ICRS - Staying home
It’s been interesting this week. I’m on several writing and speaking loops and the buzz is all about ICRS (International Christian Retail Show). They are talking about flights and shuttles and hotels, and interviews and book signings, and get-togethers.
And for the first time in eight years, I won’t be a part.
But it’s okay. I’m not supposed to be there this year, and I’m at peace with that. Other things are taking precedence and financially it just doesn’t make sense. I expected to nose dive when the buzz started. I love ICRS.
Last year I had two books coming out, one with Kregel and one with Harvest House. I had TV interviews, radio interviews, dinners and brunches and late night hang-out time with some of my favorite authors and speakers. I changed clothes at least twice a day, sometimes more as I jetted from one event to the next in the Hotlanta sun. I got to meet musical artists and hear their new songs and CD’s. I listened to speakers like Rob Bell. I perused the massive ICRS floor where publishers presented their new titles. I spent time sitting with good friends who LOVE the same things I do, like ministry and writing, and talked shop. I was one of the authors at the Personality party, an event where I got to meet some of my favorite writers.
But there was one moment that was better than all of those. A transforming moment.
I was in line holding a plate filled with delicious breakfast. It was a Harvest House Publishers brunch. Stormie O’Martien and her daughter sat nearby. Emilie Barnes and her sweet husband, George, were at the table behind me. Reps and media filled the room, waiting to visit with these A-list authors. Suddenly an arm slipped through mine.
“Sit with me,” the woman said, standing near me.
I turned. Kay Arthur.
“Yes, mam,” I replied. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
11:33 am |
priceless
This is a repost from last year, just about this time. It was my story of a bookstore gone bad, gone good.
Yesterday I set up a bookstore at our community Independence Day celebration. One person picked up The Mom I Want to Be and turned it over, glancing at my pic on the back side.
“Is that you? Are you the author?”
“Yes,” I said, smiling. “But this is the red-faced, sweaty version.”
It was hot. Muggy. Searing sunshine, even under the forest-green canopy.
I have to be honest. I questioned why I had decided to sell books.
At the end of the evening I had only sold 10, netting a profit of about $30-35, minus the cost of the candy, time spent setting up, carrying books and books of boxes, the flowers to put on the table.
Okay, I made zero.
(more…)
Posted by Suzie @
4:45 am |
And the winners are. . .
June 2, 2008 | books
The winners of Lysa TerKeurst’s blog giveaway –a free autographed copy of Making It Real: Whose Faith Is It Anyway?–are: (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
2:14 pm |
a message from a reader. . .
May 30, 2008 | books
Suzanne -
This past weekend I randomly picked up “The Woman I am Becoming” at a local Christian bookstore. Little did I know I was going to read it from cover to cover in two days!
As a young adult leader, I’m always digging for resources to read in order to further stretch my thinking. Your book is an absolutely incredible resource! The layout and chapter sequence are very relevant and I look forward to sharing it with my gals very soon.
I’m not usually a crier, but as I’m writing you this note, I find myself crying. “Thank you” does not express how grateful I am to have read your insights in ministry as well as the lives of young adult women.
Still a single young adult myself at 27, I also appreciated the content on a personal level. Many of your book recommendations are now on my “to read” list. My heart is driven to minister to young women and I’m excited to see God’s vocation for my life unfold. Your book was a very timely encouragement to continue my pursuits!
On a side note, I also enjoyed the Tulsa references. I’m an ORU alumni and miss Tulsa a lot. But right now my family in Minneapolis is most important to me.
Thanks for making an incredible impact on the lives of young women. Hopefully this is one of many heartfelt “thank you’s” you’ll receive.
In His grip,
April Lindahl, twentysomething
From Suzie: Thanks, April. You just made my day. I always appreciate hearing from readers, but more so hearing from potential new friends! Suz
Posted by Suzie @
10:33 am |
Making It Real: Whose Faith is it Anyway?
One of my favorite people (and author and speaker) is Lysa TerKeurst. I met her at a Hearts at Home event and then at another women’s conference. She’s honest and open and cares deeply for the women who she meets through P31 Ministries.
Lysa knows my heart for teens. I’ve worked with for nearly two decades, am a youth culture and parenting columnist, and write and speak to teens and parents of teens, and connect with teens through Real Teen Faith.
Lysa asked me to share my four faithbusters (things that can trip up a teen in their faith walk) from my book, Making It Real: Whose Faith Is It Anyway?, on her site this week.
This is an excerpt of Day One: Is your teen asking tough questions, like: Why can’t I feel God? What do I really believe? Where is God when things fall apart? If they are asking these questions, they are not alone.
Even the disciples—guys called to hard core ministry—wrestled with these uncertainties. They saw miracles happen right in front of them. They encountered religious people acting anything but godly. They were persecuted for their beliefs. The longer they spent time with Jesus the more they grasped real-life answers and also stumbled onto more questions.
It’s no different today for a believing teen. What your teen hears from his pastor may be vastly different than what they hear from unbelieving friends. They live out their convictions in a world that does not always understand them. In the midst of this complexity, they have to sort out what is truth and what is hype. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
9:34 am |
