Shannon’s SCW Blog

Do you daydream about impacting others through your own writing or speaking?  Or if you’re already writing and speaking, do you long to reach even more people with your message?  If so, I want to encourage you to stop DREAMING, and start DOING!  It’s worth every ounce of energy you’ll invest when you hear testimonies like the ones I receive every day.  For example, Michelle recently emailed:

I purchased The Sexually Confident Wife and WOW! What an excellent book and great advice. I have been married for 21 years and was considering divorce. I belittled, ridiculed, made my husband feel inadequate. We’ve never had a great sex life, with no sex at all in two years. I don’t read that much, but saw your book and I am so happy that I read it. Our sex life is great, great, great and we are getting along and even parenting our four children together. I have purchased your other books and my hubby is reading them as well. We even go on dates and shopping together, things we’ve never done before. Thank you so much!

That one brought tears to everyone in our house!  Or another example is a young woman that approached me this week after I spoke to a MOPS (Mothers of PreSchoolers) group.  She said, “I’ve heard you speak three times in three years, and every time you KICK my BUTT and tell me exactly what I need to hear to hang on to my marriage and make it work!  Thank you for being my inspiration — I really want a happy marriage and great sex life and I’m not giving up until we get it!”  Oh, that’s music to a speaker’s ears!

So let me ask you — What kind of message has God laid on YOUR heart to share with other women, or couples, or youth?  If you could write a book about anything, or speak to an audience about the topic you’re most passionate about, what would that look like?  What kind of difference could YOU make in this world?

As exciting as it sounds to be such a difference-maker, discouragement usually sets in quickly.  The publishing industry is incredibly complex and difficult to break into. As my writing mentor said years ago, “You can feel like a tiny grain of sand on an entire continent of beach when you’re trying to get published!” Boy, do I remember that feeling.

I sense that there are lots of you who are experiencing that feeling right now. Perhaps God has tapped you on the shoulder and said, “I want YOU to be my voice!” If so, I sense God tapping ME on the shoulder and saying, “I want YOU to teach them how!”

In response to this calling, I’m launching a new one-year program starting this September called B.L.A.S.T. (Building Leaders, Authors, Speakers & Teachers). I’ll meet one day per month with a select group of aspiring writers and speakers, attempting to teach you all that I can about bringing your own ministry and publishing dreams to life!

If you’re interested in learning more about the program, go to www.shannonethridge.com/blast for an informational brochure and application packet. Also, feel free to share this posting with your like-minded friends who’d be interested as well. There is an ONLINE version of the program, so no matter where you live, you can have a BLAST with us!

And NOW, we’re making it even easier to have a B.L.A.S.T. with us!

How? Two ways:

1) In today’s trying economy, many have asked if a PAYMENT PLAN is possible. It is now! For approved applicants, we’ll charge your credit card monthly beginning in September rather than require complete payment at the beginning of the program.

2) As an added incentive, we’ve decided to offer a 10% EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT to applicants who have their materials postmarked by May 15^th — a savings of $150 you’ll want to take advantage of, so download the information packet and get started on your application soon!

May all your writing & speaking dreams come true,

Shannon