Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 50

Checklist for Entering Contests

 

Hey kids! Do you know what time it is?

It's contest time!

One thing almost all published authors have in common is that we got our feet wet in the publishing industry by entering contests. 

What does that mean? I believe that learning to navigate the writing contest world is great training for becoming a successful author!Opportunities abound for entering contests! One reason for the timing of this post is because the deadline for ACFW's First Impressions Contest is THIS FRIDAY! OCTOBER 15th!
So this post is your head's up!
This is a rewrite of a post Pam Hillman did *way too many* years ago – but contest time is here again, so I thought it was time to bring Pam’s fabulous post out of the archives, dust it off, update it, and bring it out again!

So with Pam’s permission, here’s her updated post:

Checklist for Entering Contests
by Pam Hillman/Jan Drexler
My former boss always said that my attention to detail was what made me good at my job. And just for the record, I quit my former job a few years ago to write, work in the Christian publishing world, and manage the books on the family farm. It wasn't like I was fired from that day job! Just sayin' :)

So, this slightly OCD trait also comes in handy when preparing manuscripts to send out, whether to contests, agents, or editors. But if you’re not detail-oriented, not to worry. Here are some tips to help keep you on track.


Keep in mind that some of the tips below do not apply to all contests. This list of tips is to help you get in the habit of doing all the steps every time you enter a contest, so that you can whip out an entry in a matter of hours. If something doesn't apply, you just mark it off your list.

Once you’ve got the content of your manuscript and your synopsis polished to a shine and the deadline is approaching, then:

1) Review the big picture rules
a. Does your manuscript fit neatly into one of the categories? 
b. Do you know who the finalist judges are?
c. Have you looked at a sample score sheet if available?
d. When is the deadline?

2) Review the rules specific to your manuscript and your synopsis

a. Check the margins

b. Check font and font size

c. Check to see if there is a title page. A lot of online contests have moved away from title pages, but it never hurts to check the rules, just in case.

d. Check header. What exactly does the contest require in the header? What does the contest forbid in the header (like your name or pseudonym)?
e. Double-check the contest's formatting rules. Do they have a formatting example? Check it out!  


3) There are few contests, agents, or editors that require you to mail in your entry but keep these things in mind in case you hit one of those.

a. Did you include enough books or copies of your manuscript? If books for a published contest, did you sign them?
b. Did you double-TRIPLE-check the mailing address?
c. Pay a bit extra for Delivery Confirmation. You'll be glad you did. 

d. And especially if you are mailing in your entry, you might want to print out the mailing address for one last check when you get to the post office. In your excitement, it’s much too easy to get to the post office and seal that sucker up, forgetting all about the return postage and/or your check.


Entering unpublished contests have changed a lot over the years as the bulk of them have gone online. On one hand, the process is much, much easier and cheaper, especially since you don't have to print or mail anything. Isn't that a blessing? Contests with 3-5 print copies of a 20-25 page manuscript added a chunk of change to someone's contest budget. Also, for you young whippersnappers, us oldies had to pay for printing, postage to mail our entries, and a SASE envelope with enough postage for the contest to return all our judged entries. I like online much better.
But online contests don't come without problems. Slow internet, incompatible software, corrupted files, and failure to confirm your entry or payment can knock you out of a contest.


A year or so before I sold, I found out about a contest that was low on inspirational entries, so with hours before the deadline, I entered two manuscripts. One went through fine, but for some reason the other one kept converting from 35 pages on my computer to 39 on the coordinator's computer. Same two computers and the same coordinator as the other manuscript, minutes apart. It was the weirdest thing I'd ever seen and neither of us could fix it. The coordinator bent over backwards to help, but in the end, I had to make a decision. In desperation, I chopped 5 pages off the end, and sent it in with 2 minutes to spare. The manuscript was within the page count at that point and wasn't disqualified. (It finaled and actually won the contest. Go figure...)

Once a contest lost my digital entry. Just literally lost it. I can't remember if they gave me a refund or if they had someone read for me. In the course of writing this post, I found another one that I'm still not sure I ever got the results on. Let it go! Let it go! It never bothered me anyway....

Always, always, always make sure you use an email address that you check regularly and especially check your email after the fact if you end up entering a contest with mere hours to spare. Contest coordinators are amazing at bending over backwards to let people fix issues, but in fairness to other entrants, once the deadline has passed, there's nothing they can do. Stay on top of your entry and don't be disqualified for something that could be prevented just by being aware of your email trail.
Generally when you enter a contest, you will receive at least two emails. Possibly more.

1) Payment confirmation. Most of the time, this email will come from PayPal as that's the go-to for most online payments these days. PayPal allows non-users to pay with a debit or credit card, but the email will still come from PayPal.
2) Entry confirmation receipt. This receipt will be from group/chapter hosting the contest OR the contest coordinator's private email, depending on the software the contest is using. It confirms that the contest coordinator received your entry. Again, generally speaking, #1 and #2 go hand in hand and are automated responses when you complete your entry. This email will usually let you know if you need to look for additional emails.
3) Additional emails might land in your inbox once contest coordinators have laid eyes on your manuscript pages and made sure they meet the guidelines.
By checking your email, you ensure that you've completed the process, sent in your manuscript and received payment. The best laid plans can go awry even after you do everything perfectly, hit submit, but then go off to celebrate your achievement... only to find out that there was a glitch with your PayPal account. 99% of the time, you will receive an email confirmation immediately from PayPal. If you have time to wait 24 hours, do so. If the deadline is looming, it wouldn't hurt to check on the status of your entry.

It never hurts to check and double check everything. You’ll feel better, your package will be neat and tidy, and the coordinator will be forever grateful.

Jan here – I’ll add one more thing to Pam’s great advice at this point. Don’t…please, just don’t…make sending in your contest submission the last item on your to-do list before you head out on a week-long break from the internet! If the contest coordinator needs to get in contact with you, you need to be reachable. (You wouldn’t believe how often that happens!)
Then you sit back and wait for the results...or...

better yet, write another book!!!



Jan here again - I mentioned the First Impressions contest above. You can find out all the details of that contest for newbie, pre-published authors HERE! And that deadline is THIS FRIDAY! 
Another ACFW contest for unpublished/pre-published authors is the Genesis. You have a little while to get ready for this contest, but you MUST have a completed manuscript to enter. The contest opens in early January 2022, and the deadline will be in March. Details for the 2021 contest are here.
And if you're itching to learn about more contests, be sure to sign up for Tina Radcliffe's newsletter. She scours the interwebs to bring us the details! Here's all the info you need: Inside Edition
So, let's talk contests!
Any contest war wounds? Lost submissions? You sent in your fee, but forgot to send in the manuscript/books? You sent in everything except your fee? You entered your manuscript in the least likely category that it could ever possibly final in? 'fess up! :)
Or are you brand new to contests? Would you...could you...take the plunge into the contest waters?
Just remember - contests are how many of the original Seekers sailed off Unpubbed Island!
   

Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests

"Christ and the Rich Young Ruler" by Heinrich Hofmann,
1889, Riverside Church, New York. [PD-US]

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up,
knelt down before him, and asked him,
"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus answered him, "Why do you call me good? 
No one is good but God alone.
You know the commandments: You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
you shall not defraud;
honor your father and your mother." 
He replied and said to him,
"Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth."
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him,
"You are lacking in one thing.
Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 
At that statement his face fell,
and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
"How hard it is for those who have wealth
to enter the kingdom of God!" 
The disciples were amazed at his words.
So Jesus again said to them in reply,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 
They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves,
"Then who can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said,
"For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. 
All things are possible for God." 
Peter began to say to him,
"We have given up everything and followed you." 
Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you,
there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the sake of the gospel
who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age:
houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and lands,
with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."

Mark 10:17-30

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!
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: The Winner of a signed copy of Mary Connealy's new release Love on the Range is Anne Rightlier.
Wednesday:  Mindy offered some encouragement for pre-published authors.
Friday: Carrie shared some outstanding advice for author websites. Whether you're a multi-published author or awaiting the release of your debut novel, there's some great insight into what readers and bloggers look for when they visit your webpage. The winner of a super fun reading journal from Ink and Willow is... Connie Queen!


Monday:  Jan Drexler has updated an archived post by Pam Hillman about contests! Pam's original post helped Jan navigate the contest world back in those early days, and we're sure it will help you, too!
Wednesday:  Ruthy comes storming in chatting about something earth-shattering and bossy, no doubt. :) Join her as she talks about her upcoming Love Inspired release "The Path Not Taken", book 2 of her new Kendrick Creek series!   Friday: Winnie will be here to share some writerly wisdom.







Hey, I promised some of our writing buddies a shout out this weekend for their new anthology release, so here it is! Wonderful collection!

Crisp Days. Cold Nights. Dangerous Pursuits.

The chill of fall brings with it a hint of peril in Dangerous Pursuits.

Consecrated Sacrifice by Mary Alford:

CIA Officer Branch Collins is saved by a dead woman. Is she a hero or a traitor? Everything rides on finding out the answer.

The Last Day by Lisa Harris:

When Dr. Hope McQuaid stops at the scene of an accident on a lonely west Texas highway, she becomes a bargaining chip for two dangerous fugitives with nothing to lose.

Sleep Deprived by Therese Heckenkamp:

When sleep deprivation skews her judgment, grieving young mother Mae risks everything to save a baby—only to wind up accused of a crime.

A Time to Hunt by Cynthia Hickey:

A bestselling author finds himself mired in a plot straight out of one of his books, and the clock is ticking down to the death of those around him.

Don't Look Down by Gina Holder:

Can she prove a killer's guilt before he silences her forever? Erynn, owner of the Gourmet Gal food truck, witnesses a murder, but no one believes her.

Deadly Heights by Ronie Kendig:

Heiress and experienced climber Jolie Decouteau doesn't believe in coincidences, so getting acute mountain sickness while on a hike shortly after her father is found dead convinces her that someone is trying to kill her.

Never Think Twice by Loree Lough:

One of the felons recovery agent Fitz delivered to authorities has escaped from his maximum-security prison and is coming after Fitz and his loved ones.

A Dark Silence by Dana R. Lynn:

Deaf since birth, Heidi Martin is excited about her new career as a counselor at the school for the deaf. Until she walks in on a murder and must flee to stay alive.

Amish Justice by Ann Malley:

In the cross-hairs of an Amish criminal kingpin, Naomi Boentreger is forced to uncover family secrets first and trust the man she once loved yet now barely recognizes.

A Dark Road Home by Dana Mentink:

After a tragic mistake, Lola Armstrong left the U.S. Marshals and rancher Abe Everhart far behind. Now Abe's on her doorstep with retrograde amnesia and his twin niece and nephew in tow.

Courage on the Run by J. Carol Nemeth:

When innkeeper Casey Hartman witnesses a murder, can guest DEA Agent Will Kerns keep her safe from the killer as they head out on the run?

Stepping from Shadows by Cara Putman:

When Emma Donahue goes home, it's time to find answers or die trying. She has days to discover the truth or she'll lose her inheritance. After years of trusting no one, can she risk relying on Lance Updike?

Deadly Catalyst by Sharee Stover:

What starts as an online computer game becomes a life-and-death struggle for Jorja Hale and her teen brother, plummeting them into a deadly underground network.

Protecting the Heiress by Terri Reed:

A reluctant heiress needs the protection of the intelligence officer who broke her heart if she is to make it to the reading of her father's will alive.

The Winter Pearl by Lenora Worth:

When antique-jewelry store owner Hannah Dupree mistakenly receives a priceless pearl necklace, someone is out to kill her and get it back.

Buy links: 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3hBqkA3

Barnes and Noble: https://bit.ly/3hCJUvH

Apple: https://apple.co/3v1Pw6C

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3d2uDRO

A Man with a PastBook #2 of the Brothers in Arms SeriesMade the Bestseller ListJust in time for the release of Love on the RangeBook #3 of the Brothers in Arms Series!!!Christian Book Expo: ECPA Christian New Releases, October 2021


Creative Ways to Create a Book Spine by LA Sartor at Book Brush Blog


How to Create Nuanced Characters by Nina Schuyler at Live Write Thrive
The Journey by Patricia Bradley at Learn How to Write a Novel
What is a MacGuffin by Eldred Bird at Writers In The Storm
How do the Characters We Write Speak to Us? by Sarah Sally Hamer at The Write Conversation
How to Properly Introduce Your Protagonist by PJ Parrish at Kill Zone Blog
How to Start Worldbuilding by World Anvil at NaNoWriMo Blog
Why I Bought the Book by Tamela Hancock Murray at Steve Laube Agency
How to Use Mystery to Hook Your Readers by Jonah Lehrer at The Creative Penn 
How Much do I Need to Describe My Character's Appearance? by Angela Ackerman at Writers Helping Writers

Top 5 Must-Haves for An Author Website (from a reader's point of view)

 

Happy Friday, Seeker villagers! As an avid reader, reviewer, book blogger, and book marketer, I spend a lot of time on author websites. Like... a lot. Ninety-nine percent of the blog posts I publish on Reading Is My SuperPower require me to visit an author's website. And I would say at least fifty percent of what I do for JustRead Tours also finds me there too. 

Picture this all-too-common scenario with me: I am doing a review for your debut novel, so I don't know a lot about you as an author yet. I search for your name (plus the keyword 'author') on the interwebs, click the link it regurgitates at me, the website loads .... and .... I sigh with disappointment. I can find almost no helpful information that I need to finish building my blog post. In fact, it doesn't even look like you want readers to connect with you at all.

What does this mean for you? Well... if it's me on the other end of that click, it means that I'm going to scrounge up what I can find elsewhere because I'm stubborn. But an interested reader who looked up your website may get frustrated and go away, no longer invested in you or your books. 

So what are some basic, easy-peasy-to-do must-haves that every author should include on their website to tell readers & media everything they need to know?

1. Author Bio

Ideally, you should offer a short bio and a medium-length bio. Both bio options should be in third person (I cannot stress that enough!!!) Our very own Mindy Obenhaus has two perfect bios to choose from on her website. My recommendation would be one paragraph max for the short bio & no more than three paragraphs for the longer one. 

Oh - and please keep your bio updated! If I go to an author's website and their bio says something like "Her latest book releases in March 2017", but I am posting about her actual latest book that released in October 2021, I am going to be hesitant to use the bio on her website.

2. High Resolution Head Shot

You can have a variety of head shots to choose from or just the one - that's not as important as the fact that the photos you include should be high resolution and professional-looking. Note: I'm not saying you absolutely must invest in a professional head shot (though I do recommend it) but at least make sure it's high quality and cropped well. I also strongly suggest that you be looking at the camera and smiling. Look friendly and open and "buy my book & you'll have fun". But the most important thing is that it's high resolution and doesn't look like my six-year-old nephew took it and/or cropped it.

Why does this matter on a website and not just a book jacket or media interview? Well, because graphics matter to most book bloggers / marketers. See the two examples below. This a graphic template I use often on RimSP - I have lost count of how many times I've had to hunt down a higher resolution or more professional looking head shot because the one on the author's website looks more like the 'please, no' sample than the 'yes, please' one. 

I know I'm spending a lot of time on this point but can you see the difference a professional looking photo can make? It sets a first impression for readers that can reflect negatively (whether true or not) on the assumed quality of your writing. So if you're going to spend some time and money on one thing, let it be this!

3. Updated Book Information 

This is similar to the 'keep it updated' note I mentioned in the section on your author bio. Your latest release should be easily discoverable on your website with a high resolution front cover (don't only include the whole cover spread - book bloggers don't use those) and a variety of purchase links. It's also not a bad idea to link to your publisher's page for your book. In other words, make it a piece of cake for people to find your book. (And now I want cake. And to read a book.) The fabulous Becky Wade is a great example of putting this 'must-have' into practice. Her latest release is super simple to find, and she also has a book list in a separate tab, organized by series. You can click on each book cover for the blurb, ways to purchase, fun behind the scenes info, quote graphics and more. Super fun for readers & super helpful for book bloggers / marketers.

PS - Need to know how to tell whether an image file is high resolution or not? There are some very technical descriptions that go over my head but as a general rule of thumb, if it's under 1MB in file size then it's probably not high resolution enough.

4. Social Media Links 

Let readers know how to connect with you!!! If we love your books, we are definitely going to want to follow you on social media and learn more about you & your life & what you're reading too. And if we find that we have things in common, well then we're all the more invested in you as a person and as an author. Personal investment from readers makes you an 'auto buy author' for them ... which translates into consistent sales. If they're coming to your website, they want to know more about you. Don't miss those opportunities! Our dear Mary Connealy has the icons readily visible no matter where you click through on her website AND listed out in her media kit too. Super helpful!!

5. Mailing List Sign-Up

While we're talking about connecting with your readers, you really need to have a way for readers to sign up for new book alerts and other email newsletters you might send throughout the year. This should be - you can probably guess what I'm going to say - easy to find on your website, whether it's a separate tab or a pop-up or a prominent place on your landing page and/or media kit.

Which brings me to the part of this post where it all comes together. If you've clicked on any of the authors' websites I linked to above, you may have noticed that they all have one thing in common - their media kit pages. A media kit on your website is a godsend for bloggers / media / marketers because all the info they are looking for is all on one page - can I get an amen?! But again... keep it updated. It's useless to us if it's 5 books old. (By the way, the 2021 Christy Award finalist Erica Vetsch did a terrific post on media kits a while back.)

Optional Fun Things To Also Include

I polled some bookish friends (aka Beth & Rachel) for some other ideas of things that aren't must-haves but do also appeal to readers. These are optional, but they really are a lot of fun to have!

a printable book list (example: Jody Hedlund)charts of interconnected characters/books or family trees (example: Melanie Dickerson)book club kits (example: DiAnn Mills)other fun extras like character profiles, recipes, playlists, etc. (example: Dani Pettrey)

The possibilities of what you can do are endless... have fun with it & your readers will too! But don't get overwhelmed. As long as you have the top 5 must-haves I covered in this post, your website will be an incredibly useful tool to establish connections with the people who will read & promote your books.

~*~*~*~

Carrie Schmidt is an avid reader, book reviewer, story addict, KissingBooks fan, book boyfriend collector, and cool aunt. She also loves Jesus and THE Story a whole lot. Co-founder of the Christian Fiction Readers' Retreat and JustRead Publicity Tours, LLC, Carrie lives in Georgia with her husband Eric.

She can be found lurking at various blogs and websites (because she can't stop talking about books) but her main home is the blog she started in 2015 - ReadingIsMySuperPower.org.

 

What about you?
Authors, what questions do you have about your author website?
Readers, what makes you want to hang out on an author's website?

Comment below for a chance to win this super fun reading journal from Ink and Willow!
(US only)

While We’re Waiting – Encouragement for the Pre-published Author

 

by Mindy Obenhaus

The road to publication can be daunting, to say the least. There’s so much to learn. I wrote my first manuscript before I ever attended any sort of writers’ group. When I finally did, I promptly learned what I had written was a really bad first draft.

I knew nothing about writing. Not even proper formatting. And POV? What was that all about? Deep POV? Ay, ay, ay.

I started buying books on writing, attended every meeting and conference I could. I wrote and rewrote. Joined a critique group and rewrote some more until, finally, after years of learning and implementing, I had something worthy of submitting.

[Insert weird, Psycho-like music]

Yep, sending our babies out into the world is always scary, whether it’s to kindergarten or an agent or editor. Yet while kindergarteners are usually home by mid-afternoon, it could be months before you hear anything about your manuscript. What’s a writer to do?

Well, if your goal is to build a career as a writer, you only have one option. Keep writing.

“But, but,” I hear you say. “What if…?”

Don’t allow fear to stifle you –

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but somewhere along the way an agent or editor might tell you your work isn’t quite there yet. An editor might respond that your project isn’t right for their house. Or they love the concept but want you to rewrite two thirds of the book. You crumble and whine. How could they possibly think your baby is anything but perfect? They don’t know what they’re talking about. You drown yourself in chocolate or something else that’s normally off limits. Then, once the Seekerville allotted 24-hour mourning period is over, you go back and reread the agent/editor’s comments again.

Rejection vs Redirection –

If their response states that your project isn’t right for them and they’re going to pass, that’s a rejection. But things like, “your work isn’t quite there yet,” or “I love the story concept, but I’d like the hero to learn he has a child in chapter one instead of chapter nine,” puts the ball back in your court. That’s not a rejection, my friend, that’s redirection and you can do one of two things with it. You can choose to dig your heels in and lament about how the story will have to change and that’s not how you envisioned it, or you can make changes and resubmit. If your work isn’t quite there, keep working. And above all…

Never stop learning –

In my years of attending writer’s conferences there’s one thing I’ve observed. Bestselling, multi-published authors are always learning. The first time I saw Terri Blackstock sitting in the same workshop I was attending, I was flabbergasted. She was even taking notes! What an example that was for an aspiring author. Of course, the simple fact that you’re here at Seekerville tells me you’re eager to learn. And now with so many online classes, it’s easier than ever to learn right at home.

Publication may be a writer’s goal, but it’s not the finish line. Fear will still try to ensnare us. Rejection and/or redirection still lurks around the corner. But as it says in Hebrews 12, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”

If you’re a published author, what words of wisdom do you have for those still chasing that dream? If you’re still waiting on that seemingly elusive contract, what keeps you pressing on? And readers, what do you think when you hear how much is involved in the writing process?

Award-winning author Mindy Obenhaus is passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. She lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, two sassy pups, countless cattle, deer and the occasional coyote, mountain lion or snake. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking and watching copious amounts of the Hallmark Channel. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com

Love on the Range releases TOMORROW!

 When you write a three book series, it's a little tricky to introduce the characters who will populate the series but keep the main romantic hero and heroine front and center, while developing the secondary characters with an eye toward setting them up for their own story.

So, Molly and Wyatt. They've very definitely played parts in the earlier books but Molly is mainly taking care of the house and cooking for everyone, for which she has a strong talent.

And Wyatt has mostly been working. While Cheyenne, his half-sister runs off in a temper in the first book, then chases after bad guys while falling in love in the second book, Wyatt has needed to keep the ranch running.

So what it amounts to is, Molly and Wyatt have been doing all the work.

Now it's their turn. I ended the last book with Wyatt getting shot. Now we start this book with him with a broken collarbone, mostly tied up to keep one arm from moving and Molly waiting on his hand and foot. Now it's everyone else's turn to do all Wyatt's work.

And Molly is getting tired of being doing everything.

And she's exhausted, and for a mild mannered woman, a very RESERVED woman, she's getting a little cranky.

Love on the Range

There is still one day to pre-order on Baker Book House. On Sale and free shipping! Click to Buy

Buy on Amazon Here

Wyatt woke up to a woman in his bed.

            Very few things in his life had ever been stranger.

            She had her hand resting on his chest. Flat, right over his heart. Her head resting on his shoulder. Which wasn’t the shoulder that’d been shot. His arm was around her.

            She was on top of the covers and he was under, but it was still the strangest and most wonderful thing that’d ever happened to him.

            And he’d once watched a cow sniff a little cloud that rolled into a mountain valley, leading a horde of clouds that settled into fog.

            That fog rolling in, like little balls of fluff, that sniffing cow, that’d been the strangest and most wonderful thing…up until now.

            Molly. And boy oh boy, this was now number one and the sniffing cow wasn’t even a close second.

Molly What? What was her name? He’d hardly ever talked to her. Well, a few times. And she’d served him delicious food. She was a way better cook than Cheyenne and a fair sight better than Win. She’d patched some of his clothes, washed them, hung them on the line, he’d seen her doing it. She’d cleaned up after all of them, washed dishes. She’d kept this house running through a time of madness.

And now she was sleeping in his bed, in his arms, and it felt…right.

Most everyone around here was named Hunt. His mind rabbited around to Win marrying Kevin and then like a jolt of lightning, he remembered Cheyenne marrying Falcon. He leapt out of bed…except he didn’t.

            He tried. Realized he was all but tied up. Remembered why—his broken bone--and figured he was too late to stop the wedding anyway.

            So he just stayed where he was and watched Molly sleep. He’d done some wiggling when he’d tried to sit up and she’d slept through it so she must be exhausted. Poor thing.

            He realized that her name could be Hunt too, if he married up with her. And shouldn’t a man marry a woman he shared a bed with?

            Especially when he was so uncommonly pleased to wake up next to her.

            There were dark shadows under her eyes. His head was clear enough to remember being in and out of consciousness, fighting a blazing fever, a lot of it was blurred, but he knew whatever else was going on, whoever else was around, Molly had always been here.

            Marrying a woman he really didn’t know at all, just because he liked waking up next to her, struck him as a lunatic notion. But his life was one lunatic moment after another lately.

            Anyway, she didn’t like him much. So he set the idea aside.

Garner. Molly Garner.

            There, somehow knowing her name released him from any plans to change her name to Hunt by marrying up with her. He could remain single.

            Relief swept through him and that relief told him he’d made the right decision.

            Still, she was a pretty little thing.

Today tell me if you've ever wrote a series. How do you do it? Some series are just set in the same place but not largely populated by the same characters. If you don't write in series, why not? Leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for a signed copy of Love on the Range.

AND ON SALE NOW! \

THE ACCIDENTAL GUARDIAN

BOOK #1 OF THE HIGH SIERRA SWEETHEARTS SERIES. 

ON KINDLE ONLY FOR $1.99. 

When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he recognizes the hand behind the attack as the same group who left him as sole survivor years ago. Living off the wilderness since then, he'd finally carved out a home and started a herd--while serving as a self-appointed guardian of the trail, driving off dangerous men. He'd
hoped those days were over, but the latest attack shows he was wrong.

Deborah Harkness saved her younger sister and two toddlers during the attack, and now finds herself at the mercy of her rescuer. Trace offers the only shelter for miles around, and agrees to take them in until she can safely continue. His simple bachelor existence never anticipated kids and women in the picture and their arrival is unsettling--yet enticing.

Working to survive the winter and finally bring justice to the trail, Trace and Deborah find themselves drawn together--yet every day approaches the moment she'll leave forever.

Sunday Scripture & Prayer Request

James Tissot, The Pharisees Question Jesus, 1886-1894,
Brooklyn Museum. [PD-US]

The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked,
"Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" 
They were testing him.
He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" 
They replied,
"Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce
and dismiss her."
But Jesus told them,
"Because of the hardness of your hearts
he wrote you this commandment. 
But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
So they are no longer two but one flesh. 
Therefore what God has joined together,
no human being must separate." 
In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. 
He said to them,
"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another
commits adultery against her;
and if she divorces her husband and marries another,
she commits adultery."

And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
"Let the children come to me;
do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these. 
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it."
Then he embraced them and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.

Mark 10:2-16

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. 

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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: Erica compared plotting to piecing together a puzzle and offered some tips on how to make everything come together.
Wednesday: Ruthy introduced us to her upcoming Wishing Bridge release, Embracing Light in Wishing Bridge and the struggles she faced along the way. 
Friday: Open Critique Friday!


Monday:  Mary has a new book releasing this week! Come and check it out! There will be prizes!
Wednesday:  The publishing world can move at a snail's pace. Mindy will  share some tips on staying productive while you're waiting.  Friday: (I don't think Carrie is on today?)







LOVE ON THE RANGE RELEASES TUESDAY!!!

BOOK #3 OF THE ACTION PACKEDBROTHERS IN ARMS SERIESIT'S ON SALE FOR PRE-ORDERS ... WITH FREE SHIPPING FROM BAKER BOOK HOUSE--CLICK TO BUY
PRE-ORDER FROM AMAZONPRE-ORDER FROM BARNES AND NOBLE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ON SALE AS A KINDLE DEAL ALL MONTHThe Accidental Guardian$1.99

Click to Buy


 An Amish Spring Anthology and Debby Giusti is one of the authors.

To learn more, join the FB Reader Group

 Amish Spring Romance | Facebook

Available wherever you buyLove Inspired Books!And at Amazon.




10 Ways to Enhance Your Fiction Writing Through Journaling by Lisa Tener at Live Write Thrive




Intangible Gifts of Writing by Peter Leavell at Learn How To Write A Novel
Apple Mail Privacy Protection by Amy at Mailer Lite Blog
Deeper Dive on Creating Book Blurbs by LA Sartor at Book Brush Blog
With a Little Help From My Friends by Debbie Burke at Kill Zone Blog
How to Work With a Critique Partner by Hannah Bauman at Between The Lines Editorial
Need Compelling Conflict? by Becci Puglisi at Writers Helping Writers
3 Tips to Untangle a Complex Plot by AC Williams at The Write Conversation
28 Figure of Speech Examples by Sarah Rexford at Write To Done

No Publishing Journey Looks The Same by Elayna Mae Darcy at NaNoWriMo Blog

OPEN CRITIQUE FRIDAY!

 Oops, forgot to post up the intro for this, my bad! 

Some of you know the drill... in case you don't, we keep it simple.

We are offering an absolutely free critique of your snippet.

You post a page or a concept or something not too long... and we'll tell you what we think based on our combined years of experience and the publishing market as we know it.

Fear not! 

I'm probably the only Meany-Pants among the Seekers... :) 

And even I'm not all that bad.

So get your postings ready and upload them and let the fun begin!

Enter your posting (and yes, sure, you can offer insight/explanation, too) in the comments section!

Ruthy

Back Home to Wishing Bridge

 Hey, Ruthy here, and I'm so excited to talk about Wishing Bridge, about the 4th book, about pandemics, brick walls and pushing through.

"Embracing Light in Wishing Bridge" is the beautiful story of a young woman-- a formerly Amish woman-- in search of the twin babies taken from her nearly five years before.

Rachel Stutzman has escaped a harsh Swartzentruber community in the North Country of upstate New York. She's left the heartless rules, the joyless days and the tough retributions of an overly strict and power-hungry bishop. With the help of an elderly friend, she's come to Wishing Bridge, NY, a picturesque, rolling community abutting the beautiful Southern Tier of Western New York. Rachel knows an Amish couple adopted a pair of baby girls over four years ago. Are they her babies? Is it her beloved Mary and Miriam? And how can she get them away from the rigors of a church that's done her wrong all of her days? And how can she be attracted to a strong, rugged deputy sheriff, a man of law and order, when her primary purpose is to get her children back?

And so begins Rachel's relocation to a town that combines wishes and prayers to make dreams come true.

But getting this book done didn't come easy because the last 18 months have seen a series of life-, nation-, and world-altering events. Covid hit... and amid a world thrust into a pandemic, lives changed, timing changed and things went all catawampus as the world hit "tilt" on the pinball machine of expectation.

We kept our farm open and people loved it, but getting supplies in was a trick of creativity because supply chains were severed by lack of workers and doubt. Which means time spent hunting things down, getting them in stock as shipping ground to a halt. What should have taken minutes sometimes took hours.

I taught 5th grade to two precious kids 3 days/week throughout the 2020/21 school year, until the end of April... and loved it, but that cut into writing time. Still, I'd do it again in a heartbeat because millions of American children didn't have a Grammy taking charge of their learning and to me, a lover of children, that equates with a high crime... although my kids in Catholic schools attended class 5 days/week with no bad results. 

The same grandparents who were told to avoid their grandchildren (to limit viral spread) in spring of 2020 were babysitting those very same grandkids six months later as parents went to work and schools remained shuttered. I know this first-hand because they brought them to the farm. The irony of that was not lost on me. A divisive election added a whole new level of drama and a chain of misinformation coming from multiple facets of government meant that people couldn't trust what they were being told. Now that's great story fodder, but the reality of mixed messaging means more time, hunting for truth. 

As the publishing industry released people from jobs due to decreasing sales and relocated out of lofty Manhattan offices, the overload of work for remaining editors interrupted the supply chain of approvals, edits, and scheduling snafus. All of that then required a "catch up" mentality put on authors.

And on a personal level my dear friend was facing end-stage cancer and my elderly mother-in-law was struggling with declining health. That meant Farmer Dave needed to be there, with his Mom and here, planting, tilling, spraying, working. God love him, he did it, but that made for more juggling plates... and yet we did it, working together, accepting help, and staying positive.

I ran triage. Simply speaking, I put Wishing Bridge (an indie book) on hold, fulfilled my contracts, and knew that when I could get back to Wishing Bridge I would... but kids, family, repercussions from Covid fallout and contracts took priority. 

Being a writer means juggling business with life. Writers need the self-discipline to get the jobs done in a timely manner with whatever life hands you. But as an author who has always been able to work ahead of the game, being behind the eight ball was a new experience. We got through... but I saw sides of industry people that increased my publishing awareness. 

It feels good to be finishing this beautiful story. It feels good to be back in control of my work, my career, my destiny. It feels good to be planning out my next two years (I work on a two-year calendar so that I don't over-book the time I need to write) and to breathe...

It was a long and rocky road to get here. Maybe that's what makes this upcoming release so special. I knew what I had to do and I did it, so finishing this beautiful story was the reward! It was the frosting on the cake, the whipped cream and cherry on the sundae.

The poignant story of Rachel and her search for the babies taken from a nineteen-year-old nearly five years before shows how a mother's love knows no bounds nor boundaries. "I will not leave you orphaned..."

Despite her harsh church upbringing, Rachel clings to a few Biblical wisdoms. And as the goodness of Wishing Bridge surrounds her, she begins to see people, life and even the Amish community through different eyes. But at what cost to her, her daughters and to the people of Wishing Bridge?

This book releases in two months. November 22, 2021... After a long wait.

I hope the wait will have been worth it. I hope folks love the story, love going back to my favorite fictional town and reacquainting themselves with so many good people!

As for me, being able to finish this story was like the best reward... like a finish line at the end of a long race. But also a wonderful lesson in putting first things first. A lesson I hope I've passed on to others at home... and here.

Author of over 60 novels and novellas, and owner of a popular Western New York pumpkin farm, Ruthy Logan Herne loves God, her family, her country, dogs, chocolate, coffee and all things pumpkin anytime of year. She writes romance, women's fiction and mystery and loves them all. Friend Ruthy on Facebook, stop by her website ruthloganherne.com and she loves to hear from readers and writers at loganherne@gmail.com.