Welcome to Fruitbearer Publishing, LLC

A FRIENDLY STARTING PLACE FOR BUDDING AUTHORS (and published authors, too!)

Independent Publishing: A Viable Option

Hi! I'm Candy Abbott, managing partner of Fruitbearer. My husband, Drew, and I began the company in July 1999. The whole publishing industry is changing by leaps and bounds, and we are doing our best to keep abreast of the latest technology. Our goal for 2012 is to convert all our titles to e-books. With Print On Demand, you can order as few as one (1) book instead of loading up your attic or garage. And we now work with Ingram, the distributor most bookstores use, for nationwide--even worldwide--distribution and fulfillment. All our titles are listed on Amazon, and we include a website design/hosting service as part of our author package. We are committed to high quality products and personalized service. Check us out!

Unless you are a major name or public figure, it’s hard to land a traditional publishing contract. If you are among the fortunate, you can expect to be published in two to three years. With Fruitbearer, as an independently published author, you can have a quality book within six months; while responsible for the initial outlay, you keep more of the profits. This is especially important if you have a speaking ministry, outreach, or congregation eagerly awaiting your project.

Fruitbearer Publishing, L.L.C. started small but now has a team of editors and associates who freelance for well-known houses. Fruitbearer has earned a respected name in the industry, and self-publishing has gained credibility over the years. But there are some dangers. Authors who self-publish without a commitment to excellence are vulnerable to paying big bucks for a shoddy product. Therefore, Fruitbearer encourages its clients to:

• Learn. Attend writer’s conferences and study resources that will strengthen your knowledge of the craft.
  

• Find mentors or writing coaches.
  

• Participate in a critique group.
  

• Part with your ego; heed editors’ advice. Professionals rewrite; amateurs cling to their words.
  

• Count the cost. Publishing is an investment of both time and resources.
  

• Develop a marketing plan; even traditional publishers provide only an initial PR thrust; then you’re on your own.
  

• Pray always, about everything—for God’s wisdom and guidance at every stage.
  

Does your manuscript have to be spiritual to be a Fruitbearer publication? No. But it must build up the reader and contain a meaningful message that does not conflict with the Scriptures.

How Fruitbearer Publishing Began

The inspiration for Fruitbearer Publishing company came four years after self-publishing the book by the same name, Fruitbearer: What Can I Do For You, Lord? In my journal entry of May 13, 1998, I felt the Holy Spirit saying,

"Writing and printing your book are just the beginning of the blessings, daughter. They are seeds, each planted in fertile soil and beginning to produce good fruit. The fruit comes not only from those who read Fruitbearer, but the book itself contains seeds for other publications you will be initiating. These will be planted in fields you have never even imagined."

Questions poured out of me about the shape and purpose of the publishing company, and the Lord answered them all, one by one, including some much-needed advice:

"Relax, dear one. This is not a breakneck speed project. It is a life work. The work is important, true, but there is yet time. The vision is still new to you. Don't rush the details. Rather, let Me guide you daily in the direction you are to take. Capture and save the ideas, but do not attempt to develop any of them yet. In time you will see which concepts are from Me and which ones are diversions that would hinder the work I am calling you to do.

"You are to bring all ideas, suggestions and offers of help to Drew for his reaction before committing to anything that will become a part of the foundation of Fruitbearer Publishing. He is your earthly partner, and I am your heavenly partner. It is a three-way partnership, with all three parts having equal roles and authority. At every phase, all three elements must be in harmony."

When it came time to develop the Mission Statement and Business Plan for Fruitbearer Publishing, Candy's Creations was already in place as a sole proprietorship. Thus, Fruitbearer Publishing became a branch of Candy's Creations. In 2008, with publishing becoming the primary aspect, we changed from a sole proprietorship to an L.L.C. Ever since the publishing company began in 1998, Drew and I enjoyed the adventure of following where the Spirit leads—and pacing ourselves accordingly.

Encouragement for Writers on the Delmarva Peninsula

If you live within driving distance of Georgetown, DE, we have an active critique group you may find helpful. Delmarva Christian Writers' Fellowship is a friendly group, with no membership fee, so don't be shy--we would give you a warm welcome the third Saturday of any month (except August). Please click the logo to visit our website for meeting time/location. 

GOLD PEN PROPHECY. This prophecy was given on November 24, 2003. If you are a Christian who writes, composes music, or publishes as God leads, this will encourage you to press on.

Do you have a call from God to write? Click on The Parable of the Three Scribes for a tract in PDF format. If you have been faithful to your call, this parable will affirm your faithful use of your gift. If you've been procrastinating or living in a state of fear about your writing, brace yourself for a sense of conviction.