Monday, April 1, 2013

Secular Bio

I’ve been approaching a few libraries in our region letting them know that The Exact Place is available for their collection, meaning, would you please purchase one and shelve it for the millions of readers clamoring to read it. Anita (our assistant at Ransom Fellowship) has been an invaluable help in contacting and following up. Usually they ask me to donate a copy and I usually do.  Perhaps some readers will be inspired to purchase a copy – maybe as a gift for someone.  Perhaps library exposure could open the door for an author’s reading which would lead to response and discussion.
One thing on my to-to list this week has been writing a bio that would be appropriate for libraries, small shops and venues that include a few chosen books.  Places like that.  Some aspects of this that are difficult for me.  The challenge first of all is to get past me.  Blah, blah, blah me.  How do I write a bio without sounding neurotically self-focused?  Next is how to write it in such a way to hint that I’m a person of faith, but not a dangerous, crazy Christian.  It should sound professional, but also be personal.  IT must be interesting, but not too much detail.  It’s best to be brief.  Like around 100 words or less.

I remember an editor chiding writers: why would you take all the time and effort to write a book and then think you can whip off a summary and a bio in ten seconds.  So after much deleting and drafting, I’ve come up with this.  Comments and kind criticisms are welcome.

Margie Haack lives in Rochester, MN with husband Denis, on a small urban lot where she tries to attract bumble bees and hummingbirds with marginal success.  Nature and place connect her to the spiritual geography that has shaped her life.  Margie’s writing includes a quarterly publication of personal essays – Notes from Toad Hall, and her work has appeared in ArtHouseAmerica, The High Calling Blog, Washington Institute for Faith and Comment Magazine.  She recently shattered a platter, sucker her socks into the vacuum cleaner and backed into a parked car proving that safety lies in writing more and leaving the desk less.  You can find her blogging at Toads Drink Coffee.

Sometimes I have no idea what I’m doing.  I trip ahead hoping God will continue to extend mercy as I go.

10 comments:

sf said...

I agree with ya. Me being a poor freeway driver myself (I'm like to drive 35mph granny style, if I can get away with it), I too believe that staying at the desk writing IS safer to one's life - unless there's a really bad earthquake and you don't have a sturdy roof over you.

p.s. I have a question in regards to your favorite Jules coffee. I bet I'm not the only one wondering what that delectable dessert is next to the soy latte. Is that a raspberry scone?

marmielu said...

I like it. Brought a smile to my face.

Kim said...

for what it is worth, i think it is great! if i read that bio and had never read anything else you had written, i would laugh, identify with you and definitely be intrigued to read more!

thank you for your honesty!

Margie Haack said...

The scone is a cranberry orange. My favorite.

Colleen said...

I just read the last page of The Exact Place. It touched me in ways I can't yet express, but I couldn't wait for the words to come before I said, "thank you."

Colleen said...

I just completed your book this morning. Words fail to express the depth and complexity of feeling deep within me right now, but I won't wait for the words before I say "thank you."

Margie Haack said...

Colleen, thank you for taking the time to respond. I'm very deeply moved and grateful. God pierces us in the most unexpected places and ways. All I can say is that that is what I want for myself and others - for him to come to us in the midst of this messy life.

Hannah said...

I like the part about bumble bees. xo

Michelle said...

Are you accepting spelling corrections? "Sucker her socks" Thinking you meant "sucked her socks into the vacuum". And boy, howdy, I'm a sucker every time I vacuum thinking I can get close enough to everything without sucking things up. And I'm always wrong!

Margie Haack said...

Michelle, OUCH! Yes! Always!