Tonight is "Verse Night"!

I know what you're thinking: What the heck is "Verse Night"?


Last summer when I was attending the Act One Program, some of my classmates and I got together as a team to enter the "168 Hour Film Project." This is a speed-filmmaking competition. We get a short time (168 hours = 1 week) to produce a short (11-minute) film based on a Bible verse! I hoped I could contribute something of value by helping the team in Los Angeles write the script from here in Colorado.

So before Christmas, our team's leader, producer Nancy Bevins, got all available team members together by phone to get the ball rolling. She asked each of us what locations we had access to. When it came my turn, I reminded her that, um, I'm in Colorado, ya know? So . . . She said, "Yeah. What locations do you have?"

I said, "Well, um, we have some mountains out here."

The conversation continued and about five minutes later I said, "Hey! I know something fairly unique that I get you in Colorado: Bikers!"

One thing led to another and guess what? We're filming our short in Colorado. The whole team is coming to my house!!

Nancy and I have been working hard to get things ready for cameras to roll on February 17th and, boy, it's a ton of work. But hey, what an education I'm getting! I'm getting to see--and take part in--the whole production side of filmmaking! Something this little writer never thought she'd get to do. Most people only get an education like this in Hollywood. But for me, Hollywood is coming to my house. Literally!

So, what is "Verse Night"? All 168 Film Teams are assigned their own unique Bible verse that we are to base our story on. Bible verses are assigned ten days before production week--this year February 6th. So, around the end of the Super Bowl, we'll get a phone call and the folks at 168 Headquarters will tell us what our verse is. That's Verse Night.

I have to tell you that there is a lot more going on at my house. Like the publishing of my Deliver Me book. But there's even more totally wild unbelievable things going on. I'll tell you more later. Right now I'm pretty swamped!

I would really like to blog every day about the 168 Film Project, like I did throughout Act One last summer, and I'm going to give it a shot. But honestly, I don't know if I'll be able to keep up. I'll try. So stay tuned. I'll let you know what verse we get!

• We need a short budget to make our short film in the short amount of time. If you'd like to donate to the project, you may do so here: Harley Heat. Thank you!

The Deliver Me Proof Copies

Well we had a few glitches with the book. So we've been working hard to correct them and I think we've got it whooped!

Next, we'll upload the new version of the book and get another proof copy . . . just to be sure we got it whooped. That should happen next week.

In the mean time, you wouldn't believe what has been going on at my house! Next time, I'll tell you more.

Exciting Deliver Me update!

It's at the printer!

The Deliver Me book was uploaded (digitally) to the printer on Monday, January 24th! Hooray!

What's next?

Next I will receive a proof copy of the book from the printer. I should receive that within a week. We've also ordered a proof copy for my typesetter/cover lady, and it is being shipped directly to her. When we receive our proof copies, we'll take a careful look and see if everything looks as it should. Sometimes, I'm told, something can go haywire--something just doesn't turn out like it looks like it would on the computer screens. So this is our chance to check everything out and, if there's a problem, to fix it before the book gets printed.

Mark the calendar. It's a special day!

Exciting News! - Publisher interested in Grandparenting book and we need Stories!

Well things just keep getting more exciting all the time. As if enough wasn't happening here, a publisher who has been considering a book proposal by my co-athor, Renee Gray-Wilburn, and I has requested the full manuscript!

This is a compliation, and so we need stories to complete the manuscript. Here are the writer's guidelines. Please consider them carefully as you decide if you have a story that might meet our needs. Thank you!

Writer's Guidelines Updated 1/10/11


Grandparenting through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandkids for Christ

Renee Gray-Wilburn and Dianne E. Butts are compiling a new book by, for, and about grandparents. Currently about one-third of all adults are grandparents, and we wish to provide a helpful book filled with encouragement and ideas through true stories of grandparents who have been successful in influencing their grandchildren for the Lord. Besides true stories, the book will contain resources including practical application points and personal study questions.

Grandparents, we need your stories! Stories need to show how you, as a grandparent, have overcome obstacles to influence your grandchild toward Christ. Examples of obstacles could be long-distance grandparenting, when your grandchildren’s parents are not walking with God or are divorced, and Christian children with whom you’ve been able to establish a successful partnership. Besides the obstacle(s) you’re working through, we need to see as a result of your influence some kind of spiritual fruit in the lives of your grandchildren. This doesn’t mean all problems are resolved or challenges met, but rather shows that you are walking through this journey with God. Examples of spiritual fruit may be the grandchild learning to pray, wanting to go to church, or asking about Jesus. Please don’t feel limited to these examples.

Keep in mind that these need to be stories, with a beginning, middle, and end, a point of conflict, and an encouraging resolution. It’s helpful to include practical tips for how you’ve reached your grandkids so we can encourage others who may be in your situation. If you feel you have a compelling story but cannot write it yourself, please contact us anyway. We can help bring your story to life!

Please know that writing under a pseudonym (changing names and shadowing minor details to protect family relationships) is acceptable and we will respect that should your story be chosen for publication.

We’d like each story to be around 1500 words. Each story published will pay $25 along with one contributor’s copy. Your bio will be included. We have a tight deadline of February 28, 2011. And, of course, sooner would be better!

Feel free to pass these guidelines along to anyone you think has a story to tell. This is a great opportunity for a writer to have a story published!

Submit stories as an attached Word file or questions to either Renee Gray-Wilburn at waywords@earthlink.net or Dianne E. Butts at dbwrites@juno.com.

Practicing Patience - Update on Deliver Me book

The typesetting has been a much bigger task than I anticipated and has taken much longer than I thought it would. We are inching along on that and getting close to the finish line.

Also, you've seen the front cover of the book. (See the previous post.) But we still needed to design the back cover and the spine. That, too, is being done and is nearly finished.

As you know, I was hoping to have the book by the end of 2010. Doesn't it often seem that with everything important that we anticipate with great excitement, there comes a point when it feels like all the universe is against us, trying to stop us, trying to discourage us, tempting us to quit?

We can give up. Or persevere. I vote persevere!

We're nearly there and, again, I'm hoping to have the book available soon.

Introducing: The Deliver Me book cover

You've waited long enough. I can finally post the front cover of the book! Here it is. What do you think?

168 Project's "Write of Passage" contest

As you know, I was a finalist with my short script, "A Cowboy's Faith."

When they announced the winner, and the two runner ups, I was not one of them. But I'm still a winner! I got farther in this competition than I ever dreamed I would going in. (As a first timer, I was just hoping to write a coherent enough script to be a semi-finalist.) Also, as a finalist, there's a real possibility my script will be produced and made into a real short film. And since it's based on a story in the Deliver Me book, how cool would that be?!

The 168 Project has posted all the finalists scripts to their web site, so if you'd like to read my script, you can find it here: "A Cowboy's Faith."

Enjoy!