Christian Fiction Booster: Dee Stewart

The Christian fiction market’s superstar, Dee Stewart, was always abreast of the new ways to market books. She was one of my first “friends” on Myspace (yes, that long ago). Over the years we would virtually meet on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Uterrli, Blogtalkradio, Talkshoe, Youtube, Pinterest, Digg and any new social media. We were both “early adopters”  and loved “social media candy.” 

She was also one of the first Christian authors I knew to have a blog – and know how to use it for marketing. 

She worked that Blogspot, and eventually WordPress and then Tumblr! She was a leader in the Christian book promotion field – especially a trendsetter in online publicity for authors.

On October 5, 2012 – Dee died. She had a heart condition.  What’s so sad, she was awaiting to have a pacemaker put in on Oct. 8 which could have fixed her condition. The surgery was just three days away – and she collapsed and died.

I was crushed. It’s still hard to think about it and it’s taken me over a month to write about it.

Three days.

I remember Dee fondly. I will miss her. I miss her energy. Her passion. She was the biggest booster for Christian fiction I knew. We would talk for hours about how Christian authors could get their message out – quicker, faster, better. Because we both knew, that Jesus is coming soon. No time to waste.

She believed, like me, if God gave you a message, you must share it to the best of your ability. 

We did a teleseminar together, “THE STATE OF CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING,” with our other literary Christian Fiction buddy, Marina Woods. Marina is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Good Girl Book Club Online.

So in honor of Dee, me and Marina will do another “State of Christian Publishing” on Tuesday, November 20 at 8:30 p.m EST.

But we both know that Christian Publishing will never be the same without Davidae “Dee” Stewart.

It’s been over 30 days since Dee has gone on to glory and Thanksgiving is coming up and then Christmas. Our heart breaks for her daughter and the rest of her family because we know the holidays are tough when you’ve lost a loved on.  We are still praying for them, especially, Selah, Dee’s #1 fan. (Her ten-year-old daughter).

So, what do we do now? What would DEE do?

That’s what I think about often. When authors query me or Marina, we just shake our heads sometimes.  Why? Because, a vast majority of all authors, regardless of skin color or religion, are struggling to stay afloat but more African American Christian writers are struggling: not selling books and losing money.

Yet, there are more Christian authors being published today than any other time in history.

BUT … if they don’t learn marketing and how to promote their books, they will not fulfill their God-given destiny.

So, on Tuesday, November 20, at 8:30, me and Marina will host a free teleseminar. Sign up and get the game plan to make 2013 your best year yet.  Make Dee proud.

I could go on and on about Dee (her pen name Mirander Parker) but tune in on Tuesday and hear first hand how she impacted the industry, how she impacted us personally and you can also tell us how she impacted your Christian writer’s walk too.

The State Of Christian Publishing.     We want to empower you to make sure you leave a strong legacy,

just like Dee did.

 

 Rest in Peace, Dee.

She loved the Lord, He just called her home.