My Published Works

MY BOOKS

 

 

Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors

Successful writers spend a lot more time editing than they do writing. They know that what they write from the heart needs to be analyzed by the mind to make it the best it can be. To ensure that the story or message they want to convey comes across clearly and effectively.

In this book you’ll find tips from actual best-selling authors who have studied editing techniques and implemented them, resulting in books that have reached the hearts and touched the lives of countless readers. Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors is a collection of tips they believe are the most important aspects of editing a manuscript.

If you’re an aspiring, beginning, or intermediate writer, the tips in this book will help you polish your manuscript and get it ready for publication. If you’re an established author, these tips can help you edit other writers’ manuscripts, either in a critique group setting or as an editorial freelancer. By applying these techniques, you can turn your rough draft into a masterpiece!

PS1Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors

Ever wonder how best-selling authors achieved their success? Part of the answer is attention to detail. In Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, professional freelance author/editor Kathy Ide shares tips she’s picked up during her years in the publishing industry. You’ll learn how multi-published authors check their manuscripts for typos and inconsistencies. You’ll discover what reference books US publishers use. And you’ll get industry-standard answers to the most common questions you’ll face in the areas of punctuation, usage, grammar, and spelling. All logically organized and written in easy-to-understand language. This book contains all of the information that was in Polishing the PUGS: Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling (which is now out of print) plus additional PUGS guidelines and tips from actual best-selling authors on proofreading for typos, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies. To order Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors from Amazon, click here. To order Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors from Barnes & Noble, click here.

 

Capitalization Dictionary

“Do I capitalize north or not? When should church be capitalized and when should it be lowercased? What about earth? Or master’s degree?”

If you often find yourself asking such questions while proofreading your manuscript or someone else’s, you’ll find the answers right here. Kathy Ide’s Capitalization Dictionary is an alphabetical list of words that writers and editors often wonder about when it comes to capitalization rules.

The Capitalization Dictionary is not currently available online. To order a copy, email me through the Contact page.

 

 

 

 

The Fiction Lover’s Devotional series

 

 

 

 

 

                                       

                                    

Don’t you just love reading fictional stories about characters you can relate to, who experience situations similar to your own, and learning from those examples how to live out your faith? But in your quiet times with the Lord, you want something with a little more depth … and a little shorter.

The Fiction Lover’s Devotional series meets that need. Each book contains 21 engaging, inspirational short fiction stories written by new, intermediate, and well-known Christian authors. Each story is followed by a brief “Life Application” written by that author about how the themes and messages inherent in the fictional story can apply to the reader’s daily life.

You can read these heart-warming stories over breakfast, at lunch break, before bed, on vacation, or curled up in your favorite chair with a cup of coffee or tea. They are sure to shed light on issues in your life and bring you encouragement for daily living.

 

CDP2aChristian Drama Publishing: How to Write a Powerful Script & Get It Published Helps authors write play scripts for churches, schools, and home schools, and get them published. Up-to-date information on drama publishers including contact names, guidelines, and formatting. To order Christian Drama Publishing, click here.
typing-without-painTyping without PainAfter typing in offices for about thirty years, I developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in both wrists, DeQuervain’s Syndrome in both thumbs, tendonitis in both forefingers, and a rotator cuff injury in my right shoulder. I went to several doctors and physical therapists, where I learned how to relieve the pain. I then did some research on how to prevent such injuries from occurring or getting worse. In this book, I share tips on how to avoid computer-related injuries by finding the right equipment and furniture, setting up an ergonomically correct work area, developing healthy habits, and recognizing the symptoms of a repetitive-strain injury. I also describe warm-up, stretching, and strengthening exercises that can help muscles and tendons work to peak capacity without pain. Also included are effective ways to relieve the pain of a repetitive-strain injury. To order Typing without Pain, go to one of these online sites: Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

GHOSTWRITTEN BOOKS

I have ghostwritten ten nonfiction books and a five-book series of teen novels. Most were done with the agreement that I would remain a “ghost” and not mention the books I wrote, allowing the authors to take full credit. Here are the two that I am able to mention:

Divine Healing God’s Way

What does divine healing from God’s perspective look like? Are there things we can do–or not do–to convince God to physically heal us or our loved ones?

In 2006, Dan Arrotta noticed his three-year-old daughter Shayla was having trouble walking. After a gut-twisting doctor’s visit, he received devastating news that diagnosed her with a fatal, incurable disease. Guilt-ridden over poor life choices that limited his ability to care for her, Dan set out on a quest to clean up his life. Get sober. Attend church. Boost his faith. He’d do whatever it took to convince God to heal his daughter.

Join Dan on his journey as he discovers God’s view of divine healing, and the good news it carries for all of us.

designing-dynamic-stepfamiliesDesigning Dynamic Stepfamilies: Bringing the Pieces to Peace
I ghostwrote two study guides for Gordon and Carri Taylor to accompany their eight-part video series, Designing Dynamic Stepfamilies: Bringing the Pieces to Peace (published in 2003). Designing Dynamic Stepfamilies won the Silver Crown Award (2nd place) for “Best Curriculum” and the Bronze Crown Award (3rd place) for “Best Series” from the International Christian Visual Media Association. For more information, click here. I have also ghostwritten a book for victims of abuse, a two-book series about the seven-year tribulation, a five-book series of young-adult novels, and a personal memoir.

COMPILATIONS

TimesofNeed“Speak for Me” (coauthored with Steve Browning), published in Extraordinary Answers to Prayer: In Times of Need(Guideposts Books, 2010) celebrate-christmas“The True Twelve Days of Christmas,” published in A Pixel-Perfect Christmas (Pix-N-Pens Publishing, 2009)
words-to-write-by“God’s Calling to Write,” published in Words to Write By, an anthology of author devotionals complied by Robin Bayne (Treble Heart Books, 2008) heart-of-a-mother“Tommy’s Triumph,” published in The Heart of a Mother (Bethany House, 2003)
rest-stops“Tommy’s Triumph,” published in Rest Stops for Busy Moms (Broadman & Holman, 2003) chicken-soup-america“Time to Pray,” published in Chicken Soup for the Soul of America, 2002
gods-abundance“Secret Meaning Behind a Popular Carol,” published in God’s Abundance for Women (Starburst Publishers, 1999) a-growing-heart“Sizzle or Fizzle,” published in A Growing Heart (Starburst Publishers, 2001)

To order compilation books in print, e-mail me.


PLAY SCRIPTS

celebrate-christmas“Christmas Then and Now” and “Manger 101” (coauthored with David Carl), published in Celebrate Christmas, vol. 1 (Randall House Publishers, 2007) all-the-best“Three Men and a Furnace,” published in All the Best Programs for Kids (Lillenas, 2001)
childrens-program-builder“Through the Eyes of Children,” published in Children’s Program Builder (Lillenas, 1989) seven-deadly-skitsScript collection entitled The Seven Deadly Skits, published by Eldridge Publishing, 1999
lets-worship“Star Light, Star Bright,” published in Let’s Worship, 2001
“Manger 101” (coauthored with David B. Carl), published by Let’s Worship, 1999
skitomatic“Free Time,” published in Skitzophrenia by Regal Books,1989 (later reprinted as Skit-omatic)
  • “Retreat of the Sunday School Teachers” (coauthored with David B. Carl), published by Baptist Leader, 2000″Oh, Brother,” published by National Drama Service, 2000″The Worship Service,” published by Concordia Publishing, 1999″Any Time Now” (coauthored with David B. Carl), published by National Drama Service, 1999

ARTICLES

cross-quillCross & Quill (Newsletter of Christian Writers Fellowship International): “Thinking of Hiring a Freelance Editor?” published in January/February 2006 I was also the featured “Meet the Pro” in a cover interview.
dabbling-mum“How to Start Your Freelance Editing Career on the Right Foot,” published by The Dabbling Mum in June 2004
american-christian-fictionWrite to the Heart (Newsletter of the American Christian Fiction Writers) “Want to be a Freelance Editor?” published in November 2005″Thinking of Hiring an Editor?” published in November 2005 “Understanding Point Of View,” published in November 2004
the-gem“The Hidden Christmas Message,” published in Foursquare World Advance, November/December 1998 issue. Article reprinted in The Gem, August 1999, as “Secret Meaning Behind a Christmas Carol.”
light-life“Reservations Required,” published in Light & Life magazine, November/December 1998

CURRICULUM

Sunday school curriculum plan on “The Fiery Furnace,” including lesson plan, teacher’s guide, party suggestions, and take-home papers. Published by Christian Ed Publishers, 1999