Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 40
February 26, 2022
Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests
The Parable of the Mote and the Beam, by Domenico Fetti, 1619. [PD-US]
Jesus told his disciples a parable,
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Luke 6:39-45
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!God Bless the USA!Also, please pray for peace in the world,especially between Russia and the Ukraine, andfor the protection of our military deployed to that area.
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support!
May the Lord bless you and keep you safe.
February 25, 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: Jan Drexler
Tuesday: Jill Lynn dropped by to with some words of hope and a preview of her new release. Winner of The Veteran's Vow is... Lucy Reynolds!
Wednesday: Cate Nolan was talking about using children's books to learn craft.
Friday: Pam Hillman shared The 12 Stages of the Writing Contest Journey
Monday: Erica Vetsch
Wednesday: Mindy Obenhaus will be to talk about adding conflict to our stories. Friday: Ruthy strolls in on Friday to talk about some new mystery-lovin' stuff going on in her life on both sides of the publishing street.... because the gal who thought she wasn't smart enough to write mysteries is having so much fun writing-- YOU GUESSED IT!!!-- Mysteries! And she's got a copy of her latest Guideposts mystery to give away to one very lucky person!
Meet in the Middle is on Sale Now!Click Here to Grab a Copy for Your Kindle
The Prize Vault is Open!
Click Here for a Chance to Win One of the Ebooks Above
ON SALE NOW!
Order from AMAZON now!
Smugglers in Amish Country
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?
Preorder the ebook NOW:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HL1Q39M
To hear Debby's interview on Buggy Talk Podcast
click here:
COMING MARCH 8th!!!!
BOOK TWO OF RUTHY LOGAN HERNE'S "SOUTHERN TIER ROMANCE" SERIES!!!!"SMALL TOWN HEARTS"
9 Ways to Approach Relationship Dynamics in Fiction by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
When is the Best Time to Publish a Blog and How to Test It by WPBeginner
How to Survive Book Marketing Burnout by Lewis Jorstad at Kindlepreneur
Lessons Learned from Publishing 16 Books in 6 Years by Kristine Adams at The Writers Cookbook
Tools of the Trade by Amanda Cabot at Historical Novel Society-North America
Imposter Syndrome by Deb Kastner at Inspy Romance
5 Tips for Social Media Detox by Lisa Norman at Writers In The Storm
5 Fresh Ways to Interact with Your Readers by Claire Bradshaw at Writer's Edit
Plan Your Content with an Email Marketing Calendar (with template) by Meg at MailerLite blog
21 Latin Phrases Every Writer Should Know by Steve Laube at Steve Laube Agency
February 24, 2022
The 12 Stages of the Writing Contest Journey
The Winding Road in front of Pam's Houseby Pam HillmanDo you enter a lot of writing contests? Have you ever wondered about some of your weird reactions to contest scores but have been too embarrassed to share them with friends and family because…well, you know, it’s just weird! lol
Having entered hundreds of contests before receiving my first contract, I put together the 12 stages of the Writing Contest Journey. See if you relate to some of these.
Stage 1: You enter your first contest. You’re absolutely terrified, hoping for a kernel of encouragement that you MIGHT have a tiny bit of writing talent.
Stage 2: You survive your first couple of contests and throw your hat in the ring a few more times. Still terrified, but you’ve used every bit of advice from the first few contests and are hoping to up your scores. Here is the time where you have to research POV, GMC, head-hopping, clichés, scene and sequel, sagging middles, black moments. Ack!!!
Stage 3: But you persevere and move forward for another round. The mechanics (punctuation/grammar) are much better, so now you can now concentrate on cliches and craft.
Stage 4: You still don’t know why one judge dings you for a cliché and the other one doesn’t, or why one judge loves your heroine, but the other thinks she’s too stupid to live, but your scores are better (most of the time) and you’ve got a pretty good handle on POV. Now you really have contest fever, and you’re dreaming of a finalist slot, but you’re still not sure if you’re ready yet.
The fenced in "lane" behind Pam's house going toward the hay field.Stage 5: Finally, you snag a finalist slot!!! But was it a fluke? Can you do it again? With that first finalist slot, you’re just thrilled to final. If there are 4 finalists, you know you’re not ready to win (what would you DO if an editor asked for a complete????), but you’d rather not end up #4 either. 2nd or 3rd place would be perfect.
Stage 6: You are a star! You finalled in a writing contest. You’ve proved to yourself and the publishing world that you can write. It’s just a matter of weeks (or the next contest) where big name agent or editor discovers you. Then one of your manuscripts that has already finalled and/or won in a couple of contests crashes and burns and comes in dead last in a field of 52. You’re a has-been before you had a chance to be. Sigh.
The old Natchez Trace north of Natchez, MS. Wagons and travelerswore this trail down over hundreds of years.
Stage 7: This is where you get serious. You get a little bit mad at how hard this is, how subjective, and you get a lot hardheaded. This is where you decide to fish or cut bait. All these thoughts run through your mind as you’re shredding your latest masterpiece. Breaking in is too hard! There’s too much to learn! But there’s something there that makes you want to try for one more rung of the publishing ladder. So you do. After all, that manuscript just won 3 contests. By this time, you’ve developed some writing buddies who can help pull you through this stage.
Stage 8: You pull up your big girl panties, grit your teeth and declare you’re going out there again. You’ve realized this is BUSINESS, not just fun-and-games, and that it is subjective, and everyone isn’t going to like what you do, but you’ve got enough feedback under your belt to know that SOME people do like what you do, and that’s enough to keep you going.
Stage 9: Now you get strategic. You develop a plan. You figure out which genre you’re most passionate about, you figure out what houses you’re best suited for, you figure out which of the half-dozen manuscripts you’re working on are the best you’ve got, and you run with that. Here you start finalling and winning more and more contests.
Beautiful shaded lane between Pam's house and her mother's house.Stage 10: You’ve got a lot of contests under your belt, maybe even signed with an agent. Editors are requesting your stuff. Here, you’re likely to cut down on the number of contests you enter, just entering the big ones, and maybe a couple just because a certain editor or agent is judging. If you have an agent to send your stuff out, entering lots and lots of contests isn’t as critical.
Stage 11: You’re still in contest mode, but you’re very selective, and you only enter your absolute BEST work. It’s not exactly smart to enter a half-baked idea that MIGHT get in front of that editor who’s already got one of your best stories sitting on his or her desk.
Stage 12: Well, since these stages were about entering CONTESTS, I guess this is the last stage. At some point, an editor is going to pick up the phone and call you or your agent and offer a contract, and when you accept, you are ineligible to enter contests for the unpublished. And you enter a whole new set of stages as a published author.
Like the hero’s journey, these stages can be reversed, you can go through the same stage more than once, and you might even skip some of them, but for most of us, they’re probably much the same. And I’m going to go out on a limb and say that if you make it to stage 12, the odds of you crossing the bridge to publication are pretty high.
Pam's mother-in-law's bridge to nowhere. lol Actually, it goes to adelightful island in the middle of their pond. Great fishing
spot and her yard is filled with gorgeous flowers and photo opps.
Meet in the Middleis on Sale
Click Here to Grab Your Copy!
The Prize Vault is Open!a Rafflecopter giveaway
February 22, 2022
Learning Craft from Children's Books
I remember years ago someone imparting the advice that if you need to do research on something, start with books written for children. They'll give you the basics which might be as much as you need to know, but if not they will at least make the subject understandable so you can pursue it more easily.
I was reminded of that advice a few weeks ago when I picked up a book I am supposed to use with my Jr. High ELA classes. It's called How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids.
Full confession - my husband bought a copy of the original How to Read Literature Like a Professor years ago. It sat on a shelf that I passed many times a day. I often thought I should read it. I never did. Now I wish I had.
As I was reading the children's version to prepare to teach lessons from it, I realized that many of the points made for children are a good craft reminder for writers.
The Amazon blurb says:
In How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids, New York Times bestselling author and professor Thomas C. Foster gives tweens the tools they need to become thoughtful readers.
With funny insights and a conversational style, he explains the way writers use symbol, metaphor, characterization, setting, plot, and other key techniques to make a story come to life.
As I read that, I was amused to think that some writers (like this one) may benefit from a reminder of what we are doing.
I'll digress for a moment to talk education. As a teacher, I usually deplore the kinds of questions on standardized tests that ask about the author's purpose or author's craft. It seems futile to ask a 12 year-old to try to step inside the mind of an author to figure out what they were trying to accomplish. I could go on at length with some ridiculous examples, but that doesn't help us become better writers. The reason I bring it up is that this book, in helping students understand what a writer is attempting, can also help writers better understand what is behind many of the things we do intuitively.
I really do believe that writers who are avid readers naturally absorb many of the tenets of storytelling. But I also believe that it's good to sometimes stop and reflect on what we are doing and how we can do it better. This book actually helped me to be more aware of what I'm doing when I write. And if I'm aware, I can be more intentional.
Do you ever turn to children's books for research?
Do you consciously use literary devices such as allusions, symbolism, metaphors, motifs, imagery, etc. when you write (or does it seep in there unconsciously)?
FYI - If you prefer an adult take on this, Here's a link to 45 Literary Devices and Terms That Everyone Should Know.
February 21, 2022
Hope by Guest Jill Lynn
by Jill Lynn
Sometimes I pick a word for the year. I haven’t in the last couple of years, but when 2022 rolled around, the word HOPE came with it for me. I wanted that word and the meaning behind it to be present in my life, so I latched on.
But then…2022 did not start easy for us. I’d planned to come out of the gate full of hope and ready for new things, for setting and meeting goals, for success. Instead, numerous things derailed those attempts. It felt like every time I turned around, something new was slapping at me like those scrubbers attacking my vehicle when I run it through the automatic wash.
I kept trying to stay afloat—to trust and hope—and I kept failing. I don’t know about you, but once I begin to fail, the slope is slippery. I can inch toward depression quite easily, and that is what I feared was happening.
But then one morning I opened my Jesus Calling devotional, and in the very week where my struggle had become huge, I read these words: Whenever you feel inadequate, remember that I am your ever-present Help.
Hope in Me, and you will be protected from depression and self-pity.
Those last two words—depression and self-pity—were what had been weighing me down. It had felt like having a boat anchor tied to my waste and with every step, I had to drag it around behind me.
How could God—infinite and quite busy with all that’s going on in the world—have known that I’d read those words on exactly that day? I wasn’t even on the correct day of the devotional. (I never am!)
It impacted me so much that what I was going through was exactly what God was speaking to me about.
The end of the devotion reads: Heaviness is not of My kingdom. Cling to hope, and My rays of Light will reach you through the darkness.
I love the imagery of light and dark, heavy and light.
I love that God cares about us so much that He’s constantly sending us messages and reminders of His love.
Sometimes it feels scary to hope. Does anyone else experience this? Like it’s easier to stay in the trenches and work hard and not expect too much…because expectations can be followed by such disappointments. As I was hanging up the phone with my parents the other day, we were talking about something important but not life and death. Something big but not overly huge. And my dad said: We’ll just pray for a miracle.
It made me pause. Aren’t miracles reserved for the big things? Should we “waste” a request for a miracle on the thing we’d been talking about?
And then I realized that HOPE says there are enough miracles to go around. Enough miracles for the big and the small things. What an amazing thought!
Ever since my dad’s comment, I’ve been praying for miracles. Wildly, without abandon. Without picking and choosing what to use my “miracle requests” on. It is so freeing. It is so full of HOPE.
How amazing to think that a devotional and an offhand comment can come together like that to remind me that not only is it okay to hope, it’s okay to hope about all the things all the time!
This month I’m celebrating my tenth Love Inspired book being in stores. It is also a story of HOPE: A man who believes he’s broken and not enough. A woman who is working so hard to honor her late brother that she’s losing herself along the way. A teenage boy who has lost his father and is seeking to fill the void. And a dog who’s ready to assist…as long as that assistance is accepted. One might even say a miracle takes place in the story. 😊 One of those middle-of-the-pack miracles that doesn’t register as life or death but that does register as life-changing.
If you happen to grab a copy of The Veteran’s Vow, I hope you enjoy it. 😉 Thanks for letting me be here today. It’s always a pleasure to stop by Seekerville!
Jill Lynn
Jill is giving away a copy of The Veteran's Vow. Simply leave a comment to be entered. (US mailing addresses only, please)
A little about The Veteran’s Vow: When service dog charity head Ellery Watson learns that Behr Delgado suffers from war-induced trauma regarding dogs, she determines to heal that trauma with the one dog who can change his world and assist with his physical disabilities. But she never expects that Behr's assistance with her nephew and impact on her life will heal her in return.
Get your copy here!
Jill pens stories filled with humor, faith and happily-ever-afters. She’s an ACFW Carol Award-winning author and has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University. An avid fan of thrift stores, summer and coffee, she lives in Colorado with her husband and two children, who make her laugh on a daily basis. Connect with her at Jill-Lynn.com or via her social media outlets. https://www.instagram.com/jilllynnauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/JillLynnAuthor/
https://twitter.com/JillLynnAuthor
https://www.pinterest.com/JillLynnAuthor
February 20, 2022
Deepening the Impact of Your Story With Chiasms
Let’s talk about story structure.
Readers and writers both know when a story feels “right.” What is it that gives us that feeling?
It’s when a story is constructed in a way that resonates with our souls.
Basic story structure is simple.
And it is the same pattern, no matter the genre.
In a romance: boy meets girl, love blooms, conflicts happen that lead to near death of the relationship, a pivotal change happens in both characters, love grows, they face a major conflict together, they live happily ever after.
In an adventure story: the hero is called to action, he/she makes mistakes pursuing the quest, he/she has a virtual death/rebirth experience, faces the quest with renewed vigor, slays the virtual (or real) dragon, he/she lives happily ever after.
In a mystery: the sleuth is faced with a crime, the sleuth pursues the bad guy without success, the sleuth has a pivotal change happen in his/her life, the sleuth tracks down the bad guy and wins, he/she lives happily ever after.
Basic story structure! It works!
But…how can you deepen your readers’ experience? How can you add depth to your story that will make it resonate even more fully?
This literary device is key.
A literary device sounds like it might be a trick, but it isn’t anything sneaky. It’s a smart and subtle way to add substance to your story. If you’re a word-geek like me, take some time to study classical rhetoric. You’ll be blown away by the possibilities when you consciously add literary devices to your writing.
The Greek term for this literary device is “chiasm.” (pronounced ki-AZ-um)
Basically, it’s a form of writing that states a truth or tells a story in a structure we can describe as A-B-C-B-A.
The Bible is full of chiasms, and this illustration might help you understand what they are - Let’s take Jesus’ statement in Matthew 11:18-30. I’m using the NASB, but the structure is the same in any translation.
A. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden
B. and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,
C. and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart;
B. and you shall find rest for your souls.
A. For my yoke is easy, and My load is light.
Do you see how the A statements are related? The same with the B statements?
The connected statements reflect and reinforce each other, then the C, or central statement, is the pivot point.
How does this relate to our writing?
Take a look at this expanded story diamond:
See the arrows that connect the plot points? If I wrote this out using the same method as the Bible passage above, it would look like this:
A. Inciting Incident
B. Plot Pivot One
C. Twist One
D. The Pivotal Scene, or Moment of Grace
C. Twist Two
B. The Black Moment
A. Plot Pivot Two, or the Final Battle
So, what does this look like when we’re writing a story?
These are the major plot points to start with when we construct our story.
A - A The Inciting Incident reflects and reinforces the Final Battle.
B - B Plot Point One reflects and reinforces the Black Moment.
C - C Twist One reflects and reinforces Twist Two.
Let’s see how this works using two of the connected plot points in our chiasm. We'll use a romantic plot:
In the Inciting Incident, Benjamin and Heather meet at a county planning commission meeting. He’s there to ask permission to build a playground on Lot A at the edge of town, and she’s there to convince the planning commission to deny permission.
So, what happens in the Final Battle? Benjamin and Heather, now firmly united in love, join forces to convince the planning commission to give permission to build the playground on Lot B on the other end of town (rather than on top of the toxic former battery plant location on Lot A.)
Do the two plot points reflect and reinforce each other? Yes!
Do you see how when these two plot points are related to each other, the story comes around full circle and closes the circle?
Do you see how closing that circle gives your reader the satisfying story conclusion that makes her get all teary-eyed and smiling at the end?
Plotting a story isn't easy, but then, what part of writing is? I like to look at plotting as a puzzle - a puzzle that lends speed and ease to the actual writing process because when you have the plot points laid out, you know the story is going to work.
So let's play with this puzzle in the comment section. How would you connect the other two plot-point-pairs in our story about Benjamin and Heather?
When you play the brain-storming game with us (or make any comment,) you'll be entered in a drawing for one of my Love Inspired Historical Amish romances. Your choice of title!
Thanks for playing with us today!
February 19, 2022
Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests
The Lord's Prayer (Le Pater Noster), by James Tissot, 1886-1894,
Brooklyn Museum. [PD-US]
Jesus said to his disciples:
“To you who hear I say,
love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek,
offer the other one as well,
and from the person who takes your cloak,
do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners do the same.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment,
what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners,
and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give, and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”
Luke 6:27-38
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!God Bless the USA!Also, please join us in praying for peace in the world,especially between Russia and the Ukraine, andfor the protection of our military who have been deployed to that area.
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support!
May the Lord bless you and keep you safe.
February 18, 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: Kristi Ann Hunter taught us a super-helpful editing trick!
Wednesday: Debby Giusti gave us a sneak peek at the AMISH SPRING ROMANCE COLLECTION, releasing on March 1st. Two lucky commentors won a digital copy. Congrats to Elaine Meyer and Marilyn Rushing. Send your contact info to Seekerville2@gmail.com!
Friday: Naomi Craig gave us some great tips on the use of Canva in creating graphics and videos. The winner of a digital copy of her book Rahab's Courage is Winnie Thomas!
Monday: Jan Drexler delves into the fascinating world of story construction with a look at a literary device that will add depth to your reader's experience.
Tuesday: Jill Lynn will be our guest and she's sharing some thoughts on hope, as well as a glimpse of her new release, The Veteran's Vow.
Wednesday: Cate Nolan will be talking about how we can learn writing skills from a children's book. Friday: Pam Hillman
ON SALE NOW!
Order from AMAZON now!
AMISH SPRING ROMANCE COLLECTIONReleasing March 1st!
Preorder the ebook NOW:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HL1Q39M
Click here to enter for a chance to win a copy ofThe Element of Love on Goodreads.
COMING SOON! BOOK TWO OF RUTHY LOGAN HERNE'S "SOUTHERN TIER ROMANCE" SERIES!!!!
"SMALL TOWN HEARTS"
AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER ON AMAZON.COM!RELEASES MARCH 8, 2022
How Writers Can Mine Emotion with Music by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
If You're Still Wondering If Facebook Controls You by James Rubart at Learn How To Write A Novel
The 4 Traits of Successful Writers by Lewis Jorstadt at The Novel Smithy
Stoking Your Story's Fire by David G Brown at Writers Helping Writers
How I Used Book Brush to Support a Chirp Deal by Nicole Burnham at Book Brush Blog
How to Find Pictures and Photos for Your Writer's Blog by Kelley JP Lindberg at Rocky Mountain Fiction Blog
Rules? Who Needs Rules? by Terry Odell at The Kill Zone Blog
Learning to Love Book Research with Savannah Kade by Kristina Adams at The Writer's Cookbook
Best Promo Sites 2022 by David Gaughran
How to Write to Inspire, Not Condemn, Pt 1 by Edie Melson at The Write Conversation
February 17, 2022
Welcome Guest Blogger Naomi Craig!
Winnie here. Today it's my pleasure to host Naomi Craig here at Seekerville. She's going to be discussing how to use Canva to give your graphics a consistent feel regardless of platform. So Naomi, take it away!
You know when you are scrolling through social media and you know who posted that image? You scroll up and sure enough, the name on the profile is exactly who you thought. How do we know that? Because the poster has consistent images. A similar feel to their account.
I’m going to share some ways you can apply that consistency to your account using Canva. To get started you will need a (free) account with Canva.com
I really like Canva’s ease-of-use. It has a very intuitive Drag-and-drop system that makes it easy to use, even if you have no graphic creating experience. I promise.
Consistent Colors
Alright, now that you have Canva opened up, open up another tab and take a screen shot of your website. (Windows: hold down Windows button and “prt sc” at the same time/ Mac Command +Shift +3)
Now open up a new tab for Canva
Select a template of your most commonly used social (IG FB Twitter etc.)
Upload the screen shot (look for it in pictures->screenshots)
Drag it into the template
Click the background-- You will know it is selected with a blue highlight. Select the Rainbow pallet up in the upper left. Now you can see that it is already interpreting you color scheme in Photo Colors! When you hover over a color that you like, a 6-character symbol shows up. Write it down on a sticky! Write down the text you use too! Then you don’t have to eyeball it next time. Keep pulling different parts of the colors that you already have going for your brand. I have 6 different base colors that rotate between. This keeps it easy for you to just swap out your current graphic on the base
Video
Video is the hot thing in marketing. And you know you need to transition to doing more. I know you know.
I know, I know. How are you supposed to get comfortable in front of camera? The majority of us writers are an introverted lot.
Until you get comfortable with getting your face on camera (yes you really should) I have some tips to help you out on Canva.
Target watch time is 15 seconds.
Make it easy on yourself to start. Duplicate the image and remove or shift a layer
To duplicate the page, click the Double box with the + sign.
You can see I did that for 5 slides.
Another non face video is a fast speed aesthetic of what the book is about. You can download free pictures from Unsplash dot com (Canva has some in their library, but not as extensive) This I used about 21 slides, and set them at a much faster timing.
Adjusting the timing
Once you have several slides in one project you should see a clock in the top left corner. You will need to change the timing of each slide individually. The standard time Canva gives you is 5 seconds. Again, your goal for watch time is 15 seconds.
Name it!
Super important. Naming it here will be the difference between using it or losing it (which is ok, you can always find it again on Canva and download again)
Download
When you click on the download button, it will give you several options. For video you want mp4 video.
If you are saving a static graphic, either jpg (compressed, small file) or png (higher quality).
Select the page number. If you are saving as a mp4 video, you will want all the images selected.
If you are saving as a static (yet you have several slides up) make sure to check only the one you are planning to use. Otherwise, it downloads the whole file as a zip. File and gets a little bit harder to navigate.
**Important note. This will save on your computer in the “Download” file. This is where naming it something memorable will come into play😊
The project will also save to your Canva home page. This is a super awesome feature (again, all I use is the free version). This way you can go back to previous projects and update them. Do you have a template for book reviews? Just replace the book cover and maybe switch out for one of your other colors from your custom color palette. Easy peasy. And reusable! Win win!
Other Cool Features
I really like the drag and drop features canva offers. You can even be on amazon, right click your book cover click “copy image”, open up your canva tab and paste it “ctrl V”. Then it actually saves in your upload library.
You can also do all kinds of fun graphics by animating your text and/or your graphic.
Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, pastor's wife, Naomi loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church or trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes, you'll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi co-hosts #BehindTheStory, a Christian author interview show on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts. When not writing and trying to wrangle social media, Naomi is trying to get her rescue dog to be cute on command for Instagram reels. You can check out Naomi's website at https://naomicraig.com
I know this is a whirlwind of information. How do you feel your graphics could use a boost?
Naomi will be giving away a digital copy of Rahab’s Courage to one of our commenters
RAHAB'S COURAGE
A scarlet cord tethers one ruined woman to the salvation of mankind.Harboring two fugitives in a city slated for destruction, Rahab has one small chance of escape. In exchange for their safety, she bargains for her own. Their agreement rewards her courage, and she flees Jericho and a life of prostitution for a new life among the people of Israel. Never again will she have to depend on anyone—especially men.
Except Salmah won’t take the hint.High ranking soldier and leader of the tribe of Judah, Salmah is determined not to repeat his parents’ mistakes. He will keep the Lord’s commandments. Rahab’s growing faith fits right in with phase one of his plans: find a wife who loves the Lord and settle down in the new land.
Rahab finds shelter and meaning in the Lord’s ways until her past comes back to haunt her. As her new faith is put to test, she finds herself alone. Isn’t that what she’d always wanted?
With her courage waning, only the Lord can turn Rahab’s life around again, but will He do it before she loses everyone and everything that really matters to her—to her heart?
To learn more or purchase a copy, click HERE
February 15, 2022
AMISH SPRING ROMANCE COLLECTION
Post by Debby Giusti Flowers are blooming where I live in Georgia! Daffodils line my driveway, and red buds are bursting forth with color. Before long, we’ll see forsythia and Bradford Pear trees full of gorgeous flowers, as well as the Cherry Blossoms trees and Dogwoods! I'm sure some of you are still snowed in and others are dealing with ice and slush. The official beginning of spring is March 20, a little more than a month from now, but Mother Nature has her own schedule and can be fickle, at times! That’s why I’m wishing all of us an early spring.
Whether you’re experiencing sunny skies and moderate temperatures or arctic blasts and snow flurries, I’m sure you’re thinking about warm weather. I am as well. I’m also thinking about the delightful, new anthology of stories that releases on March 1st. The AMISH SPRING ROMANCE COLLECTION is sure to warm your heart and bring a smile to your lips as you delve into the amazing novellas in this collection.
The Amish Spring Romance Collection Features stories from some of your favorite authors.
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Needless to say, I’m honored to have my story included in the anthology that features so many of the bestselling authors I love to read. If you enjoy Amish fiction or romance or stories that touch your heart and keep you turning the page, you’ll want to order a copy of the AMISH SPRING ROMANCE COLLECTION, either digital or trade paper. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HL1Q39M Pre-order now to ensure you receive your copy as soon as it releases.
My author copy arrived over the weekend, and I was thrilled with quality of the printing and the way the book draws me into the stories and makes me eager to turn page after page after page. To whet your appetite, I’ve included a bit of information about the authors and the blurb for each story.
I’m giving away two digital copies of AMISH SPRING ROMANCE COLLECTION today. To enter the drawing, leave a comment and tell me whether you’re an avid reader of the Amish genre or if you’re interested in reading the wonderful Amish stories in this collection. Also share anything you’d like about the Amish stories you love to read, the weather in your part of the country or when you expect your flowers to be in bloom.
Here’s a peek at the amazing stories in the AMISH SPRING ROMANCE COLLECTION:
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Bestselling author Jennifer Beckstrand says: “My goal is to write uplifting, inspiring stories with happy endings and hopeful messages.” She also shared this: “I love working on anthologies because I get to rub shoulders with some amazing women and authors, and it's so much fun!" Learn more about Jennifer at her website: http://www.jenniferbeckstrand.com/
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Ivy’s New Beginning
by Jennifer Beckstrand
Ivy Zook has done a multitude of things she’s not proud of, including jumping the fence, running off with an Englischer, and getting pregnant out of wedlock. Older, sadder, and wiser, Ivy has rejoined her Amish community, but after what she’s done, fitting in is well-nigh impossible. Certainly, no good Amish man could be interested in her. But a chance meeting with Isaac Neuenschwander makes Ivy hope for more than a life of loneliness and regret. Will Isaac see past the foolishness of Ivy’s youth and open his heart to the love that Gotte has in store for both of them?
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Bestselling authorPatricia Davids calls herself “an avid fisherman, a world traveler and finally an award winning, best-selling author of more than 40 books.” She adds, “The [print] book is beautiful and the authors in this group are fantastic.” Learn more at https://patriciadavids.com/index.html
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A Match for the Teacher
by Patricia Davids
Pass or fail?
Three children devise a plot to help their lonely teacher find love so he’ll remain at their school, but will their plan work before the school year ends and he moves away
When single Amish teacher Matthias Troyer endeavored to mend his relationship with Karen Yoder, a woman he cares for deeply, his cousin Ogden interfered with disastrous results. Again. Matthias fears this time his friendship with Karen is beyond mending. He decides the best thing to do is to leave town and start over somewhere else.
Karen can’t believe she is still attracted to Matthias after he nearly caused her to miss her sister’s wedding. She is determined to ignore those feelings and him, but the building where her father is opening the family’s new bakery is next door to the school where she’ll see Matthias every day.
Can the determined students help Karen discover Matthias’s worthiness before he leaves, or will Ogden’s obsession with Karen foil their plans?
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Bestselling author Rachel J. Good grew up near Lancaster County, PA, is a former teacher and librarian, who completed her MA from Vermont College while raising five children. “It’s been a joy working with such talented authors who have the purpose of sharing God’s love,” she said. “When I wrote the blurb of my story, I knew Josiah had a dark secret, but I didn’t know what it was. As I wrote, it surprised me to find out what secret he was hiding and how it connected him to Lily. I love how writing can be a process of uncovering ideas.” Visit Rachel website at https://www.fantasticfiction.com/g/rachel-j-good/
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Hope Blossoms
by Rachel J. Good
Lily Bontrager welcomes the spring sunshine after the cold, dreary days of winter. To keep herself from dwelling on her own sadness and loss, she assists an Englischneighbor with her two little girls. And she rejoices in the shoots and buds in her garden. One other thing has her heart trilling. Newcomer Josiah Miller drove her home from singing on Sunday. Hope blossoms in her heart like the flowers in her garden. Both Josiah and the garden are promises of God’s renewal and blessing.
Josiah Miller arrives in town with a deep, dark secret weighing heavily on his mind. A secret he kept to protect his brother. A secret he could no longer hold inside. He’s come to Lancaster County to make amends. He only plans to stay a week, but then he meets Lily Bontrager. Now he wants to stay forever. But once Lily discovers his true mission, will she even speak to him, let alone court him?
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Bestselling author Jennifer Spredemann writes “Heart-Touching Amish Fiction,” and lives on a former Amish farm in Indiana where the documentary “Breaking the Silence” was filmed. She says the AMISH SPRING ROMANCE COLLECTION is “like a buffet for our readers. It gives readers a taste of each author's writing style and could help them discover new favorites. I personally love shorter stories that I can read through in one sitting.” Jennifer adds, “The collection is sure to get our readers looking forward to sunshine and daffodils after a long winter.” Visit her website at https://www.jenniferspredemann.com/
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The Arrangement
by Jennifer Spredemann
A handsome Amish bachelor. A bishop’s daughter in trouble. An unexpected marriage.
When Bishop Bontrager's teen daughter becomes pregnant with an Englischer's baby, he's determined to keep her in their Amish community—and find a gut Amish husband for her.
Amish bachelor Justin Beachy is shocked when the bishop approaches him with an outlandish plan to marry his young daughter—and keep her pregnancy a secret. But, as crazy as the bishop’s plan seems, Justin’s compassionate heart won't allow him to decline the proposal.
While Lucy reluctantly agrees to a marriage of convenience, she mourns the relationship with her baby's father. Will her agreement end in resentment toward her new husband, her father, and the Amish church?
Can Justin and Lucy discover God’s blessings in their lives and navigate their way to happily-ever-after?
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Bestselling author Debby Giusti is an Army brat and Army wife who traveled the world, but always considered Ohio—with its delightful Amish communities—home. Learn more about Debby at www.DebbyGiusti.com
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Finding Her Amish Home
by Debby Giusti
A match on a DNA genealogy test leads Melanie Taylor to search for a half sister she never knew she had, but sinister forces don’t want the two women to meet or to uncover the truth about their Amish mother’s past. When danger looms, Melanie stumbles unexpectedly into Amish farmer Jacob Brubaker’s sheltering arms. Jacob’s affection was cast aside, once before, by an Englischer, and as hard as he tries to protect Melanie, he wonders if she too will break his heart.
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Bestselling author Molly Jebber has visited Amish Country in Ohio many times and admires the Amish people because of their dedication to God. She also adds, “They work hard and have such a close knit friendship with each other.” About this collection, she said, “I'm honored to work alongside such wonderful, kind, and talented author friends in the AMISH SPRING ROMANCE anthology!” Visit Molly’s website at https://www.mollyjebber.com/
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The Cedar Box
by Molly Jebber
Madeline leaves Berlin, Ohio to manage her aunt’s candy and candle store in Middlebury, Ohio, until her aunt recovers from a broken leg. She’s sad to leave her Amish friends and family to help an aunt she doesn’t know, until she meets Adam. Her aunt doesn’t approve, and she warns her to stay away from him. She’s willing to give him a chance, but she finds out he’s kept something from her. She’s in love and heartbroken. What does the future hold for Madeline and Adam?
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Bestselling author Kathleen Fuller was born in New Orleans, but lived in Ohio for twenty-two years. I’m sure frequent visits to Holmes County solidified her love of the Amish and her desire to include them in the delightful stories she writes. About this collection, Kathy said, “I was glad for the chance to write a sequel to my story in Amish Christmas Miracles and to write about an older couple. I also like working with the other authors and interacting with everyone.” Learn more about Kathleen at her website: www.KathleenFuller.com
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Love Blooms
by Kathleen Fuller
Jonas Stoltzfus, the irascible widower from “Sleigh Bells Ring”, gets a second chance at love.
After losing his wife, Mary, to cancer nine years ago, 68-year-old Jonas Stoltzfus is unable to move past his grief. Life has been difficult and lonely, and he desperately misses Becca’s quiet companionship and steadfast love.
Master gardener Lorene King is a joyful 65-year-old woman who has never married. Sharing her gift of gardening and helping others keeps her fulfilled. Besides, she has never met a man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, including Jonas. His constant crankiness frustrates her, while her eternal optimism grates on him. Unsurprisingly, the two of them have never gotten along.
When a spring flood ruins many of the gardens in town, Lorene works tirelessly to help others recover what they’ve lost. Jonas had always deferred to Becca’s green thumb, but it doesn’t sit well with him that Lorene’s flowers and vegetables are dying, and he decides to give her a helping hand in the evenings.
Soon Lorene learns that Jonas’s gruff exterior is hiding deep pain, while he is amazed by her perpetually positive attitude. Drawn to each other, they find their unexpected attraction both confusing and delightful.
But once Lorene’s garden is thriving again and Jonas’s help isn’t needed, their budding relationship is at a crossroads. Can Jonas overcome his heartache enough to accept and give love? And after years of life as a single woman, will Lorene risk a broken heart?
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The authors of this wonderful collection invite you to join our Facebook site where you can take part in our launch party and find more information about our Buggy Book Bingo that runs through the end March with a big $100 Amazon gift card giveaway to one lucky participant! Join our Amish Spring Romance Collection Facebook site and learn more about Buggy Book Bingo at https://www.facebook.com/groups/358629812647663
Remember to leave a comment today to be entered in the drawings for the digital copies of AMISH SPRING ROMANCE I'm giving away. To pre-order your own copy, either digital or paper, click here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HL1Q39M
Happy reading, dear friends!
Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
Also, you might be interested in my latest release from Love Inspired Suspense. SMUGGLERS IN AMISH COUNTRY, which is in book stores now!
SMUGGLERS IN AMISH COUNTRY
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 on Amazon!
