"Hoosier Ink" Blog

Showing posts with label KarlaAkins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KarlaAkins. Show all posts

Monday, July 3, 2017

Writing fiction improved my nonfiction writing





When I went to a writer's conference three years ago, it was to learn more about the craft of writing Christian fiction. There was a space there to display one sheets. I felt led of the Lord to put a book proposal together for a book about my sons who have autism. It was a last minute after-thought, really. I didn't expect much to come of it. But there was an editor who was interested.  After a few detours, which landed me with another publishing company entirely, my nonfiction book, A Pair of Miracles, will release on July 25. 

When writing this book, I found myself using a lot of skills I'd learned in writing fiction. It was quite unexpected and thoroughly delightful. And while I'm eager to get back to fiction again, I'm looking forward to writing more nonfiction because I've learned so much about the craft of writing itself from writing both. 

If you are writing fiction only right now, don't dismiss the idea of writing nonfiction, too. It's a great way to grow your platform and can open doors you never expected. 

Karla Akins’ first novel, The Pastor’s Wife Wears Biker Boots was published in August, 2013.  A Pair of Miracles: A Story of Autism, Faith and Determined Parenting will be released July 25, 2017.  She writes interactive, biographical narratives and content for iPad applications and has an on-going contract for her World Explorers Every Child Should Know series. Jacques Cartier hit #1 on Amazon in its category. Her hobbies are book-hoarding, swimming, and riding her motorcycle. She is represented by Linda Glaz of Hartline Literary Agency. She has a BA in Special Education and a Doctorate in Christian Education.


Monday, December 7, 2015

In other's words

Christmas is cuh-razy time for me as a Pastor's wife, Christmas Pageant Director, mom and grandma. Instead of coming up with new material, this month I'm going to share some read-worthy blog posts from other writers.

First, if you love A Christmas Carol (especially the Muppet version) and you love to write, Kristen Lamb's post is a must-read:

If you want to know what to get your writer-friends for Christmas, you can read my blog post here:


Click to buy!
I really enjoyed our ACFW-Indiana president, Rick Barry's, blog posts on editing and pride. I think you will, too:

God Wants to Edit You

My Name is Pride

I was actually writing a post like the one below for Hoosier Ink before I read this one by Anne Garboczi Evans. I'd changed my mind because I didn't want to come across negative. But thanks to Anne, I might anyway, because I love this post!

5 Ways to Justify Scrooge-ness in a Christmas Elf World



How about you? Are you feeling overwhelmed at Christmas? Do you write much in the month of December? If so, what do you write? Weigh in!

Karla Akins is author of the best-selling Jacques Cartier (that went #1 on Amazon in its category), O Canada! Her Story,  Sacagawea and The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots. When she's not writing she dreams of riding her motorcycle and looking for treasure.