Recently, the Baptist New Mexican—a publication composed by the Baptist Convention of New Mexico—featured a review of Xulon Press author Ken Qualls’ sometimes humorous, sometimes serious book, Just Thinking Out Loud. The book, which is a compilation of articles about various aspects of Christian thought and life, was given high praise by the editors of the newspaper. “This book inspires, admonishes, encourages and edifies,” they write. “The reader will quickly sense the passion Qualls has for the Bible and his compassion and respect for both fellow believers and unbelievers.”

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As a child, Xulon Press author Greg Mitchell grew up loving ghost stories, urban legends, and stories filled with monsters and mayhem. So it comes as no surprise that Mitchell’s first full-length novel, The Coming Evil – Book One: The Strange Man, focuses on an evil force—more specifically, a demon and his minions—descending upon a little town called Greensboro. Dras Weldon, an unemployed college dropout who spends his nights partying and his days recuperating, must fight to prevent the demon and his minions from claiming the one thing he loves more than anything else—his best friend, Rosalyn Myers. But after the life he’s led, will he be able to convince Rosalyn of the truth before she is devoured by the coming evil? Page after exhilarating page, this book raises questions about faith in Christ and listening to God’s direction—and it closely mirrors the author’s own search for answers in his lifetime, too.

“As I grew older, I learned to cope with things beyond my control by relying on God and my faith in Christ, and by about junior high, I was starting to experiment with stories that took Christians and put them up against the big, nasty monsters from my childhood,” he says. “Then the stories sort of became this study about how faith combats fear. That idea became really potent to me because in my personal life I was leaving high school and facing adulthood and it was terrifying. I was trying to answer that same question: Is my faith stronger than my fear? That concept eventually blossomed into The Coming Evil.”

The Book That Took Ten Years to Write

Mitchell began writing his story in 1998, but it wasn’t until 2007 that the completed manuscript would make its debut. “Once I had a manuscript that I thought was as solid as I could make it, I started shopping it around to traditional publishers, both large and small,” he recalls. He and his agent at the time pitched it a lot, but no one was interested—or so it seemed. “Not right for us” was a popular phrase he heard often yet didn’t understand. “Sometimes I wondered if it was because I was trying to sell a ‘Christian Horror’ story. I realize that sounds weird to people and can be off-putting, but it sounded perfectly natural to me. I thought, ‘Surely there’s got to be other people out there who want to read the same kind of stuff I do.’” After deciding to go the print-on-demand route, he researched many different presses but selected Xulon for its affordability and quality product.

Book Marketing Is All About Relationships and Hard Work

Once the book hit the market, Mitchell sought ways to get the word out about his new title. From book signings to online interviews to conventions, the author kept himself busy promoting his book in a variety of different ways. “That’s merely a drop in the bucket to what needs to be done to get your book out there, but that’s where I started,” he explains. “Between that, I talked, talked, talked. I think I realized that you’re not selling a book, you’re selling you. It’s all about relationships. You can’t just expect that because you book is available, people are going to find it.” Mitchell believes strongly in the idea of relationship-building with the reader, saying that the reader must be invested in an author before they’re going to take a chance on their book—especially when they are just starting out.

Mitchell’s approach to networking has proven effective—already, the response from readers has been very positive. “I think I found that there were people who probably would never openly admit to wanting to read a ‘horror’ novel, but when they started to read it, they really got into it,” he says. “I’ve heard reports of people reading my book and hearing ‘strange scratching sounds’ at their windows, or they turn on a few extra lights in the house once they’re finished. But when they tell me this, they’re always excited and thrilled by that sort of experience.”

That same enthusiasm seems to be shared by Strang Communications. Once the corporation took note of Mitchell’s book, they purchased it for their Realms Fiction imprint—a venture that has the author excited and hopeful for the future. “Realms has a reputation of dealing with more of the ‘supernatural thriller’ side of things, so I think it’s going to be a good fit,” he says. “They appreciate what kind of story this is and have been really supportive of it. A writer friend of mine suggested Realms, and I took a chance and now here I am.”

Find What Works Best for You as an Author

When it comes to advice for other aspiring writers, Mitchell has plenty of it: “Don’t pattern your career after anyone else’s,” he cautions. “When I first started, I really tried to follow in a lot of people’s footsteps, but I’ve come to understand that no two writers get anywhere the same way. Just find what works best for you and work at it. You have to want it and be willing to work at getting there and following your instincts.” He says that although the whole process of writing and publishing a book has been difficult and seemingly hopeless, it has bolstered his faith in what God can do and has caused him to listen to His direction. “I’ve grown a lot as a person and as a Christian while trying to maneuver through my writing career, so it’s definitely become more about the journey than the destination,” he says. “Though, I’m still aiming for that destination!”

Keep updated on Greg and The Coming Evil at www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com

Recently, Senior Reviewer Harriet Klausner of the Midwest Book Review published her opinions of the Xulon Press novel Triduanus, by K.E. and D.A. Jackson. The story, which centers on Barak, a petty thief who finds himself thrust into the midst of an apocalyptic war. He embarks on an epic journey of self-discovery as he fights to overcome the challenges of his past in order to forge a new future.

“Fast-paced from the moment Barak understands he is no longer a simple thief living by the philosophy you only live once so take what you want, instead he is unsure why him as the Nephilim stalk him in what looks like the final days of humanity as represented as it was two millennia ago by a thief,” Klausner says. “Fans of the Left Behind saga will relish Triduanus as the End of Days is being counted by the last who will go first as the meek will inherit the heavens.”

The Midwest Book Review, which gives priority consideration to small publishers, self-published authors, academic presses, and specialty publishers, enlists the aid of its expert review team to promote monthly reads for recommendation to the general reading public—via its “Reviewer’s Bookwatch” column.

All reviews will be archived on the Midwest Book Review website for the next five years at http://www.midwestbookreview.com

This past holiday season, the Midwest Book Review team was busy curling up with Xulon books by the fireside. Michael Dunford, on his “Dunford’s Bookshelf” space, gave nothing but rave reviews for the Joe C. Watson title The Reindeer Chronicles.

In his review, Dunford says, “Christmas is a time that inspires legends. The Reindeer Chronicles tells a touching story of one young man who rises up to save Christmas in his own unique way. A timely and charming Christmas story with its own twists, [this book] is a solid and very highly recommended read.”

The Midwest Book Review, which gives priority consideration to small publishers, self-published authors, academic presses, and specialty publishers, enlists the aid of its expert review team to promote monthly reads for recommendation to the general reading public—via its “Reviewer’s Bookwatch” column.

All reviews will be archived on the Midwest Book Review website for the next five years at http://www.midwestbookreview.com

This December, writers for the Midwest Book Review took to their blogs to sing the praises of two Xulon Press authors. Within the “Reviewer’s Bookwatch” section, Helen Dumont dubbed author Steven A. Mentzer’s Broken Vows, Shattered Lives a “choice pick” that is “very highly recommended reading for anyone who fears for their marriage.” Mentzer’s title previously received accolades from reviewer Richard R. Blake, who argued that the book’s ruminations on divorce and what it means to a Christian was timely and important in a day when traditional families were being threatened.

Reviewer Margaret Lane also tackled Carla D. Chapple’s prolific title, Seek His Face—a crowd-pleasing book that has won acclaim from both critics and readers alike. Lane had this to say about the book: “Worthwhile for those who want to invite the unconditional love of God into their lives, Seek His Face is a strong pick for Christians.”

The Midwest Book Review, which gives priority consideration to small publishers, self-published authors, academic presses, and specialty publishers, enlists the aid of its expert review team to promote monthly reads for recommendation to the general reading public—via its “Reviewer’s Bookwatch” column.

All reviews will be archived on the Midwest Book Review website for the next five years at http://www.midwestbookreview.com

As a busy mom who felt lost and alone in her new “mommy” venture after leaving her full-time counseling practice, Xulon Press author Tracy Hurst longed for an outlet to use the gifts God had given her, but she couldn’t figure out how this was possible while caring for an infant. One eye-opening lunch with her friend later, and www.tracyhurst.com was born. Through her website, the author began penning weekly devotions called “Tuesdays with Tracy,” which she soon began collecting in a single volume. “The great thing was my writing was already done and all that was needed was editing and a publisher,” the author recounts.

As luck would have it, Hurst heard an advertisement for Christian self-publisher Xulon Press on 104.7 while out driving one day. After six months of exhaustive research, all her findings pointed to Xulon Press as the best choice for her. “I highly recommend Xulon to anyone looking for a quality Christian publisher. Every person I worked with was wonderful and my book was published ahead of time.”

Now, more than a year after the publication of her book in October 2008, the author has landed an exclusive interview and photo shoot in First for Women Magazine and has sold numerous copies of her in-demand book. By utilizing the best marketing tool at her disposal-her website-to make a video announcement of her book’s debut, the author capitalized on “buzz marketing” and helped generate interest in Tuesdays with Tracy. In addition, her speaking agent has been actively contacting the media to highlight her new book.

“I am continually getting emails from women sharing how the book has impacted their life,” the author says. “One of my friends recently brought Tuesdays with Tracy to her workplace and she told me the women in her office daily fight over who gets to read it! She just ordered 15 copies to give to them for Christmas in the hopes of enjoying the book herself!”

That same enthusiasm was also shared by the writers of First for Women Magazine, who were on a hunt for an inspirational story to feature in their Christmas 2009 issue. After reviewing hundreds of stories, one of the journalists stumbled on Hurst’s “My Christmas Miracle” devotional, written two years ago on her website. “The journalist stated that finding my miracle story was like finding a needle in a haystack, but as soon as she read my amazing story, she knew it was the one for their December issue,” the author explains. “I never dreamed [my story] would be featured in a magazine one day. The fact that Diane found my article just reinforces to me that God is our best promoter and publishing agent! He can do exceedingly, abundantly, more than we can think or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)!”

The issue is currently on newsstands and will remain there until December 28. Meanwhile, the excited author says, “My book was published just a year ago, but I believe that my greatest marketing is just ahead.”

Xulon Press author Tim Rowe always knew that God had given him the unique ability to write and reveal revolutionary truths about the Bible, and that one day this gift would be used for remarkable things for the glory of God. So it came as no surprise to the author when He laid it strongly on Rowe’s heart to pen a book about His goodness—and the author obliged. In The Magnificent Goodness of God and How It Will Transform Your Life, Rowe paints a vibrant picture of the heart of God as good from a tapestry of Scriptures derived from the God-breathed Word and clearly shows there is not one ounce or speck of evil in the nature of God.

“The writing process took about five years with research and writing,” the author recalls. “I did write about half of the book over the last year. I found that I having a goal to write so many pages a day and a real determination to push through and get it done were critical. You must have your heart immersed with God and in fellowship with Him with the words you write to really explode with spiritual power and reach people.”

After putting the finishing touches on his book, Rowe says he began by doing his homework to research the best Christian self-publisher on the market. “I wanted to get to the market quickly and did not want to have to wait years for the public to read the message in the book,” he says of his decision to ultimately select Xulon Press.

Ever since publishing, the author has been working tirelessly to promote his new release in a variety of ways. In addition to coordinating an effort with several other Christian friends where they target churches, bookstores, conventions, and the media, the author has been promoting his book on his own television show, Faith and the Law. When it comes to marketing, Rowe believes proactivity is the key to success: “You can’t sit back,” he says. “It takes great effort and perseverance to get the book out.”

Thus far, that perseverance has paid off. The author has booked a TV appearance on the Lesea Broadcasting Network’s The Harvest Show—which he landed through his own television show, a Lesea affiliate station—that is due to air on January 19, 2010. The Harvest Show draws in 21 million viewers.

Apart from the critical approval, Rowe says the public response has been overwhelming, with an outpouring of support from readers across the globe. “Everyone who has read the book or portions of it has said that they have never read anything like it,” he says. “They have said that the words in the book and its message has awakened something in them and has deeply touched their heart. Others have said it has reached them on such an emotional level and has given them goosebumps. There is nothing on the Christian market like this book. People are absolutely blown away and say they cannot put the book down. Truly, I tell them in the introduction that this book can change your life for the hand of God is mighty upon the words in this book. I use 28 different translations of the Bible and this book will open your eyes and understanding to the goodness of God like never before.”

Looking back over the long road to publication, the author says that by merely believing in the message of his book, he was able to accomplish great things. The same can be true of authors when they, too, look to God for guidance and push through with great zeal to finish their book. “Never lose your zeal and enthusiasm in getting the message of your book out,” he recommends. “If God inspired you to write a book, then its message can change lives.”

In From a Legend to a Kingdom of Darkness into Poems of Hope, Xulon Press author Antionette Campbell displays her gift of writing in a collection of poems about God’s grace and love. Reflecting back on the long path to publication, however, the author says she never imagined her writings would one day become a book. “My heartfelt aspirations came from my trials and pains,” the author explains. “Which in turn compelled me to stay on course, and my hope came from my desires.”

After eight long, laboring years spent crafting the book, Campbell turned to self-publishing to help get the word out about her new title. She recalls attending a book signing in Tampa for author Pastor Paula White’s new release, and it was then that she had an eye-opening epiphany that led her to Xulon.

“I mentioned that I had someone else look at my manuscript so they could get it published,” the author recounts. “She said, ‘No, get the book back. I know of a company that will for you.’ And then she told me about Xulon Press! I felt a leap in my spirit and a kick in my womb.”

Once her book had been published and distributed by Xulon Press, the author began utilizing three of the most important tools in her marketing arsenal: word of mouth, networking with friends who were willing to listen to her story, and giving away copies of her book to others who needed inner healing and restoration in their life. From there, the buzz surrounding her book began gaining momentum, culminating most recently in an interview with Cornerstone Network’s Focus 4 (which the author landed after contacting the CEO, Ron Hembree, about her book). Additionally, the author has a book signing lined up for December in her home state of Pennsylvania.

The public’s response remains equally positive, with reviewers calling it “inspirational” and “very touching.” “[They say] that they can’t stop reading it,” the author says. “I’ve received gifts and letters of how God has transformed their lives through the book.”

“Thanks again, Xulon Press, for your utmost professionalism, dedication, and most importantly, the team work it took to complete this project,” Campbell adds. “I will use you again for future publishing.”

After almost succumbing to a near-fatal incident, Xulon Press author Dean A. Braxton was transported to heaven, where he was given a fleeting glimpse of the love of God. But when Jesus sent him back to earth with the parting words “No, it is not your time. Go back,” the author resolved to write a book about his experiences in order to tell others that His love is accessible to all who believe. Thus, In Heaven! Experiencing the Throne of God was born. This eye-opening book—written over the course of three years—consists of the author’s own memoirs as well as Bible verses to support his experience.

“I use a statement in the testimony that [readers] can have experiences like I have, where someone dies and goes to heaven or has an out-of-body experience or a vision, but it must filter through the Word of God,” the author explains. “I want people to see that God is not hiding heavenly things from us. It is in His Word.”

Working alongside a dedicated team of eleven volunteers, the author put together plans to get the word out about the book while it was being written. This plan, which went into effect 12 months before the book’s release, allowed for the book to reach an even greater readership than it would have had he only focused on marketing post-publication.

“The first step in the plan was for me to find people who would help me to get the book published,” he recalls. “I asked a number of people from my local church who believed in what I had to say. These people helped to brainstorm with me on ways to get the word out about the book being published. They helped me in many different way s to make sure other people knew this book was coming out. They helped with coming up with the best title for the book and many other creative ways to advertise. They even gave input into the colors on the cover.”

Before selecting a publisher, Braxton’s PR team also undertook a number of other projects to create “buzz.” They researched other books of the same kind to see how to improve on what they had done to get their books out, they gave out free CDs of the story with the book title on it (and gave people permission to copy, share, and distribute these), they passed out flyers and business cards about the book to prospective readers, they created and maintained an email list of almost 500 people who they updated with the book’s progress over the span of five months, they set up Facebook and Myspace accounts to interact with readers, they prepared a website to showcase the book and garner donations as well as set up a “pre-sell” option, and they did a Facebook interview for a local ministry where they talked about the book and how people could buy it when it came out—all in anticipation of the book’s release.

“Each of these people invested time and energy in making this book a reality,” the author explains. “So they did everything they could to get the word out about the book. After doing all of this to get people interested in the book coming out, people were emailing me asking when the book was going to be released. We had built a strong base of people who wanted to read the book before it was released.”

Out of his dedicated team of eleven, the author selected one to become the point person. All the information for the book to be published went through him. “He started the research on ways to get a book published,” he says. “After he looked at a number of publishers, he reported back to the team and me. He stated that Xulon Press looked like the best way to get what we wanted for this book. We did look at another self-publishing company, but after reading all the information, I decided to take his recommendation and go with Xulon Press. One of the major reasons was the Christian values.”

At first, working with Xulon Press was a challenge. “Not because of Xulon Press, but because of my lack of knowledge of publishing a book,” the author recalls. “There were times Xulon had to be patient with me. As I look back and see what had to be done, and what Xulon has done and can do, I will be asking them to publish the next book we put out.”

After the book was released, Braxton and his team worked tirelessly to continue promoting through a variety of ways. Their first step, he says, was to send out an email to the list of almost 500 letting them know the book was done and how they could buy one. Next, they made an announcement on Facebook and Myspace to keep people apprised of all the necessary details. Additionally, they texted friends and family about the book and began releasing new flyers featuring the book cover and back cover on it—along with ordering information. For every book order, they sent a free CD along with it.

“We came up with a plan on who were the people we were going to give a free book to,” Braxton says. “Family members, some friends, people in media, and anyone who helped in making this book happen. We had planted seeds in a number of places.”

Now it was time to reap what they had sown; within weeks, they were receiving calls for a TV interview on a local public station. The interview went so well that the promoter of the TV interview is currently working on playing the show on other public stations around the country. As for the response from the public—Braxton and his team were inundated with an outpouring of support from readers all over the nation.

“The book is so powerful; I have been impacted deeply. After reading the book I have been left electrified, and more aware of Him,” a reader from Tacoma, Washington, said. Another, from Federal, Washington, raved, “The book is wonderful I just finished it this week end, it is truly a blessing. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with the world.”

If these uplifting words weren’t enough to bolster support in his book, Braxton also landed an appearance on TBN’s Praise the Lord program—before the book had even been published! “One of the people who helped with the book’s pastor hosts the show here in the Seattle area,” he explains. “He also knows the station manager of the local TBN. From the time we announced the book, he advocated for us to be on the show. This person gave them one of the CDs, and the pastor and station manager listened to the CDs and decided to set up a meeting to talk with me. After this meeting, they made up their mind to have me come on. This happened just before the book was released. As soon as the book came out, they both received a copy.”

The interview, recalls the author, went very, very well. And, he adds, the same person who helped set up the TBN appearance also sent in information on the book to Sid Roth’s show. “They are in the process of investigating me for this show. Please pray for both shows.”

Reflecting back on the publishing process, the author explains, “Since this is my first book, there were a lot of unknowns; it was not easy. There were times me and the main person who did most of the proofreading and editing stayed up to three or four in the morning. I am so glad now that we did it because of the number of people who are being impacted by this book, along with the number of people who will make it to heaven because of this being written.”

When it comes to advice for other aspiring authors, Braxton has many tips and hints to help them navigate the publishing and marketing process in its entirety. “Find a team of two or more people who believe in you and what you are writing about,” he says. “Ask them to help you get your message out. Out of this group, have one person you can relay on to help you head up the whole process. I found out these people who helped me prayed and put everything they could give into making this happen. They believe in our Lord Jesus, my family, me, and the story in this book. What we are seeing in sales and knowledge of this book is God using each of these people who helped to get the word out.”

This past Saturday, the Xulon Press staff had the honor of supporting one of its own cancer survivors, Gail Pelletier, in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. This walk is just one way the society helps people fight back; society volunteers work year-round to defeat cancer and they fight back in a variety of ways through the American Cancer Society. Please read below for Gail’s heartfelt words about this wonderful cause:

“I want to thank all of you for supporting me in the ‘Strides Against Breast Cancer’ walk on Saturday. It was a beautiful day and there were so many people that it stretched the entire three miles. [There were] men, women, pink dogs, men on stilts, funny t-shirts, lots of hugs, and—best of all—my husband. This was the first time he’s walked in this event. He was very surprised at all the guys out there.

“We raised $800 this year for the Xulon Press team! That is awesome! Just think, we helped a woman [without insurance or finances] who’s been diagnosed to get the surgery or the treatment she needs to help save her life!

“I love you all and work for the best group of people anyone could ever ask for! You all rock!”