Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 91

Writing--The Desire of Our Hearts

Guest Jamie Adams



Life doesn’t always go as planned. As I started to jot down notes about my writing journey the phone rang. It was the doctor’s office calling to tell us our daughter’s surgery planned for May 2nd had to be moved up to April 3rd. This conversation took place on April 1st, but it was not an April Fool’s joke. 
I had to drop everything and start juggling schedules. There were teachers to notify (my girls go to an online virtual academy) and my students in China (I teach ESL online) would need to have classes rescheduled. When I sat back down to write my thoughts were on my child and I was reminded of something that happened years ago. I want to share it here and then tie it in with my journey to becoming published. It took place in 2008. 


While listening to my six-year-old daughter praying before bed she asked God to make our roses bloom. Sweet, but it was February and our pretty rose bush was sleeping. I didn’t discourage her but thought to myself ‘she won’t remember in the morning.’I know you expect me to share how a flower bloomed the next day, but what is truly amazing isn’t the flower so much as how and where. We have a circular driveway and I always pull forward to leave the house. On this particular morning my path was blocked. I don’t recall what it was, but I had to back up to leave. After everyone was buckled, I turned the key and looked in my side view mirror. The first thing I saw was the rose bush beside the mailbox. Centered in the reflection was one little bud that had bloomed. I would not have seen it had I pulled forward and it was not visible from the road. I was humbled, but my lesson in faith had just begun. That year was the year of the Super Tuesday tornado outbreak. After traveling 122 miles and wiping out our little town’s business district, the whirlwind lifted less than 300 yards from our house. What happened that evening is a story in itself. As you can imagine there was a lot of praising God going on at hour house that night. I was reminded of the rosebush and threw that into the mix of praises. Three nights later, energized by the power of answered prayer my dear daughter had an even bigger request. She asked God to fill the yard with flowers. I didn’t discourage her, but I was a bit concerned because this time she would surely remember her request in the morning. The next day was Saturday. There were still broken limbs from the tornado to clean up. We live on two acres in the woods. Most of our outdoor time is spent on the front deck where we can enjoy the view and listen to the birds sing. The back yard is that area that must be mowed in the summer but otherwise doesn’t get a lot of attention. Our clean up led us to the back and some interesting debris. Somewhere along the tornado’s path it must have lifted a florist supply store. Scattered all over the back yard were tiny plastic flowers of every color imaginable. To this day I can still see the looks of joy on the faces of my little girls as they filled my arms with flower after flower. 

God is amazing. He knew what my daughter was going to ask for that night before she was even born. It reminds me of Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”I love books. As a child, I made up stories before I could read. As an adult, I rarely get a good night’s sleep because I lay awake acting out stories in my mind. In my heart there is a strong desire to write. I believe God put it there. The best advice I could give to anyone who wants to become a writer is to read, read, read and then write what you like. One thing that surprised me when I first sought publication was the support that came from other writers. Seekerville is a testimony to that truth. So many of us have found a treasure trove of information and support from this wonderful group of authors. My first traditionally published book, Cold Creek Mountain is a Western Romance set in Colorado. 
Lilly Fletcher’s last duty to her recently deceased employer is to deliver his orphaned grandchildren to their uncle on Cold Creek Mountain. The final step of the journey requires securing a guide, which is not an easy task for a governess who prides herself on being independent.

Ex-scout Hayden Dawson has been grieving the tragic loss of his family for several years. When he’s asked to take a fancy governess from the city along with her wards up the mountain, he refuses at first. He has a ranch to run. However, outnumbered, by his foreman and his meddling childhood teacher, he’s coerced out of retirement for one last trip. When the ride up Cold Creek Mountain doesn’t go as planned, can these two wounded hearts work together to protect the children?
*****Jamie will be giving away two e-book copies of her debut, Cold Creek Mountain, from Anaiah Press today! Please let us know in the comments if you'd like to be entered.
Jamie Adams fell in love with books at an early age. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott opened her imagination and sparked a dream to be a writer. She wrote her first book as a school project in 6th grade. A graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature as well as member of American Christian Fiction Writers, The Writing Desk and several critique groups she spends most of her time writing, reading or learning more about the craft near to her heart. She and her family live in the Ozarks surrounded by forest and wild life. Visit Jamie at her Facebook author page and her Amazon Author Page.

Easter Sunday & Prayer Request

On this Easter Sunday, our hearts overflow with joy and gratitude! Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, died for our sinsso that we might have Everlasting Life with Him in Eternal Glory.He is Risen!Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Seekerville bloggers are praying for YOU and for our entire blog community throughout this pandemic. 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--and the world--during this coronavirus outbreak. 
Dear Lord, protect us and keep usfree from COVID-19 infection. Help all who are working hard to contain the spread of this virus, especially those  in the healthcare professions and those caring for the sick. Give clarity and right judgement to the WHO, CDC, NIH and federal, state and local agencies combating this outbreak.Guard all of us and especially our elderly and immunocompromised. Bring healing to those who have the disease, Eternal Glory to thosewho have succumbed to the virus andcomfort to the families who have lost loved ones.God bless us, and God bless the United States of America.Amen.
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support! May the Lord bless you and your families abundantly throughout this Easter Season
Resurrection, Luca Giordano, 1665, Residenzgalerie, Salzburg. [PD-US]
On the first day of the week,Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.John 20:1-9

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.  Note our new email address and please send your emails to Seekerville2@gmail.com








Monday: The winner of a $25 Amazon gift card is Laurie Wood. I am also giving away three sets of books #1 and #2 of the Brides of Hope Mountain Series, Aiming for Love and Woman of Sunlight to Sarah Taylor, Kaybee and Glynis

Wednesday:  Ruthy chatted with folks over Wednesday and Thursday talking about writing a synopsis, a BACK TO BASICS Seekerville feature that's geared toward helping not only our newer followers and newer writers. So glad to have you guys here! And winners of a copy of Ruthy's popular "A Hopeful Harvest" are Pat W. and Vince! Vince let me know what kind works, Kindle or a large print because I know I have a True Large print here and I want it easy on your eyes... unless you've already read this one??? Let me know!

Friday: Carrie helped us celebrate Good Friday & look ahead to Easter Sunday. 


Monday:  We'll be honored to have Villager Jamie Adams visit! She's celebrating her traditionally published debut with us! Her post will be, "Writing--the Desire of Our Hearts." Be sure to stop by to congratulate Jamie! She'll be doing a giveaway of two digital copies of Cold Creek Mountain, published by Anaiah Press.
Wednesday:  Debby Giusti is our hostess today. She's working on a new book and promises to provide an interesting glimpse into the writing life.   Friday: Winnie Griggs will wrap up the week with what she's sure will be a fun post if she can just find her focus. :)




That number 30....at the bottom of my picture is actually a countdown. We are keeping this on sale until the end of April. So it's below 30 days now!The Accidental Guardian on sale now at Bookbub Chirp


Pandemic by Lynn Ungar What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath— the most sacred of times? Cease from travel. Cease from buying and selling. Give up, just for now, on trying to make the world different than it is. Sing. Pray. Touch only those to whom you commit your life. Center down. And when your body has become still, reach out with your heart. Know that we are connected in ways that are terrifying and beautiful. (You could hardly deny it now.) Know that our lives are in one another’s hands. (Surely, that has come clear.) Do not reach out your hands. Reach out your heart. Reach out your words. Reach out all the tendrils of compassion that move, invisibly, where we cannot touch. Promise this world your love— for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, so long as we all shall live. ………..With thanks to All Souls Church, Charlottesville, VA
JUST RELEASED!!!!!
Ruthy is excited to announce her new Love Inspired Release, that seems to be more available this week than it was for the last two weeks, so that's nice! It's a great story, a beautiful tale of second chances and new beginnings and how God's perfect timing sometimes puts perfect strangers right where they need to be to fall in love... and make a difference! You can order it on Amazon OR find it in Walmart and grocery stores but don't make a special trip to get it, darlings. STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE!!!! You're too special to take a risk. I did find it on WALMART this week, too, so that was good!!!! YAY!!!! 




DEAR FRIENDS,THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!If you can't find DANGEROUS AMISH INHERITANCEin your local bookstore and/or Walmart...or if you aren't venturing out of your house,the story--both print and digital--is available online.
Dangerous Amish InheritanceBy Debby Giusti“Move off the mountain. No one wants you here.”
Can this Amish widow survive her dangerous stalker?Someone wants Ruthie Eicher off Amish Mountain…enough to terrorize the widow and her boys. Now Ruthie must rely on her former sweetheart, Noah Schlabach—the secret father of her eldest son—as they figure out why. But Noah has turned his back on love and the Amish way of life. Can he shield Ruthie…without breaking her heart again?Order HERE!

Incidental Characters That Make Your Novel Zing by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive
Industry Update for Authors During the Pandemic by Steve Laube
Save Your Sanity & Your Pocketbook With MailerLite by LA Sartor at Book Brush

Write the Ending to Your Story by Patricia Bradley at Learn How To Write A Novel
Photo Usage Best Practices For Authors by LA Sartor at Book Brush
7 Ways Writing Saves Us When Life Is Hard by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

Writing In The Time of COVID-19 by Jodi Turchin at Fiction University

Email Newsletter for Authors: Get Started Guide by Jane Friedman

Overcoming The 7 Marketing Struggles Every Author Faces by Troy Lambert at The Creative Penn

Identifying a Loss of Momentum vs Writer's Block by Janice Hardy at Fiction University

Happy Good Friday

Seekerville is closed today as we pause to reflect on Jesus's death on the cross and as we look ahead to celebrating His resurrection.This is the weekend that changed everything 2000 years ago... and it continues to mean the difference between hope and despair today. Last year on Easter Sunday, I took these photos at a local cemetery.     When I looked at them again this year, I realized that you don't notice the gravestones right away. At least I didn't. I locked in on those beautiful trees and that gorgeous blue sky first thing. It was a few seconds before I even noticed the setting.  And God used that realization to whisper this reminder on my heart. Death doesn't have the final word.
Its power is forever defeated.And, no matter what we're facing right now, the world is still beautiful. All because of Jesus's death on the cross that long ago Good Friday, paying the wages of our sin, and His resurrection that first Easter Sunday when He arose with our freedom in hand.  It's Friday, dear Seekervillians... but Sunday is coming!

BACK TO BASICS: The Synopsis

 The Seekers are thrilled to see so many new aspiring authors stopping by, chatting about their work and emailing us with questions. They've also requested some guidance on things, so we're going to be offering some BACK TO BASICS posts that help new authors, but can also help those authors on the brink of traditional publication because it's a very competitive business. Anything that gives you the needed polish on your work is a wonderful thing! So below, here's a fresh new look at how to write a synopsis:


I don't know anyone who loves writing a synopsis.
There's a reason for this.



Creative writers tend to abhor technical writing. It's not our groove, our wheelhouse, our thing. So when a proposal requires a synopsis, our palms sweat. Heart rate ramps up. And suddenly the refrigerator needs cleaning, the dog needs walking, and surely the car needs washing. Doesn't it?

We'll do pretty much anything to avoid the synopsis, so today, in the midst of turbulent times, let's do a back-to-basics post about something we may dread but are required to have as part of our arsenal.

What is a synopsis?

It's basically a summation of the story. It must include all pertinent points that the author knows about the story.

How do you start a synopsis?

This may vary from author to author. Here are the opening paragraphs of my synopsis for "A Hopeful Harvest" my January Love Inspired release. Note that I started it with a mini-summation of why this story will work between these protagonists, and absolutely why it shouldn't work. This draws the editor's interest if the plot idea works, and that's your first goal is to draw the editor's or agent's interest.
RUTHY'S OPENING PARAGRAPHS:

Jax McClaren excels at helping people while keeping his distance, but when he stumbles onto Libby Creighton’s life, a perfect storm of opportunities erupts. There was her grandfather, a sick fruit farmer caught in the throes of growing dementia. Jax had seen his Grandma Molly through Alzheimer’s years before. His compassion then guides his moves now.

Libby and her daughter live on a Central Washington orchard, in need of skilled hands and a full harvest. As the heir to a major Washington apple and fruit producer, Jax has that one nailed, too. But most of all there was Libby and her daughter CeeCee. He read the pain of the past in their faces, but he wasn’t planning on fixing that.

He could fix the blown-down barns. And the apple crisis. He had connections she knew nothing about.

But her broken heart was something else again so he was determined to come to their farm, put in a day’s work and go back to his lonely cabin in the hills. In the cabin his bad dreams and sorrowed thoughts did no harm. But as time went on he found it impossible to maintain his distance, and maybe that was the best possibility of all.



So now you have the intro done. Seriously, that's the crucial thing in my thoughts. You don't have much time to snag an editor's or agent's interest, sometimes a page is all you get before they set the work aside. Make the most of that opening page (and your cover letter, but that's a different lesson.)

From the intro I go into a brief backstory for hero and heroine to set up their characterization in the story, then a brief summation of the opening chapters, and then... I make stuff up. 

I kind of have to do this because I don't plan scene by scene ahead of time, and 53 books in, I'm okay with that... now if you DO plan scene by scene, then give a brief summation of those scenes. Those scenes should show the action/reaction of hero and heroine, or hero to events. What's moving the story forward? What outside influences (an angry mother, a caustic neighbor, a church that's falling apart, a town on the skids, a storm, a natural disaster, a death, a lost child.... Show a hint of what outside/external conflicts are going to try and wreak havoc with your character's lives. 

This is important, even if it's not 100% accurate to what the final story will be, because you need to show the power thrusts that keep the story moving forward. You may have some leeway here as you actually write the story, but the editor or agent needs to see that the story has good bones. Like a house, with a solid frame, a good book needs good bones because the emotions flow through and around those bones.

Then you want the black moment, as best you know it.  Why does it all fall apart? Secrets, lies, misunderstandings, outside influences, etc. If this is a suspense or thriller, explain the resolution. Don't hold back. Give spoilers because this isn't a casual reader, this is the person offering the contract or representation.

If there is a faith thread, show how that changes or grows as the story moves forward. You don't have to go into big detail, but this is an important thread for Christian fiction, and can also be a major part of the story's moral.

And then the ending. If it's a happy ending, that's pretty simple. If it's a more literary-style ending with vague resolution, you need to show the character's internal growth, even though you're not necessarily wrapping things up in a neat bow.

Add idea for an epilogue if applicable.



If you're self-pubbing, you don't need to worry about a synopsis, right? 

(Ruthy frowns here, because here's the skinny on that...) Honestly, learning to write a solid synopsis helps you to see holes in the story. Editors see that, too, and offer advice on those possible weak spots so you can fix them as you write. 

It's like the basics of writing in junior high. There is a difference between the gradients of all right, good, very good and excellent. Seeing the holes in your story is very hard for new writers. It comes with experience, and the only way to gain experience is to keep writing. And that's exactly what the Seekers want you to do. Keep writing.

And keep learning!

And Ruthy has two copies of "A Hopeful Harvest" to give away today, so leave a comment below and she'll toss your name into the Easter candy bowl...  Then check our Holy Saturday Weekend Edition to see who won!

USA TODAY bestselling author and somewhat bossy but fun person, Ruth Logan Herne is sequestered like everyone else. Only she's on a pumpkin farm in Western New York where mud is currently ruling the day. Fortunately she knows that warmth is coming and she'll be growing all kinds of things and writing sweet books in the wee smalls of the morning when there is no one to bother her... although that's not a problem at the moment, is it? :) Friend her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, stop by her website ruthloganherne.com or email Ruthy at loganherne@gmail.com She loves to hear from writers and readers. And she actually answers her own mail!


    
 

Writing in Troubled Times

This audio book is on super sale until the end of the month on Chirp.
I'm never sure how it is for non-writers, but for writers, turning to our books is an escape, a haven, a release.

An escape because the writing pulls you in. Forces you to direct your thoughts to the story you're unfolding.


A haven because it's taken you away from whatever trouble roils around you. When I'm writing about three women on a mountaintop top one hundred and fifty years ago, I can't be thinking much about a virus. Or the fact that I can't visit my grandchildren. That I worry just getting groceries. Okay, gonna stop listing things to worry about. I'm sure you can all supply your own.


A release because honestly, nothing lifts the valve on the pressure cooker of my stress, my tension, my very non-confrontational lifestyle, than shooting someone.
I don't know how you people who write sweet contemporary romances do it.
And Amish? When was the last time there was a shoot-out in an Amish romance. This is reason number one why I should try to ever write one.

How are you holding up? Do you have enough worries that writing is hard? Or is it good that you can exit reality for a while and be someone else, somewhere else, doing something else?

Sweet baby girl, missing her grandma!!Or does this invade your creativity and leave you struggling? If so, it might help to let off some steam and talk about it.

Let's talk Escape, Havens and Release today on Seekerville.

I'm giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky commenter.
And maybe some books, too. One for sure, but we'll see how the day goes!


http://www.maryconnealy.com

Just to be gratuitously cute, a picture of my six week old granddaughter that I CAN'T SEE BECAUSE OF THIS STUPID VIRUS.

Sunday Scripture & Prayer Requests

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION
The Seekerville bloggers are praying for YOU and for our entire blog community throughout this pandemic. If you have any special intentions that need additional prayer coverage, please leave a request for prayer in the comment section below. 
Please join us in praying for our country--and the world--during this coronavirus outbreak. 
Dear Lord, protect us and keep usfree from COVID-19 infection. Help all who are working hard to contain the spread of this virus, especially those  in the healthcare professions and those caring for the sick. Give clarity and right judgement to the WHO, CDC, NIH and federal, state and local agencies combating this outbreak.Guard all of us and especially our elderly and immunocompromised. Bring healing to those who have the disease, Eternal Glory to thosewho have succumbed to the virus andcomfort to the families who have lost loved ones.God bless us, and God bless the United States of America.Amen.
We are so grateful for all of you—for your friendship and your support! May the Lord bless you and your families abundantly throughout this Holy Weekas we journey to Easter. 

Ecce Homo ("Behold the Man"), Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Pilate
presenting a scourged Jesus to the people of Jerusalem. [PD-US]

Jesus stood before the governor, Pontius Pilate, who questioned him,“Are you the king of the Jews?”Jesus said, “You say so.”And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders,he made no answer.Then Pilate said to him,“Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?”But he did not answer him one word,so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Now on the occasion of the feastthe governor was accustomed to release to the crowdone prisoner whom they wished.And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them,“Which one do you want me to release to you,Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?”For he knew that it was out of envythat they had handed him over.While he was still seated on the bench,his wife sent him a message,“Have nothing to do with that righteous man.I suffered much in a dream today because of him.”The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowdsto ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus.The governor said to them in reply,“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”They answered, ABarabbas!”Pilate said to them,“Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?”They all said,“Let him be crucified!”But he said,“Why? What evil has he done?”They only shouted the louder,“Let him be crucified!”When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all,but that a riot was breaking out instead,he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd,saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.Look to it yourselves.”And the whole people said in reply,“His blood be upon us and upon our children.”Then he released Barabbas to them,but after he had Jesus scourged,he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetoriumand gathered the whole cohort around him.They stripped off his clothesand threw a scarlet military cloak about him.Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head,and a reed in his right hand.And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying,“Hail, King of the Jews!”They spat upon him and took the reedand kept striking him on the head.And when they had mocked him,they stripped him of the cloak,dressed him in his own clothes,and led him off to crucify him.
As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon;this man they pressed into serviceto carry his cross.
And when they came to a place called Golgotha— which means Place of the Skull —,they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall.But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink.After they had crucified him,they divided his garments by casting lots;then they sat down and kept watch over him there.And they placed over his head the written charge against him:This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.Two revolutionaries were crucified with him,one on his right and the other on his left.Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying,“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,save yourself, if you are the Son of God,and come down from the cross!”Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said,“He saved others; he cannot save himself.So he is the king of Israel!Let him come down from the cross now,and we will believe in him.He trusted in God;let him deliver him now if he wants him.For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”The revolutionaries who were crucified with himalso kept abusing him in the same way.
From noon onward, darkness came over the whole landuntil three in the afternoon.And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice,“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”Some of the bystanders who heard it said,“This one is calling for Elijah.”Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge;he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed,gave it to him to drink.But the rest said,‘Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.”But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice,and gave up his spirit.
And behold, the veil of the sanctuarywas torn in two from top to bottom.The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened,and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection,they entered the holy city and appeared to many.The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesusfeared greatly when they saw the earthquakeand all that was happening, and they said,“Truly, this was the Son of God!”Matthew 27:11-54

Weekend Editon

  



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.  Note our new email address and please send your emails to Seekerville2@gmail.com







Monday:  THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for playing with us on our March Open Critique Day!!!! We had so much fun and gained great insight working with so many of you! Winner of a one chapter critique is Anna Taylor Sweringen! Congratulations, Anna!!!

Wednesday: Mindy Obenhaus shared some advice on Writing Your Way. The winners of a copy of Her Rocky Mountain Hope are Vince, Anne Rightler, Jackie Smith, Karen Jennings and Angeline!
Friday:  Sending big thanks to amazing authors Linda Goodnight and Margaret Daley for jumping in with advice for our aspiring and established authors on Friday. You guys rocked, and your advice and words of wisdom are spot on. Winner of a surprise pack of books is Lisa Sapp.


Monday:  Mary is quietly composing an excellent post for Monday. Shhhhh.
Wednesday:  Ruthy on the other hand, thrives in chaos! Bring it on!  Friday: It's the 5th birthday of Carrie's blog Reading Is My SuperPower, and Beth Erin is going to interview her about building a successful platform/brand and who knows what else. It should be entertaining if nothing else. :)







Ruthy's second GOLDEN GROVE book is on sale nationwide now!!! 
Learning to Trust has just hit Walmarts, Krogers, Harris Teeters, Winn Dixies, wherever you shop and mass market paperbacks are sold! A beautiful story of a girls quest to help her Daddy find a wife... and the woman who's right next door. I hope you all love this newest Love Inspired by Ruth Logan Herne!




Woman of Sunlight Slips onto the ECPA Bestseller list!

And
Click Here to Buy




2nd Quarter Writing Classes with Laurie Schnebly Campbell at An Indie Adventure

6 Tips For Social Media Management by Edie Melson at The Write Conversation

8 Challenges (and Solutions) When Writing From Home by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

Going Viral: A User's Guide by David Gaughran

11 Things Happy Authors Don't Do by Rachelle Gardner

Tax Time Chat For Authors by Jenny Hansen at Writers In The Storm

The Upside of Anxiety by Donald Maass at Writer Unboxed

How Indie Authors Can Be Of Service During the COVID-19 Crisis by Erika Liodice at Writer Unboxed

Writing During Quarantine by Tari Faris at Learn How To Write A Novel

How Authors Are Approaching Book Promotion During COVID-19 by Diana Urban at BookBub Partners

How to Pull the Perfect Story from Imperfect Headlines

A politician once declared "Never let a good crisis go to waste."

That means in times of trouble, or in emergencies, you may have more leverage and opportunity to do things you want to do or to enact things you think are either important or will benefit your constituency.... or your own pocket. :)

Writers are different. Writers see or hear a story and the questions that run through their minds are the "What if?" of a situation... 

What if he doesn't check that rearview mirror as he drives away?

What if she decides to keep the baby and raise her as her own?

What if the house doesn't land on the witch's sister when it sails to Oz?

I've asked several amazing authors to give us ideas for how they winnow stories from headlines. Here's New York Times bestselling author Linda Goodnight's thoughts:


Many of my books are sparked by everyday news stories or a human interest story within a crisis (not the actual crisis). For me, there is no method. I'm sorry. I wish I had ten easy steps, but alas, I am a touchy-feely writer. it's all about how the event or someone in that event makes me feel. Does some portion of the story move me? Will my readers also relate to it on an emotional level? Can I create characters and a book around that kernel of an idea? I am a born fixer, so my desire to create a happy ending for the real people in those news reports gets me searching for a plot that will "fix" the situation (if only in a fictional sense).The Honey Ridge Novels, for example, all started from one tragic news story of a child missing for many years.  Another time, I heard a news report of a young single mother seeking a family for her children because she was dying. Oh! Can you imagine? I could, at least a little, because that's what writers do. We imagine. I cried for her and those babies, and from that emotion and her unthinkable situation, came the basic premise for the Last Bridge Home. Everything, for me, hinges on the emotion in an event, and then my "what if" mind starts spinning. 
Socially distant hugs from the Okie!


 And here is the question posed to award-winning, USA Today Bestselling multi-published author Margaret Daley:



But as an author, how do you pull stories from headlines or crises? Is there a method? Or is it simply inspiration? 
It is inspiration and what I'm passionate about. I've written about human trafficking before but last fall I felt I needed to write another book about what is going on in the US and the world. Missing is about child (sex) trafficking and was one of the hardest books I wrote. There is a lot of it going on, and we need to do something about stopping it.Take care and stay safe,Margaret


And USA TODAY Bestselling author Debby Giusti agreed to come on board with her thoughts on this, too.


When I wrote my second book for Love Inspired Suspense, I wove the plot around a nefarious doctor who was harvesting organs and selling them on the black market. Unbeknownst to me, my editor’s father was the head of US organ transplants in the Northeast, and he insisted no such activity could or would take place in the US. As you may have guessed, I had to rework the story. Thankfully, just days earlier, I had watched a news report about folks in the US who traveled to foreign locations where they could not only procure organs more quickly—and cheaply—but they could also have their surgeries done within a few days of their arrival in the country. The travelers were called “transplant tourists” because they often went sightseeing until their organs were available. Soon after surgery, the tourists returned to the US, but without the patients being under a doctor’s care, what seemed like a lifesaver to many often resulted in life-threatening complications. I rewrote my story and included the transplant tourist racket. SCARED TO DEATH released in 2007 and won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Inspirational Suspense the following year.





And then there's my take on this, to wrap it up.

We're not politicians. We don't look at a crisis or a tragedy or a disaster and wonder how we can tip the boat our way...

We look at that situation and think "How can I make this better? How can I fix this?" In my bestselling, award-winning Wishing Bridge series,  I wanted three women with tragic pasts, three old friends, to have to reconvene a dozen years later just in time to re-examine their choices... and I used an unwed mother to do it. It's a tale as old as time, a woman alone, in her hour of need.

People relate to people. We feel for them, and when authors look at a crisis, they don't see dollar signs.

They see hearts and souls.



What are some of your favorite books or series, things that really touched you or stayed with you? Leave a comment below to win a surprise pack of books! 

Writing Your Way

by Mindy Obenhaus

When I began writing some seventeen years ago, I knew nothing about the craft. I wrote my first manuscript unaware of POV (point of view), GMC (goal, motivation, conflict) or story structure. Then I attended a writers’ group and the learning process began.

Since then, I’ve loaded my shelves with numerous books on the craft of writing and routinely attended writers’ groups, workshops and conferences. Because let's face it, we never stop learning. Sometimes I come away from an experience enlightened, while other times I’m confused or feel inadequate, like I'll never be as good as that author. Or I’ll be really excited…until I try to execute someone else’s tried and true writing process and find that it stymies me. Let me pause here to say that I’m not talking about the elements of writing. Every scene/manuscript needs POV, GMC and story structure. What I’m talking about is finding a process that consistently helps you take an idea and turn it into a book. Because just as no two people are the same, no two writers are the same. We all learn, think and work differently. That’s why there are so many books on the craft of writing—The Hero’s Journey by Michael Hauge, Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell, Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, to name a few—and workshops that teach the same principles with different approaches.
It took me years to settle into a system or process, that worked for me and made me a more productive writer. Basically, I don't like things complicated. I prefer a simple approach. I don’t care to waste precious writing time getting bogged down in too many details about my characters because I’m also a doer. I don’t like to be idle. I need to feel as though I’m moving forward. So I gather what I need to get the ball rolling, then discover the rest as I write. Now I have writer friends who would go absolutely bonkers if they had to use my process. They want to details. Like I said, we're all different.
So how does one go about discovering what does work for them?
First, ask yourself if you’re a plotter—someone who prefers to plot and have everything figured out before they start writing—or a pantser who prefers to let the story unfold as they write. This is going to be key to your process. 
I'm sure it will come as no surprise that I'm a pantser a heart. However, to be a more productive writer, I've had to become more of a plantser. I plot, but if I'm inspired, I give myself permission to write and that satisfies the pantser in me. Now that you know what type of writer you are, it’s time to—
Explore – We should never be so set in our ways that we’re not open to something new. The key is to find what works for you. Revisit those writing books and conference notes and look at those aspects you did like. Perhaps as a whole you found a process lacking or overwhelming, but even if there’s only one thing in there that helps, claim it. Talk to other writers and find out what's worked for them. A friend of mine shared her plotting chart with me several years back and it changed my approach to plotting. Granted, I tweaked it to fit my needs, but I'm a better plotter because of it.
Try – Now that you’re armed with some new tools, let’s take them for a test drive. Add them to your current process. If they work, great! If not, let them go like Elsa's gloves vanishing on the wind. Remember, this is about finding what works for you. 
Make it yours – You are unique. No one tells a story the way you do. You deserve a writing process tailored to the way you think, learn and write. One that will make you more productive and evolve with you, setting you on the road to success.
Okay, now for some fun.

She’s always played it safe… Can he reach her guarded heart?

Ready to open his camp for young cancer patients, Daniel Stephens must impress foundation overseer Blythe McDonald to ensure she approves funding for next year. But the cautious former cancer patient was once let down by a similar program, and she’ll leave no stone unturned in her evaluation. Can he convince her his camp is worthy of the money…and that he’s worthy of her love?Life has been far too serious lately. Makes me want to escape in a book until it's all over. So, with that in mind, let's giveaway some books. Five sounds like a good number. Simply leave a comment telling me about your writing process or simply how your life has been impacted by recent events to be entered to win one of five copies of my latest release, Her Rocky Mountain Hope, or any of my backlist titles. (US mailing addresses only, please)


Three-time Carol Award nominee, Mindy Obenhaus, writes contemporary romance for Love Inspired Books. She’s passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren at her Texas ranch. Learn more at www.mindyobenhaus.com