Amy Boucher Pye

Tag: publishing

What I learned at a global publishing conference – LittWorld 2018 in Singapore
Photo courtesy of Leong Jeam Wong

On my first trip to Asia, I got to visit Singapore while enjoying the company of 250 people from 52 nations at LittWorld, the triennial gathering of Christian writers and publishers hosted by Media Associates International (MAI). Having traveled some twelve hours to Singapore, and only sleeping an hour of it, I was feeling a bit ill and sick when I got on the elevator to go up to my room – that is, my new room, as the hotel had given me a smoking room the first time round, making me feel even more queasy. On the lift I joined Dan Elliott, publishing doyen from Tyndale House, who uttered, “These are some of my favorite people.” I knew I was in for a treat.

Now that I’ve been home over a week from Singapore, what stands out in my memory is the gift of seeing the worldwide church in action. I’m aware that sounds vague; when I say the “worldwide church,” I mean its people. For when I think of LittWorld, a host of smiling faces appear before me. Here are a few (and see the photo gallery at the end):
- The publisher I enjoyed lunch with from Burkina Faso, who earned his MBA from a Chicago university and returned home to apply his financial prowess to the family business.
- A lovely lady from the Philippines who became an instant soul friend, a marketing genius who adds her touches of grace to the work she does for a well-known Christian publisher.
- The teacher from a country where being a Christian is difficult, who is writing a novel of hope about mothers and daughters, borne out of her own experience.
- The publisher from Turkey who endured a horrendous experience of extremist abuse, but who remains committed to working in his country, for “these are my people.”
Perhaps the best way to highlight some of the richness of this conference is to share a few gems from the speakers.

Pusonnam Yiri, Nigeria, “Thinking Locally, Writing Globally”

Pusonnam spoke on one of the defining themes of MAI, the desire to empower local writers around the world for global impact. I love this emphasis, for it’s so rooted in God’s love for all people, and how we’re made in his image and have something to share. And although those writing within their culture will speak powerfully to their own contexts, as Pusonnam said:

“Ideas are travelers… they can’t be caged.” (Pusonnam Yiri) Share on X

Great ideas will travel; they aren’t limited to one culture or one land. They are for global sharing – yes, please!

I love, in today’s climate of suspicion, his next point:

“Ideas are criminals… they break immigration laws.” (Pusonnam Yiri) Share on X

No walls can contain them. And, he continued, who knows where the next great idea will come from? As we cannot see into the future, we should foster an openness to welcoming great ideas from anywhere.

And finally:

“Ideas are visitors. Welcome one, and others will come.” (Pusonnam Yiri) Share on X

Films by Myth Film Co., by Simon Hunter

Simon David Hunter, Australia, “Screenwriting”

I loved Simon’s sessions on screenwriting. I’ll probably never write a screenplay, nor will I ever direct a film, but I gained so much from his talks. How do we write content – not only fiction, but I apply this to nonfiction as well – that will reach audiences? How do we tell the grand story of faith in ways that touch hearts and minds?

In terms of films, he contends that audiences want a good story, well told, that engages the emotions. And good stories are all about one thing – character. Where do we get good characters? We observe. We note from real life. Some might even call this stealing…

Bishop Robert Solomon, Singapore, “Words for the Wounded”

How can our writing be a means of extending God’s grace? I appreciated Bishop Robert Solomon’s talk, for he exuded grace and hope as he spoke. A medical doctor as well as an ordained minister, he told of the power of the scalpel to bring healing – yes, pain, too, but it cuts out the infection that would spread and eventually kill. And as he said, Jesus heals through words. We aren’t Jesus, of course, but God can bring about his healing even through our words.

I also loved his point about tsundoku, the Japanese word for the piling up of books to read. I know many of us can relate! I certainly can with my heaving shelves. What he observed about tsundoku is that the keeping of many books keeps us humble, for we know that we don’t know everything.

Europeans in Singapore!

I left Singapore profoundly grateful to have met so many fascinating people, humbled by the way God is using them around the world.

The next gathering is LittWorld 2021 – might you join fellow writers and publishers from so many different countries to be encouraged in your faith?

To find out more about MAI, click here. To watch the video about LittWorld and learn more about the conference, it’s here.

I loved meeting fellow Our Daily Bread writers/editors – from USA, UK and Singapore!

A taste of a famous Singapore dessert – ice kachang.

We went to the Hawker Centre for our dessert. Fascinating to see all of the street food vendors located in one area, for then they can be regulated. Each stand had a food rating, from A to D.

Loved going to Singapore’s Botanic Gardens. As you probably know, Singapore has limited space. Here is vertical growth!

Better together than apart!

Meet Lynnie, my Spirit-filled friend from the Philippines.

With Our Daily Bread readers from Indonesia!

The orchids were stunning!

Let your light shine, as you go into the world, bringing news of God’s grace and love.
November 15, 2018
A Year in the Life of a Book

Last week I sat in a darkened room, heart pounding. The setting was familiar, for I had attended the Christian Resources Together gathering many a year previously in an editorial capacity, sometimes thrilled when “my” authors would win awards in the various categories, and sometimes gutted when they were passed over. Last week, however, I wasn’t an editor but an author. And my Finding Myself in Britain: Our Search for Faith, Home & True Identity was up for the Christian living book of the year.

Alexandra McDonald from Macmillan Distribution presented the award, and as she announced the three shortlisted books I feared those next to me could hear my heart beating. “And the nominees are… There Are no Ordinary People by Jeff Lucas, published by CWR,” she said, and I thought, Jeff, Jeff, he’s an amazing, fantastic author and speaker. I will smile when they call his name. She continued, “Finding Myself in Britain by Amy Boucher Pye, published by Authentic Media, which you received last year.” Oh, I thought, she remembered how each participant found a book in their room! She continued, “And Katharine Hill, If You Forget Everything Else Remember This, published by Muddy Pearl.” Ah, I thought, another strong contender – Katharine’s work with Care for the Family is so important, and Muddy Pearl is a great little publisher.

And the winner is…

As we waited, both Rachael Franklin next to me from Authentic and I noticed that Alexandra looked like she was mouthing, “Finding…” I thought in the split second, Could it be? Could my book really have won? Oh Lord I can hardly believe it…

“Finding Myself in Britain by Amy Boucher Pye, published by Authentic Media!”

Donna Harris, who runs Authentic Media, grabbed my hand and up we went to receive the award. She said a few words, and I tried to garble out my thanks. With so much adrenaline pumping, and the lights so bright, I was not terribly articulate – I have empathy for Gwyneth!

With Donna Harris, I am here amazed and stunned and grateful.

What I wanted to share was how Steve Mitchell and the folks at Authentic Media were the only ones willing to take me on as an author. I had a fantastic US agent who had shopped around an idea for my first book to 16 publishers – but 15 said no. And Steve and the team said yes, and thankfully he and I soon said “goodbye” to my original proposal. With his many years of retailing experience, he advised me to write a through-the-year account of life in Britain as an American. A sort of Michele Guinness-meets-Bill Bryson. My marching orders complete, I set about writing it.

Most of the Authentic team, current and previous.

The writing and rewriting wasn’t all smooth sailing. I would draft a chapter and send it to Steve (by the way, not an editorial practice I necessarily recommend because of flow and voice, but with our tight timeframe and the trust we’d built previously it worked for us). He read them and give me loads of feedback, such as, “Hey, I feel like you’re trying to import Minnesota to England. I know you miss it, but…”

When he and I finished going through the chapters, I sent it to about ten beta reviewers, three of whom were writers/editors. I’ve written elsewhere about my hide-under-my-duvet response after the first thirteen-page response! But my reviewers were so right in their comments, and I was thrilled that one of the reviewers became my editor, Jennie Pollock. She helped me sift through not only the editorial feedback, but she pushed me to find my voice and go deeper. That she’s a lovely Englishwoman who spent several years in the States only added to the experience.

And then to the design and cover art and copyedit (with a few tears by me over British style – yep, really) and boom, it was time to think about marketing and sales. With the market changing so much and the UK losing probably 150 Christian bookshops over the past five years or so, the author can’t expect the publisher to be their only means of spreading the word about books. I had a wonderful marketing team headed up by Kate Beaton. My publisher was so fantastic with the campaign, not only, for instance, providing point-of-sale materials to bookshops but creating bookmarks and laminated recipe cards as well as giving me a huge sign for the book for my speaking engagements.

For a real joy over the last year was getting to speak at events at bookshops; I loved meeting people around the country and hearing a few of their stories. Ali Caesar at Quench in Wokingham hosted the first launch, with the next-door coffee shop, The Grange, filled with people chortling over the US/UK quiz she arranged. I was so grateful to go to Streatham and Marlborough and Hove and up to Glasgow on these jaunts.

With one of the best reps in the business, Lawrie Stenhouse.

It’s been an amazing journey and as I look back over the past year my heart fills with gratitude to God and to all those who have helped with the publishing and distribution and the getting-the-books-into-people’s-hands. And of course to those of you who have read it! I love how readers become friends as we share in finding ourselves wherever God has placed us.

To God be the glory.

September 21, 2016
The day I first held my new book-baby…

The day I came home from the school run to find my book had been delivered was a sunny, joyful day. All that hard work of writing and rewriting, and here it was in its beautiful matte finish and gorgeous heavy paper stock. Wow and wow!

September 28, 2015
Some Gleanings from a Christian Publishing/Retailing/Suppliers Gathering

I’m back from two wonderful but intense days at Christian Resources Together, a gathering for people in the Christian publishing, supplying, and retailing industry – and yes, that includes content creators such as writers. I’ve been in the Christian resources biz for over twenty years, nearly 18 of those in the UK. So for me it’s a rare time to see, greet, and hug familiar faces from the past (a few mates were playing STL Bingo during the award ceremony, which hints at their affection and humor, and will only mean anything for those in my industry).

This year was special because I moved officially from “publisher” to “author.” I’ve loved being an editor, launching all of those wonderful Christian books out into the world to be ambassadors for God’s good news. And I grateful now to be one of those authors too, with her baby arriving in the world. For Finding Myself in Britain was shipped directly from the printer to the conference centre, as the official launch doesn’t arrive until the first of October. In fact, my publisher, Steve Mitchell, saw it first there. For me, the feeling was surreal to walk into my room in Swanwick and to see my book there on the bed, complete with chocolate for the participants to savor and enjoy.

Fuzzy photo of The Book greeting me. Surreal! Wonderful! Yes, a ghastly bedspread!

I was captivated by Bishop John Pritchard’s talk in particular. Here are some of his quotes, worth pondering:

“God doesn’t know how to be absent.”

I agree, but many people feel the absence of God when they go through tough times. Do you find this a challenging or encouraging statement, or somewhere in between?

“In the Bible, water is always dangerous to the Jewish mind.”

I never knew this, and want to do some biblical investigation. What about Proverbs 25:25, “Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land”?

“Pray, but not as though God is an outsider. He’s here.”

Yes, I love this, and sense the influence of Tom Wright.

I also learned that Thomas Hardy became disgusted at the reaction to his novels so he gave up writing them and turned to writing a poem a day. Many are pedestrian, but some are brilliant. Hmm; maybe I should try to write a poem every day. I did that during Advent last year, and loved it. I learned other things too, but those nuggets seem worth sharing.

Lawrie Stenhouse, Authentic Media’s fab sales guy.

I came away exhausted but encouraged. What heartened me the most was the family-like atmosphere, with the organizers Mandy and Steve Briars called the “grandparents” of the group. How wonderful that we can laugh together and enjoy one another’s company, especially when times in the Christian resources business have been so tough.

If you went to CRT, what were your impressions?

September 18, 2015
Warning: Change Ahead – Encouragement for Writers

Photo: R/DV/RS, Flickr

The only constant is change.

That’s how I started off a recent blog, in which I announced the demise of my freelance editorial commissioning job with Authentic Media, which also happens to be the publisher of my first book. So this will most likely be my first and last book with them, which is a shame, for they have invested much into launching my book – and me as an author. I’ve loved the journey thus far.

I wasn’t too surprised when I heard the news that Authentic was focusing in on the products that produced the greatest revenue – Bibles, children’s books, and DVDs – for I know that adult Christian books are expensive to develop, and that the market continues to shrink. Great Christian books that used to sell into bookshops in the thousands now may only sell in the hundreds. It’s just not financially feasible.

Traditional Christian publishing keeps shrinking in the UK, and Stateside they are fighting their own battles. Family Christian Bookstores are in administration, fighting to put forward a plan that would keep them open. Currently it looks like they might be sold off to a company that would dismantle them – which would be bad news for publishers, authors, and readers. (You can read more about this on US literary agent’s Chip MacGregor’s blog.)

We in the UK went through a similar upheaval… Read the rest at the Association of Christian Writers’ blog.

July 13, 2015
Life in Publishing: Changes and a Big Reveal

The only constant is change, and nowhere is that more true than in Christian publishing. My newsflash: In a couple of weeks, my freelance contract with Authentic Media for commissioning/acquiring great Christian titles is coming to an end as they narrow their focus primarily to children’s books, Bibles, and DVDs.

When Rob Bootes from Koorong, Authentic’s Australian parent company, came to me four years ago asking if I wanted to join the team, I said no – being an editor was in the past, I thought, for I wanted to be a writer. A few months later he got in touch with a different proposal, and on a whim I said yes to one day a week consulting as a commissioning editor/publisher – for three months! Crazy me; I so got the timing wrong. It’s been a fab four years as I’ve worked on such amazing books as, in the early days, How to Like Paul Again by Conrad Gempf and Am I Beautiful? by Chine Mbubaegbu, and more recently Digging for Diamonds by Cathy Madavan and the forthcoming The Only Way is Ethics series by Sean Doherty.

I’ve seen in these four years that I don’t have to approach my life-with-words in a black-and-while either/or way; it can be a both/and prospect of being a writer and an editor – the two roles feed each other creatively. Although I’m sad to say goodbye from an editorial point of view, I’m thrilled that my association with Authentic will continue with me as an author.

For as many of you know, Authentic are publishing my first book this autumn – woo hoo! Here with my Big Reveal (well, some of you have seen this already), is my fabulous wonderful cover. I hope you love it as much as I do. Writing for Authentic has been a dream process, as it’s been a team effort with Steve Mitchell, Kate Beaton, Lawrie Stenhouse, Liz Williams, and Becky Fawcett on the Authentic side, and Jennie Pollock as my freelance editor. (Liz and Malcolm Down are no longer with Authentic either, as the narrowing of the focus included the elimination of their jobs too.)

Steve Mitchell, managing director, believed in me as an author, and last autumn took a punt in signing me up for my first book. (I recount my Tangled Writing Journey [yes, it deserves capital letters] here if you’d like to read the background.) With his over twenty years in Christian retail, and with my over two decades’ experience as an editor, we worked together to come up with what we hope will be a cracking good read. I wanted to write a devotional or a memoir; he suggested instead that I focus on my unique angle. Write, he said, about being an American in the UK, and while doing so I should incorporate my story and the spiritual insights I’ve gleaned with my cultural observations about this small island. There’s even a chapter about plumbing.

My publisher likes to say that Finding Myself in Britain: Our Search for Faith, Home & True Identity is a bit like Michele Guinness meets Bill Bryson. I love that characterization, not least because Michele is one of my heroes, a magnificent writer and speaker who humbled me with her foreword. Here’s a bit of what she says:

There were moments when Amy’s honesty and pain choked me, others when she made me laugh out loud. From toilets to tea and tennis, drizzle to driving, reserve to religious observance, sarcasm to self-deprecation, queuing to cricket, not to mention language, class, and vicarage oddities, it’s all there – the British foibles that make other nations think us bizarre… Yet in Amy’s gentle hands it’s a revelation – funny, challenging, surprising, chastening, and cheering.

Yes, I’m excited about finally being a Proper Author who has written a book. Look for the finished product in October, from bookshops or from here at my website (or at the big online retailer for pre-pub orders). I owe so much not only to the Authentic team but to my editorial friends and encouragers.

So although I’ll no longer be commissioning for Authentic, I’ll work with them on the launch and marketing of Finding Myself in Britain. I think back to a decade ago, when I went through what felt like a massive redundancy when Zondervan eliminated my editorial job. At the time my world was rocked, for so much of my identity was intertwined with my role. I’ve now seen how the Lord has worked through the years, honing me as he’s helped me pursue my deep desires such as writing. And how he’s even “enlarged my territories” (if I can use the Jabez language without anyone cringing too much). I trust that he’ll use this present change for my growth and flourishing – but I am making sure I take the time to grieve the passing of the season, as is right and proper to do.

Yet I also know that losing my contractual freelance work might just be the boot-to-bum that I need to pursue some other dreams – such as a master’s in Christian spirituality. Watch this space!

July 3, 2015