Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 135

Stories Surround Us. So How Do We Harness Them?

You live in the real world.

Me, too.

In the real world we don't always have the chance to ensure the happy ending so many of us like, but we do have our own unique experiences. Those experiences begin in childhood, roll through young adulthood and right on into our lives as card-carrying adults with all the responsibilities that go along with it.

But where does all this fit into a story matrix? And since I write romance and women's fiction, I'm going to stick to those primarily, but you'll see how anything can be put in new context.

Let's start with today's news stories from my local paper:

Oh, wait, the first story is too gruesome.... (Ruthy refuses to write or talk about alligator attack stories)

Okay, still looking at articles.... aha! Here's one:

A. Hotel for indigent people is closed by town council 

Okay, this is doable. There are so many ways to look at this. Let's make a list:

1. "Homeless shelter" angle
2. Real estate buyouts
3. City politician trying to make a difference
4. Bad cop muscling locals for graft money
5. Local minister fights for the rights of the poor
6. Kindhearted fire marshal sees danger in old, decaying building



Now we go deeper:


Local politicians demanded the closing of a non-certified shelter for the homeless, citing unsafe conditions. Maybe we've got a formerly homeless heroine who is dedicated to making life better for the downtrodden? Her mother was homeless and she's got a "give back" heart? 

That block of Old East Main is currently under consideration as the eastern border of the newly proposed high-rise apartment building featuring lofts for downtown young executives. So we can take our hero or heroine as the developer, the Realtor, the homeless shelter manager, a good cop trying to clean up the force and investigating the bad cop, a minister fighting for the rights of the downtrodden or the fire marshal who sees the dangers inherent in the old building and can't stand by and let people die.

So from the above brainstorming list, we can use any or all of those ideas to deepen and flesh out the story. Or just one and go in a very different direction.  Then, based on what you do there, you need a hero or heroine who is standing in the way of progress, not because they're jerks but because they need to stand their ground. Their job could be on the line, they could be paying back a kindness done to them, they could be truly invested in the city's economic growth or they could be the secret daughter of one of the homeless people. SECRETS ARE A VERY GOOD WAY TO DEEPEN THE PLOT!

3. Fairy Godmothers Fix Prom Gowns for Local Students

Okay, this one could be so much fun... Let's brainstorm a list:

1.Organizer is the heroine. 
2.Organizer is heroine's mother, a real do-gooder down-home type person. 
3.Heroine is busy executive. 
4. Heroine had the best of everything, can't see the magic of hand-me-down gowns but is pressed to help by what? 
5. Hero is cop? Sheriff? Teacher? 
6. Schools with poverty populations are often under-performing. Does this open a new door for heroine?

Maybe heroine has to help because she's assigned community service. Picture a small town and she crossed up the judge by being hoity toity! (oh what fun that would be to write, think Doc Hollywood or Cars only with prom dresses!) Hero lost daughter in tragic crash, donated her gowns. He'd have to be a 40ish hero to do this timeline.... but that's okay, we love all heroes! School is under-performing and heroine is in town to change things? Or was already in town (lives there) but was assigned by state to go into school and write a report? And offers her old gowns to the cause? Hero works at school? Hero is town sheriff and trying to help disadvantaged youth and heroine sees more than she bargained for and realizes it's not a black-and-white situation. Or hero's never been married and it was his niece that perished in a crash and broke up his older brother's marriage, leaving you a wide open door for book two.

Depending on setting a story like this throws open the doors for diversity. A huge plus.

Keep Fairy Godmothers as your voices of wisdom as hero and heroine bump heads. 

 Now it's your turn. Throw an idea out there and let's see if we can come up with back-and-forth brainstorming ideas to layer it in. When folks tell me they don't know how to deepen a story, I realize they're looking too broadly... narrow the focus, get to the nitty gritty, either the dirty laundry or small town bigotry or nepotism or racial divides or grudge-holding. We are all sinners enough that looking to deepen a story is as simple as letting people be people. They'll do it all for you, I promise!

And while you're jotting something down for today's back-and-forth, I've got fresh coffee and tea, homemade lemonade, sprigs of mint, lumps of sugar and homemade l-o-v-e cookies, shortbread cookies with a spritz of rosemary in the dough... rosemary is the herb of love!

And speaking of love.... I love that Welcome to Wishing Bridge is on sale for Kindle for $1.99!!!!!  Such a beautiful story of three women who reunite when one sends out a cry for help... and how God's perfect timing puts them all in the right place at the right time. Oh, that God! :) 




Stop in, toss in a comment and I'll tuck your name into the farm hat (it's farm season in WNY!) for a copy of this absolutely beautiful award-winning book "The First Gift". 


 A story of one child... one teacher... and the men who love them both.

Kerry McHenry is nobody’s fool. She sees her own tough upbringing in Cassie’s dire situation, so she works tirelessly to guide the young girl, trying to help her become everything that God wants her to be. At the same time, she finds herself torn between a commitment-phobic pediatric oncologist from a nearby town and Phillipsburg’s widowed deputy sheriff, a complicated man who is still angry with God. As the stakes grow ever higher and the characters’ lives intersect in unexpected ways, each will face a true test of faith—and come face to face with indisputable evidence of God’s love.



Multi-published, bestselling novelist Ruth Logan Herne has written over 40 novels and novellas and is pretty sure she's living the dream. Stop by her website ruthloganherne.com, friend her on facebook or see what she's up to on Twitter @RuthLoganHerne. An avid gardener and baker, she's pretty sure she does both because flowers don't talk back and cookies are everyone's go-to food!

RUE the Day We Don’t Respect Our Readers

Missy Tippens
Rue the day we don’t respect our readers. And by RUE, I mean R.U.E.


R.U.E. =  Resist the urge to explain.
RUE is a note I have often seen in the margins of my critiqued manuscripts. I used to be a part of a critique group that met weekly in person. We each had our own gifts to contribute. Lindi Peterson had a knack for looking at the overall story arc. Meg Moseley was known for helping figure out plot problems. And Maureen Hardegree, our English major in the group, was known for helping us with grammar and mechanics. She was the one who often had to write RUE in my margins. I can still picture it in purple or pink ink. :)
I tended to explain things I had already shown, and still fall into that trap. This problem is the equivalent of knocking the reader over the head with something they’ve probably already gotten. Don’t you roll your eyes when you read something like this:

Example: The man grabbed Pam’s arm. She wrenched herself from his grasp and bolted away, cries for help ripping from her throat. She was terrified.

Reader response: Well, duh. Yes, of course she was terrified. I knew that the instant the man grabbed her arm. And if I hadn’t gotten a clue at that point, then I most certainly knew when she ran away screaming.
The fix: This is a matter of show vs tell. In that example, I both showed, and then told immediately after. (Like I said above, it’s like hitting them over the head with a club just to make sure they got it.) In this example, just delete the second, telling sentence. Let the first one shine and do its job.
Let’s not insult our readers. Let’s trust them. I know as a reader, I really appreciate subtlety. I get a sort of thrill when I catch on to something quickly—like I’m an insider. I love being so in tune with a character that I understand a funny comment or chuckle at a thought (and gleefully think to myself that I’m really quick on the uptake because I got it). Well, in reality, I’ve been given that experience by a skillful author who pulled me into her/his world and made me feel like a special participant. I’m probably not as clever as I thought. LOL But still, it’s a great feeling! (Thank you, skillful authors who have given me that feeling of being in your characters’ inner circle!)
That inclusiveness, that bond with readers should be our goal.


We need to R.U.E. in dialogue as well as in our scenes.

Example: Mindy rolled her eyes and threw the book against the wall. “Okay, I get it already. I got it the third time you told me,” she said, frustrated at the author for beating her over the head with the information for the third time.

[Note: I had too much fun writing that example!!! LOL]
Reader response: Um, didn’t you just say the same thing twice?Critique partner response: a big “RUE” in red in the margin!
The fix: Delete that whole last part, so that it reads:Mindy rolled her eyes and threw the book against the wall. “Okay, I get it already. I got it the third time you told me.”
Her actions are obviously from frustration. And you don’t even need the dialogue tag. The rolling eyes and throwing the book serve as an action tag.
We need to R.U.E. in the descriptive details and dialogue tags we choose to use.

 Example: Ruthy opened the heavy front door and stepped into the living room. 

“There you are. Did you finish feeding the animals?” Beth asked. 

Ruthy stomped the icy cold snow off her well-worn work boots, marched across the plush new cream-colored carpet, and then picked up the fireplace poker with her hand. She opened the door to the brand new wood burning stove and gave the embers a quick poke. The flames roared to life in sparks of red and yellow, heating up her small frozen hands—hands that looked so much like her grandmother’s she sometimes wondered if she was more like her than she thought. Then she turned to answer her daughter’s question. “Yes. All done. Is dinner ready? I’m starving!” she said excitedly just as her stomach growled.

Reader response: Huh? What was the daughter’s question again??Critique partner response (as her head spins): I think maybe you got a little carried away trying to set the scene. What’s important here?
The fix: Okay, this example was loaded! LOL--You do want to set the scene. And details can be nice. But if someone just asked a question, then you can’t go on for too long before answering (unless you’re doing that intentionally to show character hesitation). You don’t want the reader to have to go back to re-read to remember the question.
--You also don’t need to tell EVERY. LITTLE. DETAIL. Not of someone walking across the room and stoking a fireplace! (Oh, my, but I’ve been so guilty of this!) Unless the plush carpet and new fireplace are important (had the character just won the lottery or received an inheritance?), you probably don’t need all those details either. Choose details carefully. Use them to reveal character. Use them to show contrast.
--Watch for repetition and unnecessary telling. If she picks up the fireplace poker, it’s pretty obvious that it’s with her hand. :) You also don’t need to say she turned to answer—right before she answers. And you don’t need to say she answered excitedly if you’ve just used excited dialogue with an exclamation point!! (I couldn’t resist.)
--Also, the way this character goes on without answering makes the reader think something is wrong. If it’s not, then you’ve built up false expectation. And again, when you focus so on details, you make the reader think they’re important for some reason. R.U.E. also includes not telling or showing more than you need to tell or show. So let me take a stab at a fix for this example assuming Ruthy has no problems with Beth:

Ruthy opened the heavy front door and stepped into the living room. 

 “There you are. Did you finish feeding the animals?” Beth asked. 

 “Yes. All done.” Ruthy stomped the icy snow off her well-worn work boots and hurried to the wood burning stove. (I kept this detail because it’s good characterization. We know our Ruthy is a hard worker!) A quick poke, and the flames roared to life, heating up her hands—hands that looked so much like her grandmother’s she sometimes wondered if she was more like her than she thought. (I would leave this for foreshadowing, but only if it will come into play later.) “Is dinner ready?” she asked just as her stomach growled.

I also considered leaving the plush carpet to show contrast with the dirty work boots. But I didn’t think it was needed in this scene. I think it could be more powerful to use that contrast in a scene where maybe the character is uncomfortable. And this character is not uncomfortable in her own home. Now, take her and her wet work boots and plop her in the parlor of a mansion, and I might like to use that plush carpet detail.
I hope you had fun with these examples. While writing this post, I was re-reading some chapters in Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Browne and King. They include a section on R.U.E. in the chapter on Show and Tell. They point out to always check your manuscript for emotion words that are outside of dialogue. I think that’s a great check to do. I know when Janet critiques for me, she often finds those places.
Granted, sometimes we choose to use narrative summary (telling). So don’t feel like you have to delete every example. Just make sure you’ve left them there for a purpose (for example pacing or summarizing something that doesn’t deserve its own scene). And make sure you're not telling something twice!
I’ve found that in first drafts, when I’m moving very quickly, I’ll make the mistake of repeating myself with telling right after showing. I think it comes from not thinking too much as I'm blooping the words out on the page. That's to be expected on a rough draft. But when those mistakes remain after polishing, I think it comes from lack of confidence.
Just like we have to trust our readers to “get it,” we also have to trust ourselves to show it or tell it. Don’t be afraid to let your words stand. Trust yourself and trust your readers. It’ll make for a better book!

I'd love to hear your experience. As readers, have you felt that wonderful bond with characters so that you felt like an insider? Have you also experienced that feeling of being beaten over the head by a story? Let's chat!



After more than 10 years of pursuing her dream of publication, Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Harlequin Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, Holt Medallion, ACFW Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Maggie Award, Beacon Contest, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award. Visit Missy at  www.missytippens.com , https://twitter.com/MissyTippensand  http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers .

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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:  We enjoyed Mary Connealy's rant today as she talked about the whole Tortoise and the Hare thing! Are you a Tortoise or a Hare?
Tuesday: Courtney Walsh dropped by with a reminder of 5 things to let go today! The winner of Just Let Go, Courtney's latest release is Stephanie Gammon.
Wednesday: Mindy chatted with Jill Kemerer about friendship and Jill's latest release, Reunited with the Bull Rider. And the winner of Reunited with the Bull Rider is Wilani Wahl!
Friday: Annie keyed in on one aspect of supporting authors, but warning of counterfeit books!  The winner of a pack of books is Linda Orr!



Monday:  Today, Missy Tippens will be posting! Let's talk about what to do when your critique partner writes R.U.E. on your pages (a note Missy has often seen!).
Wednesday: Ruth Logan Herne is in the house talking about the stories around us and how one central fact can be spun in multiple ways. Trust her, no two stories are the same, and smile with her as she re-releases "The First Gift" her beautiful story of one little girl's life and her effect on so many around her. A copy of a Ruthy book will go to one lucky person posting a comment!
  Friday: Winnie Griggs will be talking about the role Perspective plays in fiction - when looking through the character, writer, and reader lens.

And for this Weekend Edition, Ruthy is offering a Kindle copy of either "Refuge of the Heart", "More Than a Promise" or "The First Gift" to one person commenting... but tell her you want to be entered! All are welcome!




Did you see the celebration happening for the release of The Road to Magnolia Glen by Pam Hillman on Instagram and Facebook?  Don't miss it for a chance to win quite an awesome prize from Pam!



We're also celebrating the re-release of Ruth Logan Herne's The First Gift! Come check it out, starting June 11th for the Takeover Tour and June 12th through 16th for the Bookstagram Review Tour!



FIRST SALE NEWS!! Seeker villager Cindy Regnier made the exciting announcement that she has signed a contract with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas!! Cindy, we're thrilled for you and can't wait for your June 2019 release!



In inaugural JustRead Book Box featured 3 of Ruth Logan Herne titles, and all signed! (Must be tiring, Ruthy! Thank you!) We have a few boxes left in our Etsy shop, ready to ship!




11 Compelling Reasons Every Author Should Read by Janalyn Voigt at Live Write Breathe. (Thanks to Nancy C. for this link!)

Authors Beware! 6 New Writing Scams to Watch Out For by Anne R. Allen (Thanks to Nancy C. for this link as well.)

Writing Your Character's Inner World by Linda Clare.

4 Ways to Write a Better Antagonist by K.M. Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors.

5 Ways Repetition Is Hurting Your Novel by Janice Hardy at Fiction University.

9 Top Book Marketing Takeaway from BookExpo 2018 at the BookBub Partners blog.

Think Small To Avoid Writer's Block by Jane Anne Staw at Live Write Thrive

My Best Marketing Tip by Dan Walsh at Learn How To Write A Novel

Support Authors. . .

Hello Seekerville! Annie here today to share a bit about my obsession with, you got it - books! I have this fabulous T-shirt that I just love! Not only is it soft and comfy, it has a fabulous saying on the front. Want to see it? Here you go:




For those that don't know, I'm no author, and have no desire to be one. However, I have this crazy obsession and innate fangirl persona when it comes to authors. Ever since stumbling across the bookish community a few years ago, I've been in awe by how awesome authors and publishers are, and how HARD it is for them. Granted, I still don't know the whole inside story, but from what I do know, there are a lot of obstacles when it comes to not only writing and publishing a book but also marketing it. Long story short, I'm an advocate for authors and publishers, and I'd like to share with you a particular way we can support them.

 

Buying books can be simple, but it’s recently become more tricky! Why? Counterfeit books.

As author Kara Isaac shared with us about piracy in a previous post on Seekerville, it hurts authors on many fronts. I’m not going to go into all that again, but instead tag team off the topic to focus on counterfeit printed versions of novels (as opposed to just ebooks). According to the official StopFakes.gov website,

“The term "counterfeit" describes fake goods. The term "piracy" describes the act of reproducing movies, music, books or other copyrighted works without permission from the copyright owner.”

Combine the two? You have counterfeit books, similar to the ever-increasing problem of counterfeit textbooks. To be honest, I’m not even sure we really know how big this problem is. Personally, I received a gift of a previously released novel purchased through Amazon on sale. My friend had it shipped directly to me. When I received it, it looked a little off. Granted, I understand some publishers have different style, paper quality and such, including using Amazon’s or another large retailer’s Print On Demand services for subsequent print runs, but typically the quality of these print runs should not be too off from their original. Since I know this publisher and its quality, I was even more certain it was not an original published copy. To top it off, the cover was obviously subpar in terms of the image quality. I then reached out to the publisher and sent them the copy so they are aware of it. Doing a bit of research since, this happens more often than we realized, and it’s not always easy to spot. Can you spot the counterfeit version between these two copies of The Wedding Dress? 
  

I’ll let you know which one is the counterfeit one in a bit. After that incident, I decided to look closer at my past purchases. Even though I am 100% sure most are legit, there are a few older titles (released in the past 2 years) I purchased that did not look or feel like the same quality as others from the same publisher. Again, I’m no expert, but merely from my experience as an avid reader and patron of bookstores, both online and in stores, there were noticeable differences. Research tells me that most of these counterfeit books were purchased from Amazon. Since Amazon’s fulfillment service allows Amazon to sell and ship on your behalf, one will not necessarily know where the book came from. Now, I’m not saying all of Amazon’s books are questionable, just that if you do order from Amazon, inspect immediately.

Here are some signs you can watch out for:

If you are familiar with a publisher’s printing quality/style, compare it. Is the book cover glossy when others are matte? Does the spine line up properly? Is the overall size the same as their standard paperback or hardback editions? How’s the quality of the cover image? Is it blurrier than it should be, even compared to an image you find on the publisher’s website? How is the type quality? Is it fuzzy on some pages or on the back cover? Most notable sign is that it is on sale for much lower than you’ll find on other retailers (and it did not state “price set by publisher”). It’s usually more than $2 difference. Publisher sales typically run across the board. 
Why am I pointing all this out? I’m sharing with you my experience with counterfeit books because as consumers, we should be aware of what is out there, and be smart about our purchases. Counterfeit books not only are pirated works, but the sellers are profiting from it, taking what could’ve been additional sales for the author and publisher for themselves. It’s not only morally and ethically wrong, illegal, while damaging the image of the publisher due to its poor quality, but it also basically is stealing from those working in the publishing industry.

Back to the pictures I showed before, of the two versions of The Wedding Dress. Which one did you choose? If you chose the one on the left with the glossy cover, you are correct. That is the counterfeit copy. The main issue is how the cover image looked to be spliced together with the letterings.

So what do you do when you suspect you’ve received a counterfeit book? Several things:
You can reach out to the vendor to exchange it, explaining that you don’t think this is right. Mention the quality. By reaching out, the vendor will now be aware that something is wrong here and the supplier may be banned or removed from future orders. Reach out to the publisher to let them know of your suspicions. Send photos or even the copy of the book. Report counterfeit or pirated goods to the FBI Intellectual Copyright Infringement department. You can find out more info here: https://www.stopfakes.gov/article?id=Report-Counterfeit-or-Pirated-Goods. 
It’s a scary world out there, and there will always be people trying to take advantage. I’m not trying to discourage you to buy, but rather I encourage you to buy from local bookstores or retailers that you feel secure with. I still am an Amazon consumer with many things, including ebooks and new releases of hardcover books. However, when it comes to paperbacks, lately I’ve mainly purchased from local bookstores, Barnes and Nobles and ChristianBook.com. Plus, I truly believe that giving this feedback to publishers and helping to stop counterfeit sales, even if it’s one book at a time, is another way to support authors and publishers.

To that end, let us continue to support and encourage one another. As I said before, there are many ways we can show our bookish support.

Friends and Writers: One-on-One with Jill Kemerer

by Mindy Obenhaus

I’m thrilled to welcome Jill Kemerer back to Seekerville. Not only is she one of my favorite authors, she’s also one of my very best friends. And she has a brand-new book out, Reunited with the Bull Rider. (Stay tuned for a book giveaway!)
Jill and I met online in 2015 when she made a comment on an email loop referencing a particular place in Michigan. I emailed her privately, curious if she was from the Great Lakes State, since that’s where I grew up. Well, she was, and as it turns out, we didn’t live that far apart, right, Jill?

Jill: You grew up about half an hour from where I grew up in mid-Michigan. When we met you were living near Dallas, Texas and I was living in my current home southwest of Toledo, Ohio. How in the world did we find each other? And do you think we really could be long-lost sisters?
Mindy:  Well, we’ve shared clothes and we are both blonde, so we might be able to pull off the sister thing. But as for how we found each other, that was only by the grace of God. I mean, I probably scared you with all of my emails.
Jill: It feels like we’ve been friends since birth. And, no you didn’t scare me! I was very flattered that you would go out of your way to nurture a friendship with me. Since then, you’ve become a dear friend, someone I rely on for emotional support, writing encouragement and lots of giggles.
Mindy:  One thing I find interesting about our relationship is that, while we’re both authors, we rarely talk about our writing, other than stating “I’m working on this today.” We’ve never critiqued each other’s work, we’ve only been together in person once, yet we talk weekly, if not daily, thanks to Voxer, texts, emails and the occasional phone call. We discuss aging parents, teenager and college age woes... You let me whine and listen patiently as I ramble about who knows what. Then give me honest feedback or advice.
Jill: I appreciate you. One of my most vivid memories is of driving home after a tough day visiting my dad at the nursing home, stopping at Arby’s and calling you. I could not stop crying. You said exactly what I needed to hear, and you lent the shoulder I desperately needed to soak with my tears. What is one of your “big” memories of our friendship?
Mindy:  Oh, great. You get me all choked up, then ask me a question. Hand me the tissues. Sniff, sniff. So, this isn’t necessarily a “big” thing, but a lot of little things that are “big” to me. You always call/Vox to check on me when you know I’ve had a particularly rough day or am going through a difficult time. And somehow, we always end up laughing, which, as we know, is the best medicine.
Jill: Laughing makes just about anything better! We’ve talked about a girl’s weekend in Ouray, Colorado where all of your books are set. You’ve got me hooked on the quaint town. Since you’ve been there, where would we go and what would we do?
Mindy: First of all, we would need much more than just a weekend. And it would depend what time of year. But let’s say summer. I’d take you Jeeping in the mountains to some of the most beautiful places you could imagine. Then we’d grab some chocolate at Mouse’s, visit Cascade Falls, get more chocolate…
Enough about that, though. I want to talk about your new book. Reunited with the Bull Rider is the second book your Wyoming Cowboys series, right?
Jill: Yes. The Rancher's Mistletoe Bride was the first one.
Mindy: I read that book, and I have to say, I really like the premise for this series. Four cowboys who met as kids when they ended up in the same foster home. All bearing wounds from their past. How did you come up with the idea?
Jill: I’m not sure! I’d read several memoirs of men who had grown up in dysfunctional and abusive families. Each one had spent time in foster care, and some had lived in group homes. The idea of four strangers whose friendships developed into a brotherly bond through a group foster home really appealed to me. All of the heroes start out thinking they’ll never get married or have families, but I think we all know how that will turn out!
The third book in the series, Wyoming Christmas Quadruplets, releases in October!
Mindy:  Quadruplets? Wow! You’ll have to come back later and tell us about that one, but I want to hear about Reunited with the Bull Rider.
Jill: Sure! Reunited with the Bull Riderbegins ten years after Nash Bolton left his girlfriend, Amy Deerson, without a goodbye or explanation. Amy was heartbroken, and she found solace in quilting, eventually owning her own quilt shop. Now Nash is back with his much younger sister, Ruby, whom Amy was paired with to mentor through the church mentoring program. Nash and Amy have a lot of emotional baggage to deal with, and severely neglected Ruby provides the key for them to forgive each other. But will forgiveness be enough for them to try again?
Reunited with the Bull Rider
Goodbye rodeo, hello hometown. But is this Wyoming Cowboy ready to face his past?
Amy Deerson wanted to mentor a child. Her plan did not include former bull rider Nash Bolton—the little girl’s brother and guardian. It’s been a decade since Nash left town without a word, breaking Amy’s young heart. Now they must put their painful past aside to help fragile, traumatized Ruby. If only getting over their first love were that simple.
Buy Now: mybook.to/ReunitedBullRider
More purchase links: https://jillkemerer.com/books/reunited-with-the-bull-rider/
Mindy:  I have to admit, I started reading this book Friday and you had me hooked from page one. I have to force myself to put it down and do things like, oh, work and sleep.

Thank you so much for joining us here at Seekerville, Jill, and for being my friend. Oh, and you brought breakfast, right?
Jill: As long as you’re okay with bagels, donuts, and blueberry breakfast cake, then yes, breakfast is on me! Thanks for having me. Sending you a big hug for putting this together, Mindy!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Reunited with the Bull Rider, be sure to leave a comment. Jill will give away a paperback copy to a U.S. winner OR, if you live outside of the United States, an ebook version. 


Jill Kemerer is an author and freelance writer. A multi-published inspirational romance novelist with Harlequin Love Inspired, Jill also writes nonfiction books, blogs, and articles. Her essentials include coffee, M&Ms, a stack of books, her mini-doxie, and long walks outdoors. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. Please visit her website, jillkemerer.com, and sign up for her newsletter.
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Five Things to Let Go of Today By Courtney Walsh Seekerville

Annie here! I'm excited to welcome Courtney Walsh on Seekerville today! 


If life were as easy as a Disney movie, all of us would’ve figured out how to “let it go” after Elsa’s stirring and emotional power ballad. It feels like something we ought to know how to do, especially once we reach a certain age, but letting go isn’t as easy as the song suggests.

When I began work on my upcoming novel Just Let Go, I prepared with that in mind—the fact that so many of us (myself included) struggle to let go. I’m not sure why it’s human nature to hold on to things, but whether it’s tickets from your very first concert (New Kids on the Block) or a hurt that happened ages ago, we are collectors.
And some things we’re collecting are doing more harm than good. Here are five things to let go of today.
1. Grudges Okay, this one’s a bit obvious. After all, it’s biblical to forgive and move on. But just because something is obvious doesn’t mean it’s easy, and letting go of the way we felt when someone hurt us is no small feat. We all have different methods for dealing with our pain, and when someone hurts us—especially when they don’t apologize—it can eat us up inside if we let it. We can’t let it. The hurt then compounds and becomes something even more damaging. Forgiveness, though sometimes hard to give, is always the best way to move forward.
2. Regrets
I think of regrets as grudges we hold against ourselves. It’s so easy to replay our mistakes on a continuous loop in our minds, but friends, this is a path to destruction. We all make mistakes, but dwelling on them is no way to live. Your past doesn’t determine your future unless you let it. Choose to forgive yourself, to ask for forgiveness if necessary, and make amends—and then move on as best you can. If God is love and love keeps no record of wrongs, then we shouldn’t either.
3. Unmet expectations
You know how it goes. You’re expecting something really amazing to happen—a job or promotion you’ve been waiting for, a proposal from a significant other, a pregnancy, a positive report . . . the list goes on—and that thing that’s supposed to change your life never comes. They hire someone else. He decides it’s time to move on. You never see that purple “plus sign.” We all have disappointments. We all have those things we were counting on or hoping for that don’t come through. But if you stop and look back, it may be that the closed door was actually there to guide you on your path. What if God has a different job, a spouse more suited to you, better timing for a pregnancy? These unmet expectations can turn into bitterness so easily if we cling to them with both hands. This is when “letting go” becomes synonymous with “trusting God.” Because even when it’s hard, he’s still got our very best interests at heart.
4. Control
Some of us struggle with this one more than others do. Some of us want to be in control of every aspect of our lives. The heroine in Just Let Gois neat and orderly and likes everything in its place—but life doesn’t always allow for that. Sometimes we have to let others take the lead. Sometimes we have to lay our will down in front of Jesus and let him take the lead. Life is about the give and take, and needing control in every situation is a sure recipe for disappointment. Control freaks may not find it very easy to give up their own will. Start small. Let someone else choose the restaurant. Let your kids load the dishwasher and don’t rearrange everything before starting it. Then move on to the bigger things one day at a time.
5. Perfection
Our world is full of images and phrases and people who will try to make us feel like we are not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, skinny enough. I thought this would go away after high school, but I’m forty-two and I still battle these feelings. Perfection is unattainable. It’s such a no-brainer, and yet it bears repeating—perfection is unattainable. Why, then, do we strive for the perfect home, the perfect marriage, the perfect career, the perfect body? We have this standard (set by whom?) that we think we need to attain. Friends, it’s time to let go of that. We will never be perfect. Life will never be perfect. And you know what? That’s okay. It’s not meant to be. Instead of striving for perfection, strive for goodness. Strive for happiness. Strive to please your heavenly Father instead of the strangers on the internet. And revel a little in the messiness of life . . . after all, that’s what makes it fun!
Letting go, in all of its forms, is tricky and challenging, and it takes practice. Day by day, little by little, if you find ways to let go of these things, life will be fuller and more relaxed.

Can you think of one thing you’re holding on to that you could let go of today? Maybe we could take baby steps together? 


Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. Just Let Go will be her eighth inspirational romance novel. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children. Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.


About the Book:

For Quinn Collins, buying the flower shop in downtown Harbor Pointe, Michigan, fulfills a childhood dream but also gives her the chance to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who owned the store before leaving town twenty years ago and never looking back. Completing much-needed renovations, however, while also preparing for a prestigious flower competition with her mother as the head judge, soon has Quinn in over her head. Not that she’d ever ask for help.

Luckily, she may not need to. Quinn’s father and his meddling friends find the perfect solution in notorious Olympic skier Grady Benson, who had only planned on passing through the old-fashioned lakeside town. But when a heated confrontation leads to property damage, helping Quinn as a community service sentence seems like the quickest way out—and the best way to avoid more negative press.

Quinn finds Grady reckless and entitled; he thinks she’s way too uptight. Yet as the two begin working together, Quinn sees glimpses of the vulnerability behind the bravado, and Grady learns from her passion and determination, qualities he seems to have lost in his pursuit of Olympic gold. When a well-intentioned omission has devastating consequences, Grady finds himself cast out of town—and Quinn’s life—possibly forever. Forced to face the hurt holding her back, Quinn has to choose: let go or risk missing the adventure of a lifetime.

Includes discussion questions.
You can find out more and to purchase the book on Tyndale's website HERE.

Tyndale House Publishers is giving away one copy of Just Let Go to one reader. Just leave a comment for Courtney or whatever you'd like to share to enter. Winner will be announced in the Seekerville WE this Saturday. (Sorry, US mailing addresses only.)

You know that whole Tortoise and the Hare thing? A rant!

I have serious misgivings about this shirt, but I wore it anyway!The other day I mentioned that The Accidental Guardian is my 55th book and someone said something like, "Wow, 55 books in 13 years! I'm the tortoise, you're the hare."

I said very lightheartedly, "Nope, I'm the tortoise. I keep going. And if you keep going, especially if about 16 of those 55 books were already written, and about another fifteen are novellas, then yes, you can be slow and steady and write 55 books in 13 years."

But then, we moved on to other things and only when I got home did I start really THINKING about that story, The Tortoise and the Hare.

We've talked about that story before here on Seekerville and I've always jumped in and said, "I am NOT the hare, I'm the tortoise."

But since that small really humorous exchange I thought, "You know the hare is the LOSER in that story. Why would someone act impressed with 55 books then call me a loser?"

I've decided I don't like being called 'the hare'.

More over, the big picture 'moral to the story' of The Tortoise and the Hare is: Slow and steady wins the race.

Okay fine, slow and steady wins, but only because the hare is a lazy, napping QUITTER.

The hare would have won if he'd just kept GOING.

So the real moral to that story (and who am I to rewrite Aesop? Because it's HIS moral) is STEADY wins the race.

Not SLOW AND STEADY. Yes in that story the tortoise in slow. But maybe I'm NOT slow. Maybe there is a third character in that race who is both speedy and not a quitter.

So I'm not the tortoise, maybe I'm the hare that doesn't take a NAP while a poky old tortoise just keeps plodding along.

But I am not writing this to insult tortoises. Tortoises are fine and in the case of this story HEROIC!

I just know that being called the hare while ha ha funny, isn't a compliment.

So that's my rant.

And to make me feel less like a jerk, here is a gratuitous picture of my four adorable grandchildren.
And I might add that when I am babysitting, I want to quit and take a nap WAY MORE OFTEN THAN ANY OF THEM DO!The littlest boy got a sort of toy wristwatch that acts like a fit bit. It does almost nothing but tell's time and counts steps. He got it for his fourth birthday.His big brother, age 7 held his watch up the last day I saw them to show me he'd taken SIXTEEN THOUSAND STEPS! And it was mid-afternoon. After he showed me, he ran off!I asked his little brother what he was going to do with his watch.He said, "Run and run."In other words, Same as Usual.
That's my story, the rant, the gratuitous picture of cuteness.Thanks for listening. Now I'm off to be either the fox and the grapes or maybe the wolf in sheep's clothing. (Oh, I admit it, I'm the boy who cried wolf)

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:  Happy Memorial Day!
Tuesday: Ruthy chatted Historical Romances on this gap day between a holiday with no post in Seekerville and our next guest. Leave it to the Ruthmeister to step in when needed!
Wednesday: Laurie Schnebly Campbell generously offered admittance to her upcoming class,  Perfecting Your Pitch, and the two winners are Lori Ono and Jacquolyn! If you haven't heard from Laurie yet, please contact her directly at booklaurie {at} yahoo.com about details.
Friday: Gabrielle Meyer offered 8 Ways to Inspire Your Writing. The winner of Gabe's newest release, The Backcountry Brides , is ohiohomeschool (Becky B.).


Monday:  Mary Connealy is our hostess today! Wonders never cease when Mary drops in and offers her words of wisdom!!
Tuesday:  Courtney Walsh is on Seekerville on "Five Things to Let Go of Today", plus a chance to win a copy of her newest release, Just Let Go.
Wednesday:  Mindy Obenhaus will be chatting with Jill Kemerer about friendship and Jill's new book, Reunited with the Bull Rider  Friday: Annie of Just Commonly blog is back on Seekerville talking about counterfeit books.





Revell is graciously offering a deal on two of Jan Drexler's titles this month. If you haven't read "The Journey to Pleasant Prairie" series yet, then this is a great time to start!

For your Kindle: Hannah's Choice
For your Nook: Hannah's Choice

For your Kindle: Naomi's Hope
For your Nook: Naomi's Hope
Pam Hillman's The Road to Magnolia Glen releases JUNE 5th!
Need Buy Links? Visit PamHillman.com and read more!
And check out all the crazy fun stuff going on next week...
There are like THREE different places to win!! So don't miss out!Goodreads Member? Hop over and enter to win one of
ONE HUNDRED ebooks on Goodreads! Wow!
and...
Watch Just Read Tours and Instagram for Pam's
#MagnoliaGlenGiveaway Takeaway Tour to win a cool
prize. Look alive on Instagram JUNE 5th!
Search for #MagnoliaGlenGiveaway :)

And One More... I love this! Tyndale's giving away this amazing gift pack.
Again, the BIG DAY IS JUNE 5TH.
Mark your calendars and get ready to journey down
 The Road to Magnolia Glen.
Click here to enter the Tyndale giveaway. Starts June 5th



Sweet Promise Press. A new small publisher venture from Melissa Storm.


From Fiction University: How Much Really Needs to Be in Your Novel’s Opening Sentence? by Janice Hardy (Thanks to Nancy C. for this link!)

OREGON CHRISTIAN WRITERS SUMMER COACHING CONFERENCE, August 20–23 will be held at the Red Lion (Jantzen Beach) in Portland. Keynoters Robin Jones Gunn and Kim Meeder join an outstanding faculty of top editors, agents, and award-winning authors to help writers of all levels and genres reach their writing goals. Check the website for registration details. https://oregonchristianwriters.org/2018-summer-conference/. Contact:summerconf@oregonchristianwriters.org.
Your Writing Sweet Spot by James Scott Bell at The Kill Zone.
Selling Out: Going Wide or Going Exclusive to Amazon by David Kudler, linked from The Passive Voice.
What's Really Happening When You Think You Are Lazy by Johannah Bogart from Live Write Thrive.
Hate Book Marketing? 4 Tips To Help You Change Your Mindset and Sell More Books by Joanna Penn at The Creative Penn
Purpose: The Missing Link Between Characters' Motives and Depth by Sharon Bially at Writer Unboxed.
Surviving a Book Launch as a Card-Carrying Introvert by Orly Konig at Women Writers, Women('s) Books

Eight Ways to Inspire Your Writing ~ Gabrielle Meyer

Erica here: I am so pleased to host my friend Gabrielle Meyer on Seekerville today!

Eight Ways to Inspire Your Writing

“Art, to be great, must turn the beholder into a creator by stimulating his imagination, challenging his brain, and allowing his own creative urge to express self.” ~Bob Bowman

I’ve often felt the definition of a successful artist (whatever art form that may be) is one who can inspire creativity in another person. When it comes to writing, inspiration is often (if not always) the starting point for every good story. Thankfully, we don’t have to look far to find inspiration. It’s all around us. Sometimes, it takes us by surprise and we have to quickly jot down an idea. Other times, especially if it’s been a dry season emotionally, mentally, or spiritually, we need to be purposeful about looking for inspiration. When we find it, it can go a long way in giving us the energy and drive to complete a project.


Below is a list of eight places (in no particular order) to find inspiration for our writing.

1. Paintings/Photography

Have you ever seen a painting or photograph that captures your attention and makes your imagination sing? Every single time I see a Thomas Kinkade painting, my mind immediately starts to create a story to go along with his beautiful image. Because I can’t crawl into his paintings and live in his idyllic world, I long to create an imaginary character who can. What kind of paintings/photographs inspire you? Seek them out and let your imagination soar.

2. Music

I know a lot of authors who have a playlist of songs that they listen to as they write. The music might be exciting, dark, upbeat, quiet, or loud. It all depends on the mood they want to create in their storyworld. If you’re stuck, and you need to add some depth to your story, try to listen to music. You might be surprised that your mood affects the mood of your story.

3. Books/Movies/Television/Plays
Do you want to write a compelling story? Then read as many compelling stories as you can. Watch great movies, study interesting television characters, dissect a riveting plot. Immerse yourself in great storytelling (whether you read it or watch it) and you’ll be inspired to write an amazing tale. I love reading stories by authors I admire. They inspire me to dig deeper and write stronger.

4. Nature/Weather

When I asked my Facebook friends what inspires their creativity, almost everyone said nature was their main inspiration. Who isn’t inspired by a snow-capped mountain, a powerful thunderstorm (as I write this, one is rumbling its way toward us!), or the lapping of the waves upon the sand? I live on the banks of the Mississippi River in central Minnesota, and I don’t have to look any farther than my backyard for inspiration. Don’t be afraid to get out in nature and find inspiration in the beauty of God’ creation.

5. History

For me, there is no greater inspiration than a unique bit of history. Almost every story I’ve written has been inspired by real people, places, and events. It’s true when they say that history is often better than fiction. But history isn’t limited to historical novels. Many people write contemporary stories inspired by historical people and events. If you’re looking for inspiration, read old newspapers, visit historic sites and museums, or just listen to an elderly neighbor who has a treasure trove of stories to tell.

6. Quotes/Sayings

Just like the quote I shared above, which inspired this blog post, quotes and sayings can inspire all our writing. If you need some inspiration, look up quotes about the theme of your story. It might be helpful to you, your heroine, or even your reader.

7. People/Relationships

Have you ever met someone and thought: “That person would make a great character in a story!” Or, have you ever created a character and suddenly realize it’s inspired by a person you know, even when you didn’t consciously model your character after that person? In my story, The Gift of Twins , I modeled the twin boys from my own set of twin boys. I just asked myself: “How would my boys react if put in this situation?” and went from there. Relationships, whether positive or negative, can be great fodder for our writing. Of course, be careful not to offend; instead, use those relationships as a starting point to enrich your story.

8. God/Faith

Last, but certainly not least, is our faith. I think many of us would agree that our faith, especially as inspirational writers, plays a big part in what we write, how we write, and why we write. I’ve always believed writing is an act of worship. I feel closest to God when I’m telling a story. Use the experiences you’ve gained on your faith journey to enhance your story. You might be surprised when a reader emails and says that you wrote something they needed to hear. Suddenly, the trials you’ve endured have a more meaningful purpose.

These are just some of the ways I get inspiration for writing. I’d love to hear yours, whether it’s in this list or not.
Gabrielle Meyer lives in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing historical fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. You can find Gabrielle on her website, www.gabriellemeyer.com or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/AuthorGabrielleMeyer. Her tenth story, Love’s Undoing, just released in The Backcountry Brides Novella Collection with Barbour.




About the Book: 
Love on Colonial America’s Frontier 
Travel into Colonial America where eight women seek love, but they each know a future husband requires the necessary skills to survive in the backcountry. Living in areas exposed to nature’s ferocity, prone to Indian attack, and cut off from regular supplies, can hearts overcome the dangers to find lasting love?
You can find out more AND purchase the book by clicking HERE.
Gabrielle is giving away a copy of The Backcountry Brides to one commentor. US residents only. Just leave Gabrielle a comment telling her what inspires you!

Selling Without Bragging

By Guest Blogger Laurie Schnebly Campbell
Photo credit:
 http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/7570
Most of us grew up knowing it’s not polite to brag about ourselves. Not just ourselves, but also our work / our family / our home / our good fortune. And when we have the good fortune to complete a book worthy of publication, all too often the reminder of “Boast not thyself” stops us from bragging about what we’ve achieved.
Maybe our inner promoter argues that it’s NOT boasting if we’ve created a book that other people will love. If that’s the case we’re doing the world a favor by making it possible for them to read our book, right?
Even so, pitching an editor or agent is still something a lot of writers dread.
Of course there are ways to avoid ever doing a face-to-face pitch, and for anyone who can’t stand the idea of meeting an editor or agent in person -- “I’d just be too nervous!” -- contests and queries and Twitterfests all work fine.
But for writers who are going to a conference where editors and agents will be actively looking for books they can make into best-sellers, pitching is an extremely useful tool.
Are you thinking about it?
If so, you already know the basics. You want to tell them about your work in a way that’ll convince ‘em “I absolutely must read this person’s manuscript the minute I get back to work!”
But there might be a few things standing in your way.
Photo credit:
http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/1075
1. FEAR OF THE PITCH
This is far and away the biggest problem. Writers aren’t known for being the most extroverted people in the world -- otherwise how could we possibly spend so much time alone at the keyboard? -- so sitting down with a Big Important Person who has the power to Make This Book A Bestseller can be a scary prospect.
There are seven techniques for dealing with fear, both during the actual pitch and also before you ever show up at the conference. (We’ll go over all of those next month in my Perfect Pitch class.)
2. NO COMPLETION DATE
Photo credit:
http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/15139If the book is still in your mind but there’s nothing on your hard drive yet, it’s a bit harder to convince the editor or agent that you’ve created exactly the story readers worldwide have been waiting for. Conversely, if it’s ready to send the minute they say “okay,” or if you can confidently say it’ll be ready to send as of two months from today, the pitch is a whole lot easier.
And if you’re not sure WHEN the finished manuscript will be ready, you might want to just use the time for getting a feel of what this person likes. You can spend your appointment time asking for advice on your query, discussing your favorite of the books they’ve been involved with, and leaving them with an impression of you as someone they’ll enjoy hearing from again once your book is complete.
3. UNDEFINED AUDIENCE
Photo credit:
http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/9551For writers who are specifically targeting a certain type of reader-- those who want cozy mysteries featuring a chef, or inspirational Regency romance, or middle-grade adventure, or whatever -- it’ll be no problem defining who’s gonna love your book.
But what if the answer to “who’s this book for?” is something like “uh, well, everyone who can read English,” that’s a clue it’s time for some homework.
Sure, a few writers will say it’s the AGENT’s job to know that -- THEIR only responsibility is getting the story down on paper. Still, an agent will be much more impressed with a writer who’s willing to help them do their job by explaining right up front what audience will be interested in the book.
4. TOO MUCH INFORMATION Photo credit:
http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/15349We’ve all heard four-year-olds trying to describe the plot of, say, The Three Little Pigs. “So the pig had a hammer. And there’s some wood. There’s another pig who’s eating popcorn. One of the pigs had a hat on. Oh, and the wolf comes! They made a house out of wood. The pig with popcorn doesn’t see the wolf.” And so on.
Clearly these four-year-olds haven’t spent much time analyzing the characters or the plot or the resolution, and there’s no reason they should. But all too often, we authors wind up in the same boat. WE know the story so well, and we love it so much, we can’t help wanting to tell the listener all the most wonderful details.
And the listener is baffled. That’s why it’s crucial to outline your answers to the Four Big Questions -- which, again, we’ll cover in class -- before ever sitting down to describe your story.
5. RUNNING OUT OF TIME
Photo credit:
http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/16756You might have a fabulous description in mind already. Your critique partner loves it. Your family loves it. The lady behind you in line at Costco loves it. But none of them was keeping an eye on the clock while they listened.
If you’re guaranteed all the time you want with an editor or agent, this won’t be a problem. If you’re at a conference where appointments are limited to a specific duration, though, make sure you time yourself during the “rehearsal.” For what it’s worth, the average person speaking aloud can deliver about 140 words per minute -- so keep that in mind as you plan. And don’t forget to allow time for the listener to ask questions!
AND SPEAKING OF QUESTIONS...
Here’s one for you: What are some helpful “Do's or memorable “Don’t's you’ve heard (or experienced yourself) when it comes to pitching?
Share those with whoever’s reading, and you might be the winner of free registration to Perfecting Your Pitch, coming up from June 3-14.
I can’t wait to hear some useful -- and entertaining -- advice!
http://romanceuniversity.org/ru-contr...
[image error]ABOUT LAURIE
After winning Romantic Times‘ “Best Special Edition of the Year” over Nora Roberts, Laurie Schnebly Campbell discovered she loved teaching every bit as much as writing...if not more. Since then she’s taught online and live workshops for writers from London and Los Angeles to New Zealand and New York, and keeps a special section of her bookshelves for people who’ve developed that particular novel in her classes. With 43 titles there so far, she’s always hoping for more.