#147 Debra L. Butterfield has grown since joining the academy as a writer and editor due to the community support

So welcome. My name is Shelley Hitz.

And I'm CJ Hitz.

And we're here with Deborah L. Butterfield. Welcome, Deborah.

Thank you. Good to be here.

And we are featuring some of our academy members. And Deborah has not only been an Academy member since 2016, we were just figuring that out. But she's also now one of our mentors and she actually helps lead in the academy. And so we, we are just so grateful for you, Deborah, and just all that you do. But we wanted to share a little bit about your journey and first of all, just want to celebrate. You have written and published eight books, right?

Yes.

That is incredible.

Just an incredible feat. And also you, you know, Deborah is a full time editor and she was also previously a copywriter for Focus on the Family. So she has a lot of writing experience, you know, in the writing world. But we mentioned or we talked off air that we had met at a editing conference back in 2016 and then you joined the academy. So what do you feel like has changed for you, you know, in your writing journey, in your journey as an editor? So since you joined Christian Book Academy?

Well, most definitely gaining more confidence in my abilities.

Going to that editor's conference was a decision that I made. It was like, if I'm going to be an editor, then I should be attending an editor's conference. And that one was in Colorado Springs that year. My son was living in Colorado Springs. I had lived in Colorado Springs, so it was like a little bit of a vacation. But that's where I met you and was introduced to what you were doing. And then I later on made the decision to join the academy. And I have just really grown so much since that time, both as a writer and as an editor.

Yeah. And it's been really fun to watch your growth and you know, even just your confidence like you said. And you know, just see as you continue to publish your own books, but also helping other writers to publish their books because you're doing a lot of proofreading, a lot of editing.

And your editing business has grown through the years too, right?

Yes, it has. And I fell into editing. It was 2010. I was part of a writer's group here where I live. And one of the ladies in the writers group decided to start her own publishing business. And she, you know, of course as a publisher, you're getting manuscripts from lots of authors. A lot of times those manuscripts aren't really ready to be published. So she contacted me and said, how would you like to edit this manuscript for this person? And I Thought, okay, I'm not a trained editor. I don't even have a degree in English. So it was very new to me. And I took it on and discovered that I really loved doing it. And oddly enough, I was pretty good at it, too.

You have some natural abilities, probably from the Lord, and I'm glad that you love it, because people like me need people like you.

And, you know, now, you know, as we're recording this, it's 2021. So you've been editing for 11 years, and think about all of the words you've edited, all the experience you've had, and you know where you're at today. How many books would you estimate that you've edited over the years?

Oh, my goodness. You would ask that question.

Cross river has published over 25 books, and I have edited nearly every one of those books. And then, goodness, you know, probably another 20 or more on top of that. I've never counted. I thought about it, but I've never gone back to do it.

So, yeah, so maybe around 50 books. And, you know, just all of the things, the people that are being impacted by not only your books that you've written and published, but the books that you have edited for others and just the ways that you are now giving back to the writing community and the things that you're doing. But what would you say is. Are some of your favorite things that you've gotten out of Christian Book Academy?

Oh, by far, the community.

I know very few writers here in St. Joe, Missouri, where I live, and we hardly ever connect, and writing is such a solitary activity. So the community that the academy offers has been so vital to me, and even more so with COVID because all of the venues that I would normally find community were closed during that time.

But it's been wonderful. And I do the productivity parties each week, and I've developed friendships with many of the people that attend those on a regular basis. And it's just so nice to know that there are people out there who understand.

The difficulties and the joys of being a writer. And I say that because when I first moved here, of course, I had to make all new friends, and I barely had any, aside from church. I actually got my very first article published.

I was, you know, thrilled.

I went to church that night and told somebody I got an article published, and they just said, oh, okay, and walked off. And.

You know, I wanted to share my excitement with this person at church, but they didn't understand where my excitement was coming from. And, man, it kind of really popped my Balloon. So having community with people who are working at the same thing that you're working at is so important. And. And for me, I mean, I've learned a lot as a writer and as an editor through everything that you offer in the academy, but the community has been vital for me.

Yeah, you know, it's kind of like the illustration of like one log on a fire versus if you have, you know, keep adding logs to the fire. It's like it just keeps burning. And we can go out. Our passion can go out when we're riding out alone, when we're, you know, trying to do it on our own. And so that's one of the reasons that we created Christian Book Academy, is to create this community. And it really is more like a family. You know, you get to know people. And we've hired Deborah to host weekly productivity parties. And so those have been amazing. It's like a group writing session, so it's like you're not writing alone. And then three times a year, we have our virtual writing retreats, which now, Deborah, you're helping with some of those as well. And Sarah, So it's just been an amazing thing. Not only all the training, but like you said, the community and the Facebook group, as well as in the live events. And so we're just so grateful for you and thankful for you. And if people want to learn more about your eight published books, but also your editing services, where can they find you?

Well, my editing services they can find on TheMotivationalEditor.com and that website is the website that I have created for writers where I teach the craft of writing and, you know, teach about things to look for in editing and marketing. You'll also find my books there. But as an author, I have a new website which is just debraelbutterfield.com and that's strictly an author reader fan website.

Yeah, well, we are just. We are some of your biggest fans. We are cheering you on. We wanted to feature you because of all that we know that God is doing in and through your life as you just take that one courageous step after another. Right. It is like you have to keep doing it even after all these years. What year was it that you published your first book, by the way?

I published my first book in 2007.

Yeah. So you've been on this journey even a little bit longer than us. It was 2008 when we published our first book. So, I mean, but it's just, you know, every time it just keeps taking more, you know, another courageous step, another courageous step. And so we're just so proud of you. We're excited for all that God's doing in you. And thank you so much for. For being here and sharing part of your story.

You're welcome. Thank you so much for everything that you give to the Academy and the members. It's amazing. Well, you're a big part of that, Deborah.

Yeah, thank you so much. And we'll see you on the next productivity party.

All right, bye.