We don’t know what Jesus wrote in the sand two thousand years ago, but we can read about its effect. Whatever the message was, we know it left people with the understanding that they were also guilty, in no position to condemn others.
  Stories in any form have the power to change our minds and transform our lives.
  Joe Castillo uses light and sand to tell stories. His presentations, live and online, have captivated millions of people around the world.

One effective fiction-writing technique is to put a character into a situation where she would have to do what she would never consider doing. Wives may joke about their husbands, saying, “The only reason he’s alive is that I haven’t killed him yet.” For Leigh Ann Bryant, that scenario turned out to be fact, not fiction. She killed her abusive husband.
  Jailed and charged with murder, she faced a new battle—one that could send her to prison for the rest of her life. Overwhelmed with depression and anger, she wanted to give up, but when she responded to the knock of Jesus Christ on her heart, love, joy, and peace took over.
  Like all Christians, her tragedies were the core of many lessons learned, which could help others. But she needed to learn more about writing before she could tell her story in a way that would make readers want to listen.
  In September 2009, she attended her first North Texas Christian Writers Conference. She joined four writers’ groups, attended a fiction mentoring clinic, and then became a writer’s group leader and mentor.
  Her book, In My Defense, earned a $10,000 advance and is scheduled for release this September, just four years after she attended her first writing event.

Leigh Ann is one of the Writing Coaches at this year’s Effective Storytelling Mentoring Workshops. For more information about the event, Click Here.

Cec and Shirley Murphey have been helping writers for decades.
  North Texas Christian Writers has a special appreciation for Cec and his wife. “North Texas needs a writers’ conference,” he said to Frank Ball in 2004. “If you’ll start one, I’ll help you.”
  At Cec’s home near Atlanta, they put together a plan, and the ministry has been helping writers tell their life-changing stories ever since.
  In March, Cec and Shirley celebrated 57 years of marriage.
  On May 16, 2013, Thursday night, Shirley suffered a major stroke and was admitted to Emory University Hospital’s ICU. Cec knew she would never recover.
  On Sunday morning, Cec had some time alone with her. “I love you,” he said. “If you understand, squeeze my hand.”
  She did.
  “We’re going to send you to hospice today. If you understand, squeeze my hand.”
  Again she squeezed his hand, the last response he had from her. She died at about 8:20 in the evening.
  Please pray for Cec and his family during this difficult time.
  Shirley will be greatly missed by many.

In 1927 Gus Kahn wrote the lyrics to the popular song “Side by Side.” Without money, but ragged and funny, we travel the road side by side.
  Seventy-seven years later, in his last public appearance, Southern Gospel singer George Younce offers his humorous rendition of “Side by Side.”