BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

I am THRILLED to announce something that’s been in the works at Next Step for quite a while.  Suzie Eller, speaker and writer extraordinaire, has joined our team to offer services for writers!!

I want you to have a chance to get to know Suzie herself as well as her services.  After you read the interview below, make sure to check out her new Book Proposal Development and Book Proposal and Sample Chapter(s) Development services by clicking here , read her professional bio by clicking here, and then leave a comment to welcome Suzie Eller.

Q: Suzie, welcome to the Next Step Speaker Service’s team. Can you tell us why you are coming on board?

Amy, I love watching author’s hopes turn to reality, especially when it comes to ministry.

Years ago I had huge writing dreams, but I was flying solo for the first few years. I wish that I had known where to reach for community and training. I felt as if I was just stumbling along, my dreams held high with no idea of what to do next.

Years later after publishing books and writing articles, I felt led to mentor those who felt like I once did.

I’ve served as a mentor in different ways over the years.

I founded an online group nearly 10 years ago called The Writers’ View. This online group was comprised of CBA writers, editors, agents, and publishers. That group continues under great leadership.

I also served as a writing track and workshop teacher at many conferences including Write to Publish, Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference, Writing for the Soul, and my favorite, She Speaks.

I have privately worked with writers to develop proposals and annotate sample chapters, and also worked with others to build a platform using social media. These have always been one-on-one mentoring relationships.

I served for seven years with Jerry Jenkin’s Christian Writers’ Guild. My role was to mentor writers who wrote nonfiction articles, writing essentials, and to help writers build a social media platform. While I loved working with the Guild, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and the women we minister to at She Speaks and She Speaks Intensive is where my heart landed as I tried to hone in on where I was supposed to be.

How’s that for a super long answer?

Q: Tell me a little bit about your writing.

I’m a freelancer. That’s where I began.

I’ve contributed to 30 books, authored six books, and about a thousand articles. My most recent book will be released in February, 2013 with Regal Books titled The Unburdened Heart: Finding the Freedom of Forgiveness.

But those statements don’t reflect my real answer to the question above.

I love what I do, Amy. I consider it a privilege. There are so many times that I’m sitting in my sweats with my hair in a clippie, just clacking away on the keyboard, praying that God will use the words to reach into the heart of a mom, or a woman who is trying to overcome a painful past, or forgive. And when it happens? It blows me away. I’m still amazed that I get to do this.

Q: What else do you do?

Well, let’s start with the grandbabies. I have four under the age of 28 months – Elle, Luke, Jane, and newborn Audrey. I love, love being a grandma.

I am on the Proverbs 31 Ministries writing team as a devo writer for Encouragement for Today, and also on the speaking team.

I mentor moms at Moms Together — www.facebook.com/MomsTogether (I have an amazing team!). We minister to over 12,500 moms five days a week. I also blog at www.tsuzanneeller.com.

Luann Prater (P31) and I hang out on radio at Encouragement Cafe once a week with JoyFM. Being her co-host has been an absolute gift. Luann is funny and wise and prayer filled, and she breaks out in song for no reason at all.

I’m Sonny to Luann’s Cher personality. : )

I’m a mom, wife, cancer survivor, Jesus follower, and a girl who believes that cheesecake is always worth the calories.

Last, I delight in watching and cheering on those who have ministry and publishing dreams.

Please give Suzie a warm, Next Step welcome!

Writers, our next group call is also for you!  Tomorrow night, Thursday, Feb. 7th at 8:00 pm EST, Karen Ehman is teaching “Writing a Bang Up Book Proposal”.  For all the information and to register, please click here.