Becky Wade's Blog, page 123

Canton, MO

I love research trips. They are one of my favorite parts of the research process. Visiting a place always enhances the writing, whether because I’ve gotten a “feel” for the area (even if I later fictionalize it) or because of all the great people who help me along the way. On every trip I have had a providential meeting with someone who knew, or knew where to find, exactly the information I was looking for.

I’m currently working on a book for the 2022 Guideposts series Secrets from Grandma’s Attic. The series follows two sisters and their cousin after the death of their grandmother at 100 years old. They continue to discover “mysteries” about Grandma’s house—now lived in by one of the sisters—as well as learning more about Grandma Pearl herself. It’s a fun series to work on!

The stories are set in the real small town of Canton, Missouri, population 2500. With my friend Andrea willing to tag along, I made my way to Missouri to experience Canton for myself.

Our one full day in Canton started with finding a darling coffee shop, Fountain Electric Brewing Coffee Bar and Roastery, right on the main street through town. We took pictures, talked to the barista, and enjoyed our awesome lattes before wandering down the street to the Lewis County Historical Society. As usual, the historical society was a bounty of information! There we met three lovely ladies who told us all about Canton, present and past. And the really crazy thing? Two of them have children in Texas—one right near the small town where my friend and I live!

Fountain Electric Coffee Bar

After picking their brains about various aspects of Canton life and history, I asked where I could find historical newspaper archives. I figured I’d need to go to the library (around the corner!) and view them on microfilm. But no. I was told they were in the historical society. I mentioned the years I was looking for. One of the ladies went into the back and returned with a book of the newspapers from those years.

A book.

With the actual newspapers.

My historical research-loving heart jumped for joy!

I browsed the papers, gathering the information I felt might help me craft a story that at least paid homage to some of the real happenings of the town. By the time I’d gleaned more than enough, we were hungry. We drove up near the highway, where a newer strip mall held a homestyle buffet restaurant. (The salad bar was good. The pie was to die for!) Then we meandered back down through the Culver-Stockton College campus (which was lovely!) and drove the streets of Canton gawking at old houses–some quite lovingly restored, others in need of attention.

Canton sits on the mighty Mississippi River, so we drove near the local dam and locks before walking the path along the top of the levee and climbing the observation tower to image the river activity in days gone by.

Mississippi River dam and locks, observation tower, levee walk

We spent our two nights in Quincy, Illinois, a larger town about 30 minutes from Canton, across the Mississippi. While there, we stayed in an Airbnb in an old Victorian home and stumbled into another wonderful house turned museum. We also discovered a fabulous local breakfast/lunch place—Thyme Square Cafe—in an old building there. On our way back to the airport in St. Louis, we took a quick detour to drive through Hannibal, Missouri, in all it’s Mark Twain glory—both actual sites from his life and Mark Twain-themed businesses. I’d love to go back and actually spend a few hours there someday.

Airbnb in Quincy, IL

But of course this was more than just a fun getaway with a friend. In the end, it was all about the writing. I not only gained inspiration from the place, but from the lovely people. Now the pictures and the research are simmering in my head. I want to create a story not only worthy of the great characters being creating in the course of the series but of the gracious town of Canton itself.

As a reader, have you ever visited a real place because it was a setting in a book you read? Did it live up to the place in the story?

Want to chat tonight?

TONIGHT at 7:30pm CST our own Cara Putman and I will be chatting about life, love, Southern fiction and, specifically, my next novel tentatively entitled A Thousand Little Choices that will be out next year with Focus on the Family. And knowing Cara, this is going to be fun! I hope you’ll join us.

CLICK to go to Cara’s Facebook Page
where the chat will take place

If you can join us LIVE, great! You can ask your questions directly.

OR

You can leave a question ahead of time here.

A Thousand Little Choices is my 1st contemporary, 1st first person, and 1st dual timeline. And no, I did not fully realize what I was getting myself into when deciding to write this story. LOL. I only know that I’ve had this story within me for the past 12 years and have wanted to tell it. And now is the right time.

This novel is about a marriage grown cold and all the seemingly inconsequential decisions that led Stephen and Claire Powell to this place in their lives. But things really go off the rails when Stephen, unbeknownst to Claire, accepts a job in Atlanta and then buys her an antebellum mansion as a peace offering. Let’s just say things do not go well.

But this house holds a secret. A secret that seemingly has a life of its own, and it’s pursuing Claire Powell.

This story isn’t following the typical dual timeline pattern, which worried me at first. But after 17 novels, I’ve learned that story rules. So I’m following my gut and think it’s working. But never fear, my editor will let me know. And Deb (Raney), my faithful and fabulous writing critique partner, I’m so grateful to have your input and catches along the way too. They’ve been so insightful and instructive. I never want to write a book without you, woman.

Me and Deb (2019) when she and Ken came to visit me and Joe. (We were near Carnton walking Murphy and Bailey.)

Writing A Thousand Little Choices has been more of a challenge that I anticipated (especially having lived with these characters and this story for so many years), but I’m finding the timing of this story truly God-centered. His timing is always perfect, after all.

I hope you’ll join me and Cara LIVE TONIGHT at 7:30PM CST on Cara’s Facebook Page.

So tell me… What’s the latest dual timeline story you’ve read?

Me? The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate. And I’m currently listening to The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel. Loved Lisa’s and am enjoying Kristin’s so far.

Hope to see you tonight!

Tammy

My 4th of July Favorites

I’ve been reminiscing this Fourth of July about all the things I love most about this holiday. I have to say that at the top of my list are outdoor band concerts. My family lived near the West Point Military Academy when I was a girl and we usually attended their outdoor concerts on the Fourth of July. The academy perches on a mountaintop overlooking the Hudson River, and we would gaze out at the amazing view on warm summer evenings while the U.S. Army Band played rousing marches and all of our other favorites. After I married, my husband and I had the privilege of hearing the Boston Symphony Orchestra perform on the Fourth of July at their outdoor concert venue in Tanglewood, Massachusetts. One of my favorites was “The 1812 Overture” with real cannons booming. Nowadays, our family attends my husband’s concerts with the American Legion Band in our hometown. These patriotic concerts are performed in the city park overlooking the lake.

Of course, a close second for Fourth of July favorites are the fireworks. When I was growing up, there was always a magnificent show of fireworks at West Point following the band concert. I loved how the exploding fireworks reflected off the river and the thunderous booms echoed off the surrounding mountains, amplifying the sound. What a thrill! Today we watch the fireworks from our beach on Lake Michigan. The sun doesn’t set here until 9:30, which means it doesn’t get dark enough to enjoy the show until 10 or 10:30 at night. The fireworks explode over the lake as dozens of private boats line the lakeshore, shining their running lights and sounding their horns in applause. We walk home in the dark afterwards, using flashlights and sparklers to light our way.

I can’t leave out Fourth of July family picnics when naming my favorites. My grandparents always held huge potluck picnics at their home in the country, attended by all of our relatives and friends. Grandma chilled bottles of her homemade root beer in the spring-fed creek that ran through her property. There were hamburgers, hot dogs with homemade sauerkraut, and potato salad, among other family favorites. When I’m able, I like to return to the town in New York State where most of my extended family still lives for a picnic reunion just like the old days. But now I’m my grandmother’s age, and the kids running around eating hotdogs are my grandchildren. When we can’t attend the reunions, our family enjoys backyard picnics at our house followed by a marshmallow roast over our firepit. My grandkids love to run through the sprinkler just like my sisters and I used to do, and write their initials with sparklers after dark.

My parents always made sure my sisters and I knew the history behind the Fourth of July celebrations. I remember family trips to Philadelphia, where my aunt and uncle lived, and visiting all of the famous landmarks there. I especially loved hearing the story of how the Liberty Bell rang so hard to announce America’s independence and freedom that it cracked. We lived near Newburgh, NY, which was George Washington’s military headquarters during the Revolutionary War. I was amazed to think that “George Washington slept here.” We also learned the story of the giant chain that stretched across the Hudson River below West Point to stop British war ships from sailing up the river and attacking. Following my parents’ example, my husband and I took our children to Boston to walk the Freedom Trail and visit Betsy Ross’s house, where the first American flag was sewn. We saw the Old North Church where Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride, and the site of the famous Boston Tea Party. I don’t always remember important historical dates and facts, but what sticks with me are the stories. I think listening to stories is one of the best ways to learn history. It’s why I tell family stories to my grandchildren. And why I write historical fiction.

So, now it’s your turn. What do you enjoy most about the Fourth of July? What are your favorite memories and stories from the holiday?

Inspired by Scripture

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashVerseoftheDay.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with Scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.

How to Create a Successful Launch Team

I’m just finishing up a month of celebrating the release of Come Back to Me, my first time-crossing novel. And I have to say, one of my favorite parts about a book release is having a launch team.

Launch team, influencers, release crew. Whatever the name, the primary purpose of such a group is to help with an author’s marketing and publicity in exchange for a free book. Influencers are NOT the same as reviewers, although reviewing is certainly a big part of being on a launch team. Reviewers help readers sort through the pros and cons of a book while influencers help authors spread excitement about the book.

Recently, I received an email from a fellow author, Laurel, asking me how I approach my launch team.  She said that my name came up as somebody who manages my launch teams well, and she wanted some ideas to implement for her own team.

Laurel asked some very practical questions. I’ll give my answers, but keep in mind that other authors might be doing something totally different and having a lot of success with their methods! In other words, there is no right way to go about a launch team.

1. What size is your launch team? Is bigger better?

I draw my launch team from my ongoing Facebook Group (Jody Hedlund’s Reader Room). I put a sign-up in my group about a month before the release of a book and ask for volunteers.

Previous launch team members as well as new people are welcome to join by filling out a form. It’s a first-come-first-serve opportunity, and I usually cap the team at about 75-100 members. I’ve found this size to be manageable and yet also provide great enthusiasm and plenty of reviews.

2. What format do you use for connecting with your group?

To communicate, I send out an initial email, letting members know of their acceptance onto the launch team. Closer to the book’s release, I send out another email with additional details about the group, ideas for promotion, deadlines, etc.

Once they begin to receive their free copies of the book, then most of the communication is done via my Reader Room. I love seeing influencers share their graphics, reviews, quotes, and other thoughts about the book within the facebook group as well as elsewhere.

The week before and after release, I also post graphics, giveaways, and links that influencers can share. By doing so in my Reader Room, that allows everyone in the facebook group to get in on the excitement and share things, even if they’re not on the launch team.

3. What do you hope your launch team will do to promote the book (aside from reviewing it)?

Before the book releases, I email my launch team (as mentioned above) a detailed list of ideas of all the various ways they can help promote the book, including taking pictures of themselves with the book, creating graphics, tweeting quotes, sharing reading updates on facebook, etc. Even though I always offer ideas, I also encourage readers to do what works best for them.

4. How long do you keep your launch team active?

I ask launch team members to complete their influencing within a month from release. I also ask them to record their influencer actions in a special document available to all the members of my launch team. This gives me a record of what they did and helps as I form future launch teams.

Usually the buzz begins to die down after about a month anyway, but readers still do pop in to the facebook group to share reviews and other thoughts about my books even well after the release.

During the stretches between book releases, I continue to post in my facebook group on a regular basis, interacting with readers, having giveaways, and doing other fun things to create community.

There you have it! A quick run-down of how I utilize a launch team! Let me just say, I’ve loved getting to know readers more personally through the launch teams.  And I’ve been so blessed by their enthusiasm and help in spreading the book buzz!

What about YOU? Have you been a part of a launch team? What have you seen work well (or not so well)?

The Making of a Title

Before I started writing, I assumed that authors were in full control of things like titles and covers. Little did I know that there is an entire team of publishing professionals that weigh in on these kind of decisions. Self-published authors have much more autonomy, of course, but those of us who write for traditional publishing houses must remain flexible when it comes to titles, because they often change.

A title is much like a cover where books are concerned. It is the first impression a book makes on a reader. It evokes emotion, theme, and genre in just a handful of words. Sometimes, only one. This makes it incredibly important. I am so thankful that I am not alone in making such an impactful decision. I have experts in marketing and sales, editors who know my story, and other creatives who brainstorm together with me to come up with the perfect title for each project.

I enjoy creating titles. I also have a tendency to get rather attached to my working titles. No one wants to change the name of their child right before delivery. But sometimes, it’s the right move. I’ve been fortunate to have several of my working titles be accepted as final titles by my publishing team.

Short-Straw Bride
A Worthy Pursuit
No Other Will Do
At Love’s Command
The Heart’s Charge
And nearly all of my novellas kept their working titles.

Many of my titles were still my own creation but came after my publisher asked for additional name choices to consider. I went back to the drawing board and sometimes sought brainstorming help from readers and author friends.

Jericho’s Fall —- A Tailor-Made Bride
Stealing the Parson —- Stealing the Preacher
Love’s Legacy —- Full Steam Ahead
Down to the Wire —- Heart on the Line
Eyes of the Beholder —- More Than Meets the Eye

And some of my titles were not created by me at all, but were devised by my brilliant editorial team.

Cloud by Day —- Head in the Clouds
Eden’s Garden —- To Win Her Heart
More Than She Bargained For —- More Than Words Can Say

I’m currently writing Book 3 of my Hanger’s Horsemen series, and a couple weeks ago my publishing team met to decide on a title for the story. My working title was A Warrior’s Devotion, and I have to admit that I was more than a little attached to it. It had the same rhythm and form of the previous two titles (At Love’s Command; The Heart’s Charge) and it had that slight military flavor that I wanted to keep. However, there was one key difference between this title and the previous series titles that my publishing team noticed. A Warrior’s Devotion referred to a PERSON where the other titles referred to more abstract entities like LOVE and HEART. For consistency sake, they wanted to keep the abstract focus. Unfortunately, most of the title options I supplied them used a person reference.

They brainstormed amongst themselves and came up with a new recommendation – The Force of Attraction. I certainly have attraction happening in the story between the main characters, but the love story itself is actually very gentle, so using the word “Force” didn’t sit well with me. Plus “attraction” felt a little superficial. This title just wasn’t ringing my bell. On the bright side, though, I now knew what they were looking for in a title. So I brainstormed a new series of options for them to consider. Ones that focused on the abstract but still had ties to military themes. Most of my proposed titles contained terms like duty, defense, courage, and protection. My favorite was Determined to Defend because it captured the hero’s character so perfectly. However, it didn’t have the cool ‘s pattern that the other titles possessed. In the end, they selected one of my other suggestions, one that was probably my second favorite. So I am very excited to share with you the official title for Luke Davenport’s story . . .

In Honor’s Defense

What do you think of the new title for Book 3?
How much impact does the title of a book play when you are browsing for a new read?

A New Home on the Web

I’m so excited to have a brand spanking new website that just launched this week! Savanna Kaiser did a beautiful job making the site coordinate with my newsletter design and the colorful book covers my husband has designed for me. Here’s a little sneak peek:

Isn’t it pretty!? If you click on the image, you can link to the whole website, but first, let me tell you the history behind my website’s “evolution.” Many of you know that I started writing in order to help put our kids through college while still staying home with the little “oops” baby that the Lord blessed us with when our other kids were 14, 10, and 8. My first contract with Bethany House was a huge answer to prayer, with the advance on royalties for a two-book contract being to-the-penny what we’d been told our oldest son’s four years of college—room, board, and tuition—would be at the state college he chose.

The Internet was fairly new when I first started writing, but by the time Tarl got his degree in Commercial Graphics, I was a published author who needed a website. And Tarl had the skills to design me one. Sadly, neither of us saved an image of that first website (at least not in a format we could access twenty-five years later!)

This is one of my favorite photos of my firstborn and me, taken about ten years ago when he was home for Christmas.

After that website, I cobbled one together on the Blogger platform and it served me (mostly) well for many years.

A few years ago Ken designed a really pretty site for me that we again jury-rigged to work as a website.

Unfortunately, blogger has become more and more uncooperative over the years (it was never really designed for traditional websites in the first place) and I knew the time had come to update mine.

Savanna and me at the ACFW Conference a few years ago.

Enter my friend, Savanna, an award-winning author and talented web designer along with her husband. I’m SO happy with the results! A fresh new look that I don’t think I’ll get tired of for a long time!

I’m curious to know what type of content you hope for when you go to an author’s website? What are you looking for, practically speaking, and what are your favorite just-for-fun features. Please share in the comments below—and then I hope you’ll hop over to deborahraney.com and take a gander!

P.S. For those who are newer here, you may not know that our own Robin Lee Hatcher does fantastic web design as well! It always kind of blows my mind when God gives writers multiple talents!

Inspired by Scripture

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashVerseoftheDay.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with Scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.

California Road Trip

I was born and raised in southern California, but I’d never driven iconic highway 1 along California’s coast. At some point, I began to feel sheepish about this. How can I not have done this? I NEED to experience this drive for myself! And so, last summer, I planned a Highway 1 road trip for our family of five. Then ended up having to cancel the trip thanks to Covid. This summer, I was twice as determined to make it happen.

And it did! I submitted my next novel to my editors on June 1st and a few days later — deadline free — we flew from Dallas to California.

We began the trip by visiting family in my hometown of Riverside. Next, we packed into a rented minivan and set off for the southern-most stop on our drive — San Diego (where my oldest daughter attends college).Our girls in Santa Barbara. It was cool in the evenings, but never too cold for ice cream.After a memorable stop in Solvang to feed ostriches and admire the town’s Danish flair, we headed to Morro Bay.Morro Bay is famous for the huge rock rising out of its bay. (You can see it in the above image). Most of the time we were there, Morro Bay was swathed in fog — which was gorgeous but also rendered the rock invisible.After Morro Bay, we drove a stunning stretch of highway to Monterey. The above is McWay Falls.Bixby BridgeCarmel by the SeaHis Highness and me at “the lone cypress” near Pebble Beach Golf CourseAt Muir Woods, we admired the towering redwoods.We finished our trip in San Francisco.

We had a fabulous time! So many beautiful sights, so many family memories. I’d love to return some future summer and drive north from San Fransisco into Oregon and Washington. But, for now, it’s enough that I’ve had the opportunity to drive the San Diego to San Francisco route. Bucket list item — checked off!

Are you familiar with any of the cities/places we visited?

Before I go, I wanted to tell you about a few fun things….

If you’re a writer, and have some free time tomorrow, consider joining in for some or all of the sessions at the Write to Ignite online conference! The cost is only $25! I’m looking forward to leading a session.

My friend Sara Beth Williams is currently offering a giveaway that includes a signed copy of Let It Be Me, $10 Amazon card, Bible cover, box set by Lisa Renee & an e-book by Olivia Rae! Click here for the blog post in connection with the giveaway. Click here for the entry form.

On Tuesday, June 29th, at 7pm Eastern, Baker Book House will be hosting me for an online reader event. We’ll have fun discussing romance and beach reads. Click here, then sign up for this free event by clicking the green “register” button. I’d love to see you there!

Endorsements: what do they mean?

This week, Lynn H. Blackburn joined me on Book Talk, and one of the things we discussed was endorsements. We’ve endorsed books by each other (I endorsed her Unknown Threat because I’d read and loved her Dive Team Investigations books, and she endorsed Lethal Intent.). While we were talking about why we endorse, I thought you might find it interesting, too.

If I’m taking the time to endorse a book, it’s because I think my readers will enjoy it. Because I read widely and don’t stick to one genre, that means I endorse authors and books that might surprise you. However, it’s one of the reasons I started doing Book Talks ever Tuesday night on Facebook. I love to read first. And I love to help connect readers with potentially new to them authors. As a reader, I’m always looking for recommendations on new authors to try, and so are many of you that I talk to.

I also make the time to read for endorsement (and review) as a way I can support other writers. I’m reading all the time, so I might as well make it count. Lynn and I agreed that because we want to be cheerleaders of other authors. We’ve each had authors who told us we could do it and they believed in us. This is a way for us to do the same for others. However, if we don’t like a book (or it just doesn’t hit it), we will choose not to say anything rather than pull down someone else. It’s one of the things that makes Christian fiction a beautiful place to write.

Bottomline, if I endorse a book it means I think my readers will like it. Even if it’s outside my genre, I only endorse books that I think have elements that my readers will enjoy. That usually means a sweet romance, some type of mystery/suspense, and rich characters in a setting that has a strong sense of place. It also means it help my attention throughout and I couldn’t walk away from the characters even when I couldn’t read it in the moment.

Yesterday, when I asked over on my Facebook page whether endorsements mattered to help you find new authors, the response was mixed. Some readers use endorsements if they’re on the fence about trying a new author. Others rely on other elements like back covers and reviews. I’d love to know: Do you check endorsements before buying a book from a new-to-you author? Also, how did you discover the last new-to-you author?

If you want to watch our conversation, you can do so here.