Saturday, January 13, 2018

Weekend Edition




   If you are not familiar with our giveaway rules, take a minute to read them here. It keeps us all happy! All winners should send their name, address, and phone number to claim prizes.  Note our new email address and please send your emails to Seekerville2@gmail.com
Monday: Missy Tippens talked about writing as a vocation and decided to give away two five-page critiques! The winners are Terri Weldon and first-time-visitor Tracy!

Wednesday: Ruth Logan Herne chatted about plotting mysteries, turning them inside out and figuring out the "end" first... and then planning the story backwards from there, saving authors a lot of time re-writing lost threads! Winner of her beautiful new Love Inspired novel "Her Secret Daughter" is Linda Sammaritan! 

Friday: Carrie Schmidt shared a very encouraging post assuring everyone Your Story Matters. Becky Smith shared her favorite encouraging Bible verse and will be receiving a cute mug!



Monday: Jan Drexler wants to  get to know you as she takes you along on her journey to publication and we want to welcome Jan in her new position as a full-time Seekerville blogger! Welcome aboard, Jan!


Wednesday: Debby Giusti invited Southern mystery writer and friend of Seekerville, Larissa Reinhart, to guest blog with us. Larissa will talk about "Mysteries and Thrillers: Making It Personal." Stop by to chat with Larissa and leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for an ebook of her newly released Cherry Tucker/Maizie Albright Christmas Mystery novella, A VIEW TO A CHILL.

Friday: Winnie Griggs takes control of the blog on Friday. Join us as we welcome Winnie aboard as a full-time blogger in Seekerville! Happy dancing!



Pam Hillman is still stuck (happily so) in the 18th century, but will be getting whiplash as she time travels back to the 21st century for the ACFW Board meeting in Nashville.

Audra Harders is off to a quaint mountain town for a very long weekend of WRITER'S RETREAT! She's working on a new series and is determined to return with LOTS of words written.

Ruth Logan Herne is trapped in her farmhouse in Western New York as approximately two feet of snow fall around her... perfect for making soup and writing books!

Debby Giusti will be chatting about her Publishers Weekly Bestseller, UNDERCOVER AMISH, on Keeping Up With the Amish FB site, this WED, from 8PM - 9PM. Join the group to join in the fun...with giveaways. 




Melanie Dickerson is happy dancing - and we should be, too!! Check out the CBA Bestseller List December 2017 - #2 Fiction Books - Fantasy/Sci-Fi!!!!!


Click Here





4 Reasons Readers Stopped Caring About Your Story by Janice Hardy at Fiction University.

First Lines by Sophie Masson at Writer Unboxed


The 5 Secrets of Good Storytelling (That Writers Forget All the Time) by K.M. Weiland check it out at Helping Writers Become Authors



74 comments:

  1. Happy weekend! Congratulations to the winners. Ruthy, I am so jealous about the snow. I'm hoping to see some soon.

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    1. It's here!!!! My neighbor was just out on his tractor with the snowblower attachment... at 3:30 AM.... clearing his driveway. He must have somewhere to get to early!!! Snow. Wind. Cold. A perfect Ruthy Hides Upstairs and Writes weekend!!!! I'll send some to you!

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    2. Thank you so much! It must be working. I have a couple of snowflakes!

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    3. Sally, you can have some of mine. FedX or UPS?
      Kathy Bailey

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    4. No snow here, thank you very much. It's cold, though. We're ready for it to warm up. Brrr!

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    5. Kaybee, UPS please! We have a great driver. He'll love delivering it lol.

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  2. I’m so thrilled to have won a critique from Missy! Sally if I get any snow I’m sending it your way. Happy weekend everyone.

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    1. Terri, congratulations!!!!! And I'm expecting to send some snow your way.... Keep the shovel handy!

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    2. Terri, congratulations on the critique!! Thank you for the snow! Keep it up. I have a few snow flurries but I need so much more to make a snowman lol.

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  3. Congratulations to the winners!

    We had about 8 or 9 inches of snow that had been on the grond since Christmas but Thursday warmed up & it ALL melted, then it snowed again yesterday and some more is doe this weekend.

    Wow, it's tough typing with just one finger. I had my first physical therapy session yesterday. Pain level increased but that was expected. I don't have as much pain as I had anticipated.

    Blessings to all of you.
    Cindy W.

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    1. "ground", not "grond". "due" and not "doe"

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    2. I'm so glad the pain isn't horrible... GOOD!!! And thank you for stopping by and typing with ANY FINGER AT ALL!!! So good to see you!

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    3. Cindy, this is pretty good one-finger typing. I understood everything.
      KB

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    4. Cindy, praying you get better soon!

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    5. Prayers for quick healing, Cindy.

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    6. I hope you're feeling better today, Cindy!

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  4. Coffee is here! And hot chocolate (I can't remember the last time I allowed myself to have a hot chocolate. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME????) And tea... and sodas. I may or may not have brought a tray full of Panera's delicious pastries, too!!!

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    1. I'll take some hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows and a shortbread cookie from Panera (except Panera doesn't have shortbread cookies anymore, boo!) I'll also take a little of your snow! We had two ice days here in Missouri this week. Ice has replaced our snow the last two years. No fun! And...I just pre-ordered Her Secret Daughter. I could not resist the story line. Can't wait!

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    2. Ruthy, I drink a cup of hot chocolate every morning as I don't drink coffee.

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    3. I am not a shortbread cookie fan. Nor biscotti. I like cookies with stuff... Does that make me a bad person????

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    4. Oh, Sandy.... Now I'm coming to your house and trading places with you!!!!

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  5. Good morning all you early birds! The coffee is much appreciated Ruthy. Nashville's shut down until we get a day over 32 degrees. We got about 1/10th of an inch of ice, then an inch of snow yesterday. Don't scoff. No one owns a snowblower done here, and the salt trucks might clear the interstates, but forget the side streets. We're hunkered down for the duration. The grocery store shelves were picked clean by Thursday night. And yes, I was one of the herd of shoppers filling my basket.

    Congratulations to all the winners! And be safe out there. Brrrrr.

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    1. Barbara, I'm glad you're safe. We saw a 40-car pileup on the news. Yikes!

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    2. Barbara, stay off the street and cuddle down in a warm, safe home. So sorry for the folks who must endure the weather, whether they want to or not.

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    3. I see this in NC too, and I'm always amazed that about 10 days/year they shut everything down... I mean everything... because of ice or a light snow. It amazes me that businesses can function that way. Not stores, but manufacturers. People can't get to work... schools shut down... no salt... Barb, I don't know if it happens that often in Nashville area, but in upper NC it's pretty common throughout Dec/Jan/Feb...

      Look at Audra being nice...

      Where Yankee Ruthy is like "WHAT??????" :)

      I am not a warm fuzzy person!!!!

      (but then we knew that.... ;)

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    4. Thanks, Jackie! We stayed off the roads all day. So many semi trucks involved in that wreck on I-40 too. Yikes is right!

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    5. As long as we have electricity, we're good, Audra. Thank goodness this wasn't one of our bad ice storms.

      It's true, Ruthy. If there's even a chance of snow, they close all schools in the area the night before. I keep getting a message from Amazon that my order that was scheduled to be delivered yesterday is delayed because of weather. UPS!!! They hope they'll be able to deliver it on Monday. lol

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    6. Stay warm and safe, Barbara! I understand ice! Remember Atlanta's storm a few years back? My grands were stuck at school with icy hills all around them so buses and my daughter couldn't get to them. Plus their dad was stuck in ATL gridlock for 5 hours, trying to get home. He walked the last five miles in the snow and ice!

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  6. Congratulations to all of the winners! No snow here in Charlotte. Yesterday, the temperature was near 70 with heavy rain. For mid January, I'll take it. Ruthy, haven't you heard...hot chocolate is good for you! Stay safe everyone.

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    1. Hot chocolate is good for us? Yay!!!

      Jill, it was muggy and rainy earlier this week, now, it's really cold and foggy. We've all been so sick with allergies... I guess the change of weather.

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    2. Wait... good for us? (Ruthy's ears perk right up)

      Except Ruthy's avoiding the calories so that she can sneak a cookie or two now and again. I had to make trade-offs, Jill!!!!!

      But I did sneak a cup of caramel laced coffee this afternoon, a fun treat since I've switched to diet Mt. Dew for my caffeine.

      That's healthy, right??? ;)

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  7. Congratulations to all of the winners. And Melanie, congratulations.
    I hope you all have a safe and productive weekend!

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  8. Hey, Audra... nice job on the WE! Thank you so much for overseeing it!!!!

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    1. You're too sweet :) But remember, it's a group effort :)

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    2. It is, just like always... but I sure do appreciate your keen eye!

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  9. Congratulations to the winners. In my part of Kentucky we didn't get as much snow as predicted but there were some tricky driving conditions. Cold temps and wind chill will be our biggest issues the next few days.
    Blessings to all!

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    1. I saw some nasty stuff on TV about Kentucky accidents... It's mighty hard to drive in snowstorms when you're used to it. Yikes when you're not!

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  10. Congrats to the winners! Have a wonderful weekend!

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  11. Congratulations to Melanie. When one of us wins, we all win, at least in Christian fiction. A rising tide, etc.
    Somebody must have prayed for me yesterday, or God answered my own prayer, or both. Had a productive morning working on my WIP after weeks of interruptions and despair. Also productive today, posting two reviews on Amazon and about to write a third. One of my goals for 2018 is to better support other writers.
    Have a great rest of the weekend,
    KB

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    1. KB, yay you! I know that feeling of being productive amid interruptions. I'm feeling it with/for you and looking forward to a quieter house when my girls go back to college tomorrow and I can get busy on my WIP again (although I've enjoyed every minute of them being home for winter break!). Write on! :)

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    2. KB, so good to hear it! Inspirational motivation and results are something to sing about!!

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    3. That's so sweet of you, KB! So happy you had a two productive days in a row! Woohoo!

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  12. Melanie Dickerson...a HUGE congratulations on your CBA bestseller! I enjoyed this week at Seekervile, looking forward to next week!

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    1. Echoing Karen's congrats on Melanie's CBA Bestseller!!! Whoot! So proud of you, girl!

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    2. Isn't that wonderful news!!! We held a HAPPY DANCE in Seekerville!!!!!

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  13. Congratulations to all our winners! Prizes are nice, but sharing your writing accomplishments over the week are awesome, too! Congrats to all the words!

    Melanie! You go, girlfriend!!

    I'm currently in Estes Park, Colorado on an amazing writing retreat with my fellow author and friend, Leslie Ann Sartor. 3 days of writing while hubby cares for puppy at home. LOVE IT!!

    Have a great weekend, all!!

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    1. Does Leslie have a relative named Billie Frank Sartor? I knew him years ago. Long shot, I know, but just thought I'd ask.

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    2. Audra, that is wonderful!!! Enjoy your weekend!

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    3. Thanks, Audra! a.k.a. Scarecrow. :-)

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  14. Not much snow here, but it is cold. Strange though--today's high 13--tomorrow 41--Monday 11. Where is this strange warm-up tomorrow coming from? But that's weather in Nebraska for you. I am hoping to get a lot done this weekend at home. Hope everyone in the path of the storms stays safe and warm.

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  15. Looking forward to Wednesday, y'all! I'm usually a "Seekerville Stalker" on my email. Can't wait to chat with all the Seekers!

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  16. Happy weekend, Seekerville!

    Congrats to the winners, and YAY!!! Melanie!!!

    We're having a cold weekend here, and a little bit of snow today and tomorrow, but it sounds like we could be enjoying spring-like temperatures later next week!

    I'm off to the grocery store... :-)

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    1. Thanks, Jan! Everything is frozen here in Alabama. Never got above 24 degrees today!

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  17. Hey all!

    LOVING this new journey.
    Congratulations Seekers.

    God is using y'all mightily. But of course!

    Congrats to the winners too.

    Wishing you warmth and good writing/reading this snowy day. :)

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    1. How's the weather in your area, KC? We're cold in ATL!!! Too cold.

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    2. KC, thank you so much! We are having so much fun... and what a great group of gals to work with... Wishing warmth right back to you!

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  18. I've been glued to my AlphaSmart all day, trying to get words written. Finally took a break to check the WE. The chat info I posted to the WE yesterday didn't go through. Gotta love Blogger! So I just added the information. If you're part of the FB group, Keeping Up With the Amish, I'll be chatting from 8 til 9 on WED. Come say hello, pretty please!

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  19. Congratulations too all the winners! Big congratulations to Melanie! Praying you all stay nice and toasty cuz we are literally chillin in Northern Michigan. I've never lived where the weather hurts your face! Thanks for the wonderful week and weekend edition. Looking forward to next week!

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    1. Kelly, my daughter posted a meme on facebook about living where the air hurts your face... One showed snow... the other showed a monster sized bug... one showed a monster-sized crocodile... and one showed a monster-sized snake crawling up the front door... so that's why she lived where the air hurt her face. It was hysterical!!!

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  20. Hi Everyone, Looks like you are doing great. Miss you all. We have been busy furnishing our house again after living in our RV for seven years. Its been fun, but exhausting. Looking forward to having time to sit down and read. Looks like some great books in the line up. Happy writing.

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    1. Sandra! So good to see you!!! Ah, that's a dream of mine whenever I see Fixer Upper.... furnishing with something that isn't off the side of the road! Enjoy this wonderful segue into new adventures. We have friends who own a lake house in the Finger Lakes... they rent it out for 14 of the 16 nice weather weekends here... and keep two weeks for their family. And that pays their very pricey NY taxes and they get to keep the house. I'm applauding you from way up in the snowy north!!!!

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  21. I BROUGHT FRESH COFFEE, TEA, COOKIES AND PIZZA AND WINGS FOR FOOTBALL WATCHERS... AND LO MEIN FOR WRITERS. BECAUSE I WANT LO MEIN.

    Happy Sunday, all!

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    1. Lo mein sounds wonderful. I'm off to brunch in mountains and then back for more writing. Football? Nah.

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    2. I know... football = writing time!!!

      Except I'm surrounded by 7 cute grandkids. ;)

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  22. I brought cupcakes. Chocolate with buttercream frosting, because sometimes you just need something sweet.

    Congratulations to all of the winners! Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend. We're just cold here in Texas, but no snow or ice...yet. We're keeping an eye on Tuesday, though.

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    1. Tuesday looks rough for a large part of the country. I think we'll get the tail end of something that day.

      Stay warm. Thanks for the cupcakes!

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  23. Mel, I'm excited about your book making THE list! Woot! You are a Super Star, girlfriend! So thrilled for you!

    Hugs!

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