Living Waters Publishing blog

Sensational Book About Breast Cancer

2009-03-07T18:01:00.003-06:00

Jeanette Patindol's My One Boobed Mamma hit online bookstores this week. It is already available on Amazon and BN.

This book is a sensational children's book that teaches families how to cope with breast cancer. You don't want to miss this remarkable illustrated story. The author has dedicated a portion of the sales to breast cancer cure research.

Christian Fiction and Nonfiction

2009-01-30T09:16:00.000-06:00

For many, fiction provides an escape. It's almost like a vacation from life. Well written fiction ignites the imagination of the readers, taking them on a journey with more depth than any movie. Christian fiction is no different. If you're looking for well-written and compelling Christian fiction, you may want to consider Wait on the Lord, I Say Wait by Sabriena Williams. This urban Christian lit will not disappoint.

If you're more of the nonfiction type, maybe you should pick up a copy of our latest release, Extreme Life Makeover by Julie Rice. This book will revolutionize your thinking. Get ready to be changed from the inside out, which is the change that counts. Pick up a copy today!

Still, if you're an education buff, you may consider John Schroeder's powerful challenge to the theory of evolution. This book, Why Monkeys are Monkeys and People are People: The Case Against Dawkins, Hitchens and Hawking, will not bore or disappoint. The research is present in the full light of the truth but with a nice dose of humor thrown in. This is definitely a must-have for the Christian, analytical mind.

"Truth and Intimacy: A Couple's Journal" is Finally Available

2009-01-13T08:57:00.002-06:00

For those who has awaited the release of Truth and Intimacy: A Couple's Journal by Lensey and Lacresha Hayes, you don't have to wait any longer. It is now available anywhere books are sold. For more information about this book and the authors, visit the book blog.

Truth and Intimacy explores the depths of marriage with positive reinforcement and biblical insight. This book will help you rebuild your marriage one day and one thoughtful expression at a time. Use the interactive section in the back of the book to bond with your spouse. Use the stories to strengthen your resolve to make your relationship work. Use the scriptural references to stay grounded in the truth of God's Word for your marriage. Get your copy of this book now!

Message from our President

2009-01-08T08:53:00.001-06:00

Book marketing is an ongoing process that involves both the publisher and the author. For some time, Living Waters has been investigating various ways to achieve higher sales. With the recent rash of bookstore closings, we've realized that it is important to offer readers a wider selection of reading choices in a wider array of venues.

Over the next few months, we're going to focus on re-releasing many of our backlist titles in electronic format. For many of our authors, this may mean a sharp increase in sales volume. It will also provide more convenience for readers. I guess you could say that Living Waters is going green.

Keep watch on this blog for more updates about the company and our efforts to make our authors successful and our readers happy.

Lensey Hayes, President
Living Waters Publishing Company
www.livingwaterspc.com

Newly Released is "What's the Problem with Jesus?" by John Hyde

2009-01-07T13:00:00.000-06:00

John Hyde has written what may one day be called one of the most provocative books of this Christian era. What's the Problem with Jesus? deals with some of the more prevalent issues of our amoral society today. This book is beyond a doubt one of the most powerful books we've ever published.

Available everywhere this week!

ISBN: 978-0-9821153-0-5

Newly Released is "Extreme Life Makeover" by Julie Rice

2009-01-03T05:11:00.000-06:00

Living Waters gladly announces the new release by Julie Rice, Extreme Life Makeover. This book is like a Christian's life guide for joy and peace. It's an absolute necessity for those who want to enjoy their Christian walk and improve it daily.

This book is now available anywhere books are sold! You don't want to miss it!

ISBN: 978-0-9821153-3-6

Newly Released is "Uncommitment: Dealing with a Predator" by Leigh Laurence

2009-01-01T08:06:00.000-06:00

Living Waters proudly announces the release of the first book in the "Heart of a Player" series, Uncommitment: Dealing with a Predator by Leigh Laurence.

This ebook series will be the first of its kind to come from our publishing company. We're extremely delighted to feature this wonderful author, Leigh, and her extensive relationship writing. You don't want to miss any of these books. Available almost anywhere ebooks are sold!

Powerful Author with a Powerful Christian Message

2008-11-26T12:59:00.002-06:00

As a Christian publisher, we live for manuscripts that glorify God and bring truth to those who read. Well, we're happy to be releasing this book, What's the Problem with Jesus?, on December 1st that is the perfect answer book for those who have not yet given their lives to the Lord.

John Hyde brings up some very important questions as he seeks to answer the questions that many ask when confronted with the reality of Jesus Christ. This is a great gift idea and a necessary read for any Christian.

ISBN: 978-0-9821153-0-5

Price: $12.99

LW Changes

2008-10-09T14:26:00.000-05:00

Living Waters has been closely monitoring the economic downturn that has happened. Already, many companies are reporting losses in the hundreds of thousands and millions. In an effort to continue giving our clients effective marketing, we are scaling back on our administrative costs, which now totals about 35 percent of the annual budget. Fifty-five percent of that will now go into more extensive marketing programs for our books.

Living Waters will be closing our Louisiana location. We will be cutting overall office hours at all and moving nearly all of our operations online. This will have a major impact on how we do business. First, it will mean that we won't be accepting hard copy submissions. All submissions will be digital copies only. Nearly all inquiries will be handled online within 72 hours. Our standard minimum publication turnaround time of six months will change to twelve months.

Letters will be going out to all clients about what to expect during this time of transition. We will still handle royalty questions via phone until we're able to move that online. Please keep checking our blog for more updates.

October Release ~ By His Sovereign Grace by Melody Calhoun

2008-10-01T06:49:00.000-05:00

Title: By His Sovereign Grace

Author: Melody Calhoun

ISBN: 978-0-9821153-7-4

This devotional book represents the fullness of walking with Christ. Calhoun shows how to get closer to God in our daily activities, drawing from His infinite mercy and grace. Experience God's love in this wonderfully inspirational book.

Reviews-

"Simple truth. This book can be used to teach a new beginner the power of daily meditation, or to remind established Christians to get back to the foundation of our beliefs. This small book packs a powerful punch."

(E. L. Lawrence, Pastor of Mt. Moriah Christian Center)

"Moving and emotional."

(Charles Owens, Amazon Reviewer)

New Release ~ "Wait on the Lord, I Say Wait" by Sabriena Williams

2008-09-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

We're proud to announce the release of Wait on the Lord, I Say Wait by Sabriena Williams.

This book makes a strong appeal to have faith in all situations, particularly when it comes to family life. Shavon is a strong, proud, Christian woman who adores her family, her job and her work for God. Follow her struggles and triumphs in this captivating and uplifting novel.

Title: Wait on the Lord, I Say Wait
Author: Sabriena Williams
Publisher: Living Waters Publishing Company
ISBN: 978-0-9821153-1-2
Price: $16.95

New Release ~ "Where is God, Grandfather?" by Candy O'Donnell

2008-08-30T23:38:00.000-05:00

Living Waters proudly announces the release of Where is God, Grandfather?, written by the very talented Candy O'Donnell. This little book is packed with punch. It's a great way to teach your child about God and His relevance in their lives today. Get your copy now at our online store, or anywhere books are sold.

Catch Up With Our Authors

2008-08-21T21:37:00.001-05:00

Donna Shepherd's kiddie lit book, Dotty's Topsy Tale, has been released and is now available anywhere books are sold. Jim Copeland is racking up reviews for his book, Life is a Game. Catch a few of the reviews. Sabriena Williams is doing blog tours for Wait on the Lord, I Say Wait. Connie Arnold, author extraordinaire, will soon be ready for release of her two educational children's books, ABC and 123. Kevin Scott and Kristen Collier's book, Natalie's Ark, is slated to be released in 14 days. Candy O'Donnell's book, Where is God, Grandfather, will soon be available for purchase, as will By His Sovereign Grace by Melody Calhoun and Showers of Love by Mary Graziani.

Living Waters has built a team of blog hosts that are helping with the marketing of our books. Please, take a moment to visit some of our books at Comfort and Support, Debbie's Daily Doings, Books and Authors, Write Victoriously, and My Writing Experience.

Living Waters is growing. Come grow with us. Submit your manuscript to Jessica Davis or Lensey Hayes at acquisitions@livingwaterspc.com

Jim Copeland's Book, Life is a Game, is a Top Story

2008-08-20T12:30:00.000-05:00

Doubtlessly, you've heard of the book, Life is a Game by Jim Copeland. Well, his book was reviewed by Kam Williams, and his top story picked up by Baret News Services and will be running in all 50 states.

See more...
http://newsblaze.com/story/20080820095400tsop.nb/topstory.html

Life is a Game by Jim Copeland

2008-08-16T01:06:00.000-05:00

Since the publication of Life is a Game, we've been shocked at the level of sales it has attained. Written by Federal Correctional Officer, Jim Copeland, this book is full of motivational tidbits and wisdom.

Our feedback has been so positive that the author is in the process of releasing a second volume to this book. To celebrate, we have now put this volume on sale so that you can experience the power of this book. Get your copy today for $8.95. Order here!

Dottymania Continues with New Stops

2008-08-14T23:37:00.000-05:00

Donna Shepherd and Dottymania has made some new stops. The heat continues with this cute little hippo. Catch more about her at:

Joyce Anthony's blog ~ http://joyceanthony.tripod.com/blog

And Life More Abundantly ~ http://blogger.andlifemoreabundantly.org/2008/08/featured-childrens-book-dottys-topsy.html

Have a blog and want to feature Dotty? Just give us a holler at info@livingwaterspc.com

Welcome to our New Authors

2008-08-06T17:01:00.001-05:00

Living Waters would like to welcome all our new authors to the family. We're very proud to have you aboard:

~ John Hyde, What's the Problem with Jesus?

~ Annie Laura Smith, First Place, Love

~ Beverly Teibel, Dear God Diary

~ Julie Rice, Extreme Life Makeover

~ Jeff Radford, Merciful Leadership

Now Offering Online Gift Cards

2008-08-04T11:07:00.000-05:00

Living Waters is now offering online gift cards. If you're looking for a way to sell your books more effectively, give online gift cards. For more information, contact Jessica Davis at info@livingwaterspc.com

Living Waters is Supporting Victims of Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence

2008-07-30T15:00:00.000-05:00

Living Waters has donated multiple copies of 10 books to help raise money for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. For more information, please visit http://learntofeelpretty.blogspot.com

The list of books are below:

~ The Rape of Innocence: Taking Captivity Captive by Lacresha Hayes
~ Becoming: My Personal Memoirs by Lacresha Hayes
~ Poetic Infinity by Lacresha Hayes
~ Life is a Game by Jim Copeland
~ The Fire that Burns for the Last Days by Kevin O'Connor
~ Spirit: The Inner Man by Mary Thomas
~ The Nazarene Commentary by Mark Heber Miller
~ Stories from the Red Glass by LMH Christian
~ My First 24 Hours in Hell by V.K. Sansone
~ Benjamin P. Blizzard: Welcome to Christmastown by Karen Nivens

The drawing will be held on September 1, 2008 and announced here on this blog as well as the Celebrate Women blog.

Reasons for Rejection

2008-07-30T07:26:00.000-05:00

The acceptance/rejection process at Living Waters has never been openly discussed. However, we've rejected a lot of manuscripts lately, and with good reason. It's time for authors to understand the process of writing and submiting.

One of the main reasons many are rejected is the manuscript does not match our publishing house. Please remember, we are a Christian publisher.

Lately, seems children's books are all the rave. We've received approximately 100 children's lit manuscripts this month alone. Nearly all of them were rejected. Why? In about half of those manuscripts, the characters were not believable. If your manuscript has a seven year old, make sure he/she is in keeping with his/her age range. Don't write a book from a pre-school perspective and use words that most children won't encounter until middle school (unless you're writing about a genius child).

Another reason for rejection is lack of descriptive language. You have to write vividly. You must be able to attract and keep the attention of a child. If an illustrator can't find any scenes to draw, you have failed at using descriptive language. Think lively verbs and colorful adjectives (leap over jump, dashed over ran; be descriptive in your use of adjectives also. Not just a field but one full of red, yellow, purple wildflowers, dandelions, something, anything that an illustrator can draw and children can imagine).

Another biggie with Living Waters is creativity. We want to hear the author's unique voice. It has to be different than the other couple of million writers out there. Your competition is fierce. Always remember that.

Besides all these things, there are also common errors that will rarely make it beyond the first reader at this publishing house. These are:

~ Manuscripts full of errors (with hundreds of thousands of authors who take the time to make sure their work is well-written, properly proofed, etc, we shouldn't have to nor will we deal with manuscripts full of mechanical errors. Be thorough in your writing and proofing. You don't just bang it out and send it off. Use critique groups. Use college students. Use whatever you have to use to make sure your manuscript is ready for an acquisitions editor)

~ Not following submission guidelines (the guidelines are in place for a reason and when the author does not take time to follow them, they put themselves in the slush pile, or worse, the rejected pile, immediately)

Always remember that publishing is a business. Writing, if you want to make money from it, is also a business. Learn about the industry. Learn about writing and submitting. Read, a lot. These simple things will put you way ahead of the crowd. It's not hard to find a publisher for those who are willing to dedicate their time to learning.

Book Highlight of the Day ~ "Why Monkeys are Monkeys and People are People" by John Schroeder

2008-07-29T14:33:00.001-05:00

John Schroeder is one of those authors who come around only once in a decade, if that. He has the unique ability to view things from both a spiritual and scientific viewpoint. In his first book, Darwinism: Sorcery in the Classroom, he went the distance in tearing down the common misconceptions we hold about evolution. But in this book, Why Monkeys are Monkeys and People are People: The Case Against Dawkins, Hitchens and Hawking, he puts a permanent nail in the coffin of evolution. With the very scientific data used to convince us of evolution and the Big Bang, he takes the confusion out and shows us what the data really means.

John Schroeder's book will help you see the light of the truth without boring you to pieces. With trademark sarcasm, you will laugh your way into the truth. Don't delay! Order your copy now at http://store.livingwaterspc.com/ or anywhere books are sold!

Some interesting sites to visit

2008-07-28T00:06:00.000-05:00

In our constant search for sites to help our authors, we've found quite a few interesting sites. When you get time, we suggest you check them out.

www.confusingwords.com
www.preciseedit.com
www.published.com
www.authorsden.com
www.bookpromoter.com
www.fictionfactor.com

Dottymania

2008-07-25T09:41:00.000-05:00

We have planned a major push for Dotty's Topsy Tale. Beginning today and throughout the remainder of this month, you will see Dotty popping up everywhere. A few of her stops (reviews, synopsis, etc) are below:

http://lwpteasers.blogspot.com

http://writevictoriously.blogspot.com

http://ericanewton.blogspot.com

http://debbietodd.blogspot.com

http://introducingtheculpeppers.blogspot.com

http://alittlebitofchildrenslit.blogspot.com
http://thebookviews.blogspot.com
http://paradiseforwriters.blogspot.com

LW is also Twittering away about how great Dotty is. If you're following, you're going to get to know this character pretty well. Stay tuned as Dottymania continues!

Get your copy now at http://store.livingwaterspc.com

"Dotty's Topsy Tale" by Donna Shepherd

2008-07-24T15:15:00.000-05:00

Living Waters is proud to present...

Dotty's Topsy Tale

written by Donna Shepherd and illustrated by Kevin Collier

Available now at http://store.livingwaterspc.com.

Follow us on Twitter ~ Updated Daily

2008-07-22T23:03:00.000-05:00

Living Waters Publishing Company is now on Twitter. It is updated daily.

http://twitter.com/livingwaters

Announcing our Teasers Blog

2008-07-21T11:11:00.000-05:00

After much feedback from our authors and customers, we've added another blog. Introducing our LWP Teasers blog, http://lwpteasers.blogspot.com

There are three things we've gotten from every purchaser of our books in the last 60 days:

1. They want to see reviews.
2. They want chapter excerpts.
3. They'd like more book information.

We're giving them and our authors what they want. This blog will be updated frequently. Every book published by Living Waters will be featured on this blog at least once. So, tell your family and friends about it. We hope this will boost sales for our authors and enjoyment for our buying public.

July Tips for Authors

2008-07-16T12:24:00.000-05:00

There are approximately 400,000 titles being published each year, but it is estimated that there are many times more books being written. There was a time when writing a book was viewed as something only certain elite people could do. Now, authors are in no short supply.

Here are a few tips and facts:

~ Bestselling genres are business career, personal finances, health, psychology and parenting

~ Bestselling e-books are nonfiction how-tos

~ Autobiographies are not always the best book for beginning authors unless their story is truly dramatic.

~ According to a Gallup survey, it appears that men read more nonfiction than women

~ Fiction is traditionally a harder seller than nonfiction, particularly for the self-publisher

~ Regional books can perform well, and are actually growing in popularity

~ Poetry is one of the poorest selling genres

~ Children's books, when well-written and illustrated, can be timeless, selling for many years. They rarely have an expiration date

~ Serials do well in e-publishing, especially when kept to a reasonable length

Employee Appreciation: Jessica Davis

2008-07-15T12:13:00.000-05:00

Living Waters would like to officially thank Jessica Davis for all her hard work and dedication. Over the past year, Jessica has proven her loyalty to the company and the authors. She's worked tirelessly to ensure that LWP authors were represented in the most effective way possible. Just yesterday, we received this short note about her services:

"Jessica has been a jewel and was one of the deciding factors in my choosing Living Waters. Many editors don't take time assisting authors at all, which I think is a pity. Jessica took precious time out to point me in the right direction. At 79, I'm too old to go about figuring everything out myself. I hope you will realize how darling this young lady is and keep her around, particularly for an old-tymer like myself." Cathy

Jessica, keep doing what you are doing and know that your hard work is not going un-noticed. We hope you're having a great vacation, one without work involved!

The Importance of Amazon.com Sales

2008-07-11T13:34:00.000-05:00

For those who have been keeping up with the Amazon issue, you may already be aware of the lawsuit pending against them, and the fact that SPAN has officially said that they do support the lawsuit.

Amazon.com has never been a major source of sales for most of our titles, though we do get some sales through them. However, we don't want to minimize the importance of Amazon.com in sales. Even with many of the customers who purchase at our online store, about 1/3 of them browsed Amazon first. That says a lot.

Here are the official Living Waters figures:

Online vs. Bookstore Sales

Online sales ~ 70%
Bookstore sales ~ 20%
Other sources ~ 10%

Online Retailers

Living Waters store ~ 55%
Borders ~ 25%
Amazon ~ 10%
Powell's ~ 5%
Other stores ~ 5%

We will keep these statistics updated as changes develop. Keep a check on this blog.

Happy Birthday, Living Waters Publishing Company

2008-07-10T23:38:00.000-05:00

Living Waters Publishing Company started in 2005 in the month of July. In its beginning stages, LW was a church publisher that specialized in brochures, pamphlets, newsletters and magazines. Lacresha Hayes, our founder and former President, poured her heart and soul into building a publishing house that cared about the people and their message. Even under new leadership, we have stayed true to that vision.

This year, we celebrate three years of service in the publishing industry. We've grown and evolved. We've had the pleasure of working with some of the best freelancers around. We've had some of the most dedicated employees any company could ask for. Most of all, we've been blessed to have some of the best authors of today. These are the things that has kept this business going and will keep it going another thirty years.

So, here's to the past three years of Living Waters Publishing Company and the next three!

Written by Christine Taylor and Jessica Davis

LWP Celebration for our 200th Title - "Dear God Diary" by Beverly Teibel

2008-07-03T12:29:00.000-05:00

Living Waters gladly announces our 200th title, newly contracted "Dear God Diary" by Beverly Teibel. This is a celebration of a major milestone. Now all that is left is to get them out there for the world to read!

Congratulations, Ms. Teibel. We plan to do you proud.

Living Waters staff

Another Award Won

2008-07-03T11:52:00.002-05:00

Living Waters is pleased to announce our latest award.

ABC Childcare Development Center recently awarded us with the

2008 Excellence in Children's Storytime Literature Award

The following two books were named in this award:

Benjamin P. Blizzard: Welcome to Christmastown by Karen Nivens

Elijah the Penguin by Rosalee Wilson

As part of the prize, they have agreed to order 10 copies of each book, one for each of their daycares. The books will be used for their storytime and featured in the daycare's monthly newsletter that goes out to more than 12,000 people.

Congratulations to the authors, Karen and Rosalee! Great work! Yall make us look good!

An excerpt from newly released, "The Right Man" by Joe Key

2008-06-28T14:34:00.000-05:00

As Carl and Myrtle sat glumly in their apartment (they had moved out of the Radisson when they discovered that Myrtle was pregnant) they spoke to one another with morose monosyllables. The two were filled with real despair, and their love for one another was all that there was – and this did not look like it was going to be enough to save John David.
Preuss had spent the previous night railing at God for making his son sick. Late into the night, he had offered a deal – with Preuss trading his life for his son’s. Not knowing the mechanics of prayer, he spoke to God almost as if God were in the room with him – which, of course, God was.
Finally, Carl called Gabriel over to the house and, when he arrived, asked, “Can’t you do something? My son is dying.”
Gabriel said, “Not without higher authority.”
Preuss stared at him for a moment and asked, “What kind of higher authority?” Preuss meant to do whatever was necessary to get his son helped.
Gabriel chuckled and said, “The kind that – now I don’t know about you –I’m sure that Myrtle already has.”
Preuss cocked his head and asked, “Could you explain that to me?”
Gabriel shrugged and said, “She has the absolute power to reject, out of hand, any infirmity that comes upon her and hers.”
Preuss asked, “What does she have to do?”
Gabriel said, “The illness is obviously part of the Devil’s attack against you. That bird comes after what is most near and dear to humans’ hearts.”
Quoting the Bible, Gabriel said, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
He smiled and said, “But, some two thousand years ago, the Devil was prohibited from harming God’s children.
All Myrtle has to do is to bind the Devil.”
Grasping at straws, Myrtle asked, “Just how do I go about that?”
Gabriel answered, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Preuss said, “That sounds like the Bible.”
Gabriel nodded and said, “Matthew, Chapter Sixteen – Verse Nineteen.
Preuss remarked, “Let me get this straight. If she were to command the Devil to do any thing – he would have no choice but to do it?”
Gabriel nodded and said, “Sure – as long as she does it in the Name of Jesus. Jesus has got the Devil’s number – and the Devil cannot stand against Him.”
Myrtle asked, awestruck, “You know about me and Jesus?”
Gabriel nodded and said, “The story I get is that you accepted Him about five years ago. I believe it was at a small church outside of Joliet.
I wasn’t actually looking at the time – but that’s what I was told.”
Tears streaming down her face, she asked, “I can save my son?”
Gabriel shook his head and said, “No – only He can do that, Himself.
However, you do have the power to take this leukemia from him.”
Without so much as a fare-the-well, Myrtle walked to her son in the bedroom. He was lying in the baby bed – and Gabriel and Carl followed her.
She walked over to the bed and said, “In the Name of Jesus, I command that this leukemia leave my son’s body and that the Devil leave my family alone.”
Immediately, her son stirred and shifted his position. He did not awaken.
Gabriel nodded and said, “That did it.”
Preuss, his eyes wide, asked, “Is that all?”
Gabriel shrugged and said, “Yeah.
Although characterizing what just happened as – is that all? – is kind of funny, actually. The most perfect Being in the universe died to make that happen.”
Preuss shook his head in wonder and said, “All my life, I’ve made fun of what just happened here.”
Gabriel, a twinkle in his eye, said, “That doesn’t exactly make you stand out as unique.
Man has a habit of ridiculing what he doesn’t understand.”
Preuss said, “I can understand God loving Myrtle and John David. I’m not sure how it’s possible not to love them.”
Gabriel laughed and said, “There’s no accounting for taste.
But the fact of the matter is that he loves you, too.”
Nonplused, Preuss shook his head and said, “Even God would have trouble managing that.”
Gabriel shrugged and said, “Like I said – there’s no accounting for taste.”
Frowning, Preuss said, “That’s impossible!
I’ve done everything possible to make Him reject me.”
Gabriel said, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Preuss snorted and said, “But, I’ve made fun of Him. I’ve committed every sin there is – I am beyond help.”
Laughing, Gabriel said, “Like I said – that’s pretty common.”
Preuss, tears streaming down his cheeks, asked, “Why me? All I’ve ever done is wrong.”
Gabriel said, “I can never figure it out either.
But, as it happens, you’re not exactly the first one that has ever done wrong. You’re actually pretty small potatoes in that department.”
Looking over at his wife, Carl Preuss asked, “Did you know this was going to happen?”
She smiled, through her tears, and said, “I wasn’t sure – but I was hoping.”
Preuss asked, “What now?”
Stepping back, as Myrtle came to her husband, Gabriel smiled.

Want more? Get your copy now at http://store.livingwaterspc.com/.

Summer Reading Challenge update

2008-06-17T09:46:00.001-05:00

Several people have written in and said they were unable to finish the books in a week's time. In light of that fact, we are changing the program.

In order to get into the drawing, you must email us at info@livingwaterspc.com and tell us you are participating. At the end of the summer challenge, we will post the quizzes for all the books on the last week. Each participant must take a minimum of three quizzes to be entered into the drawing.

This is a list of the books we will read:

Week 1 -
Adults - A Heart Like His by Beth Moore
Children - The Misadventures of Rooter and Snuffle by Shari Lyle-Soffe

Week 2 -
Adults - Storm by Joyce Anthony
Children - Stories from the Red Glass by LMH Christian

Week 3 -
Adults - The Rape of Innocence: Taking Captivity Captive by Lacresha Hayes
Children - The Adventures of Katie-Bear by V.K. Sansone

Summer Reading Challenge update

2008-06-17T09:46:00.000-05:00

First books for the Summer Reading Challenge

2008-06-09T18:42:00.000-05:00

Well, today marks the first day of the Summer Reading Challenge. The books for this week are listed below:

Adults: A Heart Like His by Beth Moore

Children: The Misadventures of Rooter and Snuffle by Shari Lyle-Soffe

LWP Statistics

2008-06-05T12:57:00.003-05:00

Many authors often ask how their books are performing, or how certain genres perform at our company overall. Here is a brief breakdown:

Bestselling genre - Christian Help/Self-help
Slowest sellers - Children's books

Our best performing titles for this past quarter were:

The Rape of Innocence: Taking Captivity Captive by Lacresha Hayes (approx. 2000 copies sold)
Becoming: My Personal Memoirs by Lacresha Hayes (approx. 1800 copies sold)

Our best performing titles to date this quarter: (not final totals and barring no returns come in)

The Rape of Innocence by Lacresha Hayes (approx. 680 copies sold)
The Nazarene Commentary by Mark Heber Miller (approx. 500 copies sold)
Life is a Game by Jim Copeland (approx. 600 copies sold)
The Fire that Burns for the Last Days by Kevin O'Connor (approx. 200 copies sold)
Becoming: My Personal Memoirs by Lacresha Hayes (approx. 100 copies sold)
Stories from the Red Glass by LMH Christian (approx. 80 copies sold)
Benjamin P. Blizzard by Karen Nivens (approx. 60 copies sold)

The title that performed best in pre-sales is:

The Fire that Burns for the Last Days by Kevin O'Connor

Titles that have received the most media/reviews/online attention:

The Rape of Innocence: Taking Captivity Captive by Lacresha Hayes
Life is a Game by Jim Copeland
The Adventures of Katie-Bear: Fun Days at School by V.K. Sansone
Benjamin P. Blizzard: Welcome to Christmastown by Karen Nivens

Children's books move at the slowest pace, but present constant growth over a period of time. Returns in this category have been almost non-existent. Christian and self help sell quickest, but bring in the highest returns.

One of our books won the TAL cover award for May 2008

2008-06-03T11:36:00.000-05:00

Living Waters is proud to announce that one of our very own children's books, The Adventures of Katie Bear: Fun Days at School by V.K. Sansone, has won the May TAL Children's books cover award. This is no small accomplishment.

This book was illustrated and designed by Aidana Willowraven, our staff illustrator. Hats off to Aidana and V.K. Sansone for a job well done!

Upcoming Release: My First 24 Hours in Hell by V.K. Sansone

2008-06-02T14:13:00.000-05:00

We are pleased to announce the upcoming release of V.K. Sansone's masterpiece, My First 24 Hours in Hell.

This book is simply stunning in the detailed depiction of hell and the horrors that lie within. This short read is a necessity for Christians everywhere!

Coming in July 2008

Upcoming Release: Truth and Intimacy: A Couple's Journal by Lacresha and Lensey Hayes

2008-05-29T21:49:00.000-05:00

Truth and Intimacy: A Couple's Journal by Lacresha and Lensey Hayes will be released in July 2008. This is book is a must-have for couples everywhere.

Upcoming Release: Dotty's Topsy Tale by Donna Shepherd

2008-05-29T21:43:00.000-05:00

Dotty's Topsy Tale by Donna Shepherd will be release in June 2008. We are pleased to bring this sequel to Topsy Turvy Land to the young readers all over the world.

With Donna's great storytelling imagination and Kevin Collier's wonderful talent for illustrations, this book is sure to become a classic! Don't miss it!

Upcoming Release: Messianic Confessions by Mark Heber Miller

2008-05-23T13:03:00.000-05:00

If you've ever wondered about the man whose photography graces the "Footprints in the Sand" poem, who wrote the shorter version of the poem, who has studied the Bible for more than 50 years, who has written and published The Nazarene Commentary: 21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures, and who is celebrated in everything he does, now is your chance. Mark Heber Miller's long awaited life story, Messianic Confessions, will finally be released in July 2008. You don't want to miss this book which is sure to be a collector's item!

Upcoming Release: Natalie's Ark by Kristen and Kevin Collier

2008-05-22T19:58:00.000-05:00

If you are a Christian and want to teach your children values and faith in God, then this book is a must have for you. There's never been another one like it. Natalie's Ark is set for release in July 2008.

Upcoming Release: Dare to Dream by Carol Jones

2008-05-22T19:50:00.000-05:00

We are proud to announce the upcoming release of Carol Jones' freshman book, Dare to Dream. The release date is set for July 2008.

LWP Soon To Move All Children's Books to Offset Printing

2008-05-13T17:35:00.000-05:00

After much consideration, Living Waters is set to begin doing offset printing for all children's book on September 20, 2008. We will still offer the POD option for books that move slowly.

At LWP, we are consistently working on ways to make the writer's life painless and enjoyable!

Updated Systems to Make an Author's Life Easier

2008-04-29T16:12:00.004-05:00

FINALLY!

Over the next few weeks, Living Waters will be upgrading our website. We will add a program that is integrated with our systems to give you up to the minute reporting for publication status of your book, as well as sales figures. The latter will take a bit longer to put into place, but the first we expect to be up and running by the end of May.

It is our goal to build a system that is user-friendly. For this reason, your continued feedback is greatly appreciated.

No Amazon Worries

2008-04-04T13:07:00.004-05:00

Living Waters has been closely following the lastest Amazon.com news. We've written a letter to Amazon, joining our voice in with the other independent and smaller publishers.

By the same token, Living Waters has been a part of the Amazon Advantage program for some time, though we'd mostly gone without having to use it. Please be assured that we are working with others on a solution to the program, but in the meantime, we have this program in place and will begin using it with your books if the situation is not resolved soon.

We will keep you updated as we know more.

Don't miss the LWP Book Tour Webinar

2008-03-27T22:11:00.002-05:00

Living Waters Publishing Company will be hosting our 3rd Book Tour Webinar on April 4, 2008. We will discuss the ins and outs of planning and implementing successful book signings and author tours. The webinar will be held from 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm. The cost is $18 per non-client and $15 for all LWP clients.

Please see some of the comments from our previous book tour webinars below:

"This webinar was fun. Some of the ideas were whacky but attention-drawing. I enjoyed seeing how one idea can be played out in endless ways. I've had one book signing since the webinar and I implemented the Hostess Approach. I sold nearly twenty books and had several others sign up to order the book. It was great! I guess people love talking to authors." Sheila W., San Diego, CA

"Though I didn't learn anything new, the reinforcement was positive and helped me to utilize more of what I was taught a few years ago. I loved the unique twists of certain approaches. My favorite approach was the Costumized Fun Approach. I loved the name and the way it was presented. If I wrote children's books, I'd definitely utilize it." Steve C., Dallas, TX

"I've never known anyone to name the various methods of book and author tours. I liked them all and have plans to use them too. The approach that fits my genre best was the Characterized Approach. I also like and have used the Hostess Approach. I appreciate the seminar." Andi R., Phoenix, AZ

Another Successful Book Writing seminar

2008-03-25T16:37:00.007-05:00

On March 19, 2008, we sponsored a Christian Book Writing seminar. It was a huge success and everyone had a blast. We spent an hour and a half discussing the ins and outs of book writing and the various genres that give writers a greater chance for success. Read some of our comments.

"Living Waters was a lost jewel that I'm elated to have found. I've had hundreds of ideas for books, but could never get them down on paper. The most useful part of the seminar was in going over the various outline styles when organizing ideas on paper... In three days, I've done outlines for five books. I've written two chapters of one book. It seems so simple now, but I guess I needed someone to help me start. Thanks, guys!" Stephanie Phillips

"I could never have imagined finishing the first draft of a children's book in two days, but I did it, thanks in no small part to Lacresha. I'm amazed at how much easier writing is when it's done in an organized way. I think the most important part of the whole seminar was the learn your writing style quiz. It was priceless! The seminar was priceless! I'll be attending again." Olivia Nelson

"The seminar was organized and professional. The food was good. The quizzes and games were better. Great job and a value for my money." David Wilks

"I enjoyed the partnering during the end of the seminar. I had the opportunity to share my ideas and glean from the ideas of others. I think what made the seminar worth the drive for me was that the group was small enough so that each person got attention to their project, but it was large enough so that a nice diversity of ideas were presented. I would most definitely recommend the seminars and will gladly come to any others the company sponsors." Greg Patterson

"To be honest, I only came because it was an opportunity to submit my manuscript to a Christian publisher. However, once I was there, I found several of the techniques discussed could be useful to the particular style of writing I possess. I thought it'd be a waste of time, but I was very wrong! Writing a book does not have to take months or years when you know your subject matter and organize your material. The best part of the seminar was the quiz. I learned a lot from it and have posted it above my workspace so that I don't get sidetracked ever again. Job well done!" T.R. Matthews

The seminar was full of learning tools. We'll sponsor many others over the coming weeks. If you are interested in learning about writing and publishing, please contact Jessica Davis at info@livingwaterspc.com.

Message from the President, Lensey Hayes

2008-03-17T23:14:00.002-05:00

As the President of Living Waters Publishing Company, my first priority is to institute a more interactive business model. We want, you, the authors to be able to sign into the website and get up-to-the-minute information on the status of your books.

One of my strongest gifts is vision. Together with our small management team, we will begin to focus more on building each author's recognition and less on attracting already known authors. We will begin to do free seminars for LWP authors. These will be training seminars and webinars focused on building name recognition, follow-ups and improvements to established books, and expanding on target markets.

Lastly, I'd like to say that I will be a voice for the smaller, unknown author. This company was founded for the purpose of spreading a message. We are going back to that, to a model that focuses more on the message than the messenger. We are going to grow and we want every one of our authors to grow with us. Thank you all for choosing us. It is our goal to make sure you get all you hoped for and more!

Lensey C. Hayes

Lacresha Hayes to Leave Living Waters Publishing Company

2008-03-07T12:07:00.000-06:00

In the world of business, things change so quickly. It is amazing to see a business expand and gain life all of it's own.

It is so hard to say goodbye, but I must. It has come time for LWPC to move forward without me. With all the rumors and gossip, it's only fair to put everyone's mind at ease. Living Waters is nowhere close to going out of business. We'll be around for the next thirty years if we have anything to say about it. LWPC is not going bankrupt. With any luck, we'll stay debt-free for years to come.

However, I am leaving. The business will be in good hands with Lensey Hayes and the rest of the board. He, Larry, Chris and Kevin will take this business to the next level of excellence and integrity. With the host of experience they all bring to the table, I believe everyone will see a tremendous change immediately.

It was my dream to run this business as a family of authors who all want to succeed together. I've learned, though, that business is business and family is family. It's extremely hard to mix the two of them together. Hard, not impossible. Still, I hope that the authors will continue to fellowship with one another, helping each other selflessly as you all have in the past. If I'm leaving anything behind, I hope it is that nothing is impossible. If you can dream it and plan it, it can work. Never let the old heads in the publishing industry tell you what you cannot do or what is impossible. We've done everything they said we couldn't do. We've gotten the big reviews for some of our authors. We've secured shelf space for many of our books. All it takes is faith! Faith because faith is substance and evidence. What more do we need?

I'll miss you all. Keep writing and keep the faith!

Lacresha Hayes, author of The Rape of Innocence: Taking Captivity Captive and Becoming: My Personal Memoirs

Getting Published Webinar

2008-02-23T18:02:00.000-06:00

Date: February 27, 2008
Time: 7 pm-8 pm CST
Cost: $27 per person

Information:

You may have written a book and thought that the hard part was over. Maybe no one told you the ins and outs of agents, submissions, query letters, royalties and advances. There is a lot of language authors need to know. This industry is full of pitfalls for new authors.

This webinar will deal with the next steps after writing your book. What you do and who you choose to represent your book can be the difference between sinking or swimming for your book. You do not want to miss this webinar.

Hurry! Register today! Contact Lacresha Hayes at preacha1975@yahoo.com or lacresha.hayes@livingwaterspc.com. Space is limited!

Comments from webinar attendees so far

2008-02-20T23:05:00.000-06:00

Here are some comments about the Book Marketing webinar so far:

LMHChristian said…
Hi Lacresha...It was a really good seminar meeting tonite...Thank you for all of the info that you give, and I look forward to a blessed and prosperous journey together...Many Blessings... LMHChristian Author of 'Stories from the Red Glass' with LivingWaters.

Kate said...
I was ready to learn. It's getting better each night. It's important to learn this stuff if you're an author.

Jamie said...
Lacresha, thanks for this opportunity. I enjoyed the PPT. It was excellent and because I have a copy, I can reflect back to that when my book is released through Xulon. My imagination was sparked and now that I understand how all of it works together, I think I might have enough freedom to even ad lib a little bit, putting my own flavor in my package to reflect my book. Thank you for this information.

Kevin said...
I learned so much from this webinar. I thank you for having it. I'm full of ideas now and I plan to put them all into action. It was exciting!

Cathy said...
Technical difficulties aside, I really enjoyed the information. You brought out some very overlooked aspects of marketing books. It was innovative and thorough. I would suggest you not let people ask questions in the open chat so that only the presenters and panelists can speak in the open chat. Seems some of the questions were redundant. Nevertheless, you were really good at keeping a balance and a light, carefree atmosphere in the meeting. I'd rate it at least an 8 for content alone.

Book Marketing Webinar Starts Tomorrow

2008-02-18T23:56:00.000-06:00

Living Waters Publishing Company is pleased to announce that we are sponsoring our 12th Book Marketing seminar, but this time due to popular demand and to make it more affordable for our participants, we will have it online!

From February 19-21, we will host participants in our exclusive marketing webinar. Each session will be one hour.
Our topics include:

Preparing your book for marketing before it's published
Getting the important reviews and maximizing their potential
Obtaining shelf space and prime placement in bookstores
How to guarantee your book gets some media attention
Improving Amazon placement and rankings
How to create or dominate a niche market
Selling out during book tours
The power of direct mail
Targeting television and radio interviewers
How to tell if your book could make a good movie or cartoon
How to tell if your book should be in multiple formats
Following up with latter books that breathe life back into the first ones

The red denotes session one, blue for session two and green for session 3. On Saturday, February 23, we will have all three sessions, 1 hour each with a 45 minute break in between each session. Please see the schedule below.

Session 1 ~ Tuesday, Feb. 19th from 8pm-9pm CST, Saturday, Feb. 23rd at 10am CST

Session 2 ~ Wednesday, Feb. 20th from 7pm-8pm CST, Saturday, Feb. 23rd at 11:45am CST

Session 3 ~ Thursday, Feb. 21st from 7pm-8pm CST, Saturday, Feb. 23rd at 1:30pm CST

Registration is required and will be taken from now through February 22 at 7 pm. We will give away 2 books for each session and 3 total on Saturday, for a total of 9 books. We will also giveaway one grand prize: a $50 Walmart gift card, to be annouced on Saturday night!

Connie Arnold Hits the Market with 2 Great Children's Books

2008-02-16T22:15:00.000-06:00

What Begins with A, B, C
Learning the alphabet has never been more entertaining!

1, 2, 3: Counting is Fun, You See

This book will teach your child the beauty of numbers and they'll be counting before you know it!

February Article: Understanding the art of Marketing Your Book

2008-02-14T15:41:00.000-06:00

Many more emails come in about marketing books than any other subject. Of course, that is understandable. Most people write what they know. But, not all authors are good at understanding the marketing process.

A book, like any other product, must be sold. So many people expect a great book to sell itself. Question: How will anyone know how great it is if someone doesn't tell them? And this is one of the great issues with marketing. If you expect any product to sell itself, then you won't work as hard or give it the attention it deserves, and probably will give up too soon.

The most important thing that any author can understand is that the marketing process begins while you are writing the book. I know it's hard enough to write a good book without thinking about marketing, but you need to keep your eyes open for something you can add to your story that makes it valuable, something that could be put on a sell sheet, something that could be marketed to particular companies or agencies. This is why a great book has to be planned and not just written.

Authors also need to define their own target market. That is not the job of the publisher. In fact, this information should be neatly included in your query. If you can't define a target market in one sentence, then it's likely you need to do more research. For instance, if I wrote a book on financial independence for the stay-at-home mom, my target market would be, of course, stay at home moms. Let's take a harder one. Say I wrote a book about understanding the economy today. Of course, most people should probably read the book. All authors think that, but that does not qualify as a target market. Everyone does not qualify as a target market. I have to make a decision of who I'm going to target the book to. There are many choices, and all of them are good, but I should only have one on my query. I should only have one target market at the top of my marketing plan. That's very important. Some call it primary and secondary targeting!

The last thing we'll point out today: it is unreasonable to think that marketing will always yield overnight results. Some books do poorly out the gate. I'm reminded of the scripture that says 'not the strong or the swift, but those that endure until the end'. But, just because a book is no longer front list does not mean the book has no more hope. Sometimes, it is the backlist titles that supply an author the extra boost of credibility and quality.

Marketing is an ongoing process. It should last for the life of your book. If an author does not want to or know how to market, they start this process at a disadvantage in a business where competition is more than 200,000 strong each year.

Soon to be Available for Pre-Release - Gilda Can't Gallop by Susan K. Schank

2008-02-08T01:52:00.000-06:00

Gilda is one of the most adorable horses you'll ever have the pleasure to read about. But, Gilda has a problem. She can't gallop. Find out what becomes of Gilda.

Available for pre-release on February 12th.

Living Waters has been made over

2008-02-07T16:10:00.001-06:00

Living Waters Publishing Company has been making itself over, so to speak. We have a nice new logo and a beautiful new site to match!

We're working daily to be what our authors need. We've expanded our marketing programs, including more online marketing with the offline targets. God is increasing our territory, and it's because of our wonderful and supportive authors and employees. This company has prayer going up for it nearly around the clock and around the globe.

Please, when you get the opportunity, visit our site at www.livingwaterspc.com. While you're there, use the contact option and lend us your feedback!

May God continue to increase and bless each and every one of us! AMEN!

Celebrating a new author, Rita Young

2008-02-02T15:05:00.000-06:00

Some of you know by now that Living Waters is a very outside of the box publisher when it comes to giving opportunities to unknown authors. We had an opportunity to be a blessing to one such author: 64 year old Rita Young from Oklahoma. Here's a bit of an email we received from her recently:

"Some people do not know what it feels like to chase a dream for years and years unsuccessfully. For some, it is easier than for others. I was one of the others. I've dreamed of writing my whole lifelong. My papa used to say my stories were really good. I thought it would be easy. I've had stories read at church. I'd written plays for the children. But no publisher wanted me at all. You don't know what it means to me that you would take me at this point of my life when I've been diagnosed with tumors and cancer. I thought I would die without seeing my dream fulfilled. After I read about Mark Miller and his testimony, I had peace in my heart to try once more. When I received that contract and the advance, I cried. I sobbed! I got the paper all wet and had to dry it with my hair dryer. But my heart was overjoyed at the goodness of Jesus. What's more is that the advance was enough to pay for the medicines I'd ran out of and all my bills which were behind.

I know what God can do. He never fails. He never quits. He is faithful and true and always sticks to his word. You know, I've prayed for this company since I first ran across it. I'd seen some negative things about it. But, you stand for righteousness. You stand for God and people will always try to knock you right on down. Keep right on standing anyway. This is the will of God!"

What Are Our Authors Saying

2008-02-01T14:54:00.000-06:00

"Since the time I signed on with LW, I've been delighted with the services. My book is performing, and just the other day I found a copy in a local borders in NY." Kim

"I was so pleased with my cover and illustrations. My marketing plan and material are great and already I'm getting reviews. I have no complaints." Ann

"I nearly didn't sign with LWPC. I'd heard all sorts of mean things. After doing my own research, however, I'm glad I did. It's like being a part of a family now. We all are praying for the company and for each other. You don't get that just anywhere. I get input into every part of my book. I'm always in the know. It's just a great company. I'll use them for all of my books." Erica

So many authors are abused by the publishing industry. Living Waters takes care of our authors and their books. We work around the clock to get attention and major distribution for our authors. We approach this business from the perspective of pushing each individual book as far as it can go. We NEVER quit! And, we're fortunate to have authors who share that sentiment!

Presenting... LMH Christian and her Stories from the Red Glass

2008-02-01T00:04:00.000-06:00

This little glass has stories for children of all ages. These are the stories that children remember their whole lives and re-tell later to their children.

New Authors to Welcome to the Family

2008-01-27T20:18:00.001-06:00

Living Waters continues to grow, thanks to the wonderful authors are continuously coming our way. We'd like to acknowledge and welcome these authors into the family:

Mary Ann Graziani
Lewis Dillinger
Kevin and Kristen Collier
Annette Bilby
Daniel Carr

These are some very talented writers, some of more than one book. Living Waters is very proud to welcome them to the family. Stay tuned to find out more about them and their books.

Upcoming Release: The Right Man by Joe Key

2008-01-27T17:37:00.001-06:00

The Right Man is a Christian fiction novel about Carl Preuss, a successful politician and accomplished speaker, who has to learn that God really does exist. This fast-paced, spell-binding novel is already hailing some rave reviews. Joe Key sets the stage for a successful Christian fiction career with this one, his first book. Get your copy now!

Message from the President: About our Authors

2008-01-26T19:48:00.000-06:00

As the President of Living Waters Publishing Company, I have to say that I am quite proud of our team of authors. I am delighted that we have so many talented and faithful authors. Not only that, but many of our authors are already very knowledgeable about the publishing industry.

Over the next few months, you will get to meet some of these wonderful authors, learn more about their books and their feelings about the publishing industry. So, keep reading. Keep learning.

I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate the following authors:

Joe Key, author of The Right Man
V.K. Sansone, author of The Adventures of Katie Bear series
Marisa Gary, author of Pure and Simple Devotions
Pastor Kevin O'Connor, author of The Fire that Burns for the Last Days
Kevin and Kristen Collier, authors of Natalie's Ark

From my heart to yours, you are now part of this family! Congratulations on your books and may you see much more success in the future!

Upcoming Release: Poetic Infinity: Passion and Promise by Lacresha Hayes

2008-01-26T19:19:00.001-06:00

Are you a poetry-lover? Does it seem that a good poem can brighten your day and make you smile? Then Lacresha Hayes' latest book is definitely for you.

Poetic Infinity has something for everyone. Each poems builds more and more momentum, sucking the reader into a world of serenity, joy and meaningful thought.

New Release: His Reflections by Mary Baird

2008-01-25T17:21:00.000-06:00

His Reflections by Mary Baird will be released on January 30, 2008. This book is full of inspirational poetry serving to lift and encourage people everywhere. The heart-warming illustrations were provided by Jennifer Page. Each page leaves the readers awe-struck and seeking more. Don't miss this book!

Get your copy at www.livingwaterspc.com

Upcoming Release: The Culpepper Family series

2008-01-25T16:54:00.001-06:00

The Culpepper Family series, a 3 book set, is due out next month. This is Lacresha's first public attempt at children's literature and is already causing waves. The reviewers are loving it. Don't miss the first three books in this series:

~ Praying for Cyle Culpepper

~ Resurrection Celebration

~ The Arrival of Gabriel and Michael

(Cover art by WillowRaven Illustration and Design Plus)

Let the praises ring: Mark Heber Miller Voices His Opinion and Praise

2008-01-23T20:39:00.000-06:00

I have to say, I was very, VERY pleased with this testimonial. I was so deeply invested in getting it out that when I finally got the proof copy, I nearly cried. It felt like a huge relief and a gigantic victory to have finally published this work. Here's what Mr. Miller wrote about us:

**********************************

Lacresha is my angel! Living Waters Publishing is a miracle and the answer to a prayer. Between 1996 and 2007 I had written Bible commentaries and posted these on the Friends of the Nazarene web page. [www.nazarene-friends.org] BUT I had always wanted to publish some of these in hard copy but had no idea how to go about it. I prayed to the God I believe in - Abba the Father - and asked if it was His will He would direct and guide me to someone who would tackle this tremendous job of publishing The Nazarene Commentary: 21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures with 12,000 footnotes; AND, 6 other books on Christian living and teaching.

Enter Lacresha and Living Waters Publishing! What a caring champion for my work, though the project was so daunting. Just as I struggled to write the original, LWP worked for months to help edit and prepare the first soft cover copies. Hard cover editions will be available in the coming months.

I cannot priase Lacresha and her group at LWP enough. They were so encouraging and patient as they held my hand throughout the publishing and printing process. Actually, I can think of no criticsm regarding LWP and would recommend them to any writer entering the spiritual/inspirational field. I look forward to the year 2008 as six more books will be published: Nazarene Apocalypse: The Jesus Prophecies [a comprehensive study of Revelation]; a four volume work containing 165 articles on Bible topics: Nazarene Teachings: Follow the Lamb!; and my life story, Messianic Confessions.

Most sincerely,

Mark Heber Miller

Upcoming Releases You Don't Want to Miss

2008-01-23T02:59:00.000-06:00

Spirit: The Inner Man by Mary K. Thomas

The Fire That Burns for the Last Days by Kevin O'Connor

We're proud to announce the "The Adventures of Katie Bear" series by V.K. Sansone

2008-01-23T02:44:00.000-06:00

The Adventures of Katie Bear: Fun Days at School by V.K. Sansone will soon be in stores near you. This is 5 books in one. We are very proud of the accomplishments of this author and her new series. Already at 10 books, Katie Bear promises to be the next big thing among children all over the world.

Already garnering attention all over the web, this book is one you don't want to miss! We'll keep you posted as more of the series is released into stores.

Announcing the release of "Elijah the Penguin" by Rosalee Wilson

2008-01-23T02:34:00.000-06:00

All the long days and nights of writing added to more days and nights of editing... added to longer days and nights of searching for a publisher... it has all culminated for Rosalee S. Wilson. We'd like to announce the release of Elijah the Penguin.

Order your copy today. Visit www.livingwaterspc.com/BookReleases.html

Nonficton Tips

2008-01-19T13:46:00.000-06:00

From the beginning of books until now, people assume authors are somewhat of a professional in their fields, particularly authors of nonfiction. When you set out to do a book of nonfiction, there are a few pointers that will help you succeed at it:

1) Don't be afraid to interview other professionals. In the world of nonfiction books, it is true that no man is an island to himself. Incorporate help. It will improve the content, worth and sales of your book.

2) ALWAYS include a table of contents and an index. These are important factors that, if forgotten, can make you look like an amateur. When people buy nonfiction, they want swift access to the information they need. Make your book a keeper by first, making the information easy to find, and then, giving them an index they can't live without.

3) You can't be shy. When you are writing nonfiction, your participation is necessary for the book to accomplish any level of success. Promote yourself and your book with every tool you have and do it on a continual basis.

Provided by Living Waters Publishing Company
Lacresha Hayes, President

V.K. Sansone sounds off about Living Waters

2008-01-17T11:44:00.000-06:00

"When I first met Lacresha a year ago (has it been that long already?), we became friends pretty quickly. She is a darling person and I believe she lives what she preaches! As for being a great publishing co., I believe Living Waters is really wonderful. They seem to help all of their authors, and I do know that they help aspiring new authors to climb up the ladder of hope! It is a great place to learn how to write, how to market and know that you will be taken care of in case you fall on your face! Since being with Living Waters Publishing Co. and having my first book coming out in a week or so, I am very happy with their business with me and the advertising they do for my material. They are fair, open-minded, and kind people, and very helpful. I do believe that we will be working together for a long while in the future and that the Katie Bear book series will go far with Living Waters Publishing Company backing it. GOD bless them all."

Katie

A Testimonial from Rosalee Wilson

2008-01-15T22:54:00.000-06:00

I was moved to tears by the sweetness of this testimonial. It was a blessing to me.

"My name is Rosalee Wilson, author of Elijah the Penguin. I would like to say that my experience with Living Waters Publishing Company has been a dream-come-true! They truly care about their authors as much as the books they are publishing. They work with you and let you know what is going on with your books every step of the way. If you have questions, they are always answered in a timely manner. Lacresha has been wonderful to work with and I am so glad that God led me to this publisher: someone who loves the Lord and works with their authors in a very personal way. I hope to publish more books with them in the future. If you are looking for a Christian publisher who cares about your book and its success then Living Waters Publishing Company is definitely for you!"

Introducing Still Waves Publishing Company

2008-01-15T15:40:00.000-06:00

Living Waters would like to introduce a sister arm of our company, Still Waves Publishing Company. This company will focus on Sci-fi, fiction, etc. It is NOT a Christian company.

Under the leadership of Montario D. Hampton, Still Waves Publishing will operate alongside Living Waters Publishing Company, not as competition, but as another alternative for authors who are not Christian, or who do not write Christian material.

Please, show your support for him and his new company. His website, www.stillwavespublishing.com, will be up by February 12th. In the meantime, you can visit his blogspot at http://stillwavespublishing.blogspot.com.

If you are interested in submitting a manuscript, please send it to stillwaves@livingwaterspc.com.

Never Be Too Proud to Receive Correction (Personal note from the President)

2008-01-14T18:16:00.000-06:00

Living Waters Publishing Company is about to be made over.

As I'm sure many of you know, we've been under constant fire lately by various groups. It's unfortunate that there are so many hateful/spiteful people in the world. Not everyone is, which was a blessing for us. When the rumors, lies and deception were at their peak, God sent us some angels in the form of Marion Gropen, Kevin Scott Collier, Terry Kennedy, Pete Masterson, and Jeanette Patindol to bring some corrections.

Sometimes, we have a tendency to blame people when we're attacked. I felt as if someone was attempting to destroy my "baby". I love this industry and I wanted nothing to get in the way of building Living Waters to be a new kind of company, one with a real heart. At any rate, after cooling down and being at the point of initiating a lawsuit I was sure to win, and after spending 3 days in revival, God spoke to my heart. When I went back over the posts that had been forwarded to me, I found an opportunity.

I've never made it a secret that we offer various programs to help people see their work published. We have everything nearly any other publisher has and then some. The business model was perfect. But, and that's a big BUT, we were doing a poor job in communicating who we are! The attack against my character and the viability of the business forced me to take real inventory. Needless to say, after all the tears and prayer, we've decided to change the website. As a matter of a fact, the entire company is getting a makeover.

We've operated the three publishing programs too close together. So, we are hiring a separate Acquisitions Manager for each program. We are going to further separate them by causing our traditional program to have it's own website while our cooperative and self-publishing assistance programs are on another site together.

You will notice these changes beginning soon. By the end of February, our new sites will be fully functional. We've hired a Web Designer for the sake of the sites and keeping them updated. We've also made contact with another distributor who specializes in the children's book market. We are further separating the distribution of children's book to guarantee the success of our chldren's book authors and everyone else.

We extend a huge thank you to the above mentioned people for their honesty, integrity, their fairness, their desire to truly build this industry, their willingness to help others and so forth. We will keep you posted further. Your prayers are appreciated.

Lacresha Hayes, President of Living Waters Publishing Company

Author Spotlight

2008-01-10T03:01:00.000-06:00

Our author spotlight this month is John F. Schroeder. Schroeder is the author of Darwinism: Sorcery in the Classroom and Why Monkeys Are Monkeys and People Are People: The Case Against Dawkins, Hitchens and Hawking.

Mr. Schroeder has made it his passion to destroy the lie of evolution, which when stripped bare is but another false religion. Through years of study, Mr. Schroeder has put some very interesting facts together in his latest book.

Announcing the launch of InspireKids Network

2008-01-08T02:39:00.000-06:00

Living Waters take great delight in announcing our new imprint and network, InspireKids. The InspireKids Network is for children and the adults that love them.

We are kicking it off with our national, one-of-a-kind program, For Kids By Kids Publishing Program. The program will publish 7 manuscripts each month written and illustrated by children. These seven children will get a traditional, royalty-based contract and national exposure for their books and themselves.

If you are interested in letting your child participate, please contact either Aidana WillowRaven at aidana.willowraven@livingwaterspc.com or Lensey Hayes at lensey.hayes@livingwaterspc.com.

Stay tuned for more information.

Don't miss John Schroeder's latest title

2008-01-02T16:19:00.000-06:00

John Schroeder, the famed author of Darwinism: Sorcery in the Classroom, has done it again. In his latest title, Why Monkeys Are Monkeys and People Are People: The Case Against Dawkins, Hitchens and Hawking, Schroeder literally takes the scientific data and explains what it really means. After this book, there can be no doubt that evolution is the biggest lie ever conceived, and that Intelligent Design is the only real answer to the age old question, "Where did we come from?"

We'd like to welcome these authors to our family

2008-01-01T22:35:00.001-06:00

Please help us welcome these authors to our family. We are proud to have them with us:

Donna Shepherd, author of Dotty's Topsy Tale

Susan Schank, author of Gilda Can't Gallop

Jeanette Patindol, author of My One Boobed Mama

Mary Ellen Courville, author of The Pilgrim's Basket

Mary Thomas, author of Spirit: The Inner Man

Candy O'Donnell, author of Where is God, Grandfather

Shirley Francis-Salley, author of Shifty Characters

Kevin O'Connor, author of The Fire That Burns for the Last Days

Connie Arnold, author of 123: Counting Can Be Fun and ABC: Letters of Learning

Catherine Mervyn, author of A Lesson from a Tree

V.K. Sansone, author of The Adventures of Katie Bear series

Jim Copeland, author of Life is a Game

Happy New Years from Living Waters

2007-12-30T17:58:00.000-06:00

Happy New Years to you all from Living Waters. We pray it is filled with success, peace and joy!

Welcome to Living Waters Publishing Company's blog

2007-12-30T17:33:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Living Waters Publishing Company! We are pleased to have this blog available to the authors, employees and freelancers of Living Waters.

Living Waters is a Christian publishing company headquartered in Marion, AR. We work hard to deal in honesty and integrity. We want to open a path of fellowship for our authors, giving them the ability to learn one from another, as well as encourage each other.

Jump right in and make yourself at home. More than anything, we are a family of believers who write for the kingdom of God. Let us remember to have a kind word for one another and to pray one for the others. You are no longer alone in your publishing journey. We are all here together! God bless you, each and every one!

Living Waters staff