Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 22
September 27, 2022
20 Year-Old Me - Guest Post by, Carmen Schober
Hello Seekerville Readers!
My name is Carmen Schober, and my first novel came out a little less than a year ago with Bethany House, so you might not have heard of me yet. But, even though I am a newbie author, I'm a seasoned Christian fiction reader, thanks to Francine Rivers and Gilbert Morris--my favorites growing up. The genre has expanded so much since then, and it's a joy to be a small part of that growth.
Thank you sincerely
for the opportunity to share my writing journey with you. Before I dive in, though, let me tell you a couple of other things about me besides the creative click-clacking I do on my keyboard each day.
I’m a wife to Jeff, a mama to Vivian (age 4), Sofia (age 2), and Leo (age 1...yes, we're very busy), and I’m a proud Cuban-American. My grandparents fled Cuba during the rise of Fidel Castro, and they are inspiring examples of American dreamers. Being a writer isn’t nearly as hard as being a factory worker or a seamstress, as my grandparents were, but I like to think I’m following in their footsteps each day as I raise my babies and write my books, even when the task feels too overwhelming.
Before I wrote After She Falls, I spent seven years at Kansas State University first as a student, then as a graduate student, then as a writing instructor. It was a difficult, faith-testing experience in a militantly secular environment, and I found myself hiding my love for Christian stories until I finally left the university to have my first daughter, Vivian. Life with a newborn baby came with many challenges, but it came with blessings, too, like the opportunity to revisit the books I'd loved so much as a younger woman.
It was during one of those late-night feeding sessions that
I dove back into a Francine Rivers book and had a wild thought...
"Maybe I could write something like this."
That was when the seed was planted, but the real inspiration came a little later when I was taking an online screenwriting class just for fun. The professor tasked us with "reimagine" our favorite movie, so I picked Rocky and let my mind run wild with ideas until I ended up with a scrappy female Cuban underdog with a broken dream to put back together. I faced many doubts and discouragements during the writing process, but Vivian supplied me with a new kind of inspiration. When I was tempted to give up, I would think to myself, "What would I want Vivian to do in this situation? Give into her fears and critics or press on?"
The answer was obvious, so I kept writing, and by the grace of God, about two years later, After She Falls was on bookshelves around the country.
My second book,
Pretty Little Pieces
, is a whole new cast of characters set in the glitzy world of reality television and home makeovers, but my favorite elements from After She Falls are still there: Scrappy heroines, broody heroes, tricky romantic dynamics, and bold, leap-taking faith. I never water down the "Christian" part in my fiction, but I do make it raw and real for modern women navigating our ever-changing culture.
I write with everyone in mind but especially 20-year-old me. I know that's oddly specific, but that's the version of me who desperately needed an inspiring but relatable vision of what it meant to be a Christian woman in a confusing, postmodern world. As I was bombarded by pressures and lies and insecurities, I longed for truth, beauty, and romance, and I think stories like After She Falls or Pretty Little Pieces would've given me so much hope. So that's how I know a story is finally complete--when I’m confident that 20-year-old Carmen would love it!
I hope you love my stories, too! Or your sister, or your daughter, or your friend--whoever might need a book about finding love in all the right places. A book is a gift that keeps on giving, and Pretty Little Pieces comes out just in time for Christmas! And, for a limited time, you can get both of my books from Baker Book House for just $16 plus free shipping! Just put them in your cart and use the code SCHOBER50 at checkout.
Thank you for all you do to keep the love of Christian fiction alive! It's more important than you realize.
God bless you,
Carmen Schober
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Carmen Schober (www.carmenschober.com), author of After She Falls and Pretty Little Pieces, is a wife and mother, a proud Cuban-American, and a woman of eclectic interests, ranging from gritty combative sports to feminine design shows. She writes unexpected romance novels for the modern woman, with relatable but inspirational heroines and heroes. When she's not writing fiction, she blogs about Christianity, motherhood, writing, and everything in between. She earned a master's degree in English literature and creative writing from Kansas State, and she currently lives in Manhattan, Kansas.
September 25, 2022
The Nitty Gritty of the Published Author Life
Erica here today.
Do you remember when Dorothy finally has the witch's broomstick, and she's brought it to the Wizard who told her that was the one way she could get back to Kansas? And then Toto pulls aside the curtain and you see a desperate little man pulling levers and pushing buttons?
That's not unlike the writer life. When you are a wide-eyed newbie, all you want is a peek behind the curtain of publishing. And you feel that once you have that first contract, once that first book releases, you'll be ushered into the hallowed behind-the-curtain-world of wonder and magic that is "Published Writer."
And when Toto sweeps aside the curtain, you find...
More Work Than You Ever Imagined.
Editing, marketing, social media, proposals, pub boards, writing, writing, writing, deadlines. You need bookmarks or postcards, a website, a newsletter, blog interviews, zoom interviews. There are press releases, publicity tours, headshots, and more.
Let me assure you, I am not complaining, I'm explaining.
Jane and I in class at ACFWBut it is a bit of a reality check. For example, my last month.
Book due 9/2. Write like your hair is on fire. Ignore house, husband, and life to polish up ms and get it turned in on time. (Which I did.)Company coming 9/6. This is writing related because a couple of friends were driving to my house and staying overnight so we could leave early for the ACFW Conference the next day. Which means after neglecting my house in favor of my deadline, I now need to clean like a crazy woman, make sure the beds are made up, bathrooms clean, fresh towels, etc. Oh, and pack.Conference 9/7-11. Travel, classes, meetings, socializing. I had new headshots taken early on Sunday morning. I took a 5 hr class with James Scott Bell right off the mark at the conference, and my brain felt a little toasted the rest of the time. :) Internet TV Interview 9/14. A practice session during the day, then going live that night. Book Proposal going to Pub Board 9/15. Yay, the publisher liked the new proposal, and the next series is a GO!Book Launch 9/20. Millstone of Doubt released last week. This means lots of time on social media, thanking people for sharing about the book, for reviewing, for photographing your book in lovely settings for Instagram. Managing the giveaway/prize mailings...every day. Keeping track of group and individual giveaways, blog posts, places I said I would be, online and in real life.
That's a little taste of what happens when you are ushered behind that publishing curtain. I love it, but it can be daunting. I find using a planner and making lists helps, as does working out in advance strategies for getting through particularly busy times.
The life of a published author is more than I ever imagined, and way better in lots of cases. It's a job as much as a passion, and I find that preparing for the work helps me conquer it.
Regency London's detective duo is back on a new case--and this one is going to be a killer
Caught in the explosion of the Hammersmith Mill in London, Bow Street Runner Daniel Swann rushes to help any survivors only to find the mill's owner dead of an apparent gunshot.
Even though the owner's daughter, Agatha Montgomery, mourns his death, it seems there are more than a few people with motive for murder. But Daniel can't take this investigation slow and steady. Instead, he must dig through all the suspects as quickly as he can, because the clock is ticking until his mysterious patronage--and his job as a runner--comes to an abrupt and painful end. It seems to Daniel that, like his earthly father, his heavenly Father has abandoned him to the fates.
Lady Juliette Thorndike is Agatha's bosom friend and has the inside knowledge of the wealthy London ton to be invaluable to Daniel. She should be in a perfect position to help with the case. Still, her instructor in the art of spy craft orders her to stay out of the investigation. But circumstances intervene, dropping her into the middle of the deadly pursuit.
When a dreadful accident ends in another death on the mill floor, Daniel discovers a connection to his murder case--and to his own secret past. Now he and Juliette are in a race to find the killer before his time runs out.
Best-selling, award-winning author, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum. 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/groups/inspirationalregencyreaders where she spends way too much time!
September 24, 2022
Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests
Illustration of Lazarus at the rich man's gate,
Fyodor Bronnikov, 1886. [PD-US]
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen
and dined sumptuously each day.
And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps
that fell from the rich man's table.
Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.
When the poor man died,
he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
and from the netherworld, where he was in torment,
he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off
and Lazarus at his side.
And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue,
for I am suffering torment in these flames.'
Abraham replied,
'My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime
while Lazarus likewise received what was bad;
but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established
to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go
from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'
He said, 'Then I beg you, father,
send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers,
so that he may warn them,
lest they too come to this place of torment.'
But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them listen to them.'
He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham,
but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Luke 16:19-31
The Seekerville bloggers are praying for YOU and for our entire blog community. If you have any special intentions that need additional prayer coverage, leave a request for prayer in the comment section below.
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support!
May the Lord bless you and keep you safe.
September 23, 2022
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. Please send to Seekerville2@gmail.com. If the winner does not contact us within two weeks, another winner may be selected. **(All winners' emails will receive a response within a week. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, we may not have received it. Please leave a comment in the following Weekend Edition.)
Monday: Jan Drexler shared a brief look at her foray into hybrid publishing. Winner of an ebook copy of her newest release, The Case of the Artist's Mistake, is Terri Lynn Schump!
Tuesday: Pepper Basham how The Juggle is Real: Myths to Break in the Post-Publication World
Wednesday: Debby Giusti's blog was "Blessed Are the Peacemakers" with ways to bring peace into our writing lives. Debby held a giveaway for her NOV release (actually coming out OCT 25), IN A SNIPER'S CROSSHAIRS. The winners are Jackie Smith, Sandy Smith and Connie Porter Saunders. Send your snail mail addresses to Seekerville2@gmail.com so Debby can mail your winning books! Congrats, ladies!
Thursday: Pam Hillman challenged us not to be a First Chapter Dropout!
Friday: DL Wood talked about the Blank Page
Monday: Erica Vetsch with a peek behind the publishing curtain to the Nitty Gritty!
Tuesday: Carmen Shober will be our guest
Wednesday: Cate Nolan will be our hostess
Thursday: DiAnn Mills is on Seekerville to chat about believable characters, and her upcoming release, Concrete Evidence. Be sure to stop by for a chance to win a copy.
Cover Reveal Time!!HER AMISH PATCHWORK FAMILYComing April 2023
A former schoolteacher and a single father discover a second chance
at friendship, family, and love.
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Pre-order HERE
Winnie is one of 39 authors of sweet romance books participating in a Book Sweeps giveaway. The grand prize is an eReader and a book from each of the participating author, a $400 value. The giveaway ends on the 28th so enter soon! Click HERE to enter
RELEASES OCT 25th
IN A SNIPER’S CROSSHAIRS
By Debby Giusti
An assassin’s loose in Amish country…
and she’s not the only target.
When a radio broadcast describes taxi driver Lily Hudson’s passenger as an armed criminal, she becomes his immediate target. Narrowly escaping, Lily accepts Matthias Overholt’s offer to hide at his Amish family farm for Christmas—until evidence reveals the gunman’s plan is tied to Lily’s past. Now to prevent an assassination, Lily and Matthias must unravel a years-old conspiracy…and evade a sniper who has them in his sights.
Pre-Order HERE!
Releasing September 28th!
The Sweetbrier Mysteries #2!
The new art gallery in town is causing quite a stir, and Emma is in the middle of it!
The Sweetbrier Inn is filled with guests, and the town is teeming with tourists who have come to celebrate Paragon Days, the official kickoff to the summer tourist season. But even before the festivities start, amateur sleuth Emma Blackwood stumbles upon a dead body. With no visible signs of violence, Deputy Cal determines the death is from natural causes, but Emma isn’t so sure. Why would a seemingly healthy woman drop dead? And what does the picture she was holding have to do with it? If Emma doesn’t solve this puzzle soon, a killer may get away with committing the perfect crime.
Check Jan's website, www.JanDrexler.com, for ordering links!
Disclaimer: Any blog post that includes an offer of product purchase or service is NOT to be considered an endorsement by Seekerville or any of our authors (please see our Legal page )
How to Find a Book Editor You Can Trust by Blake Atwood at The Write Life
The Thrill of Changing Lanes by Matthew Norman at Writer UnBoxed
Amazon Ads Optimization for Authors by Matt Holmes at Book Brush blog
Do You Need a Personal Experience to Write About Something? by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
Anatomy and Physiology of Villains by Steve Hooley at Kill Zone blog
How to Weave Threads of Tension Through Your Story by Kristen Kieffer at Well-Storied
How to Generate & Test Story Ideas by Mark Dawson
The Best Things About being a Writer by Henry McLaughlin at The Write Conversation
Establishing an Author Newsletter by Claire Bradshaw at Writer's Edit
How a Simple Cover Change Drastically Increased Book Sales by Nick Stephenson at Your First 10,000 Readers
September 22, 2022
The Blank Page - Guest post with D.L. Wood
The blank page. For some writers it holds a bounty of promise and excitement that fills their souls to the brim. Potential lays before them, a treasure trove to be mined. They dive into their keyboards, barely able to contain their joy. For other writers, myself among them, the blank page can be terrifying. I think much of it stems from the fact that it represents such unrestricted freedom. An invitation to go anywhere, to tell any story. How do you choose? And once you do, will your words be worth reading? There is so much unknownstaring blankly (pun intended) back at you, waiting for your hand to work upon it and create something wonderful out of nothing. For me, the proposition can be daunting.
Interestingly, I think this carries over into my everyday life as well. Can you relate? I don’t know about you, but I can’t even shop in stores with too many choices. It’s too overwhelming. I prefer some choice, but not unlimited ones. So, of course, I would choose a career (writing) that is allabout choices. Choices about characters, setting, plot, arcs, covers, titles…the list is endless.
And now, on top of that, I find myself in a new empty-nest season of life which also necessarily involves a lot of changes and choices. A new “blank page of life,” if you will, that I must begin to write upon—a prospect that is more than a little bit scary.
I’m sure I’m not alone in these feelings, whether you relate as a writer, or as a person who simply struggles generally with change and choosing next steps. The unknown can be hard.
Why does the open road of possibility vex some of us so? For me, I think my tendency to struggle in this area is grounded in the difficulty I have fully trusting. Fully and completely trusting and resting in God’s plan, not only for my work, but for my life. It’s easy to get twisted up in all the choices, all the worries, all the what ifs.
The thing is, this shouldn’t be hard. Time and time again I have watched Him work out the details of my life. I should know better. But, well, I’m human. And a bit of a perfectionist and planner. So…you know…I suppose I come by it naturally.What I hope, my prayer, is that as I grow into this next stage and develop the next book, I can more fully rest in His plan. That I can pray about the choices before me—whether they concern a blank page or a new life routine—and confidently leave them with the Lord. That I can then dive in and be joyous about the possibilities, not apprehensive. I’d love to be able to see the blank page in all its forms as a friend to greet, not an enemy to fear.
W
hat unknowns do you struggle with? Are you ever in turmoil over new choices before you? If so, what promises of God do you lean on to find peace in those times? I’d love to know what speaks to your heart. _______________________________________________
D.L. Wood is a USA TODAY bestselling author who writes thrilling suspense laced with romance and faith. In her novels she tries to give readers the same thing she wants: a “can’t-put-it-down-stay-up-till-3am” character-driven story, full of heart, believability, and adrenaline. Her award-winning books offer clean, captivating fiction that entertains and uplifts. She lives in North Alabama, where, if she isn’t writing, you’ll probably catch her curled up with a cup of Earl Grey and her Westies—Frodo and Dobby—bingeing on the latest BBC detective series. If you have one to recommend, please email her immediately, because she’s nearly exhausted the ones she knows about. She loves to hear from readers, and you can reach her at dlwood@dlwoodonline.com
September 21, 2022
First Chapter Dropout
Once long ago I jokingly said to a friend who finaled in RWA’s Golden Heart, like, 10 times and won 3 or 4 times, that I aspired to be her when I grew up. She replied, very sadly, that no, I did NOT want to be her. Yeah, put that way, I could see her point.
Here in Seekerville we’ve talked about getting up the nerve just to ENTER a contest, entering simply for feedback, then getting to the stage of entering because we’ve been consistently finaling and we’re pretty sure our current WIP can make the cut and land in front of an agent or editor.
All of that is well and good, but what’s the ultimate POINT of entering contests geared toward unpublished authors? I mean, past the point of getting your work in front of an editor or an agent? The point is to become ineligible to enter those contests. Right? Right!
And, we don’t get to that point by working and reworking chapter one of a manuscript (or even multiple manuscripts) just for the sake of entering contests. I could have easily become a first chapter dropout because I was a contest junk … uh … queen, as many of the Seekers were. They were more like princesses; I was fanatical!
I know of more than one aspiring author who fell by the wayside because they could never stop tweaking that first chapter and entering it in the next contest to see if it would final. I distinctly remember the first aspiring author I ever met. It was so much fun to have a like-minded person to brainstorm with, to ride to chapter meetings together and talk writing nonstop. And the fact that she lived fairly close to me at the time made it all the more sweeter!
After two or three years of rewriting the first chapter of her story and getting more and varied feedback from contests, she lost her zeal and couldn’t even remember where she was headed with it in the first place. It was a hodgepodge of contest feedback and she completely gave up writing. And here’s the kicker: She was a good writer and had great ideas!
I’ve had my share of doing the same thing, so I know what I’m talking about! But I saw what happened to a few of my friends, and I didn’t want to be a first chapter dropout. I made myself finish a manuscript, then another, and another.
Don’t be a first chapter dropout: Finish the manuscript.
And you know what? If you’ve never actually finished a manuscript, you’ll be surprised at all the things that will happen during the course of writing the story that will change the opening scene or make the goals and motivations of your characters that much clearer as you write the closing scenes. It can be a real eye-opener, even if you had a detailed synopsis to go by.
At some point you’ll know you need to “retire” your current award winning manuscript from the contest circuit. Only you can decide when to do this, but I would say that if it’s been in front of most of the editors and agents who are judging, and if it’s won every major contest running, then it’s probably time to retire it. If you spot an editor or agent who’s judging that has never seen the manuscript, by all means enter it in that particular contest, but don’t just keep sending the first same chapter to the same final round judges over and over and over. After an editor has seen it in contests 2 or 3 times, unless there’s a major overhaul, that’s probably enough. That’s not to say that they won’t buy it later on. Far from it. They just might. And… for the record, that manuscript might not be your first sale. But with work, it might become a sale.
I imagine at that point they’re ready to see something else from you, so write something else. Write the first chapter and a clear synopsis of the sequel to your first book or something totally new and enter that in a contest and get back to FINISHING your first award winning manuscript.
So, the goal is to start your manuscript, enter a few contests, FINISH the manuscript, and start something new. All this time keep entering contests, making connections, submitting to agents and editors, and somewhere down the road, something will click, and you’ll move one more step up the publishing ladder.
Keep working, keep moving forward to the goal, and publishing will happen.
Now, having said ALL that, I’m a BIG believer in writing contests. I love them all, from the first line ones, to the synopsis ones, to the first chapter ones, and the ones that require a full manuscript. As a published author, I sort of MISS being able to enter those contests anonymously. So, don’t take today’s post as reason NOT to enter contests. Take it as a reason to enter them all (like someone who shall remain nameless… ahem), but always remember the goal….
Don’t be a first chapter dropout. Finish the manuscript!
But while you're writing toward the finish line, check out ACFW's First Impressions Contest. It's for unpublished authors, and all you need to enter is the first 5 pages of your manuscript and a 200 word blurb. Deadline to enter is October 15th!
September 20, 2022
Blessed are the Peacemakers
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By Debby Giusti Today is the International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day, that was instituted by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1981. Fittingly, the logo for this day of ceasefire and non-violence is a dove. Initially, it was celebrated in conjunction with the yearly opening of the UN General Assembly on September 11th, but after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, the annual date for the event changed to September 21st.
Philippians 4:7 says, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” As Christian writers, we want to spread that peace of Christ through our stories, but first we need to have peace in our hearts.
Peace starts with the individual. We must find peace within ourselves before we can positively impact our readers, our family and friends, our community and indeed our world.
As writers, we have the ability to influence others through our stories. Attempting to change a person’s values or perceptions through debate--using facts and stats--is often difficult, whereas a story focused on those same ideas can resonate with readers who enter into the story and become emotionally involved. A well written story can change not only readers’ hearts but also their minds about even long-established beliefs.
In this time of social upheaval, when families are under attack and our Judeo-Christian beliefs are being assaulted, when much of what we hold dear is maligned and when the moral compass that guides us is considered archaic and discarded by so many, true peace can be hard to find.
So the question I pose today is, as writers, how can we find peace?
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Here are a few suggestions: 1. Give God the first fruits of the day. Start the morning with prayer, with Scripture, with quiet time spent in praise and thanksgiving. Offer up all you do for his honor and glory.
2.Tend to the needs of your family. Foster loving relationships and encourage affirmation. Provide emotional support and counter negative influences. Invite Christ into your home and peace will follow.
3. Find time for self-reflection. Discard baggage that weighs you down. Ask forgiveness for your mistakes and be the first to forgive. Set goals, dream dreams and take concrete steps toward achieving those goals. Only then will your dreams come true.
4. Be a friend and make a friend. Reach out to those in need. Find ways, however small or seemingly insignificant, to enhance your community for the betterment of all.
On this International Day of Peace, let’s reflect on ways we can be peacemakers. How can we spread God’s message of faith, hope and love in our stories? Where can we plant seeds of forgiveness and reconciliation?
Remember that when we have peace in our hearts, our stories will reflect peace as well.
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Share your ideas about being a peacemaker in the comments. I’m giving away two copies of my November book from Love Inspired Suspense, In a Sniper’s Crosshairs.Let me know if you want to be in the drawing.
Peace be with you, dear friends!
Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
RELEASES OCT 25th
IN A SNIPER’S CROSSHAIRS
By Debby Giusti
An assassin’s loose in Amish country…
and she’s not the only target.
When a radio broadcast describes taxi driver Lily Hudson’s passenger as an armed criminal, she becomes his immediate target. Narrowly escaping, Lily accepts Matthias Overholt’s offer to hide at his Amish family farm for Christmas—until evidence reveals the gunman’s plan is tied to Lily’s past. Now to prevent an assassination, Lily and Matthias must unravel a years-old conspiracy…and evade a sniper who has them in his sights.
Pre-Order HERE!
September 19, 2022
The Juggle Is Real: Myths to Break in the Post-Publication World
The writing journey can be a crazy journey, and along the way, it’s easy to get sidetracked by “myths”. While at the ACFW conference last week, a few of these myths kept popping up and I thought I’d share some of my answers :)
This is a quick summary. I could probably write a lot about each myth (so if you guys want me to go into detail about any of them in a future post, please let me know!!
Myth #1: Once I publish my first book, things will get so much easier.
Getting published is one type of challenge, but staying published is another. Once publishing happens, a new wave of expectations and considerations come into play and since most courses and blogs focus on the “getting published” part, lots of times folks aren’t prepared for the “after publication” part.
The God Factor: Those who God calls, He also equips. Yes, post-published life is crazy, but God is also faithful to give us the creativity, strength, ingenuity, and stamina to do what He’s called us to do. It may require a bit of out-of-the-box thinking and a lot of hard work, but He is more than able to be our strength, shield, and inspiration!
Myth #2: Writing book 2 will be a piece of cake.
Most of the time, we have months, if not years, to complete that first manuscript that catches a publisher's eye. There is an opportunity to refine it, edit it, and share it with trusted people to get their feedback. THEN…deadlines happen! So, you end up marketing book 1, writing book 2, and brainstorming book 3 (or 3 and 4) at the same time, while also managing family life, possible homeschooling, and maybe even a day job? One of the great things is, at least the editor knows you’re turning in a project that you didn’t have years to write and edit on your own, so…thankfully, there’s grace there!!
The God Factor: (see note in myth #1 :)
Myth #3: I have to join all of the social media outlets in order to really grow my platform and sell books.
Despite what you may have heard, being a social media king/queen is not the top seller of your work. Writing the next book and word of mouth are still the best!! But social media helps. Here’s the secret though, you will only burn yourself out if you try to do EVERYTHING. The best course of action is to pick one or two social media outlets and do those consistently.
The God Factor: Remember, social media is a tool not an identity. When we see it as a tool, we learn to use it in that way. Our true identity, as Christians, is in Christ and being His follower, not basing our worth on how many “followers” we have. If the social media tsunami starts to jerk you around, step back from it for a little while or reevaluate how you’re using your time and this tool.
Myth #4: If I published with a small press or indie, I will never find a publishing home in a big house.
Caveat: Publishing small press CAN negatively impact your ability to get into a larger publishing house because there are usually fewer resources to help make your sales numbers eye-catching. However, the right story at the right time is STILL the most eye-catching part of making an impression on editors/agents.
The God Factor: Making less-than-ideal publishing choices doesn’t stop God from doing exactly what He wants to do with our stories, but more importantly, with our hearts. The story HE is most interested in is our soul’s story. He’s more invested in how our personal characters grow to be more like His than our imaginary characters find their forever publishing home, so His priority is our hearts. However, because He’s given us our fictional stories, He cares about them too and will do what is best for them, the readers, and us in His time, in the right way, for our good and His glory.
Myth #5: Writing is a solitary journey.
If you don’t count the imaginary friends, a writing life can still be filled with community! You may have to seek it out, but there’s no reason in this day and age that you must travel the writing journey alone. I don’t have any author friends that I get to meet with in person regularly, but I have a whole bunch of bookish folks online (readers, authors, publishing teams) who build an encouraging community.
The God Factor: More than anything else, we have a Savior and Creator who is invested and intimately involved in every aspect of our Earth-journeys to prepare us for a Heavenly one. The Bible is very clear that Christ “never leaves us nor forsakes us” and that God is an “everpresent help in times of trouble”. He is near, shepherding and guiding us. Correcting and encouraging us. “Closer than a brother”. So...we can rest assured that He is co-creating along with us!
Would you add more myths to the list?
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Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her nineteenth novel, Authentically Izzy, debuts in November with Thomas Nelson. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook &
Instagram.
You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at www.pepperdbasham.com
September 18, 2022
A Foray into Hybrid Publishing
For the first ten years of my writing career I happily and blissfully wrote the books of my dreams and was thrilled when publishers actually paid me an advance for the privilege of publishing them!But when 2020 arrived, along with the events-that-shall-not-be-named, everything went topsy-turvy, including the publishing industry.
I don't intend to rehash recent history - it's enough to say I know I wasn't alone in experiencing an upheaval in my professional and personal worlds.
I wanted to do something different. In the spring of 2020, I decided to pursue a new genre. I wanted something fun. Something lighter. Something that gave me the opportunity to purse-whomp a bad guy or two (didn't we all want to purse-whomp someone at that time?)
I turned to cozy mysteries with the thought that I would try them out. I had a target publisher, spent a year or so learning the genre, and wrote the first book in my Sweetbrier Inn Mysteries series.
But the world had gotten darker during that year to eighteen months and I quickly realized that traditional publishing wasn't an option for me at that time.*
*I want to emphasize that it wasn't an option for me. And it wasn't for me at that time.
I started exploring independent publishing. I asked for advice from our own Ruth Logan Herne and Pam Hillman and reached out to a few other friends whose indie work I admired, and started learning.
After all, Ruthy and Pam made the process look so easy! And every blog post I read said it was easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!
I knew what I DIDN'T want to do:
1. I didn't want a cover that looked like my aunt had painted it.2. I didn't want to ask my husband to be my editor.3. I didn't want the font/paper/margins/etc. to look like I had cut and pasted my story to fit on a Word document.
In short, I wanted my books to have the same professional appearance that my traditionally published books had.
Was it as easy as the various blog posts claimed? No.Was it doable? Yes.
I spent as much time learning how to indie publish my book as I had spent learning how to write in this new genre. I made a LOT of errors. I wasted a LOT of time.
At the same time, I "repackaged" myself. Instead of writing only historical romances, I wanted to expand my products. Cozy mysteries were already in the pipeline, plus I wanted to leave my options open to contemporary stories, historical stories, and even historical mysteries. I also wanted to edge into the general market - a market that wasn't really open to my Christian-focused Amish stories.
My new tag line reflected all of that.
After a new logo, a new website. and many, many hours of watching tutorials on everything related to indie publishing, I released my first indie book in May of this year.
With that bit of experience under my belt, I'm ready to publish my next book. The release date is September 28th!
Do you remember the three things I didn't want to do with my independent publishing?
1. I hired a fabulous cover artist - Hannah Linder. She's a familiar face around here, and she designs the best covers. She caught the vision of what I wanted after only a few emails, and I couldn't be happier with her designs. You'll need to stop by her website: Hannah Linder Designs
2. I hired a great editor - another name familiar to Seekerville - Beth Jamison of Jamison Editing. A great editor finds the hidden errors and inconsistencies in the manuscript, and Beth catches them all.
3. I purchased a program to give my books the professional formatting look I wanted: Atticus. Another option is Vellum, but only if your computer is a Mac.
All of these things cost money. If you're traditionally published, your publisher spends that money instead of you. There are other costs that you also pick up if you are your own publisher, but that comes with the territory.
Eventually, the income column in my spread sheet should overtake the expenses column, but like any start-up business, that takes time. And work. A lot of work.
Which reminds me. Another little thing I did to enhance the professional appearance of my books (and my small business) was to form my own publishing company. Nothing fancy. But it took my name out of the "publisher" field on Amazon and gave me the opportunity to create my own logo and name. I call it Swift Wings Press, and I love this logo. I use it on bookmarks, my new business cards, and on the spine of my print copies.
What's next?
I'll keep writing stories for the Sweetbrier Mysteries series - I'm working on a Christmas novella right now. There's an historical romance waiting for my attention on my computer.And I would love to explore all the other ideas swirling in my head...
...but the great thing about independent publishing is that I can go ahead and explore those ideas, because I have the freedom to follow my own path, not the path of a traditional publishing company.
That's why I used Swift Wings Press for my imprint - I'm free to follow the wind, wherever it blows. (John 3:8)
Will I ever traditionally publish again? Of course, given the right opportunity.
But until then, I'm enjoying what the Lord has placed before me at this time.
Have you ever considered independent publishing, either now or in the future? Or are you already in the midst of the adventure?
One commenter will win an ebook copy of "The Case of the Artist's Mistake!"
The new art gallery in town is causing quite a stir, and Emma is in the middle of it!The Sweetbrier Inn is filled with guests and the town is teeming with tourists who have come to celebrate Paragon Days, the official kickoff to the summer tourist season. But even before the festivities start, amateur sleuth Emma Blackwood stumbles upon a dead body. With no visible signs of violence, Deputy Cal determines the death is from natural causes, but Emma isn’t so sure. Why would a seemingly healthy woman drop dead? And what does the picture she was holding have to do with it? If Emma doesn’t solve this puzzle soon, a killer may get away with committing the perfect crime.
Coming September 28th! Preorders will be available soon!
September 17, 2022
Scripture Sunday & Prayer Requests
Jan Luyken etching of the parable of the unjust steward, Bowyer Bible,
Bolton, England. [Free Art License]
Jesus said to his disciples,
"A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said,
'What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.'
The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do,
now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I shall do so that,
when I am removed from the stewardship,
they may welcome me into their homes.'
He called in his master's debtors one by one.
To the first he said,
'How much do you owe my master?'
He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.'
He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note.
Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.'
Then to another the steward said, 'And you, how much do you owe?'
He replied, 'One hundred kors of wheat.'
The steward said to him, 'Here is your promissory note;
write one for eighty.'
And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.
"For the children of this world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than are the children of light.
I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,
so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters
is also trustworthy in great ones;
and the person who is dishonest in very small matters
is also dishonest in great ones.
If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,
who will trust you with true wealth?
If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,
who will give you what is yours?
No servant can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and mammon."
Luke 16:1-13
The Seekerville bloggers are praying for YOU and for our entire blog community. If you have any special intentions that need additional prayer coverage, leave a request for prayer in the comment section below.
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support!
May the Lord bless you and keep you safe.
