Current Job Title:  Author

Current Place of Employment:  Self-Employed

City & State:  Bedford, Texas

ACU undergraduate major or degree:  BSE-Business 1970

Other ACU degrees:  MA-Communications (Incomplete)

Briefly describe your job. (What youdo, how long, etc.):  My job and my joy are to write Christian books for children and adults. My first book was published in 1975. To date I have more than eighty published books, which have sold more than six million copies. It's humbling to know that God can take ordinary life experiences and the talents He has given us to create ways to touch others and glorify Himself. 

What courses were beneficial in preparation for your career?  Since I am self-employed and run my own business, all my business courses are useful to me. I also lead workshops for writers; so my education courses have been extremely valuable. For my writing career specifically, the English, business, and speech classes, as well as my graduate work in journalism, communications, and television have been especially helpful.

How did your career path lead you to your current position?  I worked for several years as a legal secretary and administrator. My work with corporate contracts and legalities prepared me well for negotiating and concluding book contracts. In addition, I worked in the editorial department of a Christian publishing house for about twelve years, which gave me the inside view of publishing and helped me know how to communicate with publishers. During that tenure, I was blessed to work on the development of The International Children's Bible and the New Century Version. This experience set me on the road to authoring Christian books.

What does it take to be a Christian practitioner in your field? Writing is a serious career, not a hobby or sideline. To do well as a writer and compete with professionals in the field, you must learn the industry--how it operates, the proper language to use in communicating with publishers, how to prepare manuscripts properly for submission, how to write effective cover letters and book proposals, and much more. Do your homework about the field, and gain life experiences about which you can write. Get the correct training in literature and English. Study the current books in various genres in the market. As the old adage says, "The harder you work, the luckier you'll be."

What do you love about your job?  I love having the opportunity to influence lives for God, especially kids. I love being a conduit for God to use in communicating His love to His people and to the lost. I love working at home in my fuzzy house shoes and sweats, rather than dressing up for corporate America. I love the residual income my writing generates, rather than a restrictive salary or hourly wage. I love it all!

What advice would you give to a student considering a career in your field?  All Christian publishing is based on the Bible. Learn God's Word! The more serious, concentrated, and contemplative time you spend in the Word, the more ways He will be able to use you and your talent to glorify Him. That's the bottom line. Be totally, completely, and aggressively His--He will take care of the rest.