Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 113

Six Things I Learned from an Island in Maine - guest post by Suzanne Woods Fisher

With guest Suzanne Woods Fisher
As I was gathering information to begin the writing of On a Summer Tide, I spent time roaming through remote islands along coastal Maine. Original research enhances a book in innumerable ways—from how the terrain looks, to the effects of weather, to unique and credible details gathered that only come from on-the-ground visits.




The effort and expense to travel across the country to Maine was well worth it. In fact, I would say it changed the story I had in mind and took it down a different path. I learned a few things about year-round island living, how seasons affect locals, how time is marked, and wove them in to make this story believable.

Here’s six things I learned from an island in Maine:

Ferry time is the only clock that matters. A ferry is a lifeline to a remote island. These ferries probably aren’t coming from the mainland but from yet another island, and are dependent on good weather conditions. These ferries are small, passenger (and bikes) only. Lugging cars back and forth means a wait for a larger vessel, and it’s costly. Locals develop a sense for the arrival of the ferry, even before they hear its horn blast. One local woman described it as sensing a change in the wind. She can feel the ferry’s arrival before she sees it. Time shouldn’t be a dictator. Island time is a real thing. While traipsing through these islands, my watch came off, my phone got forgotten more than a few times. Unhooking was nice, it was relaxing. It made me realize that there’s more margin than we think in our day…or maybe there should be. We can live without a lot. Come winter, when the ferry stops running, a pantry should be well stocked…or locals do without. They have a clever skill at making do with whatever is on hand and can get pretty creative in the process. Did you know that duct tape, an island necessity, is better than tweezers to pull a splinter out of a finger? It’s a very good thing to discover the difference between needs and wants. You might not find everything you want on an island, but most likely, you’ll find everything you need. Most problems, I noticed on this research excursion, had been solved with duct tape. Broken vacuum hoses, cracks in windshields, leaky pipes, missing shoelaces. ;) On an island where shipments can be a little hit and miss, eating seasonally and locally is healthier, cheaper, and tastes so much better: just-picked blueberries, the day’s catch of lobsters, clams or scallops. (Nothing beats fresh lobster tail caught by local fisherman, soaked in melted butter.) There is strength in community. Americans make independence a cardinal virtue, but when you’re on an island that gets cut off from the mainland for a few months every year, there’s incredible value in developing and relying on community. Bottom line: People need people.
Yes, people need people. And authors need readers. On a Summer Tide is the first in a new series—a
Order your copy here!new genre!—for me, called ‘Three Sisters Island’. It’s a story about a dad who realizes his young adult daughters are growing increasingly estranged. In a desperate attempt to keep the family together, he buys a bankrupt island off the coast of Maine. His daughters think dear old Dad is ready for the looney bin, but don’t count him out too quickly. This clever dad seems to know that there’s just something about an island…







Jan here: Thank you, Suzanne, for a wonderful post and a glimpse into Island Life. I'm looking forward to reading this series!
And for the Seekervillagers, Suzanne is graciously offering a copy of "On a Summer Tide" to one commenter! Your choice of paperback or e-book! Just let us know in your comment if you want to be entered in the drawing.




Christy award nominee Suzanne Woods Fisher writes stories that take you to places you’ve never visited—one with characters that seem like old friends. But most of all, her books give you something to think about long after you’ve finished reading it. With over one million copies of her books sold worldwide, Suzanne is the best-selling author of more than thirty books, ranging from non-fiction books, to children’s books, to novels and lives with her very big family in northern California. 


Find Suzanne on Social Media!
Facebook  SuzanneWoodsFisherAuthor Twitter @suzannewfisher Instagram @suzannewoodsfisher Bookbub   Suzanne Woods Fisher Goodreads   Suzanne Woods Fisher Amazon   Suzanne Woods Fisher Pinterest  Suzanne Woods Fisher
Join my list: https://bit.ly/2QfRuvd

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




Winner of the loaded CFRR swag bag from Beth's post last week is Chanel M. Congratulations, reader friend!


Monday: Beth Vogt encourages us to Be An Influential Reader. Sometimes comments to your favorite author sparks creativity!
Wednesday: Debby Giusti and Ruth Logan Herne are two of 16 Christian authors featured in Summer of Suspense, an anthology scheduled to release on August 6. Debby invited Mary Alford, Ruth Hartzler, and Samantha Price to provide a behind-the-scenes look at organizing an anthology in a post entitled, "The Story Behind Creating The Summer of Suspense Anthology!  What It Takes to Put Together A Multi-author Anthology From Start to Finish." Mary, Ruth and Samantha gave away copies of Summer of Suspense to three lucky winners. Congrats to Sandy Smith, Lucy Reynolds and 2craftykaties!

Friday: Winnie Griggs , who's looking forward to an upcoming girl's trip with her sisters, discussed six ways writing is like a road trip. And the winner of a copy of her book, THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE, is Amy Anguish!


Monday: Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher will be Jan's guest, with a peek at the research behind her newest release, "On a Summer Tide."  
Wednesday: Mez Carrie offers us some of her finest insights.  Friday: Pam Hillman is in fine spirits today!









Don't miss this GOODREADS Giveaway - ENDS 5/18!
Enter today to win one of 20 paperback copies of
The Crossing at Cypress Creek!
Click Here to Enter!

All three ebooks in Pam Hillman's
Natchez Trace Novel series are on sale during May!
Links to each where you can select your favorite retalier:
The Promise of Breeze Hill - $1.99
The Road to Magnolia Glen - $5.99 
The Crossing at Cypress Creek $4.99
SUMMER OF SUSPENSE 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. 



5 Ways Writers (Try to) Fake Their Way To Good Storytelling by K.M. Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

A Deep Dive Into POV by C.S. Lakin at Live Write Thrive

10 Success Tips from Brene Brown by Jenny Hanson at Writers In The Storm

Flawed Characters vs. “Too Dumb to Live”: What Makes the Difference? by Kristen Lamb

Your Cover Sells Your Book by Melinda VanLone at Writers In The Storm

Tips On Writing A Novella by Lynn Coleman at Steve Laube

How Writing Is Like A Road Trip

Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here.  For the past few weeks my 3 sisters and I have been excitedly planning a girl’s trip to Disney World for mid-June.  It’s the first time we’ve done something like this and we’re all very excited about not only going to Disney, but having the opportunity to spend some time together.  My baby sister, who still works a full time job and lives the furthest away is planning to fly, but the other three of us are going to drive together.  So lately I’ve been googling tips for getting the most from a road trip. 


To my surprise I found a lot of these same trips can be tied to writing. So here is my interpretation of 6 ways writing is like a road trip:
1. Spend some time figuring out the best routeLike a road trip, when writing a story you need to know your character’s starting and ending destinations. Once you know these two anchoring points, you can explore the many routes you can take to get you there.  Some of the factors that will play into your decisions – the amount of time you have available to make the trip ( novella, short work, longer work), the various sights you want to see (character milestones), and  the spare time you have for side-trips (subplots).
2. Clean and service your vehicle before you leave.Just like it’s a good idea to make sure your vehicle is clean and in good working order before you leave on your trip, you also want to make certain you’re starting your new book under the best possible conditions.  Clear your workspace, put away all the research and story notes you accumulated on your last project, and if time allows, take a breather between projects to do something fun and restful to ‘refill the well’ of your energy and creative juices.
3. EntertainmentFor some people, playlists and eBooks are an essential part of any road trip. Just so, for some writers, having a writing playlist, sometimes specific for each story, is also essential.


4. Have a plan but be flexibleTo get the most from your road trip, you want to have a solid plan for how you’re going to get from start to final destination. But you also want to leave some flexibility in your schedule to accommodate unexpected roadblocks and side trips. So too, as a writer we all know that life happens. Our writing schedules can be detoured by illness, family events, major climate events and any one of a dozen other issues. Make sure you leave some room in your writing schedule to adjust for these life events when they happen. 
5. Choose the right companionsTaking a long road trip can make or break a friendship. After all, you’re going to be trapped in a vehicle for a number of hours with your travel buddies with no way to escape them – make sure they are folks you can get along with.  So too, make certain the characters you’ve developed for your story are ones who can keep your interest (and the reader’s!) for the duration of the ‘journey’.
6. Understand the rules of the roadThis may sound basic, but if you’re going cross country, or even into other countries, the ‘rules of the road for these other states/countries can be different than what we are used to.Relating this to writing, each genre/sub-genre has its own expectations and you need to understand the ones for the book you’re writing.
There you have it - my thoughts on how writing is like a road trip. Do you agree with these? Do you have others to add.  Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for my brand new release, The Unexpected Bride .

THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE
Fleeing an arranged marriage, socialite Elthia Sinclare accepts a governess position halfway across the country. But when she arrives in Texas she finds more than she bargained for - more children, more work and more demands. Because Caleb Tanner wants a bride, not a governess. But marrying this unrefined stranger is better than what awaits her back home, so Elthia strikes a deal for a temporary marriage. She says I do and goes to work—botching the housework, butting heads with her new spouse, loving the children.

Caleb isn’t sure what to make of this woman who isn’t at all what he contracted for—she’s spoiled, unskilled and lavishes her affection on a lap dog that seems to be little more than a useless ball of fluff.  But to his surprise she gets along well with the children, works hard to acquire domestic skills and is able to hold her own with the town matriarchs.
Could the mistake that landed him with this unexpected bride be the best thing that ever happened to him?

The Story Behind Creating The Summer of Suspense Anthology! What It Takes to Put Together A Multi-Author Anthology From Start to Finish

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Mary Alford, Ruth Hartzler, and Samantha Price to Seekerville. These wonderful ladies spearheaded the Summer of Suspense Anthology that features stories from sixteen award-winning and bestselling Christian authors. 
Ruth Logan Herne and I are part of the author lineup, and we're thrilled that you, dear Villagers, will get a behind-the-scenes peak at how an anthology is conceived and brought to publication. Summer of Suspense is available for pre-order NOW and will be released on AUG 6th! 







Please give a warm welcome to Mary Alford...
For myself, Ruth Hartzler, and Samantha Price, I want to say a big thank you to Debby Giusti for inviting us here today. We’re so pleased to have both Debby and Ruth Logan Herne as part of the Summer of Suspense author team!


Everything starts with an idea!
Like most things, creating a multi-author anthology begins with an idea. In this case, three separate ideas.
Little did I know, when I first started mulling over the notion of this anthology, I wasn’t alone in my thinking.
When I reached out to Samantha Price, I learned that both she and Ruth Hartzler had the same idea in mind. We put our heads together and Summer of Suspense was born. 
First, a little about us. Ruth Hartzler and Samantha Price both write Amish mystery and suspense stories. I write for Love Inspired Suspense and have written several Amish suspense stories as well. So, when we first begin tossing suggestions around among ourselves, we originally thought of making the collection an Amish mystery and suspense anthology. Then, Samantha had a conversation with the wonderful Nancy Mehl, who suggested we make the collection bigger. Open it up to Christian suspense and mystery authors. It was like a light bulb moment for Ruth, Samantha, and myself.   

                                                                                                                              
Taking the Idea to the next level!
Even before we decided on the exact genre for the book, we knew we wanted to take the book wide in the beginning, (wide means making the book available to different retailers), then streamlining it to be sold strictly on Amazon after the first week. Each story would all be short—between 10,000-15,000 words. Smaller word count would mean easier summer reading, and it would allow us to add multiple authors to the anthology.


Putting together the perfect team!
With a plan in place, it was time to put together our dream team!
We wanted a nice mixture of Amish/Christian Mystery/and Suspense authors to give our readers the best possible combination. Armed with a list of authors we each wanted for the team, we reached out to them. And that’s the amazing thing about authors. They are always willing to help out.
For Summer of Suspense, we have an incredible group of 16 of today’s most popular Amish, Christian Mystery and Suspense authors. The lineup includes; Christy Barritt, Patricia Bradley, Vannetta Chapman, Mary Ellis, Debby Giusti, Ruth Hartzler, Shaen Layle, Rachel J Good,  Ruth Logan Herne, Loree Lough, Elizabeth Ludwig, Nancy Mehl, Serena Miller, Samantha Price, Alana Terry, and myself, Mary Alford. I’m honored to be part of this group.


What’s in a title? Everything!
With the team in place, we needed a catchy title that would best reflect all genres to be included in the book. Keep in mind, we really didn’t know at this point what each individual author’s story would be about. Tough challenge, right?
This is what we knew for certain. The stories would take place in summer, and would involve suspense.
We came up with several ideas for the title, polled the group, and Summer of Suspense won! I love the title, don’t you?   


A cover can make or break a book!
Like the title, we had two things to work with in creating the cover. Summer and suspense. We wanted something that would remind the reader of summer and still generate an atmosphere of suspense. Ruth, Samantha, and myself found several photos that depicted what we envisioned the cover to look like and sent them to our talented cover artist, Danny Mehl. Danny produced the cover for Summer of Suspense in 2D and 3D. Danny captured the feel for the book completely.
  

 Setting the stage for release!With the authors in place, an intriguing title, and a cover that established the tone for the book, it was time to get news of the anthology out to the readers.
Getting Summer of Suspense up for preorder was key for us. We put the anthology up early on at Barnes and Noble and Apple.
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1130641407?ean=2940161418833 
Apple link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1453509240?fbclid=IwAR0xrukEt5NYXD6VDQX_g-f2CkwTrMfuTeaxsQvSD60Mdb9kwhuz0p4ceO8
But with Amazon, you cannot put a book up for preorder before 90 days prior to release. 
Summer of Suspense went live on Amazon, May 10th.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RP1KP12?fbclid=IwAR2JwWAtasj8yIL5aFSQsvbbwdimA0cXWxIVYBomkcagVqQav5XYk4PHFpA


There are lessons in every step of the way!
When the idea of creating an anthology first came about, I had no idea what an amazingly challenging experience this would be. Even though the book doesn’t release until August 6th, as I look back on each of these steps, I can say it has been a learning experience for me and my co-creators. And it has been a privilege to work with these talented authors.     
Thank you each for joining us today. We are so grateful for each of you and we want to give away copies of the preorder of Summer of Suspense to three lucky folks who leave a comment.
Here’s a little about the book:
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.

Debby here! Thanks, Mary, Ruth and Samantha, for being with us today and for sharing so much about the anthology! We're all eager to read the stories that are sure to please!
Happy reading to all! Be sure to pre-order your copy of Summer of Suspense! 

Ruthy here, too! I've loved doing mysteries with Guideposts and the opportunity to work with these lovely gals was too good to miss. And youse know I love a great sale! :) Getting our work into readers' hands is always the goal... and a .99 SALE helps us reach that goal! Thanks to Mary for inviting me onboard, and welcome to Seekerville, ladies!
_____________
About Ruth Hartzler: https://www.ruthhartzler.comRuth Hartzler spends her days writing, gardening, walking her dog, and thinking of ways to murder someone. That's because Ruth is a best-selling author of cozy mysteries. She is best known for her 2015 series, Safe House, featuring a WITSEC agent hiding in the Amish community, and for apologizing to strangers when her dog slobbers all over them at the park.
The recipient of several All-Star Awards (author and book) and an Amazon Top 50 Author, Ruth is thrilled to connect with her readers, all of whom love the same clean and wholesome stories as she does. 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthHartzlerCozyMysteryAuthor/Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthHartzlerPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/RuthHartzlerCozyMysteryAuthor/
About Samantha Price:  https://samanthapriceauthor.comSamantha Price enjoys getting lost in the world of her characters and being surprised by what they do. Over the past years she’s written several Amish romance and mystery series totaling over one hundred and fifty books. Since she writes every day it doesn't leave much time, but she manages to squeeze in fun with her six grandchildren, her cat who thinks he's a dog, and her demanding Staffy who has a severe tennis ball addiction.She is an Amazon Bestselling & Amazon TOP 50 author, and a 9 times Kindle All Star recipient.
She loves to hear from readers. Connect with her at:
www.facebook.com/SamanthaPriceAuthor
https://twitter.com/AmishRomance
https://www.pinterest.com.au/AmishRomance/
About Mary Alford: https://maryalford.netMary Alford is a bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected. Combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in novels the reader doesn’t want to put down. Her titles have appeared on the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling list, and have finaled in the Daphne Du Maurier award of excellence in mystery, The Beverly, The Maggie, and The Selah Awards.  Mary is a member of the American Christian Fiction
As a writer, Mary is an avid reader. She loves to cook, can’t face the day without coffee, and her three granddaughters are the apple of her eye. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog.  
Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/maryalfordauthor. Twitter: https://twitter.com/maryalford13  or any of the social media platforms listed at www.maryalford.net.

Be an Influential Reader

By Guest Beth Vogt





Most authors I know like to connect with readers.
Oh, I know how authors are portrayed at times: 
1.     We’re introverted to the point of being hermits. 2.     We protect our creative time beyond all reason, like Gollum treasures the One Ring to Rule Them All. 3.     When we do engage in conversations, we like to talk about books—our books, other writers’ books—and anything book-related, like plots, characters, and dialogue. 
To which I say, well, yes, sometimes we are pensive. And protective. And preoccupied. And authors are #1 and #2 especially when we’re on deadline. And #3? All. The. Time. 
But even so, most authors like to connect with readers. 
It’s fun to hear what readers enjoy about a book we’ve written. Or how readers connect with a particular character. Or when a reader is encouraged by a book we’ve written—when the spiritual truth we’ve woven through our novels ministers to them or gives them hope. That’s gold.
Negative reviews . . . um . . . yeah, those are harder on us. And that’s another blog post.
During the early stages of plotting my new release, Moments We Forget, I had a casual interaction with a reader. However, our brief conversation caused me to rethink how I was writing one of the plotlines of the story. This reader asked a simple “What’s going to happen next?” kind of question, and I realized she wasn’t the only reader who would want an answer to the question.
As the author, I needed to ask the “What’s going to happen?” question if I wanted to write a novel that would satisfy my readers. By asking myself the question—and ensuring I answered it—I added deeper emotional and spiritual layers to the story. 

In writing the Thatcher Sisters series, I didn’t tie up all the loose ends at the end of book one, Things I Never Told You, which meant there would be several “What’s going to happen?” story lines continuing in book two, Moments We Forget. I didn’t do that to frustrate readers—really, I didn’t. 
I left some loose ends because life is like that. Relationships, decisions, and questions don’t always get tied up with a nice neat bow because we want them to be resolved by a certain time. And reaching the end of a book doesn’t mean that everything should be completely decided, either. Yes, there needs to be a sense of closure, of character arc—meaning the main characters have changed and discovered truth. There also should be a sense of hope. But, since one of my goals as an author is to write realistic books, I don’t believe everything has to be perfect because, well, that’s not true to life. 


I’ll be forever grateful to my reader (waving at you, Gail!) for asking me, “What’s going to happen next?” because that simple question helped me make Moments We Forget a better book. Never doubt the influence of a reader on an author! 
******
Missy here. Let's chat today about how we authors have been influenced by readers. And readers, tell us what you think it's important that we know!





Moments We Forget
Jillian Thatcher has spent most of her life playing the family peacemaker, caught in the middle between her driven, talented older sister and her younger, spotlight-stealing twin sisters. Then on the night of her engagement party, a cancer diagnosis threatens to once again steal her chance to shine.

Now, Jillian’s on the road to recovery after finally finishing chemo and radiation, but residual effects of the treatment keep her from reclaiming her life as she’d hoped. And just when her dreams might be falling into place, a life-altering revelation from her husband sends her reeling again.

Will Jillian ever achieve her own dreams, or will she always be “just Jillian,” the less-than Thatcher sister? Can she count on her sisters as she tries to step into a stronger place, or are they stuck in their childhood roles forever?

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: Mary Connealy was here talking about overcoming writer's block. The winner of a signed copy of her newest release, The Unexpected Champion is Sally Shupe.
Wednesday: Ruth Logan Herne followed up to Mindy Obenhaus's post last week showcasing the Power of the Pen.
Friday: Beth encouraged readers (and authors) to consider the role size plays in our reading (and writing) habits. The winner of one LOADED CFRR swag bag will be announced next week!


Monday:  We will have guest Beth Vogt  bringing us "Be an Influential Reader." Beth is a Christy Award and Carol Award winner as well as a RITA finalist. We look forward to her visit!
Wednesday:  Debby Giusti  and Ruth Logan Herne are two of 16 Christian authors featured in an anthology scheduled to release on August 6. Debby invited Mary Alford, Ruth Hartzler, and Samantha Price to provide a behind-the-scenes look at organizing an anthology in a post entitled, " The Story Behind Creating The Summer of Suspense Anthology!  What It Takes to Put Together A Multi-author Anthology From Start to Finish." Be sure to stop by to learn more about this exciting Christian suspense anthology.
  Friday: Winnie Griggs is spending this weekend down at her Mom's to celebrate Mother's Day but will be ready to go on Friday with another post






Click to Buy The Accidental Guardian for $2.99 on Kindle or on Nook. It's available for $2.99 in all ebook formats!

Don't miss this great GOODREADS Giveaway!
Enter today to win one of 20 paperback copies of
The Crossing at Cypress Creek!
Click Here to Enter!




And the good news just keeps coming! All three ebooks in Pam Hillman's
Natchez Trace Novel series are on sale during May!
Links to each where you can select your favorite retalier:
The Promise of Breeze Hill - $1.99
The Road to Magnolia Glen - $5.99 
The Crossing at Cypress Creek $4.99


COVER REVEAL!!!
Debby Giusti's Stranded will re-release
in a two-in-one with Laura Scott's Shattered Lullaby.
Watch for Seeking Refuge in stores on
AUG 1!


Handling Backstory in Dialogue In Your Opening Pages by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive

Critique: 8 Quick Tips for Show, Don't Tell by K Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

How To Plot With The Three-Act Structure by Janice Hardy at Fiction University

The Final Edit by Michael Gallant at BookBaby Blog

The Future of Audiobooks and Podcasting by Thomas Umstettd, Jr at Steve Laube Agency

Size Up Your Reading Habits (or Your Readers)

by Beth Erin

I’m starting to think there’s something in the Seekerville water because I always feel compelled to make some sort of confession or engage in deep introspection when I post here. What happens in Seekerville stays in… oh, wait, that’s an entirely different town’s motto. Okay, enough awkward beating around the bush already!

A few phrases which I often repeat in regard to my reading life are:

I’d rather be reading.
Variety is the spice of life.
I like big books... 

(and I cannot lie, I am a reformed secular 90s child, saved by grace! Praise the Lord!)

So, that last one got me thinking (about myself, cue introspection) … when it comes to books, does size matter? Like the dutiful overthinker I can often be, I reached the complex conclusion of yes and no. As I expound on just a few of the many points I have pondered, I want to encourage my fellow readers to examine why we gravitate towards certain sweet spots or shy away from others (and for my author friends, think about your writing habits or your readers). It's a thinking party and you're invited!

Photo by Maciej Ostrowski on UnsplashMass Market versus Trade Issues of physical thickness and height and width and story length are elementary considerations here. For those of us who dearly love ink and paper and the reading experience they create, this comparison is far from simple. Due to the difference in price/cost, these two sizes vary widely when it comes to paper and cover texture, spine integrity, and adhesive scent (yes, I am a book sniffer and no, I’m not trying to quit). Trade books look so pretty on my shelves but oh those mass markets fit so nicely in my purse!

Standalone Novellas versus Novella Collections How much can an author accomplish in less than a hundred pages?! Quite a lot when done right! Standalone novellas are a wonderful medium for series prequels, sequels, and spinoffs. There’s no denying, I love it when several of these quick reads are combined in collections by genre, troupe, setting, or as intricate pieces of a larger multi-author story. No matter where you find them, novellas are especially suited for seasons when life cuts into your reading time!

Standalone Novels versus Series (Duology vs Trilogy vs Four or more book series vs Interrelated series)With the one-stop story shopping of standalone novels, you get the whole shebang in one fell swoop. No waiting for future installments, no cliffhanger endings, no wondering what happens next. The commitment required of series readers yields rich benefits in building a connection to the characters and setting. Most authors keep the overall series arc subtle enough to spark curiosity yet allow each individual installment to shine on its own. If you’re especially hardcore or find an author you adore, a series or four or more books or even a collection of interrelated series is a storied paradise!

Photo by freestocks.org on UnsplashI hope I gave y’all a little food for thought and while my initial statement about big books will always be true (400+ pages of story thrills me!), the first and second reading life phrases always take priority! Our experiences and mood and season of life can greatly influence what size book we pick up but if you’re a reader who is stuck in a rut, step up and try something new!

Before we go, I asked a few of my book blogger friends, who each read a variety of book sizes, “What’s your book size sweet spot?”

Carrie: "300 or so is my sweet spot. Snack books (Love Inspired and novellas) also make me happy because I knock a few out in an evening but when I DO get a longer book, I curl up and get all cozy to read it. My sweet spot is really genre, no matter the size."

Annie: "I read any size. Depending on time, I would choose novellas."

Katie of Fiction Aficionado: "The bigger the better? In all seriousness, probably 350-400 pages is a good average."

Rachel of Bookworm Mama: "Honestly, size depends on my mood...and the time of year. I am a sucker for short and sweet novellas, especially around Christmas time. But novellas are great for when I'm in between books and just need a different direction/genre. However, bigger is definitely better. "


Giveaway!
contents may vary (pic compliments of Annie)
One commenter will win a Christian Fiction Readers Retreat swag bag full of books and all kinds of delightful bookish swag! (US only)  Let us know if you'd like your name tossed in the hat!


Winner will be announced in next week's Weekend Edition so y'all have time to tell your friends! Maybe there's a little voice in your head saying not to tell anyone because there go your chances of winning...  BUT we'll have more giveaway opportunities for CFRR swag bags on Just Commonly, Reading Is My SuperPower, and Faithfully Bookish in the near future.  Sharing is caring  and I'll even give you bonus entries in my future giveaway for sharing this post now!

Tell us, what is YOUR story sweet spot?

Readers, are you drawn to a certain story size or length? Do you find yourself reaching for a particular format in different situations?
Authors, are you more comfortable or popular in a specific book size or format? Is there a story size you've not yet tried but would like to?

I feel obligated to leave this here, just in case... Beth Erin is a Christian fiction enthusiast, book reviewer, and blogger. She strives to edify and connect with readers and authors at Faithfully Bookish and on social media. 

Beth also contributes to the Seekerville, Hoarding Books, and Diversity Between the Pages blogs. She is passionate about promoting authors and their entertaining, encouraging, and redemptive stories.

Power of the Pen

A follow-up to Mindy Obenhaus's great post last week by Ruth Logan Herne

Last week Mindy Obenhaus talked about the power of  Christian fiction and how our words affect others.

That is so true. It's not only true of us, but of anyone who has either the gift of the pen or storytelling or lecture. It's a lark, right? An adventure, ripe for the telling! A chance to spin a yarn.


But the gift of writing and storytelling goes deeper than that. Far deeper.

Years ago a line of Laura Ingalls Wilder stuck with me... how when there was a new teacher in the school, the children were challenging her. Being naughty, as children will. Testing. And Laura slanted them a quick smile of encouragement because the teacher had been sharp with her.

That tiny smile was enough to spur them on to wreak havoc. A classroom run amok. And Laura understood her little smile of approval had fed the fire.

A few years ago a high-ranking politician used faint words of disparagement for law enforcement after a bad situation. It wasn't the words the politician used... it was the absence of words that fired up an entire movement that lasted for years and changed how police and people interact... and has been blamed for what some call a "war on cops".

Recently I heard a pastor deliver a sermon. It was a fire-and-brimstone sermon from a man who often berates people for no reason. He's a harsh man, quite judgmental, but some of his sermons border eloquence... That day, the fire and brimstone fell short. It was a dismal homily and it was hard to believe that anyone in that church was touched by those words or the delivery...


But months later I heard that same man deliver a homily at the funeral of a young suicide victim. An eighteen-year-old who had taken his own life because of a drug dependence, an addiction, and he felt like he was a complete loser, a complete waste and a disappointment to his whole family... he was the fifth of seven young people who died in my little town last year, from overdoses... And there were 230 deaths in my county alone.



But this isn't about that.... that's another blog. This is about how the words matter so very much. Because they do, you know.

That day, this harsh man gave a beautiful homily/sermon. He talked about the questions we all ask... the deep sorrow, the guilt, the constant "why???" that has no response. And then he spoke to those young people. They were sitting in the back. About four pews filled with them, easily a hundred or more young adults, brokenhearted and there didn't look to be a varsity player or cheerleader in the group, if you get my drift.

He didn't talk to the family right then... he spoke to that gathering of friends. He told them how the worst thing they could do would be to despair and follow their friend into death. That the entire church understands how they feel right now... and how they'll feel in six weeks. Six months. And that the entire church wants them healthy and whole, wants them happy and to have a chance at a full life. And he asked them to come forward at Communion for a blessing. And they did.


Those words mattered. Our words matter. With a slight of pen we can make a sentence bring joy or create anger and unrest. With a choice of banter we can make light of a wretched thing like sexism or racism... or show people standing up for one another and doing the right thing, even when it's the hardest thing to do.

Words matter when we speak them. They matter when we teach with them. And they matter when we write them.

Never take your words lightly. And never underestimate the power of well-written words on a needy society. Gaping holes in society are often filled with words of a hero... or words of a dictator because so many people look for a leader to guide them.

Words can be a blessing or a curse. They can soothe or stir.

That's when the choice comes down to you. What you want. What you hope to attain. What you hope to inspire.

You matter.
Your words matter.
And it is so very important to choose them well, my friends.
Far better to be pleased with the outcome of your inspiration than stunned by havoc wrought...
Unless...

Of course....

Havoc was the goal, after all.

Multi-published, award-winning inspirational author Ruth Logan Herne loves writing stories that touch the heart... and the soul. She lives on a muddy and most prosaic pumpkin farm in Western New York, cleans donkey pens, cares for chickens (only because they lay nice eggs) and is often found with Diet Mt. Dew or coffee because legally caffeinated beverages are her drug of choice. You can talk to her by commenting here... pretty easy, right?  Or e-mail her at loganherne@gmail.com, visit her website ruthloganherne.com or friend her on facebook or follow her antics on Twitter.

What comes next…how I avoid writer’s block

I will say right up front, I’ve never had writer’s block.
There are some, no doubt, who would say, maybe I SHOULD have had it, or I just can't ADMIT I had it. Or I kept writing even THOUGH I had it.
But whatever! I’ve always managed to keep writing.
So in the vein of giving writer’s advice…it’s what we do here, right?
And keeping in mind that there is no one right way to write a book, feel free to do what works for YOU and ignore me.
I often, at the end of a scene, jump ahead. Or jump somewhere else, to another character in another place.
So I’ll finish a scene and then get ready to jump…and I’m not sure WHERE to jump.
And that’s where I use this simple trick.
I catch myself. Stop myself from jumping. You don’t always have to jump. Instead, I simply ask myself.
What comes next. And I mean this is very simple terms. Where are they right now. Where are they standing. If I jump no where, let no time pass, then what comes next. They have to walk somewhere, or make a meal, or saddle a horse. Do that.
Do what comes next. I think for me, the danger of writer’s block comes when I’m trying to get fancy.
And then this goes to revisions. I can get fancy later.
I once cut 5000 words from a book, after taking a long time to write them, based on What Comes Next. I could quit see how to make the jump…so I wrote along until I got to where that jump should start, then went back and cut everything out that got me there.
THOSE WORDS AREN’T WASTED.
In fact though they didn’t need to take that long train right IN THE BOOK…it was okay to just jump to the end of it…I did realize later that on that train ride a lot of relationship development happened, some character development, some talk of where they were going and why.
So I went back and dug that out and put it back in…much shorter…but I used about half those words.
So that’s it. This is sort of ridiculous of a post probably, but I just did this. I just wrote myself to the end of my ideas and wanted some splashy JUMP and found myself thinking, What Comes Next.
It’s a small trick that helps me navigate around writer’s block.
You’re welcome.Do you have tricks? Has anyone got little tricks that help them navigate their writing. The truth is, I'll bet you do, but you use them and never think much about them.Share if you can dig them out. It might help us all keep writing.Today I'm giving away a signed copy ofThe Unexpected Champion.
Leave a comment to get your name in a drawing for a signed copy.
And ALSO --  Book #1 of this series The Accidental Guardian IS ON SALE FOR $2.99 IN ALL EBOOK FORMATS.Go grab a copy. Buy The Accidental Guardian on Kindle Buy The Accidental Guardian on Nook


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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: Guest Amy R Anguish brought us a post about Writing the Hard Stuff. The winner of a copy of her new release, Faith and Hope , is Lila!
Wednesday: Mindy Obenhaus had us discussing The Hope of Christian Fiction.
Friday: Sherrinda Ketchersid invited us to join her on an unexpected journey. Lucy Reynolds, enjoy your ecopy of Lord of Her Heart when it releases on May 14!


Monday:  Mary Connealy entertains with her words of wisdom. Mary will be talking about a trick she uses to avoid writer's block. And there will be prizes!
Wednesday:  Ruthy Logan Herne comes on board on Wednesday to follow up on Mindy's great post last week with The Power of the Pen, a look at writing and oratory and storytelling and delivery... and how tiny nuances can save the day or ruin a nation. She's giving away a copy of her newest historical "A Most Inconvenient Love" to one lucky commenter who wanders along Wednesday or Thursday!
  Friday: Come join Beth for more judgment-free reader confessions!







Pam Hillman's Month o' May fun continues. Pam is giving away a signed copy of
The Crossing at Cypress Creek & an Indoor Herbal Garden Starter Kit
Click Here to Enter!

Erica Vetsch's latest is now available!

Dreams of Finding Mr. Right Go Wrong in the Old West
The Bride’s Dilemma by Susan Page Davis
Wyoming, 1883Eve Martin arrives in Cheyenne to learn that man she came to marry is in jail, accused of a violent murder. Should she get on the next eastbound train, or has God brought her here to help save Caleb Blair’s life?Romancing the Rancher by Linda FordMontana, 1886Amelia expects a safe home for herself and her niece as mail-order bride to Zach Taggerty. Only Zach has
 never heard of her, and the last thing he needs is more complications in his life.The Marriage Sham by Vickie McDonoughTexas, 1888Mail-order bride Zola Bryant is devastated. Her newlywed husband is dead. But even worse, they were never truly married because the man who wed them was an outlaw not a preacher. What will she do now that her life and reputation are in tatters? The Galway Girl by Erica Vetsch Kansas, 1875A 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?
 Mail Order Mishaps is available NOW! Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Lli4FWBarnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2WqyNZmChristianbook: https://bit.ly/2vAcZyC
Debby Giusti has an interview onRobin Mason's delightful blog: Robin's Nest Thursday, May 9. Be sure to stopby and give Debby a little love! One lucky visitor will win a copy of Debby's Publishers Weekly BestsellerAMISH SAFE HOUSE!


Winnie Griggs is excited to announceThe Unexpected Bride is now available for purchaseBUY HERE


ON SALE NOW
The Accidental Guardian Click to Buy

And...
Ruthy's got a couple of things to add! Her BookSweeps Contest Promotion featuring her award-winning "Refuge of the Heart" ends Wednesday, so hurry over here... no purchase necessary!!!... follow Ruthy on BookBub and you're entered into a drawing for 30 great women's fiction books AND an e-reader!    CLICK TO ENTER! 

  And Ruthy is thrilled to announce that "Welcome to Wishing Bridge" has soared to #1 again in Women's Christian Fiction on Amazon, and the sequel "At Home in Wishing Bridge" is ON SALE for $1.99 RIGHT NOW! Here's the link to Amazon... great time to get this second book of the series while it's on sale... perfect beach read! 

 


The Art of Juggling Multiple Writing Projects by Swati Teerdhala at Fiction University.
The Best Time to Write by Shanna Swendson at Fiction University.
Tumbling Down: When Chronic Illness Meets Writing by guest Ivi Jayde at The Creative Penn.
Writing Tips: How and Why to Treat Your Setting Like a Character by guest Kyle A. Massa at The Creative Penn.
Know Your Villains by W.M. Akers at Save the Cat
How Novelists Can Say More With Less by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
Helping Authors Become Artists by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
Emotion vs. Feeling: How to Evoke More From Readers  from Writer's Digest