Blatant self-promotion: Myra Johnson's WHEN THE CLOUDS ROLL BY

Myra here. Sorry, can’t help myself. I’m just so excited about the release this week of my first trade-length historical romance!

When the Clouds Roll By is book 1 in a three-book series from Abingdon Press titled “Till We Meet Again.” The setting is Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the story begins the day the Armistice is signed ending World War I.

Hubby and I have vacationed in Hot Springs almost every year since the ‘80s. It’s an area rich in history, and the more I learned about it, the more enthusiastic I became about using Hot Springs as the setting for a novel.

There’s the historic Arlington Hotel. This shows the hotel as it existed in 1918, when my story begins. The building burned to the ground in 1923 and was rebuilt across the street, where the hotel still stands today.

The Arlington Hotel

And the Army and Navy Hospital. Several original buildings still exist on the hospital grounds, but the current veterans hospital now occupies the area where the Swiss-chalet-style administration building once stood.

The Hot Springs Army and Navy Hospital

The bathhouses along Central Avenue remain popular tourist attractions, although only the Buckstaff continues traditional operation. Others have been modernized or are being converted into shops, galleries, or offices. The Fordyce, operated by the National Park Service, offers self-guided tours and a glimpse into the history of “taking the baths” in Hot Springs.

The Fordyce Bathhouse

I couldn’t have written these books without the invaluable assistance of the staff and volunteers of the Garland County Historical Society! They provided old photos, maps, documents, and book excerpts to ground me more fully in my setting.

Have I mentioned I’m pretty crazy about my book cover? Abingdon always does such a great job with covers. I pictured my heroine, Annemarie, as actress Anne Hathaway, but the cover model the Abingdon art department selected comes pretty close!

Anne Hathaway as Annemarie Kendall

For my hero, Army Chaplain Samuel Vickary, I envisioned Simon Baker. Just love his curly blond hair and impish smile!

Simon Baker as Samuel Vickary

And then there’s 1st Lieutenant Gilbert Ballard, the antihero. I needed somebody darkly handsome and a little on the scruffy side. Enter Eduardo Verástegui. He was too adorable to end life as a villain, so have no fear--he takes on the hero’s role in book 2, Whisper Goodbye, coming next spring!

Eduardo Verástegui as Gilbert Ballard

To celebrate the release of When the Clouds Roll By, I’m giving away TWO autographed copies! Just mention your interest in a comment to be entered in the drawing.

And . . . so we’ll have something to chat about and I won’t feel so guilty about rambling on and on about my new book . . .  

When researching your wip, what are your top three go-to sources, and why?


About the book: Annemarie Kendall is overjoyed when the armistice is signed and the Great War comes to an end. Her fiancé, Lieutenant Gilbert Ballard, is coming home, and though he is wounded, she is excited to start their life together. But when he arrives, her dreams are dashed when she learns Gilbert is suffering from headaches, depression, and an addiction to pain killers. This is not the man she had planned to marry.
 
After serving in the trenches, Army Chaplain Samuel Vickary is barely holding onto his faith. Putting up a brave front as he ministers to the injured soldiers at the hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas, he befriends Gilbert and eventually falls for Annemarie. While Annemarie tries to sort out her confused feelings about the two men in her life, she witnesses firsthand the bitterness and hurt they both hold within. Whom will she choose? Will she have the courage to follow her heart and become the woman God intended her to be? As the world emerges from the shadow of war, Annemarie clings to her faith as she wonders if her future holds the hope, happiness, and love for which she so desperately longs.

Seekerville Welcomes Senior Acquisitions Editor for Abingdon Press Fiction, Ramona Richards

Good morning, Seekers!

Grab a cuppa and pull up a chair. This time of year, I prefer chai latte (emphasis on the latte), Harney & Sons’ holiday tea, or a yummy thick hot chocolate by a toasty fire. Years ago, a French teacher introduced me to le pain au chocolat for breakfast – Lord have mercy, starting the day with chocolate. Here’s a huge plate of them, so help yourself!

OK, if you’re comfy and cozy, let’s chat a bit about what I do for a living. I’m living my dream, folks! As Senior Acquisitions Editor for Abingdon Press Fiction, I get to work with some of the most fabulous writers in the business. And I’m always looking for more. After all, instead of curling up by this fire with a book, I do it with a manuscript.

So what do I look for in a manuscript?

…..wait for it….

A unique voice.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Every editor says that. And defining an author’s voice is almost impossible. But this is how I translate that single phrase:

• A character-driven, engaging book, written with an understanding of genre and an excellent execution of the genre readers’ expectations
• A Christian worldview which guides and directs the main characters
• The exceptional ability to construct sentences, paragraphs, and scenes that engage the reader and move both plot and character development forward in a style distinctive to that author

That last one is where the true “voice” lies. For instance, Robert Crais and James Lee Burke are excellent writers with legions of fans, yet their primary characters (RC’s Elvis Cole and Burke’s Dave Robicheaux) are distinctly developed and thorough products of their locations. Mr. Crais’ voice is clean and fast-paced, with lots of white space and clipped dialog, and a non-stop plot, very reflective of the Southern California setting. Mr. Burke’s voice is mellow and meandering, with long, descriptive passages, thoughtful dialogue, and introspective musings…much like a jon boat drifting through a Louisiana swamp.

And you would never mistake one for the other.

So I’m really looking for that writer who grabs my attention on page one and never lets go—and whom I would never mistake for Robert Crais, Karen Kingsbury, or Kathleen Morgan.

So don’t write like them. Write like you.

What? Oh…you want more specifics? OK, let me refill the tea cup and grab another pastry.

Specifically, Abingdon is in search of (why does that make me feel like it’s a speed-dating ad?...):

Historical romance. Emphasis on the romance. Good ole frolicking (in a Christian way, mind you) he said, she said romance. Set in the American West (ca. 1870) or the Scottish Highlands. Early frontier or western expansion tales (ca 1820-1850). WWII.

Contemporary romance. Both light and serious. Please make sure that the conflict that keeps them apart is a distinct and seemingly insurmountable one. If a ten-minute chat would clear the air, that ain’t a conflict. Major overdone theme: commitment phobes dealing with past broken relationships. If I think, even once, “Honey, just get over it,” that’s not a good sign.

And, with both of these, please remember that a “romance” is 50 percent her/50 percent him. Anything less shifts it to another category.

Romantic suspense. Please note that this refers to a story that’s 50/50 romance and suspense. Preferably, the hero and heroine solve the mystery together.

High-tension suspense. I’d prefer character driven (see above) to plot-driven, but the plot has to drive the suspense and keep it moving.

Speculative, especially steampunk. Yes, seriously. And if you don’t know what it is or you don’t have a craving to write it, then please don’t. It’ll show. One exception to the speculative submissions: No “end times” books.

Women’s fiction. We’re doing fewer of these, so it’ll need to be a strong, character-driven tale of one woman’s journey. While I’m open to “healing” stories, I’m most interested in a woman who’s struggling to overcome a major obstacle in her current life, whether it’s a challenge to her faith or a life-changing event. If you’re character spends a lot of time wandering about in her past, I’m probably not going to be interested.

And…this will come as a surprise to some folks….

Young adult. I’m hoping to launch our young adult line with TWO books in Fall 2013. But they have to be strong and…um…unique. Speculative welcome here, too.

Normally, we only accept agented material. But…for readers of this blog, I’ll be open to queries until December 5th. Mention you saw this blog. Queries only—three paragraphs max and no attachments. Send them to rrichards@abingdonpress.com.

That’s the specifics for now.

Some of you may have heard that we’re launching a new series, the Quilts of Love. This is true. The first book comes out next fall. However, I’m not taking submissions for it right now. When it succeeds, then I’ll be looking for more.

So…grab another pastry and munch down!



Bio:
Ramona Richards is the Senior Acquisitions Editor—Fiction for Abingdon Press. She is an award-winning writer, editor, and speaker with more than 30 years experience. Before joining Abingdon Press, Ramona worked on staff with Thomas Nelson, Rutledge Hill Press, and Ideals. Over the course of her career in Christian publishing, she’s edited more than 350 publications, and worked with authors such as John Maxwell, John Eldredge, Charles Stanley, Chris Seay, Eva Marie Everson, Denise Hunter, and Melody Carlson.

The author of 8 books and a frequent contributor to devotional collections, Ramona has also written sales training videos, feature film scripts, gift books, Bible studies, biographies, cookbooks, and magazine articles. An avid live music fan, Ramona loves Nashville, which she’s called home since she was ten.

~~~~~~~

Not only is Ramona our wonderful guest, but she is a wonderful guest bearing wonderful gifts.
She's brought five Abingdon Press books for giveaways.
Winners will be announced in the Weekend Edition.




Giveaway Books:

Sherry Kyle, Delivered with Love

Richard Mabry, Code Blue

Joyce Magnin, Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise

Vannetta Chapman, A Simple Amish Christmas

Vanessa Miller, Long Time Coming

Barb Scott, Abingdon Press, Senior Acquisitions Editor - Fiction, Welcome Back!

Barb, welcome back to Seekerville! Thanks for helping us chase off post-holiday jet-lag. It’s January of a new year and time to hit the ground running. With that in mind, gals and guys, don your cross-trainers, smooth your fingertips, trim your nails and let’s get back to work at those keyboards.

Starting…

Now!

Barb, it’s been a few months since we last chatted, so fill us in. What’s going on at Abingdon? Can you give us a lowdown of your release schedule, things to watch for, and book availability in stores?

I can’t believe it’s January! I’ve been so caught up in acquiring and editing manuscripts and working on covers with our designer that time has gotten away from me. It’s true that the older you get the faster time flies. It’s either a trick of the brain, or we’re all just busier these days.


Barb, you did us a huge favor by removing our very own Myra Langley Johnson from Unpubbed Island by contracting One Imperfect Christmas, due out in September ‘09. So tell us, while nobody’s listening, just between you and me, girlfriend, is our sweet, innocent, home-loving Myra-kins fun to work with? Focused? Timely? A treasure?

Or a brat????

Inquiring minds want to know. ;)

Just between you and me? A treasure, of course. I don’t work with brats. Life’s too short. LOL Myra’s a dream to work with and seems to have weathered my suggested changes with grace and goodwill toward all men…and women…and her editor.



I'm not a bit surprised! Well. Maybe just a teeny-tiny bit surprised because she DID hog the covers in the tent and she always put me on outhouse duty on the island so she wouldn't chip a nail. Did you know that Myra can turn coconut milk and pomegranate juice into some sort of tropical facial elixer? An amazing woman. :)

This has got to be a very exciting time for you and Abingdon. I hope you know that the Seekers and all their guests and visitors want to see this project do well for a variety of reasons. First, your book choices are eclectic, so Abingdon’s focus seems broad-based. That’s a wonderful thing from an author’s perspective. Can you tell us what you don’t want to see right now?

Thanks for noticing, BTW! On the flip side, we’ve chosen not to publish literary or speculative fiction, which includes science fiction, fantasy, apocalyptic, or anything that’s just plain weird. Those authors know who they are. ;)

Gotcha!!!! Note to weird authors: Try another publisher. Please. Weird Seekers, that goes for you, too! Wait. Oh, my. I'm the only weird Seeker!!! Drat and double drat! :)

And is there anything special you want to see? Some story that tweaked headlines you’d like to see developed?

One of my goals is to find and publish quality biblical fiction, especially stories about strong women. Ruth is a favorite of mine. But I don’t want paper-doll characters moving around the page to tell the same old story. Think Tosca Lee’s portrayal of Eve in Havah.


A great book. And for obvious reasons, the Book of Ruth is dear to my heart. Whither thou goest, I will go... Amazing words and presence of mind. Historical authors everywhere: Are ya' listenin'??? The woman's telling you what she wants. Get to it!

Okay, which do you like more and it’s okay to say ‘tie’…

Writing or editing? (Don’t worry, I put a filter on all Abingdon computers so their monitors will shield this answer and move them automatically on to the next question. It’s a talent I have, developed under a sonar umbrella of digitalized, fractional compu-science technology. Only a few of my friends are privy to this information about me. Let’s keep it between us, ‘kay?)

O…kay. I think. Tie!! Actually, I love to write mystery and suspense and when someone steps forward as my financial “sugar daddy,” I’ll head for home and the privacy of my computer. I think his name is “Social Security.” But I also love my life as an editor, especially the one-on-one relationships with my authors. I love to encourage them and help them be the best they can be.

Hey, if you find an extra financial "sugar daddy", let us know, all right? We've got some gals in that mindset as well, and somewhat hopeful that it won't have to wait until retirmement looms inevitable. In the meantime...

What’s been your biggest challenge in launching this new endeavor? Your biggest joy?

The greatest challenge is trusting God to launch a new fiction line in the middle of one of the biggest financial crises of our lifetime. Yet, using that old cliché, I know that I know that I know God called me to Abingdon at this time and for this purpose. And He has brought me wonderful stories, and the best of authors. They are my splendiferous joy!

I saw in Publisher’s Marketplace that you logged in a December deal, which puts to rest the claims that all publishers back off in December, waiting until post-holiday. Was this something in the works or a work so marvelous it had to be brought in ASAP?

It was definitely something that had been in the works since late August/early September. Publishers do take a break in December, so don’t get your hopes up for good news next Christmas!

I'll take that under advisement, Barb! And I'm a firm believer that everyone deserves a break around Christmas, remembering that Holy night. Silent night.

We've got the coffee pot on. It's cold and damp here in upstate New York, with snow, freezing rain, rain and lots of slush underfoot! I've got hot chocolate as well, the very best kind with marshmallows AND whipped cream...

How about some warm croissants and bagels to go with that coffee? Looks like I'm short on toppings for them. Can someone swing by the grocery or convenience store and stock us up with some cream cheese? Maybe some whipped cream? I've got homemade raspberry rhubarb jam and sour cherry jam, two flavors to die for. Seriously.

And let's give our buddy Barb a great big Seekerville welcome! Barb, we love having you here. Thanks so much for helping us kick off January with a great line-up in Seekerville and info that can only come from the editorial front-lines.


Ruthy

FOR LOVE AND MONEY DAY 4

Anyone who comments all six days will be entered into a drawing for a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Barbara Scott, Abingdon Press, Welcome to Seekerville!

As you guys all know, today we're privileged to chat-it-up with Barbara Scott, the Senior Acquisitions Editor for Fiction from Abingdon Press. Barb has promised to stop in from time to time today, stretch her legs from long hours of editing, sorting, e-mailing, reading, meeting, etc. to play in Seekerville. I promised her good food and great conversation. Or vice versa. Not quite sure which!!

To further that end I've got a lovely brunch laid for everyone and a full cafe'/cappuccino bar set up. If ya' didn't bring your mug, I've got plenty. Stop in, relax a while, chat with us and pour yourself a cup of chocolate velvet, hazelnut decaf or straight ol' 'joe'.

And there are some lovely See's dark chocolates because I hear dark chocolate is one of her weaknesses. As authors, we're not afraid to play on one's weakness, now are we????

Barbara’s bio:

Barbara Scott, Sr. Acquisitions Editor for Fiction, is actively acquiring new voices, as well as published authors, in the genres of contemporary women's fiction, contemporary romance, historical romance, historical fiction, mystery, action/adventure, and suspense/thrillers. Abingdon is not looking for literary, supernatural, or apocalyptic manuscripts. Barbara has more than 30 years experience in newspaper, magazine, and book publishing, including adult, youth, and children's fiction. She also has published two bestselling novels for Thomas Nelson with coauthor Carrie Younce, ghost-written books for well-known ministers, and written numerous work-for-hire gift books.

Barbara, welcome to Seekerville! Your bio for ACFW covers many pertinent points. I know when I put out a request for questions, genres was the most often asked. Since the bio covers that, let’s get more specific. Are you looking for a certain word count? Will the books be released in trade or mass paperback sizes? Do you prefer alpha or beta heroes? (Sorry, that one just slipped in. You know us romance writers. Sneaky little things…)

Thanks for the warm welcome, Ruthy. Love those virtual chocolates! Fiction lovers have such vivid imaginations that I can feel myself gaining five pounds just thinking about them. But on to your questions... ;)

Our fiction will be released in trade paperback (5-1/2” x 8-1/2”) and we’re looking at word counts of around 75 to 80,000 words, although I have some that go up to 100,000 and a couple in the 60 to 70,000 range. To keep our price point at $13.99, we’d like to stay below a 400-page novel.

As for alpha or beta heroes, they just need to respect their women and treat them as if they have brains. No chauvinists unless they reform by the end of the book or get their just desserts. LOL

You’ve been fast and gracious in your dealings with authors submitting proposals, sometimes responding within hours. Minutes… Do you ever worry that your turn-around time might make you the target of other editors whose turnarounds stretch into months and sometimes years? The upcoming ACFW conference is known for rather interesting pranks. Have you ordered extra locks on your hotel room door? Surveillance equipment? J If not, it might not be a bad idea. Assumed identities are helpful as well. Anybody got a Groucho mustache for Barbara?

You know, I have been looking over my shoulder a lot lately and getting these stabbing pains between my shoulder blades. Hm.

Since I was an author once, I know what it’s like to wait and wait for somebody… anybody...the guy at Starbucks…to get back to me. Not fun! Of course, I could always self-diagnose and say it has a lot to do with OCD. I must have a little Monk in me because I can’t stand a full email box.

Actually, I’m quite fortunate at Abingdon because we are consciously not booking ourselves in meetings all day. You’d be amazed at how much time most editors spend in pre-planning, planning, and post-planning meetings from development to pub boards to title and cover direction to marketing and promotions. And did I mention that most receive 75 to 100 emails a day? Try to keep up with that!

Barb, I’m a life-long, choir-singing Irish Catholic. Abingdon is a Methodist press, but rumor has it you’re open to Catholic stories and that’s uncommon in CBA. Tell us a little more about that, what you’d be willing to see and consider.

One thing I love about Abingdon Press is that we respect people of various faiths, cultures, and denominations. For instance, the protagonists in one new mystery series, which will debut in Spring 2009, are a liturgical Christian church secretary and the Jewish Rabbi from the synagogue next door…crime solvers extraordinaire! There will be ample opportunity for them to share their faith in natural, organic ways, just as we all do with our friends, but our rabbi will not be converting. Diversity is the beauty of our lives, and it’s only through dialogue with one another that we gain understanding.

Abingdon has created a stir in the waters with this opportunity, especially opening their doors to new authors and unheard voices. What helped forge that decision? Do you consider new authors a risk or an opportunity to draw new readers?

Cool!! Let’s stir a little water together. I’ve had this conversation with editors and agents for years. Especially in the bigger houses, it’s difficult to take a risk on new writers. This may come as a revelation, but the average fiction book in CBA only sells 3,500 to 5,000 copies. That’s not enough for the financial models of some larger publishing companies, so editors need to find authors with established track records. It makes it difficult for a new author to break in, but it’s not impossible. Realistic expectations were built into our publishing model, which allows us to open the door for those writers who have been working at their craft but are not yet published. New authors are a risk, but they are also an opportunity. Together, we can beat the bushes for those readers who have never read Christian fiction and are looking for engaging stories.

From talking with you, I know that Abingdon Press Fiction is interested in agented submissions at this time. You’ve been added to the list of ACFW editors for the upcoming Twin Cities conference and I know a lot of our guests are planning to attend. Other than the ladies’ room, (we’ve all heard those stories and no, people, it was never ME!!!) is there any place you’d like aspiring authors to ignore you, pretend they don’t see you, or, at the very least, pretend they’re not authors, LOL!????

I’d rather not throw open the doors to unsolicited manuscripts because then you’d never hear from me. I’d be answering mail all day. However, if I open up an opportunity at a writers’ conference or on a writers’ blog, you don’t need an agent to send me a short query email. In fact, I’m signing up two authors who read Brandilyn Collins’ blog and asked if they could send me proposals. Voila! Dreams do come true!

And yeah, those bathroom encounters can be embarrassing. So just smile and let me wash my hands. I might have an appointment with another conferee and need to get out of there. Oh, and my hotel room is off limits. But you knew that, right?

A few years ago Nav Press branched into fiction after a long and successful ministry in non-fiction. Have you or your staff studied Nav Press’s strategy to ponder what you might do differently? Similarly?

My understanding is that Nav Press has a new administration that decided to go back to their roots of serving the Navigators. Naturally, fiction would no longer fit their mission. You’d have to ask someone from Nav Press for more information.

Barb, as a strong, long-established press, Abingdon has inroads into various sale venues. Can you give us a breakdown of your future fiction marketing strategy? I noticed that Cokesbury, the retail arm of Abingdon, offers books and study materials, etc. from numerous publishers, not just Abingdon. Insourcing from other publishers makes good economic sense for all concerned. Will the fiction line be available through Cokesbury as well as traditional ABA and CBA bookstores? Do you ever use mass retail outlets like Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Sam’s Club, etc.?

Abingdon Press has a big advantage in that we’ve been around for a long time and have a solid reputation. It’s amazing how fast the word has spread to the publishing trade. Our fiction will be available in all Cokesbury stores, as well as ABA and CBA bookstores, and our reps also will be calling on other major accounts.

Barb, you’ve got to be excited about launching a new line, being the ‘go-to’ gal. Do you have a personal goal for this line that you’d like to share with us? And does the line have a name yet?

Excited?! More than excited!! We just closed our Fall 2009 list, and I had to restrain myself from jumping on a desk and singing the Hallelujah Chorus. I’ve never had this much fun in my life! My personal goal is to be another Maxwell Perkins, the editor who encouraged and nurtured writers like Hemingway and Faulkner. My main motivation in life has never been money, although I certainly need to be successful to keep this job, but rather I’m motivated by my passion for discovering great stories, meeting authors who become my friends, and touching readers’ hearts and minds with books that make them want to know and love God.

For now…we’re Abingdon Press.

Barb, thanks so much for being here. I know our Seekerville buds are looking forward to your visit. The Seekers appreciate your time, your expertise and we're totally appreciative of the fact that you took our Myra off of Unpubbed Island with her contract for A Perfect Christmas. Gives me more coconut macaroons, having her gone an' all. And yes, I saved you some, drizzled with dark chocolate per your request. I tucked them away because, well... we get lots of women visitors here and you know how THAT can be.

Ruthy