This week’s EIE Award spotlight is Broken Crayons Still Color: From Our Mess to God’s Masterpiece by Shelley Hitz, edited by Deb Hall, and published by Body and Soul Publishing LLC.
Christi McGuire, director of the Christian Editor Connection, which hosts the annual EIE Awards, interviewed editor Deb Hall.
Deb, how did you become connected with the author?
Shelley and I initially met through the local writers’ group, Writers on the Rock. We both have been presenters at the group’s annual conference in Lakewood, Colorado.
What do you enjoy the most about the editing process?
I love the creative and collaborative aspects of editing—the way an editor gets to enhance an author’s writing and instruct on various writing issues but at the same time be an encourager and a cheerleader for the author.
What tips can you give other freelance editors about working with authors?
Remember that an author really wants to know how his or her target audience, his actual reader, might receive the manuscript. So, as much as possible, edit like a true reader and be thorough in offering whatever type of editing the author has requested. Be diplomatic and kind yet honest and clear in your feedback and suggestions.
What do you wish authors knew about working with freelance editors?
The editor-author relationship can be a very powerful, mutual connection filled with trust (that the editor is not going to overly redline a manuscript) and respect (where the author feels the editor has his or her best interests at heart).
What does working on an award-winning book mean to you?
I was thrilled to find out Shelley’s book had won this award. It is a powerful, heartfelt book with her story expressed in such a transparent way so that others will be blessed and encouraged. It was rewarding and humbling to be honored in this way for my contribution to the manuscript’s publication. Working with Shelley was a true joy!
Thanks, Deb! And congrats again on winning the 2017 EIE Award!
About the Author
Shelley Hitz is an award-winning and international best-selling author. However, most importantly she is a wife, daughter, sister, friend and follower of Christ. Shelley has been ministering alongside her husband, CJ, since 1998 and her main passion is to share God’s truth and the freedom in Christ she has found with others. She does this through her books, websites, and speaking engagements.
She is also the owner of TrainingAuthors.com where she helps authors get published and market their books. She teaches from personal experience. Shelley has been writing and publishing books since 2008 and has published more than 30 books, including print, e-book, and audio book formats.
Shelley’s openness and vulnerability as she shares her own story of hope and healing through her books will inspire and encourage you.
About the Editor
Deb Hall is a freelance editor at The Write Insight (TheWriteInsight.com) who loves the collaborative, creative effort of working on manuscripts, both fiction and nonfiction. As a former high school and college English teacher, Deb brings her extensive training in writing instruction to the task of helping authors create their best works. She enjoys every stage of editing, from manuscript critique to copyediting to proofreading. She has always loved language and the power of words to connect writers with readers. Deb lives in beautiful Golden, Colorado, with her husband and two sons.
About the Book
Many times what we see as our biggest regrets, failures, and mistakes become what God uses the most in our lives.
God transforms our brokenness into something more beautiful than we can even imagine. He takes our mess and creates a masterpiece.
You see, broken crayons still color.
Included in this book:
- A 7-week book study that will inspire you with real stories of how God can take our broken crayons and create a masterpiece.
- Adult coloring pages for each chapter.
- Reflection questions to use while you color or as journaling prompts to help you apply each chapter to your own life.
- Scripture memory verses for each week with downloadable Scripture cards.
- Prayers to personally connect with God on the topics covered in each chapter.
- Corresponding videos and fill-in-the-blank viewer guides for each week.
- Leader’s guide with discussion questions in the appendix for group study.
- And more!
Purchase Broken Crayons Still Color on Amazon.
Enter the EIE Awards!
Are you the author, editor, or publisher of a 2017 published book? Submit it for the 2018 Excellence in Editing Award! The Christian Editor
Connection wants to honor the teams behind well-written and well-edited books and is proud to announce our third annual Excellence in Editing Award.
This award celebrates newly released books that are superbly written, well edited, and published by a CBA publisher or self-published by a Christian author.
The CEC Excellence in Editing Award is open to all books published in hardcover or paperback in 2017. Books must be written in English, have been released in North America, and contain a Christian worldview.
The publication teams (authors, editors, publishers) behind the EIE award-winning books will be honored for their dedication and work and may mention this honor in their marketing, promotion, and publicity. The most valuable aspect of the award is its use as a book sales stimulator.
Visit https://christianeditor.com/eie/ for more information and to submit your entry. Deadline is December 31, 2017.
