28:
Thanks for hosting this contest. I probably wouldn’t have written anything if you hadn’t. Now I have something to give my mom on Mother’s Day. LOL.

Latest, 4/27:
There’s been big news in the publishing world about the Harvard teen author who may have plagiarized passages in the novel that has made her into an overnight sensation. You can read about this here. I felt like I should make this clear that all contest entries are under copyright of the author who submitted them. No one may copy and paste these stories or poems without the author’s permission. And that includes me! I own the rights to my own words, but not anyone else’s. I just thought I’d better make that clear. There are some great submissions here — and I do know about a lot of needs in the publishing industry for first-person stories like these. But I wouldn’t submit anything to a publisher myself — the author would have to do this. THANKS!

Update 4/26:
Thank you to everyone who has submitted so far. We’ve had entries from at least four countries: Japan, the Philippines, Canada, and all over the U.S. I’m enjoying these stories so much! There’s still time if you’ve been waiting for a moment of inspiration! (This also makes a great writing assignment for students if you are a teacher!)

I got an email yesterday that reminded me of the whole purpose of this contest — the strengthening of mother/ daughter relationships through words of affirmation. Someone emailed me this:

Hey Heather,

The Lord wanted me to answer that in my own heart, and offer that back to my mom on Mother’s Day. I don’t know how she will respond, but I am glad I took this step. Thank you again for all that you do …

This note blessed me so much! My dream is that if there is anyone out there who hasn’t spoken to your mom in years — or maybe your relationship hasn’t been all that great — why not use this Mother’s Day as a chance to reach out and show her love? Wouldn’t you want one of your kids to do the same to you someday?

Thanks for your support, bloggy friends. I know you’re tired of seeing this post pop up first every day — but I don’t want it to disappear until everyone who wants to has the chance to write something! Only four more days until the deadline!

How did your mother show you love while you were growing up? What did she do to make you feel special? If she’s alive now, how do you know she still loves you?

With Mother’s Day around the corner, Mom 2 Mom Connection is hosting our first annual “Mother’s Love” Writing Contest.

Sometime between now and Monday, May 1, tell us how your mom showed you love growing up or how she continues to show you love now. All you have to do is submit something in the comment section here! Then everybody will be able to read about your mom.

If you’ve already written a great post in your own blogs about your mom, be sure to give us the link here so we’ll all click on over to your blog and read it.

In the process of reading about other wonderful moms, many of us who are just starting out our mothering journeys can learn what really counts when raising our children. And if you’re a grandmother, here’s your chance to “advise” us younger moms on what’s most important in life. We’re ASKING for your advice here!

After the deadline on May 1, I’m going to ask several writer friends I know to help me choose the winner of our “Mother’s Love” contest. The Grand Prize Winner will receive a free copy of the book, From a Daughter’s Heart to Her Mom: 50 Reflections on Living Well — signed by the author, who happens to be ME!

This book is a photo essay full of inspiring ways to express love to the woman who raised you, who loves you no matter what. The pictures are soft sepia tone, featuring mothers and daughters of all ages doing those things we love to do together — having tea parties, shopping, gardening, cooking together, hanging out at the beach, and enjoying life in all its important stages. Along with the photos, each page contains a short letter from a daughter to her mom on a specific topic, an inspirational quote, and a scripture. If you’re in any type of women’s ministry hosting a mother/ daughter event, this book would give you lots of ideas!

I’m sure it will be hard to pick only one of your contest submissions as our Grand Prize Winner — so we’ll offer other awards for Most Creative Mom, Funniest Mom, Most Inspirational Mom, and a host of others that we can think of.

Won’t it make a nice gift to your mom to give her an award and let her read something you wrote about her online for the entire world to see?

It doesn’t matter what age you are — if one of your daughters wants to submit an essay, please tell her to do so. Writing about our moms brings honor to them, in a role which is often underappreciated in our world. Whether your mom is still living or has passed on, your words will always be a legacy to her.

Here are a few inspiring quotes from the book (There are over 50 quotes like these, from a variety of women):

So, jump on in and tell us why your mom is special! The Grand Prize Winner and all the runner-ups will also be published in a special “Mother’s Love Essay Winners” post a few days after the contest. This link will be sent to the publisher, Thomas Nelson in Nashville, Tennessee, as well as the designer, Whisner Design Group in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Many people worked on putting this book together besides me, and it will be a nice way to express our appreciation for creating a product that celebrates the awesome glory of motherhood.

P.S. This post will remain at the top of my blog until the deadline, May 1, 2006.

P.P.S. Brownie points if you tell other people about this contest!

The Beauty of Art Carnival is up and running over at Scribblings by Blair. Once again, Blair has outdone herself contributing her artistic talents to spiff up these Carnival entries. Hope you can stop by and visit. She pulled this together despite getting her house ready to go on the market!

Please let me know if you post a Mother’s Love Writing Contest announcement on your site, and I’ll add you to our growing list of supporters, which appears at the end of the Contest post. Some people have written to tell me the trackbacks aren’t working — so I wouldn’t have known. Thanks!

The Carnival of Beauty this week is hosted by Blair at her site, Scribblings by Blair. Our topic is “The Beauty of Art.”

When I was eight years old, my parents paid for me to take art lessons at a painter’s house once a week — it was a thrill and so different from what I learned at school. We painted with acrylics, and I carried a red metal tool box filled with my paints, brushes, and natural sponges to class. I can still remember the creaking sound the box made when it opened, and how the paints and sponges smelled.

I also recall being on the verge of tears nearly every class. I was so petrified that I was a terrible painter. There were two or three of us on one side of the room who were children, and the rest of the class on the other side of the room were adults. I remember one lady spent weeks painting an intricate picture of violets. Everyone seemed to have so much talent and to know exactly what they were doing — except for me!

One night, our teacher asked us to imagine a bookshelf lined with our favorite things. She wanted us to come to class the next week and be prepared to paint “My Favorite Things.”

Can you see what I chose to paint? On the top shelf is my “Heather” doll — I still have this sweet doll. I always loved playing with dolls, not the Barbie type that looked grown up, but the kind you could dress and carry around. I even had a signed Little People doll, named Frances Blanche, who I changed into tiny pajamas every night and dressed in the morning — for years. My friends and I made birth certificates for our dolls and sewed them little stuffed animals! So, it’s obvious I wanted to grow up and be a MOM — my #1 dream.

Next, you can see I’ve always been crazy about the beach — the shells are supposed to represent my love of the ocean. We always collected buckets of shells on our family trips to the beach. My parents took us every summer — traveling used to be so modest back in the 70s. The expense was nothing like it is now. We usually stayed right on the beach in a little motel that had a kitchenette. My parents got us so excited about these beach trips — maybe that’s why I’ve always loved the beach.

I’m not sure about the basket of fruit — did I like fruit that much? Maybe I just liked the bright colors and thought they’d look good in a painting. I do eat fruit every day now — usually an apple. And I hardly ever get sick. I can’t around here!

The cat is interesting; why did I choose to paint a cat? We didn’t have a cat growing up — we had a little gray poodle. Now of course I’ve become a cat person. They make such great pets! I’ve always loved animals of any sort; maybe the cat is supposed to represent pets. If you’d asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I always said, “A pet shop owner.” I was too squeamish to want to be a vet. But I thought it would be fun to have a shop full of animals. (hmmm … our zoo around here is similar to what I had in mind, actually.)

And last — Cinderella. I’ve always loved good stories with happy endings. I love to read them; I love to tell them. And gradually, I’m learning how to write them.

Thanks for indulging me in my walk down memory lane. How about you? What are your favorite things now? Were they always your favorites? What would you have painted when you were eight years old? Like words, art helps us preserve our memories.

Thank you, Carol, for posting this test. Of course, she should be a songwriter, and now that she’s learned to play audio on her blog, it won’t be long before she’s sharing her music with us.

Me? Yes, I know that I should be a film writer, of course. I’ve got the Great American Novel on the tip of my … pen. I plan on writing it very soon … as soon as my kids are off to college.

Seriously, I’ve always dreamed of writing fiction … I have stacks of short stories scattered hither and thither in boxes in the basement (where the Entropy Beast lives). But the thought of actually sticking with characters and a plot through conflict and resolution seems impossible for this suburban mama.

It’s hard enough for me to READ a novel without disappearing mentally to another planet. If I tried to actually WRITE one, I’d completely lose touch with reality.

Aah … so that’s why so many people I know are writing novels.

Your turn. What kind of writer are you?

You Should Be a Film Writer

You don’t just create compelling stories, you see them as clearly as a movie in your mind. You have a knack for details and dialogue. You can really make a character come to life. Chances are, you enjoy creating all types of stories. The joy is in the storytelling. And nothing would please you more than millions of people seeing your story on the big screen!

A couple of years ago, my husband and I took a 10th anniversary trip from sea to shining sea, flying to Santa Barbara, California. I was in a zany mood and wanted to pass the time on our flight, so I combed the bookstore for a novel that hollered, “Read me. I’m good, clean FUN.” I found it. The cover featured a skinny cartoon girl walking a tiny dog, and it was published by a new Christian publisher, Westbow Press. It leaped off the shelf at me, and I couldn’t even wait until our trip to start reading it.

The title? She’s Out of Control by Kristin Billerbeck. I loved it. I didn’t even notice the airline served us nothing but a mini bag of pretzels on our 3-hour flight. So, I’ve been hanging out lately at this totally hip blog for Christian novel fans, Girls Write Out. Have you visited yet?

If you haven’t, you’ve got to meet this Fab Foursome: along with Kristin Billerbeck, you can get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it’s like to be a Christian fiction writer, from the keyboards of fellow bloggers, Denise Hunter, Diann Hunt, and Colleen Coble.

Well, Colleen’s got a great publicist because she somehow found me and asked if I’d like to interview Colleen.

Would I? She’s an award-winning Christian writer who is also a MOM. You bet! I know that at least one of you is an aspiring Christian chick-lit novelist, but I won’t say WHO. (Oh, excuse me, did I let that slip?)

Let’s welcome author Colleen Coble today to Mom 2 Mom Connection.

Thanks for visiting, Colleen. I notice on your website, you’re a “Romantic Suspense Author.” Can you tell us a little about your pathway to becoming a published novelist?

Thanks, Heather. I’d known I wanted to write from the time I wrote my first story in 1st grade. I can still remember that story. It was about a horse that had twin colts. The teacher praised it, and the seed was planted in my heart.

I planned for it all through school, but got married at 19 and had my first baby at 21. I got busy raising my kids. The seed was still there, but it lay dormant. It took the pressure of adversity to crack it open.

A few months shy of my 40th birthday, my younger brother Randy was killed by lightning. It was a wake-up call that if I was going to follow my dream, I should get on with it. None of us knows how long God has planned for us on this earth.

I’m sorry to hear about your brother. That does sound like a startling wake-up call. How long did it take you to write your first novel?

It took me a year to write and then six more years to sell it. My first book, a prairie romance, sold to Barbour. Seventeen more sales followed to them, but my dream was always to write suspense. People ask why I write about murder when I’m friendly and outgoing. I think it’s because I’ve seen bad things happen in my life, and I want justice to win. I can make sure that happens in my writing.

Wow. You must really get hooked into writing the plots if there’s a murder to be solved. What advice would you give to women who love reading novels and think they’d like to write one someday?

Don’t just think about it! Read extensively in the genre you’d like to write. Join an online organization like American Christian fiction Writers and network with other writers.

Read books on writing such as Stein on Writing by Sol Stein, Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, and Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. Attend writing conferences. All these steps will increase your chances of writing something publishable.

I heard James Scott Bell give the keynote address at the Glorieta Christian Writer’s Conference last year, and I’m also reviewing his latest novel now. Do you really think it’s helpful for aspiring writers to go to conferences?

It’s VITAL! I can’t recommend it enough. At a conference you can meet editors and agents face to face, and while you may not sell your book at the first one, you’ll begin to build the networks and relationships that will grow as you meet every year at the conference.

You’ll also find other writers you “click” with who will become lifelong friends to encourage and commiserate as you tackle the writing adventure. And a really great conference has workshops where you’ll learn more about writing than you ever dreamed possible.

Also, they’re just plain FUN! No one else understands the writing life like another writers. Not your family, your best friend or your mother. Only other writers know what it feels like to put your heart into a book only to have it come zinging back in your mailbox. Only another writer knows how it feels when you finally get “the call.” I met my wonderful agent at the conference at Mount Hermon, and we just clicked. She went back to the office and read my proposal for Without a Trace and bought it, and I know it wouldn’t have happened without that conference.

Oh, I can relate to that feeling of sending something out and having it rejected. No fun at all. And you’re right — nobody else understands but other writers! Do you recommend any conferences?

For Christian fiction, there’s no better conference than the ACFW one. Virtually every publishing house in CBA has a representative in attendance. And there’s plenty of time to pitch your book to the many who are there. The workshops are stellar, and this year our keynote is Liz Curtis Higgs, a wonderful writer and amazing speaker. She’s totally hilarious to listen to.

I also think Liz is hysterical. I read her columns in Today’s Christian Woman magazine, and I’m also reviewing her novel, Grace in Thine Eyes right now. Will you be at the ACFW conference in Dallas this September?

Yes! I’m actually teaching an early bird main morning session with Deb Raney.

I notice that your latest novel is called Alaska Twilight. Did you have to go to Alaska for research?

I’m an Alaska nut. I’ve read about it, dreamed about it, and watched every movie about it 40 times. Okay, maybe not quite that many, but a lot.

So when WestBow asked me to do a Women of Faith book, that was the first setting I thought of. I also had two writer friends from Alaska who read it for me to make sure I got it right.

How do you decide on where your novels should be set?

I generally start with setting when coming up with a new story. It needs to be some place that has a certain mystique for me. I like my setting to play a role in the story where you couldn’t take that story and set it anywhere else.

I know so little about Alaska, though I’d love to go someday. I read on your website that you had a contest for one of your readers to identify the Alaskan craft mentioned in Alaska Twilight. A hoofaboo! How interesting.

I had so much fun writing that book. You can read several reviews of it on my website.

Can you tell us more about that fun blog you participate in, Girls Write Out? I discovered it through being a reader of Kristin Billerbeck’s chick-lit. How did you get to know each other?

Kristin and I have been friends the longest. We were both writing for Heartsong Presents at the time and connected online. We first met at the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference. Her mother-in-law was appalled she was going to room with someone she’d never met!

But we clicked as much in person as we did on email. Diann and Denise both live about an hour from me, and we all started at Barbour. The three of us get together a lot and all four of us room together at the ACFW conference. It’s our yearly girls night out.

That sounds like WAY too much fun. How did you get started blogging?

The four of us knew we’d like to have a blog but we also knew we’d never have the time to maintain one on our own so we pooled our resources. And we wanted it to be for READERS not just writers.

We wanted it to be relevant to women no matter what their age or occupation. We blog about stuff our husbands do, the perplexities of life, all kinds of things.

Well, I’m certainly enjoying reading it. I have one more quick question. Do you have a mentor of any kind?

The four of us mentor one another. We’ve been iron sharpening iron. And my editors have really helped me grow as well. Stephen King is my favorite author. He can write characters like no one else. I bet I’ve read THE STAND thirty times.

Do you have any more advice for aspiring writers?

The writing life can be tough. Friends make it more about the journey and less about the arriving, so make finding some writing friends a top priority!

Thanks, Colleen! This has been such a wonderful chat. I hope at least one of us will be able to meet you and the other writers in your Fab Foursome in Dallas at the ACFW conference. Thanks for stopping in.

Thanks, Heather! These were great questions.

If y’all enjoyed this chat with Colleen Coble, be sure and stop by Girls Write Out or her website and say hello! There’s also another great interview with Colleen at the ACFW website, where I learned that she reads 4-5 books a week!

The Carnival of Beauty is in full swing over at Allison’s Autumn Rain blog. Ten bloggers have submitted essays on The Beauty of Rainy Days. As always, thanks to Two Talent Living for being the official sponsor of this lovely Carnival, which gathers posts by Christian women bloggers.

Barbara over at Tidbits and Treasures tapped me for this “Ten Simple Pleasures” meme, which I think fits quite nicely into the theme for today’s Carnival of Beauty, “Rainy Days.” The hostess is Allison of The Autumn Rain.

Here are Ten Simple Pleasures for me, things that bring me joy and keep me going on those rainy days, when the skies are gray.

1. Our pets — five cats and a dog right now. I sat out in our backyard last night petting our white cat, Snowball, and thought to myself that life doesn’t get any better than this. Of course, he started purring, and it was even more fun because I let my one-year-old stroke his neck, teaching her how to be “gentle.”

2. Pure joy is when I get up early enough to drink a cup of coffee and read and/or write before anyone else in the house is up. (It didn’t happen this morning.) I love those quiet hours of darkness where I can dig in my roots and feel a sense of growth — it keeps me going all day. When I can read my Bible and meet with God, I’m as excited as Mary, the day she saw Jesus on the first Easter.

3. I’ve got three vases of wildflowers in our kitchen right now — brought inside by my kindergartener. She loves to hide the fresh-picked bouquet behind her back and say, “Mama, I’ve got a surprise for you.” I never get tired of her surprises — and now the wild dogwoods and pear blossoms look so pretty in our kitchen.

4. I love the moment when my husband walks in the door from work. He’s tall and handsome — and I realize I love him more every day. I’m not the type to be mushy in public — but this is one of my simple pleasures. I can’t believe how good God is to me!

5. The beach. Anything about the beach. The salty sea breezes, the feeling of sand under my bare feet, watching our children make sand castles and play in the waves. My stress unwinds completely when I can be near the sea. I feel God present there more than anywhere else — at the horizen of sky meeting the water — He’s there.

6. As I’m writing, it IS raining outside! My three-year-old is beside me playing with his Thomas the Tank Engines and saying, “Look, Mama. See the rain?” I love the quiet sounds of rain, especially when I’m in a barn with a tin roof, and I can smell hay at the same time (and be near horses).

7. My new pleasure of going to work out at Curves. It’s hard to believe I can relax while I exercise — but I’m having so much fun listening to upbeat music, talking with women about non-stressful things, and getting my chance to breathe (like on the airplane, when we’re told to give ourselves oxygen first before helping a child).

8. Encouraging words — it’s so refreshing to read or hear something nice, where someone took the time to reach out to me. When I’m feeling good about myself, it directly affects the six other people in our home, as well as everyone else I come in contact with.

9. Our Sunday School class. I’ll wait and post more about that on Friday for the Living Beyond Yourself group. We’ve been gone for four years, and we feel like we’re back home again. I love these people!

10. Being outside in the garden area with my family. We are really country bumpkins these days. Our baby playpen stays out on the porch — she is content to play out there for hours while everyone is doing yardwork. My husband is whipping the garden into shape and getting the kids to all do all kinds of chores. Soon, we’ll have cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, beans, and a host of other homegrown vegetables.

That’s it for today — I could keep going of course … but really, everything centers around my family right now. And I guess the neat thing is that I can blog about it — and maybe I should print this out and keep it somewhere for me to read when the sun is hiding behind a cloud.

I think I’m supposed to tap ten other people for this meme. I’d like to tap everyone in our LBY group — in the Blogroll. So, if you’re in the group and you’d like to share your ten simple pleasures, consider yourself tapped!