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I just finished reading Kathy Kendall-Tackett's, How to Write for a General Audience: A Guide for Academics Who Want to Share Their Knowledge With the World and Have Fun Doing It. WOW!! What a title. And it delivers just as described . . . and MORE!!

As always, I enjoyed reading another book by Kathy. She not only informs, but entertains. I love her humor. She makes what could have been a dry subject enjoyable. She writes from experience and makes a great writing coach because she's so practical. No froth or filler here. Lots of real help and advice from someone who's been there. Done that!  Got the T-shirt!

Kathy is Kathy. Because I know her not only through her writing, but as a friend, I can tell you that what you see is what you get!  She's down to earth and user-friendly. No pretense. Just plain insider helps on writing and publishing. You shouldn't rob yourself of the experience of reading this book. I also recommend another of her books--for those of us who need it--The Well-Ordered Office, listed to the right in my "Essential List for Writers." This got my work-space in order. You will be glad you read them BOTH. And if you find them helpful, write a review for her on Amazon.com.

Thanks Kathy. Really helpful.

I'm thinking about dissipation and distraction. And what made me think of that? I just updated "My Current Reading." In so doing, I noticed that I'm reading too many books at once. I can't recall when I started doing this. I used to read one book at a time. I'm not sure if everyone does this or just me. What's behind this?

Is it that I'm getting older and realizing that time is at a premium? That I might not get to finish all the books that interest me? Or . . . do I have a short attention span?  And need to spread my interest across a wider palette? Sampling here and there? Maybe it's from attending too many covered dish dinners in the past thirty years of church ministry; where you go down the line and take a little of this and a little of that. Then go back for 2 or 3 that were most appealing.

In any case, reading 5 or 6 or 7 books at once may be a source for my lack of intellectual focus these days. I seem to be interested in more things than I can read about at once. This produces in me a feeling of being scattered, always feeling that more than one book is demanding my attention. But, I'm going to try to whittle my list down over the next six months. Let's see if I can do it. I wonder if I can ever get my current reading down to 2!

Although in my own defense (against my own concerns), usually one book is devotional reading, one is ministry related, and one is personal. In my current list of "My Current Reading," two are ministry reading and three are personal. My "Featured Books" section, at present, features my current devotional reading. Well, perhaps I shouldn't be so fastidious.

What about you? What's your list look like?  Maybe you need to narrow your focus and whittle your list? I wonder if we'll feel less scattered, dissipated or distracted?

If you've been following the progress of We're the "sons of God" . . . So What?, then you know that I have been proofing in VT.

The covers have already been proofed (they're beautiful). The publisher did a great job.

But I have just completed 20 hours of painstaking, detail work final proofing the interior block of the book. I had to transfer errors, wording changes, and insertions or deletions to a separate form that the editors will use to make the final changes in the camera ready files.

So within a few more weeks, I should be holding my finished books in hand. Then they'll be made available at iUniverse.com's webstore.

The book will not be available at Amazon.com, Ingrams, and other public venues until Sept or Oct. So those of you who have been following and want to purchase a copy can do so on the iUniverse website. I'll let you know more when it's released. It will be available in both soft and hard cover (the hardcover dust jacket is really nice).

Most importantly, We're the "sons of God" . . . So What? will positively impact those who read it. They will grow in their walk and in their knowledge of God. I am excited to receive the first feedback from the first readers once they have read the book.

Headed up to VT tomorrow morning early.



This is the final stretch. Proofing the interior book block. Making final adjustments. Reading out loud and pronouncing every syllable to make sure as few typos as possible get past us.

Then, in about 3 weeks, I'll have my first copies of the book in hand. WOW!!

What a thrill to see the new covers for We're the "sons of God" . . . So What?. The publisher did a GREAT job! I only wish I could include them in this blog, but they are not in the correct format yet. I should be able to approve them later today and they'll go on to the printer. The block proofing is scheduled for the next 14 days. I have the proofs and just need to schedule the time away to go through them word by word and line by line..

I knew it would feel good to see the book actually taking shape, but this is a real, unexpected sense of elation. I hope that I'll feel the same about every book, not just my first. I'm so grateful for the joy the Lord allows us to have when we're doing what he's created us to do.

We are still on track for completion in July, but will hold off several months for the official release. Readers will still be able to order the book from the publisher, but they won't show up in the bookstores until October 2009.

For the next couple of weeks then, I'll be reading my book again . . . for the umteenth time. But something has changed and I suspect it will be a joy (as well as hard work).

I also believe that the release of SOG will prove timely given the upsurge in interest regarding spiritual maturity and spiritual formation.

Stay tuned. Thanks for your prayers.