Interviews

  • Billy Coffey Part 1

    July 21, 2009 /


    BILLY COFFEY PHOTO

    Fellow writer, Billy Coffey has recently stepped into the realm of “Agented Writer.” Uber-Agent, Rachelle Gardner has picked him up as a client.

    I first mentioned Billy Coffey on this blog way back on 11/25/08 after I’d stumbled across his blog. He has a unique, God-given, talent for writing so be sure to go check out his blog and bookmark it. You’ll be glad you did.

    So, Billy has graciously agreed to share his experience receiving “The Call.” For those of you who don’t write or don’t know what “The Call” is-it’s when an agent calls a writer up and offers him/her representation. Although it doesn’t guarantee publication, it means you have an person actively working on your behalf toward the goal of publication.

    1. First off, what do you write? How long have you been writing?

    I write inspirational non-fiction that usually consists of trying to see the hand of God in our everyday circumstances. My subjects are usually family, friends, and life in rural Virginia, and through them I explore faith and life. I like searching for the big things in the little things.

    Since Mrs. Houser’s Creative Writing class when I was a junior in high school. I loved it, and she helped me to see that writing could help me make sense of the world and my place in it.

    2. How many agents had you queried and how many rejections had you received before you got “The Call”?

    Sheesh. All of them, I think. I’ve worn out four years worth of Sally Stuart’s Christian Writers Market Guide books. Every year I would promise myself it would be the last time I’d have to buy one, and every year I’d be right back in line at the bookstore with the newest copy in my hand.

    All in all, I had probably queried forty agents and received about thirty rejections, ranging from handwritten notes of encouragement to one email that said “Pass, bu tGod bless.” Yeah, kinda bad when you get a typo in your rejection, isn’t it? But even that was better than the other ten, who never bothered to write back even though they promised an answer.

    3. What got you through the discouragement of rejections from agents you’d queried?

    I’ve had tons of encouragement from the readers of my blog. They’ve always been so supportive with their comments and emails, and they helped me to believe that someone somewhere was bound to give me a chance.

    Agents and editors will say that a blog is essential for an aspiring writer to build a platform. That’s been my case, too. But I didn’t count on my blog helping me with more than a platform. It’s helped me find some really amazing people, too.

    ~~~

    ***Join us next Tuesday for a play-by-play on the day he got “The Call.”***

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  • 3,100 MILE BIKE RIDE, PART 2

    March 21, 2009 /


    Here's the car...they're driving to California to start the adventure.
    Here's the car...they're driving to California to start the adventure.

    My dad, Don, is on his way…he actually started the 3,100 mile bike ride across the country on Wednesday the 18th, earlier than expected. So far, so good. I’ll post some updates on the side bar as they come in.

    For part 2 of my spotlight on his efforts, I thought I’d ask him a couple questions.

    If you missed part one, CLICK HERE.

    Dad’s answers:

    LYNN: How’d you get involved in Young Life?

    DAD: One day at church I was introduced to a man who first mentioned Young Life (YL) to me. I had never heard of it. So I listened primarily because I had worked with the youth group in our former church and still had an interest in the spiritual welfare of this age group.

    This man turned out to be the Committee Chairman of Verde Valley Young Life. A few weeks later he asked if I would be interested in attending a banquet to learn more about this youth ministry.

    Sometime after this banquet I attended an informal gathering of other YL Committee members where I learned about the role of the Advisory Committee. Subsequent visits to YL weekly club meetings, meeting the YL pastor, and other information gained from searching the website convinced me this was an effective ministry that was valuable to the youth in the Verde Valley.

    When I heard that the ministry was in a dire financial position, I thought my previous financial and administrative experience could be of value in “righting the ship.”

    I became a committee member primarily to establish financial and administrative focus and discipline within the Verde Valley YL committee, that I thought was seriously lacking. The more I got involved, the more I understood the mission and vision of YL, and it has become a passion with me to do whatever I can to assure the sustainability and stability of this valuable ministry.

    🙂

    LYNN: What made you think to bike 3,100 miles? That’s a ton!!

    DAD: I like to bike and I do a lot of it. I also look forward to physical events that I feel will challenge me. For several years a bike ride across America has been a vague someday-I-would-like-to-do-this-idea.

    When it became apparent that Verde Valley YL was facing severe financial difficulty, I thought of all those other fund raising events we hear of: Run for Luekemia, Run to beat Breast Cancer, etc., etc.

    I thought, why not actually do this “someday, maybe” bike ride as a fundraiser. I thought if people heard about this senior gentleman doing something this bizarre, they might decide it was worth a few bucks to support him.

    So…….the ride became a reality. And the distance had to be great enough to grab people’s attention. And it makes good press: Coast to Coast, transcontinental, Ride Across America.

    🙂

    LYNN: How did you get into the extreme sports? Running marathons, climbing mountains, riding 3,100 miles?

    DAD: I don’t view any of this stuff as extreme sports. But I do like to keep upping the ante.

    If 26 mile runs get to be blasie, then run 50 miles.

    When backpacking gets routine, find tougher, more challenging routes, maybe with a few mountain peaks thrown in.

    If you can bike 100 miles in one day, why not string a bunch of these 100-mile days together.

    Life must continue to offer challenges to renew the spirit, motivate performance, and kindle new dreams. The accomplishment of extreme challenges builds confidence and self esteem.

    Most of the stuff I do requires prolonged periods of being alone, which to me is refreshing and energizing. After such long, arduous events, I invariably feel more alive and invigorated.

    🙂

    Wow. That’s really all I can say. And yes, I’m a writer…usually we have lots to say, right?

    Dad, may God bless you and keep you on this mighty adventure! Stay tuned for updates if you’re interested. If you want to financially support the cause, drop me an email, I’ll get you hooked up: sheriboeyink {at} cox {dot} net.

    CHECK OUT THE BLOG my dad set up for this: http://coasttocoastforkids.blogspot.com/

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