Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 31
June 20, 2022
Cutest Meet Cutes?
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As a romance writer (and just an all-around-romantic-y person), I am a BIG fan of a solid meet cute! A meet cute usually refers to movies, but as readers, we've begun to refer to them in books too. What is a meet cute, you ask?
If you've ever watched a rom-com, you already know, even though you may not be aware of it.
A meet cute is that moment when two characters (who will form that lovely romantic connection in the story) meet for the first time. Usually, they meet in a humorous or "cute" sort of way, though more dramatic ways are fine too (think, P&P or Jane Eyre).
What a meet cute provides is a sudden spark, a "teaser" of more to come, a little look at how these two are going to interact together.
It can reveal an immediate attraction or repulsion, but, of course (in our HEAs), the repulsion turns to attraction through the course of the story.
Think of some of your favorite movies for examples.
Here are a few "classic" examples:
Maria and Captain Von Trapp on The Sound of Music
- Why is it "cute"? She's dancing in the empty ballroom and he bursts into the room in all of his serious "state" :)
Don Lockwood and Kathy Seldon from Singing in the Rain
-Why is it cute? As Don Lockwood (a famous silent film star) is trying to escape some rather energetic adoring fans, he jumps into Kathy Seldon's car. Kathy, at first, is terrified of the "stranger" jumping into her car until she recognizes him, but pretends not too and then feeds Don a little humble pie :)
Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly from You've Got Mail
-Why is it cute? Well, it's all the MORE cute because we (as viewers) know that Kathleen and Joe are already in an online relationship, yet the characters have never met in person (and don't even know each others' names). So when they meet for the first time in Kathleen's shop (and we know Joe is trying to take over little bookshops), we're already rooting for them. Hint: F.O.X.
One more?
Iris meeting Miles in The Holiday (which actually uses the term "meet cute" in it, but I also think when Iris meets Arthur Abbot, though it's not a romantic meet-up, just really sweet).
There are tons of great meet cutes, both in historical and contemporary romances. The live-action Cinderella, Notting Hill, Return to Me, Kate and Leopold,...the list goes on!
But meet cutes happen in books too! I ADORE writing meet cutes!!
This is the couples' first meeting and, as a writer, it's a great opportunity to make the moment memorable and set up the "tension" well before we ever get to the life-long romance or HEA :)
It's that first glimpse we, as readers, get of the dynamics of the hero and heroine! Usually, we have a little background on one or both characters so the the meet cute has a deeper meaning too.
Here are a few bookish ones that I love:
Amelia and Emerson's first meeting in the Amelia Peabody series
Sophie & Clay in Petticoat Ranch (Mary Conneally has some hilarious meet cutes).
Hattie and Miller in Jenny B Jones's Sweet Right Here
Grace and Noah in Melanie Jacobsen's Kiss the Girl
and...of course, the list goes on.
What a meet cute does is build expectation. It gives a little hint into how these two are going to be the romantic leads of the story. Fun, right?
So let's hear it from you guys!
What books have you read that have some of your favorite meet cutes?
(all photos are property of the author or taken from Pixabay.com)
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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
June 19, 2022
Those Wascally Weasel Words
by Jan Drexler
Weasel words are the worst, aren’t they? The hardest part about them is that they sneak into our writing, and we don’t even see them when we read!
One culprit I struggle with in my writing are “thought” verbs. You know, “knew,” “wondered,” “realized,” “remembered,” “felt,” etc.
In preparing to write this post, I did a search for some of those verbs on my most recent book, The Sign of the Calico Quartz. I found a LOT of them!
The word “knew” was in that manuscript thirty-four times. Some of those occurrences were in dialogue and I accept no responsibility for those – blame the characters! But the others? They could be changed to something stronger.
Let’s look at these sentences:
By morning I was beginning to feel normal again and ready for a cup of Wil’s coffee. But as soon as I started down the stairs, I knew I was out of luck. No delicious rich coffee smell wafted from the kitchen.
How can I change that to get rid of those weasel words, “feel” and “knew?”
First, I need to change my mindset. I recently read in an essay that “Thinking is abstract. Knowing and believing are intangible. Your story will always be stronger if you just show the physical actions and details of your characters and allow your reader to do the thinking and knowing.” (Nuts and Bolts: “Thought” Verbs by Chuck Palahniuk)
Did you catch that? “…allow your reader…” When I use a verb like “knew,” I’m spoon-feeding my reader. And when I do that, what happens to that person’s experience? Where is the give and take between the reader and the author when the writing fails to demand that the reader take part in the conversation?
Let’s take those sentences apart and rework them.
“By morning I was beginning to feel normal again and ready for a cup of Wil’s coffee.”
Emma is heading down the stairs on her way to the kitchen. She craves a cup of coffee. Not just any coffee, but the dark, rich, slightly bitter brew the chef makes every morning. Can I capture those thoughts of Emma’s and paint a picture for my readers?
I caught a glance of myself in the mirror as I left the room. My hair: combed. My clothes: not wrinkled or backwards. My smile: bright and chipper. As normal as could be. Except for one thing. Coffee.
Okay, I’m happy with that. I exchanged the word “feel” for narrative that invites the reader to use their imagination. What about the rest of the paragraph?
“But as soon as I started down the stairs, I knew I was out of luck. No delicious rich coffee smell wafted from the kitchen.”
On the top step I took a deep breath, anticipating the sweet aroma of Wil’s coffee. By the third step I could taste the rich notes of the slightly bitter brew. I pushed open the kitchen door, licking my lips as the dark liquid spilled into my cup, releasing its fragrance. I took a deep breath. And stopped. The kitchen was in shadows. No Wil. No breakfast cooking. I flicked my gaze to coffee maker in the corner. Unplugged. Cold. Empty.
Changing my writing in this way isn’t easy. In fact, it probably took me ten times as long to rewrite these sentences as it did to write them in the first place.
Because of that, this exercise isn’t for the first draft. This is the kind of rewriting to tackle during revisions. The first draft is to get the story down. The revision process is where you make your story sing.
Are you up for a challenge? Find a sentence in your own writing that needs to be revised. Then examine it word by word. Rewrite it as if you’re seeing it for the first time. Rewrite it as if you’re in your character’s head. Rewrite the action step by step. Then put it together in a way that induces your readers to see the actions or thoughts of your characters as if they’re experiencing it themselves.
That is the ultimate “show, don’t tell.”
Share your challenge with us! Did you rewrite a sentence from your own story? Post the before and after in the comments to be entered in the drawing for an e-book copy of The Sign of the Calico Quartz!
Emma Blackwood’s favorite pastime is solving literary murder mysteries…until the body in her living room makes everything a little too real.When Emma comes to the Black Hills to work at her Aunt Rose’s B&B, the Sweetbrier Inn, she is hoping for a quiet break from the corporate treadmill. But she hadn’t expected murder and intrigue to mar this peaceful setting.
As she wades through too many clues to identify the murderer, she soon finds that the culprit isn’t stopping at only one homicide and may even have placed Emma herself on the list of targets. With the help of her friend Becky, and a deputy sheriff who grudgingly lets them join in on the investigation, Emma tracks down the killer. But will it be in time to save the next victim?
Order your copy here!
June 18, 2022
Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests
CORPUS CHRISTI
Feeding the multitudes, Bernardo Strozzi, early 17th century. [PD-US]
Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God,
and he healed those who needed to be cured.
As the day was drawing to a close,
the Twelve approached him and said,
"Dismiss the crowd
so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms
and find lodging and provisions;
for we are in a deserted place here."
He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves."
They replied, "Five loaves and two fish are all we have,
unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people."
Now the men there numbered about five thousand.
Then he said to his disciples,
"Have them sit down in groups of about fifty."
They did so and made them all sit down.
Then taking the five loaves and the two fish,
and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing over them, broke them,
and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And when the leftover fragments were picked up,
they filled twelve wicker baskets.
Luke 9:11b-17
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.
Please join us in praying for our country and for an end to the problems that plague us at this current time, such as the rising cost of fuel and food, and the shortages of necessary items, especially baby formula.Together, let's pray we can, once again, become a prosperous and productive nation. Also, please join us in praying for the protection of our military and for law enforcement officers and border agents.
GOD BLESS THE USA!
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support!
May the Lord bless you and keep you safe.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE DADS
AND TO ALL MEN WHO ARE ROLE MODELS FOR THE CHILDREN IN THEIR LIVES!
June 17, 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.
Monday:
Wednesday: Debby Giusti provided a history of book clubs and talked about her own group that has been meeting for 18 years in a blogpost entitled, BOOK CLUBS 2022!
Thursday: Winnie invited Pam Crooks to help her discuss how Multi-author Projects work and some of the ins and outs of coordinating them. The winner of the choice of any book from Winnie's backlist is Sandy Smith
Friday: Shannon Redmon was in the house with 5 Reasons for Book Trailers. The winner of her latest release, Secrets Left Behind, is ... AA Haynes!!!
Monday: Jan Drexler has a "Back to Basics" post for us called "Those Wascally Weasel Words." Make a comment to be entered in the drawing for an e-book copy of Jan's newest release, "The Sign of the Calico Quartz."
Wednesday: Friday:
RELEASING JULY 26, 2022
A two-in-one featuring stories by Debby Giusti
COMMANDING JUSTICE
Mission to capture a killer
The Colonel's Daughter
A killer is targeting the families of soldiers in a US Army colonel's brigade, and Criminal Investigation Division special agent Jamison Steele vows to stop him. The colonel's daughter, the woman who loved and left Jamison without a word, came face-to-face with the murderer. But uncovering the serial killer's motive requires asking Michele Logan the questions that may lead them both into a deadly trap.
The General's Secretary
Lillie Beaumont's dark past has just turned up on her porch—fatally wounded. The dying words of the man imprisoned for killing Lillie's mother suggest hidden secrets. Criminal Investigation Division special agent Dawson Timmons has his own motive for seeking the truth. As they investigate, Dawson fears that a murderer is waiting to strike again. And this time, Lillie is right in the line of fire…
Pre-Order on Amazon!
RELEASING AUGUST 1Talulla, Book 9 of the Love Train Series(can be read as a standalone)
Will returning home bring Talulla the peace that’s eluded her for half her life?
Ten-year-old Talulla watched in horror as her beloved older brother fell through the ice while trying to save her. Thanks to the quick actions of Max, her brother’s closest friend, she survived. Her brother didn’t. When she overhears Max tell her father that she’s to blame, Talulla feels betrayed by the two people she thought she could most trust.
Unable to bear their disappointment, she begs to be sent to a boarding school halfway across the country, and in twelve years she’s never looked back. Until now.
Widowed father Max is traveling home with his seven-year-old daughter. Unfortunately a bad case of travel sickness overtakes the little girl, and Max turns to the conductor for help. When the man finds a passenger willing to share her Pullman section, Max is relieved until he discovers his daughter’s benefactor is Talulla, a woman who abandoned her own father and whose last words to Max were an impassioned I hate you.
Can these two find a way to push past their mutual distrust to regain the friendship they once shared. And perhaps something more…
You can pre-order HERE
Winnie is part of the Bachelor & Babies Multi-Author Series which is currently on sale.Every book in the series has been reduced to 99¢ through Sunday, Father’s Day, so you’ll have to hurry to take advantage of this sale!
To see every book in the Bachelor & Babies series, click HERE
Available now!
Order Here!Emma Blackwood’s favorite pastime is solving literary murder mysteries…until the body in her living room makes everything a little too real.When Emma comes to the Black Hills to work at her Aunt Rose’s B&B, the Sweetbrier Inn, she is hoping for a quiet break from the corporate treadmill. But she hadn’t expected murder and intrigue to mar this peaceful setting.
As she wades through too many clues to identify the murderer, she soon finds that the culprit isn’t stopping at only one homicide and may even have placed Emma herself on the list of targets. With the help of her friend Becky, and a deputy sheriff who grudgingly lets them join in on the investigation, Emma tracks down the killer. But will it be in time to save the next victim?
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 )
Building a Second Brain by Ryder Carroll at The Bullet Journal
The Underworld of a Story's Third Act by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
Essential Fiction - Writing Tools of the Trade by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
How to Advertise and Sell More Books by Nicolas Erik at David Gaughran
Writing a Compelling First Line by Ellen Buikema at Writers In The Storm
How to Write a Synopsis for Your Book by Lori A May at The Write Life
Slinging the Slang by PJ Parrish at The Kill Zone blog
Smashing Your Blocks by Kendra Griffin at RMFW blog
How to Treat Your Writing Business Professionally by Cindy K Sproles at The Write Conversation
9 Tools to Get More Shares on Social Media by Marianne Manthey at Write To Done
June 16, 2022
5 Reasons for Book Trailers with Guest Shannon Redmon
by Shannon Redmon
I’ve heard many people say, Book Trailers don’t work. Book Trailers aren’t effective. Book Trailers aren’t worth the investment. If that were the case than why are video social media apps, like Tik Tok and Instagram Reels booming?
Video is everywhere and our younger generations don’t know a world without them. What better way to reach an audience than provide content that gives a sneak peek into our books across all our social media channels. Here a five tips on book trailers.
1) Provides content for all social media channels
As authors we must cast a wide net across many different digital channels to promote our books. We have to post on our websites, add to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, Goodreads, Amazon Author page etc. just to name a few. A book trailer helps us to have interesting content to add to all of these areas. Some authors only add book trailers to their websites, but these videos can be added anywhere an mp4 file can be uploaded especially if they are kept under thirty seconds in length. My favorite place to upload them are to Amazon and Goodreads. Readers are looking for books on both of these sites and a book trailer can help them make the final decision to click the buy button.
2) Builds author name brand
Book Trailers help to promote our name as an author. These videos can give readers a quick way to understand what type of author we are, what genre of book we write and peak their interest in our stories.
3) Reasonable budget
When we hire a company to do our trailers, there can be a hefty price for the finished project. However, there are several small budget ways to create a book trailer without breaking the bank. There is some software out there that is inexpensive and most of them offer free trials to see which one best suits our wallets. Also, audio and video clips can be found on some royalty-free sites without having to pay a license fee. Be careful here and do your research to make sure no copyright laws are broken.
4) Add to newsletters
Don’t we always complain about having to do newsletters? Usually because we have so much content we have to create to fill the spaces. A nice book trailer can be a feature of your newsletter. We can use these videos to help promote other author’s books and of course our own when the time comes.
5) They are cool!
When done well, book trailers are just plain cool to watch. However, if they have an amateur look to them, then they can also hurt our brand. Check out some professional author’s trailers and create a video of similar quality. Most best selling authors provide book trailers so if they put them out there for their readers, shouldn’t we?
Check out the book trailer I made for my latest release, Secrets Left Behind.
Book Trailer videos are here to stay and as authors we can utilize them to help build our name brand in so many ways.
Shannon is giving away a copy of her new release, Secrets Left Behind, to one lucky commentor (US only, please). Simply leave a comment to be entered. Or you can snag your own copy here.
Shannon Redmon remembers the first grown-up book she checked out from the neighborhood bookmobile. A Victoria Holt novel with romance, intrigue, and ballroom parties captivated her attention. For her mother, the silence must have been a pleasant break from non-stop teenage chatter, but for Shannon, those stories whipped up a desire and passion for writing.
Shannon hopes her stories immerse readers into a world of joy and escape while encouraging faith, hope, and love for those around us. Her debut novel, Cave of Secrets, was released by Love Inspired Suspense in October 2020 and Book 2, Secrets Left Behind, is available now. Her other published works have appeared in Spark magazine, Splickety magazine, The Horse of My Dreams and Romantic Moments compilation books, the Lightning Blog and the Seriously Write blog. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
Connect with Shannon:
www.shannonredmon.comGoodreads: ShannonGoodReads
Amazon: ShannonAuthorPage
FB: https://www.facebook.com/shannon.redmon
YouTube: https://bit.ly/SMRYouTubeChannel
LI: https://linkedin.com/in/shannonredmon/
TW: https://www.twitter.com/shannon_redmon
June 15, 2022
Multi-Author Projects with help from guest Pam Crooks
Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. I just finished setting up the pre-order for my book Talulla (yaaayy!!) This will be Book 9 in the Love Train Series, a 10 book multi-author project or MAP. And while things are still fresh in my mind, I thought I’d talk a little bit about MAPs.
First, MAPs are a collection of stories written by multiple authors around a unifying thread. This can be a concept, a location, an event, a season, a trope, or some other element. They can be author led or publisher/editor led. And they can be any length from short story to novella to full novel.
Over the course of my career I’ve participated in several of these.
For example I’ve done author-led short story collections, one with a recipe theme (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1942505000) and one with a Christmas theme (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076DCWMPD).
I’ve done Editor-led novella collections, one based on Thanksgiving (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005HRPY1G) and one whose theme was merely Journeys (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YMEE2D6)
I’ve participated in an editor-led novel collection with an Irish Brides theme (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074C68VV2
And also some author-led novel collections, one with the theme of Bachelors and Babies (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SYD3BKF) and the current Love Train series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TRM31MK)
But as many of these as I’ve participated in, I’ve never served as admin/coordinator on one. So for some insight into how to step into that role, I turned to writer friend and one of the most organized people I know Pam Crooks. So take it away Pam.
How many of these projects have you coordinated/managed either alone or as part of an admin team?
I was invited to participate in my first MAP back in 2018, the Widows of Wildcat Ridge series, the brainchild of Charlene Raddon and Zina Abbott. I was thrilled and honored and even more excited! By the time my invitation came, the project was already underway, and my book was the 8th one, right in the middle.
Since I came in late, I had very little to do with the organizing, but I have learned since that WoWR was different and more difficult in that there were a lot of moving parts. Maps, flora, wildlife, characters, the same town and villain, and so on. It took a lot of coordinating, a lot of emails, a Drop Box account for files, etc. It was a fun series, though, and I loved being a part of it.
I was then invited by Charlene to do another series, Bachelors & Babies. Somehow, I ended up being much more involved, and we kept the series much simpler. Then came the sequel, Cupids & Cowboys. Finally, my current MAP is Love Train, of which I’m pretty much the head honcho.
You could say organizing is my thing. 😊
Do you believe in using any kind of formal agreement for participants to sign? Why or why not?
We had a contract with WoWR, and we eventually found it was difficult to enforce. By the time the next series came along, we decided against having a contract, and everything has worked perfectly fine.
How do you select which authors to invite to participate?
Charlene and I worked together on the earlier series inviting authors, mostly her friends. Most of them were new to me, or I hadn’t worked with them before, so when we decided to do Love Train, I was much more selective in who to invite. We researched the authors, checked their rankings and reviews, how active they were online, if they were diligent at promoting, that sort of thing.
Of course, the bigger name of the author, the busier she is, so I got a couple of ‘no’s’ initially. But I’m so proud to have four of my sister fillies from Petticoats & Pistols in the Love Train MAP with me – Shanna Hatfield, Kit Morgan, Winnie Griggs, and Linda Broday. I’ve known these ladies for years and know I can depend on them. But more importantly, I know they are popular historical western romance authors, and that’s huge.
Besides the connecting thread, which parts of the project should the coordinator(s) control, if any (for example: wordcount, cover design, heat level, release order & frequency, titles, consistent formatting, etc.)?
That was all determined before we ever issued our first invitation, and I included all the information I had, including who had already agreed to participate, in my invitation letter.
Never did we ask for input from an author. Too many opinions, I’m afraid. Much simpler to present the final idea and roll with it.
An author needs to know what she’s getting into and if she’ll have time for the project. In our case, since Charlene has been a cover designer for years, she handled the covers, chapter headers, scene breaks, etc., and charged us a fair price. She was wonderful about giving us a nice selection of models to choose from and allowed us input on her designs.
Once all the authors were in place, I composed a formal document of Guidelines and a few character sketches of the recurring characters and posted them in our Google Sheet. Everyone had access to this document, and it contained a wealth of information besides just the Guidelines. Things like h/h names, preorder dates, release dates, buy links, order of release, that sort of thing.
NOTE: Winnie here - two other things that the coordinator specifically provided on these projects were platform and pricing info.
What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in working on these projects?
The biggest challenge is keeping all the authors on schedule. Some authors are involved in other MAPs or their own standalone books, so they don’t always pay attention to where they are supposed to be and when in my series. Also, a few authors are not techy and need more help with formatting, planning their release parties, working with Google Spreadsheets, etc.
What lessons have you learned over the course of your experience with these projects?
I have learned that one person (not necessarily two unless you really, really work well with each other) needs to keep her thumb on the pulse of things. That means keeping track of preorder dates, release dates, and staying in touch with each author. Which entails lots of behind-the-scenes communication!
What do you see as the benefits of participating in these projects as opposed to writing your own stand-alone or single author series?
The obvious benefit is sharing the project with other authors. Lightening the load, so to speak. As long as every author promotes her book, generously mentions other authors and helps to promote them as well, enthusiasm for the project will stay high. Assuming the books are written (and edited) well, sales are about guaranteed. Ditto with a higher number of reviews. And that means more profits for everyone.
Other information you’d like to share?
For anyone who is thinking of starting their own MAP, run, don’t walk, to buy “How to Run Successful MAPs: An Author’s Guide to Multi-Author Projects and How to Make them Profitable” by romance author Cheryl Wright. The book just came out earlier this month and is chock-full of information presented in an easy-to-read, quick-to-read format. You’re guaranteed to learn something new and important!
Thanks Pam, that's really great info.
Pam and I are in the Bachelor & Babies series together - her Trace is Book 1 and my Sawyer is Book 6. And I'm excited to announce it's going on sale for three days.
Every book in the series will be reduced to 99¢ starting this Friday through Sunday, Father’s Day! Three days isn’t very long, so you’ll have to hurry to take advantage of our sale!
To see every book in this series, click the Bachelors & Babies Series Link on Amazon
So let's talk about Multi-Author Projects. As a reader do you enjoy them? What do you think are the optimum number of books? What sorts of connecting threads do you like to see?
Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for your choice of any book from my backlist.
Bestselling romance author Pam Crooks grew up in the ranch country of western Nebraska, so it was inevitable she’d eventually write lots of books about cowboys. Pam still lives in Nebraska with her husband (who is not a cowboy), four married daughters and a whole slew of perfect grandchildren.
Over the course of her writing career Pam has written 30 romances, most of them historical westerns, but she's proud of her contemporary sweet romances as well! Stay up on the latest news from Pam at www.pamcrooks.com
June 14, 2022
BOOK CLUBS 2022
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By Debby Giusti In six days, we’ll celebrate the Summer Solstice—the longest day in the year—which is also the first day of summer so grab a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, take your tablet or laptop outside to soak up the sunshine, boost your immune system by absorbing Vitamin D3 and join me in talking about one of my favorite subjects—book clubs! If you love to read, analyze characters and discuss theme, moral premise, symbolism or motifs, you’re probably in a book club. If not, you need to be.
Research the history of book clubs and you’ll learn that Ann Hutchinson is thought to have started the precursor to today’s groups in 1634 when she gathered woman together onboard ship to discuss weekly sermons as they sailed to the New World. Although the Massachusetts Bay Colony eventually condemned the gatherings, their censure couldn’t stop the formation of other discussion groups for women in the years ahead.
My wonderful Book Club.We've been meeting for 18 years.
Hannah Adams is considered the first woman to earn a living through writing and in the late 1700s took part in a reading circle in her hometown of Medfield, Massachusetts. Soon thereafter, American essayist and women’s rights enthusiast Hannah Mather Crocker organized a similar reading group in Boston.
In the early 1800s, women were regularly meeting to discuss the belle lettres, a French term for “beautiful writing,” that encompassed a wide range of literary work, such as fiction, poetry, drama and essays.
We met in homes until 2020.Pamela Burger, in her article, “Women’s Groups and the Rise of the Book Club,” (https://daily.jstor.org/feature-book-club/) claims that clubs for women were greatly in vogue by the late 1800s. Focused primarily on literature and the arts, those early groups gave birth to the concept of the modern book club. By the 1920s, avid readers received selections in the mail thanks to the Book-of-the-Month-Club and The Literary Guild.
Oprah Winfrey is often credited with the rise in popularity of book clubs in modern times. The talk show hostess started her own television book club in 1996 and encouraged women to read books she chose, beginning with the club’s first read, The Deep End of the Ocean, by Jacquelyn Mitchard. Oprah picks invariably soared to the top of the bestseller charts, and even classics, such as John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, gained a new resurgence of notoriety due to what has been called the Oprah Phenomenon. Over a span of fifteen years, members read a total of 70 books until the club ended in 2011.
Today, virtual book clubs abound. Word of mouth book promotion has turned digital with readers sharing information about authors and their books online. Goodreads provides a forum for its more than 20 million members to discuss and review their favorite reads. Facebook reading groups interact with authors and discuss their stories in a number of forums, including Q & As and author chats.
Now we meet at restaurants with outside dining.Here we're on an enclosed patio.
Schools, libraries and even communities host monthly reads with such programs as One City, One Book that started in Seattle in 1998. The National Endowment for the Arts sponsors The Big Read, and since its kickoff in 2006, more than $18 million in grants have been given to fund reading events across the country.
No matter how or when they started, book clubs seem to be a permanent part of our American culture. According to The New York Times, there are an estimated 5 million book club members in the United States. In 2014, BookBrowse (http://www.bookbrowse.com/blogs/editor/index.cfm/2014/3/25/Book-Clubs-by-The-Numbers) interviewed women who read more than one book a month and found that 56% were members of book clubs. Nearly 90 percent of the clubs meet in person, and on average, members read from 9 to 12 books each year. The books are selected from various genres with the classics and bestsellers being the most frequently chosen as monthly picks.
The book club in which I’m a member started 18 years ago after a church retreat when those of us who attended the religious gathering wanted to continue meeting. At first, we read inspirational non-fiction but quickly evolved into a fiction reading group. The second Wednesday of each month finds us enjoying dinner at one of our local restaurants. After eating, we turn our focus to the monthly read. Questions in the back of the book sometimes provide a springboard for our discussions, and it’s rare that a story that doesn’t leave us with a thoughtful insight or takeaway that we can apply to our daily lives. At the end of the evening, we decide on the next month’s read. Each December, we have a book exchange with the January selection chosen from one of the gift books.
The temperature this night hit 32 degrees.The restaurant owner named us the Polar Bear Club.
My book club met last Wednesday and chose CHASING FIREFLIES, by Charles Martin, as our next read. Are you in a book club, and if so, what are you reading, or what was the best book your club read during this past year? If you’re not in a book club, have you thought about starting one? Need info? I’ll be happy to share suggestions on how to form a book club. What online or community-based reading challenges have you enjoyed or hope to take part in this summer?
Happy reading!
Wishing you abundant blessings!
Debby Giusti
COMMANDING JUSTICE
By Debby Giusti
Mission to capture a killer
The Colonel's Daughter
A killer is targeting the families of soldiers in a US Army colonel's brigade, and Criminal Investigation Division special agent Jamison Steele vows to stop him. The colonel's daughter, the woman who loved and left Jamison without a word, came face-to-face with the murderer. But uncovering the serial killer's motive requires asking Michele Logan the questions that may lead them both into a deadly trap.
The General's Secretary
Lillie Beaumont's dark past has just turned up on her porch—fatally wounded. The dying words of the man imprisoned for killing Lillie's mother suggest hidden secrets. Criminal Investigation Division special agent Dawson Timmons has his own motive for seeking the truth. As they investigate, Dawson fears that a murderer is waiting to strike again. And this time, Lillie is right in the line of fire…
Pre-Order on Amazon!
June 13, 2022
Finding Inspiration Through Daily Life
The creation of stories has always fascinated me. I remember reading about authors who had written 20, 30, or more books and being amazed. Even while writing my first book for Love Inspired Suspense, a very real fear plagued me. What if this book was it? What if it was a fluke and I never came up with another idea?
Then it happened. As I was nearing the end of the story, I fell in love with a secondary character, and the inspiration that became Interrupted Lullaby was born. The irony was that this character had originally been slated to be a bad guy. But sometimes the story doesn’t follow the plan.
I frequently get asked where I get my ideas. They can come from anywhere. Presumed Guilty was born from a conversation. Guarding the Amish Midwife was born out of a dream. Often, experiences will spark a scene that will grow into a book. Plain Retribution was created after hearing a new release on the radio.
Plain Refuge, for example, was inspired by a white water rafting trip I took with my family. I was terrified, and came very close to falling out of the raft. Once the terror had faded, I could see a scene in my head where my heroine, who couldn’t swim, was forced onto a raft to flee the villain.Sometimes the inspiration for a book is much more mundane. I find myself constantly asking myself, what if? Deadly Amish Reunion came to be because I was thinking about my heroine, who was a widow, and how her husband died. I started to think of all the various explanations I could until I said, “What if he didn’t really die?”
I have a long list of story ideas. Every time an idea strikes, I add it to the list. I also keep a file on my phone of pictures or interesting facts, just in case I need a story idea in the future. I also keep a small notebook with me to jot down ideas and phrases. Sometimes a single line of dialogue. Everywhere I go, I try to find one idea. Something intriguing that might fit in a story someday.
In my newest book, Amish Cradle Conspiracy, I had met both my heroine and my hero in Amish Country Threats. I hadn’t planned on making them a couple, but somehow while writing Levi and Lilah’s story, hints of a romance budding between Jack and Nicole seeped in. By the time Amish Country Threats was done, I knew I’d have to give them a story. But what?
I went back to asking questions. What could I throw at them to keep them apart? Why hadn’t their relationship worked out before? Every idea, I’d write down. I didn’t use all of them for this book, but that’s fine. I save all my ideas in a list. They might help me start another story bin the future. I also never throw away deleted scenes or rejected proposals. I might be able to use parts of them in the future.. I’m giving away a copy of Amish Cradle Conspiracy to one commenter. Thanks for joining me today!
From USA TODAY bestselling author Dana R. Lynn.To protect an Amish community…
She’ll make herself a target.
After a pregnant Amish woman and her toddler are abducted, police sergeant Nicole Dawson charges in to save them. But when the kidnapper escapes with the child—and thinks Nicole can identify him—she becomes his new obsession. Determined to protect his ex-fiancée, FBI special agent Jack Quinn joins the case. But the clock is ticking in their race to uncover the baby-trafficking ring before another innocent is taken…
Dana R. Lynn is an award winning author who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. She grew up in Illinois. She met her husband at wedding and told her parents she had met her future husband. Nineteen months later, they were married. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania and are entering the world of empty nesters. She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night. Find her at www.danarlynn.com.
June 12, 2022
Finding Your Peeps
Well over ten years ago, when I was an aspiring author (and I’d been aspiring for quite some time at that point), my agent at the time encouraged me to read a book called Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy. I’d never heard of Mary, at that time, but my agent thought that her style might appeal to me because I enjoyed writing snappy dialogue, humor, and adventure in my books. I'd been trying to get published for about five years at that time and was pretty alone on the journey. As a mom who worked outside the home and had five young children, writing groups (if there had even been some nearby) weren't an option.
Sure, writing a book only involved me and my characters, but continuing on the writing JOURNEY required more than that. We needed community.
So...I read Petticoat Ranch and loved it, then proceeded to do what any passionate reader who has just been blown away by a book does. I emailed Mary Conneally and proceeded to fangirl for a good three paragraphs.
Being the gracious lady Mary is, she emailed me back. We had a few exchanges, at which time she found out about all my aspiring and encouraged me to check out Seekerville.
That single connection led me on an amazing journey to find “my peeps”, my community.
Not only did I learn great information about the pre-published world, but I gained encouragement and understanding. In fact, I felt so connected that I even celebrated getting bossed around by Ruthy, on occasion. (I also might add that I was highly encouraged to read Julie Lessman's KISSING books and know swoon-inducing kisses could even show up in CHRISTIAN books).
These ladies and their guests UNDERSTOOD!
They knew the struggles and baby steps of trying to find where you belonged in the writing world. They understood the contest rotation and the pile of rejection letters. They "got" the loooong wait and the unanswered requests.
And through the world of Seekerville, I met other people in the comment section: Other strugglers, learners, readers, writers, and dreamers to build my community.
To be honest, I don’t think I’d be in the same place in my writing life right now if it hadn’t been for co-travelers on this writing journey. They've been SUCH blessings to me.
So as you're looking for YOUR community, keep in mind there are different ways to build community.
Here are three different types of people that make up my writing journey. People who are at the same place as you are or a little ahead. - The Seekers were ladies who’d been on the writing journey longer than me, so what they provided was a little bit of a road map for me. They offered helpful tips, but also truths I needed to hear to give me a more well-rounded perspective on this journey. Cinderella stories happen in the writing world, but they’re rare, so The Seekers helped me “train” for the marathon but HOPE for the sprint on the writing journey :)
People who are a little behind you in the journey - As Christians, it’s important for us to not only have people who mentor us, but to also take what we learn and mentor others. The writing journey is similar. There’s sometimes beautiful about taking the encouragement others have given me along the way and then passing that encouragement and knowledge to newer writers. It’s a mutual encouragement. AND it continues to build that community that we all need.
People who cheer you on in the journey - Not everyone on our writing journeys will be writers. In fact, our writing group may include a WHOLE lot more readers than writers. I can’t tell you how very humbled I am for my Street Team. Some of these readers have been with me since I first became published in 2015. Having them cheer on my stories, listen to me share the journey and struggles,
So let me encourage you to find your people. Hang out on blogs, engage in reader/writer groups on social media, encourage and celebrate other writers (lots of times this will put you in the way of other people who love those writers too), and spend some time with those amazing readers. These things do not have to take a lot of time, but they can really make the journey amazing.
And, even better, they build a community where we not only receive, but we have opportunities to give back.
Which...is kind of how Seekerville got started in the first place and I'm incredibly thankful for it.
How have you built your writing community? If you're a reader, what do you enjoy about the bookish communities in which you are involved?
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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment below and have your name put in the drawing for a paper copy of my upcoming book, The Heart of the Mountains, which is releasing on July 1. (USA only)
To learn more about me and my books, check out my website at www.pepperdbasham.com
June 11, 2022
Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Holy Trinity, fresco by Luca Rossetti da Orta,
1738–9, St. Gaudenzio Church at Ivrea, Italy [PD-US].
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you."
John 16:12-15
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.
Please join us in praying for our country and for an end to the problems that plague us at this current time, such as the rising prices of fuel and food, and the shortages of necessary items, especially baby formula.Together, let's pray we can, once again, become a prosperous and productive nation. Also, please join us in praying for the protection of our military and for law enforcement officers and border agents.
GOD BLESS THE USA!
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support!
May the Lord bless you and keep you safe.
