A good friend of mine, Andy Sanders, has started publishing company called 5 Fold Media. I thought it would be great to profile them for the blog, so here is a short video to introduce Andy and company, and then a little Q&A.

Why did you start a publishing company?

We have had a burden for 10 years to help fill the gaping hole in the Spirit-filled media industry. We have seen over and over how people with incredible God-given talent have been thrown to the wayside by the traditional publishers because of lack of funding. Our desire is to see “the whole earth filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord” by releasing the creative anointing that has been placed in ordinary people just like you and I.

What makes 5 Fold Media unique in the market?

• Low upfront cost to produce book.
• Same equipment, talent, and programs as some of the larger Publishers utilize.
• The Author does not have to purchase several books upfront.
• Publisher will purchase books as needed for Author.
• Author does not pay shipping cost. (Special offer for now.)
• High & fixed royalties.
• Small book contracts that can be easily renewed.
• No excessive & expensive annual fees to work with us.
• Author owns book when contract is finished.
• No large book storage fees or cost (less book damage).
• Spirit-led & targeted promotions.
• Authentic Co-Publisher’s contract. We are NOT a Self Publisher.
• Your input for your book is always welcome!
• No interest & pay as you go for upfront book production cost.
• Owners have extensive full-time ministry experience. Click here for more info
• We carry your product with us and promote you when we travel.
• We also do a lot of marketing that is comparable to other companies.

What types of books are you looking for?

Christian Fiction and non-fiction, Adult and Childrens. We are not publishing school curriculum at this time.

Do you accept unsolicited manuscripts or queries?

Yes, authors can email and inquire to see if their book is something we would be interested in. We are not a self publisher. We are a Spirit-led Co-Publishing Press.

I know that advertising and promotion can be expensive, will you be handling these, or will that be left to the author?

When it comes to marketing and promotions in publishing, the sky is the limit, however many marketing plans come with a high price tag, and sometimes only bringing a small return. We believe the best marketing approach in releasing a person’s talents and gifts is to conduct “Holy Spirit promotions, networking, and kingdom building,” led on the timing and planning of the Holy Spirit. God has given us a system that will put our authors on the publishing map without putting them in the hole financially. One divine connection is worth more than 1,000 potential clients. This will include traditional marketing and promotion to internet based companies such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobles and Borders, as well as bookstores and large networks, however, the publisher does not believe in forcing the bookstores hands to accept books.

If there is anything else you want to add, feel free.

We will be releasing 5 Fold Media by the end of January. We already have 3 contracted authors, with many more in the pipeline. We are working on a user-friendly website that will help authors step through the publishing process easily- this will be released by the end of January.

You can find more information on Andy Sanders and 5 Fold Media at http://www.5foldmedia.com or contact him at andycathy7@yahoo.com

Time changes, and with it, technology.  In recent history, however, it seems that technology progresses faster than time.

I remember my first cell phone barely fit in my pocket and could store 25 phone numbers.  It flipped open and had an expendable antenna.  It’s laughable now when you compare the technology of today’s hand held media centers: Basically a computer in the palm of your hand.

In order to enjoy music, I used to own records (for my younger audience, they are large black disks), which were replaced by cassette tapes, then CDs, and most recently by digital media files.  Instead of a shelf, most of my music collection now resides on a hard drive and various burned discs.

With all of these changes in other media, it seems the book is the last to follow suit.  After all, there are just some things that very slowly go the way of the dinosaurs, and there is reason for that.  Some things, I believe, are not meant to be fully replaced.

Though I love all the gadgetry (the Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader Digital Book), one thing is sure to be lost, ownership of an actual book.  Are we ready for digital rights management (DRM) of our libraries?  And what will this lead to?

If a friend at work wants to borrow my latest Dan Brown novel, I simply hand it over a cubicle wall.  I definitely would not let them borrow a Kindle for a couple weeks. If I spill a drink on a book, yeah the pages will be a little off color, but it is still readable.  Spill coffee on a Sony Reader, and you’re out a few hundred dollars.

Other than the few aesthetic items, simply put, you no longer own your books. You are paying to borrow them for as long as the technology lasts, which we all know will only be a few years. Eventually you will be forced to buy them again for the next technology if you want to keep them in your collection.  Also, if I want to sell or give away my used books, I am free to do so through Amazon, used book stores, etc., but DRM does not allow you to do this.  Digital media is a one time deal, only to be used by the buyer for as long as the technology survives, or until the hard drive crashes.

I am not coming out against these wonderful advances.  I am only saying buyer and publishers beware.  In trying to get our bookshelves to fit in our pockets, let’s not forget the advantages of owning printed copies.

What are your thoughts?

The 7 Biggest Myths of Publishing (Know the Truth)

I love Writer’s Digest, and am a subscriber.  Every day there is something there that inspires me to be a better writer.  Whether it’s an article on a particular subject, or shared experiences from published authors, there is something there for every writer, no matter the experience level.  Here is a great article by Elizabeth Sims on the seven biggest myths of publishing.  Please click through to the rest of the article.

August 26, 2009
by  Elizabeth Sims

A veteran author tells you, writer to writer, what getting published is really like—and confronts the seven biggest myths.

Writers talk about “giving birth” to a book, and that’s a beautiful metaphor. Same as with a baby, your book is first, well—conceived. Initially it’s just a mote of a thing, insubstantial and unreal, yet over time you feel it growing inside you. Eventually it begins kicking to get out.

And so it happens: You acknowledge its inevitability, you work long and hard, you bleed, you sweat, you cry, and then one day the pains cease and you’re holding this beautiful little being in your hands. It has your DNA! And even though it comes from your deepest core, it’s really got a personality all its own. Naturally you hope that someday it will develop free will and learn basic skills like cleaning the oven or calculating algebra. You love it unconditionally. It’s your bundle of joy: your book.

Yet in truth, this metaphor is totally wrong. Having your book published is not like giving birth. It’s like having your newborn ripped from your arms and given to a foster family you’ve never laid eyes on in your life.

It’s a heavy trip, as laden with phony stories as parenthood is. In order to survive it in style, you need to know the truth behind the myths.

Advice to First-Time Authors

Since I am yet to be published, I would consider myself in this category, and definitely needing some advice.  Who better to get it from than Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson publishing.

Here is an excerpt from a recent post on his blog (which I strongly recommend you follow).

As you might imagine, I receive a lot of email from would-be authors who are trying to get published. Because I make my email address public, it’s pretty easy to get to me.

However, by the time I hear from people, they are usually frustrated. They can’t get anyone in the book publishing world to respond, and they are convinced that they have a killer-idea. “If only someone would just read my manuscript,” they plead.

The problem is that most publishers will not review unsolicited proposals or manuscripts. I personally receive hundreds every year; our staff receives thousands. We simply don’t have the resources to review these. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.

So as an author, what do you do? Here’s what I recommend:…

You can also follow Michael Hyatt on Twitter as: MichaelHyatt

Well, you’ve written your masterpiece and now what do you do? One of your options is to find an agent that will market your book to various publishers and editors. While this may not be necessary in every case, I think that using and agent is the smart choice.

It is their livelihood to get your book into the hands of a publisher. Yeah, they may take a percentage of the money that will be made, but you know what they say, “80% of something is better than 100% of nothing.”

I would like to note that finding an agent in your genre is vital.  There is no sense in wasting your time and money sending agent queries to people who will drop them in the trash.

That being said, where can you find an agent. Scouring the internet is one way. Buying the Guide to Literary Agents is another.

One of the best is to find a gree listing that you can search for by genre.  one such list can be found at Agent Query.  There is no charge to use their service and it is quite extensive.   Each agent has a link to their bio which includes (in most cases) how to (and how NOT to) sumbit your work for review.

A last note, through the research that I have done,  it is recommended by many that you do not pay an agent to review their work; and get some references.

Let me know how it goes.

- mooney

I do not know everything there is to know about writing, editing, finding an agent, getting published, or marketing my work, so I have to learn from people that do.  Podcasts about writing are a way to learn (for free) from people who have already traveled the road.

If you do not know, a podcast is an audio feed that you can subscribe to that automatically updates whenever new content is released by the author of the podcast.

I have added a page that lists several of the podcasts about writing that I listen to on a regular basis. Each has a link to the blog/website of the podcast, as well as a link to the iTunes store (all those listed here are free).

If you know of any other podcasts about writing, please leave a comment and I will add them.

Thanks,

- mooney

Well, it is finally here: Ted Dekker’s revamped website. (www.teddekker.com)  I am a huge fan, and honestly, Ive only read a handful of his books. (Thr3e and the Circle Trilogy).

The “new and improved” Ted Dekker 2.0 boasts some pretty sweet animation, a discussion board, a library, and what I believe to be the best improvement, The Underground.  It allows you to read the first few chapters of Boneman’s Daughters in a pretty unique way.  It’s an animated book that has turning pages, and illustrations to boot. I just finished reading chapter one and it’s definitely moving to the front of the reading pile.

Just like his books, the new sight is a captivating, no holds barred assault on your senses.  Here’s a peak at the header, linked to the site.  Enjoy!

Fantasy author Wayne Thomas Batson recently posted eight tips on beating deadlines at his blog.  I have included the intro and the tips, but please visit his blog and read through them.  Mr. Batson is the author of the Door Within Trilogy, Isle of Swords, and Isle of Fire.

Sir Wayne

Deadlines:

DEADLINES: Even the word sounds ominous. The finality of the concept is frightening: something is due. There are no excuses. No exceptions. No extensions. Finish on time or pay dearly.

We’ve all had deadlines. But for the author or aspiring author, deadlines become an everpresent reminder of what is left to do. If handled poorly, deadlines can lead to all kinds of pressure and stress. Deadlines are a part of the business, but ours is a creative field. We create when the muse strikes. How do you rush creativity? Doesn’t rushing a creative endeavor mess it up? Hmmm, seemingly valid points. So what’s a writer to do? …

Deadline Tip #1: Set reasonable deadlines.

Deadline Tip #2: Set your own deadlines.

Deadline Tip #3: Frontload as much as possible.

Deadline Tip #4: Be satisfied with little deadlines met.

Deadline Tip #5: Nibble away at the numbers.

Deadline Tip #6: Outline.

Deadline Tip #7: Stop in the middle of a cool part.

Deadline Tip #8: Eliminate distractions.

Let me know your thoughts.

- mooney

Well, I have been waiting for some time to receive word on if my article was accepted for this, and it has finally arrived. My submission was not accepted.

Yay! It’s my first rejection letter! While not the BEST news in the world, it’s one step closer to being published. Here is the email and list of those who made it through the selection process. Congratulations to you all!

- chris mooney

Hello!

I’m a couple of weeks late on getting the Love is a Verb/Love Lessons results to you. I am sorry for that.

Below I’ve listed the pieces that have been chosen for this book.

If your name is on the list (some titles have been changed), you will receive a contract in a few weeks. You have made it through Bethany House’s initial acceptance phase and will probably (though I can’t promise) be in the book.

If your name is not on the list, please read on: We had more than 300 stories submitted to this collection and I read every one from start to finish. So many of them were so good! Many of your stories even brought tears to my eyes or made me go “awww”–not an easy feat! So many touched my heart (even if not to the teary-eye stage).

There were many reasons why manuscripts didn’t fit into this compilation. I received many wonderful stories about loving people, but this compilation focused more on learning to love someone. We also had to deal a LOT with too many articles on several of the different topics. We had a lot of learning to love people through illnesses, a lot of learning to love parents stories, etc.

Many times, the reasons stories were not chosen had nothing to do with the actual quality of the story. In fact, as I read the stories and made initial choices, I also kept a second file–in it I put 80 stories I loved, but that didn’t fit in the Love Lessons (now called Love is a Verb) book. I wanted to look through those stories when it came time to choose stories for another book I was starting to work on for Jim Bell–God Sightings. Unfortunately, as you probably know, shortly after I finished the first selection process for Love Lessons, I lost all of my computer files in a hard drive crash, including that file. But I was so impressed that so many stories were so good.

So if your story did not make it into Love Lessons/Love is a Verb, please do not feel you did a poor job–please remember, as I’ve said, manuscripts did or did not make it into this book for many reasons besides quality.

If your manuscript is not in this book, please send it out again to another publisher (or feel free to submit it to me again if it may fit another project I put out a call for later–Jim has a couple of more in the works he’s asked me about doing). You’ve done the hard part–writing it–now keep getting it out there til it finds the right home!

I can’t tell you how much I appreciate each of you for being part of this compilation call. You have invested in a ministry, and you have taught me, challenged me, inspired me, and blessed me through your writing. Thank you so much.

(one last note: Because I lost all my submission files between July 26 and October 26, if you know of someone else who submitted to this project, will you please feel free to pass this along to them? Thanks!)

Jeanette

Jeanette Gardner Littleton
Editorial Associate
Love Is a Verb (formerly Love Lessons)
by Gary Chapman
A James Stuart Bell Project

Loving Lavishly — Tamara Vermeer

The Potato Fiasco — Eileen Roddy

The Changeling — Louise D. Flanders

A Simple Cup of Cheer – Steven L. Brown

Drinking Milk with a Spoon — Doris E. Clark

The Hug I’ll Never Forget — Rebecca Willman Gernon

Between Mountain Streams and Ferris Wheels — Sheila Farmer

The Little Girl Who Changed My Life — Laurie Perkins

Opposites Attract — Then What? — Emily Osburne

The New Love-Room — Betty Johnson Dalrymple

A Christmas Miracle — Loretta J. Eidson

Between the Baby and Basketball — Kevin Lucia

A Reason to Live — Sudha Kristmutki

Better than Chocolate — Midge DeSart

Who’s Winning the War? — Laura Bradford

Lost and Found: Four Sisters — Sarah B. Hawkins

My Knight Knows — Leslie Payne

The Heartbeat of Springfield — Jon Hopkins

A Wounded Heart Set Free — Amy Chanan

Entering Molly’s World — Elsi Dodge

Just Call Me Babe — Donna Smith

When Sara Taught Me Freedom — Nancy Sheek

The Good with the Bad — Sheila Farmer

Every Day Adventures with Mom — Faith Waters

Trials and Errors — William Cuchens

It’s Not About Me — Christine McNamara

Not the Girl for My Son? — Ann Varnum

Silver-Boxed Kindness — Pamela Dowd

A Spring Tulip in Frozen Ground — Gena Bradford

Losing a Brother, Gaining a Son — Pierre Eade

All She Needed was Time — Katherine J. Crawford

The Day My Husband Prayed I’d Die — LaQuita Havens

The Battle of the Dishwasher — Susan Stanley

The Weather Kitten — Nancy Farrier

Say Goodbye to Your Mistress — Jennifer Devlin

The 50/50 Proposition — Sandy Cathcart

For Richer or Poorer — Chris Wright

The Price is Worth It — Jackie Strange

Pulling Weeds on Blossom Trail — Connie Pombo

Love’s Doorway — Nora Peacock

Author Gary Chapman

On August 14th, I posted an opportunity to be published in a collection by Gary Chapman called Love Lessons: Everyday Acts of Love That Change Lives, which Bethany House will publish in Spring, 2009.   They were accepting 40-50 stories at 1,200 to 2,000 words each.

I submitted an article for the book and was told they were notifying submitters if their articles were accepted by the end of November.  Has anyone heard back from them one way or the other?

- chris mooney