Another BIG Weekend in the Village! Enjoy!
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
Rachael Koppendrayer is the winner of an autographed copy of one of Mary Connealy's No Way Up (2017 Carol Award Finaling release) and Heidi Robbins is the winner of newly released Long Time Gone. Both are part of The Cimarron Series.
Monday: Phyllis Wheeler is the winner of Day by Day in Ephesians, the devotional by our guest Don Atkinson who talked with us about writing our own devotionals.
Tuesday: Seekerville was thrilled to have the 2016 Mt. Hermon, Writer of the Year, Karen Barnett with us. Her post was called, "Making Every Scene Count." Kathy Bailey is the winner of The Road to Paradise: A Vintage National Parks Novel.
Wednesday: Oops! Ruthy was busy with Cousinpalooza and forgot to post her winner, Trixi... you've won a copy of "A Light in the Darkness" from Ruthy's "5 Ways To Create Cozy Characters" post!
Thursday: Sandra Leesmith brought online resources. Winner of tuition to Laura Schnebley Campbell's class, The Hero's Journey, For Heroines is Ruth Ann Dell. Winner of choice of one of Julie Lessman's Isle of Hope series is Cindy W.
Monday: It's always a thrill when a Villager sails off Unpubbed Island. Today is no exception. Join Natalie Monk, your hostess, with her post, "Writing Like You Have Nothing to Lose." She brought GOODIES to give away including her debut release, For Richer For Poorer, in the Of Rags and Riches Romance Collection: Nine Stories of Poverty and Opulence During the Gilded Age. Don't miss it!
Tuesday: Love Inspired author Jolene Navarro is our special guest with her post, "8 Steps to Shrinking the Sagging Middle: Storyboarding 101" Stop by and you could win a copy of one of her latest Love Inspired releases. Jolene has a July Love Inspired Historical release, Lone Star Bride, and an August Love Inspired release, Texas Daddy. Seekerville will be giving away a copy of EACH!
Wednesday: Lisa Phillips returns to Seekerville with her post "Twitter Pitches and Blurbs." She's giving away THREE copies of her latest Love Inspired Suspense, Homefront Defenders (Secret Service Agents) that releases August 8th!
Thursday: USA Today Bestselling author, Meghan Carver returns to Seekerville with her post, "Building a Story Is Like Building a House." All writing carpenters, be sure to join us. She's giving away TWO copies of her latest Love Inspired Suspense release, Deadly Disclosure!
Friday: We bring you The Best of the Archives, one of our best posts from the last ten years. Comments are closed on Friday so we can get caught up on our reading and writing.
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| Congratulations to Debby Giusti. Plain Truth won the Short Contemporary category of the FHL Reader's Choice Awards. You can get your copy here. |
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| RWA#17 Love Inspired authors with Senior Editor Melissa Endlich and Executive Editor Tina James. |
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| Look what UPS left on Pam Hillman's doorstep... The Promise of Breeze Hill, book #1 in Pam's Natchez Trace Novel series. Available for pre-order! |
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| New release in 3 DAYS! Book 3 in Julie Lessman’s Isle of Hope series, HIS STEADFAST LOVE, releases 8/1, so PREORDER now! And good news—pre-ordering earns extra points in Julie's contest below! PRE-ORDER HERE! |
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| Tick … Tick … Tick … only 3 more days to enter Julie’s contest to have a character named after you in both the e-book and paperback versions of His Steadfast Love, a signed copy, plus your choice of a $50 Amazon gift card OR a box of 10 top CBA books. Enter here: JULIE’S CONTEST! |
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| In honor of the release of His Steadfast Love, Book 2 in Julie Lessman’s Isle of Hope series, 5-STAR Love Everlasting is on sale at almost 50% off! BUY HERE! |
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| Isle of Hope on sale for only 99 cents all of July! If you haven't read this 5-star, Family Fiction magazine's “Best of 2015” book yet, now is the time! 99-CENT DOWNLOAD HERE! |
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Don't miss The Singing Librarian Book's
Christian Fiction Summer Reading Safari.
Read! Review! Win books! That's it! :) Multi-author giveaways. Aug 1-31.
Seekers Myra Johnson, Mary Connealy, & Pam Hillman, and OTHERS!
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Thanks for the link love.
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| Best Comments from the LIVE RITA Award Ceremony by Category Winners & the emcee, paraphrased. And if you missed it, be sure to watch Beverly Jenkins speech & Linda Goodnight's amazing story. |
Congratulations to the 2017 RWA Golden Heart and RITA winners. See the list here. If you missed the live streaming you can still watch on youtube. RITA here and GH here.
Congratulations to the KOD Daphne winners! Winners list is available on the Seekerville Facebook page here. A special shout out to Sharee Stover, Jeanine Englert, and Laura Conner Kestner (overall winner unpublished division), and Lisa Carter (published division).
Congratulations to the FHL Chapter Touched by Love and Reader's Choice Award winners.
The RWA 2018 Denver conference dates were moved to July 18–21, 2018. This is from July 25–28.
The 2018 RITA will be all electronic.
A Dream Deferred: After 32 years of ‘No,’ writer gets to ‘Yes’ (Daily Journal)
Christian Writers of the West's Phoenix Rattler Contest opens August 1.
How to Drive Preorder Book Sales: Q&A With a Big 5 Publisher (BookBub Partners)
Conference While in Query Limbo (Janet Reid)
7 Tips to Help You Write When You Don’t Feel Like It (Writing and Wellness)
Balancing Ambition And Contentment. Lessons Learned From Thrillerfest 2017 (The Creative Penn)
How to Use Beta Readers to Launch Your Book (Kindlepreneur)
Every Good Book is a Mystery, Even When it’s Not (Writer Unboxed)
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| Leave a comment for a beach read surprise package. Two surprise books and a beach towel. Winner announced in the next Weekend Edition. |
Congratulations to this weeks winners, I saw a couple I recognize! Also, congratulations to Debby on Plain Truth! I'd love to be entered in the beach read surprise package...maybe I would actually make it to the beach with it this summer too! My kids keep wanting to go. Have a lovely weekend ladies!
ReplyDeleteLaura, wouldn't a beach getaway with a bag of books and no internet (at least not WORK related!) be wonderful?
DeleteEnjoy your weekend and hope you get that trip to the beach. :)
I agree. Any week without the Internet is a true vacation. smile
DeleteYes! We wanted to go tomorrow but it is raining, so we have to postpone it. I guess it is a good reason to stay inside and read. :)
DeleteLovely WE, Tina! I'm looking forward to reading some links this weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to this week's winners! And it looks like RWA must have been amazing for those who got to attend. The LI picture was fun to see.
I so appreciate you all!
Thanks Jeanne, We appreciate you also. smile
DeleteHappy Weekend, Villagers. Praying for lots of productivity, be it reading or writing...or BOTH!!
ReplyDeleteYou've been busy with great productivity, Miss Tina. Love the WE. Lots of great info. Thanks a bunch.
DeleteHappy weekend!! Congratulations to all the winners!! That beach read pic is why I'm up so early. Heading out to see that view! Can't wait to get there. My daughter saw my bag of books I had packed and said no mom you do not need this. I said oh yes I do. That's what the beach is for. Great weekend post!!
ReplyDeleteHave fun on the beach.
DeleteCongratulations to all of the winners. A special congrats to Debby, Sharee, Jeanine, and Laura!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great WE, Tina!
Thank you, Jill!
DeleteTina, thanks for a great WE and congratulations to everyone mentioned. I love the colorful flip flops and I would love to win the Beach Reads.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend & hope to be back here Monday!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Those flip flops do bring back memories of growing up on the beach. smile
DeleteGreat WE, Tina.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Debby, Sharee, Laura, and Jeanine! Way to go ladies! Congrats also to this weeks winners!
Happy weekend!
Thank you, Jackie!
DeleteHappy Weekend, everyone. Hope you are all having some good relaxing time. Jealous of those of you who get to go to the beach!
ReplyDeleteI also want to add my congrats to Debby, Laura, Jeanine, and Sharee. Way to go, ladies!
Please enter my name in the drawing for the beach reads and the towel.
We are in the pines so I guess that is as good as the beach. chuckle. Cool anyway.
DeleteThank you, Sandy!
DeleteEveryone must immediately go to the bathtub. Run the water an inch and grab a book and pretend you are at the beach.Except Sally, WHO IS AT THE BEACH!!!
ReplyDeleteI am landlocked. Bummer.
AND YES!!! CONGRATS TO ALL THE WINNERS AND FINALISTS. WHAT A WEEK!!!!
My kids are at the beach. The bums!
DeleteBut they sent a video of the granddoll "shopping". She had two fistfuls of mesh bags of beach shovels/buckets pails, etc. Then she put those down in the middle of the store, went and found another big mesh bag of the same kind of stuff and plopped it down with the rest. So cute! I hope they didn't actually buy it all! lol
I bet you'll have lots of fun photos, Pam!
DeleteHow fun Pammers. How come you aren't there with them? chuckle. Guess we'll fill up the tub. No wait, I'll go down to the river or lakeshore. Just as fun.
DeleteSandra, with the bout of stomach flu I've had this week, I'm thankful I didn't go on that trip!
DeleteGood morning, Seekerville! Congrats to all the winners and finalists and everyone learning and networking at RWA!
ReplyDeleteWe are officially empty nesters again. Our daughter and family (except for their kitty, which is ours for the time being) left on Wednesday, and I am missing them something awful. Trying to keep busy, get some work done, and--today being Saturday, of course--start on some serious housecleaning. YUK!!!
So. Cat owners. We need recommendations on "litter box solutions." What kind of box to you like? What kind of litter? The easier (and less smelly) to deal with, the better.
We use a product called Simple Solution Litter box deodorizer, and Nature's Miracle High Sided Litter Box. Both available on Chewy.com. Probably Amazon too. But we use Chewy.com a lot for pet stuff.
DeleteAwww Myra. At least the housecleaning will keep your mind off the fact that they have left. Its tough.
DeleteNot really, Sandra, since 98% of the cleaning was necessitated by THEM!!!!!!
DeleteOh wow -- thanks for providing the link to the Ritas I'm goosebumping and bawling all over the place. Beverly Jenkins and Linda Goodnight are not to be missed.
ReplyDeleteKav, I'll have to go watch it later! Will have Kleenex prepared. :)
DeleteGlad to hear that Kav. I bookmarked it, but have to wait till early morning to stream it in. Not good cell reception here. sigh
DeleteHappy weekend, Seekerville!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the winners and authors!
Hope those at RWA are having a fabulous time!
Please enter me in the drawing. Oddly enough, despite all the clutter around here, I need a beach towel.
May God bless all of Seekerville!
Oh Phyllis, congrats to you also. And why do you need a beach towel? Please tell me you're at the beach. yay
DeleteYou are entered, Phyllis!
DeleteGreat weekend edition.
ReplyDeleteI've been following Debby G on Facebook with all her RWA pictures and comments. I love reading it.
Oh my. I'll hop over soon.
DeleteGood morning, SEEKERVILLE! Another smashing WE edition! Thanks so much for sharing the RWA updates - just wonderful! Congrats, also, to ALL contest finalists and winners. WOW!!! Such a talented group here.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone has a super weekend!
You too Cynthia. Have fun.
DeleteHappy Weekend, Seekerville Friends!! :) Awesome WE, as always, Miss T!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS to all the winners of prizes, and all the contest winners (and to Natalie Monk on becoming PUBBED!!). Am especially excited about Debby Giusti's FHL Award and my Writing Sisters, Laura and Sharee on their Awards!! SUPER PROUD of you all!! :)
It's been fun to see all the RWA photos these past few days and I'm so happy for the ones able to attend! (Yes, I'm already planning for next year in Denver, Lord willing!)
Please enjoy the goodies I've baked with our fresh Georgia peaches: Cobbler, muffins, pound cake (with yummy peach frosting), and peach shortcake. ;)
Now back to writing!
Hugs, Patti Jo
Doesn't it sound fun Patti Jo? Remember seeing you in Atlanta. So fun. Sounds like many are aiming for Denver. Better start up the piggy bank.
DeleteThanks for another great WE, Tina! Congrats to Debby, Sharee, Laura, and Jeanine! Happy to see pics of RWA and hope to see more...hope all had a safe trip.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me for the beach reads and towel. THANKS!
Thank you, Jackie!
DeleteHappy weekend everyone. I just got my very first temporary permit, so look out road, here I come. I know I'm a little late getting it, but last summer I chose to spend my time writing a four hundred page novel rather than learning to drive.
ReplyDeleteOh Nicki, Congrats. You will love being able to drive. I love driving. I bet you will also. so many fun places to explore.
DeleteCongratulations, Nicki! On the novel and the permit!
DeleteCongrats, Nicki on both accomplishments!
DeleteCONGRATULATIONS to all the winners!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend Seekerville!
Please enter me in the beach giveaway.
Congratulations, Debby!! And all he other winners! I so wish I had been at the conference. Maybe next year!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Missy.
DeleteCongratulations again to all the winners both published and unpublished (so far!)! What a fantastic week and this was the first time I got to see the awards live at RWA!
ReplyDeleteAnother excellent WE Tina - I love Saturday mornings when I can have my coffee and read through all your wonderful links. :) Please throw my name in the hat for Beach Reads.
Laurie, I'm so glad you got to attend!
DeleteWow Laurie, I bet you are having a blast. Are you exhausted? chuckle. I am always brain dead by the time the conference is over. But happy.
DeleteCongrats to all the winners this week not only in Seekerville but in all the contests. I hope everyone will have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great weekend also, Wilani.
DeleteCongratulations to all the winners this week! Especially to Debby for the FHL Reader's Choice Award. What an exciting week! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is exciting. That's for sure. Yay Debby.
Delete“Freedom's just another word for 'nothing left to lose'.” Kris Kristofferson
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean that the 'key' to "Writing Like You Have Nothing to Lose" (Monday's topic) means claiming your writing freedom? Can't wait to find out!
And then Tuesday:
"8 Steps to Shrinking the Sagging Middle: Storyboarding 101" ...
And what is "Storyboarding" if not visual plotting?
And then Wednesday:
"Twitter Pitches and Blurbs"...
Headlines and blurbs are my advertising strong points but don't know much about Twitter. I'd also like to know more about having s Secret Service LIS theme. Talk about suspense! That's what the job is.
And then Thursday:
"Building a Story Is Like Building a House."
Besides literally needing a plot, you also need building plans -- plans are so important you have to file them with the city. Wouldn't it be great if writers were required to file plots with the city so they would not build structurally unsound novels?
And then Friday:
"The Best from Past Posts"
These are the key posts you most want to comment upon because comments are "always better the second time around".
Again all these wonderful new Seeker books that I have on pre-order...I'll just have to wait.:)
Vince
I always loved Kris Kristofferson's songs. Good questions Vince. You'll have to stop in and find the answers.
DeleteLooks like Vince will be here all week to find out the answer to all these questions!
DeleteTINA:
ReplyDeleteLove the 'flip-flop' photo! They have wood beach chairs those same colors where we stay in Orange Beach. What a creative, out of the box, idea those flip-flops were. That inspired visual should help us come up with a new way to deal with a cliché writing situation. Now, how to apply it?
Always love a good challenge.
DeleteCongrats to all the winners! And I have to admit that Julie Lessman's Isle of Hope series keeps tantalizing me every time I see it.
ReplyDeleteThey are really good, Boo. Check out her site on Amazon because there are some good deals there with this series.
DeleteBOO!! I've been out of commission all weekend, so I apologize for the delay in response. Thank you SO much for your interest, and I do hope you have downloaded the FREE e-book prequel novella on this series. Then book 1 is only 99 cents for a short time more, so I would encourage you to check it out too.
DeleteAnd, Sandra, you are SUCH a blessing, my friend -- thank you for your support. :)
HUGS!!
Julie
Great Weekend Edition! Looks like an excellent week ahead! Congratulations to our winners!
ReplyDeleteHuge congrats to Debby Giusti on the FHL Reader's Choice Award! Thanks for sharing the photo of all the LI authors and editors. Miss seeing you and them so much!
I'll be checking out the Rita and GH Award ceremony!
Janet
I'm with you Janet, I really am missing everyone and all the excitement.
DeletePatti Jo, thanks for all the peachy delights! You're the best!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Myra, I've got no kitty litter info, but I'm sending friendship hugs to you.
ReplyDeleteJanet
That works! 😍
DeleteHappy weekend! I'm excited to read Mary's new book, thank you! It's been fun to see RWA photos on Facebook from so many authors. Hope you all had a fun time and congratulations to the winners!
ReplyDeletePlease include me in the beach reads giveaway :)
It has been fun. One good thing about Facebook. smile
Delete**MYRA, just saw your kitty litter question!
ReplyDeleteI normally use whatever I have a coupon for, as long as it is the scoopable kind and scented. Also, since I have "a few" (6) cats, I like several types that are labeled "multi-cat" - - but with one kitty you wouldn't necessarily need that. Cats really are such wonderful pets, because once they see the litter box they'll always use it (unless there's a medical issue going on). Enjoy your grand-kitty!! :)
Hugs, Patti Jo
Thanks, Patti Jo! The odor issue really is important since so far the only place in our house that works for a litter pan is a corner of Project Guy's office behind a doggy gate with a kitty door. Otherwise, our doggies would constantly be "snacking."
DeleteDon't you love that about dogs? yuk. But that sounds like a good spot.
DeleteThanks for the links! Especially the one about beta readers. Janet Reid's blog post was helpful, too. I appreciated when she said one alternative for a pitch session is when you're in writer limbo -- chat with the agent, ask what the agent is looking for and what they read. I like that concept of asking the agent what they're looking for instead of telling the agent what you have.
ReplyDeleteI've been in my writing (hermit) cave, so thanks to Tina, for those links to the GH and RITA awards coverage.
Congratulations to (taking a deep breath) this week's winners, Debby for the win in the FHL Readers Choice Awards, Sharee, Jeanine, Laura, and Lisa. Majorly excited about Pam's "The Promise of Breeze Hill" ... what a lovely cover.
Wishes for a lovely weekend for everyone. I'm hoping for a cool front :-)
Nancy C
Hope you have a lovely weekend also Nancy. Yes, I like chatting with the agents when in those interviews. I always ask them what they like about the town we are in and then can mention that in the cover letter. Helps them remember you.
DeleteThank you, Nancy C!
DeleteThanks Nancy. Tyndale did a wonderful job on the cover.
DeleteGreat Weekend Edition. Love the links to RWA speeches. I never know how to find those on my own. sigh. Thanks Tina.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the winners of awards, especially Debby. Yay. And congrats to winners here in Seekerville. Yay.
Have a wonderful and blessed weekend everyone.
Congrats to the author winners & those who are attending RWA! I'm seeing some fabulous pictures on Facebook. I watched a short clip Debby Giusti posted, don't know if anyone else caught that. Like Ruthy would say, she's so stinkin' cute!
ReplyDeleteNext month is the CFRR....which I will miss...and I may just stay off of Facebook because I will be quite envious! :-) *SIGH*
Happy WE everyone. Please add my name to the sand-bucket for a beach read surprise package, thanks so much!
Trixi! I just posted your name as the winner from Wednesday, my apologies for not getting in and doing it sooner... but you can read "A Light in the Darkness" and pretend you're with us at CFRR!!!! I'd love to meet you in person someday... How fun would that be?
ReplyDeleteOh wow!!!!! Thanks Ruthy :-) I would absolutely LOVE to meet not only you but every author that will be going! There's a fabulous line-up this year and I would be in heaven surrounded by writers who never fail to give me fantastic stories to read. It would be a dream come true :-) I bet you Ruthy, you are famous for giving wonderful hugs!!
DeleteMaybe one year, but it would need to move a bit more West for me ;-)
Congratulations to all of the winners... and we're looking forward to a wonderful week! I love seeing the RWA pics... and the winners.... but in my book, anyone who gets a book published is already a winner, because the process is not for the faint of heart, nor is it ever construed as easy...
ReplyDeleteWe still have out of town family here... so my day will be cranking again, but I love it.
ReplyDeleteBUT I DID BRING COFFEE!!!!!
Congratulations to all the winners and another wonderful WE post with great links.
ReplyDeletePlease add my name to the drawing for the beach read giveaway. I would so love to go to the beach somewhere...
Blessings,
Cindy W.
Thanks for the congrats about the FHL Readers Choice Award. Driving home from the RWA Conference today. Prayers appreciated.
ReplyDeleteGreat WE, Tina, as always. Congrats to all the winners!
Praying for safe travels, Debby! Congratulations!!!
DeleteSEEKERVILLE!! I found a package on my doorstep yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to find the books I recently won here (that was fast!). I was overwhelmed by your generosity! Thank you so much!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the winners and finalists, and the authors with updates! So much good news this week and some great new releases!
DEBBY, congrats on the FHL Readers Choice Award for Plain Truth! I really enjoyed that book!
Great WE, Tina!! Happy writing everyone!
P.S. I typed this before I had coffee, and I couldn't find my reading glasses, so please excuse any mistakes :-)
Wow! Lot's happening during the hazy, lazy days of summer. Congrats to all the winners, and thank you, Tina for another newsy WE.
ReplyDeleteBarbara Scott. The cave dweller. So good to see you!
DeleteHAPPY WEEKEND, EVERYONE!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, DEBBY!!! SUPER CONGRATS on the FHL Readers Choice Award, my friend -- yawn, no surprise there! ;)
Congrats to all our winners as well -- you guys ROCK!!
Myra, empty-nester mode may be a jolt in the beginning, but OH, so wonderful before long as you well know, so praying for that smooth transition.
HUGS!!
Julie
Thanks, Julie! It's been a rough week and using a lot of tissues. Hoping next week gets a little easier.
DeleteGreat WE edition...as always! Congrats and Blessings to all finalists and winners...what a fabulous group this is!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed all the pics and videos from RWA17...can't wait to go to Denver next year!
Wishing everyone a delightful Sunday.
I have kittens crawling on me... two of them. 4 weeks old. Noisy and adorable! They are helping me type!
ReplyDeleteDebby safe travels home, and I'm so proud of you! You go, girl!
I had to wave off my two sons today, send them back to NYC... and I never do goodbyes happily. No matter how old they are... I never want to say goodbye.
The crusty Yankee has a heart, after all! :)
LOOK at all this great news, and photos and well... Everything1
ReplyDeleteWhat a WE!
Congratulations to all the winners here in Seekerville and all the contests too.
Exciting!
KC!!!! Great to see your smiling face.
DeleteCongratulations! :)
ReplyDelete