San Diego Writers Guild Newsletter Feature

I'm very honored to be featured in the San Diego Christian Writers Guild newsletters, The Royalty Note for September 2007.

Spotlight On: Lisa Copen

Lisa Copen grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ as a child. But it was when she left the small town of Creswell for the University of Oregon and joined a sorority her faith really kicked in and became her foundation. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1993, she stopped working and went back to school full-time to get her BA degree in Sociology, finishing at Cal State San Marcos when it was just two buildings.

Lisa and her husband Joel who live in Poway have a 4-year-old son, Joshua Aaron. “We’re a family who God blessed through the miracle of adoption,” she said.

Lisa’s writing was the foundation of her ministry, Rest Ministries, which is celebrating ten years and serves the chronically ill. She’s written a variety of books including Mosaic Moments: Devotionals for the Chronically Ill; Why Can’t I Make People Understand? Discovering the Validation those with Chronic Illness Seek and Why; and Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend as well as two Bible studies, A Woman’s Health Resource Journal and So You Want to Start a Chronic Illness/Pain Ministry.

As much as she enjoys writing, she loves the process of taking her passion, finding the right niche to reach the people that want the information, and finding the best, most cost-efficient way to get it into their hands. “It makes marketing fun!” She is currently putting Beyond Casseroles into cute little gift shops with teacups where people frequently buy gifts for others.

Lisa’s introduction to the Guild came when Guild member Connie Kennemer asking her to accompany her to an awards banquet. “I had started my ministry for the chronically ill,” Lisa said, “and she wanted to expose me to more writers who shared my passion.”

Lisa joined the Guild and says that the connections with other writers, the encouragement and the conferences have all been very beneficial and helpful. “Especially when you feel like you’re faking your way through the process,” she said. “I loved speaking on marketing one’s books at the conference in 2005 and people were very enthused with the workshop.”

Currently, Lisa is working on a variety of illness-related books including a book for chronically ill moms with practical applications and a devotional for chronically ill moms. She is also writing a series of ebooks on how to market your book on a budget. “As I write these I am putting my own advice into place and the results have been wonderful,” she said. “My goal is to gain more media exposure to increase the budget of my ministry, and hire an assistant for administrative work, so I can do more writing and speaking.

I’ve been participating in tele-trainings and reading up on pitching to national television shows. I just need to ‘go for it’ and see what happens. I wrote Dear Abby today about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week so I’m starting to gain the ‘I have nothing to lose’ attitude. I’m very involved with Joni and Friend, as my ministry is an affiliate, and was just interviewed for a series of chronic illness articles for Focus on the Family’s web site, so that’s exciting! All my writings support the ministry financially, so the more books I sell the more people I can reach, and around the circle it goes.”

Lisa would love to see more resources and workshops on how to market one’s book. “Whether one is published with a traditional house or self-published, there is a huge need for practical steps in marketing when you are your own publicist (especially if you’re shy!). I’m very involved in book marketing workshops and online resources and am always the ‘lone Christian.’

People around me are learning how to sell their books on topics of wicca, gambling, new age religion, sex secrets and more. It makes me sad that these authors are learning how to get on radio and TV programs, pitch themselves, and they actually get good results while Christians are sometimes more reluctant to spread the word about what they can offer. Last month, in the Atlanta airport, I saw the book of one of a man who I sat beside in a book marketing class last year when his book was just a notebooks of notes. He did it! As Christians, we need to be humble in our self-promotion, but bold with our message.”

Lisa recently set up a group for authors of Christian books who would like to interact/network with others, and brainstorm ways to help Christian and secular booksellers with promotional ideas. Booksellers are welcome to participate and offer suggestions on their needs (bookmarketning.com/group/christianauthorsconnection).

“It’s part of the very large ‘Book Marketing Network’ founded by John Kremer who is the best in the book marketing field. I’d like to see how more authors can collaborate to work with Christian and church bookstores to help them with sales as well as get our books more exposure. It’s a win-win situation, but it just needs more coordination.” For more information on Lisa, her books and Rest Ministries please visit www.restministries.org.