| Add Comment  REALITY-BASED STORIES ADAPTED TO CHRISTIAN FICTION What A Mighty God We Serve Welcome to my website! My utmost gratitude to each and every one of you who have read "A Generation of Curses." I have a testimony and some information to share with new writers who are thinking about giving up their treasured passion of writing and publishing their first books. Do not give up! Or, maybe you are a novice writer and have future plans to publish. Yes! This testimony is also for you. God knows your heart, and He will walk beside you if you trust him. I like to witness about God's almighty grace and mercy, and how it has sustained me through the challenges of working and writing. Sometimes my students who are interested in writing ask me questions. Although I am still learning (writing is a life-long learning journey), I love to share what I have learned. Twenty-one years ago, I returned to school to pursue a nursing career. I could not afford to stop working, so I kept my full-time job and attended school full-time throughout the program. Subsequently, I returned to school for advanced degrees (a bachelors and masters in nursing) while working as a full-time R.N. in the Emergency Room. I was also raising two children. I started writing eight years ago. And yes, I still work full-time, but I am a college professor and I teach nursing students now. I often question my purpose for staying in a career that requires juggling long hours between teaching and writing, years of commitment, and huge expenses to gain loyal readers and acknowledgement. Self-published authors have done well in recent years, especially with e-book publishing. Authors who publish through Vanity or independent publishers normally sell fewer books and many do not receive all, if any, of their royalty payments (Beware of these kinds of publishing houses). Authors must pay vanity publishers, independent publishers do not charge, however, both are not the best sources for book publishing. Traditional or major publishers are the preferences, but very few new authors are able to obtain their first-time book deals with these publishers. The competition is high, and most of the publishers require agent representation. Authors who plan to submit their manuscripts to publishers or agents should utilize a checks and balances system to ensure their work is polished and can meet high-quality standards. A professional editor is a must on the list (Find an editor with extensive editing background in your genre). There are many options for publishing, and authors should do their research before making a decision about which publishing route to take. If the desire is to find a major or traditional publisher, new writers should consider finding an agent. If that does not pan out, self-publish or do an e-book (on-line publishing). The last two options do require planning, additional work for the author (author will need to find and incur costs for publishing book, i.e. ISBN numbers, book cover designer if publishing a soft or hard cover book, etc.). All options require authors to roll up their sleeves, do extensive research, promote their books (budget for these expenses i.e. events, conferences, etc.), and work hard to join a vast cutting-edge industry. So, new writers may ask me why I continue to write. Writing is my passion, I love creating stories that readers enjoy, and I truly believe this is God's will for my life. I have not touched the tip of a melting iceberg in this career. My thirst is for knowledge; like a sponge, I've soaked up any information that I could find about writing, editing, publishers, agents, and much more. The best knowledge bundles have come from a wealth of resources such as networking, conferences, workshops, professional editors, blog-radio shows, and consistent reading and writing. Oh...and writers' groups have been excellent for author-to-author camaraderie. My main long-term goal is to acquire a book contract with a traditional publishing house, which is the ultimate goal for most writers. Being one of many who are striving to maintain balance while walking a tightrope is not an easy feat. For me, survival is a matter of abundant faith, and knowing when to suck in a deep breath, exhale, and keep on moving. New writers, keep an open mind for learning, and please remember to do your research. Many blessings to all of you, and I hope to see you on the literary circuit soon. What A Mighty God We Serve! Patricia www.patriciabridewell.com Facts About Patricia * Christian, and loves the Lord * Christian Fiction Writer * Registered Nurse, College Professor * Second Vice President/Board of Directors for The New Reality Foundation, Inc. G.U.R.L.S. Rock * Mother and grandmother * Loves to eat out * Loves music * Can spend hours in a bookstore * Hates house cleaning, but loves a clean house * Two appearances on the Oprah Winfrey What Are Readers Saying About "A Generation of Curses" - by Authors Patricia A. Bridewell & Faatima Albasir-Johnson? 5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Anne B. - Readers Favorite Book Reviews September 2012 "Bridewell and Albasir-Johnson are talented writers. Their plot comes to life on the pages of this book. I could see the scenes unfold on the stage behind my eyes." 5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Joy H. for Readers Favorite Book Reviews September 2012 "This is a well-written story by Patricia Bridewell. And I appreciate the way she shows the importance of trusting God when we really want to take manners into our own hands." 4.0 out of 5 stars Stepping Out on Faith... August 16, 2012 By L. Taylor "Lulubug" (SoCali) - "A Generation Of Curses pulled me in from the first page and kept my attention until the last." 5.0 out of 5 stars The Past Shall Come To Light August 19, 2012 By OOSA Online Book Club "A Generation of Curses" is Christian fiction and an inspiring novel that will persuade all readers to keep a strong faith in GOD to help overcome any battles that life tends to unravel. This novel is well written - excellent work!" 5.0 out of 5 stars Explosive Read June 23, 2012 By Dream 4 More Book Reviews "These characters were linked so creatively and nearly attached to each one in a different perspective, well-written, and loved the story from start to finish. I hope these authors continue to write together and mesh beautiful, rich stories in the Christian Fiction genre." 5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers Favorite Book Reviews September 2012 "A Generation of Curses" is a totally believable story, but full of twists to keep the reader hoping and cheering for a happy ending." 5.0 out of 5 stars You can't put it down!, August 4, 2012 By Patricia Bridewell "GudNuz - NIU" (Beaver Dam, KY USA) "Wow! And AWESOME!!! I started reading it, and did not put it down until I had finished it. What a compelling story!" (I actually have a reader with the same name as mine! She has been a loyal reader and has purchased my first book and this one). 5.0 out 5 Readers with Attitude Book Club April 2013 "This was a well written, seamless read. I was pleasantly surprised with the twist and turns that took place during this story. It was far from the normal storylines that are presented in most Christian fiction books. I was entertained, through and through. There was no dry moment and every character kept me entertained with either their character or their antics. I would definitely recommend this book especially if you like a drama filled book that has clean language and fuses in moral concepts." |
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