Surviving a Book Launch by Jennifer Slattery

You wrote a book, signed a contract, and now are awaiting its release. If this is your first launch, you’ve likely come close to hyperventilating on more than one occasion. You’ve probably spent numerous nights fretting over way too many what-if scenarios.

Writing in Quarantine Chaos by Abigail Wilson

Covid 19 and the resulting quarantine has swept across the world, altering not only how we interact with one another but how we work. Writing has always been a solitary profession for me, kids at school, husband at work, as I bask in the quiet shelter of an empty house. Early on I realized productive writing involved silence, and I treasured it. So what do writers like me do when we’re suddenly isolated with our whole families?

Rethink everything.

At first I thought I could write while my children worked on their own online school assignments. At least it would be quiet, right? Turns out, online school requires constant parent participation, which for me only led to increasing levels of stress and frustration.

If this sounds familiar, take a deep breath. Sometimes God encourages us to take a pause and slow down. Writing during the Coronavirus quarantine will never look like it did before. Not only are we dealing with changes to our schedule, but the fear, loneliness, and grief hiding in the harsh unknowns of this threat certainly play a factor in our creativity. Allow yourself a moment’s break.

Then, when you’re ready, consider these ideas to manage your writing life:

1. Limit the distractions you can control. Turn off the alerts—email, phone calls, social media

2. Write at different times of the day, see what works best. Maybe you saved family time for the weekends. Well, now that’s the only time your spouse might be able to distract the kids. Take advantage if possible. What about writing at night or getting up early in the morning? Do whatever works for you and your family’s new schedule.

3. Think outside the box. What about writing in your car, either in the driveway or at a park? Don’t laugh. I do it three times a week, and it has been incredibly helpful. The porch is also a good option.

4. Write the scene you’re thinking about. If you’re an author like me, you write in a linear fashion, but I find now that writing whatever feels right for the time I have can be a bit easier during distractions.

5. Read. It’s research, right? And it gets the mind working. If you just can’t focus on anything new, pull out an old favorite. You might be surprised how easily you get lost in that beloved, familiar world.

6. Pray—“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

In the end, whether five or five hundred words on the page is the new normal, give yourself some slack, and remember to keep your focus on what truly matters—God.

...whether five or five hundred words on the page is the new normal, give yourself some slack... via @acwilsonbooks #SeriouslyWrite

~~~~~~

Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A Registered Nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the National Parks, attending her daughter’s diving meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five contest and in 2016, ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey releases May 26, 2020.

Quotes and Stuff by LoRee Peery

So many superb writers appear on Seriously Write that at some point, any “tips” I might be prone to share have surely appeared here already. A major phrase that sticks in my mind is “you know you’re a writer if you can’t not write.”

Over the years, since joining RWA, taking classes, and attending conferences and retreats, I filled countless notebooks with writing articles and how-tos that I’ve recently purged, though I prefer reading on paper over screen. I thought I’d share some of the quotes I ran across.

• “Start writing, no matter what. The water doesn’t flow until the faucet is turned on.” ~ Louis L’Amour

• “No writing is a waste of time. With every sentence you write, you have learned something.” ~ Brenda Ueland

• “Writing is conversation from God through you to your readers.” ~ Oscar H. Greene

• “A writer is only accountable to God.” ~ Ernest Hemingway

• “If you’re a writer and you don’t show up for work, you miss the poem.” ~ Ted Kooser

• “The necessity to write springs from some conflict that cannot be resolved.” ~ Edna O’Brien

• “I write when the fear of not writing overcomes my fear of writing.” ~ Unknown

• “I will write every day because I love to, not because I have to.” ~ Unknown

• “You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” ~ Unknown

• “There is no perfect time to write. There's only NOW!” ~ Unknown

• “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” ~ Albert Einstein

• “You have to protect your writing time. You have to protect it to the death.” ~ William Goldman

• “Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” ~ Anton Chekhov

• “A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” ~ Thomas Mann

• “Age is a good thing. Life experience will only make your writing better.” ~ C.J. Carmichael

• “I dwell in possibility.” ~ Emily Dickinson

• “When asked, ‘How do you write?’ I invariably answer, ‘one word at a time.’” ~ Stephen King

• “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” ~ Agatha Christie

• “Never, EVER give up. Not ever. Not EVER. Ever EVER!” ~ Mary Janice Davidson

• “You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” ~ Jack London

• “There is no such thing as wasted writing.” ~ Monica Wood, The Pocket Muse

I’ll add one of my pet peeves. I clench my teeth each time I read that a character is nauseous. “A person is nauseated, due to a nauseous feeling, caused by nausea.” ~ LoRee Peery

And in closing, I cling to this. “If God calls, He equips.” ~ Unknown

Also in closing, keep your appointment with keyboard and screen. Social media can wait until the day’s new words are down.

If you have a quote or phrase that’s never left you, I’d like to hear it.

Do you have a favorite writing quote? Let's hear it! via @LoreePeery #SeriouslyWrite

~~~~~~

Nebraska country girl LoRee Peery writes fiction that hopefully appeals to adult readers who enjoy stories written from a Christian perspective, focusing on the romance. These include novels and novellas for women and men in the Contemporary, Romance, Historical, Time Travel, and Mystery/Suspense categories. She writes of redeeming grace with a sense of place. Her Frivolities Series and the book based on her father’s unsolved homicide, Touches of Time, are available on Amazon. She is who she is by the grace of God: Christian, country girl, wife, mother, grandmother and great-, sister, friend, and author. Connect with LoRee through these links:

www.loreepeery.com

https://twitter.com/LoreePeery

https://www.facebook.com/LoReePeery

Find her publications at Pelican http://tinyurl.com/kwz9enk

And Amazon https://www.amazon.com/LoRee-Peery/e/B004UAGL2W/ref

Talia Ashby is a perfectionistic data analyst who, on occasion, sees her “fat” self when she looks in the mirror. As a svelte former obese girl, she reunites with her secret teen crush, now a pastor in the church she attends.

Cooper Valiant is dazzled upon meeting a high school friend he doesn’t immediately recognize due to her drastic weight loss. Since his sister had an eating disorder, he’d often felt empathy toward Talia as classmates teased and bullied her. In his pastorate position, he asks her to help girls in the youth group come to grips with body-image.

While working with the girls, Talia's recollections of youthful hurts stir up past insecurities. She must reassess her spiritual journey, and what bothers her in the present.

Added to the mix are her reawakened emotions toward the man who once came to her rescue. Will their joint journey include a personal relationship?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086J2QDQF?ref

IN A WORLD OF WHAT IFS? By Sharee Stover

A favorite book plotting tool I use is the “What If?” game. I ask myself the question throughout the course of a story’s development. Of course, in the beginning when I’m researching, I ask “what if?” in a general sense, for instance when I’m pondering a possible plot.

When I’m in a scene and want to up the ante, I ask, “What if?”

And when I’m doing edits I ask, “What if?”

Amazon Buy Link

The whole point of asking, “what if?” is to make our characters’ lives a little more miserable. I know that sounds incredibly cruel but, the bigger their challenges, the bigger their victories. Or failures. It’s okay to have both.

The risks and adventures in their journey give our characters life. The way they handle situations brings out their inner fears, beauty, and values.

And in the end, our characters grow and mature. At least we hope so, because an unchanged character is boring.

I can’t help but wonder if God allows the “what if?” periods of our lives for similar reasons. When we have life all figured out, we’re busy being busy. In those times when I feel most in control, I’m checking off things in my dayplanner, scheduling appointments, meetings, and events. I’m crossing off items on my To Do list and feeling like I have got this thing handled. And it’s those moments where I fall into the false sense of security that I’m in control of my life.

But throw in a “what if?”, mix it up, take away my planner, add in a pandemic … and “what if?” becomes an in-my-face reality.

In those uncertain times, the “what ifs” free us to ask questions, explore new ideas, and admit we don’t have a clue how to handle a situation. It’s where we throw up our hands in full surrender and admit we aren’t in control.

Like that’s news to God.

But friend, sometimes, it’s news to us because those “what if?” moments ground us in reality, setting us back where we should be. On our knees admitting to God that we are not in control and honestly, it’s all a little unnerving.

And it’s there in the quiet, in the place where I’ve cast my care that I find He is fully in control.

What if God loves me enough to take care of today?

What if God loves me enough to take care of tomorrow?

Does that mean I’ll live sheltered in a bubble fully protected from every bad thing? Of course not. In fact, this year has been one of the toughest I’ve faced and it’s not even summertime.

But it does mean I am not alone. And neither are you. No matter what is on the other side of “what if?”, God’s in control. And because I belong to Him, because you belong to Him, He’s got us. And if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).

Someone’s after a deadly weapon…

and only she can stop them.

It’s undercover ATF agent Randee Jareau’s job to make sure the government’s 3-D printed “ghost gun” doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. So when someone goes after scientist Ace Steele, she must protect him…before she loses the undetectable weapon and its creator. But with a mole inside Ace’s company and everyone a suspect, this assignment could become Randee’s last.

Colorado native Sharee Stover lives in Nebraska with her real-life-hero husband, three too-good-to-be-true children, and a ridiculously spoiled dog. A self-proclaimed word nerd, she loves the power of the written word to ignite, transform, and restore. She writes Christian romantic suspense combining heart-racing, nail-biting suspense and the delight of falling in love all in one. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime, and Nebraska Writer’s Guild. Sharee is a triple Daphne du Maurier finalist, winner of the 2017 Wisconsin Fabulous Five Silver Quill Award, and her debut, Secret Past, won Best First Book in the 2019 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. When she isn’t writing, Sharee enjoys reading, crocheting and long walks with her obnoxiously lovable German Shepherd. Visit her at www.shareestover.com.

Social media and buy links:

Website: https://shareestover.com/

Email: authorshareestover@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shareestover

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/c99ej9

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorshareestover/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shareestover/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sharee-stover

Buy link for Untraceable Evidence: https://amzn.to/2SrYfhn

Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/shareestover

What We Do by Gail Pallotta

Writing is hard work, a challenge. Getting from one end of a book to the other sometimes seems like walking through a maze, especially when one is a pantzer at heart. However, even pantzers need a skeleton outline to follow. Once at a conference I heard James Scott Bell sum up his workshop on plotting by saying something along the lines of the following. I can’t recall his exact words, but the gist of it was: Remember, just when you work things out, here comes trouble. Work that out, and here comes more trouble.

And layer. A good book needs more than one problem going on at a time. Say the book’s a romantic mystery. Perhaps someone finds a dead body, so there’s a murder to solve, but that isn’t enough. If the two people trying to crack the case are attracted to each other, they can have a falling out and need to work through their ups and downs to find happiness in the end. If one of them deals with a personal problem, such as a fear of commitment or an abusive past, finding an answer adds to the plot. If we want to raise the stakes, we could give one of them a stalker, and let that person fear for his or her life. Also, let it be unclear if the stalker has anything to do with the murder. Throw in one of them facing a job loss, and we’ve probably gotten the reader’s attention. Then we only need to tie up the loose ends in an interesting way that satisfies the reader. Maybe I exaggerated, but that’s the idea.

Sometimes when I’m having trouble getting a plot as it should be and making my characters act in fascinating ways, I complain to my husband about how much I regret I have no talent for bookkeeping or another profession that’s exact. He always says, “But that’s what you do.” Those of us who fall into that category must keep writing, learning and adapting to the trends because that’s what we do. 

 

Getting from one end of a book to the other sometimes seems like walking through a maze, especially when one is a pantzer at heart. via @Hopefulwords #SeriouslyWrite

~~~~~~

Award-winning author Gail Pallotta’s a wife, mom, swimmer and bargain shopper who loves God, beach sunsets and getting together with friends and family. A former Grace Awards Finalist and a Reader’s Favorite 2017 Book Award winner, she’s published six books, poems, short stories and two-hundred articles. Some of her articles appear in anthologies while two are in museums. She loves to connect with readers.

Connections:

Amazon page - https://www.amazon.com/Gail-Pallotta/e/B00IN9A640

Website - https://www.gailpallotta.com

Blog - https://gailpallotta.blogspot.com

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorsandMore

twitter - https://twitter.com/Hopefulwords (Gail Pallotta @Hopefulwords)

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-pallotta-b368b220/

Writing the Right Age by Kathleen Vincenz

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

When I was a young mother of sons, I read everything about childhood development; I subscribed to Parents magazine; I talked to other moms. I knew when to expect the first tooth, the first smile, the first word. I tracked it in a notebook. I could spy a child in the neighborhood and know if the child was 15-months old or 2 years. Later I could tell a sixth grader from a seventh grader, a freshman from a senior.

Now all that knowledge is as faded as the notebook in which I wrote it down. How do I get it back so I can write that children’s book I dreamed of writing since I read my oldest his first picture book? What‘s a twelve-year old today? A sixteen-year old? What’s a writer to do?

· Watch current children’s television

Disney and other content providers have many good series about tweens and teenagers. In particular, the Disney+ series Diary of a Future American President compares the interests of twelve-year old Elena, the protagonist, with those of her fifteen-year old brother, Bobby. The show focuses on Elena’s awkwardness and lack of sophistication. She cares about getting along and being with her family, while Bobby starts to venture out and look for advice from others. A warning though. Later episodes in explore sexuality that you may not want to watch with younger children.

· Read a classic children’s book

A classic children’s book provides a protagonist who is true to the core of childhood. Think of a series that follows the protagonist as she grows like Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery or the Betsy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. Because no movies, video games, or technology distract them, the children are shown at their purist.

Many of the older classics also demonstrate the socioeconomic impact on childhood development, such as Judy’s Journey by Lois Lenski. It tells the tale of Judy, the oldest daughter of a migrant worker, who at 10-years old feeds, babysits, and nurses her family but is still interested in a pretty dress made from a flour sack.

· Study childhood development
There’s nothing wrong with studying childhood development like the young mother I once was did. You can read a blog, borrow a science book from the library, or find a back issue of Parents magazine.

· Observe children

If you don’t have grandchildren or children of your own, sit yourself beside a family in church, at the park, or at the pool. Listen to their language, their perspectives. How they interact. What they discuss. New gems to be stored in a notebook. It’s not snooping—it’s observation!

· Take a magical journey

Now get physical. Stoop down on all fours. Now kneel. How is it different? Crouch and see what it’s like to open the refrigerator. Sit on the floor and watch the sun creep across and touch your toes. See the world from a child’s perspective.

I hope these tips help you write a children’s book for the ages. 

Tips for making your child protagonist age-appropriate via @kathyvincenz #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

Kathleen Vincenz is the author of Over the Falls in a Suitcase and God's Sparrows. She is also the author of many articles and short stories and the founder of Squirrels at the Door Publishing.

She writes a blog about all things vintage, as well as a children’s newsletter, with a bit of science, history, and reading and a lot of fun with Larry the Squirrel, the mascot. Find them at kathyvincenz.com. 

Covers design and drawing by Danny Vincenz

Ministering to Our Readers by Patty Smith Hall

In the month since my last blog post, our world has drastically changed. Social distancing and self-isolation have become the catchphrases of the new decade, and toilet paper is a hot commodity. Stay-in-place orders confine us to our homes, leaving people stir-crazy and ready for human contact.

It’s also served as a huge confirmation for me. One of the things I’ve been praying about as I begin this indie journey was how I could love on my readers. It’s hard sometimes to connect with people we don’t know, especially when the only way we’re familiar with them is with our books. But how do we make it more personal? How do they know that they’re truly on our hearts whenever we started a new book?

Over the last few months, I’ve been looking at ways to love on my readers. Some would call it a marketing strategy and I would agree to a point, but it’s also a faith-building process too. If we’re called to love our neighbors as ourselves, shouldn’t we love our readers the same way?

It’s a scary prospect, loving someone who doesn’t know you, and I’ll be honest, I balked at the idea at first. But God worked on me, and as I heard from my readers, the need to serve them in some small way swelled up inside me.

So, what does it look like to minister to our readers between books?

First and foremost, this is where your newsletter comes into play. I’ll be the first one to tell you that I’m not a big fan of newsletters, mainly because most writers don’t come across well in them. It’s like they’re writing to someone they don’t know, and it shows. Two that do a good job at them are Rachel Hauck and Susan May Warren. Both have a way of making you feel as though they’re sitting right across the table, and I know both of these ladies well enough to say their newsletters are a reflection of who they are.

The last few weeks, I’ve been sending out newsletters once a week. People are craving relationships right now, and I wanted to reach out to them to let them know that I care. In the first one, I asked them how I could pray for them. I’ve sent them devotionals, short stories and given them one of my novellas. A small number have unsubscribed, but most have stuck with me, some have even responded with encouraging messages. I’ve discovered who my dedicated readers are as well as a new beta reader. It’s come to a point where I don’t know who’s getting more from it, them or me.

Another idea that a friend of mine gave me was having a Facebook Live prayer meeting with the folks on my newsletter list. I love the idea and it may end up with me having a ‘webinar-type’ prayer time, but I’m looking into this as well as taking prayer requests from my readers.

These are just a few ways I’m ‘loving on’ my readers right now but I’d love to hear yours. What are you doing to minister to your readers?

One of the things I’ve been praying about as I begin this indie journey was how I could love on my readers. via @pattywrites #SeriouslyWrite

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Hearts in Flight

Serving her country as one of the Women's Army Special Pilots is Maggie Daniels's dearest wish. But there are obstacles to overcome above and beyond the enemies in the Pacific, including her overprotective family, skeptical fellow pilots—and handsome, distant squadron leader Wesley Hicks. Whatever it takes, Maggie will prove herself to Wesley, until she succeeds in winning his admiration…and love.

Wesley can see that Maggie's a first-class pilot. She's also too fearless by half. The war has cost Wesley so much already. Can he let go of his guilt for a chance at happiness—and can he learn to trust in God…and Maggie…enough to believe in love for a lifetime?

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. 

Season for Pruning by Darlene L. Turner

Spring is here and with it comes the clean-up of debris left from the winter months. The snow hides everything and we must remove the dead vines and leaves in order for growth to happen in a new season. This reminds me of the pruning every writer does in their journey. What can we learn?

Writer community is precious – We need each other to support, encourage, be accountable to, critique, and also to rejoice with. We all know much of a writer’s life is spent in solitude. Just knowing we have a community to reach out to brings comfort. Let’s keep in contact with our friends.

God’s timing is always best – As I pull out the dead vines, I think ahead of when I can plant. Is it time? Or could there still be frost? If I plant too early, I may lose everything. It’s the same with our writing. If we try to go ahead of God and don’t seek Him, we fall flat on our faces. His timing is perfect.

Yes, even in our publication journey. We may want that contract right away, but perhaps we

aren’t quite ready, or we just haven’t found the perfect fit. We can’t rush the process or God’s timing. He’s pruning us to be the best writer we can be.

The BIG picture – I love to think of the beautiful flowers that will pop up and the yummy veggies we will enjoy as I plant every seed. There’s always a reason why our writing journeys emerge the way they do. There could be something better in store for us along the way that we can’t see. God knows the big picture and surrendering to Him is the only answer.

You can find new life hidden amongst the dead – When I weed through the dead leaves and vines, I see new growth. There is life in the writer’s pruning season. We may think it’s all negative when we go through rejections, but we learn and grow from each one. New growth is important in the writer’s world, but we must stop and allow God to show it to us. When we do, we’ll be blessed.

Just like I look forward to the colorful summer blooms, I can’t wait to see what He has ahead for me in my writing journey.

I want to sprout tall for Him!

How about you? Is God taking you through a pruning season? Share your story.

This reminds me of the pruning every writer does in their journey. What can we learn? via @darlenelturner #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

Border Breach

When drugs are smuggled across the border it’s their duty to stop the culprits…at any cost.
Forming a joint task force, Canada border officer Kaylin Poirier and police constable Hudson Steeves have one objective: take down a drug-smuggling ring trying to sell a new lethal product. But when the smugglers come after Kaylin and Hudson, this mission becomes more than just a job. Can they live long enough to solve the case?


Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders. Darlene’s debut, Border Breach, launches April, 2020 from Love Inspired Suspense.

Darlene’s social media:

Facebook: https://bit.ly/2Woy8dK
Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Qso27O 

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/2UhbelT
BookBub: https://bit.ly/2QrdkhP
Pinterest: https://bit.ly/2x2Batz
Instagram: darlenel.turner

Are You Stuck on One Book? by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Last year at my local writer’s group meeting, a friend and fellow member was upset. We’ll call her Jane. She’d signed with an agent, then been dropped. Her book had been rejected several times and she wasn’t sure what to do next.

Over several years, I’d traveled to a national conference and roomed with her, as well as attended several writer’s meetings and retreats with her. During the entire time I’ve known her, Jane has tried to get this one book published. So as she poured out her heart and frustration at the meeting, advice bubbled up in me.

I’ve known several Janes. Tirelessly and doggedly peddling that one book that nobody wants right now. I was Jane. I pitched one book for four years. Even though at the time, I’d completed five, I was stuck on the one because it was the book of my heart.

Finally, I met Mary Connealy at ACFW. Once she got published, she had books coming out faster than I could keep up with. She said she kept writing books and pitching different ones because with each book, you learn and improve. By the time Mary got a contract, she had dozens of books ready to go. I wrote another, then another. And another.

Back to the meeting. I took Jane’s hand and gently suggested she write another book. I told her about Mary, about the book I’d set aside, and about learning and improving with each book you write. I shared that it’s hard to let the book of your heart go so you can move on. But I assured Jane that she didn’t have to give up on it. Just write more while waiting for a home for that first book.

I cried. Jane cried. A few months later, she did the devotion at our meeting about being a willing vessel for God. She gave us each a small lump of play doh and told us to make a vessel. Then she told us how sometimes you feel like you’re doing really well being a vessel, moldable and pliable to God’s will when someone, like Shannon, comes along and crushes your dreams. She brought her fist down smashing her play doh vase and looked at me.

“I’ve been waiting to do that for months.” Jane started laughing. I did too, relieved that she wasn’t really mad at me. Then she went on to share that sometimes when you think your dreams have been crushed, that’s when you find new purpose. She thanked me for my advice and shared that she’d started a new book and was loving it. And loving writing again.

Recently, a new opportunity opened up for the book of my heart. Once the book I’m currently contracted for is finished, I plan to revise that old book since I’ve learned much since then and see if it can find a home. If it does, I’ll be ecstatic. If it doesn’t, I’ll write another book. And another. And another. . .

I pitched one book for four years...because it was the book of my heart. via @stvauthor #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy
romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does.
She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.

Connect with her: Shannon’s Website, Shannon’s Blog, Shannon’s Facebook, Shannon’s Goodreads, Shannon’s Pinterest, Shannon’s Twitter, and  Shannon’s Amazon Author Page. Sign up for her Newsletter to get a free e-book and behind the scenes info: Shannon's Newsletter

This cowboy has one more chance to make it right…

He already lost her once…

Now he’s fighting for her—and their daughter.

When Rance Shepherd takes a job stocking cattle for a local rodeo, he’s shocked that his new client is his ex-sweetheart, Larae Collins. Now he’s determined to prove to the single mother that he isn’t the restless cowboy she remembers. But when he discovers her little girl is his, they both must forgive past mistakes for a second shot at a future together.

Get your copy:

Hill Country Redemption - Amazon

Hill Country Redemption - BarnesandNoble

(Available at Walmart from mid-March until mid-June)

Blog Tour for Hill Country Redemption

Giveaway Details: Ten copies of Hill Country Redemption will be split among commentors on Shannon’s blog tour. Winner’s will be revealed on Shannon’s Blog on April 13th. 

Feb 23rd – Reading Is My Superpower Blog: https://readingismysuperpower.org/2020/02/23/love-stories-giveaway-hill-country-redemption/

March 1st - Becky Van Vleet’s Blog: http://www.beckyvanvleet.com/home-decor-with-nostalgia/

March 17th – Shannon’s Blog: https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

March 20th - https://shannontaylorvannatter.com/inkslinger-blog/

April 7th – Jennifer Hereen’s Blog: http://jenniferheeren.com/blog/

April 6th – June Foster’s Blog: https://junefoster.com/?page_id=855

April 2nd – Joy Avery Melville’s Blog: https://www.journeystojoy.net/

April 7th – Catherine Castle’s Blog: https://catherinecastle1.wordpress.com/blog/

April 9th - Laurie Wood’s Blog: https://www.lauriewoodauthor.com/author-my-blog

Saying Goodbye by Patty Smith Hall

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.   Ecclesiastes 3:1

February was a month of bittersweet endings and new beginnings for me. For one thing, I finished my last contracted novella. It was probably the hardest story I’ve ever written, one because I didn’t want to write it. I’m excited to start my journey into indie publishing, and just wanted to ‘get on with it.’ So writing this novella was not at the top of my to-do list.

But write it, I did. Once I dug into Patrick and Grace’s story, I didn’t want to let it go. Their story could have easily turned into a full-length novel, and as usual, I got a bit frustrated I was limited to a novella. But it might just be one of the best ones I’ve ever wrote.

Once the manuscript was sent, I was a mixed bag of emotions. I’ve been blessed to have been traditionally published these last ten years. For a girl who wondered if she’d EVER get the call, I’ve loved every single second of it. It’s a dream fulfilled by God who had bigger plans for me than I’d had for myself. And going indie doesn’t mean I won’t turn to traditional publishing again. It just means that my focus will be on my indie projects.

Once I mourned a bit, the excitement of going indie caught up with me and I have work to do.

Now for what I learned last month.

In February, I found the Self-Publishing Show podcast, and as I was going through past shows, I came across one regarding rapid release that piqued my interest. If you don’t know what a rapid release is, let me explain. Rapid release is when you write three or four books, then releases one each month for four months. During that time, you write the next book in the series, and the next. The quick release of those first four books builds excitement for your next book and dovetails into backlist sells.

Because I’m not the quickest writer, I wondered how I could use this to my advantage. I have two books written and in edits, and the cover for one of them. I also got the rights back on the WWII series I wrote for Love Inspired Historical and arranged for new covers.

While I won’t have a new book out until July, here’s how I’m using the rapid release system.

• April 1—Release of Hearts in Flight (WWII series, Book 1)
• May 1—Release of Hearts in Hiding (WWII series, Book 2)
• June 1—Release of Hearts Rekindled (WWII series, Book 3)
• July 1—Release of Gold Dust Bride (Rushed to the Altar series, Book 1)
• October –Release of Rushed to the Altar series, Book 2
• November—Release of WWII Box set with bonus Christmas Novella
• Early 2021—Release of The Baby Barter (WWII series, Book 4)

My hope is this will build my reader base and give me enough time to finish the third book in the Rushed to the Altar series as well as the first two books of a contemporary series (one written and needs editing.) I’ll be running Amazon as well as Facebook ads, and offering all the books on Audible.

A busy month ahead. But I want to give you a little preview of the cover of my new Rushed to the Altar series coming out in July.

Once I mourned a bit, the excitement of going indie caught up with me via @pattywrites #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

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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.

A Tale of Two Beginnings by Amanda Cabot

When I first started writing, I was told that writers had three pages to hook a reader. Now, with attention spans shortening and patience dwindling, readers make their decisions more quickly. That’s why it’s not simply important, it’s essential that your first page be so compelling that a reader simply cannot stop.

There are three classic techniques for beginning a story. Dialogue spoken either to or by the protagonist, is a proven way to intrigue a reader, since it provides immediate immersion in the protagonist’s point of view. So too is a single sentence that establishes a situation. That’s why I began my current release by saying, “Someone was watching.” If I’ve done my job properly, my readers want to know who was watching and why.

The third classic is the one I’ve seen misused most often, which is why I want to discuss it in more detail. Perhaps it’s because we’re used to watching movies with their “establishing shots” as the beginning that many of us begin our books with a description. We want readers to know where the scene takes place, what the weather is like, what the overall mood is. That’s why we write openings like:

The rain was coming down in torrents, seemingly endless sheets of water. The streets had turned to muddy paths, and the spring thaws had left potholes which rapidly filled with water. The birds had not returned, nor had the flowers begun to appear. It was early spring, the ugliest time of the year in Clark’s Ford.

What’s wrong with that? As a reader, I have no reason to care about the weather in Alaska. When I pick up a novel, I want to read about characters. More than that, I want to see the world through their eyes. I want to care about them, and pure description does nothing to make me care.

Now, let’s take a look at a different version of that paragraph.

Not even the rain could dampen her spirits. It had been coming down in torrents ever since she arrived, seemingly endless sheets of water that quickly soaked through her cloak and left her feet squishing inside her boots. The birds had not returned, nor had the flowers begun to appear. It was early spring, the ugliest time of the year in Clark’s Ford, and Greta Gunderson was enjoying every moment.

Notice how the first sentence establishes the situation, tells you a bit about the heroine, and makes you wonder why she doesn’t mind the rain. Instead of simply describing the rain, the second sentence now shows you how those torrents affect the heroine. I left the third sentence alone, but the addition of a phrase to the final sentence once again puts us firmly in the heroine’s point of view.

Which version would make you want to continue reading this story?

"...it’s essential that your first page be so compelling that a reader simply cannot stop." via @AmandaJoyCabot #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

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A young woman with a tragic past has arrived in town . . . and trouble is following close behind

Ten years after her parents were killed, Evelyn Radcliffe is once more homeless. The orphanage that was her refuge and later her workplace has burned to the ground, and only she and a young orphan girl have escaped. Convinced this must be related to her parents’ murders, Evelyn flees with the girl to Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country and finds shelter in the home of Wyatt Clark, a talented horse rancher whose plans don’t include a family of his own.

At first, Evelyn is a distraction. But when it becomes clear that trouble has followed her to Mesquite Springs, she becomes a full-blown disruption. Can Wyatt keep her safe from the man who wants her dead? And will his own plans become collateral damage?

Suspenseful and sweetly romantic, Out of the Embers is the first in a new series that invites you to the Texas Hill Country in the 1850s, when the West was wild, the men were noble, and the women were strong.

Bio

Amanda Cabot’s dream of selling a book before her thirtieth birthday came true, and she’s now the author of more than thirty-five novels as well as eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a medium-sized city. Her inspirational romances have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists, have garnered a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and have been nominated for the ACFW Carol, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers Best awards. A popular workshop presenter, Amanda takes pleasure in helping other writers achieve their dreams of publication.

Social Media Links

www.amandacabot.com

https://www.facebook.com/amanda.j.cabot

https://twitter.com/AmandaJoyCabot/

http://amandajoycabot.blogspot.com/

Buying Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Christian Book Distributors

8 Tips to Help Balance Mothering and Writing by Denise Weimer

Are you one of those people who needs uninterrupted quiet to put words on a page? *Hand waving.* I confess. I am.

During my “stay home mom” days when my daughters toddled from one creative mess to another, writing time proved discouragingly elusive. Although the girls are now high school and college age, I still write and edit from home—from my kitchen island, of all places—and to my surprise, young adult schedules can be just as interruptive as toddler schedules. And I still struggle to find blocks of time when they’re gone and my husband is working. Honestly, it’s as though my house has a revolving door. But … I now serve as a managing editor and have been blessed to see more than a dozen titles traditionally published.

So how do young moms make progress along that rocky road to publication? I found a few particular tips helpful back in the day.

1. Be willing to take a hiatus. This is probably not the first tip you want to hear. My drive to write was so intense when I was in my twenties that God literally had to take it away for a season. And I had to surrender to that season. Listen carefully. Is He knocking on your heart?

2. Nap time. After the hiatus, a novella took shape as my two-year-old snoozed. I started with a small, manageable project set locally for ease of research and promotion … but Redeeming Grace became the stepping stone for my next series.

3. Mother’s Morning Out. Many churches or organizations will offer you an escape. Other moms may use it for shopping or socializing. You may need solitary confinement.

4. Relatives or a babysitter. Don’t let the misperception that your writing is not “real work” stop you from asking for a day a week to concentrate. It will only become “real work” if you give yourself permission to have a “real job” and the confidence that God gave you a talent worth using.

5. Join a writers’ group and/or attend a writers’ conference. A great way to educate yourself and stay connected with like-minded individuals while your work is in progress.

6. Task prioritizing. The most excellent advice I ever read as a young mom/writer was to save housework and chores for times the kids are around, and write when they aren’t. Use the everyday tasks for chatting and teaching, but give yourself the gift of writing while they’re in school or elsewhere.

7. Foster appreciation for your work. Let your kids into your work world by reading age-appropriate snippets of your writing to them, giving talks at their schools, and having elementary school-age and older children accompany you to book signings. Kids can be great helpers handing out business cards and bookmarks! What an icebreaker.

8. Let the law of demand guide your schedule. Put writing and book events secondary to family events. As long as you’re usually “just mom” to your kids, they’ll appreciate the days you need to morph into “mom the writer.”

What guidelines do you find helpful in balancing mothering and writing? 

Tips to help young moms "progress along that rocky road to publication". via @denise_weimer #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance and romantic suspense set in her home state of Georgia. She’s authored over ten published novels—including her March releases, Spring Splash (https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Splash-Denise-Weimer-ebook/dp/B0845LXMHP/) and Traces (https://www.amazon.com/Traces-Denise-Weimer-ebook/dp/B0845SJZCQ/)—and a number of novellas. As a managing editor for the historical imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, she also helps others reach their publishing dreams. 

Connect with Denise here:
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BookBub

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

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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