Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 57

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: Mary
Wednesday: Mindy gave us some insight into book series proposals. Winner of A Future to Fight for is...Kathy Bailey! And the winner of a 2-in-1 with A Father's Promise is...Sally Shupe! Congratulations, ladies.
Thursday:  Jennifer L. Wright shared a bit about her writing and faith journey. Winner of her debut novel If It Rains is Kathy Anderson.
Friday: Carrie and guest Pepper Basham shared the importance of authentic author-reader engagement and some easy, quick & painless ways to connect!



Monday:  Freelance editor Anne Victory shares one thing that works for her in improving dialogue.

Wednesday:  Ruthy is hanging out on Wednesday and probably talking about the great visit with the grandkids (and their parents!) that she hadn't seen in twenty months... because that's topping her list right now! What does that have to do with writing??? Dear friends, everything has something to do with writing because if you don't feed the longing of emotion into your work, who's going to read it and love it? Stop by and see what Ruthy has to say... and leave a comment to get your name into the cat dish for a copy of Ruthy's newest mystery "Prescription for Mystery" from Guideposts books! 
Thursday:  Guest Lisa Jordan will be here to give us some tips on overcoming distractions so we can get that book written.  Friday: Winnie Griggs is going to bring us a discussion on Narrative Arcs







PRESCRIPTION FOR MYSTERY!!!!!
JUST RELEASED FROM GUIDEPOSTS BOOKS, Ruthy's newest mystery is available now and she's so stinkin' happy about that! Because golly gee whillikers, these books are so much fun to write! It's a time-slip mystery where the past trods the heels of the present, but with such a beautiful story that you'll sigh... smile... and reach for the next mystery in this 25 book series... Ruthy's giving away a copy on Wednesday, but it's available for SALE HERE, RIGHT NOW! LINK TO GUIDEPOSTS!!! 






Considerations When Choosing Your Niche Genre by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
How to Use Archetypal Character Arcs in Your Stories by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

8 Tips for Creating Great Descriptions by Stephanie Morrill

On Pacing: Faster Than the Speed of Thought by Donald Maass at Writer Unboxed

How to Stay Motivated and Keep Writing by Laurence MacNaughton at Fiction University

7 Habits of Highly Successful Writers by Bob Hostetler at Steve Laube Agency

The Benefits of Mixing Up Your Writing by David Rawlings at Learn How To Write A Novel

The Pain of Killing Your Darlings by Elaine Viets at Kill Zone

Authors on Social Media: Choosing Platforms & Avoiding Burnout by Diana Urban at BookBub Blog

Thinking of Your Story's Setting as a Character by Hannah Bauman at Between The Lines Editorial

Helpful Research Sources for Historical Fiction Writers at Write To Done

The Cure for Burnout by Michael Hyatt at Michael Hyatt & Co

How to (Mostly Painlessly) Engage Your Readers, with guest Pepper Basham

 

"The Author and the Reader can be Friends" (or, How to Painlessly Engage Your Readers)

Hi Seekerville! Carrie here. I recently did a call-out for topic ideas in a Facebook group I'm in for folks involved in the Christian fiction industry. Confession: I always have a bit of a panic attack when it comes to what I should write for Seekerville. So I wanted to know what authors want to know from a reader, reviewer, and book marketer. One of the topics that got the most attention was reader engagement. So I turned to my sweet author friend, Pepper Basham, for help with today's post - because Pepper is phenomenal when it comes to engaging her readers. 

PEPPER: Have you ever watched the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma? There's a whole lot of division between the cowman and the farmer, which leads to a song called “The Farmer and the Cowman Can Be Friends". Well, we want to offer some helpful encouragement, in the relationship between the Reader and the Author. We CAN engage as friends (or at least as mutual encouragers), and it doesn’t have to be as complicated or stressful for either party as we too often make it.

CARRIE: Or as Pepper put it (to the above tune), "Bookish folks should stick together. Bookish folks should all be pals. One may string the words together, but the other helps the stories sell.” Connection leads to investment, and if nothing else we can connect over BOOKS! That "binds" us together. (Now I'm humming a hymn) Add Jesus into the mix and it makes the binding even tighter.

PEPPER: Hey, you know I love MUSICALS!! And why not give it a little bookish flair, right? But I love this conversation because I think it’s a whole lot better between an author and a reader to hopefully explain both sides.

Now, I’m not saying Carrie and I have the corner on this conversation. Each reader and author is unique, but there are some things both of us have learned that hopefully could be a help to some of you out there 😊

Sometimes selfies are hard.
CARRIE: Agreed. I have the blessing of calling Pepper Basham a friend, and it started when I had the opportunity to review her debut novel, The Thorn Bearer (which, if you haven’t read her Penned in Time series, you need to). I was drawn immediately to not only her wordsmithing-ness (it's totally a real word!) but also to her warm personality and absolute love of books. That handful of initial conversations has led to a precious friendship…which has also led to me becoming one of her self-professed biggest cheerleaders.

PEPPER: And I am SO thankful for you!! It’s amazing how those few bookish conversations have now turned into this…what is it? 6 year friendship?

CARRIE: I think you’re right. And, authors, you obviously don’t have to become besties with all of your readers. But there are some principles of author-reader engagement that we can pass on, from a book marketer and an author who are both avid readers, too. As I mentioned, Pepper is FABULOUS at engagement so feel free to stalk her on Facebook and see what she does 😊

PEPPER: LOL! I’ve stalked many an author myself, so turn about is fair play, I suppose 😊

I AM also a reader. I mean, I have felt the uncertainty about reaching out to an author to fangirl over their work, but let me just say, I’ve made some of the BEST friendships that way!!

However, from an author’s point of view, here are a few things I’ve realized in this author/reader dynamic.

One of the most difficult things about engagement is the typical "difficult" thing about most everything: TIME. Engaging with readers can be very time consuming. As a pastor’s wife, mom, and speech-language pathologist, time is not always something I have in large quantities, but I’ve learned how to sprinkle the time in places that have worked. And I try to always respond to readers who send me a note to let them know I value the time they used to read my book and then send me that note. I've found that reader engagement fuels me much more than it drains me because most good readers recognize that the quality of the touch points an author tries to make is much more important than the frequency. Yes, frequency matters, in part, but quality matters even more.One of the most AMAZING things about engagement is that it's a wonderful connection to folks who encourage and support me in this weird and sometimes isolating world of fiction writing. You really do end up building a community. I LOVE having a group of readers to chat with, bounce ideas off of, and find encouragement. It's remarkable. I really don’t know how I’d manage all of the things I do with marketing and planning without having such an amazing group of readers on the journey with me.

                    Carrie says: COMMUNITY. Remember that. It will come up again in a minute. There                                 won't be a quiz.

Authenticity is KEY. I think when readers know you care about them and value their time/encouragement, they want to get involved on your journey as an author. One of the things I LOVE BEST (and my street team can confirm this) is having other people to fangirl over my fictional friends with me. In fact, we’ll fangirl over other authors’ fictional friends together too!!! The JOY of reading, books, and characters is a common connecting denominator. We enjoy good stories and we love the affirmation of others enjoying them too, especially when we've poured so much of our hearts into those stories.

PEPPER: So, Carrie, from a readers perspective what helps you feel like an author is approachable? What can an author do to show they value your companionship on the reading/writing journey? 

CARRIE: Authors, y'all know that some readers have no qualms about contacting an author; unfortunately, these are often the ones who send nasty emails about why they didn’t like your book or the typo they found on page 23. The readers you WANT to contact you – the ones who will encourage you & pray for you & gush over your characters and the way you turn a phrase – are sometimes just as intimidated to reach out to you as you are to reach out to them. They don’t want to be a bother, are too busy fangirling to form coherent words, etc.

From my reader, reviewer, and marketer’s perspectives, here are some easy action steps that even introverted or overwhelmed authors can do to increase authentic reader engagement & at the same time show that they value us as part of their community.

Be active in bookish forums. (Facebook is great for this. Or the comment section of popular book blogs.) Readers & authors hang out there, and it provides a safe place to get your feet wet on this whole engagement thing. It’s a comfier place for readers to reach out to authors as well – seeing them ‘in the wild’ so to speak and realizing they love the same books as we do, etc. I personally love it for instance when authors like Carrie Turansky, DeAnna Dodson, and Patricia Bradley comment on my posts about other authors/books on my personal book blog. Erica Vetsch has also done a great job of this, as well, in her FB group for readers & authors of Inspirational Regency Fiction. And Laura Frantz & Pepper Basham have one for Armchair Travelers that also has terrific engagement, just born out of a love for traveling to great destinations on the pages of fave books. (From Pepper – WE LOVE to connect on forums! It’s a low stress connection. Kind of like a “drop-in” party 😊) Invest in a blog tour from a reputable publicity company. I especially recommend this for debut or relatively new authors. (Get recommendations on tour companies your author friends have used & loved.) Typical blog tours include Q&As and guest articles along with the reviews & spotlights. Those personalized posts allow readers to connect on a more personal level with the author, and that connection leads to future investment in the author and his/her books. (Or if a professionally-organized blog tour isn’t in your budget and you have a street team you’re comfy with, ask if any of the members would like to host you in a Q&A or guest post on their blog) (From Pepper - And they’re so helpful in helping an author branch out to new readers)Approach interacting with your street team as building a community, rather than just something else you have to do. (See? I told you 'community' would show up again) I’ve been part of some street teams where the author only pops in to say “I have a new book coming out. Here you go.” And I’ve been part of street teams with authentic engagement between books too, and I can tell the author truly cares about us as more than free publicity. For example, Toni Shiloh weekly shares her prayer requests & praises with us and asks how she can pray for us, too. Pepper Basham shares little snippets of her life, of her writing progress, of what God’s been teaching her. Shelley Shepard Gray, Dana Mentink, and Becky Wade are really great at this as well - sharing fun things from their life, prayer requests, asking us questions about our lives, etc. Each of these authors is a fave of mine because of their books, but also because they engage with their readers and, in doing so, make us feel a part of their community. Again, that authentic connection leads us to greater investment as readers in those authors.  (From Pepper - Did I already mention that I LOVE MY STREET TEAM!!!!!) Ask fun questions / start fun conversations on social media. Toni Shiloh asks #tonishilohquestions to correspond with various “National Days” of whatever (National Strawberry Sundae Day, National Jigsaw Puzzles Day, etc.). A simple question is all that’s needed – or throw in an eye-catching graphic too just to grab attention. Pepper Basham often chats about fun romance movies and posts photos of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Biltmore. Janine Rosche posts about her intense dislike of discarded flossers in random places, and over on Instagram she does simple reels where she decides if someone’s TikTok clip is ‘Worthy of a Romance Novel’. Before Facebook got rid of the polls feature on pages, Bethany Turner had a weekly poll that was just way too much fun, on such serious topics as Who’s cuter - George Clooney or Noah Wyle? Which portrayal of Mr. Darcy is the best? Would you rather visit Narnia or Hogwarts? etc You can find tons of icebreaker questions and bookish questions online, so this is something that doesn't require a lot of thought, effort, or time - just do it with some sort of consistency to keep the conversation going.These are really easy & fun ways to engage with readers without getting too personal or having to be too creative. The bottom line is this: CONNECTION LEADS TO INVESTMENT. It doesn’t have to be complicated or too time-consuming. Build 5 minutes into your day where you make a conscious effort to make an authentic connection with readers over a shared interest or experience. But the lasting benefits of reader engagement are priceless – not just for your book sales, but also in having your own personal cheering squad when life & writing gets tough.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

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, Carrie now lives in Georgia with her husband Eric, though her roots range from East Tennessee to northern Illinois. 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.

Authors, what intimidates you the most about reader engagement?
Readers, what helps you feel like an author is approachable?

Journeys of Faith: The Road to Finding God with guest Jennifer L. Wright

Please welcome guest Jennifer L. Wright as she shares a bit of her writing and faith journey with us.

I have always wanted to be a writer.

Even from a young age, I had a love of books, and I wrote my first “novel” in the seventh grade. For the longest time, I believed my future lay in journalism, but it took only a few short months of working local news to realize it wasn’t a good fit for me. After my son was born and I became a full-time stay-at-home mom, I decided it was time to take my passion in another direction: I was going to write a book.

So I did. Then I wrote another one. And another one.

But none of these novels went anywhere. I couldn’t get a publishing deal. I couldn’t get an agent. I couldn’t even to find someone outside my family to read my writing.

I knew—just knew—writing was what God had called me to do. It was the only thing I’d ever felt drawn to, passionate about, inescapably bound to pursue. But if this was God’s plan for me, then why was every door slamming in my face?

One particularly depressing day, I found myself at my kitchen table, Bible open in front of me, tears streaming down my face. I’d received another pass from an agent I’d been so sure was the one. Another false start. Another dashed hope.

It had now been six years since I’d begun my writing journey. Six years of constant disappointment, heartache, and rejection. The secular marketplace was looking for particular types of books—and they were not the books I was trying to write. I wanted to believe I wasn’t wrong, that I hadn’t misinterpreted God’s calling for me, but my spirit was crushed beneath the weight of my own failure. Surely God’s plan wouldn’t involve this much pain, right? I was at a crossroads; I could no longer continue down this path, and yet neither carrying on nor quitting seemed to be the right answer.

So that morning, as tears wet the thin pages of my Bible, I cried out to God in my grief: “Lord, I can’t do this anymore. I was so sure this is what You wanted me to do, but maybe I was wrong. I am broken. I am lost. I am confused. What am I supposed to do?”

And then a voice answered me from inside my head, so loud, clear, and concise—so different from the muddled indecision clouding my brain—that I froze.

Wait.

If you’ve never had a moment with God like this, I don’t expect you to understand. But I knew I was hearing His voice. He had met me in my pit. He had heard. And He had responded in a way I had never experienced before.

Wait.

And so I did. I kept writing. I kept querying. I kept waiting.

Three more years went by . . . and still I was waiting. During that time, I had more rejections, more heartaches, more disappointments. But I remained steadfast, buoyed by the memory of that long-ago encounter. I knew I had heard God’s voice; doubt wasn’t the issue. Instead, my grief manifested itself as something else: impatience.

Sometimes, even with the assurance of God’s promises, we can grow impatient and irritated by what we see is a lack of action on His part. You said You were going to do this, Lord. So . . . when?

Or in the words of David, “How long?”

In Psalm 13, David writes: “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (verses 1-2).

In just two verses, David asks “How long?” four times. The man had been anointed by Samuel, destined for kingship . . . and yet fifteen to twenty years had passed. In his waiting, he was pursued and persecuted, chased into the wilderness and hidden in a cave, fearing for his life. It was such a stark contrast: his eyes were on the palace, but his body remained in a pasture.

It’s no wonder he began to get a little impatient.

But it was precisely in this waiting where David became equipped to become king. His courage was tested. His character was refined. His faith was strengthened. Faced with what could have very easily been perceived as at best inaction and at worst faithlessness on the part of his God, David chose to lean in to what he knew to be true instead: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me” (Psalm 13:5-6).

David couldn’t see an end to his waiting. He couldn’t see how this seemingly unwinnable situation would play out. And he certainly couldn’t see how he would ever move from a cave to a throne.

What he could see, however, was God.

Our waiting can often bring forth a type of “spiritual amnesia” where our present circumstances overshadow the ways in which God has been faithful, not only to His people, but to us personally in the past. During those years between that fateful morning prayer and when I finally signed with agent, I was tempted many times to discredit what I knew to be God’s voice. Leaning in to what I knew to be true about who He is and reminders of His past goodness were the only remedies for a present that didn’t feel quite so good.

God loves me . . . and He has told me to wait.

God has a plan for me . . . and He has told me to wait.

God has delivered me in the past . . . and He has told me to wait.

God is faithful, merciful, all-knowing, and all-powerful . . . and He has told me to wait.

My debut novel, If It Rains, will be released July 6 from Tyndale House Publishers—a full ten years after my writing journey began and four years after that fateful morning in which God told me to wait. I will not sugarcoat the experience—it was brutal. And yet, holding my first published novel in my hands, I can so clearly see how God used the experience to ready my heart. Ten years ago, I wasn’t ready for the plans and purposes He had for me. He used this time not only to grow me as a writer but to strengthen my faith and mature my spirit for this moment. 

Because this experience wasn’t just about finding a publisher. It was about finding Him.

What about you? Is there something you’ve been waiting for? You may not experience God’s voice the way I did that morning, but you can rest assured that He is just as much there with you as He was with me. Don’t let your impatience or frustration in your waiting distract you from the answer you’ve already received: Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who sees every tear, hears every cry, knows every longing. As we struggle through our waits, never knowing when or how or if the deepest desires will be fulfilled, we can still find peace in the arms of the Savior. By focusing our eyes on the God who holds our past, present, and future in His hands, we can boldly proclaim the words of David, who, while still in his waiting, penned this verse: 

“I am still confident in this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:13-14

 

One commenter will win a print copy of Jennifer's debut, If It Rains! (US only)

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer L. Wright has been writing since middle school, eventually earning a master’s degree in journalism at Indiana University. However, it took only a few short months of covering the local news for her to realize that writing fiction is much better for the soul and definitely way more fun. 

A born and bred Hoosier, she was plucked from the Heartland after being swept off her feet by an Air Force pilot and has spent the past decade traveling the world and, every few years, attempting to make old curtains fit in the windows of a new home. She currently resides in New Mexico with her husband, two children, and one rambunctious dachshund.

Visit her website.

ABOUT THE BOOK

If It Rains by Jennifer L. Wright (Tyndale, July 2021)

A story of resilience and redemption set against one of America’s defining moments—the Dust Bowl.

It’s 1935 in Oklahoma, and lives are determined by the dust. Fourteen-year-old Kathryn Baile, a spitfire born with a severe clubfoot, is coming of age in desperate times. Once her beloved older sister marries, Kathryn’s only comfort comes in the well-worn pages of her favorite book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Then Kathryn’s father decides to relocate to Indianapolis, and only the promise of a surgery to finally make her “normal” convinces Kathryn to leave Oklahoma behind. But disaster strikes along the way, and Kathryn must rely on her grit and the ragged companions she meets on the road if she is to complete her journey.

Back in Boise City, Melissa Baile Mayfield is the newest member of the wealthiest family in all of Cimarron County. In spite of her poor, rural upbringing, Melissa has just married the town’s most eligible bachelor and is determined to be everything her husband—and her new social class—expects her to be. But as the drought tightens its grip, Henry’s true colors are revealed. Melissa covers her bruises with expensive new makeup and struggles to reconcile her affluent life with that of her starving neighbors. Haunted by the injustice and broken by Henry’s refusal to help, Melissa secretly defies her husband, risking her life to follow God’s leading.

Two sisters, struggling against unspeakable hardship, discover that even in their darkest times, they are still united in spirit, and God is still with them, drawing them home. Learn more... 

Book Series Proposals

by Mindy Obenhaus

Each time I write a post here at Seekerville, I ask myself where I’m at in my writing. What am I working on? Since I just completed a proposal for a new series, I thought I’d share my process for doing that because if you’re like I was, you hear of people proposing a book series, yet have no idea what that actually looked like. So I’m going to pull back the veil on my proposal process which, as you’ve probably figured out, can be different for everyone. Yet while the process may be different, the elements of the proposal remain the same.

Back when I first started writing, my goal was to get published. Of course, that didn’t happen overnight. I had a lot of learning to do first. About the craft and the business—which seems to be ever-changing. Nine years later, I realized my dream of becoming a published author. And a year or so after that, it was time for me to propose a book series.

“No problem,” I thought, clueless as to what a multi-book proposal might entail.

Off I went to work on the first story. Synopsis and first three chapters, just like the other books. I’ve got this.

But wait, how are these books going to be connected? Friends? Family? Location?

Once that was settled, it dawned on me that I should also consider things such as what time of year each story would take place and how weather might play a role. If I have drenching rains in one story and a wildfire due to dry conditions in a later story, a reasonable amount of time would have to pass between those two stories to make that fire believable.

After I wrapped my brain around those things, I was ready to write. Since I tend to be a linear writer, I write the first three chapters and synopsis on the first story before moving on to the short synopses of the other books in the series, though you might prefer to write the other outlines simultaneously. Whatever works best for you.

Thanks to my annoying detail-oriented tendencies, I soon found myself wondering how long those subsequent synopses should be. Are we talking back-cover copy type blurbs or something  longer?

You might want to check with your agent or editor, but I say whatever it takes to give the editor a succinct idea of each story, while still giving them enough information to know if the story is going to work. A brief synopsis that includes these key elements—

Main character names, occupations and ages.Goal, motivation and conflict for the main characters.What’s at stake? (AKA what happens if the characters don’t achieve their goals?)In a romance, what brings the hero and heroine together?And what keeps them apart?Yes, this can take a little time because you kinda need to get a feel for the characters, get to know them a little bit. At least I do. Blame it on the detail-oriented thing.

Once all of the synopses are complete, it’s time to assemble the proposal. Again, it’s always good to check with your agent or editor to see if there’s a particular format they prefer. I usually start with a cover page that has the working title of the first story, the working title for the series, my name and contact information and my agent’s name and contact info. 

The next page has my series working title at the top, followed by each of the proposed books and their brief synopsis. For the first book, I just state that the synopsis and first three chapters are attached.

Lastly, I add the synopsis and first three chapters of the first story in the series.

Developing a series is process that shouldn’t be rushed. The more you know, the clearer your vision will be to your editor and the more likely they will be to buy your proposal. And that’s what we want, right?

Speaking of series, the third installment of my Bliss, Texas series, A Future to Fight For, is set to release later this month. But if you leave a comment on this post, you’ll be entered to win a copy. (US mailing addresses only, please)

But that's not all! The first book in the Bliss, Texas series, A Father's Promise, is now part of a two-in-one with Margaret Daley's A Baby for the Rancher, so let's giveaway a copy of that, too. 

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

A Man with a Past releases on Tuesday!

 Today, because it's a holiday. Because I have children coming to visit. Because I have fireworks to blow up, I'm keeping it simple.

An excerpt from A Man with a Past.

Book #2 of the Brothers in Arms series.

This is the heroine of book #2 Cheyenne and she's just had her ranch stolen from her by two surprise brothers. Her ranch left to them by her worthless sidewinder of a stepfather.

Wyatt was afraid of her.

The cowpokes were afraid of her.

The cows were afraid of her.

The horses were afraid of her.

Truth be told, she was a little bit afraid of herself.

When Cheyenne saw Wyatt come back, she saw in his eyes that he’d brought those land-stealing, sons-of-a-sidewinder to her ranch.

Already working with the strength and speed of two, she threw herself into branding like a mad woman.

Her land, her heritage, her whole world had been stolen.

She’d prayed about it. She really had. Prayed and prayed and prayed to accept what she could not change.

And still she was roping and throwing calves with a ruthless speed. Not hurting the calves, just fast and without ever allow herself one second between. She wanted no time to think.

Rope them, throw them, brand them. Rope another one.

The spring branding was going about double speed as everyone tried to keep up with her.

And stay out of her way.

“Hey, Wyatt, Cheyenne, Winona’s here.” Their foreman, Rubin Walsh shouted at her. When she turned, he was looking somewhere else, like he was afraid to accidentally catch her eye.

Cheyenne turned to see her friend, Winona Hawkins, come riding up. Wyatt didn’t speak to Cheyenne, but strode out toward Win and whoever that brown-headed man was who came along.

She knew who he was though, or had it narrowed down. Either Falcon or Kevin Hunt.

The two men who’d stolen her ranch.

Or rather their father, also Wyatt’s father, had stolen it.

Stolen it legally, but there was no justice in what had happened. Her land. Her ma and pa’s land. The ranch was built and run by Nate and Katherine Brewster and always meant for her. While Jacque LaRemy, her Grandpa’s ranch, would be for Wyatt.

And somehow the twisted laws of the land gave it all to Clovis Hunt. Grandpa’s, Ma’s, all of it. And he turned around and left it to sons she didn’t know existed. One third to Wyatt, and one third each to Falcon and Kevin.

None for her.

Find out more about the Hunt Brothers at

http://www.maryconnealy.com

Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests

THE FOURTH OF JULY

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE FOR JULY 4, 2021

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. 
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished. 
They said, “Where did this man get all this? 
What kind of wisdom has been given him? 
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! 
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? 
And are not his sisters here with us?” 
And they took offense at him. 
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.” 
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Mark 6:1-6

GEORGE WASHINGTON'S 

PRAYER FOR OUR NATION

JUNE 8, 1783

Almighty God, We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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!HAVE A JOYOUS FOURTH OF JULY!
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 Vetsch helped us set some goals and strategies for avoiding a summer writing slump.
Wednesday: Ruthy
Friday: Seekerville Celebrates Independence Day!


Monday:  Mary Connealy keeping it simple on a Monday Holiday with an excerpt from her book releasing on Tuesday, A Man with a Past
Tuesday: Debut author Jennifer L. Wright is sharing a bit of her writing and Faith journey.
Wednesday:  Mindy Obenhaus will be here with some words of encouragement.  Friday: Carrie






The countdown is on. A Future to Fight For releases July 27!

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Widow Paisley Wainwright’s so close to taking her Texas event-planning business to the next level by turning Renwick Castle into a wedding venue. Only one thing stands in the way: her longtime rival, Crockett Devereaux, who wants the castle to become a museum. When the building’s owners insist they collaborate to implement both plans, can Paisley and Crockett put their differences aside…and fight for their dreams together?

Read the first chapter here!
Preorder your copy here!








The Six Necessary Elements in Your Opening Chapters by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
10 Terrific Tips for Your Author Blog by Staci Mauney at Book Brush Blog
How to Create an Authentic Setting from a Place You've Never Been by Erika Liodice at Writer Unboxed
In Your Time (A Writer's Prayer) by Bob Hostetler at Steve Laube Agency
YouTube Channel for Writers by LA Sartor at An Indie Adventure

5 Tips for Writing a Good Book Series by Tracy Clark at Writer's Digest
Exploring a Character's Past Wound by Tasha Seegmiller at Writers In The Storm

Thriller Writing Advice from James Bond's Creator Ian Fleming-Circa 1963 by Garry Rodgers at The Kill Zone Blog
15 Foundational Truths of a Resilient Writer by Edie Melson at The Write Conversation
Five Strategies and Five Benefits of Collaborative Marketing by Erica Vetsch at Learn How To Write A Novel

God Bless the USA!

 INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND!!!!!

This is a time we celebrate.

A time we extoll the virtues of a free society, the time we celebrate the gutsy moves of a long-ago people who stood up against tyranny and unfair practices, who wore buckskin instead of red wool and carried muskets instead of military rifles.

This is when we watch 1776 the musical and think about the sacrifices made by so many to gain freedom for us. For me. For you. Our children and their children and their children.

This is when we wave flags and post bunting (I am a huge fan of bunting on old porches!) and grill hots and hamburgs and eat pasta salad or noodle salad (Is This As Good As it Gets?) Jack Nicholson or macaroni salad (The Eichas sisters make it with ring pasta... chopped celery... and mayo. That's it. And the family loves it) I like my pasta salad with more stuff, but the fun thing is that we do it... 

As a country.

As a people.

Together.

We are so blessed to be part of a free society, but I try and remember that I live freely because of another's sacrifice. Another's valor. Another's courage.

So to all those who have stood in faithfulness to begin this country... support this country... defend this nation... for every stone in Arlington and every other National Cemetery... for every battle-weary or wounded veteran...

For every warrior, man or woman, who held the line and for those who couldn't hold the line, we thank you.

You blessed us and bless us still, so from all of us in Seekerville, we wish you all a Happy Independence Day!

If you have favorite Independence Day things you do, share them below. Ruthy has copies of her first Kendrick Creek book "Rebuilding Her Life" to give away... and a copy of her newest mysteries "Patterns of Deception" or "Prescription for Mystery"... 

Your choice, but first you must say something about 4th of July or family gatherings or what makes you love America.... Or even about noodle salad!

Wishing you the very best and safest holiday weekend ever!

From The Seekers! 

LET FREEDOM RING!

NEW MYSTERY FROM RUTHY!!!!!

 From the gal who said "I'll never write a mystery... my brain just doesn't work that way..." comes a new mystery for a new Guideposts mystery series "Miracles and Mysteries of Mercy Hospital"!

Prescription for Mystery

I LOVE THIS COVER.... #perfect#historical#timeslip#contemporary#oldandnew
I've always felt that the past trods on the heels of the present in so many ways, so writing time-slip mysteries... with a past story and a current story... is right up my alley. Who knew that it would be a natural fit for me? 
And this story grabs the heart and feeds the soul. A story of self-sacrifice and putting children first marks the historical.... and then we find out how that old story feeds into the present day narrative.
And writing these mysteries has inspired me to a few other stories because the past truly does cast its joys and shadows on the present. But it also gives us the chance for forgiveness... restitution... remembrance.
"While digging through dusty hospital archives, Anne Mabry discovers a box tucked away in the darkest recesses of the windowless room. The contents of the box compel Anne, Shirley, Evelyn, and Joy to join forces and find out whatever happened to the promising young ER doctor who went missing thirty years before—a young doctor whose family had long roots in Charleston society, roots that pre-dated the Civil War.

When Dr. Byron Wellington disappeared without a trace, no one knew what to think. Was he forced to leave without saying goodbye? Or was it something worse? Something even more sinister? As the ladies search out tidbits of information, they discover much more than they were looking for.
In this lingering mystery of the past, the women realize that all is not what it seems on the surface and that, in the end, the truth does indeed set you free."

That's the official description of the story, and as the four women work together to figure things out, they uncover an unknown past that helped build Charleston's future. 

And that's the fun of time-slip. We can look back and see how our present hasn't just happened. It's evolved based on the actions of the past. That can be sacrificial... or greed. Honor... or crime. Good and bad combine to build the cornerstones of today with the actions of the past. 

I hope you love this book and the whole series! I've been working with a great group of authors and we've had a ball! 

I've got two copies of Prescription for Mystery to give away... leave a comment or question below. If you're a writer and want to talk mysteries, I'm in. If you're a reader and want to talk mysteries, well... I'm in there, too! 

Because I love, love, love a good mystery!

And here's a link to an article about... you guessed it!.. ME! :) Guideposts Magazine interviewed me for this month's issue and it was so much fun to be part of it. I love the magazine, the stories of hope and expectation.

LINK TO GUIDEPOSTS ARTICLE ABOUT OUR VERY OWN RUTHY! 

Award-winning, bestselling inspirational author Ruth Logan Herne has over 60 novels and novellas in print and has sold over 2,000,000 books in the last ten years... and she loves doing what she's doing! Visit her website ruthloganherne.com, email Ruthy at loganherne@gmail.com or friend her on Facebook. 

Avoiding the Summer Slump

 

Last month I was invited to speak at the Minnesota Christian Writers Guild, a great organization that holds monthly meetings in the Twin Cities to help writers along their writing journey.
I addressed the topic of Avoiding the Summer Slump, mostly because I needed to preach a little truth to myself. If you, too, need a bit of a pep talk, you've come to the right place.
So, how can a writer avoid that summer slump?
1. Set Goals:
Be realistic. You cannot possibly write 5 million words in one week. (Well, Ruthy can, but she's not human.)Make goals quantifiable. Set goals specific enough that you can tell whether you've attained them or not.Separate 'writing adjacent' things from actual writing. Writing adjacent things like research, marketing, emails, etc. take lots of time, but they won't add words to your work in progress.2. Identify what Motivates You:
Remember why it is you write. Remind yourself...often if necessarySet small victory rewards. Chocolate? A new coffee mug? Dinner out?Identify what you want to have accomplished at the end of the summer when you look back. Keep it in the forefront of your mind during writing sessions.Set a big victory reward. When you reach your big-picture goal, reward yourself with something cool. A vacation? A conference? A writing retreat? A laptop? Whatever. Save for it and work toward it.3. Set your Strategies:
Are you going to get up earlier? Stay up later?One weekend a month devoted to your writing?Turn off social media or the tv?Get your family involved.                    a. Let them know how important this is to you.
                    b. Give them tangible ways to help. Dishes? Cooking? Quiet time?
                    c. Give them updates so they know how helpful they're being.

4. Get the Tools You Need to Stay on Track:

Planners. Write it down and make it happen.Word count trackers can provide a visual of your progressAccountability partners can help you stay on track.A private FB group of likeminded people. (I belong to a group on FB called 1k1hr, which stands for One Thousand Words in One Hour. You don't have to write that fast, or you can go faster if you want, but the upshot is people check in, ask if anyone is around who is also writing, and a few folks join in. Encouragement that you're not alone, seeing the productivity of others, and a place to be held accountable. Bonus, you can make friends, too!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/338770276151416
There are only two more months before school starts and leaves start changing. What do you want to have accomplished by then? How are you going to get it done?

Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she is married to her total opposite and soul mate! When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/ where she spends way too much time!


Super excited that The Debutante's Code is now available for pre-order! (Link Below)


Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes in this new Regency mystery series

Newly returned from finishing school, Lady Juliette Thorndike is ready to debut in London society. Due to her years away, she hasn't spent much time with her parents, and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love. But when they're lost at sea, she discovers she never really knew them at all. They've been living double lives as government spies--and they're only the latest in a long history of espionage that is the family's legacy.

Now Lady Juliette is determined to continue their work. Mentored by her uncle, she plunges into the dangerous world of spy craft. From the glittering ballrooms of London to the fox hunts, regattas, and soirees of country high society, she must chase down hidden clues, solve the mysterious code her parents left behind, and stay out of danger. All the while, she has to keep her endeavors a secret from her best friend and her suitors--not to mention nosy, irritatingly handsome Bow Street runner Daniel Swann, who suspects her of a daring theft.

Can Lady Juliette outwit her enemies and complete her parents' last mission? Or will it lead her to a terrible end?

Best-selling author Erica Vetsch is back with a rollicking, exciting new series destined to be a hit with Regency readers who enjoy a touch of mystery in their love stories. Fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, and Anne Perry will love the wit, action, and romance.

Pre-order your copy here: https://smile.amazon.com/Debutantes-Thorndike-Swann-Regency-Mysteries/dp/0825447135