Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 61
May 19, 2021
Indie Doesn't Mean You're Alone
By Kathy Geary Anderson
One month ago today, I launched my first book baby into the world. Nine months before that (yes, I’m aware of the irony of that time frame) after lots of prayer, some prodding from my husband, as well as a couple of deep conversations with my agent, I made the decision to pursue indie publishing. COVID may have had a voice in that decision, but honestly, I’d been toying with the idea for some time.
One of the biggest reasons I was balking was the thought of having to do everything on my own. Taking on all those tasks and responsibilities alone seemed almost insurmountable. So much to do. So much to learn. Well, it’s ten months later, and guess what? The biggest lesson I learned throughout this whole process was indie publishing is by no means a solo endeavor.
If, like me, you are considering indie publishing, here are some of the people you’ll want on your team:
1. The Experts. Very few people are experts at everything. If you decide to indie publish, you are taking on a lot of roles. Not only do you need to write your book, but you’ll also need to see that it’s edited, published and marketed well. Like a general contractor on a building project, be willing to hire experts for the jobs you don’t do well. And, even if you consider yourself a pretty good editor, don’t try to edit your own book. Find a good developmental editor. Then, find a copy editor and proofreader. The money spent on their services is well worth it. Don’t know any experts? Ask around. Look at the front matter of indie published books you admire. You’ll often find the names of editors and cover artists there. Then, do your research. Professionals will usually have lists of references of other books they’ve edited or portfolios of covers they’ve created. Choose more than one name you’d like to work with and be prepared to be flexible with your publishing timeline because the best experts are also often the busiest.
2. The Teachers. The writing community is one of the best communities I know for sharing knowledge. If you want to learn something, chances are you can find a blog, a YouTube video, or a writing community (like The Seekers) that will be glad to supply the answers. Mark Dawson’s Self-Publishing Formulais one of the most comprehensive sites I know for the indie publisher. If the cost of his entire Self-Publishing 101 is too prohibitive, be aware he has plenty of podcasts and free resources as well. He also offers mini courses at much cheaper prices. Another gold mine of information is the blog at Reedsy.com. Their easy-to-understand articles helped me wrangle MetaData, ISBNs and BISACS into manageable bites. Also, KDP University, IngramSpark Academyand Draft2Digital all provide tutorials to help navigate publication on their sites. With the wealth of information out there, you’ll be sure to find a teaching style that works best for you.
3. The Encouragers. This group is a must for any writer, traditionally or indie pubbed. For me, many in this group are fellow authors--friends I’ve met at writers’ conferences, local writers’ groups, and online communities. Shortly after I made the decision to indie publish, God placed me in an online prayer group with a group of authors, the majority of which were all indie published. Their support has been invaluable, not only for the advice and direction they provide, but for their ability to pray me down off the ledge on those days when frustration and anxiety sought to get the better of me. Cultivate your author friendships, but also surround yourself with close friends and family members who, though they may not fully understand your writing journey, are willing and eager to celebrate each milestone you reach along the way. Celebrations are key.
Who are the most important team members in your publishing journey? Leave a comment below to be eligible for a drawing for a free signed print copy of The Trouble with Jenny. Also, drop by my website kathygearyanderson.com and sign up for my newsletter to receive a free prequel to Jenny’s story.
A south-Texas transplant to the good life of Nebraska, Kathy Geary Anderson has a passion for story and all things historical. Over the years, she has been an English teacher, a newsletter and ad writer, and a stay-at-home mom. When she’s not reading or writing novels, she can be found cheering (far too loudly) for her favorite football team, traveling the country with her husband, or spending time with her adult children. Connect with her at www.kathygearyanderson.com.
Click to Buy
She’s always getting into trouble. He’s always getting hurt.
At the turn of the 20th century, New York socialite Jenny Westraven is in trouble . . . again. An orphaned heiress from a large banking family, she’s expected to follow the rules of society and marry according to her wealth and status. But Jenny craves adventure and anything BUT the ordinary. So, when her guardian aunt and uncle return from a European vacation to find Jenny working as a typewriter girl in a Newark law office, they are appalled. Worse yet, they interrupt a kiss between her and her young boss Mr. “Ben” Bennett.
Jenny has been getting Ben in trouble since he was ten, so he’s secretly relieved when her guardians reject him as a suitor. He has other plans for his life, and they don’t include his troublesome childhood friend. When Jenny uses outrageous methods to reject the suitors her family does approve for her, her aunt and uncle decide to send her to her brother in Wyoming.
Then, a family tragedy takes Ben out west as well, and his path crosses with Jenny’s once again. As they work together to end an injustice, what was merely an attraction between them develops into something more. Unfortunately, Jenny’s involvement with another man comes between them and puts her in the worst trouble of her life.
Now Ben must decide whether to risk his heart to rescue her once again or cut his losses and let her go.
Hi, I’m Kathy—a south-Texas transplant to the good life of Nebraska with a passion for story and all things historical. A life-time ago, I earned a Master’s degree in education and over the years that followed have taught school, raised children and written a plethora of ads, newsletters, blogs and stories. Most recently, I retired from my longest, hardest, but most rewarding job as stay-at-home mom. Now an empty-nester, I’m diving full time into my dream of turning the stories in my head into novels. When I’m not reading or writing novels, you can probably find me cheering (far too loudly) for my favorite football team, striking out on traveling adventures with my husband, or spending time with my young adult children.
Find Kathy on Facebook
May 18, 2021
You Want to Be a Writer? 5 Steps to Get Started
By Debby Giusti
So you want to be a writer, but you don’t know how to make your dreams come true. Here are 5 steps to start you on the road to publication.
READ. What’s your favorite genre to read? In most cases, that’s a good indication of the type of story you might want to write. Or the type of story you should write. Why? Because you understand that particular genre. You know how the plot develops, how the characters change and grow, and how the action builds to an exciting climax and ends with a satisfying resolution.
Ask any romance reader about the various aspects of the stories she loves to read and she’ll explain how the hero and heroine may seem at odds at the beginning of the story, even though the reader knows they’re meant for each other. A series of problems keep them apart until they overcome the obstacles, declare their love and live happily ever after.
That's a simplistic overview, for sure, yet the reader knows the various aspects of the romance genre and what she needs to include in her own story to make it a compelling read.
Therefore the first step in your journey to publication is to read within a particular genre, study how the stories are developed and then decide what elements you’ll include in the story you plan to write.
WRITE. Begin with an idea. Expand that first spark of inspiration into some type of a story overview, either a detailed synopsis or outline or a short explanation of the plot and how you want it to develop.
Don’t get too hung up on details. Once you have a general idea of your plot and characters, start writing. Give your creative Muse free rein and have fun.
Keep writing until you type THE END. Now pat yourself on the back and celebrate because YOU’VE WRITTEN A BOOK!!!
REVISE & REWRITE. Fine-tune your story. Work through the pages. Make corrections. Change dialogue. Delete extraneous material. Rearrange sentences, paragraphs and even scenes. Cut and paste. Tighten in some places, expand the narrative in others. Check grammar and spelling.
Then repeat the process until you’re satisfied with the entire story.
ANOTHER SET OF EYES. Say what?
Another set of eyes means to have someone else read your story. Your mother will love it, no doubt, but you need a reader with an editor’s eye for detail. A person who understands story. She doesn’t have to work as an editor, but she—or he—needs to identify problems within your story and offer constructive criticism.
Some folks use a beta reader to catch errors and offer suggestions.
Another option is to look for a critique partner or a critique group. Exchange pages and review one another’s stories. Fresh eyes can pick out problems you might overlook.
Enter contests that offer written critiques, especially if the judges are published authors. Getting feedback helps you identify areas of weakness as well as positive aspects of your writing. Study ways to improve your craft and change those weaknesses into strengths.
Hire a freelance editor. A number of editors do freelance work and will provide editorial input for a fee.
SUBMIT YOUR STORY. Agents and publishing houses have websites that include guidelines for submission. Do your homework. Learn what the agent or editor you’re targeting requests and follow his or her directions to a T.
Once you’ve submitted your story, start working on your next manuscript!
By the way, did you notice the "writers" in the above memes? They're on the road to publication and working hard to make their writing dreams come true!
Tell me about your writing dreams and the steps you’ve already taken on your journey to publication! Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a copy of HIDDEN AMISH SECRETS, my Publishers Weekly Bestseller still available on Amazon.
Happy writing! Happy reading!
Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
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HIDDEN AMISH SECRETS
Her temporary Amish homecoming
could get her killed.
Julianne Graber left her Amish life behind after a family tragedy, but now she’s back to sell the family home— and someone’s dead set on getting rid of her. With her neighbor William Lavy by her side, Julianne must uncover dangerous secrets to make sense of the past and present. Can she find justice for her family—and a future with Will—before the killer hits his target?
Order on Amazon!
May 17, 2021
Introducing Books and Brew with Andrew Huff
Introducing Books & Brew!
My journey to becoming a published novelist was long and arduous. Hours upon hours of reading, writing, and repeating. One of the things that I found indispensable in the process was learning from other authors. I especially enjoy interacting with authors through conferences, workshops, and critique groups.
Along the way, I've also discovered that when I write I love to have a cup of coffee right beside me. As a matter of fact, many, many, many chapters of mine were not only written while drinking coffee but written inside of a coffee shop. As I've gotten to know other authors, I've discovered the same is often true of them as well. We all love to have some beverage at the ready while crafting imaginary worlds.
Recently, I came up with the idea to put those two things together in a brand new video series debuting on my YouTube channel called Books & Brew. I loved getting to chat with other authors, but I also became interested in not only learning about what kind of brew they like to drink while writing but trying their beverage out myself. This series will introduce you to fiction authors you both know and may not know, learn what their favorite writing drink is, and hear about their secrets to writing great fiction.
I'll be launching the series with great guests such as Jaime Jo Wright, Natalie Walters, Betsy St. Amant Haddox, Erica Vetsch, and more. Episodes will premiere on Sundays, but as a special treat for Seekerville readers, you can preview the first episode right now !
Building Platforms As An Author
Part of my desire to launch this series has been to engage with readers across my platforms in new ways. Authors, veterans and first-timers alike, spend just as much time building "platforms" as they do writing. One of the easiest ways to connect and engage with readers is on the social media websites many of us already use. But another way to engage with your followers is through video, and the year 2020 has proven just how easy it can be for anyone to use video as a way to reach a broader audience.
For Books & Brew, the interviews all take place over Zoom with the meeting recorded to a video file on my local hard drive (here's a handy video on how to set this up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZHSAMd89JE). Given my background in multimedia production, I add some flare to the interviews with branded elements, but you don't have to do this in order to launch your own vlog or interview series. I'm also hosting Books & Brew exclusively on my YouTube channel in order to increase traffic to it, but you could just as easily post your own videos to Facebook or even Instagram using IGTV (find out how here: https://www.facebook.com/help/instagram/225190788256708).
The most important thing I would encourage you to do as you consider how you might utilize video in engaging with your followers is to come up with a unique spin on how the content will be presented. I chose to talk with fellow authors over their favorite beverages, so the video series is as much about trying new coffees and teas as it is learning about the craft of fiction writing. And I came up with the idea simply because I really enjoy drinking coffee! What's your unique spin?
Don't Be Shy
It can be intimidating to create video content when writers are often people who are the least interested in speaking publicly, but video offers you a chance to keep trying until you are satisfied with the result. There are many ways in which you can write what you are going to say in advance and even read it from a screen while recording the video (check out any number of available teleprompter apps for your phone or tablet). Another great way to get around the obstacle of appearing on video is to not do it alone. Find a friend or two and simply record yourselves having a conversation you would normally have!
Now, I know I just said the opposite of this, but the final thing I would say is that you should post your video content to your platforms even when you are not completely satisfied with the end result. Take it from someone who's created a lot of video content: you'll never be fully satisfied with the end result. But you should share what you make anyway! Come to think of it, that is often true of us authors as well, isn't it? We feel like there was a better version of the story than we were able to tell, and yet we wanted to share it with readers anyway. It's more important to get your work out to the audience that will be interested than it is waiting until it reaches some (actually unattainable) level of perfection.
I hope you enjoy Books & Brew, and I can't wait to see what creative writing content you create!
For Discussion
What are some of the obstacles you face when creating content to use on your author platforms?
What are some of the podcasts, vlogs, or other types of media content that you engage with as a reader?
Who are some of the authors you would love to hear from about writing and discover what their favorite brew is?
Author Bio
Andrew Huff is the author of the action-packed Shepherd Suspense Series from Kregel Publications. The first book in the series, A Cross to Kill, was a finalist in the Mystery/Thriller categories of both the 2020 Foreword INDIE awards as well as the 2020 ACFW Carol Awards. Huff now works in Christian media and entertainment after spending 10 years as a youth and creative arts pastor. He currently calls North Texas home where he and his beautiful wife Jae raise their two boys and rescue dog.
THE SHEPHERD SUSPENSE SERIES When journalist Christine Lewis and former CIA operative John Cross first met, neither could suspect how the encounter would forever change the course of their lives. From chasing down international terrorists in Washington D.C. to investigating murder in Dallas, the Shepherd Suspense Series promises thrilling action and adventure mixed with faith and values like you’ve never read before. Andrew Huff delivers what readers are calling a “wild ride” that makes you feel like you’ve “jumped into Jack Ryan or Jason Bourne’s life” (Natalie Walters, author of the Harbored Secrets trilogy).
Get your copies of the Shepherd Suspense Series at: https://amzn.to/3fiFlUBhttps://www.christianbook.com/apps/easyfind?Ntk=author&Ntt=Andrew%20Huffhttps://www.christosrochester.com/contributors/andrew-huff/or wherever fine Christian fiction is sold!
Visit Andrew's website at: https://www.andrewhuffbooks.com/ where you can sign up for his newsletter and get a free sample of the first THREE chapters of A Cross to Kill!
May 16, 2021
Revamping: strategies for success in a changing world
It’s been fourteen months since our world slammed into a brick wall.
Ouch!
I don’t know about you, but for me the past year and a little more has been a lesson in digging deep into my character and finding out what I’m really made of.
There’s nothing like social and political upheaval to bring out the best…and worst…in us.
Sometimes I was appalled by what came out of my heart. Terrible things. I yelled at people (while I was in the shower,) and stomped my foot hard (when I was alone,) and even committed murder (okay, characters, not people, but the killing part was quirkily satisfying.)
But once I got past the idea that two weeks would bring us back to normal (about four months into our current situation,) I started pulling out the good stuff. Digging deep into my heart and tapping into the creative part of me that needed to pull up my big-girl panties and get on with life and my career.
So, what did I do?
First of all, I took a fresh look at my writing. In January and February 2020, I had two proposals rejected. It was time to reevaluate what I was doing.
Since I am in that miniscule minority that sold the first book I ever wrote and had steady contracts for the next nine years, I had never taken the time to explore different genres and different writing styles. So, I decided to write a mystery.
What did I know about writing a mystery? Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero.
So in May 2020 I started learning. I read every cozy mystery I could get my hands on. I searched the internet for blog posts on writing mysteries. I sat down with that information and outlined a course of study. I spent three months developing my story, my characters, and a series idea.
In the summer I started writing. Fits and spurts. Do you remember the stereotype of the author typing a few words, ripping the paper from the typewriter in disgust, only to do the same thing with the next sheet of paper? That was me. So many false starts.
But slowly and surely the pieces fell into place, and now the story is almost finished.
Will I write another cozy mystery? I plan to, Lord willing. But I also want to continue writing historical romance (my first love!)
The biggest take-away from this experience is that I love writing again. Love it. It is no longer work, but a joy.
The other thing I’ve done to revamp my career is to analyze what was working and not working in my marketing strategies.
When I first started writing, everyone needed to have a blog. Remember those days?
And a website.
And then everyone had to have an author page on Facebook.
But time moves on. Facebook has changed (again – they’re always changing!) And Amazon changed (again!) And my new, big-girl-panties-wearing-self decided I had had enough.
After doing more research, I decided that I needed to quit relying on Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Bezos to do my marketing for me. It was too expensive – not in cash, but in my sanity. Those two don’t know me, and they wouldn’t care if they did. They are looking out for their best interests, not mine.
I knew I needed to control my own marketing rather than relying on someone else.
So, I revamped my website, which is something I actually own and have control over (unlike social media,) and I started putting more content on my blog to make a visit to www.JanDrexler.com worthwhile.
Instead of being the dog whose tail was being wagged by tech giants, I’m in control.
Now I use Facebook, MeWe, and my soon-to-be-revamped newsletter to market my website and books and to bring people to fresh and (hopefully!) entertaining content. Instead of being at the mercy of big tech companies, I’m using them to my advantage. It feels good.
All in all, the past year has been a hard one, but a good one. I will be reaping the benefits of my revamping strategies for years to come. Or at least until it is time to revamp again!
What changes have you made in your writing or in your life in the past year? Tell us about them!
One commenter will win a e-book copy of “A Home for His Family,” an historical romance set in the gold rush days of Deadwood.
About the story: Nate Colby came to the Dakota Territory to start over, not to look for a wife. He'll raise his orphaned nieces and nephew on his own, even if pretty schoolteacher Sarah MacFarland's help is a blessing. But Nate resists getting too close—Sarah deserves better than a man who only brings trouble to those around him.
Sarah can't deny she cares for the children, but she can't let herself fall for Nate. Her childhood as an orphan taught her that opening her heart to love only ends in hurt. Yet helping this ready-made family set up their ranch only makes her long to be a part of it—whatever the risk.
May 15, 2021
Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests
ASCENSION SUNDAY
Seventh Sunday of Easter
The Ascension, Benvenuto Tisi, 1510-1520,
Gallery of Ancient Art, Rome, Italy. [PD-US]
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved;
whoever does not believe will be condemned.
These signs will accompany those who believe:
in my name they will drive out demons,
they will speak new languages.
They will pick up serpents with their hands,
and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them.
They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them,
was taken up into heaven
and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere,
while the Lord worked with them
and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
Mark 16:15-20
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 the United States--and the world--during this Coronavirus pandemic. Pray for the sick and suffering, for businesses and schools to remain open, for people to be able to work and for our economy to prosper.Please also join us in praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spiritacross our country on Pentecost.
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support!
May the Lord bless you and your families and keep you safe.
May 14, 2021
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: Janyre Tromp taught us a super hero editing trick!
Wednesday: Ruthy
Friday: Carrie gave us 10 clues you're in a cozy mystery - and some recent & upcoming cozies from Christian authors, including Seekerville's own Ruthy!
Monday: Jan Drexler will be talking about revamping her career. Does your writing need a refresher? Maybe a dose of something new? Stop by and see what Jan has been doing! And there will be a giveaway!
Tuesday: Andrew Huff
Wednesday: Debby Giusti's blog will feature tips on the writing journey and a giveaway!!!
Thursday: Kathy Geary Anderson Friday: Winnie Griggs will be bringing us a Back To Basics post and there will be a giveaway!
Jan Drexler's books are available on audio!
All three books of the "Journey to Pleasant Prairie" and all three from "The Amish of Weaver's Creek" are available through audiobooks.com or audible!
Spoiler Alert! by Tamela Hancock Murray at Steve Laube Agency
3 Characterization Tips from Movies by Cara Putman at Learn How To Write A Novel
The Importance of Copyediting for Writers by Linda Gilden at The Write Conversation
The Power of Quirky-Smirky Assonance and Alluring Alliteration by Margie Lawson at Writers In The Storm
Archtypal Character Arcs, Pt 14: The Mage's Shadow Archetypes by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors
Which Story Structure is Right for Your Novel? by Savannah Cordova at Fiction University
Power Up Individual Scenes with a Scene Tracker by Marissa Graff at Writers Helping Writers
The Heroine's Journey by Gail Carriger at The Creative Penn
Juggling Act: How I Work on Multiple Manuscripts at Once by Dea Poirier at Writers Digest
The Punch at the End of Your Novel Scenes by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
May 13, 2021
Ten Clues You Are In a Cozy Mystery
Happy Friday! So, if you read the Weekend Edition from Saturday, you'll know I intended to write something about reviews for both authors & reviewers. However, it’s been an emotionally heavy week – several people I love going through tough stuff - and I just needed to talk about something a little lighter.
So let’s talk about cozy mysteries! While I didn’t start reading cozy mysteries until 2015, I basically grew up on them in television form - thank you, Jessica Fletcher. And one of the things I (and countless thousands of readers) love about cozy mysteries is that they follow a certain formula. After the upheaval of the past year, a little predictability is like comfort food. We want to know that justice is served, that the good guys win, that friendships matter, and that there’s something we can count on to remain pretty much unchanged. (Obviously God is unchanged. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But I’m talking outside the spiritual realm for the moment)
Agatha Christie set the standard for cozies, when the first of her Miss Marple books released in the 1930s, and while cozies have definitely adapted to the modern age, much of what makes them so beloved has stood the test of time. Cozy mysteries (even most general market ones) are great for Christian fiction readers because a true cozy is free of explicit language/scenes. There are of course some authors who choose to write a grittier cozy, but the majority stay true to the genre and abstain from anything above a PG rating. I’m really happy to see cozy mysteries beginning to be written by Christian fiction authors too (again, even with a general market publisher) – more on that later.
Before I share some of my fave cozy mystery authors and some new/upcoming cozies to look forward to, I thought I'd have a little tongue-in-cheek fun with that predictability I mentioned earlier. If you've never read a cozy mystery, but you have watched at least one episode of Murder She Wrote, you'll still be able to follow along easily.
So without further ado (adieu?)...
TEN CLUES YOU ARE IN A COZY MYSTERY
1. You live in a quaint small town with its share of quirky characters and an inordinately high homicide rate.*Usually coastal, in the south, or in the mountains. There are also a lot of festivals.
2. Homicide rate notwithstanding, there’s always someone new moving into town & starting a new business.
*This is usually the person who will either die next or be accused of the next murder so maybe don’t get too close to them just yet.
3. If person A (probably someone in your close circle) threatens person B (newcomer), person B has less than 24 hours to live.
*Now is the time to find person A a good attorney… except there really aren’t any because this is a cozy mystery, not a suspense.
4. You like to ‘help’ the local law enforcement solve these murders.
*After all, in a very meta twist, you read cozy mysteries in your free time and you always know whodunit before anyone else.
5. Local law enforcement lets you do this & even asks you for advice on occasion, however begrudgingly. Oh they tell you to stay out of it, to let them do their jobs, but they don’t really mean it. You know this because they thank you once you’ve handed over the culprit.
*One of them may even start dating you. Or your best friend.
6. You, your family, your friends, maybe even your pet, will all have your turn as the number one suspect in a murder investigation.
*You also usually find the body. Which doesn’t really help your defense.
7. The library or business or money-making hobby you own may only have 2 employees (including you) but it’s no problem at all for you to close up shop or leave your lone employee in charge indefinitely, at a moment’s notice, so you can chase down a lead.
*Don’t worry, your business still thrives, and all your regular customers understand & are happy to pitch in if needed. No charge.
8. Your most faithful companion is your pet who is full of personality & may even save the day – and your bacon – when necessary. At the least, your pet is your brainstorming partner and helps you process all the clues.
*Usually a dog or a cat … but it could be a snake or a parakeet or an iguana. A pet rock is probably pushing it though.
9. You have at least one endearingly eccentric older relative who doubles as a font of wisdom.
*Bonus if he/she has hilarious friends.
10. Someone in your inner circle is a baker or pastry chef or gourmet chef so you’re always eating yummy food.
*Recipes included at the back.
I have several favorite cozy mystery series, encompassing a range of authors and publishers. If I started naming my faves, we would be here a while and I would inevitably leave one or more out. However, you can peruse my cozy mystery archives on ReadingIsMySuperPower to get an idea of which ones I recommend.I'm super excited to see more Christian authors branching out into the cozy mystery genre. This is not to say that their books are overtly Christian (though some are) but it makes me so happy to see Jesus followers writing great books in this genre too. Some older series by Christian authors include Vannetta Chapman's Amish Village Mysteries, A.H. Gabhart's Hidden Springs Mysteries, and Julianna Deering's Drew Farthering Mysteries (that last one is more of a British cozy / Agatha Christie-esque & therefore slightly different from the formula we've been talking about).
Some new books coming out that I'm excited about are Pint of No Return by Dana Mentink (Poisoned Pen Press), On Skein of Death by Allie Pleiter (Berkley), and Dogged by Death by Laura Scott (Crooked Lane Books), and Trouble Brewing by Heather Day Gilbert (Woodhaven Press). The first three I mentioned start new series, too! Ahem - I've used their covers throughout the post to pique your interest (full disclosure) :)
There are also two cozies of particular interest on Seekerville that recently released:
The Deeds of the Deceitful
(Hope Street Mysteries #6)
by Ellery Adams & Tina Radcliffe
Beyond the Page / November 2020
Patterns of Deception
(Savannah Secrets #11)
by Ruth Logan Herne
Guideposts
I hope you give cozy mysteries a try, if you haven't already. It's a great way to pass a few hours, guaranteed to put a smile on your face and make your heart a little lighter. Reading a cozy mystery with a mug of your favorite hot beverage (lemonade substitutes nicely in the summer), a comfy corner, and a snuggly dog or cat if one is available.
Do you read cozy mysteries?
If so, who are some of your fave authors? What do you like most about this genre?
If you haven't read one yet, what intrigues you about this genre?
~*~*~*~*~
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.
May 11, 2021
The Root of the Matter
You've all heard (and probably used) the expression "give them roots and wings".
The expression is referring to child-raising... the art of parenting. How to keep your child grounded in the strengths of life but raise them with enough courage to spread their wings and jump out of that nest.
Now we all know fledglings that didn't have to be urged to fly.
THEY JUST DO IT!!!!!
And we all know people who are still perched on the edge, peering over, waiting for that perfect moment to launch. #FailureToLaunch isn't just a space saying anymore. For a myriad of reasons, our young people tend to seek more protection than they used to, but this is where your fiction has to ignore at least some of the current trends (whiny know-it-all people are not generally romance or fiction heroes or heroines. I, for one, want to slap them) and stick with the tropes that have withstood the test of time:
Alphas
Betas
And then there's this, a link to Writing 101: ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHARACTERS IN LITERATURE and oh my stars, this is in-depth. This is a conference class in a blog. This is detailed!!! This is for thinkers!
I'm not a thinker or a planner... But what I do and what I can teach is to see each character via these points:
1. Where they were in the past.
2. What they've come from
3. Who's hurt them?
4. Who likes them?
5. Why are they:
Jerks
Scared
Overweight
Underweight
Nervous
Anxious
Sunny
Hopeful
Questioning
Suspicious
Doubtful
Inquisitive
Scarred
Introverted
Now that last one isn't to be confused with having a character who by nature is an introvert. That's different than someone who is simply introverted for a reason. A "Cause-and-Effect" scenario.
Cause and effect scenarios are how I see books develop. I don't read craft books and rarely read articles on craft. I prefer to "read" my characters. To start the story, get to know them, realize why they act like they do, visualize their past and what effect that has on their present, and then put them through their paces of growth and realization.
I try not to make the process hard. Trees don't have to figure out that the roots send food to the branches once the sun warms the seal every spring. It just happens. It happens because the science of the situation programs the tree to produce sap/blossoms/leaves at certain degrees of soil temperature. Willows leaf out in cool weather and keep their leaves the longest up here.
Catalpa trees are S-L-O-W to blossom out and grow their big, ginormous bean-tree heart-shaped leaves. And they lose their leaves early in the fall.... big, floppy yellow leaves. I see characters like that. Some are willow fronds, some are maple leaves, some are strong, sturdy oaks, some are gossamer Japanese feathery maples, some are ornamental, some give sweetness like the gorgeous sugar maples and some bear fruit every single year, like a mother-lode, caring for all...
Your characters grow, stretch and evolve from where they are at the beginning of the book to where they are at that final page. But their story doesn't "begin" at page one... it begins in their childhood, their military service, their gains and losses, their parents, their siblings, their setting, their everything. When we make sure to bind that thread into the weave of story-telling, we end up with the organic story we all love to read and share. And that's every author's dream and goal.
Thank you for being here today! I've got a copy of my latest mystery "Patterns of Deception" and a copy of my newest and highly acclaimed Love Inspired "Rebuilding Her Life" book one of my new Kendrick Creek series.
"Rebuilding Her Life" AVAILABLE HERE!
Patterns of Deception (Savannah Secrets series...) AVAILABLE HERE!
Leave a comment below to have your name tucked in... and if you already have one or the other, let me know!
Bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne is gearing up for a crazy busy pumpkin season on her pumpkin farm because, like a great book, the beauty of fall begins in the heart of winter with seed orders, planning, strategies, display ideas, creating things, shaking things up and staying in touch with the folks who love you eight weeks of the year... and you don't want them to forget you the other 44 weeks! :) Writing and farming have a lot in common: You plan. You plant. You work. You grow. Then you have something to sell. Rock on, writers and readers!
May 9, 2021
One Thing That Works For Me with guest Janyre Tromp: Super Hero Editing Trick
Good Monday morning, Seeker villagers! Carrie here to introduce today's guest for our new monthly 'One Thing That Works For Me' series. Please join me in welcoming author & developmental editor Janyre Tromp as she shares her super hero editing trick!I was once asked how many hours a day I read. My answer—“If my eyes are open, I’m reading.”—might sound strange, but I’m an editor for a traditional publishing house by day and a writer by night. I do a little bit of everything. I’m a bit like a publishing super hero. Well maybe. While I don’t have super powers to leap over the NYT bestseller list, my blend of editor and writer does give me a powerful perspective when it comes to editing and access to some pretty super editing tricks. So when Erica asked me to share the “one thing that works well for me in editing,” I had approximately 2.1 billion things run through my head. But when I got my own manuscript back for its substantive (or developmental) edit, I found myself employing one super trick over and over in my communication with my own editor—the hashtag or “#”. While the little pound sign is super powerful in social media, it can perform Herculian feats in your edits too. Let me explain using examples that may or may not be from my actual fantastic editorial letter. Prevents Editing Rabbit Trails Let’s say your editor tells you that she’s concerned about how your character thinks inconsistently about her mother throughout the book. But you have more than twenty pages of other edits to tackle. If you side-track yourself every single time the mother is mentioned, you’ll be constantly doing things like, “Look at me checking this scene to straighten out where everyone is sleeping. And oh look, my character is talking about her mom again. I better fix that hmmm . . .” [Insert ten minutes of messing around with things] “Wait, ummm . . . what was I doing?” Instead of trying to fix the mama issues AND tackle scene specific issues at the same time, insert a comment bubble (in Word, go to Insert/New Comment) and type #mamaissue. Then when you’re done dealing with the specific issues in the whole manuscript, you can search #mamaissue. Magically your word processor will show you every single incident of your character referencing her mother. Now you can fix them without sidetracking yourself. Point to Edits If that’s not enough for you to shout, “It’s bird, it’s a plane. No! It’s a super editing trick.” There’s more. What if your editor asks you to foreshadow a specific problem earlier? You realize she’s made a very good point, but how do you communicate where you’ve made edits (or let’s be honest, remind yourself where you made the edits)? Enter the super hashtag. You drop “#early” in comment bubbles at your edit points, and voila, your editor can find them all. Tracking Themes, Characters, and Stuff Now maybe you’re thinking, “This is all fine and good if you have an editor to communicate with, but this hashtag isn’t all that for self-edits.” Hold up. Super hashtag is an editing tool for everyone. Have a theme you’re not sure is clear? Hashtag it. #theme Have a character you think you might need to tweak their arc? Hashtag it. #arc Not sure if your backstory lines up throughout the book? Document the information elsewhere, then go back to your document and, everybody say it with me, “hashtag it.” #backstory Editing is never for the weak at heart and will play mind games better than the world’s most clever villain. But never fear, hashtag is here. Have questions about how it works or ideas of other applications? Or have you used the super hashtag before? I’d love to hear about it. In the meantime, if you’d like a free copy of my novella, Wide Open, pop over to my website and sign up for my newsletter (which always includes free tips for writers): www.janyretromp.com
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Janyre Tromp is a developmental editor with Kregel Publications by day and writer of historical novels with a dose of suspense at night. And that all happens from her kitchen table when she’s not hanging out with her husband, two kids, two troublesome cats, and slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. Her childrens’ series, All About God’s Animals, is available wherever books are sold, and her novel, Shadows in the Minds Eye, will release winter of 2022.
Connect with Janyre: website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Thank you, Janyre, for such a fabulous & helpful post!
Do you have questions for Janyre on how it works?
Any ideas of other ways this trick can be used?
Have you used the super hashtag before?
Leave us a comment below!
May 8, 2021
Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests
Sixth Sunday of Easter
MOTHER'S DAY
Jesus saying farewell to his eleven remaining disciples,
from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308–1311. [PD-US]
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another.”
John 15:9-17
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 the United States--and the world--during this Coronavirus pandemic. Pray for the sick and suffering, for businesses and schools to remain open, for people to be able to work and for our economy to prosper.We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN WHO VISIT THIS BLOG!
(Mother's Day is a celebration for all women, whether you have children or not, because God created all women withnurturing, loving hearts!)
May the Lord bless you and your families and keep you safe.
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