Seekerville turns SIX! and we invite you to join the celebration October 1-31. We blog daily during our birthday month, so do not miss a day. We have daily presents, and weekly presents, and a final big birthday extravaganza giveaway. All to give back to our Villagers; to say thank you.
Nothing is required except your presence and a comment.* Every time you comment* your name goes in the drawing jar/hat/cat dish, as applicable. This is not the time to lurk.
We Have Winners
Contact us at our email address if you are a winner. If you haven't received your prize in 8 weeks, per our legal page, drop us a line (we get busy with writing books and do forget). Please remember we don't contact winners -so please contact us at seekers at seekerville dot net
Week 1 Gift Card Winner is Amber Schamel
Monday, Seekerville was delighted to welcome Love Inspired Historical author, Karen Kirst to blog with us. Her post is "Epilogues: Love in Action." The winner of her November release, "The Husband Hunt, which received 4 1/2 stars by RT Book Reviews is Clari Dees.
Love Inspired Historical author Jessica Nelson started our birthday party with her post, "Count Your Blessings...Not Your Royalties." The winner of a lovely $25 Barnes & Noble gift card is Chris (of the I'm Just Thinkin' blog).
Wednesday Love Inspired author Mia Ross joined us to talk about the "Top Three Things she's learned since leaving the Island!" Winners of of "Rocky Coast Romance" Book 1 of her "Holiday Harbor" series are Leona Loller, Kathy Bailey and Salyna.
On Thursday, Danica Favorite as she shared what she's learned since she floated off the island and into the loving hands of Love Inspired Historical!! Winner of a vial of Colorado silver is Donna and the winners of $10 Amazon gift cards are Vince and Karen Kirst.
Friday Winnie Griggs returned to talk about "How To Craft Your Quick Elevator Pitch." Winners of her October release A Family for Christmas are Wanda Barefoot and Sally Shupe. And the winner of Winnie's "I Love 2 Read Pin" is Tina Pinson.
Saturday Sandra Leesmith shared her recent debut experience of putting a book on Audio CX in her post entitled: "The World of Audio CX." The winner an audio copy of Love's Miracles is Pat Jeanne Davis.
Next Week In Seekerville
Monday: We are thrilled to welcome Guest Blogger Audra Jennings, from the Litfuse Publicity Group today, with her post "Why You Need a Publicist." And don't miss our giveaway!
Tuesday: Love Inspired Assistant Editor Giselle Regus joins us today to talk about Reunion Romance stories! Why they’re her favorite and the appeal they have on readers. Stop by to get to know the newest member of the Love Inspired editorial team! To augment their quest for new suspense authors, Giselle is bringing this month's Love Inspired Suspense books with her. Leave a comment on her day and we'll put your name in for a wonderful read, courtesy of Love Inspired!
Wednesday: Mary Connealy will be talking about "How to Stir Up Trouble in Texas." Mary is writing a Novella Backstory for her heroes from Trouble in Texas. In fact she's written it. It's done. How Luke, Dare, Vince and Jonas met in Andersonville Prison. With a surprise twist telling you how Trouble in Texas is connected to the Kincaid Brides Series. Only trouble is, she doesn't know what to do with it. Today she'd like advice and will be kicking around ideas with Villagers. Mary will be giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to lure you into brainstorming.
Thursday: Ruth Logan Herne lights the hearth and home fires while talking about the ins and outs of holiday-themed books, how the author's choices can enhance or hinder their chosen theme. Think 'Christmas-wrapped Moral Premise" and to celebrate how well you pay attention, Ruthy will be giving away three copies of her newest releases "Love Finds You in the City at Christmas" & "The Lawman's Holiday Wish" in either e-version or paperback.
Friday: Join us for a chat with Bethany House author Melissa Jagears. Her post is,"How Thanking Writing Contest Judges Can Benefit Unpublished Writers." One lucky commenter will receive a complimentary print copy of her debut release, A Bride for Keeps.
Saturday: Love Inspired author Tina Radcliffe shares "Endurance to Cross Your Own Finish Line." Bring your sneakers and a towel. Anyone left standing will be entered in a drawing for thirty days of book camp mentoring. To one reader, a chance to win a Tina Radcliffe/Tina Russo book of choice. And there's chocolate for a third commenter!
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| Week 2 Birthday Present: Hand Crafted Kindle bag, wood-turned stylus/ink pen and Seeker BOC |
Here's a helpful reminder. DO share you own news and sightings in the comments during the Weekend Edition. And we welcome you to share your news (releases, contest finals and wins, book sales or free days, etc.) on our Facebook Page!
It's that time of year again. Please consider nominating Seekerville for the 16th Annual Writer’s Digest 101
Best Website for Writer’s Award. Send an email to writersdigest@fwmedia.com with “101
Websites” in the subject line between now and December
1, 2013. Our category
is Genres/Niches as we are an Inspirational Romance Writing Community. Many thanks. Your friends at Seekerville
If you belong to RWA, be sure to read the October RWR. Page 21 features an article by Laurie Alice Eakes called, "Defining a Genre: Christian Fiction" with commentary by Seeker Mary Connealy and agent Natasha Kern.
News Flash!! FREE Download of A Passion Most Pure! ACFW Debut Book of the Year and 179 5-star reviews can't be wrong, so see why some of Julie's readers have read it more than 20 times!AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, CHRISTIANBOOKSTORE.COM, iBOOKSTORE
Debby Giusti and her September Love Inspired Suspense, The Soldier's Sister, will be featured on The Suspense Zone next week, starting on Monday, October 7! Stop by to learn more about the latest book in Debby's Military Investigations Series!
The Soldier's Sister will also be featured this weekend on the Craftie Ladies of Romance Blog including an interview on Sunday with the story's heroine, Stephanie Upton.
Debby
Giusti will attend the Georgia Romance Writers Moonlight and Magnolias
Conference, Oct 4 to Oct 6, and will take part in the Pitch Mentoring
Workshop on Friday, Oct 4, at 2 PM. She'll sign The Soldier's Sister
on Saturday, Oct 5, from 4:30 to 6 PM. The signing is open to the
public and will be held at the Atlanta Hilton Northeast, 5993 Peachtree
Industrial BLVD, Norcross, GA 30092.
Join Debby at the Southern Magic Readers Luncheon held in Birmingham, AL, on Nov 2. For information and reservations check here.
Sign up for a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD and a lot of other prizes. This will be your chance to see Mary in her first ever webcast! Just consider the potentials for disaster! We could still be talking about it for years to come! In fact, she can almost guarantee it! You'll be talking about it in solemn, mournful tones, behind her back of course, but still.........you will want to be part of that---RIGHT??? Click Here to Sign Up for a Reminder Email.
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| Grand prize winner announced on November 2 |
Random News & Information
Seeker Villagers have bravely entered Harlequin's SYTYCW! Time to go over to the site and VOTE. You can pull up a sub-genre such as Love Inspired and find your Villager friends. (See the word submissions, go to the search box to the right of that and use the drop down menu). If you are listed there, go ahead and give us a link in the WE ED. comments.
Great Self-Editing Tools, Check out Melissa Jagears, Weasel Word List (MelissaJagears.com)
When Turning Down a Book Contract is the Best Choice (Novel Rocket)
This Is What Blocks Your Writing (And How To Bust Through) (Write to Done)
New Global E-book Study Published (PW)
The Creative Penn Podcast (The Creative Penn)
FYI: Copyright Office website shuts down (Gigaom) and FYI: Library of Congress shuts down (Galleycat)
Free Writing Pacemaker Creates Custom Writing Schedule (GalleyCat)
What Writers Need to Know About the Affordable Care Act (GalleyCat)
Win a Literary Vacation from Kirkus Reviews (GalleyCat)
Never Give Up Your Dreams of Being a Successful Self-Published Writer (ALLi)
3 Paralyzing Statements That Keep You from Your Best Work (Jeff Goins Writer)
The Ascent of Metadata (The Book Designer)
Seeking Inspirational Romance Writers (Books & Such Literary Agency)
Photos from the M&M Conference this weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. You can follow the event on Twitter
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| Missy Tippens and Debby Giusti |
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| Maggies Finalist Missy Tippens at the Booksigning |
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| Gala with L to R Meg Mosely, Debby Giusti,. Diana Shuford, Christy Smith. Standing, Lindi Peterson and Ciara Knight |
CONGRATULATIONS DEBBY GIUSTI,
RECIPIENT OF THE GRW NANCY KNIGHT MENTORSHIP AWARD!
Yay another great Weekend Edition
ReplyDeleteAnd what great news.
CONGRATULATIONS DEBBY I am so not surprised. You deserve it girlfriend.
Congratulations to all the winners this week.
I love birthdays
A great week behind us and another one ahead.
ReplyDeleteYeah! Happy Birthday to me. I'm getting Karen Kirst's new book. (Snoopy dancin' in the Show-me state.) Thank you, ladies!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a fun birthday week here in Seekerville. What a great line-up of posts.
Congratulations to all the winners, and Happy Birthday to Seekerville and all the October b-days!
Congratulations on being a Maggie finalist, Missy. And congratulations on your mentorship award, Debby. I hope you both had a great conference. The cupcakes look yummy.
ReplyDeletesomeone has food on there brain. Love the cupcakes. I discovered red velvet when in the USA. those look yummy.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Debby
Congrats all winners
Oh my, I made it in the random link section, so I rushed to put in a new category of weasel words I've recently been using. I added my Emotional Telling words list, so if you happened to copy and paste that info as soon as this came out or saw it earlier there is another category now.
ReplyDeleteAnd Tina, I so want to fiddle with the title to my upcoming post....again. It desperately needs the word "How" in front of it. Yep, laugh at me if you want, but I can't stand it. I probably should not read my upcoming post, I'll be all "grr, that "s" isn't supposed to be there" and not be able to sleep that night. There was a typo in our post from last month and I hung my head in shame...
Congratulations to all the winners! yay! Also, congratulations to Debby!! Woo! Hoo!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, thank's for the update for your Weasel Words. I printed out your other list so I will have to go and get the new words and set them up with a macro (thank you for that lesson by the way). :)
Party on!
Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com
Debby!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo stinkin' proud of you!!!! Hoooorrrraaaaayyyyy!!!!!
Your heart of gold is shining. Simply shining. God bless you, my friend and this could not have been a more appropriate award.
So happy for you!!!!
Dancing in rainy upstate!
Jagears is making me laugh!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHey, I could do this behind the scenes but I'd mess it up and Tina will kill me but Mary's link to the details reminder page didn't work for me...
and since I killed links JUST LAST EVENING, I don't dare try to fix it.
Have you guys SEEN TINA when she's angry?????? Owza, Mama, it is not a pretty picture, have you read The Rosetti Curse????
Grandma/Nonna has nothing on The Teeenster.
I loved that book. I'm in love with Riley, I can totally identify with Tessa and I think it's just unfair that it is OVER....
sigh.
But I loved it and it will be forever on my Kindle device.
I love saying that: "Kindle device".
Oy.
Yay for all the winners!
ReplyDeleteAnd a big congrats to Debby!
Looking forward to next week in Seekerville :)
Woohoo -- congratulations Debby!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats to all the birthday winners too. And yay -- cupcakes for breakfast! I love it when Seekerville parties!
And hey, the link to Books & Such seeking inspirational romance writers goes to the bookdesign blog about metadata? I googled Books & Such and seeking inspirational romance and got the blog. Here's the link if anyone is interested. http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/seeking-inspirational-romance-writers/#comments
Mmmmm, that chocolate frosted cupcake looks good! Happy Birthday to everyone!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, your use of Macro is genius. This is the first time outside of a college course on MS Excel and Access that I've heard of anyone actually making use of that feature.
Congratulations to all the happy winners! Wow, this really does feel like a birthday celebration!:-)
ReplyDeleteTina, thanks again for another great WE of information. I'll be reading well into the week... can't miss any of it!
Looking forward to the great line-up for the week ahead.
Mare
Thank you so much!!! Congratulations to the other winners. Looking forward to the lineup next week!
ReplyDeletetscmshupe [at] pemtel [dot] net
Good morning all,
ReplyDeleteM&M is over for another year and I don't know about anyone else, but I feel as if I got so much out of my two days here.
Thanks for the opportunity to post my SYTYCW link here in the WE--yet another awesome edition Tina!
http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2013/the-preachers-promise/
Go over and show your support for the inspy categories!
So excited for Debby. Piper let me know last night. Well deserved.
ReplyDeleteHere's my SYTYCW entry. I am so excited for all my friends listed!
http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2013/a-heart-to-protect/
The editors will be picking the fifty best manuscripts and folks will be voting on those.
My money is on Piper!
Peace, Julie
Congratulations to all the winners!! And Debby too :)
ReplyDeleteGreat birthday party Seekerville!
Okay, I can add How, Melissa. But I can't figure out what S you are talking about until I have coffee.
ReplyDeleteBad Blogger. Thank you, Kav. Extra cupcakes for you. Carrot cake ones.
ReplyDeleteGREAT WE, Miss T!!
ReplyDeleteYAY DEBBY G.!! CONGRATULATIONS!! I know this award is very well-deserved! *Big smile*
Congrats to all the winners this week, and this coming week looks like another fun week in Seekerville--YIPPEE!
Mmmmmm....a cupcake bar!! I see one with chocolate icing--YUM!
Hugs, Patti Jo (wiping the gooey icing from my mouth) ;)
WHOO-HOO, DEBBY!!! WAY TO GO, GIRLFRIEND ... ABSOLUTELY NOOOO SURPRISE WHATSOEVER!!!
ReplyDeleteSUPER CONGRATS TO ALL B-DAY WINNERS!!!
AND, OF COURSE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CLARI!!
Exellent WE, Teenster, as always!!!
Hugs,
Julie
Congratulations to the winners of those great prizes. I want that bag. An amazing week lined up. I'm going to nominate Seekerville for the 101. Should be the number 1.
ReplyDeleteMy link to SYTYCW is http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2013/the-chieftains-honor/
All the LI and LIH entries look great. Tough competition.
Have a wonderful week.
Thank you for providing those voting links!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMust get you all off the island!!
Ohhhh, if you love Scottish stories, you will love Elaine's SYTYCW entry !
ReplyDeletePeace, Julie
What fun reading everyone's story on SYTYCW.
ReplyDeleteMay the K9 Spy here: Congratulations to all the winners of this week's barkday celebration!
ReplyDeleteWHAT a pawty!!!
And special backflip celebrations for Miss Debby.
Miss Tina, once again, terrific WE. Are you going to display some pupcakes on your new cakestand??? I'm an excellent taste tester by the way, anything but chocolate (Mom won't allow - hurumph).
OH!
ReplyDeleteWe nominated you - PROUDLY! Seekerville is the best writing blog going (or coming - depending on your island perspective) BOL!!!
Happy Birthday to Seekerville! A big CONGRATS to Debby!
ReplyDeleteOctober is sure to be a fun month!
I'm loving the stories on "So You Think You Can Write!!!!!"
ReplyDelete(runs to steal ideas and mark them down!!!!)
Okay, kidding, kidding, kidding, don't get your knickers in a twist.
Hey, Apple Fest today, great fun... MUD.
Mud.
Mud.
Huge thunderstorms rolled through (drowned rat Ruthy, very attractive) and they decided not to put straw down to give folks leverage...
Because it's too hard to clean up.
(slight sigh interjected here)
Inches deep mud. No exaggeration. And it's okay if you live here (like me) and can go home and get new shoes on... Or if you came after the rain and wore big ol' boots.
Mud.
Mud.
Mud.
#countrygirlwithmuddyjeans
Thank you Tina.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's a hypothetical "S" because if I actually opened up the file to read it I'd want to fiddle with it so I didn't even look at it because I won't do that to you. But I'm sure the post will have a typo (like an extra S) or a terribly chosen word phrase that will just bother me or something....I'm not OCD, nope.
I live for hypothetical 's's. hahaha
ReplyDeletes's is kinda cool. Or is it 's'es.
Oh, Grammar Queen!!!
Okay. The cupcakes at the end of the post look REALLY good.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, Debby's award is well-deserved wonderful news.
And congrats to you Walt, for second place in the Maggies. You've placed or won twice now.
ReplyDeleteToo close to a sale, pal.
Great WE. Congrats winners and I can't wait to see Seekerville hit a mill!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lyndee!!!
ReplyDeleteHit the send button too quickly!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Debby! You certainly deserve this wonderful recognition! YAY!
Wow!! Thanks for a fabulous Weekend Edition, Tina! I love parties!!
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled by all the great news! Congratulations, Debby, on the Mentor award at M&M!! Missy, congrats on the Maggie final! Loved the pictures from the conference.
Congratulations winners!! Wahoo, Amber, on winning Week One's prize!
I will savor a chocolate cupcake while I check out some links.
Janet
Mercy! What a WE. Vote for Seekerville - check. Download JULIE'S book - check. Register for the reminder about MARY'S web debut - already did that.
ReplyDeleteWent to the SYTYCW website. What fun to think "I know that author!" so many times. Downloaded the entries as pdfs so I can read them on my iPad. How fun will that be!
Congrats to all the giveaway winners. And extra special way-to-go congrats to WALT and DEBBY!
Did anyone read the link about how writer's block is actually better thought of as a log jam? An interesting take on the situation.
What a WE, TINA! That link about when it makes sense to turn down a book contract is a keeper.
Nancy C
All of you SYTYCW entrants, how does it feel to read comments from people who have never read your work before? It seems that for an un-pubbed writer it would be almost an 'other-world' experience :-)
ReplyDeleteNancy C
Did I forget to include MISSY in the extra special way-to-go congrats?? I did. I forgot to include MISSY in the extra special way-to-go congrats. So ... extra special way-to-go congrats to MISSY!!
ReplyDeleteNancy C
Is it ok to bring chili to the party? We just make a giant pot in honor of the cold front that passed through. Fall is my favorite time of year.
ReplyDeleteI'd share the recipe but hubby makes it and I think he throws a little bit of everything in.
Hey Nancy C, you contest diva you,
ReplyDeleteYes, it is "otherwordly" to have people you don't know comment on your entry. However it is also weird to have you say you are going to download the entries as pdfs for ipad reading too.....that is a big wow to me!
Its a dark and stormy early evening here in Atlanta--so M&M got out just in time. Perfect weather for chili and a cupcake!
Strangers reading your books and commenting. JUST LIKE IT WAS PUBLISHED!!!!
ReplyDeleteHA!!!
Thanks for the chili, Nancy C.
Melissa J. Thanks for the recipe yesterday. I just found it. Yippie.
ReplyDeleteGetting to my computer late...came home for church, then an afternoon pro-life event. Just getting a chance to log on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the kinds words, Seekerville!!! Such a surprise and honor. I listened as they read off the info about the mentor award winner and kept wondering who they were talking about! :)
Such a shock when they called my name.
Missy looked lovely, and we cheered when her pic came on the big screen! Keli too. And Walt.
Walt came in second in his category!!! YAY, Walt!!! YAY to all the finalists and winners!
So good seeing Piper!!! Also Rachel Jones and Jamie Hill.
Next year's M&M will be OCT 9-12!!! Mark your calendars and join in the fun!
Yay!! to all winners. And Debby. And Walt. And Missy.
ReplyDeleteGreat WE. Great links.
Been out of town. Crashed last night and this afternoon. Now back to computer and reading.
Congratulations to all last week's winners. Wonderful news from Debby and Missy So happy to be a winner of an audio version of Love's Miracles. Many thanks. Looking forward to next week's posts.
ReplyDeleteThis is great congratulations to all
ReplyDeleteI see I can mention news on the WE. So want to say I've had a romantic short story accepted for the holiday issue of Splickety Magazine. It feels so good to get accepted in a print magazine with a short.
ReplyDeleteChill N, it's the bravest I have gotten writing submission wise. Nothing like a gazillion eyes on your entry!
ReplyDeletePeace, Julie
Excellent WE, Tina! All the links to check out. My weekend is way too short to fit it all in.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to read all the entries in SYTYCW. Great, great ideas.
Lovin' this cupcake bar. Packing on my winter poundage is starting early, LOL!
Congrats to all the winners. We're having a great birthday month thanks to you!!
Congrats Amber on winning the maid service ... unless you can think of a BETTER idea : )
ReplyDeleteCongrats Debby on winning Mentor Award and Missy on finalling in the Maggies!
What a great week.
Wow, so many congratulations. Debby, Missy and Walt. Way to go. This is a rocking party on Seekerville WE.
ReplyDeleteNancy C and Tina, I guess reading comments on your SYTYCW entry is like reading reviews. You put your fingers over your eyes first to make sure you want to read them. But this is a great experience and it's making me polish that ms in case they want the whole thing.
Thank you Seekerville for all your support!!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS, PAT JEANNE!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWaving hi to May!!
ReplyDeleteMust have some biscuit cupcakes around here somewhere!
Congratulations to all!
ReplyDeletePat Jeanne Davis said... I see I can mention news on the WE. So want to say I've had a romantic short story accepted for the holiday issue of Splickety Magazine.
ReplyDeleteThat is so cool! Applause and congrats.
Nancy C
Tina --Wish I'd thought of it, but Jamie Adams brought the chili :-)
ReplyDeleteThe SYTYCW Ladies -- enjoyed reading your comments and reactions. Thanks for sharing!
Nancy C
Pat Jeanne, congrats on your sale!!! Love all this good news! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Congrats Pat Jeanne! Very cool.
ReplyDeleteDebby, of course you're so modest that you were wondering who they were talking about as they read off your many accomplishments, but didn't you feel everyone's eyes on YOU? That should have been a clue, dear lady! That's so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI'm home from conference. Attended church and Family Day (like a fall festival) afterward. Then I came home and slept for 3 hours!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm finally catching up. Had a great M&M conference!! So exciting to see Debby get her well-deserved award!
Pat Jeanne, congrats on your sale to the magazine!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Debby!! I am NOT surprised in the least. :)
ReplyDeleteThis WE is chock full of such great stuff. Love it!
Cupcakes.
ReplyDeleteAny kind.
As long as they are super-moist!
But I can't turn down a dark chocolate or carrot cupcake with oodles of cream cheese icing.
Yum!
Congrats on the sale to Splickety, Pat Jeanne! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Congrats winners. I do hope you'll back me some gluten free cupcakes. ;) At least the e-version is calorie free too!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Seekerville! Thank you so much for choosing me to win a copy of A Family for Christmas by Winnie Griggs! I'm looking forward to reading it! Congrats to the other winners!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Wanda Barefoot
OOOPS!! Thanks for the chili, Jamie.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Jessie. Gluten free cupcakes are available in Seekerville.
In fact check The Yankee Belle Cafe often. (see tab at top of page) Julie Hilton Steele cooks gluten there.
Many thanks to all of you for the Congrats on this short story sale. This could be a market for some of you. Come Jan. Splickety plans to publish shorts in another of their magazines called Splickety Love.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruth:
ReplyDeleteI’m reading your “Red Kettle Christmas” right now. I’m not happy that you are calling it a historical when I was there on the scene! You have the flavor of the times. You also have the attitudes of the times.
I feel a little sorry for the little girl because she brings back memories of Ted Williams feeling neglected as a child because his mother spent so much time as a bellringer. I just wonder if the SA helped Ted’s mother as much as it helped the heroine in your story. I’m going to think so. “Red Kettle Christmas” has the best motivation. Totally believable. Just love it.
I love Christmas romances. I read twice as many romances between November and December than I do the rest of the year in any 60 day period.
I believe that there are two types of Christmas romances: 1) the true Christmas story which is really about Christmas and its message and 2) the ‘there is a Christmas that happens in the story as an incidental’ event. (Like Mary’s new “Winter Wedding Bells“ which has the saddest Christmas morning I think I’ve ever read.)
I like reading the first type only during the Christmas season and the second type any time of the year.
I like your 4 R’s. I think ‘reward’ is the most significant. Up until Christianity, all the religions of the time (that I know of) had gods that demanded sacrifices. The gods had to be ‘paid off’ or bad things would happen to the people.
With the birth of Christ and Christianity that changed forever. God was giving to man not asking for sacrifices. Christians soon abandoned sacrifices. There was every other religion in the world and then there was Christianity which offered a completely different view of God: a loving God who cared about humans. This new view changed man’s view of God and as such I believe was the greatest Christmas Gift of all time.
Vince
P.S. Please put me in the cat dish for the Kindle cover. I pretty much have all the Seeker books but a Kindle cover, now that’s a reward to raise an eyebrow and curve a smile almost to my eyes.
P.P.S. I like Mary’s idea of a winter shot. The next time it snows go to a zoo and have your picture taken next to a live reindeer. Try to have no sign of a cage or restriction in the picture.