Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 104
October 8, 2019
Let's Talk #ownvoices
#ownvoices
What is it?
Why does it exist? And what does it mean? What does it mean to authors of color? All authors? Is it good? Important? Is it fair?
#ownvoices came about as a Twitter hashtag to draw attention to the lack of authors of color in traditional publishing.
It exists because publishers may hesitate about producing books with what they fear is a narrower focus. Will white people buy books with black characters?
Will authors of color find an audience that crosses all types of people? And is it wrong for white authors to write black characters?
Of course not. That’s silly. Just as silly as me saying black authors can’t write white characters because people are people. God made us all and just changed the wrapping from time to time. But what’s been lacking is opportunity, and that’s clutch. So talking about #ownvoices helps open those doors of opportunity and for the next two days we’re conversing with four great gals, Belle Calhoune, Stacy Hawkins Adams, Toni Shiloh and Patricia Woodside… And anyone else who stops by! This is Ruthy talking. You hear from me all the time… for the next two days, it’s their turn.
Welcome, ladies.
Belle Calhoune is a Publisher’s Weekly best-selling author of inspirational and heartwarming romance. Raised in a small town in Massachusetts, Belle had the pleasure of growing up right across the street from a public library. Married to her college sweetheart, Belle has two lovely daughters and two very spoiled dogs. She is a member of the RWA Honor Roll and a recipient of the Angeline Bishop award for multicultural series. She’s published 40 novels with four additional books being released in 2020 and 2021 from Harlequin Love Inspired.
For me, own voices means I can write characters who reflect my own diversity as well as being able to present a snapshot of the world I inhabit. It’s an opportunity as an author to represent people of color in my romance novels. It’s important that readers see and understand that diverse people love just as hard as the rest of the population.
I’ve been fortunate in that Harlequin Love Inspired has allowed me the freedom to write diverse stories. In my current series, three of the four books have diverse main characters. With my Indie books I’m able to write diverse characters to my heart’s content. Thankfully, things are changing in the publishing industry and more doors are opening for diverse projects. I am personally experiencing this (as well as a host of my diverse author friends) and I’m really excited about this trend in publishing. I’m seeing lots of new contracts and wonderful opportunities emerging for diverse authors.
Ruthy note: One of Belle's opportunities included THIS! Seeing one of her books be made into a movie! Love, Alaska premiers later this month, one of the first Harlequin movies from Brain Power studios!!
And from Toni Shiloh:
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian contemporary romance author. Once she understood the powerful saving grace, thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.
The first time I saw #ownvoices a feeling of excitement flew through me. And yeah I may have did a fist pump. I'm all about the writing community coming together to show the diversity of the world. I love seeing that unity, but there's something special about #ownvoices. Of seeing covers with ethnic people written by an ethnic author. It's not something that's prevalent in the world which is disheartening in of itself. So when I see #ownvoices, when I see authors of color writing characters of color, I know we're one step closer to closing the gap between how the world is presented to us to how it truly is. Diverse.
From Award-winning author Stacy Hawkins Adams:
Two people can be sitting side by side in a classroom, work setting, social space or airplane seeing and hearing the same message, yet experiencing it in different ways, based on their life experiences, their socioeconomic status and yes, often their race. Because in our nation, race does play a factor in how life is experienced.
All that said, those same two people can be reading a great book, caring about the main character’s arc of growth and how she (or he) pushes forward or prays her way out of a challenging situation and feel the exact same way about that character when they reach The End – feeling satisfied with her growth and or her happy ending. Suppose this book featured a character whose hair color and skin hue wasn’t immediately defined? Suppose the two people reading it didn’t even care by the time they read far enough into the novel to realize that while they were Caucasian, they were reading about an African American protagonist, or vice versa?
This supposition isn’t far-fetched. During the season in which I penned seven novels and one nonfiction book – 2004-2016 – I often heard from women readers about how connected they felt to the characters I created and how surprised they were to learn that the lead character was of an ethnicity different from their own. The richness of the plot and transparency of the character’s journey had pulled them in, and by the time they realized the difference, it didn’t really matter. A few also candidly shared with me that the covers of my first six novels, which featured African American men women or men, had caused them to hesitate before borrowing from a library or buying the books; but the plots had intrigued them enough to try.
I share this not to cast judgment or cause consternation, but to point out the fact that when given a chance to focus on one’s humanity and on issues that are common to all, readers can and will find a common reason to keep reading and cheering on (or lecturing) characters, until journey’s end. Because of this, I’m an advocate for ensuring that diverse stories and characters are published widely and widely read. For, the more we’re able to show how much we have in common through the power of storytelling, the more we can build bridges and connect more fully with each other in reality. That’s a worthy goal for those of us committed to writing about faith.
My publisher and I wound up listening to readers’ feedback, and my seventh through ninth novels featured covers that reflected the themes of the book without showing faces – allowing readers to “see” themselves in each story in some way. The characters were indeed African American (mostly), with other ethnicities featured as warranted; yet as with my previous books, the character-driven plots carried the story, and readers were willing to go along for the ride.
Therefore, my #ownvoices desire is that even as we acknowledge the publishing industry being a business, where bottom-line sales figures matter and drive the charge, we consider ways to elevate stories and publish writers who reflect humanity, in all of its shades, hues and cultures. Given that we each have distinct experiences with individuals within and outside of our race or culture, we writers have unique opportunities to dissect those experiences in our own unique ways and stories – ways that I’m confident will help readers learn, grow and consider their own journeys of intersectionality – faith-wise and beyond.
And from editor/author Patricia Woodside:
As an author, Patricia Woodside has been published in several
anthologies, including How I Met My Sweetheart, The Motherhood Diaries 2 and All I Want for Christmas. A longtime book reviewer and blogger, her reviews for Fresh Fiction, SORMAG and her former blog, Readin N Writin with Patricia, continue to be quoted. She is a freelance editor and owner of Story Dazzle Editing and Publishing Services, using her talents to help new and published authors of fiction and non-fiction polish their work to a dazzling shine. In her spare time, Patricia is an avid reader and the administrator of the Facebook writer accountability group, Writers Writing Forward.
What #ownvoices means to me is telling and receiving the stories of those who have been marginalized as told by them in their own words presented through their own lens. It means not having to jump extra hurdles to be seen and heard. Having doors open wide for us to enter and present our authentic selves. Not tailoring our message or presentation to meet anyone else’s expectations of who we should be, what we should say, and how we should feel, but saying what we need to say the way we need to say it. There has always been literature by and about people of color. #Ownvoices allows us to pursue mainstream opportunities while also creating our own arenas, not because we have to but because we choose to. To my mind, #ownvoices doesn’t mean others can’t imagine, envision and create characters unlike themselves, but it does mean the creators do their homework—researching, observing, questioning, exploring and collaborating in support of the development of genuine, realistic art.
Ruthy again:
Let the conversation begin. The gals will stop by and answer questions and share more thoughts today and tomorrow... And we have two giveaways. Belle and Toni have both donated a book to give away. From Belle we have this:
And this beautiful just-released anthology from Toni Shiloh:
Coffee's on!
And the donuts/doughnuts are on the back table.
Let's chat.
What is it?
Why does it exist? And what does it mean? What does it mean to authors of color? All authors? Is it good? Important? Is it fair?
#ownvoices came about as a Twitter hashtag to draw attention to the lack of authors of color in traditional publishing.
It exists because publishers may hesitate about producing books with what they fear is a narrower focus. Will white people buy books with black characters?
Will authors of color find an audience that crosses all types of people? And is it wrong for white authors to write black characters?
Of course not. That’s silly. Just as silly as me saying black authors can’t write white characters because people are people. God made us all and just changed the wrapping from time to time. But what’s been lacking is opportunity, and that’s clutch. So talking about #ownvoices helps open those doors of opportunity and for the next two days we’re conversing with four great gals, Belle Calhoune, Stacy Hawkins Adams, Toni Shiloh and Patricia Woodside… And anyone else who stops by! This is Ruthy talking. You hear from me all the time… for the next two days, it’s their turn.
Welcome, ladies.
Belle Calhoune is a Publisher’s Weekly best-selling author of inspirational and heartwarming romance. Raised in a small town in Massachusetts, Belle had the pleasure of growing up right across the street from a public library. Married to her college sweetheart, Belle has two lovely daughters and two very spoiled dogs. She is a member of the RWA Honor Roll and a recipient of the Angeline Bishop award for multicultural series. She’s published 40 novels with four additional books being released in 2020 and 2021 from Harlequin Love Inspired.
For me, own voices means I can write characters who reflect my own diversity as well as being able to present a snapshot of the world I inhabit. It’s an opportunity as an author to represent people of color in my romance novels. It’s important that readers see and understand that diverse people love just as hard as the rest of the population.
I’ve been fortunate in that Harlequin Love Inspired has allowed me the freedom to write diverse stories. In my current series, three of the four books have diverse main characters. With my Indie books I’m able to write diverse characters to my heart’s content. Thankfully, things are changing in the publishing industry and more doors are opening for diverse projects. I am personally experiencing this (as well as a host of my diverse author friends) and I’m really excited about this trend in publishing. I’m seeing lots of new contracts and wonderful opportunities emerging for diverse authors.
Ruthy note: One of Belle's opportunities included THIS! Seeing one of her books be made into a movie! Love, Alaska premiers later this month, one of the first Harlequin movies from Brain Power studios!!
And from Toni Shiloh:
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian contemporary romance author. Once she understood the powerful saving grace, thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.The first time I saw #ownvoices a feeling of excitement flew through me. And yeah I may have did a fist pump. I'm all about the writing community coming together to show the diversity of the world. I love seeing that unity, but there's something special about #ownvoices. Of seeing covers with ethnic people written by an ethnic author. It's not something that's prevalent in the world which is disheartening in of itself. So when I see #ownvoices, when I see authors of color writing characters of color, I know we're one step closer to closing the gap between how the world is presented to us to how it truly is. Diverse.
From Award-winning author Stacy Hawkins Adams:
Two people can be sitting side by side in a classroom, work setting, social space or airplane seeing and hearing the same message, yet experiencing it in different ways, based on their life experiences, their socioeconomic status and yes, often their race. Because in our nation, race does play a factor in how life is experienced. All that said, those same two people can be reading a great book, caring about the main character’s arc of growth and how she (or he) pushes forward or prays her way out of a challenging situation and feel the exact same way about that character when they reach The End – feeling satisfied with her growth and or her happy ending. Suppose this book featured a character whose hair color and skin hue wasn’t immediately defined? Suppose the two people reading it didn’t even care by the time they read far enough into the novel to realize that while they were Caucasian, they were reading about an African American protagonist, or vice versa?
This supposition isn’t far-fetched. During the season in which I penned seven novels and one nonfiction book – 2004-2016 – I often heard from women readers about how connected they felt to the characters I created and how surprised they were to learn that the lead character was of an ethnicity different from their own. The richness of the plot and transparency of the character’s journey had pulled them in, and by the time they realized the difference, it didn’t really matter. A few also candidly shared with me that the covers of my first six novels, which featured African American men women or men, had caused them to hesitate before borrowing from a library or buying the books; but the plots had intrigued them enough to try.
I share this not to cast judgment or cause consternation, but to point out the fact that when given a chance to focus on one’s humanity and on issues that are common to all, readers can and will find a common reason to keep reading and cheering on (or lecturing) characters, until journey’s end. Because of this, I’m an advocate for ensuring that diverse stories and characters are published widely and widely read. For, the more we’re able to show how much we have in common through the power of storytelling, the more we can build bridges and connect more fully with each other in reality. That’s a worthy goal for those of us committed to writing about faith.
My publisher and I wound up listening to readers’ feedback, and my seventh through ninth novels featured covers that reflected the themes of the book without showing faces – allowing readers to “see” themselves in each story in some way. The characters were indeed African American (mostly), with other ethnicities featured as warranted; yet as with my previous books, the character-driven plots carried the story, and readers were willing to go along for the ride.
Therefore, my #ownvoices desire is that even as we acknowledge the publishing industry being a business, where bottom-line sales figures matter and drive the charge, we consider ways to elevate stories and publish writers who reflect humanity, in all of its shades, hues and cultures. Given that we each have distinct experiences with individuals within and outside of our race or culture, we writers have unique opportunities to dissect those experiences in our own unique ways and stories – ways that I’m confident will help readers learn, grow and consider their own journeys of intersectionality – faith-wise and beyond.
And from editor/author Patricia Woodside:
As an author, Patricia Woodside has been published in several
anthologies, including How I Met My Sweetheart, The Motherhood Diaries 2 and All I Want for Christmas. A longtime book reviewer and blogger, her reviews for Fresh Fiction, SORMAG and her former blog, Readin N Writin with Patricia, continue to be quoted. She is a freelance editor and owner of Story Dazzle Editing and Publishing Services, using her talents to help new and published authors of fiction and non-fiction polish their work to a dazzling shine. In her spare time, Patricia is an avid reader and the administrator of the Facebook writer accountability group, Writers Writing Forward. What #ownvoices means to me is telling and receiving the stories of those who have been marginalized as told by them in their own words presented through their own lens. It means not having to jump extra hurdles to be seen and heard. Having doors open wide for us to enter and present our authentic selves. Not tailoring our message or presentation to meet anyone else’s expectations of who we should be, what we should say, and how we should feel, but saying what we need to say the way we need to say it. There has always been literature by and about people of color. #Ownvoices allows us to pursue mainstream opportunities while also creating our own arenas, not because we have to but because we choose to. To my mind, #ownvoices doesn’t mean others can’t imagine, envision and create characters unlike themselves, but it does mean the creators do their homework—researching, observing, questioning, exploring and collaborating in support of the development of genuine, realistic art.
Ruthy again:
Let the conversation begin. The gals will stop by and answer questions and share more thoughts today and tomorrow... And we have two giveaways. Belle and Toni have both donated a book to give away. From Belle we have this:
And this beautiful just-released anthology from Toni Shiloh:
Coffee's on!And the donuts/doughnuts are on the back table.
Let's chat.
October 6, 2019
Setting the Scene
Driving around my home this time of year is a deep pleasure.The corn is coming out of the fields, see the picture above, the bit of green left? As soon as that's gone...and it is in some fields, the harvest begins.It made me think about scene setting.My new book Aiming for Love just released and this is one of the few times I've actually taken a research trip, specifically got on an airplane and flew to the place my book was going to be.I'm putting up these pictures because I'm enjoying 'setting the scene' for my home in Nebraska...for you.This is a bean field but what I enjoy about this picture is the rolling hills stretching as far as the eye can see, covered in soybeans. I know people consider Nebraska a flat state, but honestly, where we live in the bluffs near the Missouri River, it's not flat anywhere. One of the reasons we have beef cattle is because there are so many steep, rocky stretches. Good for grazing but impossible for farming, but lots of farming goes on in the 'friendly' stretches of land, like that in this picture.When I sent to Durango, Colorado...in January...I got a good dose of winter in that part of the world.We had a really lovely day in Durango. Inspired by a train trip through the mountains the day before...that didn't go up very high...we rented a car and headed for Silverton with a notion to go all the way to Telluride. You understand I've almost never heard of any of these places before I started setting my book. We're near Mesa Verde...but we managed to pick a time when the GOVERNMENT was shut down and couldn't go there.But the mountains called to us and we set out, only to discover that as we climbed, the snow began to fall. YIKES. OH YIKES.I'm not kidding YIKES!We reached Silverton after a LONG TREACHEROUS RIDE. Winding mountain roads, cliffs lining the road that seemed to drop FOREVER. My cowboy driving, knuckles clenched tight on the wheel.Me with my usual wit and wisdom saying this like, "If we survive this, it's gonna be a great story." (and here I am telling it).But my heroines, the Nordegren sisters, have to contend with winter in the mountains and it really helped to see it. (I kept telling myself that as we drove!)We reached Silverton...Telluride was farther and higher and well...we decided to eat and then go back down. When we finally waded through the heavily falling snow to a charming little restaurant,the waitress told us we needed to get out fast before the roads closed.OK she may not have said those EXACT words but we got the message!!!sighagreed
I love, love, love this stretch of land along a highway that stretches south of me. Flat land with crops and up behind them beautiful bluffs, covered with trees. In a few more weeks these trees will be on fire with burning red maples and vivid sunlight colored cottonwoods, burnish oak and walnut, mountain ash covered with bright orange berries, each tree turning on it's fall colors, side by side, making the most beautiful landscape.
Golden rod, the Nebraska state flower, growing in the road ditches. A weed that exists to make us sneeze and make the world more beautiful.I'm talking about snow in the mountains and using pictures of autumn colors in the bluffs just because I wanted to share these pictures and test my own skill at setting a scene.The road ditches this year were a particular delight, layers of tall sunflowers and short ones, then the golden rod in front. Soon the Sumac will bloom and it's a stunning bright red.
Sunflowers...they were particularly bright and plentiful this year.As we made our way down, down, down that mountain from Silverton to Durango...well, it was honestly terrifying and pretty stupid to have gone up there.We're too old to live a risky life!!!I swore that off long ago.Oh, who am I kidding, I swore that off when I was about six.But we made it down. Here I sit typing as living proof.And as I wrote my books for this series, I remembered snow so thick you could barely see a dozen feet in front of you.Snow that comes in feet instead of inches.Mountain roads with drop offs so sharp, if someone fell off one it's conceivable they could vanish until spring...maybe forever.
These are cattails. Sharp, pointing reeds and a heavy, woody spike bearing that soft, furry brown head.They grow in wetlands and this year ditches have stayed wet most of the time. And as they go to seed in the fall, that fur breaks open as if the insides were swelling, and a puff ball of 'cotton' emerges. After a time this hot dog shaped cotton ball all blows away, seeding next years crop. As soft and pretty as dandelion fluff.
A closeup of a bean field ready for harvest. They are green bushes as they grow.But in the fall, all the leaves are shed leaving a single stock with soybean pods clinging, waiting for a combine to come and rip through them.Soybeans are in so many things. Soy sauce, but soy oil, if you check labels, is almost everywhere. It's also a near perfect animal feed. And the hulls holding the beans and the chaff inside the hull, can be collected and sold as soy hulls. It's a major component of our cow's diet. A big truck comes loaded with soy hulls, they are full of nutrition and roughage that helps make their bellies work better.Setting the scene.It's tricky because you don't want to linger overly long. That gets boring and a reader will often set the book down during a long stretch of scene description.Setting the scene..just like all other aspects of the writer's craft...needs to be done just right. Enough but not too much.Selecting the words with skill. Adding, cutting, revising, painting pictures with words.
Tell me about your work in progress.Describe the scene, whether it's a pretty drawing room, a rugged mountain pass, a small town bakery, a day care, a hospital ward from the 1920s.What words do you choose?Leave a comment to get your name in a drawing for a signed copy of Aiming for Love
Josephine Nordegren is one of three sisters who grew up nearly wild in southwestern Colorado. She has the archery skills of Robin Hood and the curiosity of the Little Mermaid, fascinated by but locked away from the forbidden outside world--a world she's been raised to believe killed her parents. When David Warden, a rancher, brings in a herd much too close to the girls' secret home, her older sister especially is frightened, but Jo is too interested to stay away.David's parents follow soon on his heels, escaping bandits at their ranch. David's father is wounded and needs shelter. Josephine and her sisters have the only cabin on the mountain. Do they risk stepping into the world to help those in need? Or do they remain separated but safe in the peaks of Hope Mountain?
October 4, 2019
Weekend Edition
If you are not familiar with our giveaway rules, take a minute to read them here. It keeps us all happy! All winners should send their name, address, and phone number to claim prizes. Note our new email address and please send your emails to Seekerville2@gmail.com
Monday: Open Critique Day! Thank you to all who took part in this... It's always a lot of fun to see what folks are working on, and to share words of wisdom back and forth. And (as always) feel free to take our opinions and run with them, or sack 'em. We're okay because it's always "your story".
Wednesday: Mindy invited us to refresh with a tour around the ACFW conference.
Friday: Shanna Hatfield helped us understand the importance of the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund created to help rodeo athletes injured while competing in the extreme sport they love. The winner of their choice of ebook from the Rodeo Romance series is Lee-Ann B!
Monday: Mary Connealy shares her words of wisdom.
Wednesday: Stacy Adams, Belle Calhoune, Toni Shiloh, Patricia Woodside join us for a two-day chat about #ownvoices, the movement to open publishing doors to more authors of color. These gals are opening the conversation right here in Seekerville. Let's chat!
Friday: Welcome Seeker-villager, Kathy Bailey, and as one of our newest villager authors!!!!
Ruthy's duo with Jillian Hart is about to hit the stores and she has THREE copies to give away! Let us know if you're interested by leaving a comment below! Two beautiful stories, a sure way to ease ourselves into the holiday spirit!
Mindy Obenhaus has contracted with Love Inspired Books for a new 4-book series set in Bliss, Texas. The first installment will be on shelves in the second half of 2020, while the final book in her Rocky Mountain Heroes series, Her Rocky Mountain Hope, is scheduled to release in February!
The Key Book Publishing Paths 2019-2020 by Jane Friedman.
5 Ways Authors Can Make Money Outside of Selling Books by Dave Chesson at YouPreneur
Hash Tags for Writers by Dave Chesson at Kindlepreneur
5 Questions for Choosing a Protagonist Who Represents Your Story's Theme by K.M. Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
The Intersection of Character Transformation and Moral Dilemma by C.S.Lakin at Live Write Thrive
How To Write A Real Page Turner-Pt 4 by Laurisa White Reyes at Fiction University
Romantic Comedies-A Movie Guide For Your Every Mood by Pamela Jaye Smith at An Indie Adventure
Caregiving, Caretaking and Giving Until It Hurts by Candee Fick
October 3, 2019
Read a Book, Help a Cowboy!
By Guest Blogger Shanna Hatfield
Shades of black randomly interspersed with hues of tan and gray surrounded me as I gazed over a sea of cowboy hats at the Las Vegas airport.
After working our way through the crowd, my husband, Captain Cavedweller, and I settled at our gate to wait for our flight. While he read the newspaper and jiggled his boot-covered foot impatiently, I observed those milling around. Like us, hundreds of cowboys prepared to depart after attending the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and many of the accompanying activities.
Each December, the city of Las Vegas takes on a country vibe as the rodeo comes to town, bringing hundreds of vendors, thousands of spectators, and a whole lot of fun.
As we sat at the airport that morning, the idea for a story began churning in my head.
Since so many of the cowboys who compete professionally spend a good deal of time traveling, I began to wonder how many of them flew from one rodeo to the next. If they were flying, it made sense that they might meet a girl at an airport who turned their head.
I began jotting down notes for a story idea and by the time we reached home, The Christmas Cowboy ( Rodeo Romance Series Book 1) was born.
While researching details for The Christmas Cowboy , which involves a saddle bronc rider as the hero, I became aware of a wonderful organization — the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.
For those unfamiliar with the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, the organization provides help to injured rodeo athletes. The men and women who are professional rodeo athletes know it isn’t a matter of if they get hurt, but when. Many of them are uninsured, so when an accident happens, it can be devastating physically, emotionally, and financially.
That’s when the JCCF steps in and offers a hand up to steps in offer financial assistance to rodeo athletes who’ve sustained catastrophic injuries that leave them unable to compete for an extended time. Rather than worry about how they’ll pay their bills, they can focus on healing. One thing I especially admire about the JCCF is that 100 percent of the donations go to the cowboys who need it. They don’t take out administrative expenses or fees.
This is the sixth year for my Read a Book, Help A Cowboycampaign that raises funds and awareness for the JCCF. Now through Christmas Eve, I will donate ten percent of the proceeds from every book purchase to the JCCF.
A wonderful addition to this year’s campaign is A Cowboy Christmas . The book features 300 pages of western holiday fun with more than 70 full-color recipes.
The jangle of spurs mingles with the jingle of sleigh bells in this celebration of Christmas—cowboy style!Welcome home to a western holiday with A Cowboy Christmas . A collection of unique holiday décor, traditions, recipes, and guides for entertaining with ease make this your go-to resource for an amazing western Christmas. Filled with stories of real-life ranch families and rodeo cowboys, get a glimpse into their traditions, try their family recipes, and experience their lifestyles. From preserving memories of the past to tips for wrapping presents, discover the special touches incorporated throughout this book that make it a holiday keepsake you’ll cherish for years to come. Brimming with holiday cheer, recipes with full-color photographs, and one-of-a-kind ideas, this book is a wonderful celebration of the holidays that will help make your Christmas unforgettable.
Several of the rodeo cowboys featured in the interviews talk about how the JCCF offered a hand up to them and their families when they most needed the help. And a few of them shared their favorite holiday recipes!
I thought it would be fun to give you a sneak peak at one of my new favorites!
Chocolate Chex Trees These yummy and adorable trees are so simple to make and a great project if you have kids at home who need something to do. Set them on a disposable plate, foil-wrapped piece of cardboard, or a large sugar cookie wrapped in cellophane for gift-giving!
Ingredients:3 cups Chex Chocolate cereal6 pretzel sticks (the thick kind, made for dipping) ½ cup peanut butter¼ cup Nutella3 tablespoons butter, softened1 cup powdered sugar
Directions:Mix the peanut butter, Nutella, butter, and powdered sugar in a bowl.On whatever you plan to use for a base, mold the peanut butter mixture around the pretzel stick until it stands upright and forms a slight cone shape. Hold it steady by using the tip of the pretzel as a handle and begin inserting pieces of cereal into the peanut butter mixture in a symmetrical pattern around the stick. You can tip the cereal pieces up or down, depending on your personal preference. Add more cereal pieces, staggering them as you move upward, until you get near the top.For the top of the tree, use broken pieces or cut them in half to get the smaller scale of branches near the top. Use two pieces of cereal back to back to form the top.Dust with powdered sugar. Makes 6 trees
A Cowboy Christmas is available from:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Christmas-Western-Celebrations-Traditions/dp/1493042343Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-cowboy-christmas-shanna-hatfield/1129079346Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-cowboy-christmas/id1472443604Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-cowboy-christmas-15
GIVEAWAY One winner will receive their choice of any one digital book from the Rodeo Romance series.
To enter, please share one of your favorite holiday traditions.
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes. When Shanna isn’t dreaming up sassy characters, twisting plots, or testing out new recipes, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller. She resides near Walla Walla, Washington. Find out more about Shanna at http://shannahatfield.com
Shades of black randomly interspersed with hues of tan and gray surrounded me as I gazed over a sea of cowboy hats at the Las Vegas airport.
After working our way through the crowd, my husband, Captain Cavedweller, and I settled at our gate to wait for our flight. While he read the newspaper and jiggled his boot-covered foot impatiently, I observed those milling around. Like us, hundreds of cowboys prepared to depart after attending the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and many of the accompanying activities.
Each December, the city of Las Vegas takes on a country vibe as the rodeo comes to town, bringing hundreds of vendors, thousands of spectators, and a whole lot of fun.
As we sat at the airport that morning, the idea for a story began churning in my head.
Since so many of the cowboys who compete professionally spend a good deal of time traveling, I began to wonder how many of them flew from one rodeo to the next. If they were flying, it made sense that they might meet a girl at an airport who turned their head.
I began jotting down notes for a story idea and by the time we reached home, The Christmas Cowboy ( Rodeo Romance Series Book 1) was born.
While researching details for The Christmas Cowboy , which involves a saddle bronc rider as the hero, I became aware of a wonderful organization — the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.
For those unfamiliar with the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, the organization provides help to injured rodeo athletes. The men and women who are professional rodeo athletes know it isn’t a matter of if they get hurt, but when. Many of them are uninsured, so when an accident happens, it can be devastating physically, emotionally, and financially.
That’s when the JCCF steps in and offers a hand up to steps in offer financial assistance to rodeo athletes who’ve sustained catastrophic injuries that leave them unable to compete for an extended time. Rather than worry about how they’ll pay their bills, they can focus on healing. One thing I especially admire about the JCCF is that 100 percent of the donations go to the cowboys who need it. They don’t take out administrative expenses or fees.
This is the sixth year for my Read a Book, Help A Cowboycampaign that raises funds and awareness for the JCCF. Now through Christmas Eve, I will donate ten percent of the proceeds from every book purchase to the JCCF.
A wonderful addition to this year’s campaign is A Cowboy Christmas . The book features 300 pages of western holiday fun with more than 70 full-color recipes.
The jangle of spurs mingles with the jingle of sleigh bells in this celebration of Christmas—cowboy style!Welcome home to a western holiday with A Cowboy Christmas . A collection of unique holiday décor, traditions, recipes, and guides for entertaining with ease make this your go-to resource for an amazing western Christmas. Filled with stories of real-life ranch families and rodeo cowboys, get a glimpse into their traditions, try their family recipes, and experience their lifestyles. From preserving memories of the past to tips for wrapping presents, discover the special touches incorporated throughout this book that make it a holiday keepsake you’ll cherish for years to come. Brimming with holiday cheer, recipes with full-color photographs, and one-of-a-kind ideas, this book is a wonderful celebration of the holidays that will help make your Christmas unforgettable.
Several of the rodeo cowboys featured in the interviews talk about how the JCCF offered a hand up to them and their families when they most needed the help. And a few of them shared their favorite holiday recipes!
I thought it would be fun to give you a sneak peak at one of my new favorites!
Chocolate Chex Trees These yummy and adorable trees are so simple to make and a great project if you have kids at home who need something to do. Set them on a disposable plate, foil-wrapped piece of cardboard, or a large sugar cookie wrapped in cellophane for gift-giving!
Ingredients:3 cups Chex Chocolate cereal6 pretzel sticks (the thick kind, made for dipping) ½ cup peanut butter¼ cup Nutella3 tablespoons butter, softened1 cup powdered sugar
Directions:Mix the peanut butter, Nutella, butter, and powdered sugar in a bowl.On whatever you plan to use for a base, mold the peanut butter mixture around the pretzel stick until it stands upright and forms a slight cone shape. Hold it steady by using the tip of the pretzel as a handle and begin inserting pieces of cereal into the peanut butter mixture in a symmetrical pattern around the stick. You can tip the cereal pieces up or down, depending on your personal preference. Add more cereal pieces, staggering them as you move upward, until you get near the top.For the top of the tree, use broken pieces or cut them in half to get the smaller scale of branches near the top. Use two pieces of cereal back to back to form the top.Dust with powdered sugar. Makes 6 trees
A Cowboy Christmas is available from:Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Christmas-Western-Celebrations-Traditions/dp/1493042343Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-cowboy-christmas-shanna-hatfield/1129079346Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-cowboy-christmas/id1472443604Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-cowboy-christmas-15
GIVEAWAY One winner will receive their choice of any one digital book from the Rodeo Romance series.
To enter, please share one of your favorite holiday traditions.
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes. When Shanna isn’t dreaming up sassy characters, twisting plots, or testing out new recipes, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller. She resides near Walla Walla, Washington. Find out more about Shanna at http://shannahatfield.com
October 1, 2019
A Time of Refreshment
by Mindy Obenhaus
No matter what our call is in life, no matter what our job, sometimes we need to be refreshed. To breakaway from the daily grind and recharge. For me, the American Christian Fiction Writers annual conference is my happy place. Writing can be a lonely endeavor, so ACFW is an opportunity to gather with old friends, meet new ones, recharge my writerly soul and come away refreshed and eager to dive back into my writing.
This year’s conference was held just hop, skip and a jump down the road from me in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. Our hotel was right on the Riverwalk and our room faced the historic Alamo.
You gotta look hard, right behind that tree you can see the Alamo's familiar arch.This year’s conference was smaller in attendance, but HUGE when it came to learning. At least, in my opinion. So I thought I’d share few of my favorite moments from the conference.
Keynote Speaker, Frank Peretti –
Frank emphasized the fact that we write about redemption. Of course, it was done in his unique, oft hilarious, manner. Yet he always cut to the chase—Christ crucified is the foundation for all we do because it provides a point to all we do. Jesus was a storyteller, not a preacher. We are storytellers, too. Sharing stories of hope that point readers to Christ.
Workshops –
With Frank having set the spiritual tone, I headed to Rachel Hauck’s workshop, Revelation of Jesus in Fiction. I love listening to Rachel speak about the spiritual aspect of our writing. She makes it real and this class dovetailed so well with what Frank had said. Rachel talked about impacting hearts not by being preachy or quoting scripture in our books, but by being creative and having the fragrance of Christ. Using metaphors or symbolism to share the gospel. Jesus used parables to convey His message, He didn’t beat people over the head. Granted, our books are much longer, but how can we tell those stories in not only a way that will hold the reader’s attention, but will point them toward Jesus, perhaps without ever using His name? We have to think outside the box and get creative. Remember, if God called you, He will equip you.
Another wonderful workshop was presented by Karen Witemeyer and it was geared toward guarding our writers’ hearts from those flaming darts of the enemy. Things like discouragement, pride, envy, greed, doubt and burnout. Things that seek to derail us from what God has called us to do. Karen provided Biblical weaponry to combat those attacks so we can seize the victory.
Do you ever feel discouraged? Remind yourself that God “took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners He called you. He said, ‘You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’” (Isaiah 41:9-10)
Friends and Villagers –
I love making new friends, but thanks to the advent of the internet, we sometimes feel as though we know someone before we ever actually meet them. Such is the case when I get to meet those of you from Seekerville.
I "knew" Sherrinda Ketchersid from Seekerville, but it was such a treat to finally see her in person.
While I've known Missy, Tina and Sharee for years, I was excited to congratulate Connie Queen on her recent contract.
Our own Kathy Bailey and Sharon Simms can light up a room with their smiles.
And getting to see my fellow Seekers is always a treat.
Me, Missy, Mary and the lovely Georgiana Daniels.No matter what our calling, refreshment is important to our well-being. Without it, we burn out. It doesn’t have to be a big conference, though. It can be lunch with a friend or simply time alone, doing something you love.
What are some of your favorite ways to refresh and energize yourself? And no, coffee doesn't count. ;-) What do you treat yourself to in order to renew your vigor?
Three-time Carol Award nominee, Mindy Obenhaus, writes contemporary romance for Love Inspired Books. She’s passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren at her Texas ranch. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com
No matter what our call is in life, no matter what our job, sometimes we need to be refreshed. To breakaway from the daily grind and recharge. For me, the American Christian Fiction Writers annual conference is my happy place. Writing can be a lonely endeavor, so ACFW is an opportunity to gather with old friends, meet new ones, recharge my writerly soul and come away refreshed and eager to dive back into my writing.This year’s conference was held just hop, skip and a jump down the road from me in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. Our hotel was right on the Riverwalk and our room faced the historic Alamo.
You gotta look hard, right behind that tree you can see the Alamo's familiar arch.This year’s conference was smaller in attendance, but HUGE when it came to learning. At least, in my opinion. So I thought I’d share few of my favorite moments from the conference.
Keynote Speaker, Frank Peretti –Frank emphasized the fact that we write about redemption. Of course, it was done in his unique, oft hilarious, manner. Yet he always cut to the chase—Christ crucified is the foundation for all we do because it provides a point to all we do. Jesus was a storyteller, not a preacher. We are storytellers, too. Sharing stories of hope that point readers to Christ.
Workshops –
With Frank having set the spiritual tone, I headed to Rachel Hauck’s workshop, Revelation of Jesus in Fiction. I love listening to Rachel speak about the spiritual aspect of our writing. She makes it real and this class dovetailed so well with what Frank had said. Rachel talked about impacting hearts not by being preachy or quoting scripture in our books, but by being creative and having the fragrance of Christ. Using metaphors or symbolism to share the gospel. Jesus used parables to convey His message, He didn’t beat people over the head. Granted, our books are much longer, but how can we tell those stories in not only a way that will hold the reader’s attention, but will point them toward Jesus, perhaps without ever using His name? We have to think outside the box and get creative. Remember, if God called you, He will equip you.
Another wonderful workshop was presented by Karen Witemeyer and it was geared toward guarding our writers’ hearts from those flaming darts of the enemy. Things like discouragement, pride, envy, greed, doubt and burnout. Things that seek to derail us from what God has called us to do. Karen provided Biblical weaponry to combat those attacks so we can seize the victory.
Do you ever feel discouraged? Remind yourself that God “took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners He called you. He said, ‘You are my servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’” (Isaiah 41:9-10)
Friends and Villagers –
I love making new friends, but thanks to the advent of the internet, we sometimes feel as though we know someone before we ever actually meet them. Such is the case when I get to meet those of you from Seekerville.
I "knew" Sherrinda Ketchersid from Seekerville, but it was such a treat to finally see her in person.
While I've known Missy, Tina and Sharee for years, I was excited to congratulate Connie Queen on her recent contract.
Our own Kathy Bailey and Sharon Simms can light up a room with their smiles.
And getting to see my fellow Seekers is always a treat.
Me, Missy, Mary and the lovely Georgiana Daniels.No matter what our calling, refreshment is important to our well-being. Without it, we burn out. It doesn’t have to be a big conference, though. It can be lunch with a friend or simply time alone, doing something you love.What are some of your favorite ways to refresh and energize yourself? And no, coffee doesn't count. ;-) What do you treat yourself to in order to renew your vigor?
Three-time Carol Award nominee, Mindy Obenhaus, writes contemporary romance for Love Inspired Books. She’s passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren at her Texas ranch. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.comSeptember 29, 2019
OPEN CRITIQUE DAY!!!!!
Hey, if you know the drill, then you're prepared to have some fun today...
If you don't, here's the skinny:
Once in a while we have an Open Critique Day. It's a day for you to share a blurb of your story with us and we will descend en masse and tear it to shreds.
It's what we do.
But we'll do it NICELY, so you have to look beyond the "nice" and get to the nitty gritty of the advice, then pick what you want to use... and scrap the rest.
At least temporarily scrap it, you may find yourself coming right back to that bit of advice in a month or six months on 2021...
And a light bulb clicks on and you say OH MY STARS!!!! (or an equivalent thereof) and all of a sudden you remember that criticism and/or advice and you realize this...
THIS!
Is what that author meant about organic roots or root canals or dangling modifiers or gerunds (listen, I don't know what half this stuff is, either, it's why I don't read craft books... I just write. And I read. And I copy smart people. Then I write some more.)
But that light bulb moment is huge.
So leave your opening or smidge or tagline below, whatever you'd like us to look at. Keep it to about a page... no whole chapters, please, darlings.
And let's chat how we polish, preen and persevere!
Ruthy
NOTE: The Seekers formed a group fifteen years ago, a group of fifteen authors who devoted themselves to writing and praying each other into publication.
If you don't, here's the skinny:
Once in a while we have an Open Critique Day. It's a day for you to share a blurb of your story with us and we will descend en masse and tear it to shreds.
It's what we do.
But we'll do it NICELY, so you have to look beyond the "nice" and get to the nitty gritty of the advice, then pick what you want to use... and scrap the rest.
At least temporarily scrap it, you may find yourself coming right back to that bit of advice in a month or six months on 2021...
And a light bulb clicks on and you say OH MY STARS!!!! (or an equivalent thereof) and all of a sudden you remember that criticism and/or advice and you realize this...
THIS!
Is what that author meant about organic roots or root canals or dangling modifiers or gerunds (listen, I don't know what half this stuff is, either, it's why I don't read craft books... I just write. And I read. And I copy smart people. Then I write some more.)
But that light bulb moment is huge.
So leave your opening or smidge or tagline below, whatever you'd like us to look at. Keep it to about a page... no whole chapters, please, darlings.
And let's chat how we polish, preen and persevere!
Ruthy
NOTE: The Seekers formed a group fifteen years ago, a group of fifteen authors who devoted themselves to writing and praying each other into publication.
September 27, 2019
Weekend Edition
If you are not familiar with our giveaway rules, take a minute to read them here. It keeps us all happy! All winners should send their name, address, and phone number to claim prizes. Note our new email address and please send your emails to Seekerville2@gmail.com
Monday: Erica Vetsch reminded us how fun and educational conferences are!
Wednesday: Melanie Dobson offered a fascinating look into time slip novels. The winner of Melanie's newest book, Memories of Glass, is Diana Montgomery.
Friday: Laura Gallier gave us lots to think about when writing about teen issues.The winner of her newest book, The Deception , is Sally Shupe!
Monday: Open Critique Day!
Wednesday: Mindy Obenhaus will be here, fresh off the heels of ACFW's annual conference, so she's bound to have lots to talk about. Friday: Shanna Hatfield is our special guest in Seekerville with info on her fundraiser for injured rodeo cowboys and cowgirls... how the fiction world helps the real world get back on its feet!
Last chance! #EndingSoon!The Crossing at Cypress Creek is $1.99 all during September. Whoo-hoo!
Click here to order.
Oregon Christian Writers Fall Conference: Inspirational keynote presentations by award-winning Colorado author Beth K. Vogt and eight workshops highlight the Oregon Christian Writers’ 2019 Fall Conference Saturday, Oct. 12, in the Portland metro area.For information and to register, visit the website at https://oregonchristianwriters.org/fall-2019/2019 Moonlight & Magnolias ConferenceThe Write RoadOctober 3-6th, 2019Norcross, GaDebby Giustihosts a table in the Pitch WorkshopFriday, 9 AM
Coming on Tuesday, Aiming for Love
AND FROM THE GALS WHO ARE LEARNING ALL KINDS OF NEW THINGS IN BEAUTIFUL SAN ANTONIO AT THE ANNUAL ACFW CONFERENCE:
Mary Connealy, Missy Tippens, Mindy Obenhaus, Amy Dohlan and Sharee Stover!And just so youse all know, Mary sent Ruthy more pics but they won't migrate from her phone to the email address to post them... and y'all can hush about how easy it is to migrate pics from phone to website because all y'all know I'm going to BLOW SOMETHING UP! But still trying!
How to Pick a Social Network as an Author (Infographic) by Thomas Umstattd at Author Media
Are You Struggling To Be Creative? This Might Be Why by K.M. Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
Book Marketing: A Blueprint For Your Book Launch by J.D. Lasica at The Creative Penn
The Crucial Setup Scene in Your Novel by C.S. Lakin at Live, Write, Thrive
Don't Let Your Plot Hijack Your Story by Janice Hardy at Fiction University
What A Difference A Cover Makes: Before & After by Julie Glover at Writers In The Storm
Writing the Query Letter: Do's & Don'ts by Heather Webb at Writer Unboxed
Challenging Our Assumptions by Rachelle Gardner
September 26, 2019
13 Reasons Why Not: Uncovering the False Romanticizing of Serious Teen Issues by Laura Gallier
Happy Friday, dear Seekerville! Today, I (Carrie) have the privilege of hosting Laura Gallier, Christy Award winning author of The Delusion series. Laura has a heart for teenagers and creating awareness of the spiritual battles faced by this generation.
Welcome, Laura!
13 Reasons Why Not:
Uncovering the False Romanticizing of Serious Teen Issues By Laura Gallier
If you’re a teenager or the parent of one, you’ve likely heard of the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why. In its first season, my 14-year-old daughter described the teen drama to me this way: “It’s about suicide, and lots of my friends are watching it, but Mom, it’s, like, making some of them depressed and stuff.”
The show’s theme centers around 17-year-old Hannah Baker, a suicide victim who leaves behind audio recordings for those she blames for causing her to want to die—13 people, to be exact. The show’s producers maintain they hope to shed light on the tragic issue of suicide, but various suicide prevention groups say it’s actually glamorizing suicide and putting teens at risk.1
I too have a heart for this cause, so much so that I chose teen suicide as the driving theme of my young adult novel series, The Delusion. But I come at it from an entirely different angle—a biblical, spiritual perspective that’s proven to change students’ minds about self-harm and suicide.
Parents, here are 13 reasons we can share with our teens concerning why they should resist the deception of romanticizing suicide and other serious teen issues:
September 24, 2019
Slipping Through Time with Melanie Dobson
Hi, Seekerville. Cate here.
I've been a fan of time-slip novels since before they had a name. The very first one I remember reading was Patriot's Dream by Barbara Michaels. I adored that book as well as so many others I've read since.
So, when I had the chance to host Melanie Dobson for the launch of her brand new book, I jumped faster than you can say time-slip.
Please welcome Melanie.
Melanie is graciously offering a print copy of her new release, Memories of Glass, to one lucky
visitor (U.S. only).
Stitching Together Time-Slip Fiction By Melanie DobsonTwenty years ago I attempted to write my first novel by stitching together the threads from two plots—a past story about a woman who disappeared in Colorado’s mining country and a contemporary one about her great-granddaughter trying to find out what happened.I mailed my manuscript out to a dozen or so publishers and received back the same number of rejections. The general consensus—I needed to rip out the seams of this story and rewrite, but I didn’t know how to sew the dual timelines back together again.So I tucked away my idea alongside a stack of rough drafts and kept writing, finally partnering with a publisher for a contemporary novel about an unresolved conflict that happened decades earlier. My first novel came out in 2005, and I followed that with several historical and contemporary stories that featured characters searching for answers from the past.Then Tatiana de Rosnay published Sarah’s Key, and I was swept up in her story that wove together equally compelling past and present plotlines. Her novel spanned sixty years, and the truth about the past ultimately transformed the contemporary protagonist’s life.Reading that novel changed my life. It was exactly what I wanted to write!
So I hunkered back down, studied the structure of Tatiana’s brilliant book, and began writing another novel set in both the past and present—this one about a French woman during World War II who hid members of the resistance in tunnels under her family’s chateau. After years of wanting to write a multiple timeline story, Chateau of Secrets was published in 2015. And it’s been such a joy for me to continue pursuing this dream of mine for the past five years.Many authors have begun to embrace this format of weaving together parallel past and present timelines, typically bridging the gap with a journal or heirloom that passes through generations. According to a recent article in Publishers Weekly, this genre is continuing to grow, and that makes my heart happy because I love reading these novels as much as I enjoy writing them.The big question, though, seems to be—what do we call this rapidly growing structure?Publishers, authors, and readers call the multiple timeline format by multiple names. Time slip. Split time. Dual timeline. Twin strand. Time jump. Hybrid.A reviewer for My Brother’s Crown (Leslie Gould and Mindy Starns Clark) called their past-present novel, “the melding of the two time periods.” What a beautiful way to describe this emerging genre.In Publishers Weekly, Karen Watson of Tyndale House said, “There seems to be an ongoing interest in storytelling that bridges or twists traditional concepts of time and history. Rather than just straight linear historical fiction, we see a lot of novels that bridge two periods of time—what we call time-slip stories.”I like time slip—this idea of melding together two or more stories as the readers slip through time. And I like split time as well, demonstrating how these novels are split into stories from different eras. The problem with dual timeline is that it narrows this format to two plotlines when some authors are branching out to three or more time periods in their novels. Kristy Cambron’s Lost Castle is a tri-timeline story, for example, with parallel plots from the French Revolution, World War II, and present day.If you enjoy this genre, you can find a listing of inspirational time-slip stories at timeslipfiction.com. No matter what we call this genre, the important thing is that readers continue to be swept away by stories transporting them seamlessly across time!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Writing fiction is Melanie Dobson ’s excuse to explore abandoned houses, travel to unique places, and spend hours reading old books and journals. The award-winning author of twenty books, Melanie enjoys stitching together both time-slip and historical fiction including Catching the Wind, Hidden Among the Stars, and her latest novel, Memories of Glass . Melanie’s historical novels have won four Carol Awards, the 2018 Audie Award, and the ForeWord Book of the Year. More information about her and her family’s journey is available at melaniedobson.com.
I've been a fan of time-slip novels since before they had a name. The very first one I remember reading was Patriot's Dream by Barbara Michaels. I adored that book as well as so many others I've read since.
So, when I had the chance to host Melanie Dobson for the launch of her brand new book, I jumped faster than you can say time-slip.
Please welcome Melanie.
Melanie is graciously offering a print copy of her new release, Memories of Glass, to one lucky
visitor (U.S. only).
Stitching Together Time-Slip Fiction By Melanie DobsonTwenty years ago I attempted to write my first novel by stitching together the threads from two plots—a past story about a woman who disappeared in Colorado’s mining country and a contemporary one about her great-granddaughter trying to find out what happened.I mailed my manuscript out to a dozen or so publishers and received back the same number of rejections. The general consensus—I needed to rip out the seams of this story and rewrite, but I didn’t know how to sew the dual timelines back together again.So I tucked away my idea alongside a stack of rough drafts and kept writing, finally partnering with a publisher for a contemporary novel about an unresolved conflict that happened decades earlier. My first novel came out in 2005, and I followed that with several historical and contemporary stories that featured characters searching for answers from the past.Then Tatiana de Rosnay published Sarah’s Key, and I was swept up in her story that wove together equally compelling past and present plotlines. Her novel spanned sixty years, and the truth about the past ultimately transformed the contemporary protagonist’s life.Reading that novel changed my life. It was exactly what I wanted to write!
So I hunkered back down, studied the structure of Tatiana’s brilliant book, and began writing another novel set in both the past and present—this one about a French woman during World War II who hid members of the resistance in tunnels under her family’s chateau. After years of wanting to write a multiple timeline story, Chateau of Secrets was published in 2015. And it’s been such a joy for me to continue pursuing this dream of mine for the past five years.Many authors have begun to embrace this format of weaving together parallel past and present timelines, typically bridging the gap with a journal or heirloom that passes through generations. According to a recent article in Publishers Weekly, this genre is continuing to grow, and that makes my heart happy because I love reading these novels as much as I enjoy writing them.The big question, though, seems to be—what do we call this rapidly growing structure?Publishers, authors, and readers call the multiple timeline format by multiple names. Time slip. Split time. Dual timeline. Twin strand. Time jump. Hybrid.A reviewer for My Brother’s Crown (Leslie Gould and Mindy Starns Clark) called their past-present novel, “the melding of the two time periods.” What a beautiful way to describe this emerging genre.In Publishers Weekly, Karen Watson of Tyndale House said, “There seems to be an ongoing interest in storytelling that bridges or twists traditional concepts of time and history. Rather than just straight linear historical fiction, we see a lot of novels that bridge two periods of time—what we call time-slip stories.”I like time slip—this idea of melding together two or more stories as the readers slip through time. And I like split time as well, demonstrating how these novels are split into stories from different eras. The problem with dual timeline is that it narrows this format to two plotlines when some authors are branching out to three or more time periods in their novels. Kristy Cambron’s Lost Castle is a tri-timeline story, for example, with parallel plots from the French Revolution, World War II, and present day.If you enjoy this genre, you can find a listing of inspirational time-slip stories at timeslipfiction.com. No matter what we call this genre, the important thing is that readers continue to be swept away by stories transporting them seamlessly across time!ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Writing fiction is Melanie Dobson ’s excuse to explore abandoned houses, travel to unique places, and spend hours reading old books and journals. The award-winning author of twenty books, Melanie enjoys stitching together both time-slip and historical fiction including Catching the Wind, Hidden Among the Stars, and her latest novel, Memories of Glass . Melanie’s historical novels have won four Carol Awards, the 2018 Audie Award, and the ForeWord Book of the Year. More information about her and her family’s journey is available at melaniedobson.com.
September 22, 2019
How to Know if a Conference Was Successful
ACFW Conference is on the horizon! Friends, learning, meetings, laughter, food, and so much more!
I love going to writing conferences. I love seeing people I know, making new friends, sitting in classes learning from great teachers, making memories.
But face it, going to writing conferences isn't cheap. Money for the hotel, money for the conference, travel. For some it means taking time off from work, finding childcare, dog-sitters, etc.
Once you've poured out all that time and money, gone to the conference, done all the things, and get back home, you'll no doubt spend a bit of time reflecting on the experience, and quite possibly wondering if it was worth it. Did you get enough bang for your buck(s)?
The answer to that is: It depends. (I know, how frustrating!)
But it's true. The answer to whether a writing conference was "worth it" depends upon several factors, not the least of which is "What were your expectations going into the conference?"
(In an aside, I wrote an entire post on managing expectations, and it can be found HERE. Go ahead and read it, I'll wait. :) )
Welcome back! :) So, if the key to a successful conference is managing your expectations, then what are realistic expectations when it comes to conferences?
I have two generic expectations that, if fulfilled, guarantee for me that a conference was a success.
1. Make at least one new friend.
One of the things I LOVE about attending ACFW is getting to hang with my friends that I only see maybe once a year (or even less frequently if we don't happen to both go to the conference.) I love catching up, sharing industry and life news, laughing our heads off, and just being 'us.'
But if I only engage with the friends I already have, I am not only limiting myself, but I'm excluding people, too. So, at each conference, I make it a point of emphasis to meet at least one new friend. The opportunities are boundless at the conference.
Barbour authors treated to a Mississippi River Boat Cruise atthe ACFW Conference in St. Louis Left: Rose McCauley and
Jennifer Johnson Right: Ramona Cecil and Keli Gwyn
You might be thinking, "I have a hard time making friends. I won't know what to say."
Here's the magic, door-opening key to friendship at a conference. Find someone who is not currently talking to anyone else, smile, and ask them "So, what do you write?"
Presto! Instant friend. You get to bypass excruciating small talk and go right to the heart of writer friendships! And be a good listener. Exchange info so you can continue the friendship through social media, email, etc.
2. Learn something new.
No writer knows it all, no matter how many conferences they've attended, how many classes they've gone to, how many books they've written. Be humble enough to realize it, and to be willing to learn.
Pepper Basham and our own Audra Harders, no doubt allprimed to learn something new in one of the classes.
(Also probably getting up to some serious hi-jinks.)
You might learn this new thing during the key-note address, during an agent panel, during a class. Perhaps you might learn a new thing by listening to other writers talk about their experiences or what they just discussed with their agent or editor.
You might even learn something new from a brand new author friend. :)
If I accomplish those two goals, make at least one new friend and learn at least one new thing, then I consider the conference a success.
Now, there are some specific goals you might have for a conference, and those are not wrong, but don't hang the success or failure of the conference on those specific goals, because so much of what happens around those goals is out of your control.
Some specific goals you might have are:
1. Meet with a certain agent/editor.
If you sign up for appointments, you may or may not get the agent or editor appointment of your choice. If you don't get your 15 minutes with Agent X, does that mean your conference was a failure and you might as well not have gone?
Me with my lovely agent, RachelleGardner of Books & Such Literary
If this is the case for you, I suggest you're expectations are not realistic. Which agent or editor you meet with is out of your control. Perhaps you got a meeting with an agent that isn't anywhere on your radar. You can still have a successful encounter, learn something, get your face, name, and story in front of an industry professional. You don't know what might come out of it. I have a couple of friends who said, "I don't think I could ever work with Agent So-and-so." But then they were 'forced' into a meeting with them, and they hit it off! God is bigger than your expectations, so let Him work!
If you already have an agent and/or editor, you will most likely have meetings with them at some point. You can make these successful by being prepared. Have your questions and topics ready for discussion. Perhaps even have a little gift for them? A memento of your friendship/business relationship?
2. Get a book contract
Um, contracts given out at conferences are so rare as to be mythical. (Exception: Both Mary Connealy and I received our first contracts at the ACFW Conference, but that was special circumstances. Barbour Publishing used to hold a contract or two each year and award it to a first-time author that they were going to contract anyway. Our proposals had been on the editor's desk for awhile. They already knew us and our work.) You're not going to 'cold call' an editor in an appointment and have them whip out a contract and fistfuls of cash after a 15 minute session. Put those thoughts away, because if you're flying in such rarefied air, you're going to come crashing down.
Michelle Ule, Editor Rebecca Germany, me, and Liz Johnson onthe day we found out our novella collection, Log Cabin
Christmas, hit the New York Times Best-seller list!
Rather than expect a book contract, perhaps lower your expectations to meeting some industry professionals, find out what they are like and what they are looking for, and where your work might be a good fit. Information in the writing industry is nearly as important as sheer talent and hard work. Gather all that free information just lying around waiting for someone to snatch it up at a conference.
3. Win an award.
If you're not nominated for an award, you can probably stop expecting to win one, but if you ARE nominated for an award, it's hard not to begin to think that if you don't win, what was the point of going to the conference?
Isn't he the handsomest? Peter and I just outside theball room in Nashville, two weeks after his surgery and
the diagnosis that changed our lives!
As someone who has been up for a Carol Award and more than one Genesis Award and not won, it can be...deflating. But as someone who has won both a Carol and a Genesis, while both are fabulous, and I was thrilled, humbled, and grateful to have won, those aren't the things I remember most about those particular conferences. I remember the relationships, the sharing of the anticipation with the other finalists, the fact that my husband was able to join me at the banquet just two weeks after massive cancer surgery. Sitting next to Mary Connealy for one of the funniest (and LONGEST) acceptance speeches ever.
The 2016 Carol Awards. Sitting with dear friends and sharingthe experience with them made the night extra-special.
Whether you win or not, the conference experience is about the people. Remember for every winner, there are folks who did not win. Whichever side of that equation you fall on, your gratitude and humility will be fondly remembered. Go to the awards ceremony expecting to make great memories and let the chips fall where they may.
Have you been to writing conferences before? What determines whether a conference is a success to you?
Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she is married to her total opposite and soul mate! When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.
You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her at online https://www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/
where she spends way too much time!
Journey along in the Old West as four women travel to meet their husbands-to-be and discover that nothing is as it was planned. Eve’s fiancé is in jail. Amelia’s fiancé has never heard of her. Zola’s newlywed husband is dead. Maeve’s travel is misdirected. Can these brides can find a true love match?
The Galway Girl by Erica Vetsch
Kansas, 1875
A mail-order mix-up sends Irish lass Maeve O’Reilly to the Swedish community of Lindsborg, Kansas. Will Kaspar Sandberg consider it a happy accident or a disaster to be rectified as soon as possible?
You can order your copy of Mail-Order Mishaps today by clicking HERE.
