Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 105

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: Missy Tippens brought us "Write with a Little Help from My Friends (and Family): Ways to Support Your Favorite Writer," and we chatted about and celebrated the support we receive. If you don't feel supported, we hope you'll share this list with your loved ones.
Wednesday: USA TODAY Bestselling Author Debby Giusti provided a look at "Turning Points in Writing." Debby's giving away the first pre-release copy of her November Love Inspired Suspense, HER AMISH PAST. The lucky winner is Jackie Smith! Congrats, Jackie!
Friday: Winnie Griggs entertained us with fun and unusual punctuation marks. Vince is the winner of any book in Winnie's backlist.





Monday:  Erica Vetsch gearing up for the ACFW Conference by talking about How to Know if A Conference was Successful . 
Wednesday:  Cate Nolan is honored to host Melanie Dobson for a discussion of Time Slip novels. Melanie will be giving away one print copy of her new book, Memories of Glass.

Friday: Join us as we welcome Laura Gallier to Seekerville!






HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PASTBy Debby Giusti She can’t remember who she’s running from.Is she safe with the Amish?
Someone wants Becca Troyer dead, but who or why is a mystery to her. Seeking refuge at the home of Amish farmer Zeke Hochstetler is her only hope to stay one step ahead of the killer. With every clue she finds about her past leading to more confusion, Becca and Zeke must untangle the truth before her pursuer discovers where she’s been hiding.Available for pre-order HERE! 
Save the Date!
More information to follow on this
Fun Girlfriend Getaway
in Bird-In-Hand, PA!
Visit Amish Country with Authors and Readers!


The clock's ticking on this ebook special...
The Crossing at Cypress Creek  is $1.99 all during September.
Click here to order.Aiming for LoveComing October 1st.Available now for pre-order



Happiness, Anxiety and Writing as a Second Career with Lisa Lilly at The Creative Penn

Creating Your Inner Character's Inner Conflict: Want vs. Need by K.M. Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

Finding Your Story's Theme by Jenny Hansen at Writers In The Storm

Social Media: You're Doing It Wrong by Laura Drake at Writers In The Storm

Physical Books Still Outsell E-books--And Here's Why by Lucy Handley at CNBC

Unusual and Fun Punctuation Marks

Hello Everyone, Winnie Griggs here.
The other day I was watching a TV show (I’ve forgotten just which one now) and in a throwaway line, someone mentioned the Hedera punctuation mark. Well, I’d never heard of it before so naturally I had to look it up. (First I had to figure out how to spell it, which is a whole ‘nother story).  

Anyway, what I discovered was a whole world of unusual punctuation marks I’d never heard of before.  So in case any of the rest of you are similarly  curious, I thought I’d share what I found with you.

Acclamation PointThe acclamation point is a fun bit of punctuation that just looks happy and excited. Its purpose is to be used to indicate an exuberant welcome or an enthusiastic sense of goodwill.


AsterismAlso used in astronomy to indicate a group of stars, in punctuation it’s a nearly obsolete symbol used to indicate scene or other breaks in the text of a work. Nowadays three asterisks in a single line or another more simplified symbol performs this function.

Authority PointAs the name suggests, this punctuation mark indicates that the writer is speaking from a position of expertise or authority on the subject and that the statement or advice should be taken seriously.


Certitude PointSimilar to the Authority Point in both looks and meaning, the Certitude Point indicates the writer is absolutely certain of the facts presented but does not speak as an expert in the field.


Doubt PointOn the other end of the spectrum from the Authority Point and Certitude Point, the interesting-looking Doubt Point indicates the writer is skeptical of the statement.


HederaThis is the one that started me on this quest. I had seen this one before, usually when perusing webdings, but I didn’t know what it was called or what it signified. The hedera is also called the fleuron and apparently dates back to old Greek and Latin texts. It was used to indicate the break between paragraphs back in the day before the custom of starting paragraphs on a new line came into common usage. These days it is used strictly as a decorative element.


Interpunct
This is a nearly obsolete bit of punctuation. In ancient times this vertically-middle dot was used to indicate a pause in the interior of sentences and sometimes to separate compound words.  It survives today in dictionaries to show the break between syllables in a word. It’s also used in mathematics to indicate the multiplication function.
InterrobangThis is another fun punctuation mark, one I could actually see myself using. The interrobang is for when you ask a question excitedly, or to express unbelief and surprise at the same time.


Irony PointThis punctuation mark actually precedes a bit of text to indicate that the following passage to indicate there may be a crafty second layer of meaning. Surprisingly, this one has been around since 1841.


Love Point.As the shape suggests, this one is used to signify affection or amorous subtext. This one is relatively new, appearing in 1966. 



Percontation PointThis backwards-question-mark-looking bit of punctuation is intended to be used to indicate the question is rhetorical. Who knew ʕ




Pilcrow
This one I’ve definitely seen before, and I’m sure most of you have too. And I also knew its function. But I never knew it had a name other than “paragraph mark”. Of course this is the symbol used to indicate the end of a paragraph.

Question Comma and Exclamation CommaThese fun bits of punctuation can be used when you want to express curiosity or excitement mid-sentence. They were invented in Canada in the early 1990s.








So there you have it, a bakers dozen of fun and unusual punctuation marks.
How many of these did you already know?  Which struck you as most interesting? Are there any others you’d like to throw in the mix?
Leave a comment to get in on the drawing for a copy of any book in my backlist, including an advanced copy of my upcoming re-release of Home For Thanksgiving which is now included in a Love Inspired Classic 2-in-1.



HOME FOR THANKSGIVING
All that stands between Ruby Anne Tuggle and a fresh start is an escort to Tyler, Texas, but no one in her home town is willing to accompany her and she's feeling desperate.  
Rancher Griff Lassiter is just passing through town, but he's too kind to refuse her plea. He's also too wary of being hurt again to offer anything but protection on the journey. 
Then a fever forces a change of plans along the way. Can this unexpected detour provide them with a chance to find the place they both belong...

Turning Points in Writing

By Debby Giusti
I teach a writing class at my church and was unsure of what my topic would be this month. We’ve all heard that the best way to learn is to teach, and a little interior voice kept telling me I needed to focus on turning points for both my class and the story I was brainstorming. Thankfully, I listened to that little voice because a review of turning points was a win-win. The class was well received, the writers learned something new, and I used the turning points model to plot my next story.
I’m sure most of us can identify important events in our lives that have affected us in one way or another, either for good or for ill. Marriage, divorce, birth of a child, death of a parent, college graduation, a new job, loss of a job, illness or an accident that led to debilitation, scandal, betrayal, and the list goes on and on. The events are turning points that caused us to change emotionally, physically or spiritually. After undergoing a significant turning point, we may see the world and ourselves in a different or new way so that we’re not the same person we were prior to the event.

The same holds true for our characters. They change and grow because of the unexpected events we include in our stories. As writers, we use significant turning points to enhance the emotion, ratchet up the conflict, place our hero and heroine in jeopardy and cause them to change. 
Just as in our own lives, our hero and heroine become new people by the end of the story. They see the world in a different way. They’ve learned a valuable lesson about themselves or about life in general. They’re able to forgive those who hurt them in the past and can also forgive themselves for the mistakes they’ve made. Most important, they are able to love and be loved, to open their hearts to the Lord and to embrace life to the full.

Write with a Little Help from My Friends (and Family): Ways to Support Your Favorite Writer

Missy Tippens

Photo Credit: Bigstock/Ammentorp
A few of months ago, I read a wonderful post by Edie Melson on her blog, The Write Conversation. She shared 9 Tips for Supporting Your Writing Spouse. In it, she shared ways her husband has helped support her career--a very inspiring post!
Edie's post gave me the idea to come up with my own suggestions we writers can share with our family and friends, especially if we have trouble asking for support. Now, we can just send them a link to this post! :) And you who are readers can share this with your family as well, to help them know how to support you in your creative pursuits.


--If we’re writing (or knitting or making jewelry or…) as a career, then please respect that it’s actually a career. Please don’t call it a hobby or act as if it’s less important than any other job.
--Offer to read our work. If you’re good at grammar, offer to proof it for us. If you’re not, but enjoy reading, offer to read it and give feedback. Also, please give encouraging and positive feedback along with the constructive criticism. (Use the “sandwich method” of sandwiching criticism between two slices of positive!) :)
--When we’re stuck, help us brainstorm ideas. Your different view of the world can give us lots of new ideas.
--At holidays and birthdays, writerly gifts (including cash to go toward conferences, contests, and office supplies) are much appreciated! A writer can never have too many cool pens or notebooks.
--Please be our supporter. Your encouragement can make all the difference in an industry that can be tough sometimes. When we’re down, it helps to know you’re on our side. Let us vent to you, but please keep that confidential. Then, if needed, give us a little tough love that boots us out of our pity party.
--If you like our books, please share them by giving a shout out on social media or by word of mouth. It can make all the difference in our sales!
--Please allow us time and space to think and write. Don’t feel offended when our mind suddenly goes off into our fictional world in moments of inspiration. Just be happy for us when our characters start to speak!
--If we don’t have a designated office, please allow us to claim some space for our computer, books and papers. We know things can get chaotic before a deadline, so bear with us!
Photo credit: Crestock / fotodesign_jegg
--Speaking of deadlines… Please forgive us for all the frozen pizzas and bowls of cereal you may be fed when we’re responsible for meals around deadline time. It would be a huge blessing to us if you took over and offered to cook! (This is especially helpful when small children are involved.)
--Please know that we often experience guilt for time and money taken away from the family, especially before we’re published. Your generosity and reassurance through that period can make all the difference.
--Following our dream takes courage. It helps to know you understand and are proud of us for making sacrifices to pursue that dream.
--For many of us, writing (or knitting or making jewelry or…) is a calling. We feel led by God to make this journey. We hope you’ll honor our calling as we honor your calling.
--We love you, our family and friends, and thank you for supporting us!

Now, Seekerville, I hope you’ll add to my list! What would you like others to know about how to best support your creative endeavors?

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: Miss Pearl Pembroke was Jan's guest, treating us to a glimpse into the wonderful world of grammar as we attended an introductory class in "Miss Pembroke's Finishing School for Writers and Others of Extraordinary Intelligence." Miss Pembroke wants to thank everyone for their participation in the class, and is pleased to award the prize of a $10 Amazon Gift Card to Jeanne Takenada!
Wednesday: Ruthy was here, talking about prioritizing and keeping those spinning plates we all maintain from crashing to the ground below! Winner of a copy of Ruthy's latest Guideposts mystery "Just Over the Horizon" is Ann!

Friday: Annie shared some marketing tips for authors in "Authors! Please don't confuse us!"  Winner of a free JustRead Author Media Review is: Natalie Monk


Monday:  Join Missy Tippens as she brings us "Write with a Little Help from My Friends (and Family): Ways to Support Your Favorite Writer." We'd love for you writers and other creatives to add to our list. Be sure to stop by and let us know things you'd like to ask your friends and family to do to support you!
Wednesday:  USA Today Bestselling Author Debby Giusti will be talking about "Turning Points in Our Writing." Stop by and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.  Friday: Winnie Griggs will be bringing us a fun post discussing some Little Known, Unusual Punctuation .






What to go on a blind date with a book? JustRead Publicity Tours would love to set you up on a blind date with a book (or two or more) to read!  Just fill out our Blind Tour Compatibility form and once we match a book with you, we'll get in touch with you. All we asked is for you to post a review and submit a link to us. Easy peasy, right?! Join now at: http://bit.ly/JR_BlindTours.


Join the bookish fun in the new Reading Is My SuperPower Community Forum group on Facebook!




Mindy Obenhaus' Reunited in the Rockies Blog Tour with JustRead Publicity Tours starts on Monday! Come join the fun and check out reviews and info about Mindy and the book, plus enter the tourwide giveaway!


Well, this happened! Ruthy's upcoming cover for her January Love Inspired release "A Hopeful Harvest"!!!! Isn't it crazy beautiful???? Happy dancing in Western New York for this fun 2020 three-book series "Golden Grove"...



Have you heard? The Crossing at Cypress Creek is $1.99 all during September. Whoo-hoo!
Click here to order.
HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PASTBy Debby Giusti She can’t remember who she’s running from.Is she safe with the Amish?
Someone wants Becca Troyer dead, but who or why is a mystery to her. Seeking refuge at the home of Amish farmer Zeke Hochstetler is her only hope to stay one step ahead of the killer. With every clue she finds about her past leading to more confusion, Becca and Zeke must untangle the truth before her pursuer discovers where she’s been hiding.Available for pre-order HERE! 

Why Writers should Never Carry a Notebook by Laurence MacNaughton at Fiction University

What Makes a Compelling Romance Novel? by Ann Leslie Tuttle at the Reedsy Blog

Sharpen Your Writing Skills: Internal vs. External Conflict by MasterClass
What Happened After I Lost My Agent--Twice by Rachel Pieh Jones at Jane Friedman's blog (encouraging article about persistence)

"Authors, Don't Confuse Us!" Basic Marketing Tips for Your Brand

by Annie @JustReadTours


Hello! Annie here. As an avid reader, I also love to check out author websites, social media and book sites like Goodreads and BookBub for the latest reads from my favorite authors or publishers.  Though at times, I come away more confused than satisfied. Ever felt that way?

"If you're not confused, you're not paying attention."  - Tom Peters

Well, in that case, I'm paying attention.

Balancing Act: How to Keep Those Plates Spinning

By Seekerville blogger Ruth Logan Herne

Okay, I did a switch up for today.

I blame the farm.



It's just so busy right now, and that's a good thing, but I wanted to do an #ownvoices post for September, but I didn't have time to follow up on my contacts with authors of color, so I'm doing that now, and we'll talk about that in October. Which means I'm switching October's post about how to balance those plates we're given in life and keep them spinning with as little breakage as possible.

It's not easy.

You can quote me on that.

First, if you're a woman, you probably don't have a wife. Most likely no one is going around picking up laundry and delivering it to your drawer, freshly washed, folded and put away. There may be someone making meals, but it's probably an 80% chance that they are not. :) You are probably doing dishes, most likely working a job, and depending on age, taking care of aging parents, running kids and grandkids to school, games, meets, dance class, study sessions, church, youth group, volunteer places, doctors, dentists, etc.

It is quite possible that you do most of the shopping, gift buying, gift organizing, party and holiday planning, set up and clean up.


Are you tired yet?

The good Lord gave us 24 hours in a day. Plus a smidge that we tuck into place every four years.

How do we make 24 hours work for us, not against us?

Habit.

Habits can be our blessing or our downfall. The ability to create a habit is inherent. We train ourselves to do a lot of things habitually. If the waste company is coming on Tuesday, you put out the trash on Monday night. If the post office closes at 5:30 PM, you get your mail there by 5:25 so you don't miss it. If your child is slow to get going in the morning, you wake that one up fifteen minutes earlier than necessary to build a window of time.

Habits can make us or break us. You've heard us talk about 1K/1HR. That's a writing habit that encourages one thousand words a day in a one-hour time period. There's a Facebook group you can join and there was a Twitter group developed by author Donna Alward. A bunch of us in Seekerville are part of the Facebook group. For aspiring authors, that's a great habit, because it prioritizes your writing. When you're still uncontracted, it's easy to view your writing as a hobby instead of a job.

That's a Real Bad Habit because when that "call" comes, you want to be in the habit of getting things done. Meeting expectations. Delivering. Because if you're not in that mode, there are literally hundreds of folks in line, waiting to take your place.

Four authors recently received The Call from Love Inspired as a result of a contest... I cannot stress enough how important it is to be ready when that phone rings.

Developing daily habits helps me. My early rising time is devoted to writing and marketing. I adopted that mode because I'm a total jerk at night. When I'm  tired, I'm snarky!!!! Snarky is not how I want my stories to come out, so my biologically-driven writing time is morning.

Then the work day begins and if I can get back to writing (winter!) I do it, but during farm season I have to put on other hats.

Monkeys can be trained to do all kinds of things.

So can we! :)

If you're visually inclined, plot out a daily schedule and keep to it.

If you're self-disciplined, plan your day but leave a margin for error.

One thing I do that is a HUGE HELP is to work ahead of the calendar. To get work done early, pre-deadline, because I don't do panic mode.

If there's a family emergency, I don't want to be deadlocked or nervous about getting my work done. It it's already done, I've built myself a time cushion and can attend to the emergency with full attention. Driving yourself crazy isn't the result of unforeseen circumstances. It's often the result of not preparing for the fact that unforeseen circumstances happen to everyone ALL THE TIME... and if we don't prep for them, that's on us.

Altius, Citius, Fortius.

Higher. Faster. Stronger. It's part of an athlete's creed passed down from the earliest Greek and Roman Olympians. It's simply about holding ourselves to a higher standard.



There's an old running adage that goes something like this: "If you take a day off, no one notices. If you take two days off, you'll notice. If you take three days off, everyone notices."

Habits are like that.

K-Love radio does a 30-day challenge. It's a great ploy, because research shows that anyone who does something repeatedly for thirty days has created a habit. And when we're in the groove of habits, we get the job done.

What are your bad habits? What are your strengths? What can you deep-six or downsize or give up to make your day/week/month more productive?



Leave a comment below to get the conversation rolling. I've got a copy of my newest mystery "Just Over the Horizon" to go out to one delightful person today... all commenters will be entered.

And I brought coffee and donuts to tempt you in. Coffee. Donuts/doughnuts and great books.

What could be better than that?

USA Today Bestselling Author Ruth Logan Herne writes the kind of books she likes to read, so that's a total bonus, right? And she's been known to make herself (and others!) cry, but she makes them smile, too, so she figures it balances out. Friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, visit her website ruthloganherne.com or email her directly at loganherne@gmail.com. She loves to chat with writers, readers, and pretty much anyone who comes along because she talks a lot, but has managed to have over 50 books published, so she must stop talking occasionally! We think...

Introducing Miss Pembroke

Good morning, Lords, Ladies, and Gentlemen.

Welcome to Miss Pembroke’s Fine Finishing School for Writers and Others of Extraordinary Intelligence. Come right in. Once everyone has found their seats, we’ll get started.

*hand waving in the air*

Yes, Miss-

The name’s Flora, Miss Pembroke.

Yes, Flora. What did you wish to say?

What’er you gonna learn us about?

You mean, “What will we learn in this class?”

That’s what I said, ain’t it? 

Not quite. But you have asked a good question. In this class we will be learning about that finest of all the Arts: Grammar.

*hand waving in the air*

Yes, Flora?

I already know my grammar. And my gramper, too.

Class, stop laughing. We don’t want to encourage such low humor.

*clears throat*

Now, what do we know about commas? Yes, Flora?

I know all about commas, you know, like, first of all, what commas are, and how to use them, you know, correctly. 

I have a feeling you need to brush up on your comma usage.

Hunh? Whadyasay???

Look at the sentence you just said. How many commas are in it?

I know all about commas, (one) you know, (two) like, (three) first of all, (four) what commas are, (five) and how to use them, (six) you know, (seven) correctly.

There were only seven.

Tell us how you decided to use seven commas in that one sentence?

I just stick ‘em in when they sound good. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.

I suppose when you are speaking you can use them as often as you wish. But when you are writing you need to keep your reader’s comfort in mind.

Horny toads. Why would I want to do that?

Because readers are our friends.

Humph.

Because we want readers to read our books.

Them readers again. Tykes yer hats off to ‘em. Next thing you’ll be tellin’ me is that without them there’d be no books.

That is correct.

Humph. Okay, okay. I know you’re stewin’ somethin’ fierce. Go ahead and spill the beans. Tell us what YOU know about commas. *aside to the class* Like she knows anything!

All right. Listen carefully, everyone. The comma indicates the smallest break in a sentence. There are many ways to use commas correctly, depending on the context. In formal prose, logical considerations are paramount. In fiction, the ease of reading is the biggest consideration.

Hoity-toity. What’s it means?

If we use too many commas, the sentence becomes clogged and reading becomes difficult. Too many commas slow the reader down.

You’re talkin’ nonsense now. Slow down the reader? How’s anyone suppose ta figure out what’s the right way and what’s the wrong way?

It does help to have a style or grammar manual. Writers should ask their publisher if they have a style manual for their publishing house. Otherwise, they should choose one school of thought and stick with it. I use the Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition) but I do make changes according to how my publisher prefers it. Those kinds of details are often taken care of during the editing stage, before your book goes to print.

Another way is to learn is to practice, like in our little classroom here at Seekerville.

Cain’t do it.

Why is that, Flora?

All them… *glares at the class*…they’s smarter n me. Tykes a bunch o’ courage to spout off in front o’ the likes o’ them.

Now, now. We are all friends here. No one will think less of you if you happen to get an answer wrong. After all, that is how we learn!

Speaking of learning, where did you learn your accent, Flora?

Accent? I ain’t got no accent.

*smiling* It seems you waver between West Texas and London’s East Side.

*nose in the air* I have no idea what yer talkin’ about.

All right, everyone. Let’s get started. First of all, let’s see if we can rewrite Flora’s sentence without so many commas, shall we?

Here’s the original sentence:

"I know all about commas, you know, like, first of all, what commas are, and how to use them, you know, correctly."

Whew! Not only did she use an excess of commas, she also used an excess of words.

Here is a corrected form after I have cleaned it up a bit:

I know all about commas, what they are, and how to use them correctly.

*waving hand in the air* 

*sigh* Yes, Flora. What is it now?

Did you use one of them fancy Oxford commas in that sentence, or just the regular loafing kind?

Loafing?

You know, like shoes. If they ain’t oxfords, then they’re loafers. 

*face palm* I used the Oxford comma in that sentence, as the Chicago Manual of Style and one of my publishers prefers. We may cover Oxford commas verses the non-Oxford comma in a future lesson.

*clears throat again*

Let’s do an exercise. Class, I’m going to write a few incorrect sample sentences below. Comment by placing the commas correctly in one or more of the sentences. You can copy and paste the sentence or sentences you choose into the comment section of the blog and then place your commas in the proper places.

The names of all the participants will be entered in a drawing to win a prize!

Oh, and a word of warning: there is a tricky sentence included!

So, let’s get started. Here are your sample sentences:



1. Hiking and sightseeing are two favorite activities in Rapid City South Dakota for the many tourists who visit the area each year.



2. I prefer to share the road with drivers who pay attention to traffic rather than their phone.



3. I don’t think I’ll ever forget my trip to Germany which happened in 1979 because the weather was so beautiful.



4. That dog is a cute funny playful furry corgi.



5. “I feel faint” she said.

He replied “I can understand why.”



6. The compass stand or binnacle must be situated within the helmsman’s field of vision.



Did you have fun playing? The answers will be posted at the end of this blog on Tuesday afternoon, September 10th, 2019. Until then I or one of the wonderful Seekers will be able to give feedback to your comments throughout the day!

Have fun!

Oh! And the prize? One participant in the exercise will receive a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card! Of course, Miss Pembroke recommends that you put that amount toward a grammar style book of your own!

Miss Pembroke would also like to thank her friend and alter-ego, Jan Drexler, for donating the prize. Be sure to check out Jan's new books that are coming out this fall!

An Amish Christmas Kitchen is available now...

Order from Amazon!As the weather grows cold and the nights grow long, the cheer and warmth of the Christmas season is one thing all readers can find comfort in. This collection from bestselling Amish fiction novelists Leslie Gould, Jan Drexler, and Kate Lloyd finds the beating heart at the center of the holiday and offers three novellas that celebrate family, faith, and especially the sights and smells of a bustling holiday kitchen.

Leslie Gould tells the story of how, in the wake of a heartbreaking loss, a young Amish woman finds unexpected comfort and hope in a yearly baking tradition surrounding the local Lancaster Christmas market. Jan Drexler offers a sweet tale of a shy Amish woman who decides to use her gift for sweets to woo a local Amish boy with her beloved Christmas cookies. And Kate Lloyd offers a heartwarming tale of a woman's unexpected discovery about the truth of her past, and the warm and welcoming Amish family table she finds herself invited to on Christmas.

The Roll of the Drums will be released on October 3, 2019!

Pre-order from Amazon here!Ruby Weaver's curly red hair isn't the only thing that sets her apart from her Amish community in 1863. Twenty-eight and single, Ruby doesn't believe a woman needs to be married in order to be happy. Her ailing friend Lovinia Fischer, however, has other ideas and wants Ruby to promise to marry her husband after she dies. Never imagining she'd have to fulfill that vow, Ruby agrees. And she's not the only one. Lovinia has extracted a similar promise from her husband, Gideon.

With both Ruby and Gideon reluctant to keep their promises, a compromise must be reached. Ruby will spend her days with Gideon's family--helping to raise the children and keep the house--but her nights will be spent at her sister's neighboring house. But this arrangement raises eyebrows in their conservative Amish community, and it soon becomes clear that Ruby must make a decision--marry Gideon or turn her back on her friend, the children she's grown to love . . . and their father.

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




End of Summer Giveaway Winners:

From Missy Tippens... A Bullet (Dotted) Journal...goes to Lila

From Erica Vetsch...a copy of Mail-Order Mishaps goes to Leslie

From Mary Connealy... a copy of her upcoming novella, Thankful for the Cowboy...goes to Lee-Ann B

From Winnie Griggs...a copy of her Love Inspired 2-in-1 releasing in September goes to Karen Jennings

From Annie...a surprise stack of books goes to Jeanne Takanaka


From Pam Hillman...one of her Natchez Trace Novels: winner’s choice goes to Sabrina

From Ruthy Logan Herne... a copy of Back in the Saddle goes to Susan Sloan!



From Audra Harders...a Bullet (Dotted) Journal goes to Jennifer Hibdon


From Debby Giusti...a copy of the first book in her Amish Protectors series, Amish Refuge, goes to Holly Ison!

From Mindy Obenhaus...a copy of Reunited in the Rockies goes to Lori Smanski

From Carrie Schmidt...a $5 Amazon gift card goes to Pat W



From Jan Drexler...a copy of her upcoming release, An Amish Christmas Kitchen, a collection of 3 novellas by Jan, Leslie Gould and Kate Lloyd goes to Winnie Thomas

From Cate Nolan...a copy of an Australian version of her book, Christmas in Hiding, in a 2-in-1 version with Carla Cassidy goes to Janice

From Beth Erin...winner's choice of one title from her book stash OR a $5 Amazon gift card...goes to Tracey Hagwood 


From Glynna Kaye...a $5 Amazon gift card goes to Melanie Pike




Monday: Seekerville Closed For Labor Day
Tuesday: Mary Connealy--The winner of an ebook copy of Thankful for the Cowboy is Ann. There were two Anns, this is the one who posted about Rabbit Nuggets. :)
Wednesday: Mindy Obenhaus talked about milestones and shared some of the things she's learned between the publication of her first book and her eighth book. The winner of copies of her first book, The Doctor's Family Reunion, and her latest release, Reunited in the Rockies, is... Melanie Pike!
Friday:  DiAnn Mills dropped by to talk about pursuing a writer's holy grail, plus is giving away a copy of her new release, Fatal Strike to one lucky reader! Winner of Fatal Strike is: Laurie Wood



Monday:  Jan Drexler is relinquishing her Seekerville time to her friend and alter-ego, Miss Pearl Pembroke, of Miss Pembroke's Fine Finishing School for Writers and Others of Extraordinary Intelligence. Don't be tempted to skip school! Miss Pembroke is bringing along a special gift for one participant in her class!
Wednesday:  "Ruthy" Ruth Logan Herne roars in on Wednesday with a post about something critically important to today's authors: True Characterization when dealing with people who may not look exactly like you. She's bringing some big guns on board with advise for all of us and she's probably giving away something really cool because she is totally not afraid to buy your love.   Friday: "Authors! Please don't confuse us!"  As co-owner of JustRead Publicity Tours, Annie shares some marketing tips for authors.





What to go on a blind date with a book? JustRead Publicity Tours would love to set you up on a blind date with a book (or two or more) to read!  Just fill out our Blind Tour Compatibility form and once we match a book with you, we'll get in touch with you. All we asked is for you to post a review and submit a link to us. Easy peasy, right?! Join now at: http://bit.ly/JR_BlindTours.


Huge congrats to Ruthy who has a new label on her upcoming covers!!!! 
USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR! 

How exciting it is to see this on Ruthy's upcoming Love Inspired!
AND THE SUMMER OF SUSPENSE is still a top seller on Amazon! Check it out HERE!!!!

HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PASTBy Debby Giusti She can’t remember who she’s running from.Is she safe with the Amish?
Someone wants Becca Troyer dead, but who or why is a mystery to her. Seeking refuge at the home of Amish farmer Zeke Hochstetler is her only hope to stay one step ahead of the killer. With every clue she finds about her past leading to more confusion, Becca and Zeke must untangle the truth before her pursuer discovers where she’s been hiding.Available for pre-order HERE! 

Thankful for the CowboyAvailable NOW$2.99Tom’s windmills will save her ranch. But can Tom save her broken heart? Aiming for LoveComing in October
FREE!!! FREE!!! FREE!!!NO WAY UP IS FREEThe novella prequel, The Boden Birthright, too.Books #2 and #3 in the series at a reduced price





For those who've missed and asked about the Grammar Queen, she lives on at Myra Johnson's blog! 

In Pursuit of the Writer’s Holy Grail

by DiAnn Mills

Are you in pursuit of a writer’s holy grail? A holy grail can be defined as a sought-after prize of great significance that brings happiness and accolades and can even provide special powers. It’s often termed elusive—just beyond reach but dangling, teasing, urging the person to keep moving forward.
A writer’s holy grail is different for each of us, and the vague definition makes it difficult for us to comprehend. The concept is personal. Sometimes we aren’t sure what the individual achievement is or how to attain it. Or if we’re supposed to pursue it.
Our quest begins by describing what the writer’s holy grail means to each of us. Examine the whole picture: professional, personal, physical, spiritual, and mental. Be honest with ourselves. A well-grounded writer understands that challenges promote change and growth in every aspect of our lives.
Do one or more of these seven items reflect our list of goals?
1.        Publication by one of the Big Five publishers2.        NYT bestseller status3.        Receiving a distinguished award4.        Winning an incredible international contest5.        Movie contract with a large studio6.        Interviews on all the big TV networks7.        A six-figure advance
Are we doing all we can to make our holy grail a reality? Do we search for methods and study tips guaranteed to help us climb the rungs to a bestseller? Are we actively involved in establishing relationships through social media, not to sell books but to offer our experience and expertise? Are we participating in a writers’ group and helping other serious writers learn the craft? Do we attend workshops and conferences? All of these are solid practices. Are we raising the bar on our craft and growing as respected writers whose work can be trusted?
What if we’re doing all the things the experts claim will bring our desires on a golden platter, and nothing’s happening except discouragement? What could be a few reasons our quest hasn’t been realized?
•     Writer expectations are too high•     Novel or book project is not a high concept •     Market is saturated by the same genre or topic•     No one knows about the book•     The quest is all about us•     We forgot to pray and give all the glory to Him
Perhaps the last point should be our first. . . .
Where does God fit into our plans? Has he purposed our holy grail of writing? Has our crusade taken the place of God, who gave us our gift? Are we ignoring the guidance of respected professionals in the industry? These are tough questions to ask ourselves, and the answers require prayerful reflection. Read this paragraph first, then review the entire post top to bottom. Does the rest of the information make more sense when we establish God as our priority?


What does the holy grail of writing mean to you?  
(Comment below for your chance to win a copy of DiAnn's latest release, Fatal Strike, courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers.)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader's Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014. Connect with DiAnn here: www.diannmills.com.





There’s a killer on the loose in Galveston, targeting law enforcement officials and using a fatal injection of snake venom to take them down. Authorities have reasons to believe the Veneno gang is behind the hits, and FBI Agents Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert team up to track down those responsible. Their best lead is an eyewitness who identifies a young man dumping the third body on a church doorstep. But their suspect has gone into hiding, and those closest to him are reluctant to reveal anything that might help investigators find him.

As Leah and Jon check connections among the victims and dig deeper into motives, they discover appearances may be deceiving. Someone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and Leah and Jon must face their greatest fears in order to stop the next fatal strike.