Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 36

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: Jan gave us the scoop on her newest project - a cozy mystery series!
Tuesday: Seekerville welcomes new Seekers Pepper Basham, Dana R. Lynn, Jaime Jo Wright! Such awesome ladies playing in our sandbox. Oh, the fun and wisdom they'll share starting in June. We're excited to have you join us!  Winners of delicious cookies are Jackie Smith and Jana Vanderslice. Congratulations, ladies! 
Wednesday: Debby
Friday: A throwback post! Erica shared a Seekerville post from 2008 that changed her writing!


Monday:  Erica will talk about authors who have to speak to people!
Wednesday:  Cate will be back talking about craft books.  Friday: This is going to be "UP TO YOU" Friday. :) Fridays are a quieter day in Seekerville... and that's okay. BUT.... this Friday we're going to talk about YOU. What are you working on? What are you doing? Are you a reader? Writer? (many are both!)  What are your favorites? What are your pet peeves? What are your borders, lines drawn in the sand? This Friday is all about you, you, you so stop by and chat with us. We want to hear from you, get to know you and yes, bribe you. (big grin here).... We've got another pack of those Milano cookies to give away so stop by, grab a virtual coffee and let's talk books, story, romance, heroes, heroines... whatever. See you then! 









There's a fun opportunity for you to play an online game and enter to win some prizes! If you love all things Regency, now's your chance to learn some new Regency words, hang out with people of like mind, and have a bit of a lark! Head over to:

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/inspirationalregencyreaders 
And watch the introduction video to Regency Bingo 2022. You can jump to the video here: 
https://www.facebook.com/erica.vetsch/videos/687318405836174
Choose your words, email them in, and don't forget to Join The Group. You can't win the prizes if you're not a member of the group! Deadline is Wednesday, April 27th! So Hurry!






It's About Time: Backstory, Flashback, and Chronology by Barbara Linn Probst at Writer Unboxed
How to Make Me Stop Reading by Bob Hostetler at Steve Laube Agency
Challenges of Writing a Second Novel by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
Top Tips for Marketing YA Books by LL Hunter at Book Brush Blog
What is Rhythmic Writing? by Sue Coletta at Writers Helping Writers
15 Rules for Advertising Books by David Gaughran 
How to Write an Effective Book Proposal by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
Seven Writing Mistakes That Make You Look Like an Amateur  by Hannah Yang at Book Baby Blog
From Big Idea to Book by Jessie Kwak at The Creative Penn
Accessorize Your Writing to Increase Marketing Potential by Karen Whiting at The Write Conversation

A Throwback to a Platinum Post!

 Erica here: Today I'm throwing it back...way back...to 2008, and a post that appeared here on Seekerville that revolutionized my system for plotting a book. In all honesty, it changed the way I wrote. For the first time in my life, I had a contract to fulfill, and while the first book in the series was written, the next two were not, and I had no clue how to plot a novel. I was a pure seat-of-the-pants writer!

But for my contract, I had to supply a chapter-by-chapter synopsis for approval, and though I had tried several of the popular 'plotting methods' that were around at the time, none worked for me! I was afraid I was going to have to write the entire book in a big fat hurry just to find out what it was about.

Enter Seekerville. In September of 2008, Seekerville hosted Pam McCutcheon as a guest blogger, and she shared about the Portable Plotting Board. Everything she said absolutely clicked with me, and I have used this method in some form or other for every one of the forty novels and novellas I have written since!

Here's a picture of one of my early plot boards.Sorry for the rubbish lighting!

From the Seekerville Archives, September 26, 2008

Thanks to Pam McCutcheon ( and the Pikes Peak Romance Writers ) for being in Seekerville today to share the Portable Plotting Board. 

I have to admit the idea for a plotting board wasn't original to me. I saw a couple of different versions of one at different conferences.  Since my critique group meets periodically to brainstorm new ideas, I modified it for our use and added an area for characterization. Since it's difficult to develop plots and characters independently, this allows you to work back and forth between them when brainstorming a story.

Plotting Section: In this area, there are squares numbered from 1 to 20, each representing a chapter. If you plan to have fewer chapters, then ignore the higher numbered squares.  If you plan on having more chapters, well...use an additional surface or the back of the board.

You will need several different colored sticky notes (small enough to fit 2-4 in one square) and a pen or marker.   Each note color will represent something different in your book.   In the photo example, we used the following colors: (Erica Here: We no longer have access to Pam's original photograph, but from the picture above, you can get the gist.)

Rose: Heroine's characterization and/or scenes

Blue: Hero's characterization and/or scenes

Lavender: Villain's characterization and/or scenes

Peach: A scene showing the development of the romance

Hot Pink: Major plot points and turning points

Bright Green: Subplot points/scenes

Light Green: Suspense plot points/scenes

These are just examples.  You could use different colors to track different things according to your needs.  For example, you might want to track clues and red herrings, or your historical events timeline, or character growth, or to make sure you have enough action scenes.  The purpose of using a variety of colors is so that you can easily see where you're missing something.

For example, if there isn't enough blue, you might need more scenes from your hero's point of view.  Or you may realize that you forgot to set up the subplot in the first part of the book, that you need to add in the villain's point of view, that you have too many scenes in one character's point of view and not from another, etc.  And the advantage of using sticky notes is that it's easy to move them from one chapter to another if necessary.

The notes in the example were placed randomly--we're not saying this is where they need to go.  The actual structure of the novel is, of course, up to you.

Character Section:  This is based on Debra Dixon's marvelous book, Goal, Motivation and Conflict, from Gryphon Books for Writers.  In case you haven't read it, this is based on the realization that all major characters need goals, motivation, and conflict (GMC) in order to be well-rounded.  At its simplest, the goal is what the character wants, the motivation is why she wants it, and the conflict is what's keeping her from achieving it.

Brainstorming:  You can brainstorm on your own, with your critique group/partner, or in a larger group such as a chapter.  I've done it at workshops and chapter meetings, and it seems to work well, so long as everyone knows the one rule of brainstorming: the author has the final say on what goes into her book.  In my critique group, we work back and forth between the plotting section and the character section to make sure we have everything covered.  Once the author feels she has enough to go off and work on her own, we stop.

 I find we usually have 3 to 4 sticky notes per chapter. You may have more or fewer, depending on what you're tracking.  And if you use smaller notes, you can obviously get more on the board.

After It's Filled In:  So, once you have all of the sticky notes on the board and you're happy with the plot and characters, what do you do then?  You can use the notes to write a detailed working synopsis, if you choose.  Or, you can prop the board up next to your computer each time you write so you're reminded what needs to go into that chapter.

Another option (especially if you need the board to brainstorm another story for someone else), is to take the notes off the board and place them on paper in a notebook.  I use separate pages for the hero's GMC, the heroine's GMC, and each chapter.  Then, if I get more ideas, I can write them directly on the page and take it with me to work on it.  One of my critique group members transfers the information to a Word or Excel document, using tables to set up the chapters (four cells per chapter), then coloring each cell the appropriate color.   Again, do what works for you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pam McCutcheon  is the author of romantic comedies, paranormal romances, fantasy short stories (under the name Pamela Luzier), and how-to books for writers, including the popular Writing the Fiction Synopsis.  Her latest foray is into Young Adult urban fantasy, and her next book, Bite Me, comes out from Bell Bridge Books in October 2008 under the name Parker Blue. You can read more about her at http://www.pammc.com.

Pikes Peak Romance Writers  is a chapter of Romance Writers of America, serving romance writers in the Pikes Peak region around Colorado Springs, CO. It has been in existence since 1991. For more info, visit http://www.pprw.org.
Honestly, I can't tell you how many times, especially in those early days, I felt as if I was attending a 5 Workshop Writer's Conference every week by reading Seekerville blog posts. If I had a question about how to do something, Seekerville had the answer! I encourage you to peruse the Seekerville Archives by clicking the button in the masthead above labeled Seekerville Archives. You'll find more than you could ever need.
Also, if you have searched the archives and can't find an answer to your question, be sure to post your question/need in the comments. We're always looking for blog topics that will resonate with readers, and if we can help you out at the same time, win-win!

The Paschal Mystery Reflected in Story

 

By Debby Giusti

Happy Easter, dear friends!

Although we celebrated Christ’s Resurrection on Sunday, the Easter Season spans a total of fifty days and draws to a close on Pentecost. All of which means that our Easter celebration continues until June 5th.

Easter is the pinnacle of our Christian faith, but the true meaning of Easter cannot be fully realized without walking with Christ through his Passion and Death.

Scripture reveals the three years of the Lord’s public ministry that leads to Jerusalem in preparation for Passover. The crowds hail Christ with palms all the while sinister elements plot His demise.

Tension builds as Christ and the Apostles gather in the Upper Room. The Lord washes their feet, showing by example that He is the Suffering Servant and highlighting the importance of serving others.

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, late 1490s. Milan. [PD-US] 


Later, as they recline at table, He blesses the bread and wine, offers both to the Father and institutes the Eucharist, the most perfect gift of His Body and Blood that will nourish His people until the end of time.

That same night, Judas betrays Christ for thirty pieces of silver. The Roman guards arrest Him. He is taken to the high priest and eventually sentenced to death.

Ecce Homo. (Behold the Man!), Antonio Ciseri, 1860-1880,
Switzerland. [PD-US]

Christ, the Unblemished Lamb, endures excruciating pain as he is scourged and beaten. Contemplating his battered body is almost more than we can bear as He stumbles along the rocky path to Golgotha, knowing it is because of our sins that he embraced the cross.

His friends abandon Him with only His Mother and the Beloved Disciple, along with a few women, remaining steadfast at the foot of the cross. A lance pierces His side, and blood and water pour from His dying body while He speaks words of compassion, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”

Christ Crucified, Diego Velazquez, c. 1632,
Prado Museum. [PD-US]

The somberness of death overwhelms us as we reflect on his body lowered from the cross, caressed by his heartbroken mother, then washed with aromatic oils, wrapped in linen and laid in a newly hewn tomb.

All seems lost, but on the third day, the Lord triumphs over death, He conquers sin and salvation is won for all those who embrace Him as their Lord and Savior.

Resurrection of Christ, Noël Coypel, 1700, France.
[PD-US]

The Paschal Mystery of birth, death and resurrection shows us how we are to live our own lives and is an important element to add to our stories, along with sacrificial love and redemption.

In life as well as in fiction, evil confronts good, but good should always conquer the darkness, just as the Lord conquered sin and death and opened the Gates of Paradise so we could enjoy Eternal Life with Him.

He is Risen, dear friends! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

How do you incorporate the Paschal Mystery into your own stories? 

Wishing you a joyous Easter Season,

Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com

SMUGGLERS IN AMISH COUNTRY

By Debby Giusti

 Uncovering secrets in this Amish town

could deliver deadly consequences.

When the robbery suspect she’s tracking begins attacking delivery girls in Amish country, officer Marti Sommers must go undercover as bait. With ex-cop Luke Lehman’s niece as one of the targets, this case is personal. After all, Marti’s rookie mistake ended with Luke injured and another officer dead. But can the two former colleagues stop a deadly smuggling ring…before Marti becomes the next victim?

Order from AMAZON now!

 

 

 

 

Pepper, Dana and Jaime Jo: WELCOME TO SEEKERVILLE!

 Ladies & Gents, boys & girls, hear ye! Hear ye! 

SEEKERVILLE IS THRILLED TO WELCOME THREE NEW SEEKERS!!!!

For those unfamiliar with our story, Seekerville was started fourteen years ago by the fifteen original Seekers, ladies who banded together to pray one another into royalty-paying publication. It took a bunch of years but WE DID IT!!!! All fifteen Seekers became published authors. Along that interesting and humbling journey, we started this blog with the intent to help aspiring authors along the path. We did that because it is not easy! We knew that and wanted to help even though many of us weren't contracted as yet.

Helping them helped us stay focused on the goal!  When several Seekers retired, new gals came on board... and now we're welcoming three more authors. Three wonderful women who have worked hard, have helped others and who understand that giving back is a wonderful thing even as we all move forward.

So today we welcome Pepper Basham, Dana R. Lynn and Jaime Jo Wright to Seekerville! They'll start blogging in June and we are thrilled to have them on board. They bring their experience and histories, labors and successes to the blog and a wealth of information along with! Without further adieu, here's a look at the newest Seekers!            

Pepper Basham!

Growing up in the Appalachian culture of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Pepper Basham fell in love with stories from an early age. In fact, she started telling her own stories well before she could write them (and SOME of them were true). Now she writes historical and contemporary romance “seasoned” with grace, humor, and…kisses! Lots of times she tosses small-towns, cute kids, her undying Anglophilia, and her beloved mountains into her tales. SOME of those might be true too. She’s closing in on 20 published books and loves getting to bring characters and stories to life. 

Pepper works as a speech-language pathologist by day, using her specialty in communication disorders to help individuals of all ages understand the social world a little better. She’s a wife, mom to five amazing kiddos, Lord of the Rings nut, Austenite (she’s not dedicated enough to be a Janeite), and lover of chocolate (of which she is incredibly dedicated). She also has a book tree that she’ll brag about at any available moment and adores talking about her faith with anyone who’ll listen.

Pepper loves connecting with authors and readers, and will occasionally attack people with hugs, so be warned. 

You can get to know her better on Facebook, Instagram, or by visiting her website.

Facebook: Pepper D. Basham

Instagram: pepperbasham

Website: www.pepperdbasham.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00W0IZ1F4

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pepper-d-basham

Dana R. Lynn!

Hi all! Dana R. Lynn here! I am so thrilled to be joining Seekerville. I’ve been fan-girling these authors for so many years. I’ve also felt very drawn to mentoring others, but never knew how to begin. I guess God had some plans…

Anyhow, I’m originally from Illinois near Chicago. In 1995, I was the Maid of Honor to my best friend Amy, who lives in Pennsylvania. I met the Best Man and told my parents I’d met the man I was going to marry. And 19 months later, Amy and Doug were our Matron of Honor and Best Man. Today, I live in rural PA with my sweet hubby, and I thank God for bringing us together. We have three kids, and they are my heart. Our daughter is our equestrian, and she trains horses for a living. Our middle child is a Corporal in the Marines. And our youngest is a senior and our science minded child. He’ll be off to college in the fall if he can ever decide which one to accept. I’m not afraid that we’ll be bored when we’re empty nesters, though. The cats, dogs and chickens will still be there to keep us on our toes. I’m just glad we’re out of the rat phase. Although I kind of miss the rabbits.

As for me, I have been in love with the written word my since I was in first grade. My mind was always full of stories, and I was forever holding conversations in my head. It never occurred to me that other people didn’t do that. I signed my first contracts in 2014. Since then, I’ve written 17 books for Love Inspired Suspense, four for Annie’s Fiction, three for Clean Reads, three independent stories and one short story. I have won some awards and been on best selling lists, but my biggest thrill is engaging with reading and other writers. I am so happy to be with you and see what God does next!

www.danarlynn.com
Dana Balluff Roae (@danarlynn) • Instagram photos and videos

(5) Dana R. Lynn | Facebook

Dana R Lynn Books - BookBub

Amazon.com: Dana R. Lynn: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

 Jaime Jo Wright!!!

Jaime Jo Wright is the author of nine novels, including Christy Award winner The House on Foster Hill and Christy Award Finalist Echoes Among the Stones. 

She's also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of two novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her cat named Foo, beta fish named Hornigold, and her leopard gecko named Flash (yes, she's a comic fan). 

She's been married over 20 years to her husband, Cap'n Hook who pirated away with her heart and has held it hostage with some ferocity. Homeschooling keeps her pretending to be smart, and her fierce daughter CoCo is a whiz in the kitchen, while her son, fondly called Peter Pan, is pretty much an all around mama's boy (she'll keep it that way as long as she can). 

Along with her writing, Jaime also manages MadLit Mentoring & Assist which offers mentorships workshops and quarterly group mentoring to aspiring and established authors, as well provides assistant services to established authors who don't share Jaime's love of all things social media and marketing. You can find out more about Jaime at jaimewrightbooks.com or madlitmentoring.com 

www.jaimewrightbooks.com
www.madlitmentoring.com
https://linktr.ee/jaimejowright

Hey, we've got fresh coffee, sweet tea and hot tea and cookie trays.... because what goes better with coffee and tea than cookies (or biscuits as my Brit friends say!)
Leave a comment below to have your name tucked into a drawing for cookies... because who doesn't love cookies????
LADIES..... WELCOME TO SEEKERVILLE!!!!!

A Story is Born

How well do you remember two years ago? Somewhere in the middle of March 2020 was one of those moments that change history...for better or for worse.
Now that we've had some time to digest what has happened over the past two years (and it hasn't always been pretty!) it's time to look back with some clear hindsight and realize how these months have changed our writing.
I know I'm not alone in this: The pandemic-that-shall-not-be-named* wasn't the only life-changing event that happened in 2020. Many of us had earth shaking happenings in our personal lives, too. Things that weren't related to the PTSNBN* threw us out of our groove, shut down our creativity, and either stopped us in our tracks or caused us to change directions.

For me it provided the excuse to take a complete change in direction. I needed something new. Something to jump-start my creativity and get me excited about writing again.
But where should I start? 
The first thing was to decide on a genre. I love historical romance, but I had been down that road. I needed something new.
I looked at my Goodreads list - what books had I been reading? Which ones had I enjoyed the most? I realized that I love cozy mysteries - not exclusively - but I love reading them. 


So the next step? I decided to try writing one. And a story was born.


The first question - the genre - was already decided. 
The setting? Easy. I looked out my office window and knew the Black Hills was perfect.

The characters? It didn't take long for me to have my cast. In a mystery you need a sleuth, a sidekick, a lawman/woman, and the all important bad guy. I also added in a mentor and a couple pets who are too smart for their own good.
Emma Blackwood (the sleuth) is an unemployed hotel manager who comes to the Black Hills to work in her aunt's upscale bed and breakfast, the Sweetbrier Inn.
Shutterfly
Emma is smart, capable, and just a little bit OCD.

Becky Graves, her sidekick, is a fabulous baker and is related to just about everyone who lives in the small town of Paragon. Part Lakota and part Irish, she claims her ethnic background is a blend of the best the world has to offer.
I gave Emma a fun antagonist, too. Wil Scott is Rose's business partner and the chef at the Sweetbrier Inn. He and Emma get along like a couple of siblings who can't put their rivalries aside, but Emma says his cooking is to die for. Her favorite breakfast is Wil's Crème Brulée French Toast.
The lawman in the story is County Deputy Sheriff Cal Cooper. He also happens to be Becky's cousin (didn't I tell you everyone in Paragon is related?) Cal is a no-nonsense guy who reluctantly lets Emma work the case with him.
Emma's mentor is her Aunt Rose. Rose has a mysterious past that keeps Emma guessing. Her warm personality sets the tone for the inn. From the early morning breakfasts to the daily afternoon teas, the inn is Rose's baby. 
The pets are Rose's corgi, Thatcher, and Emma's young black cat named Tim. Don't worry - they get along with each other just fine.

The setting of the Sweetbrier Inn is perfect for a cozy mystery because the cast of characters keeps changing for each book in the series. I have one set of guests for the first book and a completely different set for the second. New characters = new suspects.
Shutterfly
Wait - did I forget to mention the bad guy? Sorry. No spoilers here. He/she/they will remain a mystery until the end of the book!

With the changes in my writing, I was basically giving my career a makeover. I've developed a new brand, a new logo, and am working on a new website. 
Another big change is that these new books will be indie published, so I created my own publishing company - Swift Wings Press - with its own completely unnecessary but fun logo.

The last thing - after selecting an editor (thank you Beth Jamison!) cover artist (thank you Hannah Linder!) formatting, etc. etc. (all the details of indie publishing) - was to select titles.
I always have a hard time coming up with titles. Then I remembered some of my favorite mysteries, and I was on my way.
"The Sign of the Calico Quartz" is the first book in the Sweetbrier Inn Series. I've set the publication date for May 25, 2022. 
The next book is "The Case of the Artist's Mistake," which will be coming out late summer 2022.
The third book is still in the works, but be assured Emma, Becky, Cal, and the rest of the gang will catch the bad guy in that one, too.

How did the past two years affect your writing? Did it feel like you ran into a brick wall or did you feel like you had new ideas and energy?
And if you're still struggling to make some sense of what you're supposed to be doing with your writing through all of this, let us know so we can pray you through the slump. One thing I do know - you are not alone!!!

Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests

EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD 

Resurrection of Christ, Noël Coypel, 1700, France. [PD-US]

On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.

John 20:1-9

HAPPY EASTER!

He is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

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, for the people of Ukraine, for an end to Russian aggression, and for the protection of our military.
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.  

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: Ruthy stopped by with her love for Holy Week.... for the glory and ignominy of Christ's walk, His passion, His sacrifice. What a beautiful and poignant way to bring the Lenten season to a glorious and praise-worthy close!
Tuesday: Lorri Dudley joined us to teach us about how birth order affects our characters! Thank you, Lorri!
Wednesday: Ruthy was here again, this time talking about levels of suspense genres.... mystery, cozy mystery, suspense and thrillers. Winner of a copy of Ruthy's newest Guideposts' cozy mystery "Merciful Secrecy" are AA Haynes and KayBee.... Ruthy found another copy when she was cleaning... which is an absolute hint on how much this poor place needed cleaning!!! :)
Friday: Winnie reminded us of the true meaning of Good Friday


Monday:  Jan
Tuesday:  
SPECIAL SEEKERVILLE ANNOUNCEMENT INCLUDING COOKIES. VIRTUAL AND REAL..... COME ON OVER ON TUESDAY AND SEE WHAT THE GALS OF SEEKERVILLE HAVE BEEN UP TO! OLD-FASHIONED PARTY IN SEEKERVILLE WITH A COOKIE DRAWING BECAUSE IF WE GET TO CELEBRATE:SO DO YOU!
Wednesday:  Debby Giusti will be talking about the writing journey. Stop by to join in the conversation!  Friday: Pam





Ruthy is so excited to release her newest Guideposts' Mystery "Merciful Secrecy" part of the "Miracles and Mysteries of Mercy Hospital" collection....Available HERE VIA GUIDEPOSTS!!!!!
"A vintage hospital.... a praying angel statue... a series of amazing and beautiful things that happen are part of the woven fabric that makes up the stories surrounding Mercy Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina. Old secrets march in step with new mistakes but the people who care... the people who help make Mercy Hospital the wonderful, welcoming place it is... are willing to search for answers, no matter what it takes. Come on over... You don't need to be sick to be here. You just need to love a good cozy mystery!"


SOLDIER PROTECTORa 2-IN-1 featuringThe Officer's Secret and The Soldiers Sisterby Debby GiustiReleasing June 2022 Pre-order NOW!






Making Your Newsletter Work For You by Tari Faris at Learn How To Write A Novel

Cover Bands Don't Change the World by Steve Laube
Foreshadowing: A Revision Skill to Love by Katheryn Craft at Writer Unboxed
Tips for Dealing with the Passage of Time in a Story by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
A Fabled Kingdom: Why Readers Love a Southern Setting in Fiction by Kimberly Brock at Writers Digest
How to Come Up with the Perfect Book Title by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
The Value of Having Numerous Writing Projects by Cindy K Sproles at The Write Conversation
Top Tips for Marketing YA Books by LL Hunter at Book Brush Blog
How to Get More Done with 90-Day Goals by Sarra Cannon at Heart Breathings
How to Bulk Schedule Posts in WordPress at WP Beginner
Insiders Edition Newsletter  offered by Tina Radcliffe is a once-a-month newsletter for fiction writers of all levels

Good Friday

On this most solemn of observances on the Christian calendar, we at Seekerville wish everyone a blessed, prayerful day of quiet reflection as we prepare for a joyful celebration of the Ressurection on Easter Sunday.

" But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed  "

   Isaiah 53:5

CHOOSE YOUR GENRE: Mystery vs. Romantic Suspense vs. Thriller

 This is a great topic for authors and readers.

This is like saying "What's the difference between a romance and a mainstream novel with romantic elements?"

The answer is: No one knows for the second one. Oh, there are scads of opinions!!! But it's up to the individual editor. My wonderful editor at Amazon's Waterfall Publishing (They bought the initial Wishing Bridge books before the line closed. NOT MY FAULT!!!! Although it was the THIRD time it happened, but still... I maintain my innocence!)  :) Anyway, she listed Wishing Bridge as "women's fiction" and "contemporary romance" because it was focused on the woman's story... but it also had a romance.

Anyway, another editor looked at one of the Wishing Bridge stories and said no way was this women's fiction, and it was boring and no way did she even care about what happened to this woman. So the lines are not clearly drawn, right? And that's okay. (By the way, the book is anything but boring.) :) 

It's different for the mystery/suspense/thriller categories. More obvious.

A cozy mystery (think Agatha Christie, Guideposts) may have murder and mayhem, but it minimizes the element of fear. The protagonists aren't in constant danger, although they may be targeted to throw them off or scare them away. It can be funny, poignant and generally is "G" or "PG" rated.  My newest one "Merciful Secrecy" is set in Charleston, SC.... a city of old bleeding into new... and a hospital filled with hard-working people, some of whom have BIG EGOS. :) 

"When a lovely young E.R. nurse is being stalked, Anne, Shirley, Joy and Evelyn combine forces to figure out who's doing what... and why. But someone doesn't want them interfering. Someone has a lot more at stake than they bargained for... but the ladies aren't about to back down until they're sure that Katie can go back to her life as a hospital nurse without looking over her very pretty shoulder. Unless it's to glimpse the to-die-for head of security that thinks keeping Katie safe ranks pretty high on his list."

Now, Romantic Suspense is different.

That heroine can be kick-butt (Becket in "Castle") but she will be in danger... she will have some sort of awesome hero at her side, often reluctantly on both parts, but his job is to keep her safe EVEN if he thinks she's guilty. Heroine may be a suspect in a major crime/felony or she can be a target who's being hidden because she may know too much... Stakes are raised with babies or children being involved and/or threatened. Cabins in woods are a popular setting... but NYC basements (or any big city) paint a scary picture all on their own. Romantic suspense novels are a great read, and extremely popular right now. I love romantic suspense, but I can't write them and still sleep at night. My mind can't "unsee" things and it's not worth the nightmares.... Ditto for thrillers. :) I've learned to stay in my mental health comfort zone. 

Thrillers are in a class of their own. They are not horror stories.... 

Think Jason Bourne. Jack Reacher. John Grisham stories. 

The idea behind a thriller is often a conspiracy. Conspiracies allow the writer to make the heroes and heroines multi-targeted so you never know where the next shot/poison/car accident or plane crash is coming from. Execution-style killings are common. Violence is bedrock most of the time, but that would be different with psychological thrillers.... that's different, and we're sticking with standard "kill everyone attached to hero to see if he falls apart" type. 

Yes, I'm grinning, but it is mostly true and you know it!!!! 

There is a spectrum within each genre... Some cozies have murders and targeting. Some thrillers are psychological, not targeted at hero/heroine. Some romantic suspense play out over a series of books, not one. But whatever you write, aim it at one genre and then play the aspects of how you envision the finished product. That will help you (and the reader) be satisfied with the completed work.

And I have a copy of Merciful Secrecy to send out to one commenter today....

Leave a comment below, my friends! I'll enter your name into the freshly cleaned cat dish!

Multi-published bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne loves God, her family, her country, dogs, chocolate, coffee and Diet Mt Dew and she loves writing stories. Friend her on Facebook, email Ruthy at loganherne@gmail.com and stop by her website ruthloganherne.com. She'd love to hear from you! 

Birthing Realistic Characters - The Role of Birth Order in Character Development

Inspirational Regency Reader Group on FB

Erica Here: It is my pleasure to host author Lorri Dudley here at Seekerville today! AND to mention that it's release day for her latest book!!! (More info on that, and a chance to win a copy of one of Lorri's books at the end of this post!)

Welcome, Lorri!

Birthing Realistic Characters - The Role of Birth Order in Character Development

We all desire to create authentic characters, whether they’re the girl-next-door or larger-than-life showman that jumps off the page. A great tool to add to our writer’s toolbox is how birth order plays a role in a character’s personality and love interests.

Hungarian psychologist, Alfred Adler, created the theory of birth order in shaping a person’s traits. However, Christian Psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman explains the concept with wit and humor in his Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are. Here’s a short synopsis to help better understand how and why your hero and heroine behave the way they do.

Firstbornstend to fall into three categories: the compliant people pleaser, the reliable, self-driven achiever that seems to feed off high-stress situations, or the exacting uptight rule follower that will spend the weekend re-organizing their kitchen cabinets. A firstborn’s parents tend to overdo it by taking more pictures, worrying about the best baby products, and monitoring their firstborn’s every move. Then a younger sibling (or siblings) comes along, usurping their attention and getting away with murder. Firstborns handle a larger share of the discipline and responsibilities because, let’s face it, if you want someone to unload the dishes from the dishwasher, are you going to ask the oldest or the baby?

Middies often look at the older sibling, decide that avenue has been taken, and branch off in a different or opposite direction. Dr. Leman states that the middle child “may be a pleaser or an antagonizer. He may become a victim or a martyr,” or “He may become a manipulator or a controller” (Leman 152) based on his perception of the older sibling. Middies tend to be diplomats or compromisers who mediate to avoid conflict but can also hold a secretive side. They often have a large friend group to which they are loyal and are great team players. Middle children are the most likely to travel away from home due to their independent, free spirit and tend to be mentally tough, well-adjusted adults.

Last bornsare the entertainers, loving the limelight. They can be absentminded, but they’ll charm their way out of any repercussions with their natural sales skills and outgoing personalities. They’re born knowing they are the smallest, weakest, and youngest and desire to be recognized which sets them up to be a joy in the classroom as a sucker for praise or a constant disruption seeking attention. Their older siblings constantly correct them or remind them of their place in the pecking order, creating a rebellious attitude. However, they gain bold confidence, knowing their older siblings will bail them out of sticky situations.

Only childrencan lead a lonely life but often take on similar traits to the firstborns. Only children can be critical, selfish, and perfectionistic, but also confident, articulate, and independent. They tend to prefer the company of adults or older persons and lean toward being scholarly, high-achieving, free thinkers who can be cautious due to a fear of failure.

In writing books with a love interest, it’s advantageous to know the compatibility of a couple’s birth order (or the combatibility—to coin a new word—of those characteristics). For a peaceful, happier-ever-after, characters should marry outside of birth order. However, pairing same order birth characteristics can produce convincing story conflict. For instance, due to their high perfectionism, two firstborns (or worse, two only children) create a volatile environment as they nit-pick their relationship to death. The peace-at-all-cost perspective of two middies avoiding conflict over time builds a storm, threatening to unleash. And two matched last borns cause chaos due to their fun-loving nature. Someone needs to be the mature one, especially when it comes to spending. Otherwise, the go-for-broke attitude puts the couple into financial debt.

Knowing birth order dynamics is crucial if writing a family series and aids in plot development. For example, in my recent release, The Marquis’s Pursuit, the heroine, Evelyn, is the youngest of three sisters. She holds the daring audacity of a last born, knowing her sisters would rescue her, until she rebels and lands herself into a mess of her own making from which her sisters can’t save her. As a true firstborn, Max, the hero of The Marquis’s Pursuit, feels responsible for the well-being of his ailing friend, Charlie, and desires to protect Charlie’s secretive yet intriguing caretaker.

Don’t panic if you wrote a middle child hero to act like a firstborn or another rule-breaking scenario. There are exceptions to birth order characteristics where other variables come into play. For example, a last born son with three older sisters could behave like a firstborn because he would be the family’s first male. Or, if there is a significant age gap between siblings, the eldest of the younger set could take on the firstborn traits.

As a mother of three sons, I can attest to the validity of birth order. As a firstborn, I’m a self-reliant people pleaser. My firstborn is a driven perfectionist, whereas my middle son is an easy-going, diplomatic team player. My youngest is an outgoing charmer who talked his dad into allowing him to start a car detailing business at the age of eleven.

How do you (or your characters) fall in line (or deviate) with birth order personality traits?

If you’re interested in learning more about Birth Order, I highly recommend Dr. Leman’s Birth Order Book or pick up my recent release, The Marquis Pursuit, available here:

Isn't this a beauty???

 

Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household.   

Erica back...As I said, today is release day for Lorri Dudley's beautiful book, The Marquis's Pursuit. You can learn more about Lorri, and enter to win a copy of the first book in this series, The Duke's Refuge, over at the Inspirational Regency Reader's Group on FB. Lorri sat still for an interview with me, and we're giving away a copy of one of her books to celebrate! So leave a comment here on your thoughts about birth order characteristics, then jump over to the IRR, watch the video, and enter to win The Duke's Refuge!
Inspirational Regency Reader Group on FB