Welcome to the start of week FOUR of our 7th Birthday Celebration. During the month of October we blog every single day. We will be giving away a $50 gift card from various online retailers each Sunday in October. We will also be collecting names (not numbers of comments) for the drawing for our grand prize-an iPad mini. Winner announced on Saturday, November 1st.
Be sure to contact us if you are a winner (send an email to seekers@seekerville.net with your snail mail address unless email is specified). We don't have time to track you down. Do let us know if you don't receive your prize in 6-8 weeks. Rules are located on our legal page.
Did you claim your prizes from Week One & Week Two?
The Week Three $50 Barnes & Noble Gift Card goes to Mary Hicks! Congratulations!
On Monday,Love Inspired author Missy Tippens shared "7 Things I've Learned Over the Last 7 Years." Jackie Layton is the winner of either a phone or email chat (winner's choice) to one entrant--which goes hand-in-hand with the #1 thing she's learned!
Tuesday, Seeker and award-winning author Myra Johnson shared her top seven writing resources and why they made it to her favorites list. Winner of a hot-off-the-press copy of Myra's latest release, Every Tear a Memory, book 3 in her Till We Meet Again historical romance series from Abingdon Press is Janet Ferguson. Winner of free enrollment in Myra and Dora Heir's November Night Class, Creating Characters That Come Alive, is Stephanie Ludwig.
In celebration of Seekerville's Seventh Birthday, Debby Giusti invited fellow authors Susan Sleeman and Jodie Bailey to join her on Wednesday Each author shared writing "secrets" in the blog, "Seven Secrets of Success from Three Successful Authors!" Be sure to stop by and see what each of them has to say. Leave a comment to be entered in three drawings for Holiday Defenders, a Love Inspired Suspense Christmas anthology, which features "Mission: Christmas Rescue," by Debby Giusti, "Special Ops Christmas," by Susan Sleeman, and "Homefront Holiday Hero," by Jodie Bailey. Along with the book, each winner also receives a $7 gift card from Starbucks! Congrats to Debby, Susan and Jodie’s winners: Jana Vanderslice, bonton (bonnieroof60@yahoo.com), and Mark Abel.
Bethany House Fiction Publicist Amy Green stopped by on Thursday and shared "Four Tips for Marketing Like a Storyteller." Amy, who also runs the blog Bethany Fiction, is giving away all four historical releases from Bethany House this month. The winners of the Bethany books, to be sent randomly... Tried and True by Mary Connealy, The River by Beverly Lewis, Playing by Heart by Anne Mateer, & A Bride in Store by Melissa Jagears are: Caryl Kane, Rose Ross Zediker, Tyrean Martiinson and Eva Marie Hamilton.
Friday we were excited to welcome Love Inspired, Assistant Editor, Emily Krupin with "Submit these Seven Themes to the Love Inspired Lines." Thanks to Emily and Seekerville, we have a birthday box filled with books to give away. The following commenters won two-pack book prizes: Mary Curry, Cindy W, CathyAnn40, Tracey Hagwood, Wilani Wahl, Hope Toler Doughtery, Debbie H, Karen K, Dawn Leonard, Deb H, Edwina, Kelly Bridgewater &Terri Weldon.
For those of you who missed it, Emily Krupin said in the comments: "By the way, I’m very eager to acquire my first brand new author, so please feel free to submit directly to me!"
Seekerville was happy to welcome Love Inspired, White Rose Publishing and Bethany House Publishing author, Susan Anne Mason to Seekerville on Saturday, with her inspiring post, "Persistence and Those Little ‘God Nudges’ — The Key to Success!" Winner of a digital copy of Betrayed Hearts is Kav!
Next Week In Seekerville
Monday:Today Love Inspired Historical author Janet Dean will share "Seven + Villager Success Stories." Leave a comment for a chance to win a book in either eBook or hard copy, author’s choice (we'll discuss your options), and a $10 Amazon gift card.
Tuesday: Let's give a huge, happy, no holds barred Seekerville welcome to Heartwarming Senior Editor Victoria Curran! Harlequin's move into these 70-75K sweeter stories follows today's reader trends, providing another option for Seekerville authors and readers! Victoria will be talking about the line, what they're looking for and what she likes... and we'll have a host of fun book options as giveaways to celebrate our time with her!
Wednesday: Oh my goodness! We have the Suspense Sisters with us today! Stop by for "3 Sisters on Writing: 7 Simple Strategies for Making the Dream a Reality,"with Love Inspired Suspense writers (and sisters) Shirlee McCoy, Sara K. Parker and Mary Ellen Porter. They have an amazing prize giveaway too!
Thursday: Another treat today as we welcome back Virginia Carmichael, (aka Mary Jane Hathaway )with her post, "The Joy of Rejection." She has a HUGE prize package for today's visitors. Don't miss it!
Friday: Seekerville is delighted to welcome back our pal, Erica Vetsch with her post "Seven Things That Will Make Your Editor Happy." Stop by. Chat. You could win a copy of Sagebrush Knights.
Saturday: Today we welcome Worthy Publishing author Brandy Vallance with her post, "Seven Essentials For Powerful Fiction." Stop by to meet Brandy and you could win a copy of her debut release, The Covered Deep. Two winners!
Seeker Sightings
More from The 12 Brides of Christmas! Pam Hillman's ebook novella THE EVERGREEN BRIDE releases Monday, October 20th and is available for pre-order.
Amazon | B&N | CBD
#3: The Evergreen Bride
Mississippian Annabelle Denson dreams of visiting cousins in Illinois and seeing a white Christmas. In the face of her excitement, Samuel Frazier hides his growing affection for her behind a quiet smile and a carpenter’s lathe. Samuel starts to worry that if she goes, Annabelle won’t return. Can he convince her to stay?
Free this weekend! Spread the word and grab your e-copy if you haven't already done so because Ruth Logan Herne's highly rated, top-selling indie novel "Running on Empty" is FREE this weekend, and we all know how much we love free stuff! Follow THIS LINK to Amazon and download your free copy and yes... tell your friends! The more the merrier!
Congratulations to Debby Giusti, Holiday Defenders: Mission: Christmas came in at #38 on the
Nielsen Bookscan Top 100 Bestselling Romances List for the week ending 10/12/14!!
Then hop over to author Sarah Sundin's blog on Wednesday, October 22, for more about Myra's latest release!
Please hop over and join Missy Tippens at Trish Perry's blog, Reading, Writing, and The Stuff In-Between on Monday! There will be an interview as well as a giveaway of Missy's new release from Love Inspired, The Guy Next Door.
October SALES!!
In honor of Julie Lessman’s latest release, Surprised by Love, her publisher has put the two prior books in the "Heart of San Francisco" series on sale as well, at savings of 66% for Dare to Love Again to 80% for Love at Any Cost, so take advantage!! Here are the links:
LOVE AT ANY COST (Book 1):AMAZON-BARNES & NOBLE-CBD-LIFEWAY
Join Julie Lessman on the following blogs for an interview and giveaway of winner's choice of any of her books, including her latest release, Surprised by Love!
October 20 - NOVEMBER 8, 2014: Creative Madness Mama Blog at http://creativemadnessmama.com/
October 20-23, 2014: Novel Crossing Blog at http://www.novelcrossing.com/
October, 2014 (actual date TBA): Relz Reviews Blog at http://relzreviewz.com/
Several of the Seekers are singing holiday songs already and are sharing their Christmas Novella's!
Hope for the Holidays: Contemporary and Historical Collections. Now available for pre-order!
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| Pre-order here. |
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| Pre-order here. |
Contemporary, featuring Mary Connealy, Audra Harders, Ruth Logan Herne, Sandra Leesmith, Tina Radcliffe and Missy Tippens.
Historical, featuring Mary Connealy, Ruth Logan Herne, Myra Johnson and Julie Lessman.
Random News & Information
Many thanks.
Your friends at Seekerville
Are Publisher Advances Truly Critical? (Digitial Reader)
Waiting for the pundits to vote on Amazon's new 'Kindle Scout' (Future Book)
How To Be Successful In Self-Publishing (the creative PENN)
Eavesdropping for story ideas and other tips from a veteran novelist (The Book Deal)
Engagement ring prices linked to divorce rates (Fox News)
Book Marketing the Old Way Versus the Way That Works Today—Part 1: Book Reviews (DBW)
Mystery Writers of America and Minotaur Books have teamed up once again to sponsor their 2015 Best First Crime Novel Competition. Writers over the age of 18 who have never had a novel published (in any genre) may enter the contest. Manuscripts must be 65,000 words or longer and must feature murder or another serious crime at the heart of the story.The winner will receive a publishing contract from Minotaur books (an imprint of St. Martin’s Press) and a $10,000 advance against royalties. The deadline to enter is December 15, 2014. For more details, go here.(Cindi Myers Market News's Blog)
Anatomy of a Cowboy Hero (eHarlequin.com)
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| More Info Here. |
That's it! Have a great reading and writing day!
Wow, I've never been the first to comment before. Congrats to all the winners this week. Looks like another good week of Seekerville ahead. Hope everyone has a good Sunday.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all winners. I'm holding out for next week's winners ... It's my birthday on Sunday, so am hoping for ....
ReplyDeleteCongratulations winners. I am hoping I can ask a rather sensitive question here without feeling totally stupid - except I already do. What is the normal price range an author would pay to an agent? If anyone would care to answer by private email I would love to see your response at cregnier(at)twinvalley(dot)net
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the winners!
ReplyDeleteI just preordered both the Seekerville Christmas Novella collections. I can't wait to read them.
Congratulations to the winners! And thank you Seekerville ladies for all you offer your readers. I learn much from you. :)
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Sunday!
Cindy, there is no secret about it.
ReplyDelete15% is the rate for agents.
You can find more information here at http://aaronline.org/ the home of Association of Author's Representatives, Inc.
And quoting Nathan Brandsford here:
"... the agent receives income based only on commission - again, the agent is only paid if/when the author is paid. The standard commission is 15% for domestic book deals and 20% for foreign (split between the agent and subagent)."
Your birthday is next Sunday, Marianne! Congrats. Piper has a birthday this week as well. Saturday!
ReplyDeleteHappy reading to all winners.
ReplyDeleteHappy coffee drinking to those who care to stop by the coffee pot.
Now back to read some more links.
Happy Birthday, Seekerville! Great posts all week. Congrats to the winners. I'm so excited to be one this week. 📚
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read next week's posts. I truly thank you gals for all the great tips you provide and the wonderful guests you line up.
I'm offering a HUGE prize package? Hmmm... I don't remember that. LOL
ReplyDeleteSeriously, everyone will show up on Thursday and realize I'm just giving away BOOKS. It would be cooler if it was something like an ipad mini. Those things are so nifty!
Books are huge, Virginia! It's why we are here.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all of the winners! Where do you get these pictures of cake, Tina?
Wait. Don't tell me. It's better for me not to know...:)
And isn't it great we can come to a place like Seekerville to find out things we don't know, Cindy? It's awesome!
Wow! It was a pleasant surprise to win the $50 gift card from Barnes & Noble! Thank you, Seekerville, and happy birthday, again!:-)
ReplyDeleteI'll use it to purchase more books by the Seekervill girls. :-)
Great We, Tina—perfect sunday afternoon reading.
Whoop! I won a book!
ReplyDeleteThis is always such a fun month at Seekerville. I know it has to be a lot of work and thank all the Seekers for being so kind to their 'villagers'.
Should be another fun week.
Thank you Seekerville and Emily from LI books for the two-pack prize giveaway, I won one! :)I love suprises, can't wait to see which books they are!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the winners this week!
Happy Birthday week 3 Seekerville, and the same to all the seeker-villagers having one this week!
Hey, you're giving away lots and lots of books, Virginia.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all winners!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely be nominating Seekerville for Writer's Digest's list of best websites. You ladies are incredible. :)
TINA!!!! GREAT WE!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOH MY STARS, CONGRATS TO ALL THE WINNERS! MARY HICKS, SQUEEEE! HAVE FUN WITH THAT GIFT CARD, DARLIN'!
I'm traveling for another two days, I'm hanging in the hotel lobby right now (A favorite Ruthy lurking place at conferences!) and about to go help clean up from an awesome kid-friendly Halloween party last evening. So fun seeing all the NC grandkids and their friends!
I FOUND MISSY TIPPENS, VIRGINIA CARMICHAEL'S AND BRENDA MINTON'S BOOKS HERE IN KROGER!!!!
ReplyDeleteAND BOUGHT EACH OF THEM, LOL! HAPPY DANCING!
Brenda's story is part of the Big Sky Centennial, and so much fun.... Missy's "The Guy Next Door"... And Virginia's sweet "A Home for her Family"....
I see reading opps in Ruthy's future!
Deb H.!!!! One of these trips down here maybe we can connect. Dave and I hope to come down in the spring and annoy the kids for a couple of days again.... I'd love to meet you in person, too!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great line up for next week! Looking forward to those posts.
ReplyDeleteI dashed over to the creative PENN site link in the WE and he offers simple, understandable tips into making a splash in indie publishing...
ReplyDeleteOf course the first component is to write a great book!
Readers are also critiquers these days and that's a whole different world order, and while I threw a great "ONE STAR" party for my first one-star review last month, I prefer to not have to host the party!
Write a great book... and then don't be afraid to play, to tweak, and KEEP ON WRITING.
Have youse noticed how often it comes back to that?
Write, write, write.
Writers write. Anyone who tells you it's more complicated and complex than that is selling something.
What have you done to make your dream come true today????
Virginia, LOL!!!! I love huge prize packages!
ReplyDeleteLAUGHING!!!!!
CINDY.....
Tina's right. No secrecy involved, agents get paid when you do, when they sell your work.
And this is the place to ask, sweet thing! That's what we're here for!
I'm going to go eat leftover pumpkin pie and get plumper.
I can avoid virtual food. The real deal???? I MUST EAT PIE!!!
SUPER CONGRATS TO MARY HICKS AND ALL THE WINNERS THIS WEEK -- YOU GUYS ROCK THE BIG KAHUNA!!
ReplyDeleteLOL, Virginia ... tough way to learn your giving away a HUGE prize ...
Kroger, Ruthy, really??? Gosh, I didn't even think there were any Krogers left since they left St. Louis years back. But I AM thrilled you found Missy's, Virginia's and Brenda's there -- surprised you didn't find yours, too, darlin' as popular as you are!!
HAPPY FALL-PEAK WEEK!!
HUGS,
Julie
Congrats to the winners!!
ReplyDeleteExcited about another great week of Seekerville ahead!!!
Lots of fabulous news! congratulations winners! I feel like a winner because I just pre-ordered Hope for the Holidays! :) Can't wait to read the stories!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all of the winners! And thank you, Ruthie, for your encouraging and motivating comment above. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the winners! This week was jam packed with great writing tips. Thanks Seekerville and happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing at myself this afternoon. I was just editing a chapter to send to my critiquers when I realized I have the main character commenting on how it will be dark soon and the person she is talking to is handing clothes out to dry...
I think I'll add 'don't hang clothes to dry at night' to 'don't have them eat'!
Congrats to this week's round of winners! Another great birthday week in Seekerville!
ReplyDeleteYes, JULIE, there are still Kroger stores. In fact, Kroger's recently acquired the main supermarket chain where I live. As a result, we are seeing some price reductions. But so far they have kept the local name.
Whoohoo! Ruthy bought my book! Apparently, she didn't realize that I throw those at the heads of people who come too near me, and also anyone who leaves their mailing address out I the world for any old author to scribble down and use for nefarious book-sending purposes.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I would really, really really like to have a book release and not have any friends next to me. We all know most people won't buy three books. Just one. I want to be next to someone I really detest and can't write for beans. Then I can get competitive and tell everyone to BUY MINE BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST.
But noooooo. I'm always paired with lovely, brilliant authors. And I end up saying, "Buy my book! Or... hers. Or hers over there. Actually, they're probably better than mine. I read them. Really. Skip mine and buy theirs."
Not good marketing.
Congrats to our winners! Wow, Mary Hicks, have fun with that $50B&N gift card!
ReplyDeleteLove all the pretty birthday cakes, Tina! We still have 12 more days to devour cake!!
Janet
Kroger carries Love Inspired Books? I did not know that. Will have to check.
ReplyDeleteJanet
What an info packed WE! I love the link talking about the rings vs divorce. LOL, good thing Gary and I were poor when we got engaged!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats winners!!
Marianne, honey, I hope holding out doesn't include holding your breath until Sunday!!
ReplyDeleteConsider this your birthday week!!
Virginia, books are cool. That's all I have to say about that.
ReplyDeleteAnd if it reaaaally bothers you, by all means, give away an iPad mini...we won't mind, LOL!
Virginia said: And I end up saying, "Buy my book! Or... hers. Or hers over there. Actually, they're probably better than mine. I read them. Really. Skip mine and buy theirs."
ReplyDeleteHmmm, this attitude makes me think you share bloodlines with Mary Connealy...
LOL, Janet! 12 more days to devour cake and I won't be able to zip up my jeans!!
ReplyDeleteBut really, I do love all the cakes : )
Squeeeeeaaaalllllll!!!! Thank you so much! So excited to read Susan Anne Mason's debut novel, Betrayed Hearts.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sunny (finally) afternoon up here (but nippy) so I'm about to curl up with a good book...Surprised by Love by Julie Lessman. What bliss!
Wow, what a great WE!! And so many WONDERFUL Seeker and Friends books to choose from! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Virginia is going to be with us next week...I'm reading Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits right now. I can see why it's so popular, Ms. V.
Every few pages, I think about a college professor or a teacher friend who'd love it. :)
Congratulations to all the winners! Tina, thank you for the WE and all the delicious BIRTHDAY cakes! The "eavesdropping" link had many good points, including one in the comments about what to do to be a confident writer. Next week looks like another fun week in Seekerville. I LOVE seeing all these Christmas books! Anticipation!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the winners! Yay, Mary Hicks!!! Enjoy the gift card.
ReplyDeleteJust got home from an overnight with family to celebrate a little one's 4th birthday! So fun! More cake and ice cream...I brought some home with me to share. Who wants cake?
Thanks for the shout out about the Neilsen Bookscan Top Hundred for Holiday Defenders! I'm smiling!
Congratulations to all of the winners!
ReplyDeleteI pre-ordered all of the Christmas books!! I think it is only 10 or 11 weeks until Christmas.
Heading back to read all of the links. Great WE, Tina!
Great WE as always, and CONGRATS to all the winners!!
ReplyDeleteAm home from a weekend visit to our GA coast---and I actually got some writing done while there! :)
Looking forward to another wonderful week in Seekerville!
Hugs, Patti Jo
What a great WE!! Lots of sightings as well as prizes. And some great links, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tina!
Hope you've all had a great weekend. We spent most of it with my daughter's high school homecoming. A busy but wonderful weekend!
Ruthy, thanks for letting us know you saw us in Kroger!! So exciting to hear! I love being on the shelf with those ladies. :)
ReplyDeleteRuthy, thanks for letting us know you saw us in Kroger!! So exciting to hear! I love being on the shelf with those ladies. :)
ReplyDeleteWilani, thanks for pre-ordering!
ReplyDeleteAnd Heidi, too! Thanks for pre-ordering! This whole project has been so exciting. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Heidi, too! Thanks for pre-ordering! This whole project has been so exciting. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, Jamie! Don't feel bad. On my current proposal, I was writing a man with a 15 year old daughter and realized about halfway through the proposal that I'd made him 29 years old!!! I had to make a slight adjustment. LOL
ReplyDeleteThank you to Donna, too! And all of you who've been so supportive!
ReplyDeleteVirginia, you crack me up!!
Audra, there is a reason I avoid wearing jeans. LOL They better have loads of stretch.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Debby, another huge reason to celebrate!!!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Missy, We spent part of our weekend at our college homecoming. We lost but one of our players who was carted off the field is released from the hospital and doing fine. Cause to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteNever thought to ask with all the excitement about your daughter's homecoming festivities. Did the football team win?
Janet
Oh, thanks, Pam!
ReplyDeleteThat was the first book I ever wrote. I look at it now and it's pretty rough around the edges but it will always hold a special place in my heart. :)
Janet, that gave me shivers. I think of those mamas up in the stands. How can they watch their boys get hurt and not have a heart attack on the spot?
ReplyDeleteSo glad he's doing better...
Happy Birthday Seekerville and
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the winners!!! I'm getting a book! Thank you & Yahoo! :)
I spent the morning celebrating the 100th birthday of a teacher from my school who still comes in to work with the children three times a week! WOW!
ReplyDeleteAnd I won books from Emily/LI. Win/Win.
Thanks Seekerville.
Congrats to all you winners -- and extra congrats to Mary H!
ReplyDeleteThe engagement ring link was fun, Tina. And what a nice pic at the cowboy link. Interesting, too, that eavesdropping led to "War of the Roses."
Hope everyone had a good weekend!
Nancy C
Lots of great articles this week.
ReplyDeleteTina, I love your picture!!!
I'd love a gc. :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations winners! Looking forward to the posts for next week!
ReplyDelete