Welcome to the Weekend Edition
and our tenth year!
"Look How Far We've Come!"
Today we have a donated $25.00 Amazon Gift Card for one commenter.
All you have to do is comment to get your name in the drawing.
Winner announced in the next Weekend Edition!
Today we have a donated $25.00 Amazon Gift Card for one commenter.
All you have to do is comment to get your name in the drawing.
Winner announced in the next Weekend Edition!
If you are not familiar with our giveaway rules, take a minute to read them here. It keeps us all happy! All winners should send their name, address, and phone number to claim prizes. Send to Seekers@Seekerville.net
Winner of an ecopy of My One Word from the Weekend Edition is Sherrinda.
Monday: Winner of a Kindle copy of K.M. Weiland's "Creating Character Arcs" is Loraine Nunley. Winner of a print copy of Alicia Rasley's "The Story Within Plot Guide" is Olivia.
Tuesday: Winner of Connections ebook by Edie Melson is Kathryn Barker. Winner of Myra Johnson's novel The Sweetest Rain is Connie (cps1950).
Wednesday: Winner of Cara Grandle's STAY-cation Writers Retreat Course is Vince Mooney!!
Thursday: Winner of the critique (query or cover letter or opening chapter) is Olivia, and the winner of the Ruthy-Book-of-Choice and chocolate is Phyllis Wheeler! Congratulations, ladies!!!
Monday: Janet Dean will be talking about story openings in her post "Hook Readers with Strong Inciting Incident Openings." Leave a comment for a chance to win one of the eBooks mentioned in her post.
Wednesday: Guest blogger Mary Alford will talk about "A Never Ending Story – The Sequel." Mary's giving away an ebook copy of Valentine Matchmaker, a collection of nine romantic novellas that includes Mary's book, Marry Me.
Thursday: Seekerville welcomes Villager Josee Telfer with her post "I am a Writer! Now What?" Stop by to chat and you could win a fun giveaway!
Friday: Ruth Logan Herne sets us up for a writing/working Friday with something wonderful from the archives.
Join Tina Radcliffe at Inspy Romance as she kicks you into the New Year, on Tuesday, January 17th. She's also got a double giveaway to share.
And more...
Here's a sneak picture peek of Tina Radcliffe's post for Friday, January 20th. She's visiting The Writer's Alley with "Five-Sensing When Your Character is in Law Enforcement."
Free for Kindle through the weekend!
http://amzn.to/2g2Rq4t
No Time For Love
He’s off the grid. She’s on the fast track. Can they meet in the middle?
Nicki Baldwin’s on the career fast track, until things come to a screeching halt courtesy of the mystery man who bought the property she has slated for a coffee shop out from under her. Steven Smith has met his former lifestyle in Nicki. Can he convince the beautiful hard hat to slow down and taste the pasta?
On Saturday, January 21, Ruth Logan Herne is speaking to the Western New York RWA chapter about inspiration... and something she knows a lot about, "Kicking Discouragement to the Curb." There will be some giveaways and lots of free advice. The chapter meets at 11:00 in the Community Room of Sisters of Charity Hospital, the St. Joseph's Campus at 2605 Harlem Road, Cheektowaga, NY 14225. Ruthy will NOT be wearing this yellow top. :)
Sandra Leesmith wants to remind you of the Faith, Hope, and Love RWA Chapter's Facebook Party coming up next week. On Wednesday, January 18th at 7 pm EST, join Seekerville friends Terri Weldon, Merrilee Whren, Jodie Bailey and Brenda Taylor. Sandra will be featured next month.
Romancing the Smokies
March 17 - 18. Knoxville, TN
A getaway weekend filled with authors, readers, books, yummy food and lots of fun!
Love Our Readers' Luncheon
Atlanta Metro Area, February 11, 2017.
A delightful luncheon with your favorite authors! Reserve your seat at Debby's table!
Thanks for the link love!
Remember that the KOD Daphne contests open on Sunday! Information here.
How Bad Starts and New Starts Affect Our Writing (Writers in the Storm)
Plotting the Emotional Map of Your Book (BookBaby Blog)
Use the Two Hour Rule to Make Progress on Your Creative Projects (ProductiveFlourishing)
24 International Writing Conferences to Attend in 2017 (The Write Life)
Six Social Media Marketing Tips For First-Time Authors (Bookbaby Blog)
Top 10 Ways to Rivet Readers with Plot Reveals (Helping Writers Become Authors)
The Perfect Back Cover Blurb (Writer Unboxed)
Reboot Your Online Presence in the New Year (DBW)
What a First Draft Should Look Like (Fiction University)
Jiffy Day, Author and Playwright discusses how he writes with Dragon software (YouTube)
Perception and How to Identify POV Leaps (Writer Unboxed)
That's it! Have a great reading and writing Weekend
Congratulations to all of the winners!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great links, Tina. I'm interested to read What a First Draft Should Look Like because mine looks like...well, you know.
See you Tuesday!
Oh, first drafts.... EEEK! Where every writer meets his/her Rubicon!
ReplyDeleteThat should be a wonderful and informative time, ladies!
Congrats to all the winners! Happy dancing for you!
ReplyDeleteAnd might I add that I'm so glad we're all in this together????
Great WE! All the posts are so informative! Off to finish up another first draft. Once I get words it's easier to edit. Can't edit no words lol. Happy weekend!! If you've got my snow please enjoy it for me. I've got rain. Snow is so much more fun!
ReplyDeleteSally, go you!!!!
DeleteSally, we don't have your snow here around Atlanta. We hit 75 degrees yesterday! It's 65 now. Craziness!
DeleteThanks! Missy, I thought it was supposed to be warm today so I started out without a jacket. Yeah, I went back in real quick lol. It was freezing rain this morning and it didn't warm up much. Now it's raining again and supposed to continue through Monday evening.
DeleteWelcome to the Weekend! May yours be prosperous, productive and profoundly full of coffee!!
ReplyDeleteOr maybe an aromatic cup of Earl Grey or India Chai Spice?
DeleteTwo to three cups of coffee and then I switch to water. :)
DeleteCoffee for me, please.
DeleteJan
Good Morning, friends! Another great WE edition!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all winners. :-) Looking forward to cracking open Tina's Rocky Mountain Cowboy that I received this week.
Many great Seeker sightings, too! If you ladies ever visit the Ozarks, let us know. Would love to have you speak at our MozArks writers meeting. There *might* be coffee, food, and laughter involved. :-)
It's been a dicey last two days in our area. We skirted the really bad ice, but a few miles north it was much worse. Ahhh... So ready for summer.
Coffee cheers to all and Happy Writing!!!!!!
Visit the Ozarks, Cynthia??? I live THERE, in Osage Beach. I know you're not too far away -- Springfield, maybe? Is that where Carol Moncado lives? I know it's either there or Columbia -- I forget.
DeleteHubs and I are hunkered in with a cozy fire because ice is EVERYWHERE!! He almost fell on his butt feeding the birds on our deck!!
Stay warm, my friend, and everyone else too!
Hugs,
Julie
I spent three wonderful years in Kirksville, MO, Cynthia. Cold winters but lovely people! :)
DeleteJULIE!!! I keep forgetting you are close. You are only about an hour and a half from Spfld, right? Yes, CAROL M lives near there, and so do I. Carol's the outgoing president of our MozArks group, and I'm the outgoing vice-pres. (New officers this season.) WOW--would so LOVE to have you come and grace us with your presence and knowledge.) What's your schedule like? I'm going to talk with our current pres --JULIA Bartgis--about contacting you... *squeal* (And if we have enough lead time, we can print flyers and post them around our area.) We're a small, but growing ACFW chapter, and we meet every 3rd SAT at Panera on N KS EXPWY in Spfld. Would LOVE to have you as our guest speaker/friend!! (I think I still have my notes from your "passionate" ACFW conf workshop a few years back. *wink* *fans self*) :-)
DeleteDEBBY, folks in the Ozarks are some of the truly nicest people anywhere. My heart is here, but I lonnnng for island time, the beach, and loads of sunshine...one day. (You're right...OH, so cold here in the winter. Though, except for this recent cold snap, this season's been relatively mild.)
DeleteI'm going to be jealous if you have Julie to speak because I would just love to be there. Too bad you all are so far away. sigh
DeleteYou could always take an RV trip here, SANDRA. :-)
DeleteROAD TRIP!!!!! Well, you're off my beaten path.... but that would be so much fun!
DeleteCome on, RUTHY!! Hey--We'd welcome ALL the SEEKERVILLE community with open arms..and quite possibly, chocolate!!!
DeleteCongrats winners! I'd like to be entered for weekends Amazon card.
ReplyDeleteTen years! Wow! Congratulations, Seekerville! ALOT of good links to come back too. Have a good weekend everyone.
ReplyDeleteAnd none of us look one bit older!!! #photoshop :)
DeleteThanks for another great update, Tina! You're quite a good shot.
ReplyDeleteWow, Tina. You're a smart shot! One of these days, I'm going to drive out to NY to hear Ruthy speak!
ReplyDeleteI've got a little peppermint mocha coffee left over from the holidays so I'm sipping on that, with a fire going. Working on finishing my website today in between hockey games.
Hmmm peppermint mocha coffee? Now that sounds inviting. smile Happy writing.
DeleteCoffee sounds great! And Josee, it would be such fun to meet you.... I'm praying for no blizzard or lake effect snow off of Lake Erie... That's the goal!
DeleteCongrats to all winners! Happy Weekend to all. Please enter me for the Amazon card! THANKS!
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Seekerville! We're playing dueling forecasts in the Arizona mountains today--snow or thunderstorms. I was hoping for the latter, but a look out the window shows WHITE STUFF. But maybe there is hope for rain as the temps rise!? I'm just happy to be avoiding the ice storms other parts of the country are enduring.
ReplyDeleteLots of great links in the W.E.--will have to pop back in and check some of them out. Today's a "mind mapping" day for my NEXT book proposal, so maybe I can find something here that will inspire it! :)
Oh, yeah! I'm looking at the Oklahoma weather and saying prayers of thanksgiving that we left that all behind almost six years ago! Temps are almost springlike here in my part of the Carolinas!
DeleteMYRA, I envy you...in a Christian kind of way, of course. Lol I love my Ozarks, but the last two days have been an up and down roller coaster. I need warmth and sunshine!!! Can you channel me some, please? :-)
DeleteWell, I might be able to send a little warmth, but the sun is hiding today. Maybe tomorrow . . .
DeleteSounds good. :-)
DeleteGlynna, you may be chilly up north, but down here in southern Arizona it is quite nice. Perfect for pickleball. smile
DeleteCynthia, you made me laugh over your Christian kind of envy. hahaha :)
DeleteGo on, rub it in, Sandra! :)
DeleteLots of fun news in the Weekend Edition! Congratulations, winners! Wish I lived closer to Ruthy and Debby so I could attend Ruthy's speech and Debby's author lunches!
ReplyDeleteI'm so thrilled to get Tina's book free! I've got to get to Walmart today to make sure I get her latest LI.
Several links are calling my name. I'll be back after our granddaughter's tennis match.
Praying for those in the path of the ice storm!
Happy Weekend, Seekerville!
Janet
My teeth are chattering thinking of a tennis match this time of year!
DeleteAre you in the path of the ice storm, Janet? Hope not!
I'd love to have you join me at the Reader/Writer events. Wouldn't that be fun!!!
Janet, our kids always started practicing with the tennis team in January, but matches didn't start until February. Always too cold!!! Hope you stay warm.
DeleteThanks gals! Our granddaughter was playing in an indoor tournament. Not part of her high school team. We're northerners so girl's tennis typically starts after spring break so sometime in early April. But that can be quite cold!
DeleteDebby, the ice was expected south of here.
Janet
Congrats to the winners!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend Seekerville!
It's always fun to see what's new in the Weekend Edition! Thanks to Tina for keeping us all organized!
ReplyDeleteCelebrating a quiet house this weekend! Maybe I'll actually get some REAL work done (including badly needed housecleaning!). Our live-in kids & grandkids have headed to the mountains to visit the other grandparents for a long weekend.
Enjoy your peace and quiet, Myra! Happy writing!
DeleteMyra, enjoy the peace! I would save cleaning for when they return. Enlist their help! :)
DeleteTEEEENAAAAA!!!! SOOOO freakin' excited to read your new novlla -- LOVE the cover and the premise, so THANKS for the freebie. Off to announce it to the world ...
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Julie
Me too. My friends will love it.
DeleteI just downloaded it, too!
DeleteLooking to next week, what's on the schedule for Tuesday? Is it a surprise? (Well, I suppose it would be if nothing's listed and something IS happening). You can put my name in the hat!
ReplyDeleteYou can check the calendar to find out what's going on in Seekerville, when it isn't listed. We've gone to a help yourself Weekend Edition this year, so everyone puts in their own stuff. But if a Seeker is out of town or on serious deadline it might not get added. On those occasions...YOU DO GET A SURPRISE!!!!
DeleteI hate to tell those of you facing ice storms about the balmy temps we're having in GA! The coastal warm air is bathing the SE...and then causing all that moisture in the air to fall as precipitation farther north where temps are low, thus forming ice.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to a long walk this afternoon. No heavy coat needed. A hoodie or fleece is warm enough.
Oh my goodness! I'm so excited to have won My One Word! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteAnd Tina!!! So excited to get your book. Thank you!!! And thanks for all the awesome links. I devour each and every one. :)
Great weekend edition. Love all the Seeker sighting news. Debby, wish I could be there. You have a great time.
ReplyDeletesorry about all the ice and chilly weather you all are facing. It is gorgeous here in southern Arizona. Not to gloat, but the downside is its so nice out I want to go play pickleball instead of sitting inside and writing. Its supposed to rain tomorrow. Maybe I'll get some writing done then. smile
Happy Saturday everyone. Congrats to all the winners. I'm enjoying my first weekend since I restarted school (even if I do have quite a few chores). Hopefully I'll get some writing in today.
ReplyDeleteNicky, are you happy with all your classes? No drop/add?
DeleteWell, I can't drop any of my high school classes, and I'm only taking one course in college which my dad really wants for me to see through. Besides it seems kind of moot to drop my course when I've already completed one whole week. Why I'm already 1/8th of the way done. Insert gasping sob *I will never be free from school!*
DeleteNicky, I thought you were totally in college. Good for you for taking a class! You can do it!
DeleteThank you Seekers for the cards. They are so special and mean so much, Mom's memorial service was so overwhelmingly precious. Now the reality is sinking in and I am exhausted. Thank you to the Seekers and villagers alike for all your prayers.
ReplyDeleteWilani, I'm glad you had a sweet service to celebrate her life. You're still in our prayers.
DeleteAs Missy mentioned, we're still covering you with prayer.
DeleteI think I've cried more the last two days then I have in a very long time. The Lord is sustaining me. What do people do who don't know the Lord.
DeleteWilani, I haven't been on Seekerville too much this past week, so missed the news about your mom. I am very sorry and will be praying. Take care of yourself.
DeleteLots of great links and events coming up!
ReplyDeleteI hope you're all having a great weekend. I'm resting after spending the past week with my mom and dad in Kentucky. Oh, and I'll be cheering my Atlanta Falcons on this evening! :)
Congrats to the winners! Another great WE! Way to go!
ReplyDeleteCynthia, I've spent many a day in that same Panera's writing and editing!!! I wonder if anyone I knew still works there? So glad your writing group is meeting there. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for another great WE, Tina!!! Can't wait to check out the links and read your books that are in line on my Kindle.
Happy weekend everyone!!
Well, when you're up our way again... Our group would love to have you! AND...there *may* --> *WILL* be food involved. Probably chocolate, too. ;-)
DeleteOh--and that's CAROL M's fave writing cave. She hangs out there all the time with her real, live fictional characters. (Hey! Did I just use an oxymoron without even trying????)
DeleteI'll definitely contact you the next time I make it home. :-)
DeleteNothing says romance to me like a bullet riddled silhouette. SWEET TINA!!!
ReplyDeleteNice tight shots
I have GOT to remember to be more afraid of you.
ReplyDeleteWow! Ten years of Seekerville. I do believe y'all are on a roll. Thankful for a three-day weekend. Like the idea of $25 Amazon card. Got some books that beg to be bought. Always have books begging to be bought. LOL Have a nice and productive weekend!
ReplyDeleteHi Tina:
ReplyDeleteWhat a tight pattern! Those holes look bigger than a 38 or 9mm would make. Was that a 41 cal? In the right spots too. Center mass. I can still hear my instructors saying, "Get shots on target! You got to put three rounds in the guy to disable him. Lots of guys with a bullet in them have gotten shots off and killed the cop that shot them."
And thanks for the free Kindle copy of "No Time For Love". I downloaded mine last night at 12:01 am. 'Free' is said to be the most powerful word in advertising!
I just love 90 page novellas. You get a quick HEA and you also get to feel like the vineyard workers in the bible who got a full day's pay for working only one hour! : )
Vince
Happy weekend everyone! Yecky weather here, but a good reason to stay inside and read Seeker books while I sip hot tea. Congrats to all you winners. And thanks for the links!
ReplyDeleteNote to self: don't mess with Sureshot Tina ;-)
Nancy C
Hi Tina:
ReplyDeleteI have to visit your "Five Sensing When Your Characters is in Law Enforcement".
This is so interesting. I should have considered this extra law enforcement need before now.
A true story: when I was in K9 on post with my dog, I could tell who or what was 'out there' by the way my dog alerted. I could tell if it was a real bad guy, a rabbit, a car, the K9 truck coming to relieve us, my partner reentering the post after coming back from getting coffee, another K9 guy sneaking on the post to test the dogs and give them a chance to bite someone (one intruder would be in an attack suit -- I'm sure to dog could smell the suit a 100 yards away!). Not only could I tell this by the way the dog moved his head (visually) but also by how he was breathing, by the way he was pulling on the leash, by what kind of noise he was making - we didn't want the dogs barking as it gave away our position but they could make a lot of different noises short of barking! (The dogs went barking nuts over the relief truck, however!)
All this is just a man watching a dog. Really, when someone might take a shot at you at any time, you learn how to use all your senses!
They say a blind person can hear better. Well a mindful cop on duty can sense everything better.
Looking forward to your post.
Vince
What a cool story, Vince. I always forget you were K9.
DeleteSuch an interesting look into K9, Vince. Thanks for sharing! I'll file it away in my overloaded brain for future use.
DeleteFascinating, Vince!
DeleteJanet
Exciting!
ReplyDeleteI'll be in the choir Monday when Janet gives her:
"Hook Readers with Strong Inciting Incident Openings."
Yes, Yes, Yes!
As an old copywriter and editor, I've often felt that writers worry too much about finding clever words for the opening sentence or two.
Even very ordinary wording will work great if you throw your readers into the right 'Inciting incident'. If you have a really compelling inciting incident, this can not only hook a reader into the story, it can also give you maximum options to pantser a wide varity of possible endings. Create an opening that could end in dozens of different ways and you won't paint yourself in a corner. I love fascinating inciting incidents. It can cover a multitude of sins!
Vince
FOOTBALL CALLING!
Vince, I never thought that creating an compelling inciting incident enables the writer to end the story in a dozen different ways. Thanks!
DeleteSee you Monday! I'm sure you'll have a lot to add to the discussion.
Janet
I'm late to the weekend edition, but I'm so glad I stopped by. Thanks for all the great links, and congrats to the winners!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend, everyone. I am battling a cold and hunkering down for the expected ice storm. I know many of you are also in the path of that, or already dealing with it. Stay safe, everyone.
ReplyDeleteTina, I have downloaded your freebie! Thanks!
Would love to win the Amazon card.
Stay safe, dry and warm, Sandy! Hope your cold is better soon!
DeleteThanks, Debby! I'm feeling a little better.
DeleteHi everyone and congrats to all the winners! I am super excited to get to read Kim's book on character arcs. My bookshelves thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteLoraine, congrats on winning it! I'll be sending it in the next couple of days.
DeleteHello everyone. For Christmas, my wonderful hubby bought me a ticket to the readers' luncheon where Debby will be one of the authors. Very excited as I think it was a double gift as it's an afternoon where I get to be an excited reader in a room with some of my favorite authors as well as an afternoon when my husband gets time with our kids.
ReplyDeleteTanya, I'm thrilled that you'll be there!!! Hugs to hubby! What a sweet man.
DeleteKim's book on character arcs sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteJan
Happy ten years, Seekerville! I can't believe it's been that long! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all of the winners!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great WE TINA! Congratulations to all the winners! I haven't gone through all the links yet, but the one about the back cover blurb was very helpful! Will be back for more later.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of you with the target, Tina - you're good! And thanks for the free download - can't wait to read it!!
Wish I lived close enough to hear DEBBY and RUTHY speak! TANYA, so glad you get to hear Debby - great gift!
SANDRA, thanks for the reminder to check out the FB party! Sounds fun!
Laura, would love to see you anytime! :)
DeleteThank you, MISS TINA, for another awesome WE and the free eBook! It's not usually Sunday before I get to the WE edition, but this is not a normal weekend, either. I'm dog sitting for a friend while she had to go out of town for 4 days, which is unusual in itself, but then my brother showed up on Thursday (they live in Canada also, andcome down in an RV, so the year bring the big dogs) and since they had plans for the weekend, I took Sadie right away. I've not been spending more time in our parkmodel than I needed to, with two shih tau cross pups and a collie cross dog in my care.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the winners.
ReplyDeleteFantastic WE!! Congrats to all the winners...and I'm feeling blessed to be one this week!! Thank you all for your generosity and kindness in continuing to inspire and educate!
ReplyDeleteDo any of you EVER come to Northern Cali? We really are nice people up here, too!! LOL
Here's to a tea-lightful writing week...and/or reading!!
My hubby's family lives in Marin County. How far north are you?
DeleteHappy Sunday, Seekerville Friends! Thanks for the awesome WE, Miss T (as usual!). CONGRATS to all the winners!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to stop by all this past week, but am looking forward to the upcoming week and hopefully getting back into more writing time.
I did manage to bake a peach cobbler (yes, have LOTS of Georgia peaches in my freezer, LOL) so please enjoy a hearty serving, warm from the oven. :)
Hugs, Patti Jo
Thanks for a great WE! I can always count on Seekerville to keep me busy! So many great author and reader events coming up. Boy I wish I lived closer to some of these happenings!
ReplyDeleteI also would love to go to the Facebook party. Unfortunately 7PM ET is 5PM for me in AZ so I'll be commuting home. I know it will be an awesome time. Love FB parties!
I feel incredibly enthusiastic this morning. I think it is because the Patriots won last night and I am still riding high!
Congrats to all the winners!
Have a wonderful Sunday and week ahead!
Congrats on 10 years ladies!
ReplyDeleteWonderful WE!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all my fellow winners! Thankful to be one of you this week.
May God bless all of Seekerville!
Oh Tina, I forgot to add that I am reading your novella and LOVING it!
ReplyDeleteWinner!
ReplyDeleteI just stopped by to read Janet's post today and noticed that I won a prize! Cara Grandle's STAY-cation Writers Retreat Course! I'm not sure just what this is but 'Stay-cation' is ideal for me and I just finished an online writing course so this is also an ideal time. I may have to report back at some point telling what the course is like. I know I really enjoyed Cara's visit to Seekerville. Thanks all.
Vince
100th Post!
ReplyDeleteI finished Tina's"Rocky Mountain Cowboy" and I think it features her best writing to date! I guess Paradise serves as a wonderful inspiration.
Vince