Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 52

Julie Lessman is BACK and she's writing mysteries!

 

 

SURVEY/GIVEAWAY: CAN A COZY MYSTERY BE TOO COZY?

 

By Julie Lessman

 

HELLO, SEEKERVILLE!It is soooo good to be back with you, both as an alum and a guest blogger. When I first became one of the original Seekers way back when (uh, we won’t go into how far back that was, all right?), I always liked to do teaching blogs because there was SO much I had to learn as an author, that I truly appreciated when seasoned authors shared their insights.

 

Ahem.

 

But … I just wrote my very first “cozy mystery,” so when it comes to romantic suspense, trust me, I am anything but “seasoned.” Which is why I am asking for input from you—truly seasoned readers—in a quick survey that will not only enter you to win your choice of a signed paperback copy of my new cozy mystery, The Secret of Emerald Cottage OR an e-copy along with three other e-copies of my books, BUT a character named after you in my next book as well, A Hope and a Prayer (book 2 in The Cousins O’Connor series), which releases early next year.

 

So, I need your help. Because you see, I was the one arguing with my husband because I did not want to watch the Hallmark mystery movies since I like the accent mark on romance, not mystery. But when we ran out of regular Hallmark romance movies, I was forced to watch things like—horror of horrors—Aurora Teagardenand Murder 101 (can anyone say, “hubba-hubba, Polaha-ha-ha,” as my hubby calls him?).  And you know what? I found out that I actually really liked them!

 

But … (knee-knocking here) … could I write one??

 

Okay, sure, maybe I can write a pretty mean kissing scene (I invite you to check out the KISSES, KISSES, KISSEStab of my website to see how “mean”) because back in the day when CBA kissing scenes were far tamer than mine, some even tossed the nickname, “The Kissing Queen” my way. But I’m happy to say that today in the CBA, there’s an entire royal kingdom of “Kissing Queens”—thank God!—many of whom are right here on Seekerville.

 

And no question that after writing 25 “passionate” family-saga romance books, I can certainly share a thing or two about how to get more passion power into your prose, such as in this Seeker blog I wrote entitled, “More BANG for Your Buck: Making Your Words Work for You!”

 

But romantic suspense?

 

Gulp. Not easily, trust me. Suddenly I found myself happier when I was writing romance scenes over the mystery ones because, hey, romance is my lifeblood as an author. So what did I do? The only thing I could do—I ditched the 80/20 formula for 50/50.

 

So … are you ready for 50/50? There’s only way to find out. By taking the following survey:

 

SURVEY:

 

1.)    Are you primarily a romance reader or a suspense reader?

 

2.)    If both, what percentage of each?

 

3.)    If you are a die-hard suspense reader, would 50/50 turn you off?

 

4.)    If you are a diehard romance reader, would 50/50 be enough? 😍

 

 

Just copy and paste the questions above into your comment and answer each one. If you do, you will automatically be entered into my contest to win your choice of a signed paperback copy of The Secret of Emerald Cottage OR an e-copy along with three other e-copies of my books, AND a character named after you in my next book, A Hope and a Prayer (book 2 in The Cousins O’Connor series), which releases early next year..

 

EXTRA GIVEAWAY:

Watch the “killer” video/trailer below that my talented hubby made for The Secret of Emerald Cottage, let me know what you think via comment below, and I’ll enter you to win one of three e-copies of my very first mystery.

 

So, what is The Secret of Emerald Cottage all about? I’m glad you asked. Here’s a short blurb:

 

COZY ROMANCE MEETS NOT-SO-COZY MURDER.

 

An international soccer-star playboy butts heads with his aunt’s pretty prude of a nurse when he discovers not only did somebody try to murder his Aunt Lilly, but her Emerald Cottage home contains a secret that might just kill them all.

 

And HERE’S the “killer” VIDEO/TRAILER!

 

 

For a sneak peek at the first chapter AND more pix of the smokin’ hot hero, hop on over to my BLOG. Then let the survey begin and GOOD LUCK!

 

Hugs,

Julie

 

 

ABOUT JULIE:

A lover of all things Irish, Julie Lessman writes close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

 

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-2020, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction.

 

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com.

 

One Thing That Works For Me with guest Roseanna M. White: Surprise and Delight

 

Good Monday morning, Seekerville! I (Carrie) am here to introduce today's guest for this month's 'One Thing That Works For Me' series. Please join me in welcoming author Roseanna M. White as she shares about 'surprise and delight'!

For the last several years, my husband has been fine-tuning a marketing approach that he learned via Rob Hardy called “Identity Marketing.” It was originally created for filmmakers but was oh-so-easily adapted to the book world that he invested quite a bit of time into writing out those adaptations…and of course, sharing them with me, mwa ha ha ha. The whole system is amazing and works super well with the outlook I’ve always tried to have—that it’s not about selling, it’s about serving. And one of the tenets of this system that I especially latched onto was the principle of “Surprise and Delight.”

What is it? Very simple—whenever you can, come up with something that will surprise (in a good way, of course!) your readers. We all love plot twists in stories, right? Well, one of our goals should be delivering little twists in our marketing too. Things that our readers don’t expect, and which put big smiles on their faces.

Great in theory…but what about in practice? How do we actually come up with these things? I have a whole list of things I’ve done and tried, and many have worked quite well. But today I want to tell you about my absolute favorite.

So around two years ago, when we were just beginning to test this system, I had the idea for an online Tea Party Book Club. Now, this was before the world went virtual thanks to The Pandemic That Shall Not Be Named. The inspiration came in May of 2018; I had a book coming out…I went to a tea with the ladies from my church at a local tea house…and my husband had been running some virtual events via online meeting tech similar to Zoom. All these things swirled together in my mind and made me say, “Hey! Why couldn’t we do a tea party online?? I could put together packages, mail them out, and then get together with readers to chat about the book and have tea and treats together!”

I quickly became OBSESSED with this idea. (This is pretty typical of me, LOL.) I priced bulk tea. I priced pretty vintage teacups. Spoons. Sugar cubes. Individually wrapped treats. Candy. Mints. I weighed and priced postage. I considered how much I pay for this sort of thing at the local tea house. I came up with a package price and built it out on my website. And then… then… I presented it to my readers.

Would they love it too? Hate it? Not want to pay for that sort of thing? I didn’t know—all I knew was that I found the idea delightful, LOL, even though it would be a ton of work on my part.

I didn’t have to wait long to find out how my readers would receive it. Within a few days of announcing the idea, I had people filling the parties, ordering “starter kits” that involve tea pots and vintage cups and spoons, a lady from my church volunteered to make tea cozies for me, and I even had some people so excited that they signed up for all the extras and then realized an hour later that, oops, they were out of town that day or already had a tea set they could use.

But this was my answer—this idea, unheard of at the time, sounded so fun that my reader friends JUMPED to be a part of it. Where else did they get an hour with other fans of the book and the author and receive a hand-selected package of goodies to go along with it?

Now, granted, in the last year and a half everything has gone online, and we’re beginning to see a lot more things like this. But I’m thrilled to be able to say that I’ve been at it for over two years, that kinks have been worked out, processes have been streamlined…and that the seats keep filling up.

Best of all, relationships have been developed. I have regular attendees, and they greet each other like friends when they see a familiar face come back for this month or that month. Readers have become friends. And the conversations have been AMAZING.

Will I do these tea parties forever? Who knows. But I’m having a blast doing them now—especially because my readers are too. It’s just one thing in the many that I do to try to reach out to them, but it’s been a total success. It’s one way to Surprise and Delight them…and seeing how well it’s worked, it’s an inspiration to keep coming up with new ways to do just that in the future.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing for WhiteFire Publishing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. 

You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

 

Roseanna is offering a $15 credit in her online store to one commenter!

 

Authors, what questions do you have for Roseanna about her tea parties or her 'surprise and delight' strategy?
Readers, what are some ways other authors have 'surprise and delight'-ed you? 

  

Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests

 

Christ Carrying the Cross, Hieronymus Bosch, 1510-1535,
Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent. [PD-US]

Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. 
Along the way he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that I am?” 
They said in reply,
“John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets.” 
And he asked them,
“But who do you say that I am?” 
Peter said to him in reply,
“You are the Christ.” 
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days. 
He spoke this openly. 
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. 
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me. 
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it.”

Mark 8:27-35

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're prayerfully remembering 9/11!

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: Labor Day - Seekerville closed
Tuesday: Delores Topliff was our guest, and she gave away some free story ideas as well as a copy of her ebook, Books Afloat. The winner of the book is: 
Wednesday: Ruthy's (and fellow Seekers) tribute to Vince Mooney, Jr.
Friday: DiAnn Mills stopped by and asked us if we're living a kaleidoscope life.  The winner of DiAnn's latest release, Trace of Doubt is _______________. 



Monday:  Roseanna White
Tuesday:  Julie Lessman
Wednesday:  Debby Giusti will be talking about the writing life. Stop in to say hello and enjoy a cup of coffee along with a breakfast muffin or two!  Friday: Winnie Griggs  will be here discussing...something.  She's still trying to work it out, but never fear, it'll be something new and writing related :)









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

To learn more join the FB Reader Group

 Amish Spring Romance | Facebook

Cure Your Inner Frustrated Writer by Colleen M. Story at Writers In The Storm
6 Factors to Becoming Super Productive by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
How to Prepare for a Book Series by Sandy Appleyard at Book Brush Blog
Promote Your Book Series by LA Sartor at Book Brush Blog
Traditional or Indie: Benefits of Both by Cara Putman at Learn How To Write A Novel
How Constraints Help Us Achieve More by Michael Hyatt
How to Fix Passive Voice by Gloria Russell at Write To Done
How Do I Define Writing Success in a Comparison Driven World by Kristin Hogrefe Parnell at The Write Conversation
How to Write Believable Children in Fiction by Lewis Jorstadt at The Novel Smithy
How Much do Authors Make? An Author's Guide to Making a Living by Ali Luke at The Self Publisher

Are We Living a Kaleidoscope Life?

 by Diann Mills

Kaleidoscopes show us the many characteristics of light and color. With the twist of the wrist, mirrors and colored pieces of material, usually glass, reflect beauty in various shapes. Each glimpse of the art becomes a gift for those who appreciate a dynamic creation. Much like each one of us is a unique gift to the world.

How we react to life’s ups and downs reflects how we examine and process life. Every experience fuels an emotion that adds light and color to our image. We can choose to enjoy the splendor and cultivate hope, or we can block every hint of it.

The most ordinary of shapes are made spectacular through a kaleidoscope’s lenses. Similarly, ordinary lives become extraordinary when courageous people choose to defy odds that could otherwise keep them chained to a dull, formless worldview.

A display of lives explodes across the horizon. People empty themselves of selfishness and greed to let goodness mirror their actions.

An underprivileged youth works hard to attend college and help his siblings continue their education.A woman forsakes a life of abuse and seeks counseling.A retired couple forms a nonprofit to help military personnel who are struggling with PTSD.A wealthy businessman sells his firm to serve as a missionary.A group of neighborhood teens does odd jobs for shut-ins.
To live a kaleidoscope life, we use all our resources to war against the dark, ugly shapes that have the power to stagnate our mental, spiritual, and physical growth. Our yesterdays do not define us, and we are determined to turn heartache and pain into a life lesson that makes us stronger.

We need setbacks to help us focus on what is important. Most of the time, the critical need isn’t ourselves. We accept truth as reality and apply it to the way we react and respond to every life happening. With new information, we can reevaluate how we spend our time, love our families, work successfully in our careers, push forward in our goals, and allow kaleidoscope living to shine with light and purpose.

An object viewed through a kaleidoscope never appears the same way twice. Don’t we want the same distinction? Don’t we want to examine the world new every morning?

While we want to ensure our faith, morals, and values remain intact, we also need to examine our core values. If they line up with truth, we are standing on a firm foundation. If they need adjustment, we find the strength to change.


What is one way we can show kaleidoscope living?

ABOUT DIANN
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader’s Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her FBI: Houston series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014. Her upcoming novel, Trace of Doubt, releases from Tyndale House Publishers in September 2021. Connect with DiAnn at diannmills.com.



ABOUT TRACE OF DOUBT
Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of dark secrets, desperate enemies, and dangerous lies.
Fifteen years ago, Shelby Pearce confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and was sent to prison. Now she’s out on parole and looking for a fresh start in the small town of Valleysburg, Texas. But starting over won’t be easy for an ex-con.
FBI Special Agent Denton McClure was a rookie fresh out of Quantico when he was first assigned the Pearce case. He’s always believed Shelby embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law’s account. So he’s going undercover to befriend Shelby, track down the missing money, and finally crack this case.
But as Denton gets closer to Shelby, he begins to have a trace of doubt about her guilt. Someone has Shelby in their crosshairs. It’s up to Denton to stop them before they silence Shelby—and the truth—forever.
Audience interest points:While working undercover to solve an embezzlement case, an FBI agent becomes convinced of the wrongful sentencing of Shelby Pearce, who served 15 years in prison after confessing to the murder of her brother-in-law.Bestselling Christian author DiAnn Mills releases another action-packed, suspense-filled romance novel for fans of Dee Henderson, Lynette Eason, and Dani Pettrey.The importance of treating all people with honor and respect, regardless of what their backgrounds may imply about who they are.The value of seeking out truth and justice, lifting up the voices of those who have been silenced in the past.

GIVEAWAY
Tyndale Publishers is giving away a copy of Trace of Doublt to one reader today. Just leave a comment below for DiAnn and you're entered.
(Seekerville's Giveaway rules applied. Open to US residents with a US mailing address only.)

Remembering Vince Mooney... with love

BACKSTORY: Sixteen years ago a group of fifteen contest-winning unpublished Christian/Inspirational authors formed a group with one sole goal: To pray one another into publication by a royalty-paying publisher.

Their dreams came true when Pam Hillman was offered her Tyndale contracts. YAY! WE DID IT!

Back in 2007 that original group of 15 started a writers' blog and called it "Seekerville". The goal was to encourage and help aspiring authors, meet readers and build a platform for book launches. The blog-- this blog!-- was successful on all three. Blessed by the work of many and the faith of all, Seekerville was born and achieved the coveted "Top 101 Writing Blogs" multiple years in a row. 

A lot has changed! 

Many of the original Seekers have retired or gone their own way. Life happens.

New bloggers were welcomed on-board and we forge on, loving books, writing, readers and the chance to connect with both through this blog. Vince was right there, encouraging us to keep on keepin' on as seen in this "Changing of the Guard" post nearly five years ago: 

https://seekervillearchives.blogspot.com/

From the beginning, or nearly the beginning, Vince Mooney Jr. has been a constant. He's encouraged, laughed, lamented, learned and taught with his wisdom, a wisdom gained through life, love and liberty. A well-read man of faith, a veteran, a sage, philosopher and successful businessman, Vince's comments were often a blog in themselves and he's never been afraid to argue or back up his points.

We've loved him for years. He and his wife Linda have welcomed Seekers with open arms when we've visited Oklahoma. His Amazon reviews are amazing, but then he is amazing so that's no surprise. 

Vince's "Philosophy of Romance" blog offered advice, wisdom and kudos to various authors. I was blessed to be one of those authors. I was blessed to know Vince, to win his love and support, to spar with him, laugh with him, and if we lived closer, I'd have had coffee with him on a regular basis. Yeah. He's that smart. :)

Vince has entered what he predicts to be a short-term hospice. Today's post is to thank him for his love, his words, his wisdom, his constancy, his support and that beautiful faith that has sustained him. Vince, my friend... from me personally... I don't have the right words to tell you how much your love, support, encouragement and enthusiasm for my work has meant to me. I am so glad to have known you for so long... what a blessing to me! And I have never forgotten your reaction to my debut novel... and my gratitude for your belief in me.

Go with God, my friend. I'll miss you. We all will. But that's the way of life, isn't it?

Until we meet again...

Ruthy

 Dear Vince,

 

Thanks for your support and encouragement over the years. One of my biggest thrills was having THE OFFICER’S SECRET selected as the Philosophy of Romance Inspirational Suspense Book of the Year! You've always been so willing to affirm my writing, and your positive comments have meant so much to me. I still remember your praise for my novella, YULE DIE. Your kind words continue to buoy me, especially when I'm struggling to create a new story and feeling at low ebb. You’re a great cheerleader, Vince, which is what every writer needs.

 

Thanks, too, for being a loyal Seekervillager. Your posts always provided food for thought and lots of sound advice. You’re a Renaissance Man, dear Vince, and certainly one of a kind. You’ve enhanced my life in so many special ways.

 

May God bless you. I know the Lord’s holding you in the palm of His hand, and in His perfect time, will call you home to Eternal Glory. Prayers for the journey, dear friend, and God speed!

 

With love, prayers and gratitude,

Debby Giusti

Dear Vince,

I want you to know that you always have been, and always will be, one of my favorite people, not only in Seekerville, but in the world. So much so that, as you know, I named a character after you in one of my books and then dedicated another to you as well – A Wing and a Prayer – because YOU were the creative force behind this story, my friend. As I said in that dedication, you never cease to amaze (and bless) me with your incredibly brilliant and fertile mind, and I will be forever grateful for both your creative input and your precious friendship. God bless and keep you always. 

Hugs,

Julie
From Myra Johnson:
Vince, I will always remember my delight in meeting you in person when you came to one of my very first book signings. Remember Steve’s Sundry in Tulsa? What a special day! You have been such a staunch encourager and advocate for authors of romantic Christian fiction. I treasure your insightful reviews, and I’m honored to know you, truly a man of integrity and deep faith. Praying God’s comfort and strength upon you and your dear wife, now and always.
From Janet Dean...

I treasure knowing Vince Mooney, both as a reviewer of my books and as a vital, faithful member of the community of Seekerville. Vince is a man of faith, well-read, intelligent, and generous with this time and yes, with his opinions. His views might sometimes differ from mine but his points always made me think. His reviews brought depth and meaning to romance books that rightly elevated our genre and encouraged us writers. When I was struggling with getting words on the page, I’d sometimes reread a couple of his reviews and receive a boost to keep on keeping on. When I was active in Seekerville, I appreciated his male point of view and could count on him to show up each day with fresh perspectives and occasionally controversy that made our exchanges interesting. I think of Vince as a true Renaissance man.

 

God bless you, Vince, on your journey home. My love goes with you.

Janet Dean 

From Mary Connealy:

I had the pleasure of meeting Vince once, and his wife Linda. 

I did a book signing in Tulsa Oklahoma with Ruth Logan Herne and Tina Radcliff, inspired by Tina having lived in Tulsa at one time and setting her book there. 

Vince came to our signing and made us feel welcome in everyway. We visited the Will Rogers Museum with him and shared a meal. I learned so much about Will Rogers from the museum and also from our trusty tour guide Vince. 

Now when I think of Will Rogers, which I do frequently because he’s such a great humorist and cowboy, and his trick roping is fascinating, I think of Vince and what a fan he was of Rogers and how he compared me and my romantic comedy with cowboys to Will Rogers. I consider that a great honor. Vince Yates, the hero of Stuck Together, book #3 of the Trouble in Texas series, is named for Vince.

Vince had been a faithful follower of Seekerville for years and with his marketing background, has always been full of advice that’s different that what we usually get from people more centered on writing. He’s a friend and an encourager and a man of faith. Thank you, Vince. 

From Sandra Leesmith:

Dear Vince, 

What a blessing you have been to all of us in Seekerville.  And you have always been a blessing to me as a writer.  You have an uncanny/godly gift of always saying the right thing at the right time. Your words to me were always right on time.  I always thank God for that my dear friend.  You probably have no idea how much your words touched my heart just when I needed them the most.  I always felt so honored that you enjoyed my books.  And I treasured your reviews.  Thank you dear friend.  Know you will always have a special place in my heart. Love and hugs, 

Sandra 

And so it is that as we pass through life we touch people's lives in so many ways. Their hopes, their dreams, their thoughts, their beginnings and sometimes their ends.

Vince, I hope you see this. I hope you know how much you are loved and respected by so many. And we all hope that when we reconnect in God's heavenly kingdom, we can raise a cup to your health, hope and happiness. All things you shared with us.

"May the Lord bless and keep you. May his face shine upon you and give you peace."

Amen.

Guest Blogger Delores Topliff - Free Story Ideas: Free for the Taking plus Book Giveaway

 Erica here: It is my pleasure to host Delores Topliff today on the blog. Delores and I, beyond being writers, have another connection. Years ago, when my daughter was in high school, she took college classes through University of Northwestern, St. Paul, and Delores was one of her professors!

Welcome, Delores!

Hello everyone. I’m Delores Topliff happy to post on Seekerville today. I appreciate how this site nurtures and inspires writers. Plus, its archives are wonderful!

Before 2021, I had four children’s books published along with many true testimony stories in inspirational compilation books. But gradually the stories in my head grew into fun novels that demanded telling. My first, Books Afloat, published last January, is based on a Japanese submarine that really did enter the Columbia River in mid-June1942 and the fictional idealist young woman on a floating houseboat library taking books to river residents who works with undercover volunteers to stop that invasion. Books Afloat’s publication has given me fresh appreciation for readers and those who review our books. I’m offering an e-book copy of this book in the continental US only to those who comment on this blog. And I’ll appreciate it lots if you post a review on Amazon after reading the book.
 


I’m picking up writing speed now. Christmas Tree Wars, releasing October 5th, involves two feuding Wisconsin Christmas tree farmers in 1966, one Norwegian and one Swedish. Their son and niece both come home to boost farm finances and compete to grow the White House tree chosen to be decorated by First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson. Their farm rescue and growing romance helps the feuding farmers and town rediscover the reason for the season. There are even Norwegian and Swedish Christmas recipes at the end of the book, just in time for your Christmas baking.

Today lets focus on where story ideas come from. The easy answer is ANYWHERE! Hang on tight to all sparking story ideas. There’s never an inconvenient time for them reach your brain. Like babies, they choose when and where they wish to be born. Moms seldom dictate those dates. My purse holds a notepad and pen for story ideas, but they often gets overlooked. Instead, key ideas often get jotted on the backs of envelopes or even utility bills. These days, I often pick up my ever-present iPhone and dictate enough notes or short text to capture the idea.

While writing a number of stories or poems, I can tell you exact places and times when ideas came. If I paid attention and tuned in, they were mine to keep and watch them grow. If I didn’t, they waved goodbye and visited the next appreciative person who would give them the time and space they needed.

For example, Christmas Tree Wars was born one Sunday morning when I drove along Minnesota farm roads going to church when I took a different road and spotted something interesting. A row of tall, uniformly evergreen trees stood along one side of the road. On the other, one single mid-sized evergreen tree stood by its lonesome self bordering the edge of a hayfield. Instantly the Lord gave me the basic story idea and arc. The owner of the row of trees was to provide a stately evergreen to a public figure. Instead of sacrificing one from his own row, he cut and presented the one belonging to his neighbor, kind of like the O.T. prophet Nathan comes to King David talking about someone stealing someone’s beloved ewe sheep. Of course some details change as stories develop but I’m happy to remember how the story kernel dropped into my heart on that exact stretch of road. I wish it was always that easy, but it helps when we welcome inspiration and tune in.

 

One of my best poems arrived between our automatic washer’s rinse and spin cycle as I bent over the appliance with a scrap of paper and pencil.

Wilderness Wife, releasing next February, came from appreciating all I’d heard about Dr. John McLoughlin, founder of Fort Vancouver in my home town at the end of the Oregon Trail. Most of us know a fair bit about this famous man. One day I wondered what his wife, Marguerite Wadin MacKay McLoughlin was like and found a gold mine that totally inspires me. For me, an occupational hazard when writing historicals is that so much to inspire, it’s hard to weed out and decide which key parts to keep.

Connect with Delores
Website: www.delorestopliff.com (blogs every 2nd Tuesday)

Email delores@delorestopliff.com

Twitter: @delorestopliff
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DETopliff
Remember to leave a comment to be entered to win an ecopy of Delores' story Books Afloat!
Thank you, Delores, for visiting Seekerville today!

Seekerville is Closed Today

 

Seekerville is closed today as we relax and celebrate the USA's Labor Day holiday with our family and friends.  Please join us again SOON!

Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests

Christ healing the deaf mute of Decapolis,
Bartholomeus Breenbergh, 1635, Louvre Museum. [PD-US]

Again Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis. 
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd. 
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
“Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” —
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly. 
He ordered them not to tell anyone. 
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it. 
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
“He has done all things well. 
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Mark 7:31-37

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're praying for all those who were impactedby Hurricane Ida, for those in the path of the forest fires in the West, and for the families ofour fallen military who were killed inAfghanistan.
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: Jan talked about building a platform, and gave us some simple tips in Do I Need a Platform?
Wednesday: Mindy gave us some tips on crafting characters readers will care about in Make Them Care.
Friday: Mary


Monday: Labor Day - Seekerville closed
Tuesday: Delores Topliff is our guest, and she's giving away free story ideas...and a copy of her debut novel! 
Wednesday: Seekerville Pays Tribute to Long-time Friend Vince Mooney... with love.  Friday:  DiAnn Mills joins us to talk about living a kaleidoscope life. Also stop by to learn about her upcoming release, Trace of Doubt and a chance to win a copy. 








The Gentleman Spy is now available in audiobook format! Squee! You can get your copy through audible.com, amazon.com, or wherever you get your audio books! Or, you can just click HERE!

COVER REVEAL!
Available November 30th! Preorder your copy today!

As her plans unravel, can she give her children what they truly need?

Foster mom Rae Girard’s determined to make her children’s first Christmas with her the best they’ve ever had—and she’s shocked when the town scrooge, attorney Cole Heinsohn, offers to pitch in. Rae’s young charges have melted Cole’s heart, and he wants them to experience the special day he never had. But when disaster strikes, an imperfect holiday might bring them something better: a family…

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

To learn more join the FB Reader Group

 Amish Spring Romance | Facebook

Struggling with Writing Burnout? Try These Tricks by Shanna Swendson at Fiction University
7 Reasons I Use Zero Drafts by Blaise Ramsay at Book Brush Blog
Take Your Characters from Cardboard to Real by Sarah Sally Hamer at The Write Conversation
Grateful for Workers by Tamela Hancock Murray at Steve Laube Agency
The Main Reason Your Story's Premise is Important by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

Four Ways to Incorporate Empathy into Writing by JR Jamison at Writers Digest
How to Market Your Book Without Social Media by Carol J Michel at Jane Friedman
How to Finish That Half-Written Manuscript by Heidi McCahan at Learn How to Write a Novel

Hunting the Horny Backed Toad by Garry Rodgers at Kill Zone Blog
Does Your Story Need More Conflict? by Angela Ackerman at Writers Helping Writers
How to Get Out of a Writing Slump by Aamna at NaNoWriMo