Historical fiction is Peter’s passion and his story about Tad, a courageous child of slavery, was chosen by Guild judges and Worthy Publishing because of its “emotionally-charged approach to a sensitive, historic period,” says Jeana Ledbetter, Worthy vice president of planning and author relations. “Peter’s story presents a piece of history readers will be eager to learn more about.”

In Songs of Captivity, Leavell writes about how Tad’s actions expose the sins of an entire nation as the Civil War threatens to tear apart the United States.

Peter has won several awards for his short stories and manuscripts. He says nothing delights him more than people turning the pages of books, enraptured by the story.

“It is an honor to be chosen,” Leavell says. “The Guild’s Operation First Novel is a wonderful opportunity to receive feedback. I’m thrilled that this story of human struggle and triumph will be published.”

Worthy president and CEO Byron Williamson says, “We believe some of the greatest fiction voices of our time have not yet been heard. Operation First Novel is an exciting way to seek out those compelling stories and writers.”

Could your manuscript be next year’s winner? Check our website in March for details on entering the 2012 contest.

All stories need strong heroes and heroines who must choose between the danger of a courageous stand or allowing evil to triumph.

Sounds like a Western, pardner!
Yes and no. Westerns are limited to the western U.S. from after the Civil War to the turn of the 20th Century. Conflicts emerge between Native Americans and settlers, ruthless outlaws and law abiding citizens, and rich tycoons and hardworking landowners. Most Westerns use an unlikely hero to save the day, such as a handsome, slow-talking cowboy who may tell the girl goodbye and kiss his horse.

Westerns lasso a snippet of the past to entertain us. They can be suspenseful, but not all historical suspense novels are westerns.

Historical suspense bubbles over with action. It tugs on the physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental strengths of your characters. Add enough realistic detail to make your story real. Be diligent and sprinkle in plenty of creativity to keep your reader glued to the page.

Authenticity
Your reputation will suffer with readers, however, if you get creative with historical facts. Use dynamic resources like libraries and state historical societies. Find local or state-published books about your setting and its people to mine rich tidbits of information.

It’s essential to create strong characters and plot twists. The lure of historical suspense is the ability to journey back to a slower pace when men and women lived by their wits and the toil of their hands.

Combine the romance of your favorite era with a suspenseful story, and keep your readers craving adventure.

DiAnn Mills combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. She has 50 books in print and has sold more than 1.5 million copies. Her Sworn to Protect won a 2011 Christy Award in the Contemporary Romance Category. Breach of Trust won the same award in 2010. Her latest, The Chase, releases next month. DiAnn is the Craftsman mentor for the Christian Writers Guild. Visit her online.

A brilliant poet, Wheatley became the first African-American woman published. Her writing was influenced by Alexander Pope, John Milton, Horace, and Virgil—and by the Bible. Her book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was published in 1773 in London, because American publishers refused it.

And we complain?
When I hear writers lament about their lack of writing space or the scarcity of time available to write, I think of Phillis Wheatley. She had little going for her except Mary’s kindnesses. Wheatley wasn’t freed until 1778, five years after publication of her book.

Although Wheatley wrote several individual poems, including one in praise of George Washington, Poems on Various Subjects… was her only published work. After gaining her freedom, she married a storekeeper who went broke. She died in poverty at age 31.

But, in her time, no less than the Lord Mayor of London and George Washington praised her. Today two university buildings are named in her honor. One at the University of Massachusetts Boston and the other at Norfolk (Va.) State University.

What’s stopping you?
What keeps you from educational improvement and disciplined writing? As a poet, Wheatley showed a determination and a commitment to her craft that puts my own life and writing in perspective.

I have every privilege. She had none. She used the ability God gave her and is seen today as a distinguished poet, a woman educated ahead of her time who used well the intellect God gave her.

Phillis Wheatley inspires me.

Learn more about Phillis Wheatley.

Roger Palms, a long-time Guild mentor, is the former editor of Decision magazine and the author of 15 books and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles.

There’s just one problem: neither the contestants nor the audience has a clue about a new player—or that player’s new rule. Only the winner gets out alive.

Fatal Reality (OakTara Publishing) is the debut novel by CWG Craftsman graduate Jonathan Wakefield. Wakefield introduces Kyle Borders, a respected evangelical leader who teaches the importance of believers being real. Kyle joins the game with the hope of winning souls. However, Kyle keeps a secret from everyone—including himself. A disturbed contestant takes it upon himself to reveal just how fake Kyle is.

In addition to Kyle and his nemesis, joining the game are an atheist who believes humanity won’t reach its full potential until it throws off the shackles of antiquated beliefs, an Islamic naval officer seeking the truth, a banker who’ll do anything to get to the top, a former NFL football player trying to regain his pride, and a host who has never seen beyond himself and his next contract.

A 2009 Operation First Novel finalist, Fatal Reality tackles the story from multiple points of view, through most of the characters’ eyes. I was drawn in, connecting with and rooting for each for various reasons. I wanted them to put aside their differences long enough for everyone to make it to the end alive.

In a few places Fatal Reality’s heavy dialogue hampers the action. However, overall the book engages and provokes the reader to think about how the choices we make and the secrets we keep affect more than just ourselves. And that no matter how far you fall, there is always a chance for forgiveness and redemption.

Jennifer Lindsay began the Guild’s Apprentice course while earning her bachelor’s degree in English and has since completed the Journeyman and Craftsman courses. She works as an editor for a hobby magazine and serves as the youth leader at her church. In 2011 she started The Writer’s Wellspring, a blog to offer encouragement.

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“Have you sold it yet?”

Well…

So I followed her advice and re-wrote the 1,000-word piece—sans the hit men—for Tallahassee Woman magazine and they published it. It’s now a piece I could rewrite and sell again and again.

Another time I brought to the Orlando Word Weavers group an emotional piece about my dad’s death. One woman suggested I lose the first two paragraphs and get to the story.

It took me 20 minutes to rewrite. When I took that article to the Florida Christian Writers Conference, it won best article. Several re-writes later it appeared in Kyria, a Christianity Today ezine for women.

If you’re not yet in a CWG Word Weavers group, join one.

Five (+1) great reasons:

1. To fellowship with people who think in paragraphs and say, “You should write about that.”
2. To stay informed of upcoming writing events.
3. Because members receive a free five-page critique from the Christian Writers Guild, a free webinar, and a discount to the Writing for the Soul Conference—plus more.
4. For the cool membership card and tote bag.
5. To meet with Christian writers who offer both encouragement and honest criticism.

But the best reason is because CWG Word Weavers help you become a better writer.

Pauline Hylton lives in Clearwater, Florida. She’s a graduate of the Guild’s Journeyman course. Her articles have appeared in the USA Today magazine, Your Life Guide to Women’s Health, and Tallahassee Woman. Visit her online.

My first devotional was published in the January / February issue of Upper Room, a short story has been accepted for a Christmas anthology, and another has been accepted by Pick & Shovel Gazette.

John Brewer

Word Weaver, Gainesville FL

My short story, “The Gift,” was published in the November 2011 issue of Susie Magazine, a magazine for teen girls.

Leslie T. Dean

Member, Parsonburg MD

I signed a contract with Barbour for Love From Ashes and another with Heartsong for Let It Snow. My latest, Hearts That Survive: A Novel of the Titanic (Abingdon) will release in March. See you at the Writing for the Soul conference!

Yvonne Lehman

Mentor, Black Mountain NC