Deborah Vogts's Blog, page 131

College Dormitories, Garage Sales, and 90th Birthdays

The past two weeks have been extremely hectic. My husband and I moved our middle daughter into her college dormitory and have been trying to help her adjust to college life. She's been a bit overwhelmed with the change and is extremely homesick, so if you feel led, please cast up a prayer for her. 

 Then last weekend, my daughters and I held a garage sale--something we haven't done for several years. We decluttered our house and had a good sale, so it was worth the time and effort, but it did leave me in need of some rest...especially since I've been experiencing sciatic back pain again. If you remember, I had a similar incident last year at this time. I'm happy to report that this one hasn't been as bad or as long-lasting. I'm feeling better, but I'm glad to have a few days rest ahead of me.

That rest is short-lived, however, as this upcoming weekend my family and I will celebrate my grandma's 90th birthday. We're expecting relatives in from all across the country, (including our oldest daughter and son-in-law) so we are very excited about the reunion.
"Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot." Eccl. 5:18
All in all, life is good. How are you planning to spend your Labor Day Weekend? 

Social Networking

This will be my last post for the summer on my marketing journey, and it seems to be an ever-changing, hot topic ~ Social Networking!

Should an author participate in social networking, and if so, how often? How many networks? What if it interferes with your writing? Does it really gain readership? Do I need an author page? Do I really need to join Twitter? 


Oh, little engine. I don't know if I can make it up this last hill. It's so big, and I'm so tired. I'm not sure I have enough energy. What am I going to do?
Ah, little engine, I don't have the answers. But I can offer you my experience. When my first book released from Zondervan, my editor encouraged me to join Facebook and then my agent suggested I get a Twitter account. Until that time, I'd been reluctant to join the Networking Bandwagon. But I heeded their advice and decided to give it a try.

I joined Facebook, Shoutlife, and eventually Twitter. I also have profiles at a handful of other places such as LinkedIn, Goodreads, SheWrites, etc. but for learning purposes, I'll only comment on these three.


Facebook is by far, my favorite. I'm able to share more information with ease and do it in a visual way. I can post pictures of my books, writing events, recipes, family life, and interesting tidbits that hopefully interest people. I love it when people leave feedback, either by liking a post or by commenting. It's a great way to interact with possible readers.


Twitter is a network based on small "tweets" of information, and I'm not too involved with it. I've set up both accounts to receive my blog posts and also a daily scripture, and these go over well. But I don't spend much time "tweeting" about my daily events. You can also gain readers by "retweeting" interesting posts, and I do this on occasion.

Shoutlife is a Christian social network, and it's a great way to interact with other Christians. However, it is not as easily accessible nor is it as easy to leave posts. This past year, I haven't actively participated in this network as I find it too time-consuming. 

So, back to Facebook. I'm nearing the 3,000 member mark on my profile and will one day be forced to set up an Author Page. I have mixed feelings about this. When that time comes, I plan to switch over my profile to a page so as not to lose my friends. My posts will stay the same, but my interaction with them may be more limited. In order to interact with them on their profiles, I'll have to set up a "personal profile" that will be for family and close friends only. I'm not sure if this will be a good thing or not.

Some more Pros & Cons:


Con - Facebook is constantly changing their rules. In order to stay on top of those changes, you must check your settings regularly. This can be aggravating. 

Pro - I've met many people on Facebook who have gone to book signings and have purchased my books after "friending" me. This is worth the networking. And it's free promotion! 

Con - Networking can be time-consuming, especially if you allow yourself to click on your friends' profiles to see what they have been up to. Obviously, this is part of the exchange, but if you're not careful, it can waste not mere minutes, but hours. 

Pro - I've met people from high school, long-lost family members, and new friends on Facebook. It's a great tool to help get the word out about a new book or event. 

Con - There's a fine line between networking just enough to let people into your world and share your life with them, yet conservative enough not to let it take over your world. Discipline is key. 


In the end, should an author join a Social Network? - Yes! Just be careful of the time you spend there, so it doesn't interfere with your writing time. 

Join as many networks as you feel you can keep up with. I would suggest 2 or 3. If you find it's getting in the way of your writing, then it's probably time to drop one of them or more. Or just spend less time there. When life is especially busy, I may only check in once a day. Sometimes, I give myself a time-limit, which is a healthy thing to do all the time. 

Now it's your turn. What do you like about Social Networking? Has it helped you gain readership? What words of advice do you have to offer? Share with us in the comments below. 

Mailbox Monday

Another letter from a reader of Snow Melts in Spring:
Dear Deborah,
I am a fan of Zondervan publications and when this book came up on Amazon for the Kindle, I put it into the library.  I have just now finished it, and would like to congratulate you on a beautiful and well written story.  Christian writing is a very uplifting endeavor and can be most difficult to strike a balance between a good story and what some consider "preaching".


This story had the right amount of difficulty with the love of Gil and Mattie to reconcile with the love of God. I do truly believe in a "match made in Heaven".  I was fortunate enough to have that happen with my wife 25 years ago and to this day, I thank God for her love each and every day.

Please continue writing as I feel your work will have a very large impact on the Christian Literature genre. God Bless you and your family. Jesus is Lord! - TM

Italian Cream Cake

This is a recipe my youngest daughter tested this summer for a county fair project. It's wonderful.


1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
5 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans


Cream Cheese Frosting:


2 packages (1-8 oz and 1-3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
3-3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup coconut


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Beat just until combined. Stir in coconut and pecans.


In small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into batter. Pour into three greased and floured 9-in round baking pans. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.


For frosting, In large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Decorate with chopped pecans and coconut. Serves 12-15

Ice Lake & Highland Mary Lake Trails - Camping Adventure Part IV

I thought I'd conclude my camping adventure blog series with a post about some of our hiking trails. The San Juan's are massive mountains, many of them ranging 13,000 - 14,000 feet in elevation. In the past we've rented a jeep to see the sites, but this year we decided to try hiking.
One of the hikes we planned was near our campground to see a waterfall not listed on any of our maps. It was one my husband and youngest daughter found on a previous vacation. Although I'm sure it has an official name, we fondly call it Abbey Falls. 

Another hike my family went on was the Ice Lakes Trail. Everyone but me, as it was the first day and I was suffering a bit from altitude sickness. 

Ice Lakes is a 7 mile hike (round trip), with an elevation gain of 2400'. I'm still not sure why my husband decided to take on the hardest hike the first day . . . but I really regret missing out as the sites were beautiful.

I hope to go on this trail next time and make it at least to the first lake where some of the most amazing flowers grow in the mountain meadows.  

Another day, we braved the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray and spent some time at the Lower Cascade Falls. Again it rained, and the trail was slick and muddy. Our last hiking day, we'd planned to take-on the Highland Mary Lake Trail. As with Animas Forks, we had to access the trail-head on a 4-wheel drive road. (My poor husband). The woman at the Visitor's Center said we'd need to cross a creek toward the end. Well, we did go over a bridge that crossed a creek . . . but half a mile later, we realized she meant we'd need to literally cross a low-water creek. And my husband wasn't willing to do this.

Two in our party decided to cross the creek on foot. But my husband thought we could blaze our own trail and find a better place to cross. Now, in case you're unaware, the mountain streams were gushing with water, and those pretty little boulders and rocks were slick little devils. 
So, we braved our own trail and hiked upward until we managed to find a place to cross the creek . . . only to realize that we would need to cross the creek again to access the trail-head. Can you tell I'm a bit miffed at this point, with my rugged, adventuresome husband as well as at myself for not following my oldest daughter and son-in-law at the beginning???

We managed to hike to the second stream-head, but still no safe crossing. We can see the other members of our group above us on the trail, waving and wondering what we're going to do. So, what do I do? I take it upon myself to find a place to cross. I placed my foot on what I thought was a safe boulder. And remember thinking, Oh no! I'm going to fall in!

And then I remember thinking: Oh no! It's really cold!And then: Oh no! It's really deep!
I fell into a deep hole in the stream, covered by water up to my neck. And thankfully, my husband was right there to pull me out.

Suffice it to say, when my legs were no longer wet, shaking, noodles we trecked back the way we came, back to our truck, and called it a day. So much for seeing the sites at Highland Mary Lake. There's always next time. And next time, I'm bringing trash sacks to put over my boots!

Writing Conferences

This week I thought it would be good to go over the importance of  attending writers conferences. *Taken from a series of articles on the CAN Marketing Blog. How important is it for you to attend writers conferences once you are published? And how many should you attend? With the high cost of attending conferences, how do you make the most of them? Should you spend all your time in workshops or try to network? Or teach a class? What about giving back by way of volunteering? Let's go over a few of these points now.
ATTENDING CONFERENCES ~ Last September was my eighth year to attend the ACFW conference, and I always return home refreshed and energized to work on my projects. That's a great benefit and visiting with other authors, your editor/s, and agent are so important in this business. But conferences are expensive. "Oh little engine, I just don't know if I can travel to a conference this year . . . so many miles, so much money."It's important to weigh the pros and cons of attending. Maybe money is tight, and this is the year you decide to attend a local conference instead of a national one. Or perhaps you could consider teaching a workshop or two as a way to even out some of the expenses? Could you drive instead of fly? Or room with another person? Or possibly three? All of these are things to think about.
Here with author friends after breakfast one morning at an ACFW conferenceBecause family time is so important to me, I try to limit myself each year to one national conference and one local conference, both having different things to offer. Some authers will choose to teach writing classes as a way to afford going to more than one national conference. You'll have to figure out what works for you and your family, as well as your writing schedule and deadlines.NEVER STOP LEARNING ~ Obviously, you want to increase your knowledge about the writing craft, and you do this by attending workshops. As a published author, your responsibilities at conference may increase, and you may find it difficult to attend every workshop. That's okay. Make a list of workshops you really want to go to and try your best to fit it into your schedule. Then for those workshops you missed, you can always purchase conference cds and listen to them later.NETWORKING ~ Writing is a solitary business. We're stuck at our computers all day with only our characters and our imagination to keep us company. And sometimes it's hard to talk about our writing to family or friends because they just don't "get it." So being able to visit with other writers and learn how they handle their workload or some of the stresses is a wonderful blessing.
Camy Tang and I had a nice visit one morning at conference.Often before conference, I'll make a list of people I want to try to meet or visit with. Sometimes I'll schedule an appointment to grab a coffee or have lunch with someone I'm interested in knowing better, as it can be difficult to do this when in the thick of "conference."Pictured here with riding companions, Sara Meisinger and Julane HiebertBecause I don't care to fly, I will usually try to drive to conference. Last year I rode with three other ladies and our time of fellowship was so much fun. We talked about our expectations, and giggled, and talked some more about workshops and publishers, and giggled and giggled. Such fun!GIVING BACK ~ Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to others, especially unpublished authors. You've been through the steps of publishing, you know the highs and lows associated with the business and this wisdom can be shared. Consider being a mentor at conference as a way to do this. Or simply stop and visit with someone who looks overwhelmed or might need a hug or someone to talk to. Lending an ear to someone in this mental state is so appreciated.There are many opportunities to volunteer at conference--working in the bookstore, being a meal greeter, assisting for a workshop or at the appointment table, or even in the prayer room. Some of my most memorable moments have been spent praying with and for another attendee.All in all, conferences are a valuable learning tool in the writing business. It's hard to make connections with people you never meet, and having a face to go with a name you've contacted online brings that relationship to a whole new level. If at all possible, try to attend at least one national conference a year. There are many to chose from. Here is a listing of 2011 Christian Writing Conferences you might consider.Next Tuesday I'll visit with you about social networking. Until then, keep chugging up those hills . . .

Animas Forks - Camping Adventure Part III

  One of our goals for this year's camping vacation was to take our son-in-law to see the ghost mining town of Animas Forks. Most of the mining towns in the San Juans are in dire ruins, but not Animas Forks.

We'd been there previously while taking the Loop Tour of Engineer and Cinnamon Pass. This year, however, we were unable to rent a jeep, so we braved the 4-wheel drive road in our own Yukon (or Mama's Grocery Machine) as my husband likes to call it.


Okay, so it was my idea, and I dearly began to regret getting my husband involved in this idea when the road quickly turned narrow, rough and rowdy. What was I thinking?!!! If you're unable to read the sign above it says: Driving off-road is illegal. Stay on maintained roads. Ha! As though anyone is going to get off one of these roads.

He took it slow and steady, and we eventually arrived at our destination. And what a beautiful site it was. 

The first log cabin in Animas Forks was built in 1873 and within ten years, the population had grown to nearly 450 people. It never fails to amaze me how well preserved this ghost town remains.
At 11,200 feet elevation, you know the snow gets really deep here in the winter. One cabin journal mentions that the owner would stick a cup out her window to withdraw snow for drinking, the snow packed up to her rooftop. 

I think this three-story home is really awesome. Built by William Duncan in 1879 with an impressive bay window. It must have been horribly cold with the wind blowing in through all those windows. 

But what a glorious site it would have been each morning when you awoke. 


This is my favorite home, built by Charles Gustavson in 1907 with a lovely front porch. 

Journals explain that the Gustavson's used newspaper insulation between the walls, but brrrr it would have been cold. Many of these homes had six or more rooms, and this house had a three-seated privy. Now that's convenience! Though it started raining when we arrived in Animas Forks, the sun came out at the end for some glorious picture-taking.
Next time, I'll write about some of our hiking adventures, one of them ending with a splash!

Ham and Beans

Every year in July, our small town feeds hundreds of people for a free bean feed during the annual reunion. The beans are cooked outdoors in large cast iron kettles and then served right out of the pots. People eat them right there on the courthouse lawn or take them home to serve to their family. Here's an easy recipe you can serve to your family.

8 cups water
8 oz. northern beans
8 oz. pinto beans
2 cups cubed ham
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

In large pot, bring water and beans to a boil; boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 1 hour.

Stir in ham, onion, onion powder, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until beans are tender about 2 hours. Add water as necessary. Serve with cornbread. Serves 6.

Moose and Columbine - Camping Adventure Part II

When we arrived at the South Mineral Springs Campground near Silverton, CO, the camp host informed us that several campers had sited bears coming down the mountain as well as moose in the campground. In fact, just three days earlier, a moose and his companion were sited in the city of Silverton. 
That's all it took for our eager campers to go on a walk-about in hopes of a treasured wildlife siting. First day--no sign of moose or bear, although I did see some mule deer the next morning when I woke early. 


After five days in the camp, all we'd found were a few possible moose tracks (although it's hard to tell due to the daily rains)

 and some moose scat (don't eat the pecans!).
What we did see, however, were some beautiful columbine and mountain wildflowers.

Next week, I'll write about an adventure to a ghost mining town. Until then, enjoy the moments . . .

Scheduling Blog Tours

This week I want to visit with you about scheduling blog tours. Some publishers will take care of this for you, but if not, there are steps you can take to do it yourself. *Taken from a series of articles on the CAN Marketing Blog.The last two years, I have been fortunate to have blog tours scheduled for me by my publisher, but I also took steps to make the most of my influencer spots. I did that by: 1) checking in with those on my influencer list to make sure they received a copy of my new release, 2) making myself available to them for author interviews and other promotion, 3) sending them an email attachment of my author photo/book cover, and 4) offering to give away a book, should they request it.These same steps can be taken when you want to schedule your own blog tour. The first thing you'll want to do is to decide how many books you want to make available for the tour, and then decide what dates you want the tour to take place. Usually, blog tours are scheduled a few weeks after the release date and may run for one or two weeks, though there is nothing wrong with them lasting as long as a month. Once you have the dates, you can begin collecting a list of bloggers interested in helping with promotion. Keep in mind that it is most helpful to seek bloggers whose readership would have an interest in your book. For instance, for my Seasons of the Tallgrass series, I looked for bloggers who had an interest in country living, horses, or ranching. That way, you'll reach your target market when the tour takes place. Another way to find bloggers is through online reader or social groups that you belong to. Oh little engine, I don't know if I can do this. Promoting myself this way may be too big of a hill to climb.Yes, it is hard to put yourself out there to people this way, but remember, bloggers are always looking for content they can publish. Most will be more than happy to help you with promotion. Besides, once you reach this step, you're halfway there. The rest is downhill. . .After you have your list of bloggers, you'll want to prepare items to send to them such as your author bio and photo, your book cover and blurb, links for ordering and for your Web site, and possibly even a "canned" interview with prewritten questions and answers they might use. (Answering multiple interviews can be fun but also very time-consuming, so the canned interview can be a real blessing.) Email these items to your blog tour list, or you could even make the information available to them on a temporary blog. If you're unable to provide extra giveaway books, you may want to inform your bloggers that they are welcome to give away the book you send them, should they want to offer a book drawing for their readers.  When it comes time for your blog tour, take time to visit each site and leave a comment for the readers. You will also want to share your blog tour links on your own blog and social sites, and be sure to mention if a book is being offered as a giveaway. Lastly, be sure to show your thanks by sending a personal email or letter to those on your blog tour. It will go a long way to create a lasting and favorable impression.If all of this seems too intimidating or time consuming, here are a few resources that will do the job for you:www.blogtourspot.comwww.christianfictionblogalliance.comwww.firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com (free)Next Tuesday I'll visit about Writer's Conferences. Until then, keep chugging up those hills . . .