It’s still fireplace season, even in Southern California. Which means: it’s the perfect time to take a seat and crack open a good book.

My current read is Christian Beliefs by Wayne Grudem. It’s a foray into systematic theology—the kind of foray that you can finish in a couple quick evenings. So, in looking forward to the next good read, here are three books I’ve been checking out lately, along with a few reasons why they’ve caught my eye. Give this a perusal, then let me know what else I should be browsing!

Comforts From Romans by Elyse Fitzpatrick

Why? After reading Fitzpatrick’s Because He Loves Me, I cannot get enough of her work. She’s a skilled writer with an excellent grasp of what the Gospel means and how it impacts our daily life. Her experience is in counseling, but you won’t feel therapized by her tone or message. She simply presents the truth well, in a way that makes sense and is applicable. Check out her site and her store!

Additional note: Elyse is local to Southern Californians. I will be stalking her calendar and dropping in on one of her upcoming speaking gigs, if at all possible. Who wants to go with me?

The Writer Who Stayed by William Zinsser

Why? Zinsser is genius. His On Writing Well is the one book I go back to over and over, when I want to remember how to put words together. Also there is the cover of this book, which suggests that the point of this is Zinsser’s life of writing longevity. From pen to typewriter to laptop—what survives and thrives is not the method but the words. When the words are so good, they are the only point in writing.

Zinsser looks at interesting things in a compelling way, and he takes writing too seriously to weigh it down with fluff. I expect this will be a fabulous read. Find more from Zinsser here.

Basics for Believers by D.A. Carson

Why? Because it’s D.A. Carson. Also because it’s already in our living room, thanks to my husband’s fabulous pre-Lisa library. I’ve already been reading here and there in Carson’s two volumes of For the Love of God (a daily Scripture reading accompaniment)—his work is excellent. He’s a thoughtful, serious scholar who communicates accessibly about big ideas and overarching themes in Scripture. I respect anybody who can do that well.

More specifically to this Why? question, though: I want to know how to articulate what I believe and why (and what I don’t believe and why). I haven’t built up much strength for that in my life, and I expect books like this will help exercise the muscle.

Now you tell me: Have you read any of these three? Or which other books should be on my list? There’s a shameful void of fiction here, for instance.

Links For Your Perusing Pleasure

Here’s a quick compilation of the articles I’ve had published recently. They’re all online, which hopefully keeps things handy for you.

If you’re a blogger who’s looking for me to guest post or an editor who’s looking to hire me for your publication, I’d love it if you’d email me and say so. If you’re a reader looking for more, you can subscribe to my blog and consider immediately picking up your copy of my latest book, Craving Grace.

*updated Mar 2013

On Writing
“Three Cups of Tea,” Three Cups of Me
Christianity Today’s Her.meneutics blog

How to Get Started Writing: Hamster Wheels and Hurdles
WordServe Water Cooler blog

On Grace
Good Girl, Sweet God
Susie Magazine, September 2011 (viewable with account)

Better, Stronger, Thinner, More?
Praise and Coffee Magazine, Winter 2012 (viewable in Issuu)

The Failing of Heroes
RELEVANTmagazine.com

On Spiritual Disciplines
Marriage, War, and Lent: Practicing Love During Separation
Christianity Today’s Her.meneutics blog

The Forgotten Half of Fasting
RELEVANTmagazine.com

On the Military, Military Life, & Patriotism
Thoughts on Afghanistan from a Marine Wife
Christianity Today’s Her.meneutics blog

Should Churches Display the American Flag in Their Sanctuaries?
Contributor, “The Village Green”
Christianity Today, July 2012 print magazine

On the Christian Sex Ethic
Virginity is Not the Point
RELEVANTmagazine.com

Interview
The Truth About World War II’s True Shepherds
Interview with Lyle W. Dorsett
Christianity Today, November 2012 print magazine

At the beginning of this year, though, a former colleague of mine emailed with some great questions about how to get started writing. It prompted the second half of this “So You Want To Write?” series, and made me think that maybe in time I’ll add even more. But for now, you can find what amounts to part 2 over at the WordServe Water Cooler, because I’m one of those fortunate WordServe authors, and because I decided it was OK to double-dip.

Check it out: How to Get Started Writing: Hamster Wheels and Hurdles

You can also sample some of my former colleague Christina’s and her sister Nicole’s work at ATaleOfTwins.com. Cheers to writers starting out!

Related: So You Want To Write? Part 1

With a cover-refresh and in paperback to boot, Craving Grace is heading off to the islands. Courtesy of OMF Literature, you’ll now be able to find my latest project for sale in the Philippines. Upon last check, it hadn’t yet hit the OMF website, but be on the lookout and you should find it there soon!

Special thanks to all those who asked for this—you’re getting your wish!

(Left to right: Pam Farrel, Marcia Ramsland, Susan Meissner, Lisa, Arlene Pellicane)

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of participating in a book signing with some local Southern California authors. It was a fantastic hour, and all kinds of fun. These ladies are fabulous—check them out, and buy their books!

Pam Farrel, co-founder of Love-Wise and co-author of Men are Like Waffles, Women are Like Spaghetti and many others.

Marcia Ramsland, Organizing pro and author of Simplify Your Holiday Season

Susan Meissner, Fiction author of The Girl in the Glass and many others.

Arlene Pellicane, author of 31 Days to a Happy Husband

Recently the folks over at Christianity Today asked me to interview Lyle W. Dorsett about his new book Serving God and Country. Hello, fabulous assignment. It was a pleasure on three levels:

One, reading the book.
Two, getting to talk to Dr. Dorsett about the book and more.
Three, getting to share a bit of our conversation with CT readers in print and online.

But since an author interview is (rightly) about what the author has to say, here’s what I as a reader thought of Serving God and Country.

Best Parts:

1) The format of the book traces the history of the war using chaplains’ stories to tell the broader story. This was a creative and interesting way to learn about the war and its people, at least from a US military perspective. I learned through individual people and particular slices of time, and came to understand the flow of the war better as a result.

2) Dr. Dorsett clearly worked hard to make for some enjoyable and easy reading. The stories he tells are surprising, warm, convicting, and funny, and they’ve got guts too. It’s clear he views his subjects—a ragtag bunch, often—with respect, but isn’t afraid to paint them honestly. What results is a clear picture of real men who faced terrible times with unreal courage and heart. These are stories worth reading and passing on.

3) Likely an unexpected history lesson is how the Chaplain Corps was part of a pivotal part of US history, in the steps it took toward racial equality. Those of us reading the book in 2012 and beyond might forget that in World War II, US military units were not yet segregated. The Chaplain Corps, however, was. The stories told and observations made about this are beautiful. Additionally, Serving God and Country tells of Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish chaplains who, in joining the service together, overcame prejudices and learned to care for one another as friends, despite their differing theologies. Can’t we all learn from that.

4) Some of the chaplains featured in the book were absolute renegades. It’s common, I think, to picture the pastor/priest/rabbi/chaplain as one-dimensional: always serene, somewhat wimpy, speaking in soft, melodic vowels. But these guys are humans like the rest of us—the WWII military chaplains were, at least. Some of them disobeyed direct orders so they could better support their troops. Often they chose to put themselves in harm’s way so they could comfort and serve others. They worked hard and often relentlessly. They should have more books written about them.

5) Dr. Dorsett is the real deal. As much as one can tell from reading books and having an hourlong conversation, I’m definitely a fan. His military cred is thanks to the US Marine Corps Reserves, his theological training is thorough, his writing is excellent. Incidentally, he also has a fantastic literary agent (as do I) in Greg Johnson. Buy this book and then check out Dr. Dorsett’s other ones too.

Serving God and Country: U.S. Military Chaplains in World War II

By Lyle W Dorsett

Great For: History Buffs, Military Members & Families, Pastors & Leaders, Readers

You’ll Find: Faith, Humor, WWII History, Interviews, Hope

I Should Buy Copies For: My dad, my brothers, all my military friends, and every “Band of Brothers” devotee I know

Review Copy Already Passed On To: Hubby’s current Marine Corps chaplain

Someone who attended college with me recently contacted me on Facebook with some great news and some confusion. The news: she’s publishing her first book! The confusion: how in the world to promote it?

I had a few minutes, so I hammered out a response and sent it off. Then I thought, Hey look! Moms can accomplish things! A real message sent to a real person! I was so excited about this, that I figured I should make the most of it and fling it to the world. Who says you can’t double-dip?

The following are the first things that came to mind when I was posed this: I’m wondering what your experience has been on the other side of publishing a book when it comes to marketing and selling your book. How much time do you spend speaking, traveling, promoting, etc? How much financially have you had to spend to do this?

My response

Congrats on the book deal! That’s exciting. [personal stuff omitted] I wish you the best as you work on everything.

My experience is that it’s best to plan for about a month of serious marketing around the time of your book’s release. Depending on what the publisher initiates on your behalf, that could take little effort (i.e., “only availability) or a lot of effort (pursuing interviews, writing articles, pitching articles, etc.) on your part. If the publisher hasn’t set you up with a publicist, ask if they will. In my experience, bigger-name radio interviews are fabulous for press, with articles coming in second. That’s a good thing to be thinking about as you complete your book, as well: how could I boil down sections of this book into smaller chunks for articles? (It makes the book-writing much easier and better, I find. Though admittedly I learned this lesson far later than I wish I had. Next time!)

Some people will tell you to take every opportunity you can get, as far as publicity is concerned. I’m not of that school of thought. If something feels awkward to me, where I can pretty easily see that my book’s audience doesn’t overlap much with the venue (radio or magazine or whatever it may be), then I’ve found that those venues, no matter how “successful” they are, don’t end up being worth the time. Focus on places that are already good matches, and work really hard to market there, because that’s the marketing that will pay off. Does that make sense?

Another great idea is to arrange for a blog tour, where people in the field (and ideally with a following) will agree to review your book on their blog, and then (ideally with the publisher’s donation) offer a free copy of the book as a giveaway to correspond with that review. Depending on your audience, could be a good thing to try. This could be low-impact potentially, especially if your publisher would be willing to do some book mailings in-house for you.

All that said, my experience is limited, so take everything with a grain of salt. Trust your instincts.

Oh. One more thing. You want to capitalize on the first 1-3 months after your book’s release, because that’s when your publisher will still be working hard to promote it. After that, there’s a new wave of product, and it’s just that much harder to keep the publisher thinking about yours! Even so, publishers often love it when you have ideas and when you’re excited about things. If you have an idea for marketing, pitch it to them.

I’ve spent very little money on marketing, and the times when I have spent money, it hasn’t seemed like the money comes back. But I am a cheapskate, so that perspective might be skewed.

Hopefully all this is helpful. In all, enjoy the ride. You’re likely aware that book-writing is something most people wish they could do (and assume is easy) but the authors among us know it’s a privilege and a long labor. Make sure you have a book party to celebrate the accomplishment! I was wary of that sort of thing at first, but found that my friends loved going—most people like being able to say that they’ve been to a book release party, no matter how small or unassuming it is. And it makes for a special day for you as the author.

I hope some of this is helpful! I simply spewed quickly and didn’t take time to go back and edit. Busy season over here.

Introducing Celia Grace, born late April.

Because mama wants to feel somewhat professional again, for at least 20 minutes.

And because grace is the loveliest thing, and because graciousness, gracefulness, and gratitude all take shapes that point in its general direction—here are 50 little celebrations from my corner of the woods.

(1) You are still reading this, despite my cheesy riff of a title.

(2) The safe arrival of our baby girl, who (3) is a redhead, (4) has the best gummy smile ever, (5)  sleeps like a dream, (6) screams like crazy beforehand—keeps things interesting, (7, 8, and 9) got her dad’s cute upper lip, and (10) is learning how to giggle.

(11) Baby nap times, which tie you to home much of most days, making sleep deprivation less painful.

(12) Mountain views from the postpartum floor at the hospital.

(13) The offer of a pacifier from a night nurse who knew exactly what she was talking about.

(14) Family.

(15) Friends who visit right away and (16) pretend not to notice that you’ve fallen asleep talking to them.

(17) Our church small group who prayed, stopped in, and stuffed the fridge: (18) fabulous taco salad, (19) Rubios take-out, (20) Chick-fil-A sandwiches, (21) fajita amazingness, (22) Cheesy potato bake, (23) Chicken casserole, (24) Chicken and broccoli, (25) Pesto pasta salad and (26) Spinach tortellini that were all (27) so tasty they’re still memorable weeks later.

(28) Uncle David, who is fast becoming babysitter extraordinaire.

(29) The friend, (30) the pastor, and (31) the unknown, uniformed gunnery sergeant who each kindly offered to carry the car seat.

(32) Everyone who has volunteered to help with anything.

(33) A baby shower for military moms, generously given by mostly strangers.

(34) Friends who made sure the FPO address kept receiving care packages without fail.

(35) Chiropractor visits.

(36) Skype, (37) phone, (38) mail, and (39) email capabilities in Afghanistan.

(40) Military wives, who know what it’s like and say so.

(41) The delivery room nurse who held my hand.

(42) Ever-faithfulness of a God who obviously knew it would be perfect—yes, perfect—for (43) the hospital to send me home 2 hours before delivery and (44) the doula to accidentally leave her phone off that one—just one, ever—night and (45) no time to think about pain medication, because (46) that was just what it took to never, not once, think about feeling alone.

(47) The delirious joy that will be homecoming and reunion.

(48) A writer friend who, at just the right moment and with (49) a title idea going in the right direction, gave (50) encouragement to get back to writing. I will be glad to have all this to look back on.

It never ceases to amaze me, the number of people who’d like to someday publish a book. I hear it from friends, from acquaintances, from the guy in the airplane seat next to me, from people who sort of knew me in middle school, from eager folks lined up at events and signings.

Those who are somewhat serious about getting published often seem baffled or frustrated by the most urgent-seeming question there is: How do I break into the biz?

As one of those grateful persons who received helpful start-up advice from other writers, and with a couple real-life books under my own belt now, whenever I’m asked this question I always want to help in some way. What I’ve found over the years is that an important first answer to the Biz Question is yet another question:

Why?

There are all kinds of reasons why people think they want to publish something. Here are some of the biggies, with this writer’s response following each.

1. You want to be famous/You want to be rich. This one’s first because it’s the most common. It’s also a terrible and incorrect assumption about writing. Most published writers spend most of their days sitting at a desk, doing the hard and unglamorous work of writing. And for most writers, writing is not an overly lucrative profession. There are a few who pull in huge advances for their books. There are also rockstar types who’ll pull publicity stunts and drum up controversy to sell a book—they can end up being especially well known and selling lots of books. Then there’s the other 99.9% of us. If you want to be a writer, you’re far more likely to land in the latter category. If, knowing that, you still want to write, then it might be something worth pursuing.

2. You have something to say. This is not something to be minimized. One of the incredible things about being people made in the Creator’s image is that we also like to make and express things—in this case, art and poetry and sentences and messages. But a publisher will want to know whether or not people are already listening to you. Within the spheres in which you live and work, are people paying attention? If they are, you’ll see evidence of that. If they’re not, you might be ready to start writing, but the publishing world’s welcome mat likely won’t be rolling your way yet.

3. You have something to say (version B). Are you really ready to say it? With your name written on the front cover? With the words put to paper, with no way of ever fully taking them back? Even if people will think you’re bat-crazy and freely say so all over the Internet? Even if all their friends agree? Even if the sales report is bleak? If your response to any of these questions is “no,” then either your message isn’t precise enough yet or you could use some added humility before jumping onto this train.

4. You want a fast-track or a silver bullet. Don’t we all? Still, at the risk of sounding unfeeling, I’ll say this. Imagine you dream of working for Company Q. It seems like a great place, but you don’t have any contacts there whatsoever. Still, Company Q has 25,000 employees, and most of them have their email addresses posted online. So you pick one that looks nice, and you email Employee X. You write a perfectly wonderful introductory paragraph, then you boldly ask for their advice on how to get hired at Company Q.

What does Employee X do? She, while likely impressed by your earnestness and initiative, might also feel slightly intruded-upon, and as such she deletes the email and gets back to work. Why? Because she has work to do. And because this is the third such email she has received in a month. And because she expects you understand that 1) the two of you are not actually in a relationship and 2) the conventional way to apply for a job when you don’t have any real connections is to build a fitting résumé and send it to the HR Department.

What am I saying? I’m saying that road into publishing is not unique in what it requires. Figure out what the employer (publishing industry) is looking for. Develop your skills. (Write!) Master entry-level positions so you’ll be prepared for the more complicated ones. Foster professional connections over time; then, when opportunities arise, you’ll be in a natural place from which to pursue them. These are the building blocks of any lasting career. If you don’t have connections in the industry but you want some, then do the work of making and having and keeping them. That is a great context for requesting personalized advice.

And if you’re one of the lovely folks who has emailed me lately, asking how to get published, I have not deleted your email. A how-to response is coming in my next post.

5. You love books. A fabulous start. But if you want to be in publishing, you should also love writing. That is: drafting, re-writing, receiving critiques and feedback, re-drafting, editing, deleting. Don’t think these are necessary parts of the writing process? Then you’re definitely not ready to be published.

6. You love books, you have something to say, you don’t care whether it makes you rich or famous, and you’re willing to do the grunt work. Well, nice to meet you. I might like to see your book in print someday. Check out my next post for some thoughts on moving forward.

Related: So You Want To Write? Part 2

Note: Today’s blog is an excerpt from my 2011 memoir Craving Grace: A Story of Faith, Failure, and My Search for Sweetness. Used with permission.

Ash Wednesday, though a noted date on the traditional Church calendar, is not formally observed by many evangelical churches. In my West Michigan neck of the woods, for instance, most Christians think this day is for Catholic types only. Most of us grew up without knowing what Ash Wednesday is about. We’ve never practiced it, and we have no problem finding it odd and a little creepy.

Before Mars Hill [then my local church and my employer] became part of my life, my only formal experiences with the Church calendar had been the more or less standard observances: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter. Sometimes not even Advent and Lent. None of the churches I had been part of in the past had been big on liturgy—when it came to practicing sacred rites and rituals, we were willing to light purple and pink candles around Christmastime each year, but that was typically as wild as we got.

There is a practice on Ash Wednesday called the giving and receiving of the ashes. Traditionally the ashes are burned fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday—those who come to receive the ashes expect to have that fine, gritty palm dust put on their foreheads. They wear it all day in the shape of a cross, given in two small smudges by someone else’s ash-covered thumb. This is a way of remembering and mourning. We remember Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness and we mourn his death. And we remember and mourn our own dying: the fact that death and sinfulness rule us finally, that even at our best we are full of the deceit and ingratitude and arrogance and self-motives that put holiness on our own strength permanently out of reach. It is a fine, gritty reality.

My first Ash Wednesday service, technically speaking, happened just a few weeks into the Honey Project. Leading up to the service, I kept hearing announcements about it, and with each one I became more relieved that I already had plans to be out of town that day. Truth be told, I questioned whether the service was necessary. It seemed like overspiritualized fanfare—silliness, even. And all things being equal, I wasn’t thrilled about looking like I had dirt on my face.

The next year, the Ash Wednesday just after the Honey Project and just before I joined the staff, we had a service too. That time I didn’t have a prescheduled excuse not to be there. Plus, I was a volunteer leader with a small group of high school students at the time, and those girls asked me to go with them. Feeling I had little choice in the matter, I went.

There were several hundred people there, maybe a thousand. We sang, prayed, and read Scripture together for a little while, then a group of people holding small bowls of ashes walked to the edge of the stage. The rest of us formed lines moving toward them, and person by person we were smudged. “From ashes you came,” the givers said—vertical smudge—“to ashes you will return”*—horizontal smudge. It was a cadence, a buzz that filled the room. They said it over and over, once to each person.

The bowl of ashes at the end of my line was held by a tall, gray-haired man whom I didn’t know. He smiled at me in a grandfatherly way. When I stood in front of him, he marked my forehead twice and told me, his face close to mine, that ashes were my starting blocks and my finish line. I went back to my seat, then for a while afterward I was caught up in watching the room. Everywhere I looked—right, left, in front, behind—there were two solemn gray smudges on every face.

It was half a year after everything. My fast was completed. I had kissed a man twice. I had failed tremendously in all kinds of other ways. Grace had been happening to me with such ferocity that I had actually begun to recognize it and even expect it. For decades of life and faith I had taken meticulous care to keep my nose clean—now I was wearing my sin and brokenness on my forehead.

Glancing around the room, I was glad to publicly admit that I’m fallen. I was grateful for the soot-smudged folks who were there with me, showing me how.

(Want to read more? Order Craving Grace here or at your favorite online bookstore.)

*These phrases are similar to the reference to Genesis 3:19 in The Book of Common Prayer: “You were made from dust, and to dust you will return” (NLT).