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This Month
-Fantasy Becomes Reality!
-BEST of BLAST
-Tech Tips From Skyla
-Questions & Answers
-Refresher Moment
-Hidden Treasures
-Mark Your Calendars
-Special Prayer Requests
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Winter Greetings From
Shannon Ethridge Ministries!
I pray this edition of our quarterly BLAST e-newsletter finds you well and warm! (and for those of you in Australia, Malaysia & Singapore, I guess the "warm" part can be assumed! I hope you're enjoying your summer while we most of us are freezing here in the U.S. and Canada!)
In case you don't subscribe to my blog, I wanted to share this experience with my BLAST participants. I pray this eventually happens to each and every one of you!
Fantasy Becomes Reality!
I confess, I've had a "vain author fantasy" since my first published book hit the shelves in 2003. I've always wanted to walk through an airport or sit down in a Starbuck's and discover someone voraciously reading MY book. I envisioned that I'd nonchalantly gravitate toward them and simply whisper, "Thanks for buying my book. Would you like me to sign it for you?"
But it's never happened. Not in over 7 years have I ever stumbled upon anyone reading ANY of my 18 books. If I was Max Lucado, or Beth Moore, or Joel Osteen, I could have signed dozens – no hundreds -- of readers' books discovered in random places. I've just figured the lack of Shannon Ethridge book readers on my radar is simply God's way of keeping me humble.
But guess what happened this week? I had jury duty. Not so exciting. Then a fun lady by the name of Dana sat next to me and we began getting to know each other. The day was beginning to look much brighter. Dana asked, "What do you do for a living?" I replied, "I write and speak."
Just then, a woman two rows up slips a book she's been reading back inside her purse. I noticed it had a lovely lavender cover... and a vaguely familiar picture of a "Completely Blessed" woman on the front... and "Shannon Ethridge" at the bottom! My heart lept out of my chest and I exclaimed as quietly as possible to the woman sitting next to me, "Oh, my gosh! That woman is reading my book! That has NEVER happened to me before!"
Dana seemed to share my awe over the situation. She giggled and said, "You've got to tell her!" We were then called by the jury coordinator to line up, and I just happened to fall in line directly behind this woman, so I couldn't resist. I tapped her on the shoulder, and trying to contain my enthusiasm whispered, "That book in your purse – I wrote it. Thanks for reading it. I hope it's a blessing."
She turned around and asked, "You're Shannon Ethridge?!? You live around here?!?" She then proceeded to hug my neck (that's what we do down here in the south – we hug people's necks) and told me how much she was indeed "completely blessed" by reading "Completely Blessed." I didn't offer an autograph like I always envisioned that I would. It just seemed a little too vain for my comfort zone. But before the day was over, she approached me with book and pen in hand, asking if I'd mind. I didn't mind at all.
And I won't complain about jury duty ever again.
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| If you want to see a great example of setting a beautiful stage and really beginning with a BANG, check out Maureen Brown's devotional video. You'd think she's hosting her own television show! Bravo, Maureen! |
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Telling a joke to warm up your audience or create an interesting segue into a powerful point is definitely an art. It's very important that you (1) know where you're going with it, (2) look natural telling it, and (3) be animated such that your voice & body language MATCH the humor. Sometimes you even want to give your audience permission to laugh at YOU telling the joke, even before you hit them with the punch line! To see a phenomenal example of each of these principles, watch Darlene Rempel's Jokemaster. |
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Creating a website?!? Where do you start?
Creating your own website should be fun, exciting and rewarding, both creatively and financially.
First you'll need to decside what level of involvement you want in designing it, creating it, and maintaining it. There are a mutitude of options in hosting/creating your website. Here are a few options from what I am familiar with.
- Good - www.homestead.com
A basic starter page would cost you less than $5 a month (set up cost currently waived)
and you would maintain it yourself
- Better - www.hostmonster.com
A basic starter page would cost you less than $7 a month (no set up cost)
and you would maintain it yourself
- Best - www.kmwebdesigns.com
For a custom builtwebsite with the option of maintinig yourself or by KMWD. Contact Kevin for a specific quote and let him know we refered you!
Once you have a website here are some helpful additions:
- Google Analytics: gives you rich insights into your website traffic and marketing effectiveness. It is a powerful flexible and easy-to-use web traffic tool that lets you see and analyze your traffic data.
- PHP Guestbook: allows you to add free guestbook to your site. Easy to install and use.
- Coppyright your blogging with myfreecopyright.com
- Shorten and share your links with http://j.mp/
- Ever wonder how people get those icons next to their site when you book mark them?
It is called a "fav icon". To create one for your site go to www.dynamicdrive.com
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| What else would you like to know? I don't claim to be an expert but I'm more than happy to share some highlights of what I have learned. If you have tech questions for me to add to my "tech tips" fodder feel free to reply to this email. |
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Questions & Answers
From Emma Broomfield, BLAST Class #3:
One of the questions that keeps coming up in my small group relates to our strengths and the problem of time. Many of us feel our strengths (the ones we have become aware of through Now Discover Your Strengths) definitely help us become focused during our preparation or writing time. However it can be hard, even frustrating, when we get deeply involved in our writing and then have to press pause because of work, family, or life's demands. How does a writer and author juggle such situations and still get her work finished and ready to be given to their publishers?
Shannon's Response:
Yes, a writer finds that "getting in the zone" is vitally important, and "staying in the zone" is one of the biggest challenges. Life continues to roll right on, demanding / diverting our attentions. My best advice is to carve out 3-4 hour blocks of time where the phone is taken off the hook, a "do not disturb" sign is posted on the door, email accounts are exited out of, pop ups blocked, etc. etc. Tuning out the world to focus is absolutely key. |
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I also find it helpful to light a candle and promise myself that I'll stay focused on the task at hand as long as this candle is burning. And I don't step away from it for fear of a fire hazard. May be quirky, but it works for me. |
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Tyler Rowan, BLAST Class #2:
I received an email from a professor in London asking me to be their guest speaker at Worcester University, but I am having a difficult time determining whether it's legitimate. (I think it's the fact that his email address is @gmail that is causing me to question.) With all the international speaking you've done, I'm hoping you will have a sense of whether this is real. Can you help me out?
Shannon's Response:
The great thing about having a speaker website is that people can now FIND you. Unfortunately, not everyone that finds you is someone you want to be found by... like spammers. And yes, I've received a few similar emails from someone posing as a college professor or church pastor asking me to speak, but we soon discovered them to be bogus. Here's what tipped us off: |
- Just as you noticed, the email address is a pretty generic one such as @aol.com or @yahoo.com
- They invite you to be their speaker for some big event without even inquiring as to what your fees are
- They eventually tell you that you must apply for a "Work Permit" to enter the United Kingdom as a paid speaker, and they provide a link where you can go to pay for this permit, using your credit card of course!
Never, ever do you need a "work permit" to speak in a country! Passport & Visa, yes... Work Permit, no such thing. So don't fall for this scam, and never pay any money up front for travel expenses, etc. If a legitimate church or college is inviting you to speak, they'll cover all of your travel arrangements and expenses upfront themselves. |
Cindy Palin from BLAST Class #2
"I'd like to get to know some of the other participants in other BLAST classes. How can I do that?"
Shannon's Response:
As a reminder, here's a link to our Ning BLAST Community – a great place to post content you'd like to share with others, or just get to know one another and give/receive encouragement from folks who are walking in the same shoes right now! |
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Need a BLAST refresher moment?
All your class pages and files are still active. Click the link below to view your class page:
Fall 2009
~ Spring 2010
~ Fall 2010 |
Don’t Keep It To Yourself!
Do you know someone who has an amazing life story? Or a burning passion to speak a message that God has laid on their hearts? Or such a clever way with words that it would be a shame for them NOT to write a book?
Tell them about BLAST! Our Spring 2011 class information packet is now online.
For every registered participant that you send our way, you’ll receive a $50 referral fee. |
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Hidden Treasures
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If you don't subscribe to Michael Hyatt's "Intentional Leadership" blog, shame on you. Fix that problem by subscribing today. He's the President of Thomas Nelson Publishers, and has AMAZING content for aspiring writers! Here's just three examples...
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Here's two great nuggets for writers & speakers from The Accurance Group:
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Mark Your Calendars - Shannon Is Coming To...
PLEASE NOTE:
If you see a city on our speaking calendar that’s anywhere near you, and you’re
interested in having Shannon speak at your venue while she’s in town, please
contact us at
speaking@shannonethridge.com. We’d also be honored if you’d like to attend the event and help operate the book table - a valuable learning experience!
Tyler, TX - January 27, 2011
Shannon speaks at the annual Women's Tea at Trinity Baptist Church, Tyler, TX. Email cathysmith0219@suddenlink.com for more information.
Weatherford, TX - February 4 - 5, 2011
Shannon and her residential BLAST interns travel to Weatherford, TX for a youth conference where they'll teach teenagers how to have the BEST sex... by waiting until marriage! Contact cody@nsbcweatherford.com for more information.
Cincinnati, OH - March 19, 2011
Join Shannon at pureHOPE from the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families, a women’s conference focusing on Biblical sexuality. Hosted by the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families. For more information please contact Joanne Samad at joanne@nationalcoalition.org.
Colorado Springs, CO - March 31 - April 3, 2011
Shannon will be speaking alongside Fred Stoeker at Maximizing Intimacy: A Sex & Oneness Retreat at the Glen Eyrie Retreat Center. For more info please contact Melissa Schuerer at Melissa.Schuerer@navigators.org.
Tyler, TX - April 18, 2011
Shannon speaks at Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, TX for their Celebrate Recovery Meeting at 6 p.m. Email MartyK64@aol.com for more information about Celebrate Recovery.
Saskatoon, SK (Canada) - May 6 - 8, 2011
Join the women of Waldheim Mennonite Bretheren Church & Salem Church for a "Completely His" Conference. Contact Machonregier@yahoo.com for more info.
Laguna Hills, CA - May 13 - 14, 2011
Join Shannon at a Completely His event, hosted by Crossline Community Church. For more info please contact Lori Marshall at lmarshall@crosslinechurch.com or visit www.crosslinechurch.com.
Miami, FL - May 21, 2011
Shannon will be one of the main platform speakers at Expolit 2011, the Hispanic version of the International Christian Retail Show, hosted by Editorial Unilit Publishing House. More info. to come.
Christchurch, New Zealand - June 17 - 18, 2011
Shannon will be speaking at Elim Catherdral’s Women’s Conference, as well as Sunday services on the 19th. More info to come.
Auckland, New Zealand - June 24 - 25, 2011
Join Shannon at Elim Cathedral’s Women’s Conference in Auckland, as well as Sunday services on the 26th. More info to come.
Auckland, New Zealand - July 1 - 2, 2011
Shannon will be speaking at C3 Auckland’s Women’s Conference and Sunday services on the 3rd. More info to come.
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Special Prayer Requests
- Our upcoming Women at the Well Video Project
(click here to read more about this from our January e-newsletter)
- Incoming BLAST participants for the Spring 2011 Class (BLAST #4)
(remember that you receive a $50 referral fee for every friend you send our way, plus click here to learn about our new scholarships for full-time missionaries)
- After months of polishing, Brenda Johnson from BLAST Class #1 has put the finishing touches on the proposal for her first book, "From Hell to Hawaii." It's now on a literary agent's desk, so please pray for favor and for God to open doors BIG time for Brenda to share her powerful testimony with people all over the world!
Let us know how we can pray for you by going to http://www.shannonethridge.com/prayer.shtml
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