Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 97

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




This just in! Somehow Ruthy forgot to post the New Year's Eve winners, but she is rectifying that mistake right now.... So here, in no particular order (Ruthy's been wanting to use that phrase because it is so cool...) are the winners!

NEW YEAR'S EVE WINNERS!

1. Winner of Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling" is Caryl Kane!

2. Winner of Ruthy's newest release and FIRST GOLDEN GROVE book  "A Hopeful Harvest" is Susanne!

3. Winner of Mindy Obenhaus's newest release "Her Rocky Mountain Hope" is Tracey Hagwood!

4. Winner of a brand new edition of Janette Oke's famous "Love Comes Softly" is Pat W.!

5. And winner of Anne Bogel's "Reading People", a thought-provoking way of developing characters and characterization is Pat Jeanne Davis!


And now we return you to your regularly scheduled program.



Monday: Robin W. Pearson brought us a beautiful post on How Healing Happens...Letting Others Into the Hurt.

Wednesday:  USA TODAY Bestselling author  Debby Giusti  blogged about a favorite item in her toolbox--her whiteboard. Those who left a comment were entered in a drawing for Debby's latest release, HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PAST. The winner is KATHRYN BARKER! Congrats, Kathryn!

Friday: Winnie Griggs encouraged us to think about a special One Word and look around with open eyes at the distractions that might keep you from attaining your goals. The winner of any book of Winnie's backlist is Lori Smansky. Congrats, Lori!



Monday:  Jan Drexler is here to help you beat those January doldrums. How can we refill the well of creativity? Jan also wants to declutter her stash of author copies, so be sure to tell her which title you'd like to win in your comment!
Wednesday:  Cate Nolan is taking you for a ride into the world of virtual reality research. Grab your iPhone or Android and hop aboard.  Friday: Pam Hillman is our hostess today.







Available in print this week!


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!

COVER REVEAL
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!



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

3 Factors to Consider Before Hiring an Editor by Michelle Griep at Learn How To Write A Novel

5 Common Story Openings To Avoid - If You Can Help It by Jane Friedman

Time Management For Writers by DiAnn Mills at Learn How To Write A Novel

How To Accomplish More in 2020 by Janice Hardy at Fiction University

3 Life Changing Rules for Finding More Writing Inspiration This Year by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

My Word For 2020

Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here.  Several days ago, Mary Connealy shared her word for 2020, namely FOCUS. Reading her post inspired me to search for my own word to guide me in the coming year.
I thought about it long and hard.
Focus seemed like a good word to, well, focus on, but that felt like cheating, sort of like copying off of someone else’s paper. 
The next word I thought of was PRODUCTIVITY. After all I just signed a three book contract with Grand Central for books to be delivered 7 months apart, an ambitious schedule for me. But that still didn’t feel right.
Then I looked around for inspiration, I eyed my very cluttered house with its crammed to overflowing junk drawers, closets and guest rooms, and it hit me – SIMPLIFY.This word works on a number of different levels for me.
I need to simplify my living environment by cleaning out a lot of the clutter that I’m holding on just because I “might” need/want it someday. There are clothes in the back of my closet that haven’t seen the light of day since I retired ten years ago, there are also cute shoes I love but will never be able to wear again because of my foot surgeries over the past few years.



I need to simplify my writing environment. Having lots of craft books and reference books lying around, as well as paperwork and easy access to social media has allowed too many distractions in my workspace.



I need to simplify my family life – I’m a compulsive list maker and perfectionist. By focusing on my to-do lists and trying to get everything just right, I sometimes miss out on spontaneous opportunities that present themselves to enjoy time with family and friends.



There you go – my word for 2020, let’s hope I can make it work for me.




So let’s chat. If you haven’t already mentioned your word (or goals or focus) for 2020 on Mary’s post, share it here. Or if you’ve tried the ‘simplify your life’ plan in the past, please share any tips, pointers or lessons learned that you think might help me.
I plan to give at least one person their choice of any book from my backlist.
And just an FYI, at the time this goes live I’ll be in the hospital recovering from foot surgery so I may not be able to respond right away, but I promise to pop in over the weekend if need be to read and respond to everyone’s comments.

The Whiteboard in my Writing Toolbox

By Debby Giusti
Happy New Year, Seekerville!
My January posts usually focus on motivation and goal setting for the year ahead, but a different topic started pestering me a few weeks ago. Like a character demanding attention in one of my books, the idea wouldn’t let up. Finally, I gave in, which is the reason today’s post features a seemingly insignificant item in my toolbox—a whiteboard.
The Whiteboard
I purchased my whiteboard to use during a workshop I presented at Georgia Romance Writers’ Moonlight & Magnolias Conference in 2015. During the session, I led the roomful of attendees through an interactive brainstorming session. Working together, we fleshed out a hero and heroine’s GMC and backstory as well as important plot points—the inciting incident, escalating conflict, black moment, climax and resolution. Finally, we discussed how to weave the elements together seamlessly to keep the readers turning the page.  By the end of the hour, we had an overview of a story outlined on my whiteboard that could easily be transferred into a written synopsis format and eventually expanded into book form.
The Dreaded Synopsis
Ask any writer about the most difficult part of the submission process, and I dare say most folks will admit their greatest challenge is creating the dreaded synopsis. The task can seem so daunting that writers sometimes complete their manuscripts before they write their synopses.


For me, the synopsis plays an important role in my story creation. Written prior to the manuscript, it helps me ensure all the elements of my WIP are in place and flow together to create a satisfying read.
The Whiteboard Technique to Build a Story
A few years ago, I was mulling over a new story and stymied as to how the plot would unfold. On a whim, I grabbed the whiteboard I had used at the M&M Conference. Although working alone, I plowed through the brainstorming process just as I had done in the GRW session and jotted down my ideas on the whiteboard. Within a few hours, I had formatted my story.
Whether published or unpublished, we all rely on various tools to facilitate our writing. Using a whiteboard helps me develop my story and home in on the significant aspects of the plot and characters.

Advantages
I’m a visual learner, which might be the reason the whiteboard triggers my creative process. Changes can be made with a whisk of a dry eraser as I switch names or rearrange escalating danger and attacks against my hero and heroine. The use of different colored dry-markers for my protagonist and love interest provides a distinctive way to ensure each character has his or her own story arc and a satisfying resolution to any internal or external conflict. Noting the various plot points in one contained space allows me to view the entire story at a glance so I can quickly identify holes in my story. 
From Whiteboard to Manuscript
Once the story is outlined, I refer to the whiteboard while I write the synopsis and often keep it close at hand as I pen the story. If a problem develops, I check my whiteboard—my storyboard—to ensure I’m on the right path. Furthermore, I can add or delete items as the plot shifts or deepens. The finished manuscript may vary somewhat from that initial whiteboard overview, but throughout the process, the outline provides a guide to keep me on track.


If you have trouble brainstorming a story or writing a synopsis, try my whiteboard technique. Perhaps, like me, you'll find the whiteboard is a valuable addition to your writing toolbox.
What tools help you create your stories? Can you suggest other uses for a whiteboard that facilitate your writing process? Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a copy of HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PAST.
Happy writing!
Wishing you abundant blessings,Debby Giustiwww.DebbyGiusti.com

HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PAST
She can’t remember who she’s running from.

Is she safe with the Amish?

Someone wants Becca Troyer dead, but who or why is a mystery to her. Seeking refuge at the home of Amish farmer Zeke Hochstetler is her only hope to stay one step ahead of the killer. With every clue she finds about her past leading to more confusion, Becca and Zeke must untangle the truth before her pursuer discovers where she’s been hiding.
Order now at Amazon.

How Healing Happens with Guest Robin W. Pearson

I'm pleased to have Robin Pearson with us today. Be sure to check out her debut novel from Tyndale, A Long Time Comin', which got a starred review from Publishers Weekly! Thanks for being with us today, Robin!


How Healing HappensLetting Others into the Hurt
By Robin W. PearsonWhen Hubby has something to say, he says it. He doesn’t believe in toting around his hurt feelings like a turtle bears its shell, burrowing inside to hold his tongue or hide his thoughts. He doesn’t wound with his words, but the weight of them often pressures me into sharing what I haven’t sifted through and muttering an “I’m sorry” or an “I forgive you” that starts in my head and ends nowhere near my heart.I do admire his forthrightness, his boldly going where my tongue dares not go. All my peeps can tell when my feelings are really hurt—generally, by the words I don’t say. The heat of my anger, disappointment, and frustration can cause the temperature in my house to plummet nearly twenty-five degrees. More during the wintertime. I’ve reconciled this silence by calling it my “process”—the time I take to self-evaluate and self-edit to whip my mind and my mouth into obedience. At least that’s what I’ve told myself and the people I’ve refused to talk to.Now, if I follow the world’s line of thinking, I’d point all five fingers to our pasts and blame “learned behavior” for our present choices and actions. While my daddy and mama love without restraint, dispensing hugs and kisses like candy from a parade float, they can turn home into a chilly, silent place when an internal storm brews. They’ve been known to go a week without speaking to each other until Sunday dinner melts the ice between their lips.And on the other side of the family table sit Hubby’s folks, who love just as hard and deeply as my own parents. My in-laws don’t spew emotions and ooze advice long after their initial outburst, like volcanoes, or reveal only a little of what’s floating underneath, like icebergs. They’re more like your favorite two-liter sodas that have rocked and rolled around the floor of the car. Once uncapped, they’ll likely spray anyone who doesn’t get out of the way. But when all is said and done, it’s just that.So needless to say, Hubby and I have brought along a bit of life-size baggage on our wonderful marriage adventure, and we’ve had to unpack and stow our emotional “belongings” just so. To let the other in without shutting the other out. To talk a lot more while the other . . . well, talks a little less. To redeem healing from the hurt.Acknowledging the (Holy) Ghost WriterWe do carry our own family history, complete with its blessings and burdens. It seems I inherited an invisible “gene” for stewing, as well as procrastination, sarcasm, hugs, and a love for all things cheesy. Yet, my heavenly Father designed me with unique thoughts and feelings—and a manner of communicating them. In order to take up my cross daily—and not become the one someone else must bear—this “fearfully and wonderfully made” child had to accept responsibility for my own choices and use my writing powers for good . . . and God (Psalm 139:14).Editing the StoryTruth: A “cooling-off period” doesn’t give me time to think before I speak. It merely helps me gather more wood to stoke fires yet smoldering. Instead of building up my arsenal of silence and wielding it, I record my prayers, feelings, and memories in journals, type them on my laptop, and jot them down on notepads. Reading the hurt in black and white takes some of the sting out of the pain and helps me see many injuries are either self-inflicted or at least, not life-threatening.Once I see myself and my role in events and relationships more clearly, I recover more quickly from conflict. I sincerely extend and accept forgiveness. I see that what was doesn’t have to be.

Telling the TaleWhat’s a story without an audience? Sometimes my written prayers and pleas are meant for One—for God’s ears and eyes only. At first. He, in turn, enables me to open up to Hubby and the little people, flesh of my flesh, and uncover those hurt places I’d bandaged with a smile.Then I’m often led to set my sights on the million after the One. In my blog, Mommy, Concentrated, I write about my daily walk as a freelancing homeschooler. I work through the whys, whos, and hows that help me interpret and apply His life lessons. I intermingled lore and life in my debut, A Long Time Comin’, a work of fiction that reveals many truths about faith in God and the impact of long-buried memories. My book and my blog let others into how I’ve been hurt and helped, providing encouragement and comfort as I’ve been comforted (2 Corinthians 1:4). Telling the tale is how I “let the works I’ve done speak for me” as my church mothers sang. It’s my way of acknowledging the Author of my life’s story and why I’m continually reviewing and editing, for I know that what was doesn’t have to be. How do you invite others to come alongside, whether to wail or to whoop for joy? Use your words, whether they’re written or spoken—or written, then spoken. Let them speak life and healing.


A Long Time Comin'
To hear Beatrice Agnew tell it, she entered the world with her mouth tightly shut. Just because she finds out she’s dying doesn’t mean she can’t keep it that way. If any of her children have questions about their daddy and the choices she made after he abandoned them, they’d best take it up with Jesus. There’s no room in Granny B’s house for regrets or hand-holding. Or so she thinks.
Her granddaughter, Evelyn Lester, shows up on Beatrice’s doorstep anyway, burdened with her own secret baggage. Determined to help her Granny B mend fences with her far-flung brood, Evelyn turns her grandmother’s heart and home inside out. Evelyn’s meddling uncovers a tucked-away box of old letters, forcing the two women to wrestle with their past and present pain as they confront the truth Beatrice has worked a lifetime to hide.

About the AuthorRobin W. Pearson’s writing sprouts from her Southern roots and her love of her husband and seven children. Both lend authenticity to her debut novel, A Long Time Comin’. After graduating from Wake Forest University, she has corrected grammar up and down the East Coast in her career as an editor and writer that started with Houghton Mifflin Company twenty-five years ago. Since then she has freelanced with magazines, parenting journals, textbooks, and homeschooling resources. Follow her on her blog, Mommy, Concentrated, where she shares her adventures in faith, family, and freelancing.

Author Website Instagram Twitter Facebook

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: Mary brought to mind what we need to begin the year with...VISION and ONE WORDS. Have you chosen yours yet?
Wednesday: Who better to talk about the Rules of Positivity than our own Ruthy?!
Friday: Carrie shared tips for authors on achieving a successful blog or social media tour. The winner of a free 1-day blog blitz with JustRead Tours is Regina Merrick!







Monday:   Guest blogger Robin W. Pearson is bringing us an amazing post on How Healing Happens...Letting Others Into the Hurt. She's also sharing with us a little about her debut novel from Tyndale, A Long Time Comin'. Don't miss it!
Wednesday:  USA TODAY Bestselling author Debby Giusti will be talking about a favorite item in her toolbox. Stop by and leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for Debby's latest release, HER FORGOTTEN AMISH PAST.  Friday: Winnie will be our hostess today.







The Accidental Guardian -- Book #1 in the High Sierra Sweethearts Series is ON SALE for $1.99 in all ebook formats.  Kindle -- Nook orWherever you get your ebooks.





Social Media for Authors: How to Avoid Wasting Writing Time by Rachel McCollin at ALLi.
How Facing Your Space Could Improve Your Writing by Donald M. Rattner at Live Write Thrive
Three Things To Remember When Revising From A Critique by Janice Hardy at Fiction University
That Dreaded Word - Exercise by Patricia Bradley at Learn How To Write A Novel
Social Media Cheat Sheet 2020: Must Have Image Sizes by Louise Myers at  Louise Myers Visual Social Media

Sell Your Book Through All Retailers...Not Just Bookstores by Brian Jud at Bookbaby

Art Is Therapeutic, Not Therapy by Julia Cameron at The Artist's Way

Tips for a Successful Blog Tour: What Authors Need to Know

 Happy January, dear Seekerville-ians! 
Carrie here.
I wear many hats in the book world. I'm a blogger, book reviewer, author interviewer, influencer, and speaker. I've reviewed for professional magazines, and I've had the privilege of co-founding the first major author-reader event specifically for Christian fiction. But lately most of my time has been spent as the co-owner of JustRead Publicity Tours (the irony of that is that I rarely have time anymore to 'just read'). 
At JustRead (and several other tour companies that I also blog for, including Singing Librarian Book Tours, Prism Book Tours, and Celebrate Lit), we help promote Christian and 'clean read' books through a coordinated network of blogs and social media hosts. We do the footwork and the managing of each tour so that you, the author, can focus less on marketing and more on writing new, yummy books for us to read. 
But while we do most of the heavy lifting, there are some things that authors can do to aid in achieving a successful blog tour from start to finish. 
Let's start by clearing up some common misconceptions: 
** "Blog tours & social media tours should result in more sales." 
While that would certainly be ideal, there are multiple factors that affect and influence book sales. A successful blog or social media tour should result in more attention directed specifically toward your book.
The idea behind these tours is to get your book in front of people over and over and over again, so when they see it online or in a store they'll feel a connection to it and be more likely to buy it. But it won't happen overnight. It's a cumulative process, which I'll address more in a minute. 

** "Blog tours are outdated. Podcasts are where it's at." 
I would almost agree with that statement if it were for anything other than books. But books are for readers, and readers... well... read. Which means, while we might embrace a few podcasts that are relevant to our interests, we won't quit reading blogs or social media. Because reading is at the core of what we do. Therefore, a blog tour or social media tour continues to meet readers where they're at and reach potentially new audiences for your books.
So, what can authors do to help their blog or social tour to be successful? 
I'm so glad you asked :-) 
Plan ahead. 
Most tour companies that I work with - including JustRead Tours - are booked solid at least 4 months out. Chances are, if you wait until January to plan a tour for your book that will release in February (or heaven forbid, in January), you will be out of luck. At least when it comes to the established, reputable tour companies. Ideally, if you have a book releasing anytime this year and you want to book a blog or social media tour, you need to do so now. There's not really any such thing as planning too early when it comes to publicity and marketing, but there is definitely such a thing as planning too late. 
Don't put all your eggs in one basket. 
Ideally, you'll want to do a blog tour and a social media tour of some sort to keep the book popping up everywhere and staying on people's minds. BUT covers are key here. Some covers just don't work well on social media. It might be a great cover but there are some elements that seem to get less engagement on social media. So ask your tour coordinators for their recommendations and respect their expertise. 
You can also do what I call 'stacking' - where you book tours with more than one company. With the companies I mentioned above, we all have an overlap in hosts but we also have hosts that only work with our company (or one of the other tour groups). PLEASE NOTE: If you decide to stack tours, it's best to schedule different tour types with each company (for instance, a blog tour with one group and a social tour with another group, etc.). It's also best to stagger the dates when stacking tours - so each tour is separate from the other. This avoids confusing hosts who blog for more than one company, and it allows for maximum participation and a more focused campaign. It also takes host availability into consideration - even the 'overlap hosts' will have certain dates that work better than others (so maybe they can't participate in one company's tour but their schedule allows them to participate in the other) or maybe they can participate in both tours, especially if the tours are different types (i.e. one is a blog tour & the other is a social tour).

Have all your ducks in a row.
I cannot emphasize enough how important this is: Make sure your book is up on Goodreads. If your book isn't on Goodreads, you are missing a vital free-to-you marketing tool. To take this one step further, make sure your book is on Goodreads at least three weeks before your tour starts. There must be a place for us to send readers who are interested in the book we're promoting. Retail site links are, of course, also vitally important but the timing on those sometimes doesn't match up with a promotional tour (with cover reveals, for instance).

Also, a media kit is hugely helpful for authors to send bloggers in general and especially for tour company hosts who are putting together your tour. It should have your website, social media links, headshot(s) and at least two versions of your bio - a short bio and a regular bio. Related to this, please make sure your bio and website are updated. It's also highly advisable to have an author Facebook page, separate from your personal timeline.   Share and support.
Share the tour posts! Or at least the giveaway info with a link to the tour company's landing page for your book's tour. An engaged author leads to a more engaged tour all around. Just Read. 
Thoroughly read the invoice and all materials that the tour company sends you. Important details and deadlines are often included in the invoice, terms/conditions, and 'next step' emails. If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask! That's what we're here for. But please do make sure you're aware of the terms you're agreeing to and the materials (and deadlines) that have been requested.
Blog tours and social media tours can be overwhelming, but these guidelines should ease some of the stress - for both you and the tour company - and help your promotional campaign be as smooth and productive as possible. 
(You can hear some more tips - and a bit more details on the ones I've mentioned here - on the Writer's Chat episode I recorded in December. Watch it HERE.)  
~*~*~*~*~*~ 
Carrie Schmidt is an avid reader, book reviewer, story addict, KissingBooks fan, book boyfriend collector, and cool aunt. She also loves Jesus and THE Story a whole lot. Co-founder of the Christian Fiction Readers' Retreat and JustRead Publicity Tours, Carrie lives in Kentucky with her husband Eric. 

She can be found lurking at various blogs and websites (because she can't stop talking about books) but her main home is the blog she started in 2015 - ReadingIsMySuperPower.org. ~*~*~*~*~*~
I am giving away a FREE 1-Day Blog Blitz (a $65 value) with JustRead Tours to someone who leaves a comment on today's post!!  
(must be scheduled by Dec 31, 2020)


 What scares you the most about booking a blog tour or social media tour?
What questions do you have about the process? 
leave a comment below & be entered to win!

The Rules of Positivity

 by Seeker Ruth Logan Herne

We interrupt this program to do a wonderful and quite shameless promotion, friends! 
ON SHELVES NOW!!!  This is my 27th Love Inspired book and I'm so excited to see it released! Available at Walmarts, Krogers, Winn Dixie and pretty much anywhere that stocks mass market books. The Walmart price rocks! And I've got a copy to give away today, so leave a comment below... let's talk the powers of positive thinking!



We now return you to our regularly scheduled program:

Another January!

Before you ask yourself how we got here, let me say two things: Happy New Year, Peeps!

And... What's your plan, Stan?

I was working on a project the other day and one of the questions was this: How Do You Stay Positive?

Now I'm an optimist with a realist's mindset, so for me, the stinkin' glass is half full because if it isn't, I'm going to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to fill that stupid glass. So there's that. :)

But, everyone gets smacked down. Everyone takes direct hits. Every single one of us is surrounded by a divisiveness in our land the likes of which I've never seen before, and every one of us has a personal life that may be filled with problems, worries, angst, aggravation and woe.

How does one rally around that?

Start with the one thing you can control. You.

You are the only controllable variable in your power. You control what you see, think, do, say, and how you react to given situations. So how do you change you?

By forming new habits.

1. Make being kind a habit. Push yourself to do it. Go out of your comfort zone to do it. Make it a priority.

2. Smile. It costs you nothing and your smile might be someone else's ticket to a better day. Smile bright and smile often. Our face is a direct reflection of our inner selves. If you think it's cute to be grumpy and gruff, well, go for it.

It's not, by the way, and pretty soon folks will steer clear of you or shy away. If that's your goal, well... mission accomplished! But if you want to adopt the rules of positive thinking, turn that frown upside down. Everyone loves the Grinch once he turns nice.... and everyone cheers for Scrooge once he has a change of heart. There are reasons for that, darlings. No one wants to hang with a Grumposaurus, the newest species of First World Countries dinosaur. They are draining and taxing and are best to be avoided.



3. Think good thoughts! We are reminded to do this in Philippians 4:8, a beautiful verse that is our power against negative social media or news media, and this reminder is better than having money in the bank:

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."


This is a powerful message, friends. Clear your heads of the chaos and the clutter. Find the quiet center of existence in a crowd-craze run amok and focus on the good. The gentle. The kindliness.


4. Adopt the poem "My Symphony" as your guide:










This beautiful edition is on my shelf:

5. Avoid conflict.
This is not always easy. That's why it's a directive. This doesn't mean you need to become a shrinking Violet, it simply means don't argue.
Why?
Well, first of all, (and this should have a SHOCKER!!!! alert) you're not always right.
I know. I know.
I'm going to give you a minute to digest that.
Every now and again you are wrong or dead wrong or simply a pain in the neck, so give the rhetoric a rest and do this:

REVERT TO RULE 2.
SMILE.

Allow others their say because if your argument is going to produce nothing, then why argue?

Why are there so many books written about successful people and positive thinking?

I absolutely refuse to answer that question because the answer is so amazingly obvious, darlings.

:)

The stronger we make ourselves with all the gifts God gave us, the more positive impact we have on the world around us. The little world within and the bigger world outside our door.

It's up to us. To me. To you. To make a difference. So why not start that difference today?

I promise you, you have absolutely nothing to lose and a world of smiles to gain!

USA TODAY Bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne writes beautiful stories of faith, hope and love for multiple publishers and is absolutely thrilled that her midlife career change landed her in the realm of the publishing industry where she could use a lifetime of nametag and hairnet jobs to create absolutely unforgettable characters and settings. She loves talking with readers and writers! Hang out with her on Facebook, visit her website ruthloganherne.com, send her an email at loganherne@gmail.com or jive with her at the Yankee Belle Cafe on Thursdays, a fun, low-key blog where she and a bunch of other wonderful ladies talk about life, food, kids, homes and all the little things that make a day a day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2020 VISION!!!

I remember we have talked about this other years but it's a new year so let's go again!

ONE WORD!

Or not!!???

A writer's group I'm on has been talking about their ONE WORD for the last few days.

And I've been mulling over what I want to use as my one word and that leads me to ask if ONE WORD is a legit way to face the new year.

I mean...
INTENSITY 

PEAC

RISK

What are those really except cool words.

What if we did three words.
TAKE A CHANCE

FINISH THE BOOK

CLIP MY TOENAILS (okay don't pick that!)

Or how about five words.

All You Can Eat Bacon

Stop eating like an idiot

Where are my car keys?

Or how about TEN words....or no, just forget it.

It all gets complicated and I intend to forget what I picked. So today instead I'm going to pick the word that WILL define my 2020 Vision.

It's gonna be FOCUS

I have just signed a new contract with Bethany House for a three book series. The current series has book #1 already out, that's Aiming for Love.

Book #2 comes in March, that's Woman of Sunlight.

And book #3 is next October, title is Her Secret Song--no cover yet.

And then we get to this NEW CONTRACT. The next year I'm going to have THREE books releasing in one year.

 I asked Bethany House if I could do that because as things stand now, I have just enough spare time to get myself in trouble.

Spare time involves too much thinking. I need to avoid thinking at all costs.

So the next year, well, I'm not sure of the release dates, but THREE full length novels in one year and, because I can do it, but there is little downtime, my word it

FOCUS
And not because I intend to focus but because … trust me … I have no choice but to focus.

And if this works and they want to do it again....I NEED TO THINK OF ANOTHER IDEA FOR THREE MORE BOOKS.

(fortunately, I know what I'd like to write next and debated which series idea to pitch!)

Still, Mary The Dork needs to focus. And I will because I HAVE NO CHOICE!!!

So maybe look to the new year. Use your 2020 Vision and tell me what you will do this year. What you have no CHOICE but to do this year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR SEEKERVILLAGERS!

I have a book on sale all month.

The Accidental Guardian is on sale for $1.99 ebook, all formats.
Grab a copy just to have a good book handy if you're ever trapped in an airport...where all the books cost $30!!!

http://www.maryconnealy.com

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: We in Seekerville promised a Surprise! And we delivered! Check out the post to see the great news -  A S eekerville Christmas Romance
Tuesday: New Year's Eve found us surrounded by good friends and joyous talk
Wednesday: Happy New Year!
Thursday: Ruthy shared encouragement for the coming year.
Friday: Mindy Obenhaus encouraged us to prepare for 2020 by setting goals for the year. Big or small, write them down so you'll have a guide as you journey through the coming months. Then, at the end of the year, you can look back and check off your accomplishments.


Monday: Mary will share her best insights with us.
Wednesday: Ruthy always has something new and different to share.  Friday: Carrie is sure to impress as we round out our first week of 2020!






Jan Drexler is pleased to be part of both the December 2019 and January 2020 issues of Family Fiction Magazine! You can read her interviews online!

December's issue features an interview with all three authors of "An Amish Christmas Kitchen" (read the article here)


And January's issue features an interview with Jan about "The Roll of the Drums!" You can read that interview here.










Finding My Priorities in 2020 by LA Sartor at An Indie Adventure

One Word To Guide Your Writing Journey in 2020 by the folks at Writers In The Storm

How To Manage Edits by Erica Vetsch at Learn How To Write A Novel

A Guide To Creativity and Time by Rochelle Melander at Fiction University

Top Ten Writing Posts of 2019 by KM Weiland at Helping Writers Become Authors

Overcoming Fear In The Creative Writing Process by Kathleen Parisien at Live Write Thrive

Step By Step Tutorial: How To Build Your Own Self-Hosted Author Website in 30 Minutes by Joanna Penn at The Creative Penn

Jane's Favorite Digital Media Tools {2020} by Jane Friedman at Jane Friedman

Tools For Authors: How To Make Ads with Book Brush by Clayton Noblit at Written Word Media

Preparing for 2020

by Mindy Obenhaus

Suppose you were going to embark on a journey. A long, twelve-month journey. Would you set out on your trip without a map or knowing where you wanted to go, or would you have a few stops in mind, perhaps things you’d like see along the way?

Chances are you would have at least one goal, if not many. Why not approach a new year the same way, while the calendar (or much of it, anyway) is still blank? After all, life is a journey. So find a moment to press the Pause button on life, grab cuppa whatever, along with a pen and paper and ask yourself this question: What are my goals for 2020?

Okay, now before you roll your eyes and politely inform me that you don’t make New Year’s resolutions, hear me out. I’m not talking about lofty, pie-in-the-sky notions such as “I want to make the best seller list” or “I want to win the lottery.” Those are things you have absolutely no control over. What I’m asking you to think about are those things you do have control over. What are some realistic things you’d like to accomplish in the next twelve months?

As an example, here’s my list from last year that I entitled Goals, Wishes and Dreams.
Four-book contract for new series (I was finishing up the last book in another series that would fulfill my current contract, so this was in realm of possibility)Quarterly newslettersPosts on my personal blogAttend RWAAttend ACFWShop Round Top Week (twice-a-year massive antique fair not far from where I live, yet I never seem to get there)Visit OurayGet back on my eating programWrite a holiday bookUpdate camphouseTen items. Things I had hoped to accomplish. Things that were a guide, pointing me in the right direction as I journied through 2019. I kept it in the back of my calendar and recently revisited it to see how I fared. 
The results?I received a contract for the four-book series.To my surprise, I mananged ten newsletters.Not one post on my personal blog, which now has me considering eliminating it.I was able to attend both RWA and ACFW.My daughter and I made it to Round Top last spring for a day of combing for treasures.I did not make it to Ouray. Maybe in 2020.However, I did get back on my eating plan.I did not write a holiday book, though there was one in my new series proposal so I will be writing one soon.And we painted the inside of our camphouse and did some much-needed purging.Seven out of ten isn’t bad. It was exciting to tick off those things I’d actually accomplished. Like I said, they don’t have to be big things, just things that are important to you. Things you may be procrastinating on. Two years ago, my number one goal was to learn how to make a meme. I’m still not great at it, but at least I know how.
Listen, I've spent many a year floundering through life. Sure I had ideas of things I wanted to do, but there's something that happens when you write them down. Like a contract you've made with yourself. And while there's nothing binding about it, suddenly you want to approach things more purposefully. As though something in your brain clicks and says, "Okay, this is what I want to achieve, so what steps am I going to take to make it happen?"

So let's chat about this. Tell me one thing you'd like to do this year. Nothing is too small. Perhaps you simply want to clean out that closet that's been taunting you forever. Whatever it is, I'd like to know. And then we'll meet up again next year and see how we did.




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