Posts tagged Barbara Blakey

A Meeting with Friends

For many years the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference was the only conference that I attended.

These last few years I regularly attend more events, but OCW is the one where I feel most at home. I have friends here. Don’t misunderstand me; this is not some small gathering of casual writers. A few years ago I was eating lunch in the main hall and Frank Peretti asked to sit at my table. I can’t remember what I ate, but I’ll never forget our conversation about his books and writing in general.

ConferencesKyle PrattAugust 22, 2018Oregon Christian Writers, Jill Williamson, Bethany Hayes, Debby Lee, Kristie Kandoll, Barbara Blakey, Kyle Pratt

Twelve Years with the Inklings

The Inklings have been meeting for nearly twenty years.

Recently our local paper, The Chronicle, ran a front-page story about a critique group that has been in existence for nearly two decades and that I’ve attended for about twelve years. As my friend Julie McDonald Zander questioned me about the group for the upcoming story, I dug through old pictures and information to find answers.

Critique GroupKyle PrattMarch 2, 2017The Inklings, Bob Hansen, Barbara Blakey, Kristie Kandoll, Carolyn Bickel, Joyce Scott

Oregon Christian Writers (Day 3)

Tonight the Cascade Awards were presented at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference.

During the awards dinner, I sat with friends Barbara Blakey and Kristie Kandoll. Barbara is a past Cascade Award winner and Kristie was up for the Unpublished Historical Fiction Award tonight along with another friend, Julie McDonald. I really expected one of them to walk away with the award, but the winner was the third finalist, Kathleen Freeman, with her book Children of the Revolution.

Conferences, AwardsKyle PrattAugust 17, 2016Ben Wolf, A Time to Endure, Barbara Blakey, Kristie Kandoll, Oregon Christian Writers

Oregon Christian Writers (Day 1)

I never set out to make book proposals to agents and publishers. I’m a successful indie publisher, what could a traditional publisher do for me? Well, I put that question to Sue Brower, vice president of acquisitions for Gilead Publishing, at the first dinner of the conference.

ConferencesKyle PrattAugust 15, 2016Barbara Blakey, Gilead Publishing, Sue Brower, Oregon Christian Writers

Book Credits

How many people does it take to create a novel?

Recently I watched X-Men Apocalypse with one of my sons. At the end of the action, we waited to see if there were any post-credit scenes (there is). As we watched the endless scroll of credits we discussed how many people were involved in the production of my last novel, Braving the Storms.

Reviewers and Bloggers, Writing & Publishing, Strengthen What RemainsKyle PrattJune 15, 2016Kyle Pratt, Barbara Blakey, Joyce Scott, Micah Hansen, Bob Hansen, Kristie Kandoll, Carolyn Bickel, Amit Dey, Kevin Pierce, William Childress, Robert Pratt, Christopher Vandenberg

Still Excited and More

In a recent blogpost titled, Excited for Friends, I described how my friend Debby Lee contracted through her agent Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency to write a 20,000 novella for a Barbour Publishing anthology. Barbour needed more writers for the project so Debby suggested our mutual friend Barbara Blakey…

New from my POV, Prepping & SurvivalKyle PrattMay 6, 2016Barbara Blakey, Debby Lee, Jennifer Vandenberg, Steve Laube, Tamela Hancock Murray

Excited for Friends

I recently received great news about two of my writer friends.

My friend Debby Lee was recently contacted by her agent about writing a 20,000 novella for a Barbour Publishing anthology. Barbour needed more writers for the project so Debby suggested our mutual friend Barbara Blakey.

FriendsKyle PrattApril 9, 2016Debby Lee, Barbara Blakey, Kyle Pratt

Back to Boot Camp

Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference, Day One

The first day of the 2015 Conference started with Boot Camp.

The morning started even before the regular conference with a marketing “boot camp” taught by bestselling author Susan May Warren and Nicole Miller of Buffer.com.

ConferencesKyle PrattAugust 11, 2015Oregon Christian Writers, Barbara Blakey, Carolyn Bickel, Kristie Kandoll, Kyle Pratt

Therapy No Longer Needed

On Thursdays, I meet with my group.

I’ve attended this particular group meeting every week I’ve been in town for over a decade. While I think that is notable, the group has met for nearly twice that time.

Critique Group, FriendsKyle PrattJuly 11, 2015C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Inklings, Kyle Pratt, Kristie Kandoll, Barbara Blakey, Joyce Scott, Debby Lee, Carolyn Bickel, Bob Hansen

Books are in the Mail

Last night I sat at the dining room table and signed books.

Earlier, I had made a list of 39 people that would be receiving one, or more, of my novels. When all the books came from the printer on the same day I decided to just sit down, sign, and mail them all.

PublicityKyle PrattDecember 24, 2014Book signing, A Time to Endure, Through Many Fires, Titan Encounter, Final Duty, Micah Hansen, Barbara Blakey

Finished!

I wrote the last words of A Time to Endure this morning.

Except for improving some word choices or clearing up a few sentences, the writing of the book is done and it is now in the editing process.

Upcoming Release, Strengthen What RemainsKyle PrattNovember 10, 2014Barbara Blakey, Kindle, Nook, Smashwords, A Time to Endure

Looking Forward

I’m the kind of person who looks forward, not back, and the next occasion before me is the Southwest Washington Writers Conference. This one day event is scheduled for September 13th, at Centralia College. I will be there listening to great speakers, and also conducting a workshop.

Personal, Event, Southwest WA WritersKyle PrattAugust 9, 2014Oregon Christian Writers, Barbara Blakey, Ben Wolf, Randy Ingermanson, Southwest Washington Writers

OCW Third Day

I should have kept a list—with pictures.

I mentioned earlier that one of my goals for this conference is to meet people and network. I’ve continued my practice of sitting at different tables for lunch and dinner. For today’s lunch, I sat with Jeff Gerke at a table of speculative fiction writers, including a teen working on his first novel.

Personal, EventKyle PrattAugust 6, 2014Red LionJeff Gerke, Randy Ingermanson, Barbara Blakey, Susan May Warren

Writers Group Meeting at My Home

I meet with other writers from my area every week.

These writers have been meeting for nearly twenty years. I’ve only met with them for ten. The only time I don’t attend is when I’m out of state.

Personal, Critique Group, FriendsKyle PrattJuly 3, 2014Bob Hansen, Barbara Blakey, Carolyn Bickel, Kyle Pratt, The Inklings

Afternoon at the Writers Group

I’ve mentioned before that for many years I’ve attended a writer’s critique group when I’m in Washington State.

Most of our six members are published writers. All have differing methods, styles and genres, but we have come to appreciate each other’s writing. I look forward to their opinion even if they tell me I’m going in a wrong direction.

Washington State, Critique GroupKyle PrattFebruary 14, 2014Joyce Scott, Bob Hansen, Barbara Blakey, Carolyn Bickel, Rudine Mayfield, A Time to Endure, Through Many Fires, Kyle Pratt, The Inklings

Friends and Fellow Writers

For many years now I’ve attended a writer’s critique group.

Well, for the last seven years I’ve taught in Alaska during the school year, but when I’m in Washington state I attend the critique group. I don’t believe I’ve ever missed a meeting when I’ve been in the state.

Washington State, Upcoming Release, Critique GroupKyle PrattJanuary 2, 2014Bob Hansen, Barbara Blakey, Joyce Scott, Camden, A Time to Endure, Kyle Pratt, The Inklings

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