Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 96

The Story Behind the Story

by Mindy Obenhaus
With every book I write, I feel as though God is trying to teach me something. Whatever my characters need to learn, seems God wants me to gain a better understanding of that, too. In Her Rocky Mountain Hope, my February Love Inspired release, the theme is trusting God, no matter the circumstances. And writing this story quickly became a lesson in trust. In leaning on Him, knowing that He would equip me for the task He'd laid before me.  When I was putting together the proposal for my Rocky Mountain Heroes series, I had to write a story blurb for each book. I had ideas for all of them, except the last one. I had no clue what to do with Daniel’s story. I knew he was an adventurer, but that was about it. So, I began to think about a summer camp, but where would I go from there. Yet when I put pen to paper, the words spilled onto the page. I’ve never experienced anything like it before or since.
When I finished, I read:Outdoorsman Daniel Stephens is all set to open Adventure Haven, a camp for teen cancer patients, dedicated to the memory of his mother. But his plans are thwarted at every turn when the overseer appointed by the foundation funding the camp arrives, nit-picking every little thing.
Blythe McDonald refuses to let one penny of Ridley Foundation money go to a camp that doesn’t fulfill its promise. Not only because it’s her job, but also as a former cancer patient let down by the camp that once promised her fun. And given that Adventure Haven is run by a man who looks more like a ski bum than a director, this should be a slam-dunk. Yet when the first campers arrive, Blythe soon sees that Daniel is a caring man with a heart for each and every child.
As Blythe and Daniel grow closer, she finds herself having more fun than she ever imagined. But just when Daniel believes he’s found the perfect partner for Adventure Haven, the unthinkable happens. Will they let her cancer tear them apart? Or is love strong enough to overcome their fears?
Sitting back, I thought, “Wow, that's really good. But I can't write that story. What do I know about childhood cancer?” I knew I could research it, but that was one topic that needed personal knowledge. Something I did not have. Still, the blurb sounded good and that was the only thing stopping me from sending the proposal off, so I left it, thinking I could change it later, and sent off the proposal. That was in the first quarter of 2016. I received a contract for the first two books in the series but would not be contracted for the final three until early 2018. During those two years, life changed. My husband retired, our youngest graduated high school and we bid farewell to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and moved to our family ranch seventy miles west of Houston. New home, new church, new friends. Friends that included a couple who had lost their teenage son to cancer. Then there was a divine appointment with another author whose son had attended a summer camp for youth cancer patients. There was even an acquaintance in our little town whose grandson was working at a youth cancer camp.
God put each of these people in my path precisely when I needed them so I could tell the story He wanted me to tell.
Okay, so you may be sitting in front of your computer, thinking, “Great story, but what does it have to do with me?”
It has everything to do with you. Here's what I want you to take away from this story.
If God calls you, He will equip you– You've heard me say this before and I will say it to my dying day because I believe it with all my heart. No matter what God has called us to do, our job is to be obedient and trust Him to give us exactly what we need, when we need it. I would have preferred to have had all the information I'd need right up front, but that didn't happen. Still, God wasn't late. Everything I needed was provided right on time.
God is in the details – Perhaps I could have gotten the information I needed from researching the internet, but God knows me. He knows I’m detail oriented and that unless I talked with someone who had a first-hand account, I would not be confident telling His story. God knows you, too. How you think, how you work. Instead of stressing over the details, trust Him to take care of them.
He is the author and perfecter of our faith – And He wants to work in tandem with us. Talk with Him, tell Him your fears, then let Him guide you, even if things don't match up with your plans. Walk by faith and trust Him to lead you where He wants you to be.
God doesn't mold all of us the same. No, He handcrafts each of us individually, giving us unique talents, strengths and weaknesses. And where we are weak, He is strong, growing and stretching us. 
What has God called you do to that you feel ill-equipped for? Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Her Rocky Mountain Hope, print or ebook for US entries, ebook only for international. 
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

Woman of Sunlight -- First Ever Chance to WIN!!!

First of all a disclaimer.
I am sick.
Not (probably) sick enough you can catch it through the keyboard, but something gross. Not flu, just a stomach bug.

So I am being a complete slacker here and posting an excerpt from my March release
WOMAN OF SUNLIGHTI wish I had the energy to teach you all something. That IS what we're supposed to do, right?
But I'm afraid whatever I tried to teach you would actually make you a WORSE writer.

So I am justifying my slacker-ification by saying I am protecting you from my probably bug-affected advice.

Woman of Sunlight
Book #2 in The Brides of Hope Mountain Series
Heroine Ilsa, the wildest of my wild women living on top of Hope Mountain, finds herself in a town. And she keeps being told rules on how a proper young lady behaves and she's just so confused!

An excerpt from when the hero, New York City businessman Mitch, comes home from his wealthy, high-powered life when someone seems bent on killing him....finds Ilsa, the wild mountain Tarzan-woman in the hallway outside his hotel room. She was sleeping in the same room with Mitch's ma who snores. And Ilsa decided it was leave the room or smother her.

And she's not supposed to be out there.

Woman of Sunlight Book #2 in The Brides of Hope Mountain Series

A squeak from behind made her jump. It wasn’t the door Mitch and Quill were in, it was the one next down. But it was Mitch standing there, fully dressed, looking at her.

Leaping to her feet, desperately happy to see a face she knew, she rushed the few steps to him and asked, “What are you doing in there?”
“Shh-shh,” Mitch held up a hand as if to push her back. He didn’t touch her but she, who did not know much about reading expressions, quit talking immediately.
“You’ll wake up Ma and Pa.”
Ilsa felt the painful truth of that. Wasn’t she out here in the hall because she didn’t want to do that?
“You can’t be out here in the hallway.” Mitch looked left and right with a line of furrows on his forehead.
“Yes, I can.” She spoke the obvious. “Here I stand, in the hallway.
With a tight, hard shake of his head, Mitch said, “I mean it’s not…um…there are rules for the behavior of young ladies. You’re breaking one of them.”
Ilsa had never had many rules in her life. She remembered how Ma Warden didn’t like her ankles showing. Ma’d said that was a rule. Had her ankles been showing while she sat on that step?
“What rule are you talking about?”
Mitch squinted his eyes at her and she thought maybe, in the dim lantern light of the hallway, she saw his cheeks turn a bit pink.
“Th-the rules about, about how a young woman should—should conduct herself in matters of-of propriety.” Brash, fast-talking Mitch seemed barely able to get the words out. And, unless he had a fever—and she really hoped he didn’t because she’d probably catch it—he seemed to be blushing.
And talking in strange, unfamiliar words.
“What does propriety mean?”
Mitch clapped an open hand over his eyes then dragged the hand down, past his nose, his mouth. “It doesn’t surprise me in the least that you don’t know.”
“That’s not really an answer.”
“I-I’ll explain.” Nodding, Mitch seemed to be forcing words from his mouth. “What I mean is a woman should not be alone. It’s not safe. A man could bother you.”
“You’re bothering me quite a bit right now, so that’s the truth. But I see no point in waking up your ma so she can watch you bother me.”
Brides of Hope Mountain book #1Mitch’s jaw went tight. Ilsa studied it, wondering what in the world the man was thinking.
“I’d like to bother you, Ilsa.”
“That is still not an answer.”
“Oh, it’s an answer all right. But you’re too innocent to realize it.” Mitch paused. Cleared his throat. Cleared it again. “A young woman who is not married, well, the thing is, if someone saw you out here alone, they might—that is, a woman, if a man came upon her alone in the night and then someone else came along and saw the man and woman alone in the night—”
“You mean alone like the two of us are right now.”
Mitch’s throat moved as if he were swallowing something that wasn’t going down easy.
“Yes, exactly like the two of us are right now. If someone found us alone together in the night, well, people might think we were being…doing…that is…” Mitch fell silent as if he just could not put his worries into words.
Ilsa leaned close and whispered, “I thought you were sleeping in the same room with your Pa?”
Mitch shook his head and started talking again, so it was good she changed the subject. “After you and Ma went to bed, I went down and asked if there was another room empty.”
He leaned closer and whispered so quietly she was almost reading words shaped silently by his lips. “Pa snorts like a cave of grizzly bears.”
Ilsa straightened away from Mitch and giggled. She slapped her hand over her mouth but the laughter was there, just muffled. Mitch’s eyes gleamed as if he wanted to laugh himself.
“Ma, too, as I recall,” he said.
 Ilsa nodded from behind her hand just as the door next to Mitch, not the one Quill was in, clicked open.
Grabbing her wrist, Mitch yanked her into the room and shut the door swiftly and silently and pressed her back to the door.
“What—”
Mitch clapped his hand over her mouth this time. Heavy boots walked past Mitch’s door. Mitch looked at the floor, his eyes unfocused. Listening to the man walk by.
Ilsa didn’t know exactly what Mitch was trying to say about it not being right for a man and woman to be alone together in the night. But she was very sure if it was wrong to be alone in the hallway, then it was also wrong to be alone in his room.
Time to go back to Ma, snoring or not.
She listened as the man turned and began walking down the stairs. Where was he going at this late hour? Or was it an early hour? Ilsa wasn’t sure. She often rose before the sun. Maybe morning was coming and this endless night would pass.
Mitch slowly lifted his hand from her mouth. His hand closed and opened in a way that drew her eye.
Mitch kept listening but now he looked at his hand, then those brown eyes shifted to meet hers. His hand quit opening and closing and rested on her upper arm. He rubbed up and down, and Ilsa thought of that moment when she’d been riding with him. A moment where he’d seemed too close, then closer yet.
Now his hand caressed her arm, then the other hand lifted to her other shoulder and slid around to her back.
In the dark of his room, with those footsteps fading, Mitch said quietly, “I lived a life surrounded by people I couldn’t trust. I realize now many of them just told me whatever they thought I wanted to hear because I paid their salary. And I’ll admit I did tend to fire people who disagreed with me because, of course, I thought I was always right. For years, I’ve heard little but yes, sir, right away sir, whatever you think best, sir.”
“That seems nice.” Ilsa rested one hand on his broad chest and patted him because he seemed unhappy with himself. “I wouldn’t mind if you’d start saying yes more often.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’d be wise at all.”       
“Saying yes to me? I am sure I would like it very much.”
“I’d make sure you liked it very much.”
Ilsa wasn’t sure, but the way he said it made her wonder if he was talking about something completely different than she was.
Mystified, she said, “If, instead of scolding all the time, you say yes to me, of course it I’d like it.”
The room was nearly pitch dark, shrouded in deep shadows, but she had fine vision in the night and her eyes had adjusted and she could see him well, and hear the rise and fall of each breath. Smell him. His scent only made her realize how, until just recently, she’d never been near a man. And never close enough to be so surrounded by all these impressions of him.
His hands slid up and down her arms, both of them now.
“All those years, and now I come home to find a woman with wide-eyed innocence, who speaks her mind, even when I don’t want to hear it. I find that refreshing and I am enjoying it.”
“I don’t remember you enjoying it particularly.”
He gave a small, gentle laugh. His hands relaxed, then tightened. “You have to get out of here, Miss Ilsa.”
She most certainly did.
“Your hand over my mouth to keep me quiet gave me to suspect you were trying to let that man go past without him seeing or hearing us.”
“Yes, as I was trying to say, it is against accepted rules for a young, unmarried lady to be seen in the night, alone with an unrelated man.”
“Is it against these rules for that man to be alone at night?”
“No, the man can be alone, just not women.”
“Why on earth is there such an unfair rule?”
Mitch was silent. Ilsa suspected because he didn’t have an answer any more than she did.
“Well, we’re alone but no one can see us in here. So then is this not against the rules?”
“It is most definitely against the rules.” Mitch closed his eyes. His hands opened and closed on her upper arms. “You go back to Ma’s room, and you stay in there no matter how loud she snores.”
“I was daydreaming about smothering her with a pillow. I thought it best to get out.”
A chuckle escaped Mitch’s lips, which drew her eyes to them.
“Go on right now, before it’s too late.” Mitch was still holding her, in fact if she wasn’t mistaken, he might be holding her closer than ever.
Although it might have been her moving closer, not him.
“Too late for what?”
Leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for a signed copy of Woman of Sunlight, releasing March 3rd. So you'll have to wait a while to get it. I haven't gotten it yet. But it won't be long now!!!

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: Erica shared some of the authors who have influenced her writing and her life!
Wednesday: Tanya Agler brought us a great post about movie quotes that have influenced her writing. The winner of a copy of her debut novel, The Sheriff's Second Chance , is Lee-AnnB!
Friday: Rosalyn is the winner of The Solid Grounds Coffee Company by Carla Laureano!



Monday:  Stop by and enjoy Mary Connealy's wit and wisdom!
Wednesday:  Mindy Obenhaus will be sharing with us!  Friday: Guest blogger Mark Abel will be joining us! He'll be blogging about brainstorming your next project.







The Lost Lieutenant is available for Pre-Order NOW! Have you put The Lost Lieutenant in your "Want to Read" list on Goodreads? Have you pre-ordered your copy? If you like Regency Romance, order today!

Also, if you sign up for Erica's newsletter at www.ericavetsch.com (Scroll to the bottom of the home page) you'll get a sneak peek at the new cover art for a special project coming up later this year!







The Editorial Process by Steve Laube at The Steve Laube Agency

How To Add Music To Your Book Brush Video by L.A. Sartor at An Indie Adventure

How To Breathe Life Into Your Characters by C.S. Lakin at Live Write Thrive

Things To Consider When Adding A Point Of View Character by Janice Hardy at Fiction University

Turtle Power Your Way To Achieving Your Goals in 2020 by Candee Fick at Learn How To Write A Novel

First Lines Are Kinda Important by Bob Hostetler at Steve Laube Agency

Five Things I Learned from Writing a Book in Six Weeks by guest Carla Laureano

If there’s one thing that I pride myself on, it’s being organized. Which is why I’m embarrassed to admit that I came up short on time during the writing of The Solid Grounds Coffee Company. Typically, I start writing immediately after I get my contract, and I complete a rough draft of my book in eight to sixteen weeks. That gives me time to let it rest so I can return with fresh eyes when I do the first round of edits.

But in the case of Solid Grounds, an avalanche of events rearranged my schedule. I was working on the rerelease of my MacDonald Family books at the same time, which required some minor revisions and manuscript reviews. I released a stand-alone novella. Then my editor went out on maternity leave shortly after I turned in my book, pushing the edits out further, immediately followed by a month of marketing for the release of Brunch at Bittersweet Café .

Before I knew it, I was staring down the beginning of March, with a personal completion deadline of May. Not a big deal since I didn’t have to turn it in until October, except for the fact that when I started publishing, I promised my kids I wouldn’t work more than necessary during their summer breaks. In order to keep that promise, I needed to be finished by the time they got out of school the last week of May, then jump right into edits when they returned at the beginning of August.
Are you dizzy yet? I certainly was.

I sat down at my computer and attempted to write. But health problems crept in. Kid struggles. Family issues. Before I knew it, I was only 20,000 words into my book with only five weeks left on the clock.

I’d like to say that I calmly sat down and prayed for strength and guidance. But I didn’t. I panicked. I worried to friends. I started wondering if I was going to be able to write the book. Finally, after a few days of unprofitable whining, I made a schedule and forced myself to stick to it. And I discovered five pretty amazing things in the process.

1. I’m capable of far more than I think I am.
If you had told me that I would bang out the bulk of a 115,000-word book in five weeks, I would have replied that you were crazy. I write fast, but I rarely log more than 3,000 words a day. When you consider that I got a slow start for the first two weeks, I actually wrote the bulk of the book in three weeks: 5,000 words a day, 25,000 words a week. I wouldn’t rely on my ability to do that again, but it’s encouraging to know that I could if I had to.

It reminded me that so often we think we can’t just because we haven’t. In truth, we are capable of far more than we know; we simply haven’t tried.

2. Resolve is far more important than inspiration.
By the time I got through that first 25,000-word week, inspiration was in somewhat short supply. Yes, I was enjoying what I was writing, but half the time, I didn’t know if it was making any sense. I would check my outline to see which chapters I needed to write each day, and then I wrote them. I didn’t look forward. I didn’t look back. It helped that I parked myself at Starbucks each morning and didn’t allow myself to leave until I finished my word count for the day. After several hours of sitting in a hard, slightly uncomfortable chair, I would do anything to get out of there . . . even finish my chapter. It certainly wasn’t inspiration driving the story at that point. It was resolve (and maybe a little bit of desperation).

The prize doesn’t go to the person who is the most inspired; it goes to the person with the resolve and the diligence to get something done to the best of their ability.

3. Writing is like a sport: put in the practice so you can reap the performance.
You would think that the words that I wrote quickly under pressure were pretty terrible, but this was among the cleanest first drafts that I’ve ever turned out. I partly attribute that to the fact that I didn’t have time to tinker as I went or second-guess myself. And because I wrote it in such a short period of time, I was able to hold the full story and the character arcs in my head as I wrote. But most importantly, I’ve written almost a million words for publication. If you count all the rewrites and the numerous unpublished manuscripts that came before, I’m in the range of 2.5 million words of fiction written.

That’s when I realized that I’d been unconsciously training for this writing marathon like an athlete, with dedicated practice over the course of the last twenty-three years. I’ve spent so much focused time on the elements of plot, style, and pacing that I’ve internalized them. Or, to use a terrible sports metaphor, thousands of practice free throws allowed me to nail the half-court shot at the buzzer.

This clearly illustrated to me that time spent writing is never wasted, whether the books are published or not. You’re strengthening your writing muscles and your endurance for when you need them. Every time you employ a technique of fiction writing, it becomes your own, and over time, you can pull it out whenever you need it.

4. I can’t do this alone.
It sounds like I wrote this book through sheer determination, but the truth is, I would not have completed it but for a single faithful friend. Each morning before I started writing, I would check in with my BFF, Lori, and she would pray for me. Had it not been for her faithfulness in praying for my strength and productivity, I know I never could have pulled it off. I could feel her prayers as I worked, and I’ll always be grateful that she stepped in when I needed it so desperately.

5. When God provides an opportunity, He also provides the means.
There are always moments along the writing journey when we question our path or our purpose. I’ve always wanted to write for a living, and yet I’ve struggled and resisted the process every step of the way, mostly because it’s so much harder than I expected it would be. (If I would just learn to rest in God’s provision, things would go so much more smoothly, but that’s a topic for another blog post.) My friend may have prayed for me, but it was God who showed up when I needed Him. Above all else, The Solid Grounds Coffee Company is a story of redemption, of what happens after the Prodigal Son returns, so I can only believe that someone out there, somewhere, needs to read it . . . and God wasn’t going to let that be thwarted by a stressed-out, behind-schedule writer. I wish every book involved the same level of co-creation with God, but even if it never happens again in quite the same way, I’m grateful to have experienced it once.

About the Book & Author The Solid Grounds Coffee Company by Carla Laureano

Analyn Sanchez can handle the long hours and arrogant clients that come with her job as a crisis management associate at Denver’s largest publicity firm. The high-powered job, expensive condo, and designer wardrobe are all part of her plan to prove to her family that her life choices haven’t been in vain. But when she’s asked to cover up a client’s misdeeds with serious moral and legal ramifications, she can no longer sacrifice her conscience for her career . . . and the cost is no less than her job.

Ever since a devastating climbing accident in South America eight months ago, and a bad decision that dried up his sponsorships, professional rock climber Bryan Shaw has found himself at similar loose ends. When the opportunity to buy a coffee farm in Colombia arises, he jumps on it—only to discover his wandering ways have left him utterly unprepared to run a business.

When Bryan returns home and offers Ana a role in his company as a solution to both their problems, she’s desperate enough to consider working with the far-too-flippant and far-too-handsome climber, even though he’s the polar opposite of her type A nature. As they delve deeper into the business, however, she begins to suspect there’s much more to Bryan than she’s given him credit for . . . and that sometimes the best plans are the ones you never see coming.

Purchase The Solid Grounds Coffee Company!

Carla Laureano is the two-time RITA Award–winning author of Five Days in Skye, London Tides, and the Saturday Night Supper Club series. She is also the author of the Celtic fantasy series The Song of Seare (as C. E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons.


Now it’s your turn: Have you ever had an experience where you had to rely on God to complete an impossible task? How did it turn out? Tell me in the comments below, and you’ll be entered to win a paperback copy of The Solid Grounds Coffee Company.

What I’ve Learned about Writing from Movies

Guest Tanya Agler



Thank you so much to Missy Tippens and Seekerville for allowing me to be today’s guest blogger. I started reading Seekerville in 2013, and I’m so thankful for this community as it has supported me through my writing journey, including the call I received from Harlequin Heartwarming in January of 2019 for my debut novel  The Sheriff’s Second Chance . From the beginning, I’ve learned so much about perseverance, plotting, and writing from this great group of authors and their supporters, readers and writers alike. When I sat and contemplated what possible piece of advice I could add, writer’s block crept in and I froze like a doe in headlights. Then, I remembered how open and honest the contributors have been and that gave me my idea. Anyone who’s been around me, even for a short time, knows I love classic movies. I’m talking Cary Grant and Irene Dunne and Jimmy Stewart movies. So here are some lessons I’ve learned from movies about writing.
1.     “Life is a banquet…!” Rosalind Russell as Auntie Mame in Auntie Mame
Whenever I write, this is one lesson I think of quite often. When I apply this lesson to the act of writing, it reminds me how fortunate I am and I ask myself whether I’m smiling. Here I am with the time and a story to write. To me, writing is a banquet, and I hope I’m taking time to enjoy the process and enjoy my characters. Plus, I love that this quote has a double meaning. I not only think of my writing process as a banquet, but I also think of the book itself as a banquet of emotions. When I work on the first draft, I remind myself to question whether my character’s lives are a banquet of laughter and tears, of joy and sorrow, of emotions of all kinds.



2.     “That should be in the brief. That’s the most interesting part of the case.” Judge Bryson in My Favorite Wife starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne
When I’m editing, I think about what is in my head versus what is on the page. That’s one reason I now wait for two weeks after completing a first draft to start editing. That way I read what I wrote rather what I thought I wrote. When I read through the manuscript for the first time, this quote often pops into my head as a reminder to make sure the most interesting parts of the story are written on the page. Is there romance? Did I show the attributes of the heroine that made the hero fall in love with her and vice versa? Is the story interesting?
3.     “There’s a lot to be said for making people laugh.” Joel McCrea as John L. Sullivan in Sullivan’s Travels
This is another one of my go-to lines during editing. When I’m reading through for the final time before I hit send, did I laugh? Did I cry? I hope that doesn’t sound vain, but if my characters aren’t making me feel something, I might not be able to say the same for my readers either.
4.     “No man is a failure who has friends.” Clarence’s book inscription to George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life
As I wrote at the beginning of the blog, I was fortunate to start following Seekerville in 2013, and it was my critique partner who introduced me to Seekerville, My writing friends and supporters have helped me through this journey with its twists and turns of rejection and reviews. Some say writers need thick skins, but I find friends cheering me on from the sidelines and even helping me on the path itself has lifted me up on a number of occasions, and I’m thankful for all of them.
5.     “Worse, I can’t seem to stop saying things. Everything I think and feel.” Julie Andrews as Maria in The Sound of Music
In this exchange, Maria is talking to the Mother Abbess about singing and praying as they discuss Maria’s behavior in the abbey. At other times in the movie, Maria offers prayers to God during mealtime, at bedtime, and during thunderstorms. Throughout my writing journey, prayer has played an integral role in reminding me of God’s grace, His mercy, and His love.
Are there any movie quotes that resonate with you in your writing journey?
****Tanya has generously offered to give away a print copy of  The Sheriff’s Second Chance  (plus some surprises) to a U.S. winner or an e-book copy to a Canadian winner. Please let us know in the comments if you’d like to be entered!

The Sheriff's Second Chance
Broken things can’t be fixed…Or can they?
Officer and single dad Mike Harrison doesn’t believe in second chances. Ever. That is, until he learns that his former best friend—gorgeous green-eyed car mechanic Georgie Bennett—is back in town. Unfortunately, she’s also a suspect in a recent break-in! But it’ll take an old classic car to show Mike and Georgie that almost anything can be restored with a little patience…and a whole lot of love.
An award-winning author, Tanya makes her home in Georgia with her wonderful husband, their four children, and a lovable Basset, who really rules the roost. Her debut novel, The Sheriff’s Second Chance, is a January 2020 Harlequin Heartwarming release and is available on Amazon and Harlequin.com. When she’s not writing, Tanya loves classic movies and a good cup of tea. Visit her at www.tanyaagler.com or email her at tanyaagler@gmail.com.

Authors Who Have Influenced My Writing

This week, I was considering the need to de-clutter my house. Closets, drawers, entire rooms...

I even told my husband that I might need to downsize my library. (Gasp! I know!)

I have hundreds of books. A couple thousand, probably. And I'm always up for acquiring a few more, so pausing to think about which books I could 'do without' had me puzzled. How could I part with these stories...these AUTHORS...who had meant so much to me?

[image error]Obviously these aren't mine, because these
are in much too nice a condition. :)
How could I give away my Little House on the Prairie books? My copy of paperbacks is tattered from being read so often. If I was ever to give them up, it would be because I received a hard cover set with dust jackets.

Laura Ingalls Wilder influenced my writing by showing me that a little girl who once lived in Kansas could grow up to be a writer.

These are but a handful of L'Amour's many books.
What about my collection of Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour books? Could I shed a few of those? Um...no.

Louis L'Amour taught me about how to increase the tension in a story and never let up. Zane Grey taught me about description and about the "Code of the West" which is really just that right is right and wrong is wrong.

One of the most respected mystery/thriller writers ever!Then there are the two entire shelves of Dick Francis books. Dick Francis was a British steeplechase jockey-turned-author who wrote amazing mysteries. He became the benchmark for fast-paced, detailed, and high-stakes mystery fiction, and he won too many awards to list here.

Dick Francis taught me about the power of first-person writing, compelling looks into worlds not my own, and the art of the TWIST ending! He also broke into my sheltered little world and showed me that people live by codes other than my own. He broadened my horizons and my mind.

[image error]The author who as influenced me the most!Then there is Essie Summers. Essie is the author who has influenced me the most. She was a minister's wife in New Zealand, and one of Mills & Boon/Harlequin's first Rock Star authors. She sold millions of books worldwide from 1957 to 1997. She wrote in one of the dedications of her books that she had ceased responding to each and every bit of fan mail sent her way, because she realized if she stopped, she would have time to write a whole extra book a year, and she thought her readers would prefer that. What a professional!

Essie taught me that romance doesn't have to be steamy scenes. That family connections in fiction and cross-over characters are very appealing in fiction. That a story's setting can become a character in and of itself. 

So, after perusing my bookshelves, I think I'll start the decluttering somewhere else. There's always the closet under the stairs, and that utensil drawer in the kitchen. :)

How about you? What authors have influenced you over the years? What are some books with which you could never willingly part?

He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?
Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.Less than 90 days until release!!! Available for pre-order now!!! (<----- Click there!)

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!

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: Jan Drexler was in the house with ideas to beat the January doldrums and get our creative minds working. The winner of her choice of books from my backlist is Kathy Bailey! Kaybee, be sure to browse through the titles on my website to choose your prize! (www.JanDrexler.com)
Wednesday: Cate introduced us to Google Cardboard and changed the way we researched books. XXX is the winner of a Google Cardboard! Congratulations!
Friday: Pam offered advice on writing while comparing it to something we all know and love - Five Ways Writing Is Like Dieting.


Monday:  Erica is our hostess today, talking about the authors who have influenced her writing.
Wednesday:  Tanya Agler is our guest today talking about what she's learned about writing from watching movies. While she's with us, we'll be celebrating her debut release from Harlequin Heartwarming, The Sheriff's Second Chance . Be sure to stop by to congratulate Tanya!  Friday: Five Things I Learned from Writing a Book in Six Weeks with guest Carla Laureano plus an opportunity to win her new release The Solid Grounds Coffee Company!






On store shelves now!
This week marked the release of Mindy Obenhaus's Her Rocky Mountain Hope. 
Learning to trust can be the greatest adventure.

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?

ORDER YOUR COPY HERE

JustRead Tours is hosting a blog tour & a quote tour this coming week for Mindy's Her Rocky Mountain Hope! 


Follow along with the blog tour starting on Monday & keep an eye on social media for quotes to start popping up!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ON SALE NOW$1.99The Accidental Guardian Kindle Nook
High Sierra Sweethearts Book #1When Trace Riley finds the smoldering ruins of a small wagon train, he also finds four survivors.Helping them begins something dangerous and beautiful. And his life will never be the same.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations to Melanie Dickerson on making the Inspy Awards' 2020 Longlist TWICE - for The Piper's Pursuit and The Warrior Maiden, both in the Young Adult category!  
  

PRE-ORDER NOW!
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?
Pre-order HERE!




Considerations For The First Page of Your Novel by CS Lakin at Live Write Thrive

Life, Anxiety, and Taboo Topics in Christian Romance by Heather Gray at InspyRomance

2 Different Types of the Lie Your Character Believes by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

Setting Resolutions You'll Actually Keep (Podcast) by Stephanie Fleming at The Happy Planner

Do I Really Need A Writers Group? By Edie Melson at The Write Conversation

Grants For Writers by Dr. Chrissy Whiting-Madison at Blue Ridge Conference

Five Ways Writing is Like Dieting

by Pam Hillman

How many of us have set a New Year’s resolution to lose weight at some point or another? Or simply started a new health plan just to feel better in general? Well, I’ve been on a “diet” for a while now, but it’s not really a diet. It’s a lifestyle change. I love it, and I don’t feel like I’m dieting. I’m eating healthier than ever before and enjoying my food and my life.
But enough about my specific diet plan… let’s talk writing!


It’s amazing how much writing can be like dieting. And I’ve come up with FIVE ways the two are similar. Let’s compare…

1) Make Healthy Choices - We know that certain foods are more healthy than others, and even some healthy choices don’t agree with everyone. It can be the same with writing. Find out what works for your writing. Are you a pantster or a plotter? Do you prefer writing all the way through or polishing as you go? Do you write one thousand words a day or throw everything but the contents of your fridge on the page in a month-long marathon writing session? Once you figure out the plan that works for you and the writing plan that you can see yourself sticking to for life, you’re on your way to a healthy writing career.
2) Start Over Every Three Hours - One of the selling points of a healthy lifestyle is not to beat yourself up if you cheat or go off your eating plan once or twice. The problem comes when you throw in the towel and one or two slip-ups become a month-long binge of unhealthy eating. It’s the same with writing. You slip up. You get behind. The story isn’t working. It happens to all of us. But don’t beat yourself up and let that slip-up turn in to long-term failure. Start over. I don’t necessarily mean start your project over, but start your PLAN over. Tired? Discouraged? The writing is like slogging through quicksand? You’ve hit a brick wall? Everything will look better in three hours, or after a good night’s sleep. Sometimes all it takes is a quick power walk to reset everything. Don’t give up.

Take a deep breath and put Tip #1 into action.
And this leads directly into comparison #3….
3) Plan Ahead - The biggest mistake and what usually leads to going off-track with any eating plan is not keeping on-plan staples to prepare healthy meals and snacks on hand. I confess that I put off grocery shopping as long as possible, and this has sabotaged my healthy eating kick more than once. Eventually, with not a single fresh vegetable in the house, I’ll give in and do the marathon 3-5 hour shopping trip to restock the fridge, freezer, and pantry. The same is true in our writing. The more prepared we are, the better our writing sessions will flow. For some, this might mean a 20 page synopsis, detailed character charts complete with photos; for others, just reading what you wrote the day before and honing in on the emotions and moving forward works. Regardless, there is some planning taking place, whether it’s in your head or on paper. Stick to the plan.
4) Exercise - A bit of exercise is healthy for our bodies and our brain. It gets the heart pumping, increases our metabolism, and clears the brain. My exercise the last few months has been bending and lifting weights (grand babies), housekeeping, and walking/running either on the treadmill and outdoors when weather permits. As far as writing, we get a two-fer here. Physical exercise is good for both our health and to get our brain cells pumping for our writing sessions. No brainer there!

5) Seasons of Stress - One of the biggest pitfalls of any diet plan seems to be stress. A dedicated stress-eater can devour an entire carton of Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough ice cream in one sitting. Me? Give me a large (the biggest they make) bag of Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream chips and a container of French Onion dip and I can kick stress to the curb big time. This is the reason chips and dip are banned at my house. Sigh.


Recognize that there will be seasons that stress your writing plan to the max. Just like the “Calgon Take Me Away” commercials from yesteryear, we’re bombarded with life on a daily basis. Kids, spouses, elder care, day jobs in addition to writing, housework, shopping, cooking, (should I dare mention that April 15th is looming?). Add in a winter cold or flu that lingers for six weeks, or a sick child, an audit, a wedding, or car wreck, or any number of life-altering but totally unexpected stress inducing events and suddenly your well-planned writing schedule has gone the way of the empty Ben & Jerry’s ice cream container.

Don’t let a season of stress completely do you in. Deal with what you have to deal with even if you have to put writing on the back burner for a while. But when the dust settles, when the sick child is all better, when the audit is done, take a deep breath and start over.
Make healthy choices. Start over. Plan ahead. Exercise. Don't Stress.

And that, my Seeker friends, is a recipe for success whether you're writing or dieting.

Researching via Virtual Reality

How do you research the setting for a book?

Ideally, we write about someplace we know, someplace we've lived or visited, right?

But how do you research when you can't go there (but really need to use the setting)?
Historical writers are used to researching settings we can't visit, but contemporary authors have to research also.

In the olden days, we researched in the library (or if you're like me, you bought every book you could find on the topic!)

Remember encyclopedias? 

Then there was the internet. Even in the early days of online research, you could find tons of photos, connect with residents, Google map your location.

And of course there are YouTube videos.



If you want something more specific, Google Earth lets you zoom in on any spot you want anywhere around the world. Have you tried that lately? It's all kinds of awesome. You can zero in on any spot in the world and feel like you're right there. (Though honestly the zooming makes me a tad dizzy!)

I'm researching Idaho for a current book. Google Earth made me feel like I was walking through the forest.

I could even feel what it was like to set up camp.



Recently, I discovered what may be the "next best thing to being there" - Virtual Reality.


But let's take a step back in time first.

Do any of you remember these?



I had a Viewmaster when I was a kid. Who knew I was on the cutting edge of technology?

No kidding. Apparently, the same technology in these 3D static images, applied to videos, is the concept behind today's Virtual Reality headsets.

I'm by no means a pro at this, but I was curious. Several years ago my husband got a Google Cardboard for free from somewhere. At the time, neither of us had an iPhone, so the device sat on the bookshelf gathering dust (literally!).




Then earlier this year, my principal got a donation of a box of Google Cardboards. I decided to use them with my class to help them understand what it was like to climb Mt. Everest (to go along with a book we were reading).

It's pretty easy to set up. You download a free app, then insert your phone into the cardboard viewer and immerse yourself.

Unfortunately, I discovered that all the really good Everest simulations were for far more expensive VR systems, but along the way I learned something new.

YouTube is VR central. Many of the videos available on YouTube have a little cardboard viewer image in the lower right corner.



This indicates that the video is compatible with Google Cardboard and can give you an immersive experience.

So, back to Idaho - I can watch this video on YouTube and have a pretty wild ride down the river, but if I open that same video on my phone and put it in my Cardboard, I am right in the boat with them, feeling every swell, taking every curve. It was almost enough to make me seasick!



Now, let's say I wanted to set a book in Scotland. I could go to YouTube and watch this lovely video.



Or, I could go to the same link on my iPhone and insert the phone in my Google Cardboard, and I would have 360° access to the same video. I can look down at the ground, up at the sky, see who is behind me and twirl in a circle if I want to.

On my phone, the screen looks like this. Look familiar? (See the Viewmaster above.)


But when I open it in Google Cardboard, I am right in the scene, walking under that bridge.
One caveat - at least with the 1st generation, cheap viewer that I have, the quality isn't always crystal clear, but I suspect that will improve with time. In the meantime, I'm just happy to be able to experience areas that I want to write about even if I can't afford to travel.
Not bad for under $10!
Of course someday, maybe I'll spring for one of the fancy sets like Oculus Rift with all the supportive, advanced videos, but for now, I'm happy to stroll along Loch Lomond and hum a tune (where no one else has to listen).





Have you tried VR for research or just for fun?
What's your favorite way to research?
I'm giving away one Google Cardboard, so let me know in the comments if you're interested!

Beating the January Doldrums

It’s the third week of January. Do you know where your WIP is?

If you’re like me, you’re looking at the goals you made two weeks ago and cringing. What happened to the enthusiasm? What happened to the resolve?

Nothing is quite so defeating as feeling like a failure. Again.

But I'm here to tell you you're not a failure.

Just stop for a minute. Take a deep breath.


What many of us feel during the first couple weeks of January is burnout. We’ve just finished the busiest and most emotionally charged two months of the year (November and December) with all the busyness, projects, money spent, decorations being dragged out of storage (and shoved back in,) too much sugar, not enough sleep, runny noses, and long dark nights.

I think you have the picture.

And then the New Year comes and we’re so READY to get back to “normal” that we makes all kinds of plans, draw up schedules, and jump into an entirely different – but just as busy and emotionally charged – season as the previous two months have been.

What suffers? (Besides our immune system?)

Our creativity.

Writing – the most cherished expression of our creativity – has become work. Hard work. The joy is gone. Slogging words onto the page is like running up a sand dune. We go to the well, but it’s dry. Maybe a few drops of water – enough to meet today’s word count goal – but it isn’t refreshing. “Who is even going to read this stuff?” asks our pesky inner voice.



The solution? Let’s refill that well.

After all, you still have the enthusiasm for your writing, right? And you know how to pull up your big girl panties and move on after a hiccup in your plans (BTW, thanks to Ruthy for that persistent image!) We just need to prime the pump.



Sometimes the best way to fill that well of creativity is to step away from the computer. Sometimes we just need to let our minds play.

Here is my strategy:

1) Reading is a big love of mine – I’m sure it’s a huge part of your life, too. For my reading goal this year, I’m revisiting my old friends: my collection of favorite childhood books. I read ten Happy Hollister books in a row before picking up my copy of Little Women. Coming up is the Swallowdale series by Arthur Ramsome, Maud Hart Lovelace’s Betsy books, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series. And many, many more. Revisiting my best friends from childhood moistens the parched ground at the bottom of the well.



2) Outside. Breathing fresh air and getting some exercise as I walk Jack wakes up my brain. Every morning. Even when it’s below zero. There was a time when I would listen to a podcast or an audio book while I walked the dog, but I’ve learned to listen to the quiet and watch the world around me. Story ideas play through my mind as I let nature’s quiet take over. Drip by drip, the well fills.


 
3) I'm addicted to cross stitch. In fact, I love all needle arts. Last week I got out my smocking pleater (that has been in storage since hubby bought it for me for Christmas a few years ago) and re-learned how to smock by watching YouTube videos. The spark kindled by my daily hour I spend cross stitching was flamed into life when I set myself down to learn this skill I hadn’t practiced for thirty years. The well bubbles up to overflowing.



I know your next question: "When do I do all this stuff? My schedule is so busy that I barely have time to write, and you want me to do more?"



Just like we need to make time for writing, we can make time to refill our creative wells. Your means of filling that well will be different than mine, but I’m sure there’s something that you would love to spend a few minutes a day doing – or an hour once a week.

And just like we need to sacrifice something in our lives for writing, we need to sacrifice something to make time for filling our wells.

But the best part is that often that thing that refills our well is something social. Taking a painting class with a friend, or a cooking class with your sister, or a morning walk with your spouse. Connecting with others may be the most effective way to keep that well from running dry in the first place.



So, what do you think? What ways have you found to keep your creative well flowing?

By the way, decluttering is also one of the best ways to refill my well - and I'd like to declutter some books! One commenter will win one of my print books of their choice. Check out the list on my website (click here to find the book list) and let me know which book you'd like in the comments!