This weekend we're partying on the island.
We're bringing you highlights of our time on Unpubbed Island,
And a peek back at our departure, along with a fun giveaway.
Mary Connealy-2005
Debby Giusti-2005
Julie Lessman-2006
Janet Dean-2006
Missy Tippens-2007
Myra Johnson-2008
Glynna Kaye-2009
Ruth Logan Herne-2009
Cara Lynn James-2009
Tina Radcliffe-2010
Audra Harders-2010
Sandra Leesmith-2010
Pam Hillman-2011
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 prize sent out.
** Effective 5/31/16 all winners are required to submit their address and phone number to verify their identity even if they win an e-prize. This is due to scammers attempting to claim prizes. ***
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!
Monday Mary Connealy was your hostess with her post, "This Free Novella Thing." Katherine Good is the winner of a $15 Amazon gift card.
Tuesday Janalyn Voigt was our special guest today. Her post was "Where to Start a Novel (Tips and Traps)." Hope you downloaded her free Character Development Worksheet! Winner of an ecopy of DawnSinger is ArtistLibrarian.
Hallmark movie, anyone? Wednesday we were joined by award-winning Christy nominee Denise Hunter for a peek into the world of selling a book to Hallmark. Denise discussed what happens When a Book Becomes a Hallmark Movie: 8 Things You Didn’t Know. Just Commonly is the winner of The Convenient Groom, which will soon be a Hallmark movie.
Thursday Sandra Leesmith talked about the world of Audible.com. Stephanie Trietsch is the winner of an iPod loaded with her Audible books She also shared some surprise photos.
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| The original Unpublished Island map. Circa 2005. |
Monday: We're delighted to welcome New York Times bestselling author, Linda Goodnight back to Seekerville. Linda is breezing in with wonderful advice about the five common mistakes in writing and she's graciously offering a copy of either her acclaimed "The Memory House" or "The Rain Sparrow" to one lucky commenter from the U.S.!
Tuesday: Myra Johnson brings us “A Random Top 10 List of Romance Novel Clichés.” Perhaps you’ll come up with a few cliche’s of your own to add to the list. Or share your ideas for keeping description, characterization, and familiar romance tropes from going stale. To celebrate Myra’s soon-to-be-released Castles in the Clouds, book 2 in her Flowers of Eden series (coming in August), Myra is giving away a copy of book 1, The Sweetest Rain—or, if you’ve already read it, any other of Myra’s published novels.
Wednesday: Publisher's Weekly bestselling author, Debby Giusti is your hostess in Seekerville! Debby will be talking about "The Unexpected Blessings of the Writing Life," with a fun giveaway. Be sure to stop by to join in the conversation!
Thursday: We're so excited to have Victoria Bylin return to Seekerville! Her post is called, "Lessons Learned From The Book That Nearly Did Me In." Plus she brought goodies and has three giveaways. One each for three commenters.
Friday: Best of the Archives: featuring Mary Connealy and her post, "Characters Welcome."
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| And then there were four. Postcards from Unpublished Island, Dec. 1, 2009. |
Seeker Sightings
Since we're on the island, it's only appropriate to eat seafood. Tina Radcliffe prepared Crab Louie in Yankee Belle Cafe yesterday. It's not too late to stop by for a taste. This is part of her Chef-in-Residence stint.
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| From the April 9, 2010 post. What I Wish I Knew Before I Sold A Book |
Thanks to everyone who sent links!
WOOT! Another Villager sails off the island! Congratulations, Diva Jackie!
5 Ways Google+ Can Rock Your Search Rankings (and Your World) (Writers in the Storm)**
Laura Drake presents: Your First Chapter – Reader Glue (Romance University)**
Book Marketing: Facebook Advertising For Authors With Mark Dawson (The Creative Penn)
Navigating a Long-Running Series By Katherine Hall Page (Romance University)**
How to Eliminate the Verb 'to be' (Publication Coach)
The Myth About Print Coming Back and Bookstores on the Rise (Jane Friedman)
Stealing Books in the Age of Self-Publishing (The Atlantic)**
On Piracy, Freeloading, and Glass Houses (The Digital Reader)
In Search of Obscure Words for Even Rarer Feelings (Literary Hub)
In case you missed it last week-How Much Do Indie Authors Earn From Amazon?(GalleyCat)**
Write Your Bio (a.k.a. an answer for Michael Beverly) (Steven Pressfield Online)**
How to Start Your Book in the Right Place (and Save Your Reader from Boredom, Frustration and Despair) (The Book Designer)**
Attention, Readers: ‘Rotten Tomatoes For Books’ Is Here (The Passive Voice)
Focus, and How to Regain it: A Lesson from the Trial Ring (Writer Unboxed)
Whose Story Is It? (Romance University)**
**Short on time? Read these now and save the rest for later!**
Have a great writing and reading weekend!
Someone is reading this post from Jamestown, NY. Stand up and be counted. I went to Jr. College in Jamestown.
ReplyDeleteLots on my plate this weekend. The A/C it turns out was not working properly. My office is feeling good tonight.
Happy reading and writing Seekerville.
Toasting Jackie Layton who done us proud with my Dunkin Donuts iced coffee. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Great WE, Miss T! Loved seeing the mementos from Unpubbed Island (including the map!). The Seekers are all AMAZING! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the winners, and looking forward to the posts next week!
YAY JACKIE!!!! Soooo happy for you, sweet friend!! :)
Need some sleep, but will stop by again when it's daylight, LOL.
Hugs, Patti Jo zzzzzzzzz....
Yay, Jackie! Congrats to my awesome critique partner!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Jackie!!! So happy for you!!
ReplyDeleteAnd Tina, I'm happy for you to have your AC working correctly! Our temps are getting up in your range this coming week. We're supposed to hit 100 around Atlanta.
Fabulous WE as always! Tina, glad your AC is working again.
ReplyDeleteAnd yeah, Jackie!!!! I'm so proud of her!
How fun to see the list, along with the dates of each of the Seekers maiden voyage.
ReplyDeleteAnd a big congratulations to my pal JACKIE! (Thanks for the email.) I knew your time was coming...I'm so happy for you!
Thanks for great WE, Tina. Congratulations to all of the winners.
JACKIE LAYTON!!!!!! I am so proud of you and excited for you!!!! Happy dancing in upstate with confetti and streamers!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love Jamestown NY and Chautauqua Lake (which became Kirkwood Lake in my Love Inspired series!!!) and that whole area.... Bemus Point, Mayville... So pretty!
ReplyDeleteOkay, I've got a slew of grand-darlings today, so I'm jumping into get a couple hours of work done now before the sweetums arrive. One set of parents is volunteering as track officials at the Special Olympics today... and the other set has a wedding. They get to dress up, leave 4 kids behind and get fed... and dance!
Kid Day at Grammy's!!!!
Tina, so glad the A/C is working better! You were downright hot last week!!!!
ReplyDeleteTina, I'm so glad your A/C is working. Stay cool!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the winners.
Thanks for celebrating with me. I feel so blessed, and Seekerville has been a HUGE part of my journey. I'd say God, family, crit partners and Seekerville! Thanks for all you do!
Hey, Jackie! I'm so excited for you. Congratulations! I pray you have many more sales in the future.
ReplyDeleteHey, Jackie! I'm so excited for you. Congratulations! I pray you have many more sales in the future.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the winners! Shout out to Jackie for her first sale! Yahoo for you! I bet you are happy dancing and I don't blame you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great pictures and WE Tina. You always do a fantastic job.
Have a blessed week everyone!
Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
Happy weekend, Seekerville! LOVE the walk down memory lane, TINA! I'd forgotten about the Unpubbed Island map. :) And boy is this a jam-packed W.E.!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the novella sale, JACKIE L! Woo hoo!
I shipped out my Hearts of Hunter Ridge series manuscript #4 on Monday and am now prepping cover ideas and images so I'll be ready when I get the call for that. AND YES, I'm already starting the next book in the series--proposal due August 1 so have to scramble to get it done around the day job. It's going to be Luke & Grady's little sister Rio's story.
CONGRATS to Jackie Layton!! So happy for you.
ReplyDeleteTina, what a great WE....really enjoyed the "look back" you featured. Seekerville is the greatest!
Happy weekend to all!
Congratulations Jackie Layton!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for another great weekend edition Tina.
JACKIE!!!!!!!!!! As Ruthy would say, SO STINKIN' PROUD OF YOU, GIRLFRIEND!!!
ReplyDeleteTina, sorry about the AC, but glad it's working in your office, which to me would be a directive from heave TO WRITE ALL WEEKEND!!
SUPER CONGRATS to all the winners and GREAT WE, Teenster!! Uh ... all except the link on plagerism, which made me soooo mad and upset, but onward and upward! Love, LOVE, LOVE the links to the Seeker sales -- soooooooooo fun!!
WOW, Glynna, way to go, girl, on shipping out the 4th ms. You are SUCH an inspiration, my friend, how you write around that very demanding full-time job!
Hugs and Happy Weekend, All!
Julie
What a great Weekend Edition! I love the look back at Unpubbed Island. (I have a bottle of sand from it that I won in a drawing once. =) I remember celebrating First Sales with a number of Seekers. Such wonderful memories. I've enjoyed celebrating the successes of Seekervillagers, too.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Jackie. Do you know when we will be able to find in on the shelves?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the winners.
Loved the look back at Seekerville Island, TINA. You and your WE ROCK!
Woohooo -- Jackie -- awesome news. Congratulations. So exciting. And such a lovely WE -- perfect for a torrentially rainy morning. Happy weekending everyone.
ReplyDeleteTINA, great weekend! Thank you! I especially enjoyed going back and reliving the journey from Unpubbed Island to the Main Land. There's been so many celebrations of sales and contest divas. Seekerville rocks!! Thanks, too, for providing the link to Monday night's chat with some of the authors going to CFRR.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all our winners!
Huge congrats to JACKIE on her sale!!
Off to read how to get rid of "to be" and visit the Yankee Belle. I love crab! And may be too fond of To Be. :-(
Janet
What a trip down Memory Lane . . . or Beach, as the case may be! Wouldn't want to have been biding my time on Unpubbed Island with a classier bunch of gals!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to JACKIE!!!! What great news!
And thanks to TINA for another fabulous Weekend Edition and lots of interesting links to check out!
Of course--guess what!--it's Saturday. So time to catch up on bills and chores. Fun, fun, fun. I did have a great writing week, though--back on track toward completing my wip ahead of my August 1 deadline.
YAY JACKIE! CONGRATS on your sale!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to this week's winners! ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!
Please put me in the draw for an SBC.
The "To Be" article was excellent. Even had a list of alternatives.
ReplyDeleteI've got the recipe and plan to make a Crab Louie salad at the first opportunity.
Thanks TINA!
Congratulations to Jackie! Wonderful news!
ReplyDeleteYay for the giveaway winners too! See you Seekers at the CFRR party!
The line up for next week looks amazing as always! Congratulations Jackie and all the winners! See you at the CFRR party :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Jackie and to the weeks winners! See you all at the CFRR party :)
ReplyDeleteGreat WE Tina And I'll take some of that iced coffee. I love iced coffee when its hot. However, we are in Oregon now and its freezing. It warmed up from 36 degrees to a whopping 41. I'm waiting until later to go play pickleball.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fun trip down memory lane. I miss that island. Can we build a retreat and go there again sometime? Would be fun to have another beach party. I miss Captain Jack. LOL
Congrats to Jackie Yay. A contract. woo hoooooooo
ReplyDeleteSee persistence pays off.
Congrats to winners as well.
I love the weekends.
Way to go Glynna I'm so pleased for you. I know how good that must feel to get that manuscript to your editor. yippee!!!1
ReplyDeleteMyra I have a chore list a mile long also. yikes. I'll pray for both of us to get those things on the list crossed off. yay
ReplyDeleteHey, I forgot about the crab recipe at Yankee Belle. I'm hopping over there right now. I'm hungry. smile
ReplyDeleteThe Newest Nostalgia
ReplyDeleteSeeing those island views and the debut dates of the Seeker's first publications makes me wish you'd put the titles of those premier presentations. I'd love a list to check-off the firsts I've read and the first editions I have on my keeper shelves.
Vince
That AWESOME list of when the Seekers got published almost makes me cry.
ReplyDeleteI will add this update, Debby went first. We were a few months apart, but she sold MINUTES after RWA in July and I sold in September at ACFW.
Vince my first sale was Golden Days, a Heartsong Presents. That line sold to HQ Love Inspired and has since folded.
ReplyDeleteBut my first book to release sold nearly 9 months AFTER Golden Days...but released first. Petticoat Ranch.
Then Petticoat Ranch released in February 2007. Golden Days released in...maybe May of that year. Then shortly after I sold Calico Canyon--I want to say in June of 2007 it sold and released summer 2008.
ReplyDeleteBut shortly after Calico Canyon sold in 2007 I signed a nine book deal with Barbour and for a short while was releasing four full length novels a year.
Plus I did another three book series for HP.
Plus I did another three book series for Barbour's cozy mystery line.
So in one sweet stretch I signed contracts on 15 books. And they were all coming out one after another so fast it made my head swim. Wild, wonderful time. And it still goes on.
Jackie!!! So thrilled for you. I knew you would sell! How exciting! We want details!!!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about doing the Ignite the Flame contest under inspiration category. Then I realized I'm trying to write a LIS--is this okay, or are they specifically asking for inspirational romance without suspense? This might be an important distinction to know ahead of time.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Anne
Mary Conneally mentioned that I sold first...however she was the first to see her book in print. LIS had contracted books out two-years when I got "The Call," so my debut, NOWHERE TO HIDE, published in 2007.
ReplyDeleteDo you have that story, Vince? Let me know.
Also, at that 2005 RWA Conference, I won the Touched By Love contest with NOWHERE TO HIDE...and Mary had been one of my judges! I still remember the thrill of winning that award. Krista Stroever, who would be my first editor, was in the audience and said the executive editor, Joan Marlow Golan, had the manuscript and that she hoped to be calling me soon!
Vince, our web page has those first sale books listed, under the bookstore. Sadly we are writing so fast that I don't have our recent books there. I need to hire an assistant.
ReplyDeleteI also won TBL with Krista Stover as the final judge. How strange is that, Debby.
ReplyDeleteDebby I did beat you into print BUT with Petticoat Ranch, which sold second.
ReplyDeleteI have always pictured an editor receiving word some author had died and OH NO we've got a gap!
Then she looks down and realizes a fat manila envelope had been used to keep an old table from wobbling. Editor jerks it out from under the table and slaps it into someone's hand and says, "USE THIS ONE."
But it worked out for everyone right? :)
CONGRATULATIONS JACKIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteSO SO SO SWEET!
So fun! A blast from the past! From 2005 'til 2011 -- 7 years and we cleared Unpubbed Island with hard work and determination!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Jackie!!! :)
ReplyDeleteTina, what year was your win?
ReplyDeleteJust realized we could have been the same year but in different categories! I won TBL in 2005...in the suspense category. Was it short suspense back then?
ReplyDeleteSo fun and inspiring to look back at how everyone left the island.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Jackie on your novella! Look forward to reading it.
Please enter me for the weekend prize. Awesome looking beach towel.
Congratulations Jackie!
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone is having a great weekend. It is a mere 90 here in the mountains.
I made a research day trip to Cherokee, NC yesterday.
Anne, when you have a general inspirational category for a contest there will be every subgenre of inspirational romance mixed together-suspense, contemporary, YA, Women's Fiction, Speculative Fiction and Historical. They all go head to head.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, JACKIE!! So happy for you! And congratulations also to all this week's winners! Loved reading about the Seekers leaving Unpubbed Island - thank you for sharing. What a wonderfully inspiring group of ladies!
ReplyDeleteGreat WE, TINA! Off to read the links.
Congrats to all the winners this week! And thanks for your faithfulness, Tina!!! You always deliver a great WE. Love the pic of you in the chef's hat.
ReplyDeleteTina, thank you for the info. I didn't know all the subgenres were included.
ReplyDeleteI'm late to the party--and discover I've won a collection. Suhweeeeeet!
ReplyDeleteAn even better than ever list of links. Thanks.
Now back to reading links.
You all have touched me so today with all your sweet comments. I'll let you know more when I know more. I've learned so much from Seekerville and made so many great friends. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteI love a good FIRST SALE PARTY, JACKIE!!!! Now don't forget to cut your cake!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats everyone! Looking forward to reading DawnSinger --I have a bunch of ebooks to read on my cross-country plane ride to the American Library Association conference later in the month, but one more will be great to add to the digital pile. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAnyone else going to ALA? I know it's not a writer's conference, but it might be neat to meet with other Seeker Villagers there. =)
That post on Google+ though ... I probably should take some time to update my blog's profile there. ;-)
Hey, it's rhubarb and strawberry season up here, so I've got STRAWBERRY RHUBARB PIE for all of you.... and OLD FASHIONED RHUBARB CUSTARD pie!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm planning the First Annual Seekerville Strawberry Festival for the 28th of June, so you know I love my berries!!!!
Jackie, first sale parties need some special food, too, so I've called upon some old friends to come on board.
One of them has a penchant (or DID) for rum....
Let the music begin!!!!
CONFETTI!!!!!!
And if anyone sees Bruno or any of the old regulars, send them over to the party!!!
Good morning. I'm ready for church and taking a quick peek at my email. Of course, Seekerville is on top of my list. Just returned home from a long road trip. Lots of catching up to do. Congrats to all who had sales or won contests while I was gone in the mountains of Tennessee near the Kentucky border at my best friend's house. No T-Mobile service there though. She has 12 acres. Now, back home on the west coast of Florida and Internet. I wish all an old fashion breakfast of crumb buns, blueberry muffins and coffee. It's been raining a lot since I returned home. Beach weather has been out. But today is a dryer day!! Happy Sunday everyone.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, where do you live in FL? I love the Gulf! Such beautiful water. Glad you're back to wifi, although I'm sure your vaca was lovely. TN and KY! So pretty!
ReplyDeleteHi Debby:
ReplyDeleteMy reading of your books started with "MAI: Missing in Atlanta". I have missed, "Nowhere to Hide" and "Scared to Death". This gives new meaning to the SBC drawing!
Please put me down for the SBC.
Vince
Congratulations winners and to Jackie for sailing off the island!!! =) I'm tickled pink for winning The Convenient Groom and can't wait to read it. Many thanks to Seekerville and Denise! I look forward to seeing you all on tomorrow's CFRR FB party! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary:
ReplyDeleteThe first of your books that I read was "Petticoat Ranch" which I still like the best and still have on my keeper bookshelf. I then bought four to six HP books because the postage on one book back then was more than the book itself cost. I think that order had all your HP books that were available at the time. Then I got three of your cozy mysteries but I think they had different titles then than they have today. I'm pretty sure I've read more of your books than any other Seeker.
I especially like "Band of Brothers","The Bossy Bridegroom", "The Sweetest Gift", and "Stuck Together" (The hero on the cover looks very much like my father did at that age).
Vince
Hi Tina:
ReplyDeleteThe book covers on the "Seekerville the Town" website, under Bookstore, are really impressive. I think it would be a big help if you also put a link titled, "Seeker Cover Art Gallery", just above "The Seekers" list of members and just below the dynamic book cover art display -- on the main Seekerville site.
That page looks much more like an art gallery than a bookstore.
What if each author was responsible for posting their new books up in the gallery as the are released? It helps if those who are most motivated are given the job. : )
Vince
Vince,
ReplyDeleteNo one is motivated. This is a volunteer organization and anything we do that is not writing...IS...NOT WRITING.
TR
But I do like your link idea.
Vince, SCARED TO DEATH won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Inspirational Suspense. Of course, I was thrilled. FYI, it has a medical plot.
ReplyDeleteHow are you feeling these days? Continued prayers! Hi to Linda!!!
RUTHY, you have made my day with your strawberry rhubarb custard pie. My mom used to make it and I love it!
ReplyDeleteJanet
I sold in July of 2006, but my debut Courting Miss Adelaide released in September of 2008. Like Debby I had a long wait. The LIH line launched in February of 2008, I think. CMA is still my favorite cover. First or last we are blessed. As are so many of Seekerville's Villagers! I'm guessing if we had a list of Villagers that sold, it would be loooooong!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Vince, I love that list of my books and I thank you SO SO SO SO MUCH for reading my books. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteTotally dashing... Trying to get this latest book edited and polished. Some day. Some day.
ReplyDeleteLove this kind of beach and island. What a blessing you all are. Congratulations one and all, and... did I ready Ruthy has sold over 1,000,000 books? WOOT!!!
And Jackie L starting her publication journey. So exciting!
Thank you for being so generous with your time and continuing to help so many. And thanks too for the terrific Villagers.
Vacationing, but had to pop in and say congrats to Jackie!
ReplyDeleteTina - hope you never grow tired of hearing Great WE!
Great Weekend! Love the postcard. So exciting to read all of the Seekers' books!
ReplyDeleteEnjoying the island party and the Weekend Edition - thanks so much!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats winners and special congrats to Jackie!!
I especially enjoyed the 'What I Wish I Knew Before I Sold a Book' post, makes me enjoy those wonderful books and their authors - even more!!
Thanks for the mention of the Christian Fiction Reader's Retreat Facebook party tonight - looking forward to chatting with all of you at the party and even more so at the retreat in Nashville in August - I so appreciate the participation of each of you in both events!!
Please drop my name in the drawing for the giveaway - thank you!!