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| Toss the Bouquet |
Here Comes the Bride! Toss the Bouquet, Ruth Logan Herne is giving away 3 copies to celebrate the release of this wonderfully romantic book! Winners announced in the next Weekend Edition.
We Have Winners
Giveaway rules can be found here. Drop us a line to claim your giveaway at seekers@seekerville.net. Please allow us the 6-8 weeks per our legal page to get your prizes sent out.
All prizes not claimed in 8 weeks go back into the prize vault. We wish we could contact all our winners individually, but we'd rather write books!
Last weekend we celebrated the release of Glynna Kaye's, Claiming the Single Mom's Heart, part of the Hearts of Hunter Ridge series. CatMom and Connie Brown are winners of print copies of this Love Inspired romance.
We also celebrated National Library Week. Keli Gwyn is the winner of a Library Card Mug from Outofprint.com.
Villager, philosopher and Ad Man, Vince Mooney was our guest on Monday, talking about book reviews. Want tips on encouraging readers to review your books? Want tips on how to write book reviews? We hope you didn't miss this post. Sally Shupe is the winner of Janet Dean's The Bounty Hunter's Redemption. Sherida Stewart is the winner of a Kindle edition of Courting Miss Adelaide, and Bonton is the winner of a Kindle edition of The Price of Victory.
Tuesday Howard Books debut author Kara Isaac was our guest. Kara is a long time Villager and we we're delighted to share her journey with her post, "Write the Crazy Book." Beth is the winner of Close to You.
Wednesday Publisher's Weekly best-selling author and Seeker, Debby Giusti hosted and shared good news, along with travel details and pictures of her “Amish Road Trip!” Lara Hitchcock and Kate are the winners of Debby’s Plain Danger..and a surprise gift!
Thursday was "Top Three Tips For Selling Your Novel Without An Agent," with our special guest, Dani Pettrey. Trixi is the winner of an autographed copy of Cold Shot and $10 Starbucks gift card, because books and coffee are just made to go together. So good that we have two more Starbucks gift card winners: Loraine Nunley and Barbara Fox.
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| Toss the Bouquet! |
Monday: Former police officer turned writer, Janice Cantore is our special guest today. Her post is "Ripped from the Headlines—Current Events and Fictional Stories." Janice is generously giving away three copies of Burning Proof, and to one commenter a Janice Cantore book of choice. Four winners! Thanks, Janice!!
Tuesday: Sandra Leesmith will talk about the importance of using what you know in setting your scenes.
Wednesday: Seeker Glynna Kaye is your hostess today. Stop by to chat with this Love Inspired author who delivers insights for the writing journey.
Thursday: Join us a day with Cara Lynn James with her post,"The End of the Road — how to keep your story's ending exciting and satisfying."
Friday: Best of the Archives: "Best of the Archives:The Unauthorized Cheat Sheet of Self-Editing Tips for Writers with Tina Radcliffe." Comments are closed each Friday so we can achieve our reading and writing goals.
Seeker Sightings
Seekerville was recently interviewed by Shannon Sukraw Leinen for her Doctoral Research Paper. Name of Publication: NATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL Issue: Volume 45 # 2 ISSN 2154-1736
http://www.nssa.us/journals/pdf/NSS_Journal_45_2.pdf
See page 41.
Just released! From some of your favorite Seeker authors. Get your copy today.
Join Ruth Logan Herne and friends for the Christian Scavenger Hunt.
Starting Friday at noon, and then going for two full days of rollicking fun! You'll start at LISA BERGREN'S site and be directed from there to 31 other sites... and a chance at a lot of prizes! Join the fun Friday, 4/22 at noon... and you've got all weekend to go through the stops!
FOR MORE INFO, GO HERE!!!
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| All Dressed Up in Love in the Toss the Bouquet Collection |
Thank you to everyone who sent links.
Gilead Publishing is Announced (Steve Laube Literary Blog) & Industry Veterans Form a New Christian Publishing House (PW) **Must Read**
2016 Smashwords Survey Reveals Insight into the Habits of Bestselling Authors (Smashwords Blog)**Must Read**
Essential Tax Deductions for Writers (Writer Unboxed)
Stuck? This Random Writing Generator Can Help (or not!) (Writing Exercises)
Writing Tools (Everything You Could Ever Need) (Writers Helping Writers) *Excellent*
Infographic: Popular Words Invented by Authors (The Digital Reader)
The Key Book Publishing Paths:2016 (Jane Friedman)
Crutch Words: Why They Cripple Your Writing (Bookbaby Blog)
Avast! Piracy and the Self-Publisher (The Book Designer)
Finding Their Tribe: Faith-Driven Books by Women Pick Up Steam (PW)
Writer Igniter (DIY MFA)
How To Build An Author Business With Helen Sedwick (The Creative Penn)
Subtext: Creating Layered Characters (Jami Gold)
That's it! Have a great writing and reading weekend!
Great links--as usual!!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Coffee is brewing.
Thanks, Helen! What are you up to these days besides brewing coffee you don't drink?
ReplyDeleteHumming the graduation theme. What is that song called anyhow.
ReplyDeleteLove Ruthy's new cover. Gorgeous. Just love wedding stories and covers. Put a bride on it and I am hooked.
Have a great reading and writing weekend everyone!!
Pomp and Circumstance....
ReplyDeleteGraduation theme. Isn't it funny how a song immediately makes a connection? Here Comes the Bride.... Pomp and Circumstance... Taps.... Amazing Grace (I always hear bagpipes)... Hail to the Chief.
Instantly our brains paint a picture or draw up an image.
TINA!!!! WHAT A GREAT WE WITH TOSS THE BOUQUET!!!!!!
Oh my gosh, it's such a lovely book, and readers across the country have spotted it in lots of stores, including WALMARTS!!!!! Oh, I am happy dancing!
And my story in this book, "All Dressed Up in Love" IS CHARMING.
Well, I think so, anyway, and I love the story so much!!!!
Weddings...... trailing lace...... flowers........ food and dancing and happy smiles and traditions.
Oh mylanta, I love weddings!!!
Huge congratulations to all winners this week! I am so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteAnd while we party this weekend over the release of "Toss the Bouquet" (and no, releasing books never gets old, it is always an absolute thrill), let's have a little wedding music, eh???
How Sweet It is to Be Loved by You
I love the Marvin Gaye version and found it on GOD TUBE!!!!!! SWEEEET!
Congratulations to all of the winners!
ReplyDeleteRuthy, your cover is stunning...actually, all of your covers are great.
Thanks for another informational WE, Tina!
Congratulations to the winners! Thanks for another great weekend, Tina!
ReplyDeleteI made seven-minute frosting yesterday. Mindy Obenhaus had it on Yankee Belle Cafe this week, and I was totally inspired... and it comes out so much like marshmallow fluff that the kids thought I'd frosted the cupcakes with fluff.... but no!
ReplyDeleteOld fashioned boiled icing!
What a fun trip down memory lane that was!!!! Wedding shower cupcakes (or wedding cupcakes!) would be awesome with this shiny, fluffy, holds-a-peak frosting!
#weddingtipfromruthy
Congrats, Ruthy!
ReplyDeleteYou've turned into a writing machine. So proud of you!!! This collection looks wonderful. Everyone loves a bride..or two or three! Can't wait to read.
Hugs to all the winners! It was a great week in Seekerville. Looks like the upcoming week will be equally as fun.
I'm off to a Women's Call to Holiness Prayer Breakfast at church. Should be a delightful morning.
Great weekend post Tina! Congratulations to all the winners!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win a copy of Ruthy's book Toss the Bouquet. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
I would love to win a copy of Ruthy's book Toss the Bouquet.....thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend to all. I'll be lurking more than commenting during my recupe and PT season (and pain)!!!
Good morning Seekerville! Congrats to the winners, to RUTHY on her latest book, and to TINA for another fabulous, jam-packed Weekend Edition!
ReplyDeleteWith Ruthy's background in baking wedding cakes and working at a bridal boutique, this should be an extra fun read! Who doesn't get a kick out of watching "Say Yes to the Dress"? :)
Take good care of yourself, JACKIE!
Congratulations Ruthy! I am halfway through Spring into Love and just finished your latest Sewing Sisters adventure. I meant to ask you this before. ....how did you come up with the name Jean Ellen? My real life sister shares that name! What a coincidence.
ReplyDeletePlease toss my name in for the bouquet. I love Seeker books. Keep them coming!
Wow -- I'm not half through the links yet but I just had to jump up and down and sqqqqqquuuueeeallllllll over the new Christian publisher with people who understand. And now we all have to get behind them and buy their books!!!!!!!!!!!! Some to be out in the fall. Can't wait to see what kind of stories they are offering. And a whole publishing house devoted to fiction. My heads all swimmy like I've done double rounds on a tilt-a-whirl, I'm that excited. Woot!!!!
ReplyDeleteExcited as well about Ruthy's Toss the Bouquet. I've read her novella and loved it. Lot's to cheer about on Seekerville today. Happy weekending everyone. I've drafted help to clean the winter out of my garden this afternoon now that spring has finally arrived.
Great Weekend Edition, Tina. Congratulations to our winners! Looks like a wonderful week ahead.
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend, everyone! The sun is shining in Indiana. I'm going to enjoy it while I can as ten days of rain are in the forecast. Spring showers bring May flowers so I'm not complaining. Well, maybe a little. :-) The rain may cancel our granddaughter's tennis matches.
Helen, thanks for the coffee.
Janet
Ruthy, I'm applauding your latest release! I love wedding stories and your books and admire your amazing productivity! The cover is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Jackie, hoping your pain and rehab gets easier every day.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Janet
Debby, enjoy your prayer breakfast this morning. Gathering to pray with other women of faith is such a precious blessing.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Is that me? Did I win Close To You?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAnother great WE. Can't believe I won that adorable library card mug. Color me happy!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your latest release, Ruthy! It was such fun seeing the book in my local Placerville, California Walmart. I gave it some loving. And my devoted hubby took a picture of me with it sporting my version of the Gwyn grin. (His version is cuter, imo. =)
Great WE, Tina! Thanks to all who sent in links. Lots of reading to do!
ReplyDeleteI hope you all have a great weekend!
Very exciting, Keli!
ReplyDeleteGreat WE, Miss T!! You ALWAYS give us a wonderful Weekend Edition - - thank you for ALL your hard work.
ReplyDeleteI am THRILLED to win GLYNNA'S newest release - - YAY!!!! :) Would happy dance if not for a stiff back today (LOL).
Congrats to RUTHY on your latest release - - Bridal-themed books are so fun to read!
JACKIE SMITH, still praying for you as you recover, sweet lady. And believe me, I DO understand. Gentle hugs!
My Georgia neighborhood is having GORGEOUS weather right now (after a big storm late last night!) - - wish I could share with everyone.
But I can "share" some Georgia peach muffins, cobbler, and pecan pralines - - ENJOY! ;) (I got a little carried away with the baking, hehe!)
Hugs, Patti Jo
p.s. GREAT Links too - - thank you Miss T!
Another Great WE! Thanks Tina.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the winners.
I am having a great weekend. Great for writing and reading.
I have Toss the Bouquet so don't include me in that drawing. I am already reading the second story in the new Seekerville collection and it is awesome as usual.
Congrats to all the winners! Excited to have won Debby's book! All the new and upcoming releases look great. So many good books, so little time. :-)
ReplyDeletePer discussion of contests, I am now preparing to submit for the golden rose. Looks like you have to be an RWA member. Quick question: Is it okay to join as an associate-writer even if I do have a full length manuscript? I didn't know if I should upload that manuscript given that it's the one I'll be entering in the contest.
Happy weekend, everyone!
Tina,
ReplyDelete(Since you asked) I have a new four book series almost completed. The first three are live, and the fourth should be up by the end of May or early June.
Jill, thank you! TNZ (Thomas Nelson/Zondervan) did a great job, didn't they?
ReplyDeleteAnd Jackie, good morning!!!!
Debby, the Women's Holiness morning sounds lovely. We had babysitting morning here, a hothouse full of cuties... so nice, so sweet, so fun to juggle!
ReplyDeleteBut now it's back to work until Mass time this evening.
And what a crazy fun time to have all these books erupt on the scene! I am totally blessed!
Jackie Smith, you are still in my prayers, and I expect it's not fun working through the reconditioning pain, but I know you can do it!
ReplyDeleteTossing your name in!!!!
Cindy, doesn't Tina do an amazing job? She is a house on fire, for sure.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tina!!!!!
And Cindy, I'm tucking your name in for this. I love this story, and to have Amy's and Janice's stories included???
#BONUS
Glynna! I had so much fun writing this story, I was immersed in my wedding-days element! SO FUN!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd tucking it into Old City, Philadelphia just made it more special if such a thing was possible!
I love weddings.
They make me smile and cry.
Bettie! I love old-fashioned sounding names, and Jean Ellen just came to mind, but here's a funny thing about brains.
ReplyDeleteSo many things we've heard get "tucked" into that subconscious. I may have heard the name or read it in an old book, who knows?
I call one of my grandgirlies "Pearlie May". She talks with a drawl, and she's got big blue eyes with ivory lights, bits of ivory sprinkled through, so almost gray but not quite... and she just always seemed like a "Pearlie May".... She's almost six now.
Well this past year we were going through some old stuff from my mother, and I realized I had a Great Aunt Nancy and a cousin once or twice removed named "Pearlie Mae" in the Seattle area long ago.
I bet my mother mentioned the name at some point and it stuck. Aren't brains the craziest things?
I'm so glad you love Spring Into Love!!! I love being part of novella collections, and we've got a Seeker one coming out this summer.... and then I'm a Christmas contemporary for St. Martin's Press (YAY!!!!!!!) and then a fun historical for Gilead Books, a new publishing enterprise. I think both of those will be released in October, so no Seeker winter novellas for me, but I get to have Mary in both of these collections, and Julie in the historical, so it's kind of fun SEEKERS PLUS!!!!, right?
Thanks for answering. ...very interesting.
DeleteKav, I'm so glad you found some help! If I lived closer, I'd come do it for you, my friend!
ReplyDeleteAnd we're all so excited about Gilead!!!!
HAPPY DANCING!
Janet, thank you! I'm still pinching myself, for certain!
ReplyDeleteKeli Gwyn posted that pic of her with "Toss the Bouquet" on my facebook feed, and it's adorable! Thank you, Keli!!!! That's the closest I've gotten to California, darling! :)
ReplyDeleteI am all over Patti Jo's food.... I am over the moon in love with anything pecan, praline or peach, which means I'm a heat-hating, bug-hating displaced Southern Belle with Yankee Snark.
ReplyDeleteThis is a conundrum!!!!
Wilani.
ReplyDeleteBless you.
Bless you, bless you, bless you.
Thank you so much for buying that, and I'm so glad you love "Spring Into Love". We had such fun putting it together!
I'd hug you if I could.
Lara, I'm not an RWA member, but a bunch of the gals are, so I'm going to let them answer the question rather than give you bad advice....
ReplyDeleteKeep watching for a mysterious stranger to talk smarter than I can!!!
Wonderful, Helen, Congratulations!!! Bizzzzy gal.
ReplyDeleteHelen, you are amazing. Absolutely amazing. You took a bag full of lemons and made lemonade out of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you!
Beth Erin S. Send you info in. If by some chance there were two Beth's that day, we'll make sure you both get the book.
ReplyDeleteWe try to put last initials but sometimes forget. :) It's a win-win day for Beth.
Lara,
ReplyDeleteThe whole membership tier thing just started. Frankly, I don't know, the answer to either of those questions. Email Carol Ritter to ask. carol.ritter@rwa.org She is very responsive.
But RWA is very worth it. The online offerings are spectacular as is the magazine, and the conference is the biggest bang for your buck out there.
It's unfortunate some chapters still require you to be an RWA member to enter their contests, as many contests are suffering from low entries due to many authors moving straight to indie pubbing.
Happy Saturday, Seekervillagers! Congrats to RUTHY on the release of yet another charming romance! You are one prolific writer, girlfriend!
ReplyDeleteAnd so fun that Seekerville is featured in a doctoral research paper!!!! Thank you, SHANNON!!!
Crazy weekend at my house. Our daughter and her 3 girls are here for a short visit (her hubby & son are on a school trip). Things get chaotic with an 11-year-old, a 5-year-old, and a 2-year-old underfoot! We're taking the two older girls to see our church's production of Mary Poppins tomorrow afternoon. It's going to be fabulous!
Lara I'm not sure what you mean by associate member. If you have a finished full length manuscript you shoudl qualify as a full member I think AND you are PRO eligible.
ReplyDeleteTo get yourself onto the PRO loops, which I thought back then were good loops with good industry pros teaching lessons and spending days talking and just industry information, you need to send them some proof like....a rejection letter from an editor or agent, something like that. I contest entry....I'm not sure about that but you only need to have proof of finishing a full manuscript to be PRO eligible.
Congratulations to all of the winners this week!
ReplyDeleteTina, great weekend edition as always! Thanks for all the links!
Ruthy - I've been a wedding planner for ah-hem, more years that i care to admit to - and love, love, love wedding books! Can't wait to read yours! The cover is beautiful!
Please put my name in the drawing for Ruthy's book!!
RWA has changed their membership to tiers.
ReplyDeleteMembership Types
General Membership ($99)
All qualified applicants for General membership are automatically approved as Associate-Writers. Once applicants provide proof of serious pursuit of a romance writing career (see below), Associate-Writers become General Members.
General membership is open to all persons SERIOUSLY pursuing a romance fiction writing career. Only General members shall have all rights of membership, and only General members shall have the right to vote and the right to hold office in RWA.
General members must prove serious pursuit of a romance writing career. Please read more about our Serious Pursuit qualifications.
Those qualifications are :When you begin the dues renewal process for General membership, you will need to submit information:
One complete complete original work of romance fiction* of at least 20,000 words
Multiple complete original works of romance fiction* which combine for a total of at least 20,000 words.
Associate Membership ($99)
Associate membership is open to all other individuals, including employees of RWA and its contractors, who support the organization and its purposes but who do not meet the requirements for General membership or who are not permitted to participate on RWA’s general discussion forums by reason of being involved in the acquisition process*, i.e., publishers, acquiring editors, or agents who actively acquire romance fiction or actively offer representation to writers of romance fiction, as further described in RWA policy. Associate members shall not have any voting rights or the right to hold office in RWA.
Associate members receive a copy of the Romance Writers Report magazine, have access to the myRWA website (with restrictions to industry professional access to General member forums), RWA University (only for Associate members who are writers), member resources, and receive the member rate for RWA conferences and workshops.
RWA asks those pursuing membership as Associates to indicate if they fall into one of the following areas:
ASSOCIATE - WRITER
A writer who is not seriously pursuing a career as a romance writer or does not fit the Serious Pursuit qualifications for General Membership.
Lara, you have a completed manuscript. You would be a General member.
ReplyDeleteI only listed some of the requisite things that show you are seriously persuing a romance writer career.Anyone else interested should check the website.
Additionally, as Lara noted, you have to upload your manuscript to RWA to be a General Member and be in PRO.
ReplyDeleteRWA welcomes writers at all stages of their careers from the unpublished, to the "almost" published, to the published and the multipublished. In an effort to meet the needs of all its members, RWA has several Communities of Practice (CoP) which are communities of people who come together with a common interest to share ideas, find solutions, and build innovations.
The purpose of the PRO Community of Practice is to establish within RWA a network of communication and support to effectively promote and protect the interests of romance writers in the areas between manuscript completion and PAN eligibility.
PRO focuses on the business side of writing rather than craft. To be eligible to join the PRO community, RWA members must sumbit an application and a digital copy of the qualifying work(s) to the RWA Office.
PRO Eligibility
This program is available to any active General or Honorary member who: (1) is not PAN-eligible and (2) has one complete original work of romance fiction of at least 20,000 words, or multiple complete original works of romance fiction which combine for a total of at least 20,000 words.
Membership in the PRO Community of Practice is available only for active RWA members.
LARA- TO NOW ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
ReplyDelete"Quick question: Is it okay to join as an associate-writer even if I do have a full length manuscript? I didn't know if I should upload that manuscript given that it's the one I'll be entering in the contest."
Now that I have the facts.
1. Upload your manuscript and be General member. You get the benefit of the PRO organization which you can use on your letters to editors and agents.
2. They won't care if that is the same manuscript you are entering in contests and submitting. In fact that is what you are supposed to do. You are only submitting it to RWA for proof you wrote a romance with a central love story and wrote THE END. After that they have no use for your manuscript. It's yours, not RWA's.
Myra, what a fun weekend! I get such a kick out of having gremlins here and there... I hope they love the show. Beth and I are taking a few of the grandkids to see "Honk!" in two weeks, and it will be wonderful to see their faces when they're seeing a live show!
ReplyDeleteEdwina, happily adding your name! Always a pleasure to see you!!!
ReplyDeleteYou seriously have to upload your completed unpublished manuscript?
ReplyDeleteThat sounds ridiculous to me.
I guess you send it in when you enter the Golden Heart, but still............
Oh my stars, Lara, there is a fount of information here for you! WOW. Tina, thank you, I knew one of you gals who still belong would know...
ReplyDeleteThat's all I've got, sweet thing, wow....
Mary, clearly things have changed this year, hence the confusion.
I will stay ensconced in my cozy, quiet nook comprised of lack of knowledge. Lara, I did find RWA valuable in the past. I find the new big push toward erotica and the push for inclusion of really radical things that fall way outside my "romance" thermometer to be offensive. So I let my membership lapse years ago.
Some of us are members. Some aren't, for a variety of reasons. But as an aspiring author I worked hard and joined several organizations to learn everything I could about the industry, and I don't regret any of it. Each bit of learning helped sharpen my writing and my goals, so it was all beneficial.
I also agree with Tina that it's plain silly to limit contests to RWA members... Because I'm not the only person who has made this stand, and indie publishing is so much easier and better now!
But old habits die hard I guess. I'm so glad you brought us your question, that's what we're here for!
I went and read for a while and saw the term General Member.
ReplyDeleteYes, Lara you need to join as a General Member. That's where you're peeps are.
:)
Then Pro eligible should fit you.
PAN is once you're published.
Go for it!
I have to agree with Mary about the uploading a manuscript thing....
ReplyDeleteOuch.
So if the old RWA poll is still correct, about 85% of members don't really push to be writers.
So they'd be associate members.
And then the general membership is showing/proving sincere interest in craft.
And that was about 15%.
That's an old poll, this all might have changed, especially with indie publishing offering broader opportunities.
They said it can be a 20K manuscript, right?
That's what I'd send.
I'd send the opening 20K (just as if it was a contest entry).
Ruthy-used-to-be-naive Logan Herne
They want the WHOLE msc. They just give you the qualifier that it has to be at least 20K.
ReplyDeleteSomeone is leading you astray. (not me)
Wow! I really sparked something here! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your responses.
We love to debate!!! hehehehe
ReplyDeleteI think all the new tiers have to do with RWA's maintaining non-profit status, and showing that the organization is helping career focused romance writers.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Winners! Enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations winners! Count me in! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteRuthy, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your new cover! It's gorgeous! I want to start reading the book now just because of the cover....and because you write fabulous books :)
ReplyDeleteCount me in!
Valri
I am OVER THE MOON HAPPY DANCING...why.....because I see my name as winning Dani Pettrey's "Cold Shot"....sqqqquuuuuueeeeeeeeeee!!!! I'm having a HUGE fan-girl moment here...........
ReplyDeleteAnd if that weren't enough, I get to celebrate with Starbucks......oh my heart!! :-)
I just got done participating in the scavenger hunt...what a blast! I always enjoy things of the nature. Getting to know authors more or meeting new ones is the highlight of this weekend. I've added quite a lot of books to my want-to-read list.
Congrats to all the other winners this week. You gals are just so generous, a huge thank you to the authors! You make indulging in reading fun :-) As if we needed any more excuses....haha!
Ruthy toss my name in the hat, vase, dish, whatever for the chance at a copy of "Toss the Bouquet"....I do so love weddings :-)
Blessings on everyone rest of the weekend, looking forward to next week!
Lara, you did! I love a good discussion! :)
ReplyDeleteMissy, thanks for chiming in. With more than 10,000 members, they're bringing in a cool million a year in fees, and then 200K or so with the RITA and the Golden Heart.
I expect they have to do some adjusting to maintain the Not for Profit status.
Wowza.
I think I'm safer talking about weddings, and weddings cost... and bring in!!!... a bunch of money, too!
But I love, love, love weddings!
Caryl, I saw you on the Scavenger Hunt!!!!! And Trixi, I'm so glad you had fun! What a riot! hundreds and hundreds of people are jumping from board to board.... Thank you so much for doing it!
ReplyDeleteValri, thank you! What a nice thing to say, here honey, have some wedding cake....
ReplyDeleteWhite, chocolate or carrot????
(The carrot cake has cream cheese frosting. Of course!)
Annie, you're in! Tossed your name into the dish of bridal mints...
ReplyDeleteAfter I ATE them, of course!!!!
Bettie, LOL! Interesting is a nice way of putting it. :)
ReplyDeleteHAPPY WE, SEEKERVILLE!! And, WHOA, lots going on, especially for Ruthy, so SUPER CONGRATS on the release of Toss the Bouquet, my friend -- LOVE the cover, and I already know I'm gonna LOVE what's inside!! And DOUBLE CONGRATS in hitting some Wal-marts!! WOW ... every author's dream after the Christy and bestseller list!!
ReplyDeleteGREAT WE, Teenster, as always!! The post alone is worth its weight in gold, but then you add all those links, and look out!! Taking it to the bank!!
JACKIE -- saying one for that recup, my friend, and SO glad the surgery went well!!
I'm with Myra -- thrilled to the lashes that Seekerville is featured in a doctoral research paper -- WHOO-HOO!!!! I always knew we had higher learning here!! Thank you, SHANNON!!!
Gorgeous almost mid-80s in Osage Beach, and I got my first ride in our brand-new (used) pontoon, so YEE-HAW -- summer, here I come!!
Hugs and HAPPY WEEKEND!!
Julie
KAV ... GREAT line -- "My heads all swimmy like I've done double rounds on a tilt-a-whirl ..." I remember those things before my cast-iron stomach got old and skitsy!! GREAT ADJECTIVE, "swimmy" -- may just have to steal it!
ReplyDeletePATTI JO, what am I gonna do with you??? Peach cobbler is bad enough for my diet, but then you toss in Georgia peach muffins and pecan pralines??? Sigh. There goes the will power ...
YAY, LARA, for entering the Golden Rose -- you go, girl! Saying one right now for a final and then a win!! Wish I could answer your question, but I'm not sure either. Thank God we have Tina!!!!
HOLY COW, HELEN ... four-book series??? How many books you have out now, darlin'? You're cooking', girl, doing the Connealy/Logan Herne boil!!
WOW, Tina, talk about detailed answers! You can sure tell you worked in a library, my friend ... uh, didn't you??!!
RUTHY ... how did you like the scavenger hunt?? It's a lot of fun, isn't it, albeit a bit crazy. I miss it, but you have to have a traditionally pubbed book to get in, I think.
Well, gotta scoot ... some spiritual sustenance, then diving in ... to writing, not the lake! ;)
Hugs,
Julie
Another question for you lovely ladies. If you go to
ReplyDeletehttp://rosecityromancewriters.com/2016-golden-rose-contest-entry-form/
you have to fill in the sensuality level. How would you rate something like Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers?
ReplyDeleteLara,
An encounter means sex. If there is no sex in your book you put mild.
Even if there's the insinuation of an encounter, as in many of Francine Rivers' books? (Sorry if I'm being dense. I just don't want to misrepresent my work.)
DeleteLara, I think any story published by...or written for a Christian publisher would be "sweet" or "mild," as Tina mentioned.
ReplyDeleteJulie, are you at the beach? Be still my heart!!! Send a little salt spray my way, please!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Helen, on your four releases!!! You've been a bit low key recently. No wonder. You've been hard at work. So proud of you! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteRUTHY, I absolutely love your TOSS THE BOUQUET cover!!! The designer deserves a giant gold star for that one. I'm sure it's a standout on the book shelves.
ReplyDeleteTINA, thank you for explaining the RWA membership levels. I'm sure it's a great organization to join, but trying to figure out the info on their website gave me a headache. Sheesh. I hate to criticize, but they need a first-grade teacher to write the directions. What made them think fiction writers could slog through that stuff without a kiss or two...maybe a hug...or at least a glance across the room from a handsome, mysterious stranger?
I'd love a copy of your book, RUTHY! Please throw my name in the kitty bowl. :)
I want to ride in/on a pontoon!!!! Holy Moly, that's a fun thing to throw into a contemporary, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteRomance-building on the boat!!!!
Julie, thank you for all of your kind words. There is never a time when seeing our books on shelves gets old... it is a thrill, each time!!!
Think of me on that pontoon.... I love that image.
Julie, I haven't ruined the scavenger hunt yet!!!!
ReplyDeleteI kept my site dedicated to Margaret's book, I didn't do a separate giveaway because I've done so many the last six weeks, and I knew I was neck deep in edits this weekend, and I realized that getting my feet wet... and not ruining it.... WAS CLUTCH, Jules!!!
So far, so good, and Lisa Bergren and Robin Hatcher have been amazing organizers.
And it's fun to see so many folks stop by the blogs!
Tina, I wouldn't have known that "encounters" was code for sex. Oh man, I'm so old world!!!
ReplyDeleteLara, if there is a discussion of an encounter occurring in the present story by the hero and heroine, and it is not the back story it is not for the inspirational market. If the heat level is anything but mild and we need to talk about the levels of encounters as it is not a topic for this blog, lol.
ReplyDeleteIf the discussion is about a past life encounter,the heroine and heroes former self before they were Christians or when they stumbled, then it is not sex as it not the act live and in person.
If you still cannot decide then you might need someone to read this story first.
Do you read secular romance? Anything besides mild is secular romance. Julie Lessman's stuff is hot, but in a contest entry evaluation, it is still mild as there are no encounters.
Lara, I'd put mild if there's no sex.
ReplyDeleteBut you can e-mail the coordinator and ask her/his advice on how to define encounter... and I kind of wish if they'd meant sex, they'd just use the word because encounters sounds a little ambiguous, doesn't it?
Barb, I'm tucking your name in!!!
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the complication factor.
And it could be tighter not-for-profit laws and trying to maintain that status.
And you've got an editing factor which might make it sensible to join... are there advantages for editors to be part of RWA?
Lara, going back to your question (and it's a good one!) we've often had these discussions trying to decide which "category" to pick for a contest.
ReplyDeleteAnd if the readers/judges think you picked the wrong one, they'll tell you. I think the only way to know for sure is to pick your best choice and enter.
I've had judges advise me over the years, and sometimes it was "category" based advise... "Ruthy, this would do better in short contemporary, it's not really inspirational" or something like that.
Most judges really want to help us become the best writers we can be.... and in the end, it's simply their opinion.
I'm a jump in/both feet kind of gal, and I've learned a lot that way.
Now I'm going to go and look up "encounters" in the online dictionary!!!
Interesting discussions this weekend. Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend. Please enter me in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteRUTHY, Thanks for reassuring me that it's a good question since I still feel awkward for having asked; I don't really revel in throwing around words like sensuality. Maybe that's a clue that I'm over-thinking this thing.
ReplyDeleteAnd, TINA, no, I don't read secular romance for that very reason. I don't like the explicit.
So I think I have my answer: If inspirational = mild and “Redeeming Love” = inspirational, then mine = mild. Maybe instead of “strong insinuation,” I should've said that the encounters were implied (as in Julie's books) but not described. Implied and then skipped over. The reader knows an encounter happened but not the details.
(I think my eyes might be permanently crossed now.)
Great WE, TINA, thank you! Congratulations to all the winners!
ReplyDeleteRUTHY, another new book? Congratulations!! That is one beautiful cover! I seriously do not know how you get everything done that you do. You are such an inspiration!
Off now to read the links. Have a great week, everyone!
Tina, Thank you for the weekend edition. Love seeing all the links. And I loved reading the comments about contests and RWA membership. Great discussion.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone had a great weekend.
Sandy, you're in! And I love that we can talk about things here, there's way too much secrecy in publishing. Authors need to know stuff... And hear what others think, right? And with 13 of us, you're likely to hear 13 different opinions!!!!
ReplyDelete(Missy's will always be the NICEST.) :)
Lara, sure.... Did you know that for AGES people wondered how Mary's heroine in Petticoat Ranch could possibly have a baby because, well.... they weren't like, "together"...
ReplyDeleteBut they were!!! In a cleverly worded (and very well hidden!!!!) half a sentence, the cute marriage of convenience husband assured his wife he'd be sharing her room.
WE ALL LEARNED FROM THAT!!!! We learned to be a little more obvious, LOL!
So yes, I think you're fine, and we want you (and anyone) asking questions. There's a lot of years of experience here, so you're in good, if varied, hands!
Laura, I'd love to take full credit, but ...
ReplyDeleteWell, wait.
WHAT AM I DOING?????
YES! THANK YOU FOR THINKING I'M AMAZING!!!! :)
This is actually the print version of "All Dressed Up in Love", my "Year of Weddings" novella and it was released a year ago as an e-book....So this is awesome to have it come out in trade paperback now!!!!
And I love the cover, just enticing!
Tanya, yes! The best way to find out about these things is to ask, right? Initiate a discussion....
ReplyDeleteAnd we're all okay with not being in total agreement on everything, because we all agree on the important things.
God is amazing, Christ is his only begotten son, and he loved us enough to die for us... and he wants us to be the best and kindest people we can be.
So as long as the crucial stuff works for all of us, we can handle the other stuff!
I'd love to win a copy of "Toss the Bouquet"
ReplyDelete