A friend who heads up a Contemporary Christian Record Label tweeted this Saturday: “@RandyElrod You may have seen this article. Couldn’t help but think about your book Sex, Lies & Religion.” Upon reading the very intriguing Christianity Today article, I was thankful I had included (and thoroughly researched) Chapter 6 in my book, “The Lie [...]
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It’s The People, Stupid!
This morning I have remnants of delicious exhaustion. I asked a few friends to gather Memorial Day and celebrate an all-day Italian feast. Our location was “off the grid” at the rustic but elegant lodge, arbor and organic gardens on the stunning 2,000 acres of Kalein@Round Cove near Winchester, Tennessee. Nordeck and Mary Claire Thompson [...]
My Skylights – What Are Yours?
The Skylight You were the one for skylights. I opposed Cutting into the seasoned tongue-and-groove Of pitch pine. I liked it low and closed, Its claustrophobic, nest-up-in-the-roof Effect. I liked the snuff-dry feeling, The perfect, trunk-lid fit of the old ceiling. Under there, it was all hutch and hatch. The blue slates kept the heat [...]
Fundamentalism and Fear: The Great Enemies of Creativity & Art
Many of the contemporary religious leaders in the “new” fundamentalist movement are eerily reminiscent to fear-mongers of the past. To this weary artist who has spent fifty years watching, listening and yes, cringing with eyes and ears wide open, these new “jesus-jocks” certainly look different – many dress in jeans, sport soul patches and defend [...]
The Paradox of LOST
Like many of you, I sleeplessly rolled the bed dreaming about LOST. 10:30 pm was eerie at my house. As the bass note echoed throughout the house and the LOST graphic swirled to meet us one last time, everyone got up and silently and numbly left. No conversation. No reaction – either positive or negative. [...]
5 Things I Think Will Happen On The LOST Finale
For six years, my family and I have been totally addicted to this brilliantly convoluted masterpiece of television entertainment. So it’s with a bittersweet pen, I write this final goodbye to old friends. A few random thoughts: – LOST has been with us longer than YouTube. – Good storytelling never grows old. – Great stories [...]
Where Soul Meets Body
“I want to live where soul meets body, and let the sun wrap its arms around me, and bathe my skin in water cool and cleansing, and feel, feel what its like to be new.” – Death Cab for Cutie A monk dipped his cloak into the decaying flesh of a dead woman, so the [...]
The Catastrophic Franklin Flood of 2010
This photo was taken from a window in my home as we watch the flood waters continue to rise even as I type. Over 14 inches of rain in 48 hours transformed our city into a disaster area and prompted a declared state of emergency. To put this into stark perspective: – The most rain [...]
How To Self-Publish Your Book (A Man, A Book & A Misguided Theory) Part 5
The last post in this series deals with the “misguided theory.” It will be interesting to see who is really misguided. Me? Or the traditional way of marketing? First, in this totally outrageous marketing plan, I decided to release the book in all editions at the same time. So, Sex, Lies & Religion released on [...]
How To Self-Publish Your Book (A Man, A Book & A Misguided Theory) Part 4
Today, the details and process of creating and uploading digital files to create a proof. And then tomorrow, a new and outrageous social marketing plan. To prepare files for Lightning Source, we utilized Adobe’s InDesign for the interior and Photoshop for the exterior. We also employed Dan Poynter’s excellent Para Publishing guidelines for designing the [...]
How To Self-Publish Your Book (A Man, A Book & A Misguided Theory) Part 3
After determining a publishing house and securing a superb editor, I wanted a quality graphic design. So I decided to combine the work of Gradient Overlay with help from the world of Twitter and Facebook. Gradient Overlay is a graphic design company that not only contains the extraordinary creativity of Toby Sturgill, but they also [...]
“Sex, Lies & Religion” E-Book Now Available for Only $8.99
Especially for your iPad, iBooks, mobile phone, computer or any reader that accepts Adobe pdf’s. Just click the Buy Now button…
How To Self-Publish Your Book (A Man, A Book & A Misguided Theory) Part 2
Second, I went all out in the quality preparation of the book, securing a brilliant, young but hungry editor, and a quality graphic design with help from the world of Twitter and Facebook. An excellent quality of writing and materials were a huge deal to me. First, I secured a quality and experienced but reasonably [...]
How To Self-Publish Your Book (A Man, A Book & A Misguided Theory)
It was the hard way, but seemingly the best way. Book sales theory always had it that if you wanted to write a bestseller, you had to first get a major publishing house on board. If you could get a deal, the rest was gravy. (So much for ‘theory.’) My veteran literary agent and I [...]
My Top 5 Tools For Better Creativity
1. Running – My best life-changing ideas occur while running. I rarely take headphones, preferring to let my mind wander into “free thinking,” as Dr. Stephen Sample teaches in The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership Inevitably I have a creative idea. Free thinking means loosing your mind from the restrictions of common sense and envisioning seemingly [...]
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Amy Neftzger: Great post. Love is the only thing that will last...
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Beverly Rogers: Great post - got me thinking.I completely agree th...
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ken: Randy, Is that you on the left with both guns draw...
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per: perhaps 'play' and 'progress' are not-too-distant ...
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