Speedbo is coming and we hope you're ready.
Let's get this party started. March 1st, 2012.
What else? We've got a new short read up.
This time we're featuring a short essay by Janet Dean.
What else? We've got a new short read up.
This time we're featuring a short essay by Janet Dean.
We Have Winners
As always, contact Seekerville through our new web email if you are a winner and if needed, provide your snail mail address. Please note our giveaway rules here. All prizes are mailed within 6-8 weeks of winner announcements. But if we missed something, just let us know!
Monday we welcomed author Robin Caroll, who shared
tips on prepping for a writing marathon. Winner of Injustice for All, print or ebook, winner's choice is Dianna Shuford.
Friday we were thrilled to have two-time Christy Award winner, Moody Publishers author Cathy Gohlke with us. Cathy share "The Road Less Traveled to Publication." Winner of her new book, Promise Me This, is Melissa Tagg.
Seekerville welcomes special guest, New York Times bestselling author Beverly Lewis Tuesday, and shared her post "Rejection--Who Needs It?" Winner of Beverly's most recent release from Bethany House Publishers, The Mercy, Book #3 in The Rose Trilogy is Emily (from Oklahoma)
Wednesday Love Inspired author Glynna Kaye kicked off our special March event with "On Your Mark, Get Set...for Seekerville Speedbo!" Winner of her March release, High Country Hearts, (the fourth story set in the mountain country of Canyon Springs, Arizona) is Kirsten Arnold.
Thomas Nelson author Cara Lynn James was your hostess today with Getting Ready for Speedbo. Winner of Novelist's Boot Camp: 101 Ways to Take Your Book from Boring to Bestseller by Todd A. Stone is Helen "Coffee Pot is On" Gray.
Next Week In Seekerville
Monday: We all need to eat. But what about when you're trying to squeeze in every moment for writing? Join Love Inspired author Missy Tippens as she shares tips for preparing for our March Speedbo! Drop by for help with your shopping list and plan-ahead meals. Also, bring us your ideas! We'll be accepting recipe submissions for our Speedbo Recipe Roundup that'll be featured on our Seekerville website (submission guidelines will be posted on Monday). Don't miss it!
Tuesday: Today Avalon author Sandra Leesmith will talk to us about getting a "Jumpstart on Creative Mode" for Speedbo. She will be giving away a Seeker book to one luck commenter and to another commenter a pound of Godiva chocolate raspberry coffee. Two winners!
Wednesday: Are we all ready for Speedbo? Love Inspired author Audra Harders is with us today to talk prepping for the big event. Take it from a long time BIAM and NANOWRIMO writer: clearing your mind of as much as possible is always a good thing. And don't miss the giveaway!
Thursday: Seeker Tina Radcliffe ushers in the Seekerville Speedbo. Today is the day that we begin the official sign up and present our special incentives too!!
Friday: New York Times Bestselling author, Erica Vetsch is our guest today as she Get's That Internal Editor Off Your Shoulder. Stop by for the fun and a giveaway!
Saturday: This month only we're hijacking Saturday for the March Contest Update. The prize vault is open!
Saturday: This month only we're hijacking Saturday for the March Contest Update. The prize vault is open!
February 21 - March 3, 2012 Blogaversary Celebration with author giveaways all week long from February 21-25!!! Read an excerpt from A Love Surrendered and win your choice of any of Julie's other books INCLUDING A Love Surrendered on Julie's special guest day of Saturday, February 25th. Check it out here at Hardcover Feedback blog. NOTE: Julie's giveaway is scheduled for February 25-March 2 ONLY)
Random News & Information
This isn't random, it's just plain over the top sweet. Check out Seeker Friend and Genesis Winner Renee Ann Smith's blog post!
Check out this desktop timer and alarm clock. A great tool for Speedbo!
Romance Novels, The Last Great Bastion Of Underground Writing (The AWL)
Amazon–Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts (Kristen Lamb)
Does the publisher lose money if my book doesn't earn out? (Chip's Blog)
Maybe I Missed These Lessons...(Bookends, LLC)
7 Ways Agents Measure Social Media Guest Blog by Thomas Umstattd (Steve Laube Blog)
Don't Miss Wendy Lawton's Three Part Series -Don't Believe Everything You Hear (Books & Such Blog)
Edits vs. Revisions: One on One Death Match (Janice Hardy)
This isn't random, it's just plain over the top sweet. Check out Seeker Friend and Genesis Winner Renee Ann Smith's blog post!
Check out this desktop timer and alarm clock. A great tool for Speedbo!
Romance Novels, The Last Great Bastion Of Underground Writing (The AWL)
Amazon–Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts (Kristen Lamb)
Does the publisher lose money if my book doesn't earn out? (Chip's Blog)
Maybe I Missed These Lessons...(Bookends, LLC)
7 Ways Agents Measure Social Media Guest Blog by Thomas Umstattd (Steve Laube Blog)
Don't Miss Wendy Lawton's Three Part Series -Don't Believe Everything You Hear (Books & Such Blog)
Edits vs. Revisions: One on One Death Match (Janice Hardy)
We've got some happiness to leave you with this week!
First a photo of Debby Giusti and Missy Tippens at the recent GRW
(Georgia Romance Writers) meeting.
And ....
CONGRATULATIONS
to Clari Dees who sold to
Love Inspired Historical.
Clari was one of the brave writers who entered one of our
2011 Seekerville Query Letter contests (more information here).
That's it! See you at the starting line!
Double pots of coffee set to brew in the morning--since I was remiss today. Had to go out of town for another funeral.
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled to win Novelist's Boot Camp: 101 Ways to Take Your Book from Boring to Bestseller.
Helen "Coffee Pot is On" Gray.
YAY! for winners!!!
ReplyDeleteIs next week the announcement for the latest query contest?
Looks like a great week ahead!
AND my plot for Speedbo hit me upside the head today :D.
<3 it!
I need to use my desktop timer for getting off my butt in the middle of writing to do some situps or something so my legs don't fall asleep during SpeedBo!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Clari!!!
ReplyDeleteOMGOSH!!!! Another query letter sale??
ReplyDeleteClari, congratulations!! I'm so excited for you! I know EXACTLY how you must be feeling. I hope you were cooler and calmer on the phone than I was. I think I just babbled and giggled until Melissa Endlich hung up. :D
I have such a huge smile on my face!
Carol, ooooh! Send that plot-hitting thing over this way. I'm stuck!
ReplyDeleteCLARI DEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
OH my stars, I can't wait to hear more about this!!!
YOU SOLD TO LIH FROM OUR ITTY BITTY FREE CONTEST!!!!!
LAUGHING AND GRINNING IN UPSTATE....
BECAUSE WHO SAYS YOU HAVE TO SPEND BIG BUCKS TO BE A BIG WINNER?????
HAPPY DANCING!!!!
SNOOPY DANCING!!!!!!!!1
I LOOK RIDICULOUS AND I DON'T CARE DANCING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'M SO STINKIN' PROUD OF YOU!!!!
I love talking plots... and I'm in and out all weekend so if anybody wants to thrash plot ideas, there's a bunch of us that like to play in that sandbox...
ReplyDeleteAnd I may or may not be in LOVE with my new hero "Russ" Trooper Russell Hendrickson of the New York State Police....
And, oh...
What this man does to a trooper's hat SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.
BECAUSE HE'S THAT STINKIN' CUTE!
Congrats to the winners! And to Clari--that is so exciting!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be editing during part of Speedbo. Are we going to have a rule on how to count editing rather than new word count?
ReplyDelete(yes, I know I already asked on the 1k1hr group)
Ruthy
ReplyDeleteSo, I'd have to be speeding in what county in NY to meet Trooper Russ?
and will they buy this when I tell them I was looking for a fictional hero?
Wahoo!!! Congratulations to Clari Dees on her sale to LIH!!!! Thrilled that you sold from a Seekerville query contest, Clari!!! Our books will surely be rubbing spines on the LIH shelves. :-)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the winners.
Missy and Debby are looking fabulous at the GRW meeting!
Off to visit Sandra at the Yankee Belle Cafe.
Janet
GO CLARI!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat WE, congrats to all the winners. Checking a few of the links shortly.
Congratulations to all the winners!
ReplyDeleteAND DOUBLE CONGRATS TO CLARI!!!!! FANTASTIC SELL!
Can't wait for March.
Congratulations to Clari and all the winners!!
ReplyDeleteIs it March yet? I'm so ready to get started.
Honey, you speed through Allegany County to meet Trooper Russ...
ReplyDeleteSigh.... ;)
And those total hotties will be pleased to know you're reading my work, of course!
I'm sure that will get you out of something. Or into something. Like... jail.
But with CUTE CAPTORS.
Yay, Clari!
ReplyDeleteSeekerville ROCKS! Doesn't it?
And congrats to the winners!
Tina, great WE. I'm on my way to download that clock...
Ruthy, love the name you chose for your trooper. I was racking my brain for two days after you posted on Facebook and couldn't come up with anything. Russ is perfect!
Won't Allegany County be surprised to see a sudden rise in speeding tickets?
Editing word count...
ReplyDeleteYou know you're going to FREAK OUT those who turn off their internal editors for this, don't you?
I don't count my editing time. I only count fresh words.
BUT... If you set aside an hour each morning or afternoon for editing (I do this) then when you jump back in the story progression is like STINKIN' FRESH in your mind.
And it rolls from there. I don't know if that works for everyone but I think Dee Henderson, Margaret Daley and others have talked frankly about that. It helps me tremendously and I think that's the key for my word counts.
I can feel where I want the scene to go and re-doing the scene before it makes it happen more easily.
Shh.... Don't tell the others that I continue to edit as I go.
I don't want to get into trouble.
I'm aiming at 60K for the month. That's my goal for the new novel but they have to approve the proposal first, so if that takes a couple of weeks, then I'll do 20K on that one, and then work up my proposal for the new Lawmen of Allegany County series for 2013...
But I'm aiming for 60K and if that doesn't beat Walt, I'll lie and pretend I did more.
:)
(gotta see if he's listening, LOL!)
Congrats to all the winners, especially Clari for to selling to LI!
ReplyDeleteI read several of the links today. Love the one on editing vs revising. Lines out exactly what to look for after the rough draft is complete. Saving it for April 1st.
Mega congratulations to Clari! How amazing - and all thanks to Seekerville! (Well, not quite all!)
ReplyDeleteAnd I want just 1% of Ruthy's energy and enthusiasm! Still working on character charts and plot lines for a new story I want to start in March.
60,000 words! I did that in NaNo but not sure about this time. My story is not as planned out as that one. Plus just found out my MIL is coming for a week long visit mid-March - so that will cut into my writing time a lot!
But I am going for it.
Happy weekend everyone.
Cheers,
Sue
Wooo hooo!! Congrats to Clari!! So glad you took part in the query contest!
ReplyDeleteY'all need to be brave and enter contests. And if you don't final, try again! You never know when your work will come up in front of an editor at just the right moment.
Thank you, Keli!
ReplyDeleteVirginia, Nope, wasn't cool and calm. I was shaking, and I absolutely giggled and babbled!
Thank you, Ruthy. Did some Snoopy dancin' of my own. My brother also did some when I told him via video chat. It's even funnier that way! :-)
Thank you, Annie.
Janet, thank you. I know they'll be rubbing spines on my shelves :-)
WHOO-EEE ... another stellar WE, Teenster, thank you!!
ReplyDeleteLOVED Chip's article -- good stuff!!
Hugs,
Julie
Thank you, KC, Rose, Jamie, Jan, Connie, and Missy.
ReplyDeleteYAY, Clari!!!! We're so proud of you!!!
ReplyDeleteYAY!!!
HUGS!!!!
CHEERS!!!!
SHOUTS OF JOY!!!!
Congratulations, CLARI!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou put a smile on my face!!!
Clari when is the release date and what is the title so we can preorder.
ReplyDeleteDebby and Tina: "Aw, shucks, ladies. Thanks."
ReplyDeleteThe tentative title (subject to change) is "Miss Meri and the Marshal." And the publication date is unknown. In the initial phone call, Tina James said maybe first of next year...?... Guess it depends on how well I manage the revisions. (gulp, no pressure)
Congrats to the winners and whooohoooos to Clari! How exciting is that???
ReplyDeleteEspecially loved the article on romance novels. Oh and the alarm clock. How cool is that? Though I'm not sure if it would intimidate me!
And loved this bit of scripture I found on Wendy Lawton's blog:
“Live creatively, friends. Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” Galatians 6:1a, 4-5
Isn't that a great theme scripture for Speedbo?!
CONGRATS to all the winners!!! ~ And thanks for another wonderful WE, Tina! Looking forward to another great week in S'ville, and looking forward to SPEEDBO!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Patti Jo :)
p.s. Since it's very cool and windy here in Georgia today, I've brought a pot of chili and some freshly-baked Georgia Peach Cobbler--ENJOY! ~ PJ
Hats off to Clari D! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteWoot for the weekly winners too!
Congrats Clari on your sale to LIH!!!! How exciting!!!
ReplyDeleteWhoo-hoo!!!
Can you share just a tiny blurb about the book???? If there's one thing we love here in Seekerville, it's books!
And coffee...
And Carol's chocolate chip cookies...
And Ruthy's hot trooper...
And Jeter.
Hey, btw, Ruthy, does Jeter know about Russ?
Congratulations to all the winners!
ReplyDeleteClari, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Welcome to Love Inspired Historical!!!
Thank you Donna, Pam and Eva.
ReplyDeleteHere's part of the blurb that I used for my query letter.
When a meddling matchmaker, the new Marshal, and a mysterious bank robber all set their sights on Meri McIsaac, how will she survive?
Twenty-nine-year-old Meri McIsaac doesn’t particularly care for the newly acquired titles of old maid and spinster, but that doesn’t mean she’s looking for a husband; not even after she falls at the feet of a handsome stranger. Especially when that stranger happens to be Wyatt Cameron, Little Creek’s new Marshal, accusing her of horse theft! Meri’s scheme to subsequently avoid the irritating, unnerving man crumbles when her father is shot during a bank robbery, and the bandit’s trail leads straight to their ranch. How will Meri’s already shaky faith withstand this latest blow?
Ooooooooo! I love it!!!! Congrats!!!!
ReplyDeleteHere's some cookies for everyone in celebration :D.
Clari, CONGRATULATIONS!
ReplyDeleteThe Seekers apparently aren't satisfied just getting themselves off unpubbed island, they're dragging everyone else with them! Go Seekerville friends!
I've spent my morning debating which book I want to work on for SpeedBo. Ahhh the agony of choices.
Don't laugh - I made the mistake of asking my husband. *shakes head* When will I learn?
Congrats to all the winners this week.
Too late, Mary, I laughed.
ReplyDeleteI was picturing my husband if I asked him the same question!
Me too, MaryC. I don't even want to THINK what my husband would say! lol
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Clari!!!
ReplyDeleteBe sure and remind us just before it's ready to release. And we want to hear more about your journey to publication.
Helen
Congrats Clari! And yay for all the winners this week. Looking forward to Speedbo and writing w Seekerville friends.
ReplyDeleteHUGE congrats, CLARI! Way to go! : )
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the winners!!
I’m getting primed for Speedbo 2012!! (Does this name make anyone else think of a water sport??) Looks like next week is all about it!
Enjoy the weekend! There are snow flurries here!
Whitney
Oh -- and I forgot to say how much I enjoyed (sniffle) Janet's short read. Very poignant. I can totally relate. There's a beautiful old bungalow in my neighbourhood. Lovely and sprawling (I thought) with tons of character and a good sized lot completely landscaped with beautiful flower gardens. I noticed it was for a sale before Christmas but haven't walked by again until today. The house is gone and in it's place stands this monster frame that's three stories high and takes up the entire lot! I wept for those flowers and the poor gardener who had put so much love and care into it.
ReplyDeleteOH, MAN, I'M AN IDIOT -- FORGOT TO SAY:
ReplyDeleteCLARI DEES, SUPER CONGRATS on the sale, girlfriend!!! Soooo THRILLED for you and hoping you stay on Cloud Nine a good long while, girl ... at least till the edits come! ;)
Hugs,
Julie
Thank you, Carol, MaryC, Helen, Lyndee, Whitney and Julie.
ReplyDeleteI got my list of edits just a couple of days after I sold. Those do have a way of bringing you down to earth in a hurry... :)
Whitney I am thinking a David Niven lookalike (skinny Frenchman) in a Speedos.
ReplyDeletep.s. CONGRATS to Clari on selling to LIH!!!! Love those books, and will be looking for your book when it's out!!! ~ Blessings, Patti Jo
ReplyDeleteOh, it's a happy day in Seekerville! And did you guys see the cool thing that Renee Ann Smith has got up on her blog today????
ReplyDeleteGod bless her, she's chattin' it up about Seekerville!!! Thank you, Renee!!!!
Clari, when I sent the list of edits to my agent she said, 'oh, this was modest. I would have given you another five pages of thigns to fix'. How's that for ego-buster? :D
ReplyDeleteBut you can't argue with getting better and better! And those editors really know what's they're after. I took 99% of the requests (there was one point I left) and I think the book was a whole lot stronger for it.
I wonder what kind of brain you need to be an editor? They remind me of those people that built giant suspension bridges. BIG scope thinkers. I'm a details gal, and that ability to see the plot in big strokes is AMAZING.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJan, LOL! Now I've got to go meet these guys and make sure they're up to the rep I'm giving them!!!
ReplyDeleteOnly hot cops in Allegany County and "Troop A"...
And did you know theres a separate sector that's just NYS Thruway cops? Thruway Troopers are from Troop T...
I had no idea that the entire huge thruway system had its own designated troopers.
Of course I work hard to stay under their radar, hahahahaha!
:)
Congrats Clari. That is so exciting.
ReplyDeletecongrats to all winners.
Im late as it was so hot over night then church today i am really behind.
We're open 24/7 Jenny. You can never be late.
ReplyDeleteCool Tina. I also had Church and got invited out for lunch which was nice as its my birthday although will be an early night. its cooler and I am sooooooooooooooooo tired.
ReplyDeleteLooks great!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to winners!
SpeedBo scares me and I don't know if it's the best time to try it for me or not- but I'm going to go ahead and do what I can :-)
Pepper, that's all any of us can do, right???
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm STILL MISSING the wallpaper, btw. Which would make my children cringe... but what do they know???
I watched Anne of Green Gables with 7 8-12 year old girls the other night and the house they used had wallpaper....
OF COURSE IT DID!!! ;)
And the wainscoted walls in Flicka, at the McGlaughlin ranch????
LOVE THEM!!!
JENNY!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET AUSSIE FRIEND! GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU TODAY (although it's half over for you!)
Virginia, I agree. Editors have a different overview. I love it because I get too close to my stories. I need their broader vision to narrow the scope. God bless them for advising the little things and sometimes big things that strengthen our work!
Thanks Ruthy, The day was good. the night not so good woke just after midnight feeling really sick and have been up for about an hour now. I dont do sick. (I also wont eat licorice for a long time to come).
ReplyDeletewe have had Anne of Green Gables on here again over the past few weekends.
Happy Day After Your Birthday Jenny!!
ReplyDeleteJenny, a nasty noro virus has taken the US by storm....
ReplyDeleteObviously we shipped it your way, honey!
I blame Mary. ;)
And if that doesn't work, I blame Julie.
Ha, Ruthy.
ReplyDeleteI love Anne of Green Gables...but if you will note - the wallpaper caught ON FIRE in one of the movies.
No wallpaper? I'd imagine a smaller fire. Just sayin'
And I'm ALL for wainscoting. Plan to add some. Love it! But not wallpaper. :-)
Ruthy, after yesterdays sermon about how we blame others for our problems I would feel bad blaming Mary or Julie, Although I do believe Cheryl is sick.
ReplyDeletebut I partly blame to many licorice allsorts and I think some sort of bug. I felt great yesterday till I ate to much. feel yuck today. how can a stomach rumble when it repels food?
least its cooler today not rain yet but hopefully it comes.
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS CLARI!!!!
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!!!!
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!WHAT A WONDERRFUL MOMENT!!!
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!YAYAYAYAYA!!!!!
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
DEBRA SPEEDBO is for YOU. You set the rules for yourself. YOU decide how you want to count edited pages. We're cheering each other on but we're not going to PUNISH you if you fail to meet a standard you set for yourself.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your revisions. That's accomplishment, too.
Thank you, Seekerville friends, for being such an enthusiastic cheering section. You have truly blessed me this weekend!
ReplyDeleteHere's to everyone participating in Speedbo...May you exceed your expectations!
Hey! I'm catching up on Seekerville posts today and saw my name as a book winner. Yippee! You know what's funny? I was about two seconds away from buying Cathy's book, then thought, wait, just on the off-chance you win...fun!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Clari!!
Congrats Clari - very happy for you. :)
ReplyDelete