Winners!

A big thank you to the nearly 180 entrants in my guest blog contest! It wasn’t easy, but I’ve finally had a chance to choose my Guest Bloggers for the rest of the year. (See A Blog Challenge for You.)

Here are the guest posts I’ve chosen (twelve instead of ten):

Reesha: Christian Art – Avoid letting the one water down the other.

Rachel Starr Thompson: Keeping the Heart in Writing.

Matthew Meadors: Roots before branches, and what does that mean to me?

Henriette Power: Sports and writing don’t mix.

Angie Ledbetter: Writing Ailments & Hazards.

Heather: Finding Your Voice: A Musician’s Look at Writing.

Shelley Adina: Gossip Girl, meet Gospel Girl.

Nicole O’Dell: When you DON’T Need an Agent.

Matt Mikalatos: Embracing Your Inner Weird.

Swati: Second Book Blues.

Matilda McCloud: Are your characters and plots too “on the nose”?

Cindy: Where Persistence Meets Passion – Know the Market, But Know Your Heart Better.

If you’re listed here, please email me your guest post (maximum of 800 words) along with a 1-2 sentence bio, links to your website/blog, and a photo of yourself (in an attachment). I’d like to receive your post within the next few weeks if possible. Once I receive it, I’ll let you know the date for which your post is scheduled.

Runner ups: The following people presented blog ideas I’d like to include someday. Please email me so that I can contact you in the future: Erin, T. Anne, katdish, Joelle Anthony, Mechelle Fogelsong, Liesl Robbins Shurtliff, Frontline Ink, Heather Long, Tami Boesiger, Andrew, Jeanne Bowerman, jmartinlibrarian.

Congratulations to all those who will be guest bloggers, and again, thanks to everyone who entered. There were MANY worthy post ideas and I wish I could have chosen more!
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Rachelle Gardner

Literary agent at Gardner Literary. Coffee & wine enthusiast (not at the same time) and dark chocolate connoisseur. I've worked in publishing since 1995 and I love talking about books!

32 Comments

  1. Terresa on September 19, 2009 at 7:50 PM

    >Great picks, can't wait to read these guest posts. And fabulous contest idea (hint hint — to do more in the future)…



  2. katdish on September 16, 2009 at 6:58 PM

    >Rachelle,

    You know, it's an honor just to be nominated. Thank you for the opportunity to guest blog for you "at a date yet to be determined". In conclusion, I would just like to say:

    I've had an unorthodoxed career…



  3. Tara on September 16, 2009 at 3:35 PM

    >Thanks for the opportunity. I enjoyed reading the entries, and I'm looking forward to the guest blogs. Congrats to the winners.



  4. Katie Ganshert on September 14, 2009 at 5:12 PM

    >Congrats winners! I can't wait to read the posts!!



  5. Kat Harris on September 14, 2009 at 4:28 PM

    >Matt's has me intrigued.

    Swati's might be right up my alley.

    I can't wait to read these and the others. I wish I'd have had a minute to enter, but . . .

    Congrats to all!



  6. David A. Todd on September 14, 2009 at 2:38 PM

    >Not even a runner-up. Ah well….

    Thanks for the opportunity, Rachelle, and for all the work you put into this.



  7. T. Anne on September 14, 2009 at 2:36 PM

    >Woo hoo! I'm thrilled to be a runner up! Can't wait to hear all the wonderful guest posts. Congrats to all.



  8. Rachel Starr Thomson on September 14, 2009 at 1:58 PM

    >Serious happy dance :). Thanks so much!



  9. Terri Tiffany on September 14, 2009 at 1:35 PM

    >I am so happy for all of them but can't wait to read some of my favorite bloggers' post! You know who you are Angie and Cindy!



  10. Nicole O'Dell on September 14, 2009 at 1:19 PM

    >What an honor! Thank so much for selecting me!

    Looks like a great list of interesting posts. 🙂



  11. Dara on September 14, 2009 at 12:45 PM

    >Those sound like they're gonna be great topics!



  12. Heather Sunseri on September 14, 2009 at 12:06 PM

    >Great opportunity! Contratulations to the winners!



  13. Novice Writer Anonymous on September 14, 2009 at 11:15 AM

    >Congrats to the winners! Those all sound so interesting. I look forward to reading them when they come up.



  14. Jungle Mom on September 14, 2009 at 10:57 AM

    >Cant wait to read them all!



  15. Sharon A. Lavy on September 14, 2009 at 10:28 AM

    >This will be interesting. I am looking forward to the future posts.



  16. Reesha on September 14, 2009 at 10:17 AM

    >Wow! Thanks for picking me! I'm honored.
    Congrats to everyone else too! This is going to be a fun lead up to the new year reading all the guest blog posts. But of course, I love to read your posts too, Rachelle.



  17. Tea With Tiffany on September 14, 2009 at 9:47 AM

    >Whoops, see what happens when I miss reading your blog? I missed the audition. 🙂

    Well, maybe next time.

    Looks like you picked some winners.

    And looks like you've encouraged more people than just me–as usual. (remember my story from yesterday, people are responding with joy still today.)

    Enjoy your week, Rachelle.



  18. Cindy on September 14, 2009 at 9:44 AM

    >I'm so excited, what a fun new opportunity! Thanks for hosting the contest, Rachelle. It was interesting to read through all the ideas.



  19. Roxane B. Salonen on September 14, 2009 at 9:34 AM

    >Rachelle, thanks again for the opportunity. As the entries poured in I realized how slim my chances were. I'm sure it was hard to choose. I look forward to reading the results.



  20. Jeannie Campbell, LMFT on September 14, 2009 at 9:02 AM

    >congratulations to the winners! cool contest, rachelle. 🙂

    jeannie
    Where Romance Meets Therapy



  21. CKHB on September 14, 2009 at 8:58 AM

    >Congrats, everyone!



  22. Kristen Torres-Toro on September 14, 2009 at 8:52 AM

    >Congrats to everyone! I look forward to reading your guest posts!



  23. Jill Kemerer on September 14, 2009 at 8:41 AM

    >Congratulations to all the winners and thanks, Rachelle, for offering the contest. I'm excited to read these guest blogs!



  24. Rachelle on September 14, 2009 at 8:32 AM

    >Barbara, what matters most is the writing. If the fact that you're not a native English speaker means that it's difficult for you to write well in English, then yes, it could be a hindrance to you. However, if you're a good writer in English, then it really doesn't matter. The fact of being a non-native English speaker is irrelevant in itself.



  25. Lynnda - Passionate for the Glory of God on September 14, 2009 at 8:14 AM

    >Good morning, Rachelle.

    How generous you are to share your time to evaluate all those ideas and to give so many people an opportunity to speak of the things that are on their hearts through your blog.

    Congratulations to the winners and the runners-up. Anticipation gives flavor to our days. I look forward to reading all these posts.

    Be blessed!

    Lynnda



  26. Angie Ledbetter on September 14, 2009 at 7:16 AM

    >Oooooo, I's excited! Thanks for the opportunity, Rachel. 😀



  27. Lydia Sharp on September 14, 2009 at 7:01 AM

    >Congrats to the winners! Good choices. Can't wait to read those posts.



  28. Lisa Jordan on September 14, 2009 at 6:08 AM

    >Wow, what a job going through all those entries. Congrats to all. I look forward to reading the future posts.



  29. ginny martyn on September 14, 2009 at 5:14 AM

    >Congrats to all!!



  30. Jessica on September 14, 2009 at 4:55 AM

    >Sounds great! Congrats to everyone. 😉



  31. Barbara on September 14, 2009 at 1:17 AM

    >Hi, I don't know you, but I've been reading your blog and it's very interesting. I have a question to you, and I have no idea where to address it to, so, I'll just post it here:
    Does it matter for agents if the person seeking representation isn't a native English speaker, even if they're fluent? Does this specific fact get in the way of getting a book deal?
    It's something I have been wondering for a very long time.
    Thank you for your time! 🙂



  32. Andrew on September 14, 2009 at 1:13 AM

    >Way cool contest – thanks for running it!