Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 108

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: Gabrielle Meyer shared her inspiring post, Lies We Tell Ourselves as Writers. 
Wednesday: We had an open critique day. A big thank you to all who were brave enough to participate! Winner of a surprise book(s) is Lila! Thank you so much for coming over! (even though the blog notice was late, Lila!) Way to be pro-active! :)
Thursday: Wonderful guest Pepper Basham brought us a post about settings! The winner of My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge is Kathryn Barker. Congrats!!!!! Kathryn!
Friday: Cate Nolan brought us a fun recap of RWA 2019! Because people were having problems with commenting, we're extending the book offer through the weekend and will post the winners in next week's Weekend Edition. So keep talking to us about conferences.


Monday:  Mary Connealy will be your hostess today! She's talking about the trouble she can get into with idle hands!!!
Wednesday:  Mindy Obenhaus will share some tips on juggling the writing life!  Friday: Beth Erin will bring us a post today!




New tour sign ups at JustRead Publicity Tours, including a Blog Tour for Mindy Obenhaus' upcoming 4th book in the Rocky Mountain Heroes series, Reunited in the Rockies !




SUMMER OF SUSPENSE RELEASES THIS WEEK!!!! 


You've all been waiting so patiently, and this is the week! STILL .99 for 16 romantic suspense stories written by an amazing collection of authors including Seekerville's own Debby Giusti and Ruthy Logan Herne!



 Nook https://bit.ly/2DZC0YQ

Apple https://apple.co/2VcpYkA

Amazon https://amzn.to/2VsrPqs

FACEBOOK PARTY FOR THIS RELEASE THIS WEEK, 8/6 through 8/9!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/361400477859237/




Available for just $0.99! Grab your copy of Sagebrush Knights, four mail-order bride stories set in the American West!

Evelyn, Jane, Gwendolyn, and Emmeline Gerhard arrive in Wyoming Territory in search of husbands. But when the men awaiting them are not the knights-in-shining-armor they hoped for, it will take a hearty dose of faith to see them through. Will love prevail or bring a not so happy ending?
Get your copy by clicking here: https://amzn.to/2ywyKAP 

The countdown is on for Mindy Obenhaus's latest release, Reunited in the Rockies, on August 20th!
Read a free preview here.Preorder your copy here.
Mary is on a blog called Midwest Almanac on Sunday AND Monday, that's tomorrow and the next day. Monday is for pictures. She's talking (brace yourself) about COWS on Sunday. Monday is for pictures of boating.
Coming soon, BOOK SALE. The Cimarron Legacy Series will be on sale in September. Book One Now Way Up will be FREE and books #2 and #3 will be at a reduced price.More info when it becomes available.




First vs Third Person: Choosing the Right Point of View for Your Novel by Janice Hardy at Fiction University

Addressing Anxiety by Cathy Yardley at Writer Unboxed

3 Lessons About the Creative Process (As Learned from My Toddler) by Kristin Hoffman at Writer Unboxed

Writing in the Chaos by Allsion Winn Scotch at Writer Unboxed.

Before You Market Your Book, Set Your Objectives by Boni Wagner-Stafford at the Jane Friedman blog

ACFW Conference Info  (deadline August 19th for registration)

The Misunderstanding of Write What You Know by Harrison Demchick at Fiction University

Tips to Stay Safe Online by Edie Melson at The Write Conversation

Recapping RWA19 With a Little Help From Some Friends

If you ask most anyone what they like best about conference, the first thing that comes out is usually seeing old friends and making new ones. So for today's recap, I thought I'd ask some friends - old and new - for a little help.
The question was simple: What was your favorite part of being at RWA19?
Here are the answers in no particular order:
Starting with Seekerville's own Debby Giusti:
The National RWA Conference is always exciting and especially so when it’s held in New York City. My daughter traveled with me, and we enjoyed returning to favorite spots that we’ve visited on previous trips to the city. We saw two Broadway shows, found delightful restaurants that catered to our love of all things Italian and mixed and mingled with New Yorkers as we took in the Avenue of the Americas’ Street Market, strolled through Bryant Park and soaked up the ambiance of the amazing New York Public Library. Other fun moments included people watching in Times Square, sipping a cool drink in Rockefeller Center and catching portions of live television shows at NBC and FOX.
When I wasn’t doing tourist things, I took part in the many informative programs hosted by Love Inspired and Harlequin as well as a number of RWA workshops. In addition to the education aspects of the conference, I always enjoy being surrounded by other folks who love writing and reading. We’re kindred spirits, truly. Reconnecting with old friends provides treasured moments grabbed in the hallways or while riding the glass elevators. We quickly catch up on the past year and promise to stay in touch via email and social media in the days ahead. Making new friends throughout the conference and meeting new readers at the Literacy Autographing are added blessings. Each year after the RWA Conference, I return home tired but happy and ready to start writing again. The 2020 RWA Conference will be held in San Francisco. I plan to attend. Hope to see you there!
Debby sent me so many wonderful photos.

























Villager Tanya Agler had this to say:
Do you remember the Lay’s Potato Chips advertising slogan? No one can eat just one. That sentence describes my RWA2019 Conference. Whenever I was convinced I’d narrowed down my conference experience to a favorite moment, something else popped up, and I came to the conclusion this year’s conference was a special confluence of shared moments.First, I loved spending time with other authors. Meeting my fellow Harlequin Heartwarming authors, making new author friends, and becoming reacquainted with so many authors I’ve met at other conferences helps me appreciate the support we give one another throughout the year. Then, I learned so much from talking to my editor. And finally, the educational opportunities in the craft and on marketing will hopefully go a long way in improving my works in progress.So unlike other conferences where I can pinpoint one specific moment, this year I’m thankful for the five days I spent laughing and learning with other writers. 
Tanya's new book from Harlequin Heartwarming, The Sheriff's Second Chance is being released in January 2020 and is up for preorder on Amazon.
We have two RITA finalists here to answer the question. I can imagine what the highlight of their conference must have been.
Lenora Worth has this to say:"My favorite part was being back in NY as a RITA finalist and it was amazing. Although I didn’t win the RITA, I will never forget that experience. It was a highlight of my career!"
Susie Dietze replied:
"My favorite part of the conference was the people! I loved seeing old friends as well as meeting new ones--which I did at the RITA/GH reception, at a workshop, and at the Harlequin party, which was an absolute blast. My main regret was not having more time to get to know some ladies better! Inspy authors are some of the most welcoming, generous, wonderful people in the world, and I'm grateful for opportunities to be around them."
I had the chance to meet up with a longtime friend, Sandra Belle Calhoune, whose Love Inspired Book, An Alaskan Christmas, is being made into a movie by Brain Power Studios. That made Sandy's conference extra special."
"My favorite part of RWA this year was attending a dinner hosted by Brain Power Studios. It was a celebration of all the Harlequin authors who have or will have movies made by the studio. They allowed us to have a plus one and I invited my daughter. Being able to share my writing world with her was fabulous. And having her celebrate this night with me made an unforgettable memory for the two of us."
I had the wonderful chance to meet two LIS friends who I've never met in person before.
Sharee Stover and I share the same editor. This was Sharee's response:"This year I attended my second RWA conference, and it was my first time visiting New York City. For an introvert like me, conferences can be overwhelming by themselves. So, the mixture was a wild ride. By far, one of the best things about going to any writers’ event is meeting new friends and catching up with old ones. I got the chance to do both, and I am continually grateful for the incredible writing community I am privileged to be a part of. I am also a member of several RWA chapters and this year, the romantic suspense chapter, Kiss of Death, did an entire day with the FBI. It was outstanding! We spent the day learning from FBI agents in the counter-terrorism, bomb, violent crimes, and CJIS units. My pen was sparking flames from my rapid note taking. Hopefully, some of that great information will find its way back into a story in the near future." 

Christa Sinclair is another friend I'd only known online before. Let Christa share her experiences.The RWA Conference was amazing! I was so lucky to see so many friends I haven’t seen in a while, dance the nights away, and attend some awesome workshops. But there were two things that made this year’s conference special for me. One was meeting my editor for the first time. She’s been working with me on and off for so long as I worked my way up to my 1st book contract (& now as I work on book 2). It was wonderful and it immediately felt like we were old friends. The other special part of conference was meeting in person so many friends I’ve made online in the last two years. To be able to match a living, breathing human with the picture of their online persona was invaluable. Now I feel even more connected.

Dana R. Lynn also writes for LIS. Dana and I met when we were both published through the LIS Killer Voices contest, and we've been friends ever since.
Dana says: "I love seeing friends from all over the country and meeting new people. Whether it was seeing other authors who wrote Amish romance at a special lunch, dancing together at the Harlequin party or getting together to so writing sprints and talking half the time, it was all part of the adventure. Although, I do have to say the adventure started with an eight hour train ride with my friend Lee Tobin McClain. That was a blast."
Dana was kind enough to also share some of her photos from RWA.
Harlequin Book Signing
Amish Authors Lunch
The Famous Harlequin Dance Party
Dana and Lee on the train - for 8 hours!

Another dear friend I made the last time RWA was in NYC is Alison Stone. Even though we hadn't seen each other in 4 years, we picked up the conversation as if it had been last week.Alison has this to say:

“The best part of the RWA conference was reconnecting in person with my writer friends. No one “gets” writers better than other writers. I also appreciated the opportunity to meet with my editor to learn what’s new in this ever-changing industry. I arrived home with fresh story ideas and renewed energy to write.”

As for me, spending time with all these wonderful ladies and my amazing editor, Emily Rodmell, made the whole conference an experience to cherish.

To help you all feel a part of the celebration, we've got lots of books to give away today. We're offering:
(Note: some books are only available as eBooks, so please let us know if you can't read them.)

                           

Creating a World in a Book by Guest Blogger Pepper Basham

I just finished reading my first Amelia Peabody book and I have been completely captivated by the world Elizabeth Peters created. Now, I only picked it up as research for a work-in-progress of mine, but from the first chapter, I was drawn into the setting of Cairo and the arid environment in which Egyptologists and archeologists saturated themselves to uncover ancient relics.

Elizabeth Peters’ book was thick with a world I’d never experienced, but through her story, I traveled to Egypt, felt the busy-ness of Cairo’s streets, and even delved into an ancient mystery.

How did she help me travel there? And how do we make that happen in our stories?

One of my favorite things in writing (besides developing characters! I LOVE creating characters!!) is helping my readers get a sense of place in the storyworld they’ve entered.

I could really write three separate posts on this issue, one on each of my points, but I’ll try to sum it up

Open Critique Day Surprise Appearance!

 YOU WIN!

When the inevitable happens, we throw up a random OPEN CRITIQUE DAY for you aspiring and established authors... all are welcome! You post a short excerpt OR idea that you want input on and we tear it apart, make you cry, and sadly watch you stomp away....

OR....

We give you loving advice, you still cry, but you still love us.  All in a day's work, darlings! :)

Some of you know the drill.

Some don't, so here's a fun, quick explanation:

Today is a random day where you can post a short few paragraphs of your work and we are going to be BRUTALLY HONEST about what we think....

And you then can retreat to your room with a blankie and and a cup of hot chocolate...

Seekers allow a 24 hour WHINING rule. :)

You get to be mad for one day...

And then we pull up our big girl panties and move on.  (Not kidding, Cupcakes.... you get a day.)



Okay, we're not really mean. Well, Ruthy is KINDA mean, but she really wants your success so she'll tell you it's for  your own good. This may or may not be true.

But when you look at the wealth of experience and published books here on this blog, you know you've got a bunch of gals who not only know what they're talking about... they love helping others.

So be big and brave and bold!

Get your short piece ready and post it in a comment....

LET'S PLAY!!!!

We've got coffee and tea and hot chocolate and a cooler of Cokes (which means any soda imaginable for you Southern gals!) and there's a full breakfast bar of great healthy stuff....

And then there's a breakfast bar of Twinkies and Oreos and great cherry desserts.

And if you've never had Ruthy's cherry pie, well.... you'll love it. And she's picking up a 40 lb. box of IQF tart cherries on Saturday morning, so let the cherry desserts begin!

And we have a couple of book surprises we're giving away today, so free critiques...

And books.

It's been a long winter, but we are on a roll for 2019!

So get your stuff ready, it's that random moment of fun with the red pen you've all been waiting for! Use the comment section below to give us a paragraph or two of your work.

Let's see what ya' got.


Multi-published, award-winning author Ruth Logan Herne has written over 50 books and loves to work with people on her own terms: AKA: SNARKY. She's also finaled in a lot of awards and won a few, so she uses that to be even bossier...

So take that as a warning or a dare, your choice because she's a born in the north Yankee and kind of proud of it...
Don't say you haven't been warned! :)

Book giveaways are ANYONE'S GUESS, darlings....

We'll see what's in the prize vault!  And any Seekers who are around today may/will jump in and offer advice. Let's do this!

The Lies We Tell Ourselves as Writers

Erica here: It is my great pleasure to have my friend Gabrielle Meyer on the blog today. 


I recently saw a video that brought tears to my eyes, because I could relate. A woman invited several friends to her house, one by one, and asked them what sort of things they say to themselves. One lady said she calls herself lazy, another said she calls herself fat, a third said she tells herself she’s a selfish friend, and a fourth said she tells herself she’s not good enough. Then, one by one, the woman showed her friends pictures of themselves as little girls and said: “Can you tell this little girl those things?” All of them started to cry and said, no, they could not. One even said: “I don’t want to crush her spirit.”

This made me think about the writing life and the way we so often talk to ourselves: “No one cares what I have to say.” “I don’t write as well as my friends.” “My hard work will never pay off.” “I’ll never be heard or discovered among the crowd.” “My writing isn’t as deep and meaningful as someone else’s.”

“I’ll never be good enough.”

Could you image telling a child those things? “No one cares what you have to say…you’re not good enough.”

So then, why do we talk to ourselves that way?

If I interviewed each of my writing friends, I know they would have more lies to add to this list, because we all have different life experience. From the time we’re little, we start to believe the things people say about us. But the trouble is, as children, we don’t have the ability to distinguish lies from truth. We accept what people say, we absorb it into our identity, and then by the time we’re adults, even if it isn’t logical, it’s so much a part of who we are, we go on believing it.

I was raised in a small town in the middle of Minnesota. Often, I heard people in the community say negative, derogatory things about small-town life. At a baseball game one time, I heard a parent say to his child: “Why bother practicing? You’re from Little Falls—you have no chance at becoming a Major League star.” This statement, along with others, led me to believe that no one from my small town could reach for their dreams or accomplish something big, and that it would be a waste of time to pursue writing. Each time I receive a rejection, a negative review, or a disappointing outcome, those lies circle around in my head.

But lies aren’t limited to our childhood. As adults, we still take to heart what people say about us. Maybe a critique partner tore your first manuscript to shreds. Maybe an agent sent you a rejection letter and said your writing wasn’t ready. Maybe an editor at a pitch appointment said your ideas weren’t marketable. Maybe a reader wrote a review and said your book was a waste of time and money.

If we hear it often enough, and dwell on it long enough, we might start to believe it’s true.

Or maybe you’ve never let anyone even read your writing, because you’re your own worst critic. You’ve believed the lies long enough, and even though you want to be a writer, you struggle to believe you can achieve your dreams.

So how do we stop this cycle? How do we overcome the lies and start to believe the truth?

First, we need to identify the lies, ask ourselves where they came from, and then speak the truth over those lies. The Bible says we have an enemy of our souls and Hh is the father of all lies. If he can keep us captive to those lies, then the truth-giving, life-giving words we have to offer this hungry world will go unspoken.

What if we rejected the lies and wrote with abandon? What if we turned off the negative criticism and replaced it with a heart of confidence? What if we looked at rejection as a way to grow, instead of shrink? How different would your writing life look if you simply reveled in the joy of writing and didn’t worry about the outcome? Instead of being afraid you’re not good enough, or that you don’t write like someone else, why not marvel in who God created you to be?

After eleven published books, I went through eighteen months without a contract. In that time, I submitted fourteen book proposals—many of which were rejected. I had ample opportunity to wallow in the belief that a small town girl can never accomplish her dreams. I could have given up. Instead, I looked at that little girl I once was and told her the truth: God has a purpose for my life, no matter where I grew up. Laura Ingalls Wilder and Maud Hart Lovelace, two of my all-time favorite authors, grew up in small Minnesota towns. Even if I never received another contract, my writing is a gift that God can use however He chooses. Even if no one ever reads my writing, it still blesses me.

As I waited, I continued to believe the best, I continued to submit proposals, and I wrote another book, even though it wasn’t contracted. I found immense freedom and joy in my writing again. I was being who I was meant to be, and I wouldn’t let the lies tell me differently. I encourage you to do the same.

It’s your turn: what are some of the lies you believe that keep you from writing with abandon? If you’ve overcome the lies, what truths did you tell yourself? How could you encourage other writers to grow in confidence today?


Gabrielle Meyer lives in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing historical and contemporary fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. 
Find Gabrielle on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AuthorGabrielleMeyer, Twitter atwww.twitter.com/MeyerGabrielle, Goodreads, Bookbub, and her website at www.gabriellemeyer.com.

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 evoked a bit of envy as she shared How to Write While On Vacation.
Wednesday: Cate Nolan gave us a glimpse of the Romance Writers of Amercia (RWA) conference and NYC!!! Live from RWA 2019!
Friday: Pam Hillman asked Where's A Whale When You Need One? Do you know?


Monday:  Gabrielle Meyer is guest-posting on Seekerville about the Lies We Tell Ourselves as Writers. You won't want to miss this heartfelt post!
Wednesday:  Pepper Basham will be in the house! Come join the fun!  Friday: Surprise Friday!






DEBBY GIUSTIwill be signing at the RWA Conferencein New York City.Stop by her table and say hello!





Long Days. Hot Nights. Deadly Secrets.Grab this red hot Christian Suspense Anthology bargain for just 99 cents for a short time only before the price increases to 9.99.Start your summer off right with 16 gripping and never-before published tales of Christian suspense from today's most popular mystery and suspense authors.Join Mary Alford, Christy Barritt, Patricia Bradley, Vannetta Chapman, Mary Ellis, Debby Giusti, Rachel J. Good, Ruth Hartzler, Shaen Layle, Ruth Logan Herne, Loree Lough, Elizabeth Ludwig, Nancy Mehl, Serena B. Miller, Samantha Price, Alana Terry on a dangerous journey filled with mystery, suspense, and faith that that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.Pre-Order Summer of Suspense at Barnes & Noble, Apple, and Amazon. 








For everything romance, check out the RWA site and catch up on all the happenings during the conference in New York City!!

How To Make Your Plot a Powerful Thematic Metaphor by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

My Superpower is Slacking Off by Liz Michalski at Writer UnBoxed

Five Words To Strike From Your Fiction by Bob Hostetler at Steve Laube Agency

Why Self-Publishing Authors Should Consider Establishing Their Own Imprint by David Wogahn at Jane Friedman

Becoming A Full-Time Author: Three Mindset Shifts Every Writer Must Make  by Pagan Malcolm at Writer's Digest

Where's a Whale When You Need One?

by Pam Hillman

We’ve all read the story of Jonah, right? God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to the Ninevites. Jonah refused to go and boarded a boat with the intention of getting as far away as he could.

Well, that didn’t work out so well when God caused a great storm and the sailors on the boat cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Knowing he was caught, Jonah told them to throw him overboard, and you know the rest.

God had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah and spit him out on land close to… you guessed it, Nineveh.

So, how does this relate to writing?

I’m not sure about the rest of you, but many of my characters and even portions of my plots run parallel to some Biblical story. I don’t start out to write mirror images of Biblical characters, and I don’t plot from that perspective, but eventually, when all the wrinkles are ironed out, I tend to have a lot of parallels. Some are more obvious than others.

When I first started working on my Natchez Trace Novel series, I had no clue that the three brothers would end up symbolizing the three men in The Prodigal Son. When my editor needed to know the spiritual thread that connected the series, I started lookin at my notes and discovered this aspect staring me in the face. It was there all the time… I just hadn’t seen it.

In The Road to Magnolia Glen, Quinn sacrifices his own desires for freedom from familial responsibility when he takes on the responsibility of three additional people. This type sacrifice is rampant in fiction and readers are drawn to characters who sacrifice their own goals for others, especially when the hero sacrifices his own goals for the heroine.

The examples above relate to characters, but there’s also a parallel to my actual plots in many cases. Once I realized that Connor, Quinn, and Caleb symbolized the father, the elder brother, and the prodigal son, I was able to dig deeper into how each would act and react to situations regarding each other. I wouldn’t say that this aspect of the stories bled over into the romances or even the current situation each man found himself in, but they brought their past with them, and knowing the family dynamics helped me flesh them out and stay in character.

The hardest character for me to nail down in The Crossing at Cypress Creek was Alanah’s   uncle. I was well into the first draft before I figured out what kind of man Uncle Jude was. And when I did, he ended up mirroring a Biblical character. Some readers have picked up on Jude’s alter-ego, while others haven’t. So, I guess it was a little more subtle than I thought. But knowing who he was based on made writing him much easier, but in some ways, much harder. Because the Biblical Jonah has always been a conundrum to me. I never could understand why he did what he did. Maybe I still don’t really understand, but fleshing out Uncle Jude in my own way in the 18th century gave me a bit more insight into the Biblical Jonah.

By Pieter Lastman - IAFT8IfCTfplRQ at Google Cultural Institute maximum zoom level, Public Domain
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... then there’s the external plot points that need to be implemented when trying to “rewrite” something from the Biblical stories.

In Stealing Jake, Jake has to face his greatest fear when he’s trapped in a mine after an explosion…for the second time in his life. He rises to the occasion and turns into the darkness of the mine to rescue others. The phrase “for such a time as this” rings over and over in his head. I don’t rehash the story of Esther, or even mention her name, but just using the phrase clued many readers in to the similarities of the situation.

And then there was my latest conundrum. What do you do when you need a whale, but your story is landlocked? I struggled with this aspect of The Crossing at Cypress Creek for weeks. Once I knew who Uncle Jude was modeled after, I really, really wanted him to have a “whale” moment. But the how kept eluding me. I brainstormed with writer friends, landing on one idea after another before discarding them all as not feasible. Then, I finally found a solution that worked. It wasn’t a whale, but close enough. I put Uncle Jude in a dark, dank root cellar. Injured, trapped, and going in and out of consciousness, I had him in his “whale” and he came to an understanding with God.

Sometimes the whale eludes us until right at the time we need it most. But if we keep searching, keep writing, and keep plotting, we’ll finally find that whale.

As a writer, where’s your whale? What parallels can you think of in your characters or plots with Biblical stories? As a reader, have you read books where characters or plots made you think of a story from the Bible or even Greek mythology?

www.pamhillman.com

Live from RWA19

Good morning, Seekerville friends.

Today's post is a bit different from usual. Debby, Mindy, Winnie and I are at RWA19 in NYC along with a couple of thousand other writers, editors, and assorted publishing professionals. We're hoping to meet up with a lot of Villagers during the next few days.



I thought I'd take advantage of this opportunity to share some of the conference experiences with you, but the drawback is that, due to schedule changes, the conference doesn't really get kicking until this afternoon.

I'll be back to post photos as I can during the next few days, but while we're waiting for things to start up, let's talk about conferences in general.

There are two main types of conferences in the romance world - ones aimed at writers developing their craft, networking, and just letting loose away from their keyboards for a few days. RWA and ACFW are the two biggest, but there are so many regional gems as well.


The other kind of conferences are the ones focusing on readers. There have been a variety of these over the years, beginning with RT, but most people here are probably familiar with CFRR.

Some people don't have a chance to go to a conference, or choose not to, and make a vow to spend the time doing extra writing instead.

I'll be honest. I probably wouldn't be doing RWA this year given all that has been going on in my life, but I live here, so it would have been foolish to skip it.  I'm mourning the loss of writing time, but looking forward to meeting with my editor and seeing friends.


Let's chat about your experiences. Have you been to either type of conference? Which type do you prefer? I'd really love to know more about the conferences you've been to.
What are you looking for when you choose a conference?

One of the other issues that comes up at conference time is the whole introvert vs extrovert question. I absolutely love going to conferences with friends, but if I'm going to have to be around a bunch of strangers for days, it is not my happy place. If you can't find me, I'm probably off in a corner with a cup of coffee or tea.

Last week I was on a beach in Maine. Times Square is a whole nother world.




I'm also one of those people who actually does go to all the workshops because that's like being in school and I was good at that.
Others thrive on meeting new people and taking in as much of the excitement as possible. Which are you?

Does anyone have anything special they want to see from RWA19?


Check back later for photos.

And if you're here, please say hello and/or send me your photos to add to the blog. authorcatenolan@gmail.com


Please join in the conversation. RWA always has lots of free books and other swag, so I'll be putting some of it up for giveaways as I find it.

Writing While On Vacation

Good morning from Sunny Florida!


Writing while on vacation is a special challenge, whether it be a blog post or a novel. Family, destinations, travel, events...all the things you have been looking forward to doing on your vacation can intrude on the writing time. But the deadlines and writing tasks don't stop.

So, if you, like me, are on vacation, but you still have writing responsibilities, how do you balance, juggle, or otherwise schedule the work and the play?

Here are a few tips:

1. Plan ahead. Take a look at your writing schedule and determine what you need to do to stay on track while you're gone. If you have blog posts due, write them before you leave for your trip. (I'm shaking my head at myself on this one because I'm writing this post while on vacation when I knew in plenty of time that it would be due while I was gone. Do as I say, not as I do!)

2. Downsize. Be realistic about what you will be able to accomplish or even want to accomplish on vacation. If you usually write 1000 words per day, perhaps 500 on vacation...or 250. Or plan to write every other day, or every third day.

3. Ask for help. Non-writing family might not understand your need to get away for an hour or so to put some words on your WIP. Explain to them that you're not avoiding them, but that you need to get in a little bit of work time. Ask them for their patience and help, make them a part of the process.

4. Relax. Sometimes, you just need to put all the writing away while you're on vacation. Refresh your mind and heart and body, knowing that you will dive back in with diligence when you get home. Do what you are comfortable doing while on vacation, and otherwise, let it go.



Are you planning a summer vacation? Do you write while you are away from home?

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 online at 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.

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:  Jan Drexler shared her methods of Managing the Chaos to Encourage Productivity. So many great ideas!
Wednesday:  Debby Giusti explored Storms in the Writing Life. Winner's choice of one of Debby's books goes to Catherine Hackman! Congrats!
Friday: Jane Choate discussed Revisions - A Tiered Approach. Revisions are here to stay, so let's get them done! to get them done. The winner of a copy of Inherited Threat is Glynis. Congratulations!



Monday:  Erica will hold court in Seekerville today!
Wednesday:  Cate will join us live from RWA - NYC! Stop back during the day on Wednesday and Thursday for updates and conversation and to get in the drawings for some RWA swag and books.  Friday: Pam will astound all with her wit and wisdom!






DEBBY GIUSTIwill be signing at the RWA Conferencein New York City.Stop by her table and say hello!





Long Days. Hot Nights. Deadly Secrets.Grab this red hot Christian Suspense Anthology bargain for just 99 cents for a short time only before the price increases to 9.99.Start your summer off right with 16 gripping and never-before published tales of Christian suspense from today's most popular mystery and suspense authors.Join Mary Alford, Christy Barritt, Patricia Bradley, Vannetta Chapman, Mary Ellis, Debby Giusti, Rachel J. Good, Ruth Hartzler, Shaen Layle, Ruth Logan Herne, Loree Lough, Elizabeth Ludwig, Nancy Mehl, Serena B. Miller, Samantha Price, Alana Terry on a dangerous journey filled with mystery, suspense, and faith that that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.Pre-Order Summer of Suspense at Barnes & Noble, Apple, and Amazon. 







Click Here to Enter!
The Magical, Mystical Addiction of the English Language by Dan Vale at Live Write Thrive
The Novel Series Part V: Story Beats and How To Find Them by Hannah Bauman at Between The Lines Editorial
Is Your Couple Compatible? by Tamela Hancock Murray at Steve Laube Agency
Stop Reading Your Book Reviews by Sam Hooker at The Creative Penn