Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 131
August 10, 2018
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 talked about (maybe whined about) marketing. The winner of an ebook copy of Loving the Texas Lawman is Heidi Robbins, and I'm giving a bonus copy to Pat Jeanne Davis--because I loved her comment. The winner of an ebook copy of Loving Her Texas Protector is Susan Akens and I'm giving a bonus copy to Wilani Wahl because she had a really hard week!
Wednesday: Ruthy was here on Wednesday with a post on To Write... or Not to Write, chatting about procrastination and she found a few procrastinators in the crowd! :) But she also found winners, so winners of a two-fer of Ruthy books "An Unexpected Groom" and "Her Cowboy Reunion" are Kayla and Rose!
Friday: Beth had intended to regale us on Friday, but she was felled by a nasty illness. Erica popped up at the 11th hour (Literally!) with a recycled post about Style Sheets. (Seekerville is BIG on recycling! Do you recycle?)
Monday: Do you get inspired to write when you get out of your normal setting? Today, Missy Tippens will be sharing a virtual beach retreat!! You don't want to miss this mini-getaway. Bring your flip-flops and laptop and prepare to get inspired by the surf and sand. You can also enter her giveaway for a "Life is Beautiful" tote and a Kindle copy of His Summer Valentine!
Wednesday: Publishers Weekly bestselling author Debby Giusti will be discussing something writing related and giving away books! Be sure to stop by and leave a comment. Friday: Winnie Griggs will be sharing some of her thoughts on Connected Stories - what they are, how to make the connections, how to know when you have the makings of a strong series, etc., along with tips and pointers.
Join us for the Natchez Trace series by Pam Hillman Takeover Tour beginning August 13, 2018. Hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours, it will be filled with plenty of fun stops across social media and enter for a chance to win a great prize pack from Pam! The Promise of Breeze Hill and The Road to Magnolia Glen are both available now!
Ruthy is hosting a luncheon for the Hilton Readers' Guild on Wednesday, August 15 where she and a lovely group of ladies will talk books, farm life, and why we love fiction... While sipping lemonade and eating burgers prepared by some of the men at Blodgett Family Farm.
And don't miss "From This Day Forward", a lovely release of four beautiful Ruthy novellas! The three Karralis cousins novellas and a bonus Kirkwood Lake novella about a secret baby and a second chance that no one saw coming... Until it came.
Find the reissue of Debby Giusti's UNDERCOVER AMISH, along withMarta Perry's SECOND CHANCE AMISH BRIDE, in your localbookstores, online and at Walmart and K-Mart.Or order HERE!
Debby Giusti will be blogging Thursday onLove Inspired: A Story for Every Reader.Stop by and say hello!
Sign up to receive Pam Hillman's newsletter along with other Sweet Romance authorsand enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card or $50 Cash via Paypal (First Place)
or Second Place gets all 10 Sweet Romance Reads!
http://thereadersrealm.com/august-2018-sweet-romance-giveaway/
Book Launch Checklist: A Marketing Timeline for Traditionally Published Authors at the BookBub blog by guest Debbie Macomber.
The Right Agent for a Debut Author by Rachelle Gardner from Books&Such Literary Management
August 9, 2018
Style Sheet Redux!
Today we're recycling a post from a couple years ago, due to an unexpected illness befalling the scheduled blogger. This post first aired June 23, 2016.You've Got Style!with Erica Vetsch.
In the not too distant past of this year’s Speedbo, Tina and I were in the #1k1hr Facebook group writing away toward our Speedbo goals, and when I mentioned that I was working on a Style Sheet for my editor, Tina’s cute little ears perked up. A Style Sheet? Seekerville folks would love to hear more about that topic! She promptly invited me to guest post at Seekerville about the ins and outs of Style Sheets for authors, and I gladly accepted!
So, what is a Style Sheet?
A Style Sheet is a list, really. A list of people, places, and details of which you must keep track while writing a novel. If you’ve ever tried to write a novel, you know there are hundreds, if not thousands of details and decisions to oversee, and it’s easy to forget or change some fact between chapter one and chapter twenty. But you can bet your readers will notice and call it to your attention. And while you can’t guarantee that a manuscript is error free, you can sure minimize those mistakes with a handy little Style Sheet. (Some houses call this document a Story Bible, but I don’t like that term, so I don’t use it, but if you come across it, it means Style Sheet.)
For some writers, their Style Sheet is simple. Character’s name, age, hair color, eye color. Bam, done.
For some writers, their Style Sheet includes back-story, timelines, setting descriptions, character photographs, story synopsis, story turning points, and more!
I suppose, much like the plotting/pantsing debate, the depth and breadth of your Style Sheet reflects your process and preferences as a writer. There’s no wrong way to do it.
For me, my Style Sheet varies based on the project I’m currently working on. The briefest Style Sheet I’ve done is two pages, a list of names and descriptions and a handful of small photographs to illustrate the main characters in the story. This was for my novella The Trail Boss’s Bride. When my editor saw it, she was super happy, and she said she might start asking all her authors to keep and turn in a Style Sheet with their stories.
The largest, most complex Style Sheet I’ve ever done stands currently at a whopping 33 pages and counting! This particular Style Sheet is for a novella collection I’m coordinating. Seven Brides for Seven Texans is a set of novellas that all take place within one calendar year, written by seven different authors, about seven brothers who must marry in 1874 or lose their inheritance. With so many authors needing to coordinate stories so tightly interwoven and overlapping, keeping track of details is a MUST, which is where a Style Sheet comes in.
For the Seven Brides collection, the Style Sheet includes:
1. The order the stories appear in the collection, along with author, title, and contact info for each author.
2. A brief overview of the collection (something like back-cover copy.)
3. A back story timeline of the Hart family leading up to the collection prologue.
4. A timeline of 1874, the setting of the story, and where each novella fits, along with dates of important events like marriages, cattle drives, community events, etc.
5. A quick-reference chart of main characters along with birth order, age, hair color, eye color, physical traits, personality traits, etc.
6. A calendar of 1874.
7. Character sketches from each of the authors (a couple paragraphs at most) of the heroes, along with photographs of hero and heroine for each novella.
8. A 1-2 page story synopsis of each novella.
9. A list of extra characters with a brief description. From the town lawyer to the undertaker to the gossipy dressmaker, these characters make appearances in most all the novellas, so they must remain consistent from one to another. (The list currently stands at 46 different characters.)
10. A list of businesses and buildings used in the story. Hotels, restaurants, mercantiles, etc.
11. Photographs of the main ranch house, and the main rooms of the house, so that descriptions can be consistent from one story to the next, as well as a floor plan of the house.
12. A map of the town.
13. A map of the ranch with each son’s portion labeled.
As you can see, a Style Sheet/Master Document is essential when writing a continuity series where characters overlap so heavily, but you don’t need to be working on something of this scope to utilize and benefit from a Style Sheet.
How do I make one?
• Use the method that works for you.
There are lots of ways to create a Style Sheet. Some authors use a spreadsheet. Columns and rows make their organized little hearts sing. Other authors use a word document, writing in paragraphs and lists. Some authors start with the Style Sheet first, and others fill it out after they write the story. You choose the method that makes the most sense to you.
• Include pertinent details
At the very least, character descriptions should be included, but you feel free to get as detailed as you need to in order to keep track of information throughout your story. Include a list of places used in the story. If your story involves a great deal of research, be sure to include your sources. You never know when your editor might query whether your heroine should be using a sewing machine in 1850 or if your hero really would own a blue pickup truck in 1917. Photographs are helpful, too!
• I recommend updating as you go rather than waiting until the end
Creating a Style Sheet is much easier if you do some of the work up front and then add as you go. When plotting a story, I start with a Style Sheet, listing my hero and heroine and the setting, as many details as I know in the beginning. As I write, sub-characters pop up all the time, a shopkeeper, a deputy, a neighbor, and it is easiest to add them to the Style Sheet at that time. Also, character quirks tend to develop as I write, and halfway through the book I discover that my hero is allergic to strawberries or my heroine is afraid of dogs. Stick those kinds of details into the Style Sheet so you can refer to them later.
What do I do with it when it’s complete?
When you’ve gotten your Style Sheet created and you’ve completed your first draft, print out a copy of the Style Sheet and have it by you as you revise. Use it to make sure that your blue-eyed hero doesn’t have brown eyes by chapter six, or that your heroine who is orphaned in chapter three doesn’t mail a letter off to her mama in Poughkeepsie by chapter ten.
Once you’ve edited, revised, and cleaned up your manuscript, ready for submission, make sure you’re Style Sheet is all spit-shined, too, as up to date as possible.
And when you turn in that beautiful novel, include a copy of your Style Sheet. This bit of story-shorthand will be invaluable to your content and copy editors! They might even fall upon your with kisses and chocolate! Your editors, who won’t be as familiar with the story as you are, can keep track of unfamiliar details and edit for consistency and continuity without having to scroll back or riffle through screeds of pages to check on a detail.
They will thank you!
Have you created a style sheet before? Did you find it helpful?
Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she married 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 learn 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!
In the not too distant past of this year’s Speedbo, Tina and I were in the #1k1hr Facebook group writing away toward our Speedbo goals, and when I mentioned that I was working on a Style Sheet for my editor, Tina’s cute little ears perked up. A Style Sheet? Seekerville folks would love to hear more about that topic! She promptly invited me to guest post at Seekerville about the ins and outs of Style Sheets for authors, and I gladly accepted!
So, what is a Style Sheet?
A Style Sheet is a list, really. A list of people, places, and details of which you must keep track while writing a novel. If you’ve ever tried to write a novel, you know there are hundreds, if not thousands of details and decisions to oversee, and it’s easy to forget or change some fact between chapter one and chapter twenty. But you can bet your readers will notice and call it to your attention. And while you can’t guarantee that a manuscript is error free, you can sure minimize those mistakes with a handy little Style Sheet. (Some houses call this document a Story Bible, but I don’t like that term, so I don’t use it, but if you come across it, it means Style Sheet.)
For some writers, their Style Sheet is simple. Character’s name, age, hair color, eye color. Bam, done.
For some writers, their Style Sheet includes back-story, timelines, setting descriptions, character photographs, story synopsis, story turning points, and more!
I suppose, much like the plotting/pantsing debate, the depth and breadth of your Style Sheet reflects your process and preferences as a writer. There’s no wrong way to do it.
For me, my Style Sheet varies based on the project I’m currently working on. The briefest Style Sheet I’ve done is two pages, a list of names and descriptions and a handful of small photographs to illustrate the main characters in the story. This was for my novella The Trail Boss’s Bride. When my editor saw it, she was super happy, and she said she might start asking all her authors to keep and turn in a Style Sheet with their stories.
The largest, most complex Style Sheet I’ve ever done stands currently at a whopping 33 pages and counting! This particular Style Sheet is for a novella collection I’m coordinating. Seven Brides for Seven Texans is a set of novellas that all take place within one calendar year, written by seven different authors, about seven brothers who must marry in 1874 or lose their inheritance. With so many authors needing to coordinate stories so tightly interwoven and overlapping, keeping track of details is a MUST, which is where a Style Sheet comes in.
For the Seven Brides collection, the Style Sheet includes:
1. The order the stories appear in the collection, along with author, title, and contact info for each author.
2. A brief overview of the collection (something like back-cover copy.)
3. A back story timeline of the Hart family leading up to the collection prologue.
4. A timeline of 1874, the setting of the story, and where each novella fits, along with dates of important events like marriages, cattle drives, community events, etc.
5. A quick-reference chart of main characters along with birth order, age, hair color, eye color, physical traits, personality traits, etc.
6. A calendar of 1874.
7. Character sketches from each of the authors (a couple paragraphs at most) of the heroes, along with photographs of hero and heroine for each novella.
8. A 1-2 page story synopsis of each novella.
9. A list of extra characters with a brief description. From the town lawyer to the undertaker to the gossipy dressmaker, these characters make appearances in most all the novellas, so they must remain consistent from one to another. (The list currently stands at 46 different characters.)
10. A list of businesses and buildings used in the story. Hotels, restaurants, mercantiles, etc.
11. Photographs of the main ranch house, and the main rooms of the house, so that descriptions can be consistent from one story to the next, as well as a floor plan of the house.
12. A map of the town.
13. A map of the ranch with each son’s portion labeled.
As you can see, a Style Sheet/Master Document is essential when writing a continuity series where characters overlap so heavily, but you don’t need to be working on something of this scope to utilize and benefit from a Style Sheet.
How do I make one?
• Use the method that works for you.
There are lots of ways to create a Style Sheet. Some authors use a spreadsheet. Columns and rows make their organized little hearts sing. Other authors use a word document, writing in paragraphs and lists. Some authors start with the Style Sheet first, and others fill it out after they write the story. You choose the method that makes the most sense to you.
• Include pertinent details
At the very least, character descriptions should be included, but you feel free to get as detailed as you need to in order to keep track of information throughout your story. Include a list of places used in the story. If your story involves a great deal of research, be sure to include your sources. You never know when your editor might query whether your heroine should be using a sewing machine in 1850 or if your hero really would own a blue pickup truck in 1917. Photographs are helpful, too!
• I recommend updating as you go rather than waiting until the end
Creating a Style Sheet is much easier if you do some of the work up front and then add as you go. When plotting a story, I start with a Style Sheet, listing my hero and heroine and the setting, as many details as I know in the beginning. As I write, sub-characters pop up all the time, a shopkeeper, a deputy, a neighbor, and it is easiest to add them to the Style Sheet at that time. Also, character quirks tend to develop as I write, and halfway through the book I discover that my hero is allergic to strawberries or my heroine is afraid of dogs. Stick those kinds of details into the Style Sheet so you can refer to them later.
What do I do with it when it’s complete?
When you’ve gotten your Style Sheet created and you’ve completed your first draft, print out a copy of the Style Sheet and have it by you as you revise. Use it to make sure that your blue-eyed hero doesn’t have brown eyes by chapter six, or that your heroine who is orphaned in chapter three doesn’t mail a letter off to her mama in Poughkeepsie by chapter ten.
Once you’ve edited, revised, and cleaned up your manuscript, ready for submission, make sure you’re Style Sheet is all spit-shined, too, as up to date as possible.
And when you turn in that beautiful novel, include a copy of your Style Sheet. This bit of story-shorthand will be invaluable to your content and copy editors! They might even fall upon your with kisses and chocolate! Your editors, who won’t be as familiar with the story as you are, can keep track of unfamiliar details and edit for consistency and continuity without having to scroll back or riffle through screeds of pages to check on a detail.
They will thank you!
Have you created a style sheet before? Did you find it helpful?
Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she married 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 learn 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!
August 7, 2018
To Write or Not to Write: That is the Question
pro·cras·ti·nate
prəˈkrastəˌnāt/
verb: delay or postpone action; put off doing something.
"it won't be this price for long, so don't procrastinate"
synonyms: delay, put off doing something, postpone action, defer action, be dilatory, use delaying tactics, stall, temporize, drag one's feet/heels, take one's time, play for time, play a waiting game
"fear of failure often causes people to procrastinate"
Jon Tyson, Unsplash
Fear.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" (Franklin Roosevelt)
"Fear not, for I am with you." (Isaiah 41:10)
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." (Ben Franklin)
And that's what it often boils down to. What are you willing to risk to be successful? What are you willing to do to reach your goals? What sacrifice are you willing to make to achieve your dreams?
There is a GREAT song out right now called "Dream Small" by Josh Wilson. It's about appreciating the simple moments and it's poignant and perfect and wonderful and inspirational... but how can you dream small and think big?
And how do you rationalize wanting success, working toward a dream and yet being satisfied with the simple things in life?
Wait.
Stop.
You're thinking too much. Let go and let God. And if you want to be a writer, then do it.
Write.
You don't have to sacrifice your life or your home or give your children away to a roving band of gypsies, although I'm not opposed to that idea...
It's a simple matter of blocking out time... some time... amount to be determined by you... each day. Or 4 days/week.
A plan.
A goal.
A dream.
Now if you get distracted by shiny objects every five minutes, that's not my fault.
It's your fault.
If you get lost on facebook (really??? REALLY????), again... your fault.
If you watch bad TV or good TV or even mediocre TV... your fault.
If you sleep ten hours a night... your fault.
If you make a toilet paper roll length list of excuses why you can't write....
Yep.
You got it.
Your fault.
And that's not me being mean (although I do have a reputation to maintain!!!).
That's the truth of the matter.
You don't have to dream big... but you have to put in the effort needed.
People think that fancy soccer moves and bicycle kicks and throw-ins are the way to win soccer games...
Wrong.
The way to win soccer games is to be the team that is less tired in the second half. The better-conditioned team. The team that runs a little bit faster and sharper. The team that is less tired wins the ball, controls the ball and defends the goal more ardently.
The best runners make the best soccer players... and they make the difference between owning the field... or buying the first round of drinks after the game.
Self-discipline is the best friend of the writer.
If you love it (like so many of us do!!!!), it's not a chore.
If you fear it, it is a ginormous chore.
Fear of failure.
Fear of not measuring up.
Fear of wasting time.
And sometimes plain old laziness....
Whether or not you write is up to you. What you want to do with your life, your dreams and goals: up to you!
But I'm going to leave you with the Erma Bombeck quote that I model my life after:
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, "I used everything that you gave me."
Remember what Nora Roberts is fond of saying: "It's not the most talented that gets published. It's the one that did not quit."
Self-discipline.
Self-motivation
Self-propelled.
People of faith should see this more clearly than anyone else because they understand the gifts of the talents and the fruits of the spirit... and yet... we hesitate. We shrug. We put off... We procrastinate.
It's August. Nearly five months left in 2018.
Don't wait. Don't shrug. Don't put it all off. Take charge, take control and be the best you can be at whatever God wants you to do...
If you choose not to, well that's okay!
It is absolutely fine.
But remember it's not because there isn't time or space or opportunity.
God gives that in abundance.
It's because you made the choice.
So what's keeping you going? Why do you write? And what do you write? And... are you going to stay with it?
Coffee and Danish at the back table, and fresh blackberries from the Blodgett Family Farm! (In my other life my last name is Blodgett, but that's a story for another day!)
Homemade Blackberry Jam from wild blackberries on the farm. Farmer Dave picked the berries... I made the jam. These jars won't be for sale. They'll be for Christmas baskets... In four months we'll all be talking Christmas... And it's never a bad time to be thinking of the Christmas story you want to publish next year!
Come on in. Grab a cuppa, or I'll make you some tea.
Take a seat.
Let's talk.
*****SPECIAL NOTE!!!! Ruthy said if she got caught up with her mailings, she'd throw something into the prize box today.... well that is the one thing she does procrastinate with, but she did it! So today she has a copy of "Her Cowboy Reunion" in the prize box...
And a copy of "An Unexpected Groom" the first book of her "Grace Haven" series... Leave a comment to have your name tucked into the cowboy hat!
AND....
A hug.
Because everyone can use a hug. Even from a bossy but well-meaning author!
Multi-published, award-winning author Ruth Logan Herne is probably working at this very minute on her Western New York pumpkin farm, or writing seventeen books, or watching forty-six kids... all of which is exaggerated. The point is, she is not a procrastinator and she wishes you wouldn't be, either, but she knows that's up to you so she just kind of bosses folks around... and eats chocolate. You can be her friend on facebook, follow her on Twitter, go to her website or just hang our in Seekerville and Yankee Belle Cafe... and talk faith, fun and fiction... and romance!
prəˈkrastəˌnāt/
verb: delay or postpone action; put off doing something.
"it won't be this price for long, so don't procrastinate"
synonyms: delay, put off doing something, postpone action, defer action, be dilatory, use delaying tactics, stall, temporize, drag one's feet/heels, take one's time, play for time, play a waiting game
"fear of failure often causes people to procrastinate"
Jon Tyson, UnsplashFear.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" (Franklin Roosevelt)
"Fear not, for I am with you." (Isaiah 41:10)
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." (Ben Franklin)
And that's what it often boils down to. What are you willing to risk to be successful? What are you willing to do to reach your goals? What sacrifice are you willing to make to achieve your dreams?
There is a GREAT song out right now called "Dream Small" by Josh Wilson. It's about appreciating the simple moments and it's poignant and perfect and wonderful and inspirational... but how can you dream small and think big?
And how do you rationalize wanting success, working toward a dream and yet being satisfied with the simple things in life?
Wait.
Stop.
You're thinking too much. Let go and let God. And if you want to be a writer, then do it.
Write.
You don't have to sacrifice your life or your home or give your children away to a roving band of gypsies, although I'm not opposed to that idea...
It's a simple matter of blocking out time... some time... amount to be determined by you... each day. Or 4 days/week.
A plan.
A goal.
A dream.
Now if you get distracted by shiny objects every five minutes, that's not my fault.
It's your fault.
If you get lost on facebook (really??? REALLY????), again... your fault.
If you watch bad TV or good TV or even mediocre TV... your fault.
If you sleep ten hours a night... your fault.
If you make a toilet paper roll length list of excuses why you can't write....
Yep.
You got it.
Your fault.
And that's not me being mean (although I do have a reputation to maintain!!!).
That's the truth of the matter.
You don't have to dream big... but you have to put in the effort needed.
People think that fancy soccer moves and bicycle kicks and throw-ins are the way to win soccer games...
Wrong.
The way to win soccer games is to be the team that is less tired in the second half. The better-conditioned team. The team that runs a little bit faster and sharper. The team that is less tired wins the ball, controls the ball and defends the goal more ardently.
The best runners make the best soccer players... and they make the difference between owning the field... or buying the first round of drinks after the game.
Self-discipline is the best friend of the writer.
If you love it (like so many of us do!!!!), it's not a chore.
If you fear it, it is a ginormous chore.
Fear of failure.
Fear of not measuring up.
Fear of wasting time.
And sometimes plain old laziness....
Whether or not you write is up to you. What you want to do with your life, your dreams and goals: up to you!
But I'm going to leave you with the Erma Bombeck quote that I model my life after:
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, "I used everything that you gave me."
Remember what Nora Roberts is fond of saying: "It's not the most talented that gets published. It's the one that did not quit."
Self-discipline.
Self-motivation
Self-propelled.
People of faith should see this more clearly than anyone else because they understand the gifts of the talents and the fruits of the spirit... and yet... we hesitate. We shrug. We put off... We procrastinate.
It's August. Nearly five months left in 2018.
Don't wait. Don't shrug. Don't put it all off. Take charge, take control and be the best you can be at whatever God wants you to do...
If you choose not to, well that's okay!
It is absolutely fine.
But remember it's not because there isn't time or space or opportunity.
God gives that in abundance.
It's because you made the choice.
So what's keeping you going? Why do you write? And what do you write? And... are you going to stay with it?
Coffee and Danish at the back table, and fresh blackberries from the Blodgett Family Farm! (In my other life my last name is Blodgett, but that's a story for another day!)
Homemade Blackberry Jam from wild blackberries on the farm. Farmer Dave picked the berries... I made the jam. These jars won't be for sale. They'll be for Christmas baskets... In four months we'll all be talking Christmas... And it's never a bad time to be thinking of the Christmas story you want to publish next year! Come on in. Grab a cuppa, or I'll make you some tea.
Take a seat.
Let's talk.
*****SPECIAL NOTE!!!! Ruthy said if she got caught up with her mailings, she'd throw something into the prize box today.... well that is the one thing she does procrastinate with, but she did it! So today she has a copy of "Her Cowboy Reunion" in the prize box...
And a copy of "An Unexpected Groom" the first book of her "Grace Haven" series... Leave a comment to have your name tucked into the cowboy hat!
AND....
A hug.
Because everyone can use a hug. Even from a bossy but well-meaning author!
Multi-published, award-winning author Ruth Logan Herne is probably working at this very minute on her Western New York pumpkin farm, or writing seventeen books, or watching forty-six kids... all of which is exaggerated. The point is, she is not a procrastinator and she wishes you wouldn't be, either, but she knows that's up to you so she just kind of bosses folks around... and eats chocolate. You can be her friend on facebook, follow her on Twitter, go to her website or just hang our in Seekerville and Yankee Belle Cafe... and talk faith, fun and fiction... and romance!August 5, 2018
What do I know???
It's my turn to teach you all something, beloved Seekervillagers.I want to talk today about marketing. One aspect of it, becaue if I think of TWO things to talk about...I'll save teh second one for next time.Keep in mind I barely know what I'm doing.
Teaching isn't my greatest gift....and that's sad cuz I was a teacher for eleven years.There is actual paperwork on file proving people often are dumber after I've tried to teach them something.It's notarized!!! There's the disclaimer, so now I'll tell you something I learned self-publishing.
I'll begin with this...I have never loved my publisher more. It is interesting and challenging and humbling to try and do all the jobs Bethany House has been doing for me over the years.
I'm trying to figure out how to market my books.I really have no idea.Send out a newsletter and post to social media. What else?
As my great attempt at marketing I bought an Amazon ad because I was told they are so easily tracked to see if they worked.Except I did it and have no idea if it worked.Whatever tracking I can do, I can't do.
When you're self-publishing EVERYTHING IS YOUR FAULT!!But on the other hand, I can't tell that a single person bought a single book due to my ad.On the Other other hand, I'm not sure the ad is running yet.
So anyway, I go to marketing sessions at writer's conferences because FRANKLY those are the classes they offer to people who have books in print.
I often ignore them and go to more basic classes hoping to learn how to write.But I have to sneak in.
So I bought the ad.I have a professional editor and book cover maker and formatter.
I am trying to figure out where to go indie-publishing-wise after these five books come out.(I've got an idea)And in the meantime, I'm floundering.
Has anyone, by any chance seen an ad for my books...anywhere?I sure haven't.Tell me what I should do about marketing. (Oops, I just slipped away from teacher and turned to asking you to teach me!!!) What works? Have you ever seen an ad that made you click on a book?A blog post?A book reviewers blog?
I have considered giving away the first chapter free..........but I don't know how. Still........that's in the List of Ideas folder.Help me!And ask me questions, too. Heaven knows if I can help you, but I'll try.And maybe we can help each other!Today I'll draw two names from the comment section to win a copy of one ebook, Loving the Texas Lawman and Loving Her Texas ProtectorTwo ebooks. Two winners.Also available in print versions.August 3, 2018
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: Jill Lynn brought us a great post on editing tips!
Wednesday: We celebrated Christmas in July, discussing the essentials of a good Christmas story with Mindy Obenhaus. Winners of her holiday book, The Deputy's Holiday Family are: MJSH, Lila Diller and DebH. Congratulations to all!
Friday: Our gift to you was editing and critique help from The Seekers... who truly want your success, smiles and courage as you launch yourselves as publishing's businesswomen of tomorrow... playing with us, today! Thanks for being brave enough to jump in the pond and swim with us!
Monday: Mary Connealy will be here talking about the brave new world of indy publishing!!! And giving away an ebook copy of BOTH of her newly released romantic suspense novels!!! Loving the Texas Lawman and Loving Her Texas Protector.
Wednesday: Ruth Logan Herne is here on Wednesday with a timely post about procrastinating and why one should never, ever do it. She hasn't written the post yet, because she's been lollygagging at the shore, toes in the water... but she'll get around to it. Eventually! And she might have something to throw into the prize box if she catches up with her way behind mailings!!!!
Friday: Beth Erin from Faithfully Bookish is in the house on Friday!
FACEBOOK LAUNCH PARTY FOR AUGUST LOVE INSPIRED BOOKS!!!!TUESDAY 6 to 10 on FACEBOOK!!!Prizes! Authors! Giddy Chatter! Love Inspired August Launch Party on Facebook!!!
KINDLE VERSION JUST RELEASED!!! Ruthy may have bumped her friend Mary down a notch... sorry, Mary! The Kindle version of "Her Cowboy Reunion" released on August 1... If Kindle is your fave way of reading a great story, grab this one... Click on that title above and then tell us if you love this book as much as Ruthy thinks you will! And here's a great review on "Diversity Between the Pages" by our own Meez Carrie! Link to Carrie's lovely review!
Book Two is OUT and now available as an ebook and a paperback. And I will be talking about them on Monday!!! And giving away an ebook copy of EACH on Monday.
Loving the Texas Lawman
and
Loving Her Texas Protector
Amazon Rank Obsession by Steve Laube at the Steve Laube Agency blog. (Make sure to watch the video. Hilarious!)
10 Top Book Marketing Takeaways from RWA 2018 by Diana Urban from BookBub Partners.
The 13 Most Common Self-Publishing Mistakes to Avoid by Esther Park (Kirkus Reviews) on Jane Friedman's blog
Publisher Questions: What to Ask Before You Sign a Book Contract by Tim Grahl from Book Launch.
The Stages All Readers Go Through When Lending a Book (And How to Get Books Back) by Sarah James on Book Cave
Please Don't Buy My Book by David Gaughran (This is an older article that was mentioned by Ricardo at Reedsy)
Hands-On Friday: A Day to Boldly Go Where No Writer Has Gone Before
Well, except the last time we did this! Good morning, friends!
Today is all about you! We're not putting even one promo in this post, because it's not about us... It's about you.
It's "Hands-On Friday", a day when we look at what you've done...
A "sneak-peek", if you will...
And then we rip you to shreds in front of God and everybody.
(Wait. This is SEEKERVILLE!!!! We would never do that!)
Okay, back it up. Hit pause....
Back to the sneak peek thing.... So we look at the paragraph or concept you post and we tell you what we think... how you might want to strengthen it. Why it grabs us... or why it doesn't.
Must you be brave?
No! Of course not.
Should you?
Totally up to you.
But I'm here to tell you that courage is a mainstay in this business. Rejection is the norm. Not the exception. Reader reviews that pull at your work are part of the current normal, so unless technology is to suddenly disappear (there's a story basis for you right there!) you need to pull up those big kid panties and get on with things because there is nothing easy about this business... except the writing part, which we love!
So there you have it.
Do not feel pressured. Do not feel like you have to do this. But if you do, we'll give you an honest (but nice!) reaction.
The world won't end. (well, okay, it could, God hasn't shared his Armageddon timeline with yours truly, but it will not end because of a writing blog. Guaranteed!)
And you might get some insight.
Here's what you do: Post in the comments. You may post either a story concept (A paragraph or two about your book, how you see it, what it's about.) OR....
Your opening two paragraphs of your story.
There is nothing to fear but fear itself. (I love that line, but I know you're shaking in your boots right now... And I might be kind of laughing. Or not!) ;)
It's Friday morning, August 3, 2018.
Do you know where your manuscript is?
Multi-published author Ruth Logan Herne is living her dream of writing inspirational romance and women's fiction from her pumpkin farm in Western New York where it hasn't rained but once in two months and she's hand-watering nearly 900 mums that she will then sell in a few weeks... She calls it mum therapy.... and mum workout. Either way, when she's not writing beautiful, award-winning stories she's either working on the farm, hanging with grandkids or baking something wonderful... you can friend her on facebook, visit her website ruthloganherne.com or follow her on Twitter... @RuthLoganHerne. Where you can also follow us here at Seekerville! @SKRViLL
Today is all about you! We're not putting even one promo in this post, because it's not about us... It's about you.
It's "Hands-On Friday", a day when we look at what you've done...
A "sneak-peek", if you will...
And then we rip you to shreds in front of God and everybody.
(Wait. This is SEEKERVILLE!!!! We would never do that!)
Okay, back it up. Hit pause....
Back to the sneak peek thing.... So we look at the paragraph or concept you post and we tell you what we think... how you might want to strengthen it. Why it grabs us... or why it doesn't.
Must you be brave?
No! Of course not.
Should you?
Totally up to you.
But I'm here to tell you that courage is a mainstay in this business. Rejection is the norm. Not the exception. Reader reviews that pull at your work are part of the current normal, so unless technology is to suddenly disappear (there's a story basis for you right there!) you need to pull up those big kid panties and get on with things because there is nothing easy about this business... except the writing part, which we love!
So there you have it.
Do not feel pressured. Do not feel like you have to do this. But if you do, we'll give you an honest (but nice!) reaction.
The world won't end. (well, okay, it could, God hasn't shared his Armageddon timeline with yours truly, but it will not end because of a writing blog. Guaranteed!)
And you might get some insight.
Here's what you do: Post in the comments. You may post either a story concept (A paragraph or two about your book, how you see it, what it's about.) OR....
Your opening two paragraphs of your story.
There is nothing to fear but fear itself. (I love that line, but I know you're shaking in your boots right now... And I might be kind of laughing. Or not!) ;)
It's Friday morning, August 3, 2018.
Do you know where your manuscript is?
Multi-published author Ruth Logan Herne is living her dream of writing inspirational romance and women's fiction from her pumpkin farm in Western New York where it hasn't rained but once in two months and she's hand-watering nearly 900 mums that she will then sell in a few weeks... She calls it mum therapy.... and mum workout. Either way, when she's not writing beautiful, award-winning stories she's either working on the farm, hanging with grandkids or baking something wonderful... you can friend her on facebook, visit her website ruthloganherne.com or follow her on Twitter... @RuthLoganHerne. Where you can also follow us here at Seekerville! @SKRViLL
July 31, 2018
Christmas in July – What Makes a Good Christmas Story?
by Mindy Obenhaus
Yeah, yeah, I know it’s August 1st, but as I’m typing this it’s still July, so humor me. Besides, I’m fresh off the heels of the Hallmark Channel’s Christmas in July, so I thought this would be the perfect time to discuss Christmas stories.
We all love a good romance, but build it around the holiday season and it’s like adding whipped cream to a hot fudge sundae. It’s sweeter and more indulgent.
So what makes a good Christmas story?
Just like any other story, the hero and heroine still need a goal, motivation and conflict. Yet now Christmas can be part of that conflict.
In my book The Deputy’s Holiday Family, the heroine is raising her 5 yo niece whose mother passed away earlier in the year and she wants nothing more than to give the little girl the best Christmas ever. Except our heroine recently lost her job and is forced to return to her hometown to stay with her mother for the holidays. Her Christmas-averse mother who forbids anything Christmas in her house. No tree, no lights, no music, nothing.
While many of the ingredients that go into a good Christmas story are the same as any other story, they’re elevated. Like the difference between custard and crème brulee (I’m obviously hooked on desserts today and crème brulee is one of my faves). Let’s take a look at some of those necessary components.
Theme
What is the story about? Good vs. evil, forgiveness, letting go of the past…
Since I’ve only written one Christmas story, I thought I’d ask someone with more experience about some of her favorite holiday themes.
Ruth Logan Herne, known to most of us as Ruthy, says she likes to use, “Overcoming. Finding truth and faith. Trust. Forgiveness.... and all around the faith of that young couple, and that baby in the manger. Everything you do in that story should stem from those emotions.”
Even if you’re not writing for the Christian market, you can still incorporate the true meaning of Christmas. Why do we celebrate and what makes it so special?
Emotion
There’s something about the holidays that we all react to, good or bad. The sights, sounds and smells trigger memories that can make us smile or want to withdraw from the world.
Ruthy says, “A Christmas story should be rife with emotion. Loss or poverty or longing or guilt or sorrow.... these are the things that come to light in the Christmas season."
"When we anticipate Christmas it's with either joy or trepidation.... and people of faith have either a deeper reason to welcome the joy of the holidays or a deeper anger that life and/or love hasn't gone their way even if they're people of faith. It's not that a holiday story needs a faith conversion, it's more that a holiday story helps inspire a return to the faithful, loving person we were before either life or loss messed us over. So those emotions are always a part of my Christmas stories, including the sweet historical novella collection I've got coming out this fall... and a beautiful novel for Shepherd's Crossing that comes out in mid-November from Love Inspired.”
Visuals and other heart-tugging stuff
When I asked my friend and fellow Love Inspired author, Jill Kemerer, what makes a good Christmas book, she said, “Think Hallmark Channel. They’re fun with all the feels. Plenty of heartwarming moments and visual happy places.”
All the feels. I love that. And she’s right. Ever notice how many Hallmark Christmas movies center around towns with extravagant Christmas celebrations.Ruthy had this to say about the other elements of a good holiday story. “Joy, peace, twinkle lights, carols (they either love 'em or hate 'em!!!) faith either shared or born again, realization of the true Christmas story, the real nativity... sacrifice works beautifully in Christmas stories, think "Gift of the Magi", "Little Women" and Jo sacrificing her hair, the things we do from heart... that have little to do with pocketbook. And I love to show "simple Christmas" when folks are low on money. Money doesn't make Christmas. Love does. So paper angels, glittered snowflakes, a single strand of lights, bush trimmings to decorate the manger scene, cutting up old Christmas cards to make new ones... Sugar cookies. Pumpkin bread or cake. When we make the simple seem sacrificial it absolutely paints the best picture for the reader.”
How do you feel about Christmas stories? Do you love them or feel like they’re over done? Have you ever written or wanted to write one? What elements do you feel are crucial? What can you do without?Oh, and since we’re talking Christmas, let’s giveaway some presents. I’m going to give one copy of my book, The Deputy’s Holiday Family, to THREE lucky commenters. Good luck!
Three-time Carol Award nominee,
Mindy Obenhaus
, writes contemporary romance for Love Inspired Books. She’s passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren at her Texas ranch. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com
July 29, 2018
My 6 Must-Do Editing Tips
by Guest Jill Lynn
For me, there is nothing quite as daunting as a looming deadline. That moment I have to hand my book baby over to my publisher even though I’m not ready to give it up. That moment I know it’s the last time I’ll see it before it goes to print.
Image credit: Crestock 4790187-by donskarpo
My first book was the hardest to release. I prayed over it, hoping with everything in me that it was right and good and entertaining and un-put-down-able. That it would survive out in a world where people toss around one star reviews like confetti, often forgetting there’s a person behind the title and cover.
Since then I’ve learned that many of my fears were unfounded. I often get emails and messages from people who tell me how much they enjoyed a book. There are a lot of precious and supportive reader friends out there. And yes, I’ve had one star reviews, but I’ve also come to the conclusion that I can’t please everyone—a good life lesson.
The One I serve is the One who matters. And so once I’ve written a book and sent it out into the world, I try not to read reviews. I know at that point I have given my all to a book, and it’s time to let it go.
But before I send in a book, there are a few things I do (besides hope and pray :)) to ensure that I’m releasing my best possible work.
Here are my favorite editing tips:
1. Print the manuscript out.This might cost you some paper, but it’s worth it. There’s something about seeing the words in print that allows the eye to catch phrases or words that are repetitive or not working well together. It can also be easier to flip back through the pages and check on a question or phrase than it is to scoot back through an electronic copy. I can leave myself notes and questions in the margins or highlight what might be a concern so I can come back to it later.
2. Take a break from the book.If you can find any time before the book is due to set it aside—even for a week or two—and then come back to it before your final editing, take advantage of this. By the end, before I hand a book in, I’m over it.I’m so done with the book I don’t ever want to see it again. But by the time it releases, I’m happy to see those characters living in print. Edits are the same way—we get bogged down in minor details, and we’ve read the same thing over and over so many times it’s like white noise. If you can step away from the book and come back to it later, you’ll see things with renewed eyes.
3. Listen to the book.This is the most important one in my opinion! If you’re only going to do one of these things, make sure listening to the book is it. The mind often corrects words when reading, but that doesn’t happen when you listen to the book. I have caught SO MANY things in my books this way. I can’t stress this enough. I do it through Microsoft Word. (Here’s the site I followed for adding the button to my Word docs: Click here.)
I usually just highlight one page at a time and listen. It’s a monotone voice, which I don’t mind because it eliminates the emotion and helps me to simply hear the words. Listening helps me catch words that are spelled wrong or missing a letter. Sometimes I’ll even hear that I’ve used a similar word to the one I was thinking of, but it is in fact the wrong word. You might want to quit halfway through listening to the book because it’s a time commitment. (I read so much faster than the computer reads to me.) But I have never regretted taking the time to listen to my book. I’m always amazed by what I catch.
4. Search for double spaces after a period.This one is easy-peasy and quick. Just open the find box in Microsoft Word and type in a period with two spaces after it. It will pull up any spots that you accidentally have two spaces after a period and you can correct them.
5. Keep a list of your overused words so you can search and destroy.
This part can be draining because it’s tedious, but it is so worth it. Your overused words might be different for every book, but if you give yourself some space and then read through it, (or listen to it) you will find them. (You can search to see how many times you’ve used a word in the “find” box in Microsoft Word.) I’m not talking about “and” or “you” here. I’m talking about words that are unique to your writing that are being overused. Or motions that you have a habit of using. Like raised eyebrows or sighs. I keep a list of my most overused on my computer and they usually pop up in each book when I look for them.
6. Know when to quit editing.I confess—I never feel truly ready to hand in a book. I wish I did. But I can be a bit of a perfectionist, and a book will never be perfect. Sigh. So it’s hard for me to hand a book over to my editor. I look for two signs to help me know when I need to stop editing or messing with a book. When I’ve worked it over so many times that I’m beginning to change things (again) that I’ve just recently changed. And when I’m making things worse instead of better. That’s when I say a prayer, hit send and release my book baby.
I’d love to hear your editing tips—do you have any favorite things you do before sending off a book or manuscript?
Jill Lynn writes small-town happily ever afters filled with humor, grace and faith. She lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children and can be found online at Jill-Lynn.com or on Facebook and Instagram @JillLynnAuthor. Her latest release, The Rancher’s Surprise Daughter, is available now.
For me, there is nothing quite as daunting as a looming deadline. That moment I have to hand my book baby over to my publisher even though I’m not ready to give it up. That moment I know it’s the last time I’ll see it before it goes to print.
Image credit: Crestock 4790187-by donskarpoMy first book was the hardest to release. I prayed over it, hoping with everything in me that it was right and good and entertaining and un-put-down-able. That it would survive out in a world where people toss around one star reviews like confetti, often forgetting there’s a person behind the title and cover.
Since then I’ve learned that many of my fears were unfounded. I often get emails and messages from people who tell me how much they enjoyed a book. There are a lot of precious and supportive reader friends out there. And yes, I’ve had one star reviews, but I’ve also come to the conclusion that I can’t please everyone—a good life lesson.
The One I serve is the One who matters. And so once I’ve written a book and sent it out into the world, I try not to read reviews. I know at that point I have given my all to a book, and it’s time to let it go.
But before I send in a book, there are a few things I do (besides hope and pray :)) to ensure that I’m releasing my best possible work.
Here are my favorite editing tips:
1. Print the manuscript out.This might cost you some paper, but it’s worth it. There’s something about seeing the words in print that allows the eye to catch phrases or words that are repetitive or not working well together. It can also be easier to flip back through the pages and check on a question or phrase than it is to scoot back through an electronic copy. I can leave myself notes and questions in the margins or highlight what might be a concern so I can come back to it later.
2. Take a break from the book.If you can find any time before the book is due to set it aside—even for a week or two—and then come back to it before your final editing, take advantage of this. By the end, before I hand a book in, I’m over it.I’m so done with the book I don’t ever want to see it again. But by the time it releases, I’m happy to see those characters living in print. Edits are the same way—we get bogged down in minor details, and we’ve read the same thing over and over so many times it’s like white noise. If you can step away from the book and come back to it later, you’ll see things with renewed eyes.
3. Listen to the book.This is the most important one in my opinion! If you’re only going to do one of these things, make sure listening to the book is it. The mind often corrects words when reading, but that doesn’t happen when you listen to the book. I have caught SO MANY things in my books this way. I can’t stress this enough. I do it through Microsoft Word. (Here’s the site I followed for adding the button to my Word docs: Click here.)
I usually just highlight one page at a time and listen. It’s a monotone voice, which I don’t mind because it eliminates the emotion and helps me to simply hear the words. Listening helps me catch words that are spelled wrong or missing a letter. Sometimes I’ll even hear that I’ve used a similar word to the one I was thinking of, but it is in fact the wrong word. You might want to quit halfway through listening to the book because it’s a time commitment. (I read so much faster than the computer reads to me.) But I have never regretted taking the time to listen to my book. I’m always amazed by what I catch.
4. Search for double spaces after a period.This one is easy-peasy and quick. Just open the find box in Microsoft Word and type in a period with two spaces after it. It will pull up any spots that you accidentally have two spaces after a period and you can correct them.
5. Keep a list of your overused words so you can search and destroy.
This part can be draining because it’s tedious, but it is so worth it. Your overused words might be different for every book, but if you give yourself some space and then read through it, (or listen to it) you will find them. (You can search to see how many times you’ve used a word in the “find” box in Microsoft Word.) I’m not talking about “and” or “you” here. I’m talking about words that are unique to your writing that are being overused. Or motions that you have a habit of using. Like raised eyebrows or sighs. I keep a list of my most overused on my computer and they usually pop up in each book when I look for them.
6. Know when to quit editing.I confess—I never feel truly ready to hand in a book. I wish I did. But I can be a bit of a perfectionist, and a book will never be perfect. Sigh. So it’s hard for me to hand a book over to my editor. I look for two signs to help me know when I need to stop editing or messing with a book. When I’ve worked it over so many times that I’m beginning to change things (again) that I’ve just recently changed. And when I’m making things worse instead of better. That’s when I say a prayer, hit send and release my book baby.
I’d love to hear your editing tips—do you have any favorite things you do before sending off a book or manuscript?
Jill Lynn writes small-town happily ever afters filled with humor, grace and faith. She lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children and can be found online at Jill-Lynn.com or on Facebook and Instagram @JillLynnAuthor. Her latest release, The Rancher’s Surprise Daughter, is available now.
July 27, 2018
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 gave some tips and tricks to writing a KILLER author bio. Author bios are great for websites, proposals, and one sheets for pitch appointments. How's your author bio looking these days?
Wednesday: Publishers Weekly bestselling author Debby Giusti and RWA Golden Heart finalist Josee Telfer shared "Ten Highlights from RWA 2018!"The winner of the first copy of the fourth and final book in Debby's Amish Protectors series, AMISH CHRISTMAS SECRETS, and Josee's yummy giveaway of Pure Vermont Hard Maple Candies is Connie Queen! Congrats, Connie!
Friday: "Location! Location! Location!" That pretty much sums up Friday's discussion with Pam Hillman. So many places to host your novel, what's your setting?
Monday: Join guest Jill Lynn as she shares her "6 Must-Do Editing Tips" before turning in a manuscript!
Wednesday: Mindy Obenhaus is celebrating Christmas in July (make that August). She'll be talking about holiday books so be ready to tell us some of your favorites.
Friday: Submit your work Friday! Stop by... be brave!!!! And submit either your idea for your story... and we'll flesh it out. OR... a few paragraphs of your work and we'll offer ideas on shaping and sharpening! Hands-on Friday in Seekerville!
Pam again... still celebrating the release of
The Road to Magnolia Glen
. :)I'm a sponsor at the Christian Fiction Summer Reading Safari.
Read! Review! Win books! (It really is that easy!)
Click here to Enter....Only 3 More Days!
Order here!
Naomi's Hope
, the third book in Jan Drexler's "Journey to Pleasant Prairie" seriesis on sale through the end of August! Don't miss your chanceto pick up a copy!
Book Two now in Paperback!!Loving the Texas Lawman and Loving Her Texas Protect are available now as ebooks or in print!I am super excited about this series and I've got an idea for another one, with Garrison cousins who are cowboys, not lawmen!!! :)
I also bought an ad on Amazon. Has another seen it? I have no idea what it all means.
Mary "Dipping Her Toes in Indie Waters" Connealy
It's Giveaway Week on Just Commonly with lots of great prizes!
Christian Fiction in both Giveaway 3 & 4!
Come celebrate with the Takeover Tour for The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson with JustRead Publicity Tours, starting August 2, 2018! A tour wide giveaway for one winner, open internationally!
RUTHY SIGHTING TODAY, 7/28/2018!!!! Come see our Ruthy, bring books to be signed or stop by and buy one and support your local Christian book store!
Morning: 11-1 at Alpha and Omega Parable Christian Book Store in Penfield NY
1601 Penfield Rd, Rochester, NY 14625
Afternoon: 2-4 at Alpha and Omega Parable Christian Book Store in Greece NY
1540 W Ridge Rd, Rochester, NY 14615
A fun title generator from Reedsy (thanks to Ricardo for sharing it with us).
What's at Stake? from Michael Hauge's Story Mastery
The Great Debate: To Prologue or Not to Prologue? by Meg LaTorre-Snyder from Writer's Digest (thanks to Cynthia Herron for Tweeting the link).
How Much Time Should I Budget to Write My Book? by Tamela Hancock Murray at the Steve Laube Agency blog.
How "Pantsing" May Be Harmful To Your Health" by C.S. Lakin at Live Write Thrive
Just for fun. Mental Can Openers and Writers' Hash - Lessons From A Balloon by Roulf Burrell at An Indie Adventure.
Thanks for stopping by Seekerville! Have a great week!
July 26, 2018
Location, Location, Location
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by Pam Hillman
Have you heard the joke… What are the three most important considerations in real estate?
Location.Location.Location.
Except it’s no joke.
For anyone buying, selling, or homesteading land, it’s a very serious consideration. But one person’s great location might be another’s worst nightmare.
And a few months ago, at a family get-together I was able to record my mother’s cousins talking about their parents traveling from Arkansas to Mississippi and back again in the 1930-1940s in search of job opportunities, land, and places to settle down.
My niece is documenting our family history, and she’s already found ancestors from England, Scotland, and Ireland who migrated to America for one reason or another.
Just this week a friend of mine asked about the cost of building a house in our area. My son and daughter-in-law are looking around for a location to build a house in the rural area where we live. A retired couple I know recently sold their house and rented a much smaller home on a lake. Another recently widowed friend is looking to downsize.
Each are looking for something different. A growing community with job opportunities, good schools, nice restaurants for a young family. Boating and fishing played a huge part in my friends who chose the lake house. Manageable living expenses drove my widowed friend’s decision.
So, it got me to thinking about my own dreams. My husband is a cattle rancher. We’re attached to the land. We run cattle, and I expect we’ll still be chasing cows wielding our walking sticks instead of cattle prods when we’re in our dotage. Hmmm, I wonder if I can get a 4x4 scooter for My Cowboy? Sorry, cow … uh … rabbit trail.
As I thought about location down through the ages, what’s changed? Location is still important, but not always for the same reasons.
And what about my characters’ dreams and reasons for relocating?
They say write what you know, and so many of my books have to do with owning property, fighting over property, cattle, traveling toward property, abandoning property, saving the farm, etc. Buying land, saving land, or finding land just seems to be in my blood.
In This Land is Our Land (The Homestead Brides Collection), my characters were desperate to get to land homesteaded by their father before he passed away. My characters in Shanghaied by the Bride (Oregon Trail Romance Collection) traipsed across America on the Oregon Trail in search of land and a new life. Slade and Mariah fought tooth and nail over the Lazy M in Claiming Mariah. Stealing Jake wasn’t about the land specifically, but part of the hero’s struggle was holding on to his father’s land and coal mine. Meeting in the Middle (With this Kiss Collection)…yep, cotton farming in Mississippi.
I’m all about that land.
I wrote a cool story set on a deserted island in the Caribbean. Castaway with the Cowboy. Even though it’s not available to readers right now, I love that story and plan to make it available again soon. Again, location. The location made the story. Without the location, it wouldn’t be that story. It would be something else.
Historically, people moved for much the same reasons as they do now, but religious persecution was much higher on the list way back when than it seems to be today, at least for those moving within the borders of the USA. Religious persecution and a chance at a better life, which overwhelmingly translated to dreams of owning land, were two of the top reasons people have been on the move for centuries.
None of my immediate family, friends, or acquaintances are relocating for something as life-threatening as religious persecution, but more for practical reasons that have to do with lifestyle choices and careful management.
In The Evergreen Bride (12 Brides of Christmas), a secondary character’s father moves his family every few months. He’s a sharecropper, and he’s got the wanderlust bug bad. It wasn’t uncommon in the late 1800s, early 1900s for people to just pick up and go. I’ve heard stories of people (who may or may not have been kin to me, ahem) who’d just pick up and move their whole family in the middle of the night back in the 1930-40s. Weeks later, the family would find they’d settled in some old shack and were sharecropping somewhere else.
The Natchez Trace Novel series deals with… you guessed it. Land. A brand new land for a displaced band of Irish brothers. Each of the brothers land in the Natchez District where they come alongside the women they love to save a plantation, a way of life. And they end up putting down permanent roots in the loamy soil along the banks of the Mississippi River.
So let’s discuss your thoughts regarding moving on….
What is your (or your characters) ideal dream spot? A cabin in the woods? An artist’s flat above a bakery? A large sprawling estate? How would that dream translate to life in the 1800s? A townhouse in London? A clapboard home in a Shaker village, or a tepee on the plains with the Lakota or the Sioux? Or even a dugout in Kansas? Which of the photos above catch your fancy?
I’m content where I am. I expect to live and die on this hill. lol
www.pamhillman.com
Pam again... still celebrating the release of
The Road to Magnolia Glen
. :)
I'm a sponsor at the Christian Fiction Summer Reading Safari.
Read! Review! Win books! (It really is that easy!)
The Safari Comes to an end July 31st! Have you logged everything in?
Click here!
by Pam Hillman
Have you heard the joke… What are the three most important considerations in real estate?
Location.Location.Location.Except it’s no joke.
For anyone buying, selling, or homesteading land, it’s a very serious consideration. But one person’s great location might be another’s worst nightmare.
And a few months ago, at a family get-together I was able to record my mother’s cousins talking about their parents traveling from Arkansas to Mississippi and back again in the 1930-1940s in search of job opportunities, land, and places to settle down.
My niece is documenting our family history, and she’s already found ancestors from England, Scotland, and Ireland who migrated to America for one reason or another.
Just this week a friend of mine asked about the cost of building a house in our area. My son and daughter-in-law are looking around for a location to build a house in the rural area where we live. A retired couple I know recently sold their house and rented a much smaller home on a lake. Another recently widowed friend is looking to downsize.
Each are looking for something different. A growing community with job opportunities, good schools, nice restaurants for a young family. Boating and fishing played a huge part in my friends who chose the lake house. Manageable living expenses drove my widowed friend’s decision.
So, it got me to thinking about my own dreams. My husband is a cattle rancher. We’re attached to the land. We run cattle, and I expect we’ll still be chasing cows wielding our walking sticks instead of cattle prods when we’re in our dotage. Hmmm, I wonder if I can get a 4x4 scooter for My Cowboy? Sorry, cow … uh … rabbit trail.
As I thought about location down through the ages, what’s changed? Location is still important, but not always for the same reasons.
And what about my characters’ dreams and reasons for relocating?
They say write what you know, and so many of my books have to do with owning property, fighting over property, cattle, traveling toward property, abandoning property, saving the farm, etc. Buying land, saving land, or finding land just seems to be in my blood.
In This Land is Our Land (The Homestead Brides Collection), my characters were desperate to get to land homesteaded by their father before he passed away. My characters in Shanghaied by the Bride (Oregon Trail Romance Collection) traipsed across America on the Oregon Trail in search of land and a new life. Slade and Mariah fought tooth and nail over the Lazy M in Claiming Mariah. Stealing Jake wasn’t about the land specifically, but part of the hero’s struggle was holding on to his father’s land and coal mine. Meeting in the Middle (With this Kiss Collection)…yep, cotton farming in Mississippi.
I’m all about that land.
I wrote a cool story set on a deserted island in the Caribbean. Castaway with the Cowboy. Even though it’s not available to readers right now, I love that story and plan to make it available again soon. Again, location. The location made the story. Without the location, it wouldn’t be that story. It would be something else.
Historically, people moved for much the same reasons as they do now, but religious persecution was much higher on the list way back when than it seems to be today, at least for those moving within the borders of the USA. Religious persecution and a chance at a better life, which overwhelmingly translated to dreams of owning land, were two of the top reasons people have been on the move for centuries.
None of my immediate family, friends, or acquaintances are relocating for something as life-threatening as religious persecution, but more for practical reasons that have to do with lifestyle choices and careful management.
In The Evergreen Bride (12 Brides of Christmas), a secondary character’s father moves his family every few months. He’s a sharecropper, and he’s got the wanderlust bug bad. It wasn’t uncommon in the late 1800s, early 1900s for people to just pick up and go. I’ve heard stories of people (who may or may not have been kin to me, ahem) who’d just pick up and move their whole family in the middle of the night back in the 1930-40s. Weeks later, the family would find they’d settled in some old shack and were sharecropping somewhere else.
The Natchez Trace Novel series deals with… you guessed it. Land. A brand new land for a displaced band of Irish brothers. Each of the brothers land in the Natchez District where they come alongside the women they love to save a plantation, a way of life. And they end up putting down permanent roots in the loamy soil along the banks of the Mississippi River.
So let’s discuss your thoughts regarding moving on….
What is your (or your characters) ideal dream spot? A cabin in the woods? An artist’s flat above a bakery? A large sprawling estate? How would that dream translate to life in the 1800s? A townhouse in London? A clapboard home in a Shaker village, or a tepee on the plains with the Lakota or the Sioux? Or even a dugout in Kansas? Which of the photos above catch your fancy?I’m content where I am. I expect to live and die on this hill. lol
www.pamhillman.com
Pam again... still celebrating the release of
The Road to Magnolia Glen
. :)I'm a sponsor at the Christian Fiction Summer Reading Safari.
Read! Review! Win books! (It really is that easy!)
The Safari Comes to an end July 31st! Have you logged everything in?
Click here!
