Can’t-A-Bury Tales by C. Kevin Thompson

C. Kevin Thompson

Gather around children, and I will tell you a tale of magic and wonder…of tome proclamations and essayist ratifications…

Once upon a land, in a time not so far away, was an author who wrote a story. The words, flowing from the deepest recesses of her mind, bubbled up and poured from her fingers. Soon, those words blended with the page, and they became as one. It was as if they were meant for each other, like two long, lost lovers, embracing once again after so many epochs of separation and loneliness. This story would never have been the same, the author believed, if the words found their way to any other swath of papyrus.

So magnificent were those verses, they began to multiply, and before long, an entire manuscript was formed, crafted, and molded like putty in the hands of an expert potter. The people close to her, stood attentive, admiring the prose, and chanted with one voice, “This must be for all people! Do not keep it to thyself!”

The author pondered their protestations and said, “If it is to be for all people, then who am I to hoard it?” The author packed some food and drink and set sail, traveling many days and nights until she reached the golden city of Lexiconia.

There, she shared her glorious words with one of the members of the royal family of Lexiconia, Lord Printsalot. He too fell into the tome’s spell and vowed to make it known far and wide. Upon his royal decree, his servants worked tirelessly, day and night, and night and day until finally, the author’s words were pressed upon the finest papyrus and bound together in the most luxurious leather in the royal family’s possession.

Couriers were dispatched with royal announcements to all the land, declaring the author’s words to all who would lend an ear to hear. The people of Lexiconia welcomed the story with open arms, and Lord Printsalot charged his subjects with employing the finest artisans currency could buy to not only produce more volumes, but to spread the word even farther and wider, to the neighboring kingdoms of Opus, Folio, and Quarto.

After many months, the author returned to her homeland, summoned by the King of Lexiconia himself, to produce three more volumes by the next spring harvest. If she did so, then the king would command Lord Printsalot to employ artisans from all the land and import even more from the unconquered peoples of Mapultreowleafe. Her name would be known in the annals of time, and she would be tasked with writing until her golden fingers could produce no more.

***

In another part of the world, many years later, where the great snake flows through the thick, forest land, a young tribal prince, dwelling amongst his native ancestors, set sail for Lexiconia. He too had heard the words of the great author. However, his people could not attain those words. The words were only myth and legend, verbal renderings, handed down from generation to generation. Like so many tribal legends, the details changed from one telling to the next. The young prince decided to go and bring the royal words home to his people. He would purchase many volumes and share them openly and graciously with his homeland.

However, when the young prince arrived, he was discouraged. The trinkets of his people did not bring a good price in Lexiconia, so he was not able to purchase as many volumes as he had dreamt. Despondent, and a bit perturbed, he sailed back to his homeland. He took one of the volumes he purchased and rewrote it on banana leaves, rolling them together, and tying them with string. He sold the banana leaf volumes in his homeland, and quickly the people demanded that he produce more. The young prince set sail for Coruscatia, and there he met the great Fire King. With his help, he sent warriors beyond the reaches of the thick forest where the great snake flows. Within months, authors from far and wide came with their words, seeking that their words become kindling and written upon banana leaves.

When the King of Lexiconia heard the news, he was furious. Volume requests diminished. Authors, once flooding his palace steps, trickled through his doors. He demoted Lord Printsalot and fired half of the couriers and artisans in his employ because a great famine had swept across the land. Even the great author, with her vast wealth and popularity, had to hire her own couriers and artisans to help spread the word of her volumes far and wide.

It wasn’t long before the King of Lexiconia went to war with the young prince, who had risen to a kingly status in his own land and became known as King Tarragon.

The wars still wages, even today, my children.

Even today.

Epilogue: Just in case you were wondering…Banana leaves and string are now being used, even in Lexiconia. Most authors, like the great author, now regularly employ their own couriers and artisans, depleting their own coffers.

And Lord Printsalot, a once noble member of the royal family of Lexiconia, is presently an alpaca salesman in the land where the great snake flows. Known now as “Big Al’s Paca Direct,” I hear he will bring your alpaca to you for free before the moon turns full, if you make your purchase with the coins stamped with the image of King Tarragon.

Once upon a land, in a time not so far away, was an author who wrote a story. #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters via @CKevinThompson

The Letters

The Letters

THE WORLD IS A CRAZY PLACE
WHEN THE LIVING ARE DEAD
AND THE DEAD ARE ALIVE.

Rachel Hamar—a Manhattan bank teller—lives nothing close to a Manhattan lifestyle. Residing in Washington Heights, NY, the only thing keeping her in The Big Apple is her mother—a long-time patient in a local psychiatric hospital. It’s December 2014 and the twentieth anniversary of her high school sweetheart’s tragic death. She’s not sure how much more heartache she can endure, especially after being told earlier in the day she no longer has a job at the bank. A casualty of downsizing.

In the midst of spiraling depression, Rachel receives a mysterious letter in the mail. When she opens it, she becomes cautious and skeptical of its contents and discards it as a mistake, concluding it’s simply addressed incorrectly or a postal worker’s faux pas in the midst of a busy Christmas season. But another letter arrives the next day. And another the day after that. Before long, she is in possession of several letters. Each one more puzzling than the last.

Thinking that someone may be playing a cruel game, she contacts the police, and this propels Rachel and the two detectives into one of the most bizarre cases they’ve ever encountered. Is it a friend’s cruel joke? Is it some stalker’s perverse idea of manipulation? Or is it something more?



C. KEVIN THOMPSON is a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a kid at heart. Often referred to as “crazy” by his grandchildren, it’s only because he is. He’s a writer. Need he say more?

The second edition of his award-winning debut novel, The Serpent’s Grasp, is now available! The first four books of his Blake Meyer Thriller series are out as well. Book 1, 30 Days Hath Revenge, Book 2, Triple Time, Book 3, The Tide of Times, and Book 4, When the Clock Strikes Fourteen, are now available! Book 5, A Pulse of Time, is coming Memorial Day 2020! And, his newest standalone novel, The Letters, is now available in both e-book and paperback!

Kevin is a huge fan of the TV series 24, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, NCIS, Criminal Minds, BBC shows Broadchurch, Shetland, Hinterland, and Wallander, loves anything to do with Star Trek, and is a Sherlock Holmes fanatic too. But you will never catch him wearing a deerstalker. Ever.

Website: www.ckevinthompson.com/
Kevin’s Writer’s Blog: www.ckevinthompson.blogspot.com/
Facebook: C. Kevin Thompson – Author Fan Page
Twitter: @CKevinThompson
Instagram: ckevinthompson
Pinterest: ckevinthompsonauthor
ACFW Fiction Finder: https://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/595
Christian Authors Network: https://christianauthorsnetwork.com/c-kevinthompson/
Goodreads: C. Kevin Thompson
BookBub: C. Kevin Thompson

A Few Random Things I’ve Learned About Writing and Publishing by Laura Kestner

I haven’t been a published author for long, but it’s been a wonderful ride so far. I know that the readers of this blog include many longtime published authors, but I’m hoping that these observations might be of interest to those who are just getting started. So here goes:

1. It’s never too late to pursue a dream. After talking about it forever, and starting umpteen books in my youth, I was in my mid-50s when I got serious about writing fiction. I will turn 60 this spring, and I’m only two books into an indie career.

But instead of being discouraged by the “only” in that sentence, I’m focusing on the, “two books” part. I’m truly thrilled to be able to say that. At any age. I have to admit, at times it’s difficult. Struggling to learn the latest app/feature/media whatsit, only to find it changed the next day. Struggling to read the small screen/fine print (I have reading glasses stashed in every room, the car, and in my purse). And my memory’s not what it used to be, and…where was I going with this? Oh yes, despite all that, I’m not giving up. I’m going to keep on plugging away at this, until He says stop.

2. At some point, writing/publishing will probably make you cry. And for varied reasons. Sometimes I’ve been brought to the verge of tears due to frustration and stress (scenes not working, characters not speaking to me, emotional scenes, etc.) But there have been happy tears, too.

For instance, the first time a stranger approached me at a book signing event and told me how much they enjoyed my work, and they called my characters by name (like real people!) and then they wanted to know what happened to those characters next, and when the next book would be out. I’m telling you, I choked up. And I wanted to hug that person, but it was a stranger, so I didn’t. Okay, that’s not true. I did hug them. And probably scared the daylights out of them with my happy tears.

3. You can’t always predict or choose your readers. You should have a target audience, no doubt about that, but sometimes those are not the only people reading your work. I always figured that my readers would be women. The first time someone sent me a message saying that her husband started reading my book before she could get to it, I was surprised. Then it happened again. Women were telling me they’d bought a copy for their father, or brother, son, etc. And that they enjoyed the book. As I said, I was surprised by this, and oh so grateful.

4. If you make a mistake, more than likely someone will point it out. Learn to be grateful for that. A multi-published author sent me a very kind email after the publication of my first book, letting me know that I’d made a mistake (referring to one of my characters as a U.S. Marshal, when his title should have been Deputy U.S. Marshal) This author also mentioned how much she enjoyed the book. I was appreciative, not only that she’d actually read my book, but that she cared enough to point out an error. I want to learn. I’ll make other mistakes, I’m sure, but I won’t make that mistake again.

5. Don’t be too specific in character detail on the first book of a series. Such as noting that three brothers bear a striking resemblance to each other. I did that. It can make cover design difficult, as well as future story lines. I loved the cover for my first book, Remember Texas. The designers came up with just what I asked for—a lawman (just a portion of the face showing), a train, and a church. The second cover was much more difficult. Fictional brothers may look alike but cover models usually don’t, and using the same model just wasn’t working out. I liked the final design of A Texas Promise, but getting there wasn’t easy.

6. Make friends with other writers, even if it’s only online. I’ve been blessed beyond measure to have a supportive family, and church family, to cheer me along and pray for me. And I’m grateful. But there’s something about having a few writer friends who know exactly what you’re going through—in the good times and the bad—that can be such a blessing. Praying for each other through looming deadlines, and the sting of rejection. Getting to celebrate when contracts are signed, covers are revealed, and books go live. I’m blessed to have a group of writer friends that understand the challenges and rewards unique to the writing life. It’s a special bond and I treasure it. And them.

Thank you so much for your time and attention, and a special thank you to Terri Weldon for inviting me to guest host. Happy Writing!

Amazon Buy Link

A TEXAS PROMISE

When Sheriff Eli Calhoun first sees Maggie Radford she’s just escaped from a burning insane asylum. The young woman is disoriented, disheveled and dressed in rags. Even after questioning her, Eli’s sure of only two things—she’s lying about something and she’s terrified.

Unjustly confined to an asylum, Maggie Radford did what was necessary to escape—and now it haunts her. She asks God for forgiveness, even as she continues to spin a web of lies and deceit. She wants to trust the Moccasin Rock sheriff, but she can’t tell anyone the truth. There are people searching for her, including the man who had her committed.

As Eli works to piece together Maggie’s story, he’s also dealing with his own troubles. As a young boy he witnessed a shooting and is now stunned to discover that the gunman is a powerful business owner with political ambitions. Eli wants to stop him, but the would-be politician has plans of his own.

Complicating matters is an old deputy with a hidden past, an orphan baby, a young boy with a secret, and a midwife with a tragic story of her own.

As the danger escalates for both Maggie and Eli, their faith is tested and their developing relationship is tried. They must work together to solve the mysteries of the past—before their future is cut short.

After 25 years in community journalism, Laura Conner Kestner embarked on a career in inspirational fiction. Laura is a proud seventh-generation Texan. Born in Fort Worth, she now lives in central Texas. She is happily married to the “boy next door” and they have two daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law, six grandchildren, and just welcomed their first great-grandchild. She’s thankful for God’s grace, her family, and an opportunity to do the work she loves. Laura is an ACFW Genesis Award winner, ACFW First Impressions winner, and winner of the RWA/KOD 2017 Daphne du Maurier award for excellence in mystery suspense. Laura is also a three-time GOLDEN HEART® finalist. Her novel Remember Texas was a 2019 Will Rogers Medallion Award finalist, and a 2019 HOLT Medallion finalist for best first book. Her second book, A Texas Promise, released in October of 2019.

Writing Quirky Characters By Jodie Wolfe

I don't know about you, but I love reading books that have quirky characters. Not only do they make the book fun and exciting, it also provides a sense of realism. Hi! I'm Jodie Wolfe and I write stories where hope and quirky meet.

Why quirky you might ask. My characters have quirks because I do, and chances are, you do too. :) God designed us uniquely different. In can be something as simple as a character that has to separate her vegetables from everything else on her plate before she can eat.

 

Perhaps you have a hero like Dr. Henry Walton in the Indiana Jones movies who was afraid of snakes. It only took a single line and a scene for the viewer to understand his fear.

 

I have a book I'm working on called Hannah's Quest where my heroine is deathly scared of chickens. Why chickens? It plays a crucial part in her back story.

 

Not everything has to be linked to a character's past. It could be something that makes them unique. A hero who whistles when he's unsure of himself. A heroine who likes to drink pickle juice from the jar.

 

My heroine, Jules Montgomery in my new book Taming Julia doesn't feel right if she isn't wearing a weapon. Here's a glimpse of the opening page:

 

Matrimony News, February 6, 1875 edition

Minister bachelor aged 27, height 5 feet 10 inches seeks genteel, honest and first-rate homemaker with a desire to serve God. Must be willing to marry by proxy and arrive in Burrton Springs, Kansas by May 1.

~*~

Burrton Springs, Kansas, Saturday, May 1, 1875

Dear Lord, please don’t let that creature be my new wife. Drew Montgomery swiped the sweat trickling a path down his neck and shoved the new hat back on his head. He squinted, taking in the lone passenger stepping from the stagecoach. At least, he thought it was a woman. He shielded his eyes from the sun, taking in the britches.

Britches? A gun belt strapped to a slim waist. He gulped. A rifle rested on her shoulder, and she wore a Stetson situated low on her brow. The figure shifted sideways, and Drew groaned, fearing his proxy mail-order bride had arrived by the look of all the curves. He squared his shoulders and crossed the street.

What ways can you bring some quirks to your characters to make them stand out?

My characters have quirks because I do... via @JodieAWolfe #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), and COMPEL Training. She's been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. She's a contributor and co-founder of Stitches Thru Time blog. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Learn more at www.jodiewolfe.com.

Taming Julia:

In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery's sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation's ultimatum that he marry or leave, forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy.

Jules Walker strides into Drew's life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle--more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she's not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family, and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.

Purchase Link for Taming Julia:

https://www.amazon.com/Taming-Julia-Jodie-Wolfe-ebook/dp/B083L8MDD5/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=taming+julia&qid=1578503989&sr=8-1

What’s Your Emotional Posture? By Sondra Kraak

Sometimes I think I could advertise my emotional life as a ride at an amusement park. If only I could transport you into all the ups and downs of my feelings. It’d be a crazy ride.

I know I’m not alone in this. We could open an amusement park with all our emotional rides.

Some of us experience emotions as tidal waves that ebb and flow through us each day. Ocean emotion (don’t you love that ring?).

Others of us experience emotions as subtle undercurrents that course through us, carrying our moods and minds instinctively. River emotion.

Still others of us are so unfazed by emotions that we are like lakes on a windless evening, only the occasional ripple disrupting the surface.

I’ll be spending my 2020 guest posts focusing on emotions that wedge their way into our writing and cause disruption.

Discouragement. Loneliness. Fear. Jealousy.

But first, this month, what’s your posture toward emotion? What I mean is:

~Do you pay attention to your emotions, or do you bury them?
~Do you trust your emotions to speak wisdom into your decisions, or does skepticism keep you deaf?
~Do you welcome a variety of emotions, or do you specialize in a select few?

Psychologists refer to something called emotional intelligence. It’s the ability to understand and process our emotions in a constructive way. Google it, if you dare (rabbit hole warning). The point is, emotions are a valuable tool, and more so, a gift and blessing to us when we are in good relationship with them.

But again, what’s your posture toward them? The first step of emotional intelligence is recognizing our preconceived ideas about emotions and our responses to our emotions.

I challenge you this next week to pay attention to how you respond to different emotions, particularly in how they relate to your writing. Are you experiencing discouragement, loneliness, fear, or jealousy in your writing career? Another emotion? Keep a record of how your feelings flow into your thoughts and how those thoughts and feelings lead to actions. If you’re not someone naturally in tune with your feelings, begin with your actions or thoughts and go backward. What emotions are fueling those beliefs or responses? Can you see the connections?

Here are some examples of how thoughts and emotions might work together with actions. Only you can prayerfully discern which emotions or thoughts are driving you.

Thought: I’m not good enough to be a writer.
Feeling: gloomy.
Action: lethargic toward writing because, what’s the point?

Feeling: indecisive.
Thought: I want to do it all.
Action: writing anything and everything without specific focus and jumping at whatever options an agent or critique partner throws at you.
Result: not finishing anything.

Action: pulling out of fellowship or community with other writers.
Thought: No one understands my writing.
Feeling: jealousy.

The bottom line is intentionality. Let’s look our emotions in the eye and be honest about them. Let’s include them in our writing, both as we make decisions about our careers, but also as modes of empathy and inspiration for our stories. How can we write characters with emotional journeys when we’re not in touch with our own?

It’s okay to have emotions. It’s okay to listen to them. It’s okay to feel buried beneath confusing or frustrating sentiments. You were created with a heart, soul, mind, and body, and these are woven together in a beautiful way.

I’ll be back in April with thoughts on discouragement.

How can we write characters with emotional journeys when we’re not in touch with our own? @SondraKraak @MaryAFelkins #amwriting #seriouslywrite #emotionalintelligence #characterbuilding

Sondra Kraak, a native of Washington State, grew up playing in the rain, hammering out Chopin at the piano, and running up and down the basketball court. Now settled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children, Instagramming about spiritual truths, and writing historical romance set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She delights in sharing stories that not only entertain but nourish the soul. Her debut novel, One Plus One Equals Trouble*, was an ACFW Genesis semi-finalist and the winner of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Unpublished Women's Fiction Award. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook and join her newsletter for a free short story and information about special devotional series.

Connect with Sondra
Instagram www.instagram.com/sondrakraakauthor
Facebook www.facebook.com/SondraKraakAuthor
Website www.sondrakraak.com

*One Plus One Equals Trouble on sale February 23- March 1 for $.99 on Amazon!

Picking and Choosing...Which Writers Conference is Best for Me?

Ah...the time of year for conferences. Any time of year is good for a writers conference. Blurbs on social media announce upcoming events. Early bird discounts, critique opportunities, bring a group and get another discount, query agents and editors, meet new people, share business cards, have professional photographs taken and visit the bookstore. This and more are things to experience at a writer’s conference.

Questions arise.“Should I go? How can I afford a hotel and the conference? I don’t have anything published. Is there a place for me? I have one story finished. What about all those writers who are multi-published? Won’t I feel out of place?”

Fear tries to creep in. Excuses fill the mind. The “No, I won’t bother trying to go.” scenario keeps tugging. Maybe next year. Maybe when I am published. Maybe when my name is well known. Maybe, maybe, maybe…

If you are on the fence and trying to decide whether or not to attend a conference for writers, let me encourage you to put those fears aside and take a leap of faith.

When I learn about an event for writers, the first thing I do is pray. I ask God to guide me in the decision of whether or not to attend. There are many conferences and some are better than others.

The great conferences I have attended have several things in common. First, a faith element. These particular events offer prayer before, during and after the conference. There is worship music or worship time at some point. Workshops and visiting with editors and agents provide a chance to meet industry experts. Also, plenty of time for fellowship and having conversations with other writers. Exchanging business cards helps people get to know each other.

Scholarships are offered at many conferences. Don’t be shy. Apply for a scholarship if needed.

At each conference, one important thing to remember is that writers are on different and unique journeys. Some people have published numerous books in different genres. Some people are thinking about writing and looking for more information. Some people are in the middle and looking for inspiration.

Wherever you find yourself in the writing journey, please know you are not alone. Research each event. Ask questions. Ask people who have attended the conference in the past. What were there likes and dislikes?

Writing conferences can be a place of encouragement, inspiration and prayer. #seriouslywrite #writing @mimionlife

Writing conferences can be a place of encouragement, inspiration and support. Pray first and ask God to guide you in deciding to attend.

Most of all, enjoy the conference. Put a smile on your face and be ready to meet great people.

Blessings,
Melissa Henderson

Melissa Henderson is a writer of inspirational messages. Her first book for children, “Licky the Lizard”, was released in 2018. She also has a story in the compilations “Heaven Sightings” and “Remembering Christmas”. She contributes articles and devotions to various magazines and websites. Her passions are helping in community and church. Melissa is an Elder, Deacon and Stephen Minister. She and her husband Alan moved from Virginia to South Carolina to be near son, daughter-in-love and first grandchild. The family motto is “It’s Always A Story With The Hendersons”.
Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and at http://www.melissaghenderson.com

Website and blog : http://www.melissaghenderson.com
Amazon link to "Licky the Lizard"
Facebook : Melissa Henderson, Author
Pinterest : Melissa Henderson
Twitter : @mimionlife

The “Good Stuff” by JoAnn Durgin

The “Good Stuff”

The family gathered on a recent Sunday afternoon for a very special celebration—our granddaughter Amelia’s fifth birthday party. My daughter and Amelia’s mother, Chelsea, made a festive cake with three different-colored layers and a design of chocolate candy beads on the top. If I may brag, it tasted as delicious as it looked.

Then it was time to open her presents! Like most children (and some adults), Amelia quickly tears away the wrapping paper in her haste to get to the gift inside. Her facial expressions are comical as she puts her hands over her mouth or lifts her hands in the air to express her delighted surprise with appropriate oohs and aahs.

My favorite moment of her birthday? With one of the first gifts, she ripped open the paper and then exclaimed in a joyful tone, “It’s a box!” You’d think the box itself was the best gift she’d ever received. I loved that moment of sweet innocence before she opened the lid to see the treasure nestled inside. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all be content with something as simple as a box?

My mother was a master gift wrapper, especially for Christmas gifts. She expertly measured, creased, folded, and even used “invisible” double-stick tape. She fashioned gorgeous bows from different types of ribbon, pinecones, bells, and any manner of embellishments. Later in life, she lovingly handcrafted the tags. Mama took great pride in her creations, and without fail, the gifts looked professionally wrapped, worthy of the finest department store. My brother and I each received five gifts for Christmas, and my “special” gift each year (usually the one at the top of my wish list that I opened last) was wrapped in a beautiful gold foil paper with the same beautiful angel adornment every year.

I’ve tried to carry on my mother’s wrapping tradition, but I’m not quite as meticulous (double-stick tape drives me crazy!). When I only need one gift—for a wedding or baby shower, for instance—I love to create a unique design using artificial flowers and ribbons that starts on top and trail down the sides of the box. The most satisfying compliment is when someone says it’s almost “too pretty to unwrap.”

We all like and appreciate lovely things, but one lesson we learn as we grow older is that what’s on the outside is sometimes prettier than what’s on the inside. That lesson applies to people as well as things. First Samuel 16:7 tells us, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (NIV)

As a kid, I loved Tootsie Pops (and still enjoy them on occasion), but they can be an exercise in patience. Do you savor the hard, sweet candy on the outside? Or do you chomp through the candy to get straight to the chocolate-flavored, chewy Tootsie Roll inside? If you’re like me, you skip the outer candy entirely and simply buy a bag of miniature Tootsie Rolls! That works splendidly because I only want the “good stuff.”

That theory doesn’t work so well when applied to a novel, however. In the books we write, we can have a stunning cover, but we also need to make sure the story inside does justice to its beautiful exterior. Think of the cover and exterior package as the “wrapping” and the actual book as the “gift” nestled inside—the treasure, if you will. Focus on building a story world readers can immerse themselves in, filled with fascinating characters and a riveting plot.

What’s at the “heart” of your novels? Is the inside as pretty as the outside? Through your words, are you revealing the power of Christ to your reader—His redemption, grace, love, forgiveness, and promise of eternal life in heaven? If you can, that’s truly the “good stuff” that’ll give them something to savor and chew on. And that’s oh so satisfying indeed.

Until His Nets Are Full,

~ JoAnn
Matthew 5:16

What's at the "heart" of your novels? #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters via @Gr8tReads

Getting to the "good stuff" in what we write! #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters via @Gr8tReads

Is the inside of your book as pretty as the outside? #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters via @Gr8tReads

The Valentine Verse

The Valentine Verse

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for February 14th anymore! Love should be celebrated every day of the year. That’s Thornton Fielding’s philosophy. In spite of a few false starts in the arena of love, he holds out hope he’ll eventually find the woman of his dreams. The problem? He loves his job, and there’s no end in sight to his travels. But when Thornton returns to his tiny hometown of Cherish, Minnesota, he meets a beautiful and intriguing woman he believes might be God’s answer to ending his bachelor status—permanently.

Vara Alexandris is soured on love and scoffs at the notion of soul mates. But soon after meeting the handsome and unconventional Thornton, the speech and language pathologist suspects he might be the perfect ally to help jump-start her stroke patient’s recovery—if only Vara can keep Thornton grounded in Cherish long enough. This man who spouts romanticized and idealistic ideas about love seems all too eager to resume his world travels. Could it be Thornton actually prefers globetrotting in order to avoid a romantic relationship?

Is it time for Vara to call the dreamer’s bluff? And can Thornton convince Vara to put past heartache behind her and trust in God’s plan for her heart?

JoAnn Durgin

USA Today Bestselling Author JoAnn Durgin is the author of more than thirty novels, including the Lewis Legacy Series, Prelude, the Starlight Christmas Series, Catching Serenity, Hearts Design, Gentle Like the Rain, Whisper to My Heart, the Serendipity Christmas Series, the Treasured Vow Series, the Wondrous Love Series, If You Believe, Echoes of Edinburgh, Portrait, and The Valentine Verse. Her most recent release is Love on Assignment in Millcreek, Book 1 of The Millcreek Christmas Series. She’s also written three novels under the pen name of Julianna Desmond, her latest being Only A Whisper Away.

A former estate administration paralegal, JoAnn writes contemporary Christian romance full-time and lives with her family in her native southern Indiana.

Feel free to connect with her at https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanndurgin
or via her website at https://joanndurgin.com.

What is a series bible…and why do you need one? by Lisa Phillips

Hello, fellow writers! *waves*

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Lisa Phillips. That is a COMPLETELY ACCURATE photo of me. (Guess who just realized she needs a headshot that’s not five years old?)

I love writing series novels almost as much as I love dogs. Don’t even get me started on my giant adorable Airedale ball of crazy. I’ll be here all day. I write for Love Inspired Suspense, and I indie publish on the side.

That’s two whole blogs right there. And who wouldn’t want to read one about dogs? I’d love to write about being a hybrid author—it’s a great way to make this writer career thing work. But it probably wouldn’t be as good as the dog one.

So…series bibles.
Instead of telling you why you might need one, I’ll do the writerly thing and SHOW you.

Here’s a quote from a book I wrote a few years ago. My first full series (so be nice, lol.) The first book is called Sanctuary Lost:

John looked at the guy in line ahead of him. Early thirties but he was nearly bald, his glasses drooped on his nose and he gripped his plate of mostly bread and green beans. “I’m Terrence Evangeline.” He pointed at an older couple by the salads. “That’s my mom, Shelby and my dad, Aaron. They run the town’s community arts programs.”

Now here’s a quote from book three, Sanctuary Breached:

“There is also the problem of Andy.”
Nadia glanced at the man for the shortest possible amount of time. Sure enough, Andy Evangeline was staring at her. Why, Lord? He’d been nursing a terminal crush for months now, and it didn’t seem to be easing off. Nadia was the focus of his attention every second he wasn’t at the recycling center. Who knew what he thought about when he wasn’t watching her or following her around. It was the last thing she needed in the middle of this.

See the problem?
Somehow *cough-distracted mom writer-cough* a secondary character who was Terrence Evangeline in book one, was suddenly Andy Evangeline in book 3.
Oh what, oh what, is a writer to do?

Here’s where genre came in super handy. See, I write romantic suspense. This particular series? It’s about a town of people all in the witness protection program, also known as WITSEC (witness security). People change their names in witness protection all the time, right?

Enter the solution. Book 5, Sanctuary Forever, we were back in town and ready to wrap things up—which of course meant I needed a solution.

“Hi, Andy.”
He crossed his arms on the counter and smiled. “It’s Terrence. I’ve decided to go back to my first name again instead of my middle name.”
Seriously?
He looked like he expected her to say something, but she didn’t. Why would she care if he was having an identity crisis? She didn’t even like the man and never had.

Two more series and a lot of books later, I’ve decided to make life easier for myself.

This is my new series. Aren’t my covers AWESOME? Seriously, my cover designer (now that I’ve decided to quit doing it myself *blog post alert*) is so good!
Me? More like, meh. But that was a solid business decision.

Another business decision I made with this series?

One designed to save me hours of headache?

A series bible.

Right now it looks a lot like a messy spreadsheet, but the moment the first character walked onto the page in Expired Refuge, I wrote down her name. Age. Occupation. Hair color. Defining features. Key personality traits. Family members who live in town.

And so on, and so on.

Every time I open that first draft document, the spreadsheet gets opened too. Is it foolproof? No, because I’m a human and we all make mistakes. But this will cut down on SO MANY continuity problems I don’t need and don’t have time for.

Businesses in town. Street names. People who lived there years ago. The name of the vet, who won’t get a novel about him until next year? All of it gets noted down.

So how about you?
Do you have a series bible, or a way to keep track of these details? I’d love to know your secret. Or maybe you could just tell me what the plural of “series” is, because clearly I have no idea.

And after you’ve left a comment, feel free to swing by Amazon, KOBO, Nook or Apple Books and grab a copy of Expired Refuge!! You can find out more at www.authorlisaphillips.com/coming-next

Adventures in Indie Publishing—A Good Cover Matters by Patty Smith Hall

My first month in indie publishing was an active one, and I didn’t even publish a book. Last month, I took a five-day Amazon Ad challenge with Bryan Cohen (he has another challenge coming up in April that I highly recommend,) started a website on WordPress, and wrote one-third of a new novella for Barbour which will satisfy my last traditional contract. So, out of all of this, what did I learn?

A good cover matters.

As I said earlier, I took The Five-Day Amazon Ad Challenge with Bryan Cohen, and as part of it, I had to make several different types of ads—automatic and keyword—then watch how these ads performed over several days to see which were more productive. For this project, I selected Courting Doctor Clark, one of the books Harlequin gave me back when the Love Inspired Historical closed down.

I was excited to advertise this book. It was part of the Heartsong Presents division that LIH bought out, but never promoted. But as the days drew out, I was getting clicks but no sales. When I asked Bryan about this, he asked me some pointed questions regarding my cover. Did my cover attract the kind of reader I wanted? Was it in line with my genre? If I saw my cover, would I want to buy the book?

So, I went back and looked at my cover:

               

Though I liked this cover, I’m not sure it appealed to my audience which is a thirty-five to forty-year-old woman who loves to read as an escape and enjoys history. It looked more like a regency than the American historical romance I wrote. If I was completely honest with myself, I probably wouldn’t buy it if I saw the cover alone.

After studying the one hundred best sellers in my genre, I contacted the new cover designer I’m working with, paged through her ready-art covers and found one that answered most of the questions Bryan had asked me. It’s not the perfect cover, but in order to see if my Amazon ads worked, I needed to change it fast.

Here’s the new cover:

Within twenty-four hours, I saw a dramatic difference in my sales and KU page read-throughs. I continued my ads through this month and to date, my sales/read-throughs have gone from the single digits to triple digit sales, a 3000 percent increase as of February 14.

So, what did I learn? Covers matter, particularly when you’re using Amazon to distribute your book. Think about it—when someone types in ‘historical romance’ into Amazon’s search engine, they’re presented with a list of books. No blurbs or reviews, just covers.

Like I said, covers matter!

What do you find appealing in the covers of your favorite books? Do you buy a book because of the cover? Why?

Covers matter, particularly when you’re using Amazon to distribute your book. via @pattywrites #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

Patty Smith Hall lives in North Georgia with her husband of 36+ years, Danny. Her passion is

to write tender romances based in little-known historical moments. The winner of the 2008 ACFW Genesis award in historical romance, she is published with Love Inspired Historical, Barbour and Winged Publishing, and is a contributor to the Seriously Writing blog as well as Journey magazine. Patty is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. 

4 Women Bring Southern Charm to a Cowboy Town 

Crinoline Creek, Texas, 1868
A Cowboy of Her Own by Patty Smith Hall

Bookish southern belle Madalyn Turner knows what she wants—to be a cowboy and own a Texas ranch. But books are far different from real life and soon she realizes she needs help.

God Loves Me, But Do I Love God? By Shannon Redmon

God loves me.

This is a truth ground into our heads and hearts from the time we are children to adulthood. We believe that no matter what we do, God will always love us. We believe in a kind and merciful God and yes, He does love us with everything He is. But do we truly love Him?

The Bible reads, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17

Yet, on a recent popular television show, this truth was used to celebrate a choice that went directly against God’s Word. We see our world championing choices we know God would never condone and wrapping them in the words, “It’s okay if I do this immoral thing, because God still loves me.”

This should never be.

While God’s love never fails any of us, maybe we should consider this … “Yes, God loves me. But do I love God?”

When we love someone or something, we don’t choose to cause that person pain. We don’t choose to go out and do things that we know would intentionally hurt or fly right in their face.

But so many people who claim God’s love, live in a way that demonstrates a blatant disrespect for Him. The life of a Christian should represent the principles of His Word, a living, breathing testament to the love, faith and hope Jesus provides. Sometimes we all fall short. That just comes with being human. But when we knowingly celebrate the things God has clearly prohibited, then we need to ask ourselves do we truly love Him?

Often times in stories, we write about flawed characters. These imperfections connect with our readers and show their need for God. But if those characters, who choose Christ, were to never change, to never grow, to continue in their sinful lifestyles over the truth of God’s Word, then our story would be a lie.

The same is true in real life. When we ignore righteousness and dismiss sin with the phrase, “It’s okay because God loves me,” we show a lack of love. Our lives will never reach the potential God provides without a conscious effort to follow His principles. Our purpose on earth is to live out our love for Him.

When we truly love God and understand the mercy, forgiveness and peace He provides, then our daily choices will be a reflection of Jesus.

So today, yes, God loves you. Let’s let our lives love Him back.

While God’s love never fails any of us, maybe we should consider this … “Yes, God loves me, but do I love God?” @shannon_redmon @MaryAFelkins #amwriting #love

Shannon Redmon remembers the first grown up book she checked out from the neighborhood book mobile. A Victoria Holt novel with romance, intrigue, dashing gentlemen and ballroom parties captivated her attention. For her mother, the silence must have been a pleasant break from non-stop teenage chatter, but for Shannon, those stories whipped up a desire and passion for writing.
There’s nothing better than the power of a captivating novel, a moving song or zeal for a performance that punches souls with awe. A rainbow displayed after a horrific storm or expansive views on a mountaintop bring nuggets of joy into our lives. Shannon hopes her stories immerse readers into that same kind of amazement, encouraging faith, hope and love, guiding our hearts to the One who created us all.

Shannon’s writing has been published in Spark magazine, Splickety magazine, the Lightning Blog, The Horse of My Dreams compilation book, and the Seriously Write blog. Her stories have been selected as a semi-finalist and finalist of the ACFW Genesis Contest and won first place in the Foundation’s Awards. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. The StoryMoore Blog is named in memory of her father, Donald Eugene Moore.

Connect with Shannon:
www.shannonredmon.com
The StoryMoore Blog
FB: https://www.facebook.com/shannon.redmon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shannon_redmon @shannon_redmon
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonredmon/
Check out Shannon’s story in a compilation with other authors published by Revell.

The Horse of My Dreams

What is God's Best for Me? by Patty Nicholas-Boyte

Philippians 4:8 (NASB) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I know, I’m being dramatic, but this is true in my life.

It was the best of times. I am a newlywed, I have a great job in a wonderful Christian organization, and I have family and friends who love and encourage me.

It was the worst of times. Even though I have had several of my devotions published in compilation books, and articles and blog posts have received recognition and publishing cred, what I really want still has not happened. Friends and writing peers are all receiving contracts for their books . . . But not me.

!Friends and writing peers are all receiving contracts for their books . . . But not me.

Have you been in the same situation? Do you feel lost, or like you are on an island, all alone in your writing journey? I know I've been there many times.

I’ve studied the passage in Philippians last year, and I recently came across my notes. What I found true just a few months ago, is still true today. God’s call to write was crystal clear to me back when I first heard it, and the call has never changed.

If I dwell on what God has for me, I know it will be His very best for my life. As hard as it is to not compare myself with my peers, the reminder to dwell on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good repute, excellence, praise worthy is where I need to focus.

What is God’s best for us? Is it a book contract, is it a new request to speak, or is it a time of quiet with the savior as He prepares us for the next thing? Only He knows, but if we remain in Him, and dwell on His good things and His goodness, we will be blessed when the desires of our heart come to fruition.

Multi award winning writer, Patty Nicholas-Boyte lives with her Husband Brian in the mountains of North Carolina. She is a busy event planner for the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove, and is a member of the Blue Ridge Writers Group. She is a mother of two grown daughters and grandmother of three. She writes Bible studies and devotionals as well as contemporary romance. 
She is a regular contributor to the Cove Blog.
Devotions are published in compilations by Lighthouse Bible Studies.
facebook.com/patty.l.nicholas
twitter.com/PattyNicholas2

The Best Love Note Ever! by Dawn Kinzer

The Best Love Note Ever!

It’s Valentine’s Day, so it’s the perfect time to talk about love, right?

My favorite Valentine’s Day movie is called just that—Valentine’s Day. It came out in 2010 with a large cast of well-known actors, and it didn’t focus on only one type of love. Scenarios included first dates, longtime commitments, young crushes, connections to old flames, and parent-child love. There were so many ways viewers could relate to what the characters were experiencing. I appreciated that!

I believe most people yearn to be seen and loved for who they are. We long for intimacy—the kind that comes with a special kind of closeness, devotion, and selflessness, whether it involves romance or not.

How does this relate to love and writing, regardless of the genre?

With our computers—or our notepads—we become conduits through which the Holy Spirit can share God’s devotion and faithfulness via our novels, memoirs, children’s books, blog posts, etc. In so many ways, our words are love notes from God written through us. Using our stories, we have opportunities to reveal God’s unconditional love and acceptance—his grace and forgiveness.

Just like self-help books or Bible studies, fiction can teach and impact lives. Story-telling can point to God. Our characters’ experiences can encourage readers to begin a relationship with him—or desire a better one.

How do we accomplish that? We write about the real stuff and meet readers where they are—in the trenches. That requires vulnerability and a willingness to write pieces that include not only love, romance, fulfilled dreams, and other warm fuzzies—but also the tough stuff so many of us experience. Heartbreak. Divorce. Abuse. Broken relationships. Fears. Rejection. Chronic illness. Gossip. Slander. Financial crisis. The list goes on …

Our heavenly Father wrote the best love note ever when he gave us the Bible, and that message couldn’t be more clear.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16

Dear friends, when you feel discouraged about your writing life, don’t give up. You have important work to do! Please … go write those love notes! We have a world starving to read them!

Our words are love notes from God written through us. #SeriouslyWrite #encouragementforwriters

With our computers—or our notepads—we become conduits through which the Holy Spirit can share God’s devotion and faithfulness. #SeriouslyWrite #encouragementforwriters

By All Appearances

By All Appearances

Liana Tate, a special events planner grew up in a high-profile family. No matter what she does, Liana feels she never measures up.

Bryan Langley, a talented musician, was close to signing a recording contract when a barn fire left part of his face severely burned. He survived, but his career did not.

When Liana’s father hires Bryan as a caretaker on the family estate outside of Seattle, Liana’s and Bryan’s lives become entangled. He risks public humiliation for Liana’s success, and she encourages him to use his musical gifts, despite his reluctance. Thrown together, will they achieve their elusive dreams? And will the two find the love and acceptance they yearn for, or will their actions only drive each other away?

Dawn Kinzer

Dawn Kinzer is a freelance editor, and her own work has been published in various devotionals and magazines. She co-hosts and writes for Seriously Write. Sarah’s Smile is the first book in her historical romance series The Daughters of Riverton, Hope’s Design is the second, and Rebecca’s Song completes the trilogy. Her contemporary romance, By All Appearances, is set in the Seattle area where she resides.

A mother and grandmother, Dawn lives with her husband in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Favorite things include dark chocolate, good wine, strong coffee, the mountains, family time, and Masterpiece Theatre.

You can connect and learn more about Dawn and her books by visiting these online sites: Author Website, Faithfully Write Editing, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Amazon Author Page, BookBub, and Goodreads.

The Goldilocks Syndrome By Patti Jo Moore

Once upon a time there was a writer. She loved to write, and happily enjoyed exploring life and new adventures with her fictional characters and settings.

When the writer decided to submit her writing, something happened to her. She was filled with doubts. What had once been an exhilarating (at times) writing experience, now became drudgery. She questioned herself as she finished each scene of a story. Had she included enough action in her stories, or were they dull? Was her story too brief, or could she have added more chapters? Had she put in too much description, often reading like “flowery prose” or did she need more description in her scenes, to make them come alive for readers?

These questions bounced around in the writer’s head, zapping all the previous enjoyment out of her writing experience. She began thinking of the well-loved story about a little girl named Goldilocks, who took a lovely walk one day and ended up in the home of a bear family. If you’re familiar with the story, you know that Goldi tried out the family’s chairs, beds, and even their breakfast they’d left cooling on the table while they enjoyed a walk that morning. Our heroine wasn’t satisfied with the original items she tried in the bears’ home. The chairs were either too big or too little, until she sat in one that was just right. The beds were too hard or too soft, until one was just right. The porridge was either too hot or too cold, until one bowl was just right.

As writers, we can easily slip into the Goldilocks Syndrome, trying and trying to get our stories “just right” but in the process never being satisfied, feeling frustrated, and never releasing them. We’ve all heard the advice that at some point, we must let our stories go. Yes, easier said than done. But we don’t want to reach the point where our writing is a headache-inducing chore and we dread our writing time each day. Sure, it’s hard work. Very hard at times. Yet we can still find joy in our writing, and pray that our writing brings joy into our readers’ lives.

If you’ve ever held onto a story for a long, long time, you may have experienced well-meaning family and friends, their surprised faces not unlike the bear family when they discovered Goldilocks asleep in Mama Bear’s bed. They may say something similar to: “You still haven’t finished that story? When will it be ready?” So after we’ve written and rewritten, polished and made our stories the very best they can be, we do need to release them and move on. There are more adventures just waiting to be written, and many happy hours of writing ahead.

Thank you for bearing with me for this post. 😉 Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have a bowl of porridge—I mean oatmeal—as I happily contemplate ideas for future stories. 😊

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3

Sadie's Dream

In a coastal Georgia town in 1900, a young woman prepares to serve as a missionary in Africa.

After being jilted the previous year, she's certain she's meant to remain single.

When she meets a handsome businessman from Savannah, she begins struggling with doubts.

Over time she learns that the Lord's plans are best, and dreams really can come true.

Patti Jo Moore is a retired kindergarten teacher and lifelong Georgia girl. She loves Jesus, her family, cats, and coffee, and is blessed to be published with Forget-Me-Not Romances. When she’s not spending time with her family (including her sweet grandbaby) or writing her “Sweet, Southern Stories” Patti Jo can be found feeding cats—her own six and local strays.

She loves connecting with readers and other writers, and can be found on Facebook at Author Patti Jo Moore or her personal blog at http://catmomscorner.blogspot.com