Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team's Blog

Smoke Signals

I hate tobacco smoke. I hate the way it smells, the way it permeates my clothes and hair, and especially the way it kills. But in this season of my life as a caregiver, cigarette smoke has taken on a new and positive role-as a way to communicate with my terminally-ill sister, Gail. The doctor gave us the bad news six days before Christmas. There was nothing more they could do and my sister had "weeks to months" to live. Three days later my sister and mother moved in with my husband and me. Toge… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on January 7, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Interview and Book Give Away with Author Linda Gilden

What a great week to introduce you to my friend, Linda Gilden. Linda and I met years ago when we were both students at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and she's been a real gift to me! (Don't forget to leave a comment and you could win the gift of one of her books!) Linda has written numerous articles, contributed to many books, and speaks regularly at writers' conferences and women's events around the country. She's also a freelance editor who enjoys helping people discov… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on December 22, 2008 at 9:07pm — No Comments

The Cereal...er...Serial Comma

Okay, I know the title is corny, but I'm desperate. Many writers say the serial comma is passé. Well, you tell me if you think a little comma would have clarified this phrase, reportedly taken from a book dedication: "To my parents, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II." Say what? Could the writer really be the unclaimed offspring of Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II? I don't think so! Can you see that a serial comma (one placed after Mother Teresa) would have made the writer's intent clear?… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on December 16, 2008 at 8:48am — No Comments

What Will You Do With Your Gift?

December 2, 2009 Merry Christmas! Yes, I know it's only December 2, but I couldn't wait to give you a gift of encouragement from writer and speaker, Mary McKenzie. So what makes Mary so special? Well, besides being a devotional writer, novelist, and speaker, Mary is only 18 years old! Mary is the daughter of Aidan and Cindee McKenzie, and Aidan is the Executive Director of the non-profit organization, Reconciliation Ministries (www.proclaiminghim.com). Mary not only writes a teen devotional co… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on December 2, 2008 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Interview and Book Give Away with Author Sharon Hoffman

(I apologize that you can't see my photos of Sharon or her awesome book cover--but I can't figure out how to make the photos small enough to add them here!!! If you want to see them, please visit my home blog at www.VondaSkelton.com) I first met Sharon Hoffman at CLASServices speakers' training in Knoxville, TN, where she was a faculty member. I was immediately drawn to her welcoming smile, but it didn't take me… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on November 25, 2008 at 7:40am — No Comments

And the Beat Goes On...

November 10, 2008 Ahhh...the melody of words. Don't you love it? Melodic writing truly is music to the ears. But the melody I want to talk about today isn't necessarily created through the use of lyrical, literary, or eloquent words. It's the rhythm of a well-crafted sentence, created when we develop an ear for the beat. Here are two versions each of four passages, none of which would be considered eloquent, and yet I believe they demonstrate varying levels of music through the beat. Which do… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on November 10, 2008 at 6:30pm — No Comments

God and the Telemarketer

November 4, 2008 You may not believe this, but I know it for a fact: God talks on the telephone. Many years ago, I was putting together a talk on having a gentle spirit. As usual, I searched my concordance for appropriate verses and found many that applied to both men and women. But since I was preparing to speak to women, I typed 1 Peter 3:3-4 into my notes and then wrote, "Ladies, we must pray earnestly and daily for a gentle and quiet spirit." (Hang in there with me, men...this is going to… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on November 3, 2008 at 9:53pm — No Comments

Bad News/Good News

September 16, 2008 “I’ve had a hard life,” the eager new writer says. “It’s an amazing story and everybody says I need to write a book. I know it would be an encouragement to everybody who reads it.” It’s the thought process every knowledgeable writing instructor dreads. On one hand, the instructor knows that the story most likely is amazing. It probably would be an encouragement to many others who are going through a similar hardship. But the sad truth is, unless the author is a celebrity or… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on September 16, 2008 at 9:23am — No Comments

The Writer's Fruit of the Spirit

September 2, 2008 There's a saying that goes something like, "The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree." Hmmm... In Galatians 5, Paul says we identify ourselves to the world by how we live, whether in the sinful nature or the nature of the Holy Spirit. The evidence of that nature is visible for all to see. It confirms our heritage, our roots. What does the world see when it looks at us? What does it see as it watches us deal with each other as writers? Jealousy, discord, selfish ambition, and… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on September 2, 2008 at 9:44pm — 3 Comments

Scams, Shams, and Flim-Flams

I'm so excited about all the writing opportunities I have for you this week! But before we get to those, I'd like to take a few minutes to share some warnings. As a group, writers are generally considered a hungry bunch, and I'm not talking about food here. Let's face it, most of us have said at one time or another, "I don't care if I don't make any money, I just want to see my name in print" or "I just want to get God's message out there" or "I want to leave something written down for my famil… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on August 24, 2008 at 9:11pm — No Comments

I'm So Proud of My Humility

August 4, 2008 As a little girl, I recognized the power in achievement. I wanted to be the best, to be noticed and appreciated for my skills and abilities. And even as the shortest student in my class, I fought for-and often won-a place in the hierarchy of leadership. Kids usually wanted me on their team. I knew God would want me on His team, too. So, when I was nine or ten years old, I walked down the aisle of my church and announced my plans to become a missionary. Even though I had no idea… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on August 6, 2008 at 9:18pm — No Comments

Interview and Book Give Away with Michelle Cox and John Perrodin

July 22, 2008 Whew! I'm back from the International Christian Retail Show in Orlando and am so ready to get back to work! But one of the highlights of the yearly convention is having the opportunity to connect with old friends and catch up on what God is doing in their lives. Last week I had the joy to spending a little time with my friend and fellow author, Michelle Cox. I met Michelle years ago at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, where she frequently assisted author Yvo… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on July 22, 2008 at 10:12pm — 2 Comments

Giving Birth to Your Book, Part 1: Clean It Up!

July 8, 2008 You've worked for months or years and finally, it's done. You've accomplished your dream and finally created "new life." But new life is just the beginning. Yes, your baby-your book-is created, but how do you start the delivery process and get your baby out into the world? Save a copy. And I'm not just talking about saving it on your personal hard drive-that's a given every time you write. But in addition to your hard drive, every time you make a change to the manuscript file, you… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on July 8, 2008 at 12:20am — No Comments

Have No Fear!

July 1, 2008 I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest--I would flee far away and stay in the desert; Selah Psalm 55:6-7 There have been times in my life when I could have written that verse. I have a feeling you know what I'm talking about. I have a feeling you're like me, and you know what it's like to want nothing more than to fly away and be at rest. And we wouldn't even need wings or an airline ticket. A moped would be fine . . . just as long as it could… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on July 1, 2008 at 7:33am — No Comments

Interview and Book Give Away with Author Shellie Tomlinson

I knew I'd found a friend the day I found Shellie Rushing Tomlinson. She's not only the owner and publisher of All Things Southern, a website that celebrates "...the charm and heritage of the South," but she's also NOT a girly-girl. And that makes us practically sisters! First off, let me tell you a little about my southern friend. Shellie lives in Lake Providence, Louisiana with her husband, Phil. She's is the author of four books, including Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On! What Sou… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on June 24, 2008 at 12:30am — 2 Comments

Hook 'Em!

June 17, 2008 The query letter, written by an eager new writer, was penned with hope and enthusiasm. But hope and enthusiasm were eliminated as soon as the editor read these deadly words: "I know it starts off a little slow, but..." By the time the editor finished reading those nine little words, the decision had already been made. The rejection letter was on its way. The eager writer might as well have written, "Whatever you do, please don't publish my book." I had to learn the hard way. I h… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on June 18, 2008 at 8:00am — No Comments

Don't Wimp Out on Good Writing

June 10, 2008 I've always considered myself a fairly strong person. After all, I've taken karate lessons, been scuba diving with alligators, and played first base on an all-boys baseball team. (Okay, I admit, the alligators were a surprise, but I had bravely planned for the rest of the adventure.) But when I sat down to start writing, I turned into a real wimp...and I didn't even know it. It wasn't until I started taking classes and going to conferences that I finally discovered one of the rea… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on June 10, 2008 at 9:00pm — No Comments

The Red Pen

June 3, 2008 Well, it's been a little over a week since I returned from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and my inbox is full. The response has been everything from "Now I know how to make my writing better" to "I quit--I must not be a writer." I can't help but smile. I could be reading my own words, spoken at different times in my writing journey. Of course, most of you are much better students than I was when I started out! I hate to admit it, but when I first began thi… Continue

Added by Vonda Skelton, Celebrate Moms Support Team on June 2, 2008 at 9:11pm — No Comments