"No matter how far a person can go, the horizon is still way beyond you." -- Zora Neal Hurston
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BIG IN JAPAN
College freshman Kierra "KiKi" Sheard is doing what most college students are doing this time of year -- giving thanks for having made it through the first semester and readying for the start of the new semester following the holiday break. However, KiKi is anything but "typical," having a No. 1 single on Japan's radio charts!
The EMI Gospel artist's single "Let Go" is No. 1 on both the overall/combined international and domestic radio charts in Japan and No. 5 on "Tokyo Hot 100" -- the music chart for the largest pop radio station in Japan, J-Wave. "Let Go" is featured on Sheard’s remix CD, Just Until ... , released summer 2005 as a "bridge project" for fans waiting for the teen sensation's next full-length CD.
KiKi -- nominated for three 2006 Stellar Awards -- was also recently lauded by international superstar Mariah Carey, noted in an interview that Kiki was one of her favorite artists.
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FROM PRINT TO SCREEN ...
Another Christian novel is headed to the screen: Lynn Austin's Christy Award-winning Hidden Places (Bethany House, 2001) will debut as a Hallmark Original Movie on the Hallmark channel Jan. 28.
Check your local listings for stations and airtimes.
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WEEKLY TALENT SEARCH
The 2005 Exalting Him Christian Talent Search is set to air worldwide, on the Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN), beginning tonight. The special has a brand new format with shows scheduled weekly on Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26 and Feb. 2 beginning each night at 4 p.m. Pacific / 7 p.m. Eastern. Exalting Him 2005 is hosted by Christian recording artist Nicole C. Mullen.
The winner is set to receive a recording contract from Vital Communications.
"The Soloists" airs tonight (Jan. 5) and will include nine individuals from across the country, each with their own unique style of music. During the course of this show, the nine soloists will be narrowed to four who will compete in the show airing on Thursday, Jan. 19.
"The Groups" airs Jan. 12, and will include the top nine ensembles from across the United States. They include Gospel, praise & worship, rap, contemporary and a capella. The panel of judges will narrowing the field to four groups, which will return Thursday, Jan. 26.
"The Finale" airs Thursday, Feb. 2, as the one remaining soloist and the one remaining group showcase their gifts and to one ultimately receiving a recording contract. "The Finale" will also include a performance from the winners of Exalting Him 2004, Julian Drive.
For more information on the contest or its sponsors visit www.ExaltingHim2006.com or call (615) 264-5531.
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Chris Well is author of the suspense thriller Forgiving Solomon Long (Harvest House), picked by Booklist as one of the Top 10 Christian Novels of 2005. Read the first chapter online.
Chris is a member of International Thriller Writers, Inc. Find him online at StudioWell.com, or at his blog Chris Well: Learning Curve. (Subscribe to the RSS Feed).
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