Seekerville's Rockin' It New Year's Eve Welcomes 2017 With Friends!

Beginning at 6:00 AM Eastern Time, we're morphing this page to the our annual holiday bash:

"2016 Seekerville Rockin' It New Year's Eve Party"!

It begins!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, SEEKERVILLE! I am so excited to be here with you, and we're kickin' off the Rockin' It New Year's Eve with an opening hour prize of a $20 Starbucks Gift Card.... Like this!

I know, technically it's New Year's Eve "day", and it's not even really New Year's Eve until tonight, but I am feelin' the holiday Ho-Ho-Ho joy of the mornin', ready to thank God for an amazing 2016 (when has there ever been another year that offered more POLITICAL FODDER for story-tellers, poets and bards???)

And to jump head-first into the brand new waters of 2017 while we Kick Discouragement to the Curb  today....

How are we going to do that, you ask?

No small number of ways!

Today, each hourly host will give us a tip on how they keep discouragement at bay.... and the answers vary as much as the hosts who've offered their holiday time to us.

Youse know what I'm going to tell you.... Work, focus, don't give up, and then work some more. Honestly, my trick with discouragement is pretty easy. I get MAD.... and then I roll up my sleeves and jump right back in. No earthly person dictates my destiny, and I'm feisty enough to smile and work my way through pretty much anything...

"No one can make you feel inferior without your permission."  (Eleanor Roosevelt. Smart lady.)

And we're going to use Pet Therapy. These former lovers hung out for a bit last spring... Oh, yeah, Mick and Libby had a few flings back a few years and now they're good friends. (Or so they say...)

And from these two pretty dogs, a red Golden Retriver and a chocolate brown standard poodle, came over 40 coal black puppies over a bunch of years.

Now that's my kind of therapy, right there!!!

And this is what they look like when they grow up:

This is Jeter. He's a big goof, a 3 year old puppy with a heart of gold...
He's my writing buddy.
He loves hanging out on the floor with me while I work.

Don't scoff, my holiday-loving friends! Pet therapy has been known to SAVE LIVES (and contracts) because if you pet a kitty instead of insulting an agent, THAT'S BETTER, right? And if you walk a dog rather than argue why your heroine is absolutely, positively and in no measurable way about to change, no matter what your editor wants....

You get the gist! So we're featuring friends and fur bundles today, along with great food (I'm always open to food) and better counsel as Seekerville bids good-day to 2016... and hello to a vibrant, new 2017 with no mistakes in it yet!

"Let's See How Far We've Come" by kicking discouragement and negativity to the curb!

Everyone who leaves a comment will have their name KEPT IN THE COWBOY HAT throughout the day!

Oh my, and what a cowboy hat that is!

And on top of hourly winners (who will be posted under the New Year's Eve Winners Tab on the home page) we'll have a GRAND PRIZE KINDLE WINNER at the end of the day.

And that's it, my friends. I brought a great spread from Panera... Mimosas... Danish.... and bagels and smear (that means toppings, guys. Stuff to spread on the bagels...)

And if I can add you to my newsletter list, e-mail me at loganherne@gmail.com... or message me on facebook with your e-mail... I've got a January kick-off contest to have your name put into my new Wishing Bridge Series (starting in November) AND I can't wait to tell you more about that! But today isn't about me...

It's about us and keeping our chins raised high and our sights aimed forward... because there's no place for discouragement in 2017. Not when we've got HIGH HOPES!!!! 

Leave a comment any time during the day and your name goes into the cowboy hat for the rest of the day...

And from my house to yours, I'm wishing you the happiest of new years!!!

And for hour #2, I'm turning the lot o' youse over to the lovely award-winning Love Inspired author Glynna Kaye with her note of encouragement:

While it might sound rather simplistic, I think one thing that anchors me in times of discouragement is to remember THIS TOO SHALL PASS.  Which sort of goes hand-in-hand with two other reminders I keep framed on my desk: “Don’t fear tomorrow. God is already there” and “Never assume that God’s delays are God’s denials.”

GLYNNA KAYE treasures memories of growing up in small Midwestern towns—Iowa, Missouri, Illinois--and vacations spent in another rural community with the Texan side of the family. She traces her love of storytelling to the times a houseful of great-aunts and great-uncles gathered with her grandma to share candid, heartwarming, poignant and often humorous tales of their youth and young adulthood. Glynna now loves writing small-town inspirational romances for Love Inspired.

------

My giveaway will be an e-copy of James Scott Bell’s “Write Your Novel From the Middle” for KINDLE.

And we'd love to give a shout out to Patti Jo's book-loving special friend "Delilah"... A lovely calico kitty with a real love for books and a big supporter of Christian fiction!

Thank you, Patti Jo Moore for sharing your furry friend with us!

And here is one of Dana Lynn's more feathered friends!

Clearly a sight that Ruthy enjoys! #mustlovechickens!!!

And look who's joining us for hour #3!!! It's my buddy Jan Drexler, a delightful person who was able to put up with me for DAYS last summer!!! :) There's a testimonial for you! Welcome to the party, Jan! I'm so glad you could be here and huge thanks for taking some time from your holiday... and your snow... to hang out with us!

And here's a little bit of advice from Jan, a woman of delightful insight:

Whenever I start feeling discouraged, I start thinking about what I would be doing if I wasn't writing. I build stories in my head about "Jan the teacher," or "Jan the secretary." Nothing sounds as deeply satisfying as writing. Not even the stories about "Jan the bookstore owner." :) That's all it takes to remind me that I'm living the dream. My books might not sell as well as I hope, or I might not get the contracts I was hoping for, but it's okay. That will come in God's time.

Jan Drexler is a long-time Seekervillager who credits the ladies of Seekerville for giving her the tools she needed to launch her writing career. She writes historical fiction with Amish characters for Love Inspired Historical and Revell. When she isn’t writing, she’s spending much of her time hiking and enjoying the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband of nearly thirty-five years. Her writing partner is her Corgi, Thatcher, who makes life…interesting.

And look what our Jan has for some lucky/blessed commenter on this "Kick Discouragement to the Curb" day!!! Jan, I love the mug!!!

And what New Year's Day would be complete at the Drexler house without a picture of Jan's beloved Corgi... "Thatcher"!

Hello, Thatcher! Welcome to Seekerville!

And in keeping with the spirit of the day, who can resist teasing Thatcher with a kitty pic sent in from Jessica Baugh???  Meet Max, and thank you, Jessica for sending in his picture!

Musically inclined kitties are my fave!!!  Take it away, Jan!!!!

ADDING WYNTER!!! ;)

Thank you, Jan!!!!  This dog is so stinkin' pretty!!!

Thank you, Jan!!!! Sending hugs to the Midwest!!!

The 9 AM hour is hosted by Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author Debby Giusti. A medical technologist by trade, Debby loves working with test tubes and petri dishes almost as much as she loves to write.  Growing up as an Army Brat, Debby met and married her husband--then a Captain in the Army--at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  Together they traveled the world, raised three wonderful Army Brats of their own and eventually settled in Peachtree City, Georgia, where Debby spins tales of suspense that touch the heart and soul. Connect with Debby on her website www.DebbyGiusti.com. Follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/debby.giusti.9 and Twitter https://twitter.com/DebbyGiusti.

“Discouragement usually hits when I’m tired and stressed,” says Debby. “The best remedy is a good night’s sleep and turning the work over to the Lord. When He’s in charge, everything runs more smoothly, including me.”

Debby is giving away two prizes this hour. Each lucky winner will receive a copy of PERSON OF INTEREST and THE SOLDIER’S SISTER, two books in her Military Investigations series. She’s also giving THE WRITER’S PRAYER, a 2017 Weekly Planner and “With God All Things Are Possible” notes to the winners.

  

Debby's cute grand dogs wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Bear, the lab, will play a role in Debby’s May release, AMISH REFUGE. Angelo, seated on his patriotic pillow, hopes to make his debut appearance in one of Debby’s future books.

Join Debby at two fun reader events: Romancing the Smokies in Knoxville, TN, March 18 and Love Our Readers Luncheon, Marietta, GA, February 11.

And joining Debby this morning to wish you all a happy and blessed New Year are a delightful crew of fur buddies who happen to live with the delightful Sharee Stover in Nebraska! We've got Niko, Bullet and Gilly here... And note that they're all curled on the carpet, not the cooler hardwood floor! #smartdogs!!!

Debby... Thank you. Thank you for being you and thank you for being part of our I Love the Military campaign.... Your family's patriotism and work ethic are wonderful and inspirational. So glad you were able to be here with us today!

And to usher in hour #5  is our very own award-winning Love Inspired author Janet Dean!

Life has its ups and downs. I'm guessing every writer--and reader--has experienced it. Right now I’m discouraged and questioning myself. The only way I know to kick discouragement to the curb is to plan and to pray. I've seen time and time again that God can provide the tenacity and wisdom I need to fulfill His purpose for my life and for my writing. But He expects me to do my part, to plan the work and work the plan. If like me, you're discouraged or doubting yourself, join me in taking steps each day toward meeting goals in the new year. Then we can rest knowing we've done our part and leave the outcome in God's hands. There's no better place to be. I'm thankful to have you in my life and praying 2017 will be a good year for us all.  

Janet Dean grew up in a family who cherished the past and had a strong creative streak. Her father recounted fascinating stories, like his father before him. The tales they told instilled in Janet a love of history and the desire to write. Today Janet spins stories for Love Inspired Historical. She is a two-time Golden Heart finalist, a Genesis and a Carol finalist and a member of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. Her novels are also Golden Quill, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Booksellers Best and Inspirational Readers Choice Award finalists. Visit Janet at her Website: www.janetdean.net


For this hour, Janet is graciously giving away a copy of any available Seeker book! Thank you, Janet!

And here we've got a sweet pic of Janet's Grand-dogs..... Ready for the holidays!

Ho, ho, ho!

Joining Janet's grand-pups we have an absolutely beautiful and fun "chillin'" pic from Kelly Blackwell! Here's what Kelly wrote:

I would like to introduce you to my sweet boy Dizzy. Dizzy was one of a group of 7 foster kittens my family took in for the Humane Society. It is our gig in kitten season to take in kittens and love them like crazy so when they get fixed and put up for adoption, they will be very people friendly and too lovable to pass up. Dizzy was the one kitten we decided to keep out of about 15 sets of foster kittens. 

I didn't know which picture to share so I am giving you one of Dizzy's sweet moments and one of Dizzy's moments of behaving very human.  He loves sitting next to my husband on the couch and lounging just like him.  :)

I hope you can use one for the New Year's party.  

Have a beautiful day!

This is a great pic, and should be a cartoon cat! Thank you, Kelly!!! And thank you for being foster mama to those sweet babies!!!

And here's a picture of Rhonda Starnes' "Sawyer"... LOOK AT THAT FACE!!!!

Oh, he's going in a book for certain!!!

Janet!!! Thank you so much for being here! Happy New Year to you!!!

Now turning hour six into the wonderful and quite capable hands of Bestselling Author Pam Hillman!

Pam's tip on keeping the negativity at bay... 

"I’m kicking discouragement to the curb by keeping my nose to the grindstone. Nothing like a scraped nose to keep your mind off your troubles."

CBA Bestselling author PAM HILLMAN was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn't afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove an Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn't mind raking. Raking hay doesn't take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that's the kind of life every girl should dream of. www.pamhillman.com

Pam is offering up a copy of Stealing Jake or Claiming Mariah for this hour, ebook or print. Winner’s choice.

And here's a glimpse of Pam's fur-baby, Dakota!

And we've got some villager friends for Dakota!!! Dana Lynn sent in this pic of this gorgeous red and white horse... Dana is it a "Paint"? Or part paint? And do you say red/roan/rust?  Gorgeous baby, you can ride this dream pet my way anytime!!!! Thank you for sending it along!!

Pam, thanks so much for taking time out of your holiday... and work day! :) to be with us!!! And now we move along to the Ruthinator again!!!

Ruthy's back with another hour of festive fun because she loves to raise a mug in your honor!

And when it comes to discouragement, Ruthy's quite pragmatic about how she handles it... she works harder. She grabs hold of the Tiki Barber (NFL football player) mentality. When asked about his big break, Tiki replied, "I made sure I was ready. I worked hard, I practiced, I pushed myself, I got myself in the best shape possible because when that coach called my name to put me in the game, I wanted to be ready to take the spot. And I was."  

That makes sense to the Ruthinator because we never know when opportunity might knock. And if we do the John the Baptist thing, and make ready the way, we can seize those moments.... because we're ready!

This is how we faced off with worst drought in Western New York history... Cute kids, gallon jugs of water and record farm sales.... God tells us to be ready... and then he figures it's our job to listen!

Ruthy is giving away the first two volumes of her wonderful "Double S Ranch" cowboy series "Back in the Saddle" and "Home on the Range"... and she's so excited that book 3 will launch in FOUR SHORT MONTHS! Oh, Hallelujah chorus! :)

And for some sweet inspiration about the blessings and true meaning of the season, go see Kaylee Rogers gone-viral version of Leonard Cohen's Christmas "Hallelujah"....

And Cynthia Herron sent us this pic of her sweet furry friend:

Cynthia! I love it! Thank you so much for sending it along!!!

And last I looked we were over 450 comments... Happy New Year, all of us!!!

And now....


We're turning hour #8 over to the lovely and talented multi-published Myra Johnson.... and here's Myra's thought on keeping discouragement at bay:

Discouragement can attack writers in so many ways—family or health problems, rejections, poor sales numbers, negative reviews, publishers closing their doors. Some things are within our control, but so many others are not, and the key is to know the difference. My strongest defense against discouragement is to make the best possible use of the gifts God has given me as a writer, and then to fully trust Him for the results. This mindset is something I have to renew constantly, and the beginning of a new year is the perfect reminder.

About Myra: Award-winning author Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. Myra is a two-time finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards and winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction. Originally from Texas but now residing in the beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband love the climate and scenery, but they may never get used to the pulled pork Carolinians call “barbecue”! The Johnsons share their home with with two lovable rescue doggies who don’t always understand the meaning of “Mom’s trying to write.” The Johnsons are also currently harboring their younger daughter and family (six in all plus a kitty!) as they transition toward their next missionary calling. With grandkids underfoot ranging in age from 14 down to nearly 3, there’s never a dull moment! 

Myra is graciously giving away winner’s choice of any book from her "Till We Meet Again" or "Flowers of Eden" series.

And the Johnson family fur-babies send their good wishes along for a wonderful new year!

And to join Shadow and Poppy, we've got some more villager fur-friends!!!  Here is Sherida Stewart's little grand-pup "Gumshoe"!!! Stinkin' adorable!!!  Sherida, I'm so glad you sent him over to us!!! Happy New Year, Gumshoe and all the Stewarts!!!

Myra, thank you!!!!

Hour NINE comes in with the delightfully clever Sandra Leesmith!

Hello Seekerville,  What fun we've already had this morning. I love bringing in the New Year with Seekerville friends.  Yay!!!!   The way I battle discouragement is to go straight to the Lord. I might do that by taking a walk, or lying down and closing my eyes, or opening my Bible.  When I do that, the right verse seems to jump out at me.  And another thing, I keep what I call my gratitude list. Every day I list all the wonderful things, big and small that I have to be thankful for. When I look at that list, it is impossible to not see the hand of God in my life. So then I am thankful and I sit back and TRUST that all will work out for the good.  Hindsight is wonderful and at this age, I have plenty of that.  When I look at those dark times of discouragement, I can now see that they worked out for the good. So again, I'm able to TRUST.  

What events in your past that seemed so dark and gloomy turned out to be for the best?  I know I didn't get a couple contracts for writing and looking back, I am now thankful I didn't because I would have had deadlines when my parents really needed me for elder care. I was able to be there for them. I am so thankful for that.  NOW mind you. Wasn't being thankful at the time. LOL  

Please chime in and share.  My gift this hour will be an ipod so you can listen to audible books. I have three you can choose from.  

Sandra Leesmith writes sweet romances to warm the heart. Sandra loves to play pickleball, hike, read, bicycle and write. She is based in Arizona, but she and her husband travel throughout the United States in their motorhome and enjoy the outdoors. You can find Sandra's books here on Amazon. Three of Sandra's most popular books are also audio books at Audible. You can read more of Sandra's posts here.

And here is Sandra with her furry friends, both of whom have passed over the Rainbow Bridge....

Suzette and Buddy, a likely pair, aren't they?  Suzette used to love to sit on my lap when I write and when she'd had enough, she'd put her paw on the keyboard and when I saw a bunch of k's lining up on my manuscript, I knew it was time to take a break and take the little girl for a walk.

Checking for birds????  Cody was my walking buddy.  He loved to go for a walk and explore the area for any kind of wildlife. He usually found it too.

 Amazing catch and amazing photo!!!!  Buddy was hubby's favorite.  He could spend hours catching frisbees.  He loved the water too as most labs do.    We've had several dogs over the years and we figure when we die and go to heaven we'll be greeted by a pack of dogs.  We're looking forward to that.  LOL

To offset the normalcy of Sandra's sweet post and the gorgeous dogs, we've got two more treasured pets from Dana Lynn's house! 

Two rodent buddies... fur-bearing and somewhat beady-eyed, I think she figured I'd never post these guys... but of course I will... Although I was TEMPTED to save them for Connealy tonight!

#meanfriend 

Hello, little ones!!!

Sandra, thank you so much for sharing your words of encouragement!!! And for the next hour....

Moving into Hour 10 and ushering in our next hostess, award-winning Love Inspired author Cate Nolan with her words of wisdom about staying uplifted, and her advice is something I try to practice all the time.... and that's because it works!

Kicking discouragement to the curb – it sounds like such a proactive thing to do. Problem is, when you’re feeling discouraged, it’s hard to be proactive. That’s when I find it helps to do something for someone else. You have to make it a habit though to make it work. So let’s help each other kick discouragement to the curb this year by continuing to support one another. The Seekers are such wonderful role models with this. We can all strive to be so supportive!

Cate Nolan lives in New York City, but she escapes to the ocean any chance she gets. A devoted mom, wife and teacher, Cate loves to leave her real life behind and play with the characters in her imagination. She’s got that suspense writer gene that sees danger and a story in everyday occurrences. Cate particularly loves to write stories of faith enabling ordinary people to overcome extraordinary danger.  A three time Golden Heart finalist and winner of the 2011 Genesis Award, Cate now writes for Love Inspired Suspense.

Every commenter's name goes into the rugged and mightily good looking cowboy hat for the hourly drawings and the grand prize drawing... So leave a comment to be entered or just join right in on any conversation that looks likely! Cate has graciously offered a copy of her wonderful Love Inspired suspense "Christmas in Hiding".

And here is Cate's furry friend Fenway. I had to do that, it's quite alliterative! :) Even though her beautiful cancer-surviving dog is named for a ballpark that houses the arch rivals of my beloved New York Yankees....

Did you know that it is only 99 days before the Boys of Summer RETURN for the 2017 season??? (Oops, off-topic)!!!  

Doesn't he look Christmas-cozy here????

And Cate just sent me this one, clearly the dog has GREAT READING TASTES!!!

I found this pic on facebook... and it's registered for re-use, so I'm putting it here because Cate understands the constant struggle we humans have, being tugged in so many directions.... And the dog just wants to love us and be loved. :)

I need this lesson as much as anyone I know!

And now we're turning things over to the funny, passionate and one-of-a-kind Julie Lessman!

I learned the hard way (46 rejections on my debut novel, A Passion Most Pure) to kick discouragement to the curb by praising and thanking God every single time I found another self-addressed #10 envelope in the mailbox. I always look at it like an opportunity to stomp on the devil’s head when I do this, and I truly believe both praise and thanksgiving pave the way for God’s blessings. 

My favorite story of winning over discouragement is the year I won the booby prize for the most rejections in a year at an ACFW conference. Yes, I was discouraged, but I praised and thanked God that I won a prize at all! The blessing came three years later when I stood on that same ACFW stage to receive the Debut Book of the Year award for that same multi-rejected book. Now that’s not just kicking discouragement to the curb, it’s running it over with a Mack truck! ;)

A lover of all things Irish, Julie Lessman enjoys writing Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart of San Francisco series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and voted #1 romance author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards. Winner of 18 RWA awards, Julie made Booklist’s 2010 Top Inspirational Fiction and Family Fiction’s Top Novels of 2014 and 2015. Contact Julie or read excerpts at: www.julielessman.com.

GIVEAWAY!!  
Win a character after you in my next book and a signed copy of that book PLUS a signed copy of my latest book, Love Everlasting. Check it out at Amazon!  

And while you're checking out Julie's book, you can say hi to another one of Dana Lynn's precious fur babies... and we added another Fenway (discerning reader pic!) above!  

How gorgeous is this cat???? Dana, thank you for sharing him with us!!!

My goodness! Look at how large that cat is! All I can say is the bigger they are, the better they cuddle, right?

Thanks, Dana, for the pic. And thanks, Julie, for sharing your cheer to take us into the new year!

Our party continues into Hour 12 with a fun hour of chatting with the amazing Mary Jane Hathaway!!

This might sound odd, but I kick discouragement to the curb by reading terrible reviews of my favorite books! I go find Pride and Prejudice (a work of undisputed genius, right?) or Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South on Amazon. Then I read allllll the one stars. These are careful, discerning readers who sincerely hated these wonderful books and I realize that you will never please everybody. That knowledge shoves back the fear and discouragement! Then, I'm truly inspired to write a book that tells an amazing story in a way that glorifies God and brings joy to readers.

Mary Jane Hathaway is an award-nominated writer of Christian fiction and a home schooling mom of six young children who rarely wear shoes. She holds degrees in linguistics and religious studies from the University of Oregon. Mary Jane lives with her habanero-eating husband, Crusberto, who is her polar opposite in all things except faith. They've learned to speak in short-hand code and look forward to the day they can actually finish a sentence but in the meantime, she thanks God for the laughter and abundance of hugs that fill her day as she plots her next book. She also writes under the pen name of Virginia Carmichael and loves to meet readers on her facebook pages of Mary Jane Hathaway or Virginia Carmichael. You can find her in the Seekerville Café every weekend, on her personal blog The Things That Last, on Twitter, or over at Huffington Post where she blogs about all things books.

we have an overachiever chicken
 who doesn't want the glory

We have prizes this hour! How about:

One boxed set of the Along The Cane River books 1-5 (ebook only)

 AND

One paperback copy of Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread

Mary Jane, spending an hour with you is always enlightening! Thanks, Chickie!!

On to Hour 13 brought you to by the one, the only, Wilani Wahl!! 

Wilani Wahl loved creating stories since she was a little girl and wrote them down as soon as she could write. She used her stories while teaching children during her years as a missionary, never dreaming she would one day attempt to write a full novel. She has written three novels in the last two years and is working on perfecting them. In 2016 She entered her first ever contests and wants to continue to enter them this year as well.  

Pipe up and leave a comment! We've got 3 giveaways this hour!! Every commenter's name goes into the rugged and mightily good looking cowboy hat for the hourly drawings and the grand prize drawing... So leave a comment to be entered or just join right in on any conversation that looks likely! 

Glynna Kaye's The Pastor's Christmas Courtship (Yes, it's after Christmas, but how can you not offer a great book???)

Walt Mussell's Love and Grace anthology.

Tina Radcliffe's Rocky Mountain Cowboy

No better way to start off the New Year than with a great book!

Thanks Wilani for hosting a fun hour. And wow, the things we learned about you!! Thanks for sharing!!

Our night continues with the multi-talented Preslaysa Williams keeping us company for Hour 14. Let's celebrate!

To kick discouragement, I do two things: limit and fill. If I'm feeling 
overwhelmed with negativity, I do a "shut down" and LIMIT my exposure to 
negative information (news, Facebook posts, blog posts, Tweets, etc.) 
Then I fill my mind with positive messages: listening to sermons or 
motivational talks, reading inspirational books, surrounding myself with 
positive friends and family members. I also try my best to write ten 
things that I'm grateful for in my Gratitude journal each day.

In addition to the Gratitude Journal that I'm giving away, I will also provide a critique of the first 15 pages of a manuscript plus a 3-5 page synopsis for writers.

Preslaysa Williams is an award-winning author of restoration romance, modern day stories of people who seasons of loss and found the God who restores, strengthens, and establishes the brokenhearted. She is an actress who has appeared on television, Off-Broadway, and regional theatre. Visit her online at www.preslaysa.com

And joining Preslaysa this hour are some friends of Patti Jo's.

Let's start with Moses and Levi. They love hanging out while Patti Jo writes. They soothe her when writing hits a snag and purr with delight when a manuscript is finished. 

And who can resist this lovely young lady? Rumor has it Pepper the Cockatiel's got disco rhythm as she tweets encouragement and whistles tunes for inspiration. With friends like this, you've got it made, Patti Jo!!

Preslaysa! Thank you for spreading your infectious joy throughout Seekerville over the past hour! You have a gift of making people smile :)

We have the daring duo of Bonnie Roof and Carrie Schmidt with us for Hour 15. Bring it home, ladies!!

In dealing with a terminal illness, I have occasionally been visited by discouragement. Joshua 1:9 is one of the many beautiful verses God uses to bring me peace and joy. He has truly blessed me - I'm so grateful for His loving care and assurance He will work all things for my good.

A retired mother of two sons - Bonnie Roof is a Christian Fiction reading addict, lover of Seekerville, co-founder of CFRR (Christian Fiction Readers Retreat), contributor to the Overcoming With God blog, and is grateful for, and blessed by, His calling to read/review/share the gift of Christian Fiction and its authors with readers for the past 6+ years.

Chronic illness and discouragement can go hand in hand, and I have to engage “constant vigilance!” to kick that discouragement to the curb and keep it there. I was recently reminded, through a gift from a dear friend, that this illness is “just one more chapter” in the beautiful story that God is writing over me. As Psalm 73:26 says, “My health may fail and my spirit may grow weak but God is the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.”

Carrie Schmidt is an avid reader, book reviewer, story addict, KissingBooks fan, book boyfriend collector, ESOL Teacher, and a cool aunt. She loves Jesus and THE Story a whole lot and hopes she reflects both in the reviews she does at ReadingIsMySuperPower.org. Carrie lives in gorgeous central Kentucky with her husband Eric and their quirky dog Zuzu and recently was one of the co-founders of the Christian Fiction Readers' Retreat.

Nothing better than a pup by your side
and a great book in your hand!

Every commenter's name goes into the rugged and mightily good looking cowboy hat for the hourly drawings and the grand prize drawing... So leave a comment to be entered or just join right in on any conversation that looks likely! 

Our giveaway for this hour is this incredible CFRR swag bag from Christian Fiction Readers Retreat 2016

Includes the fabulous CFRR bag, CFRR swag, and at least 3 books

Bonnie and Carrie (and their other sidekick Annie) are super excited to announce that CFRR2017 (Christian Fiction Readers Retreat) will be in Cincinnati, OH on August 12, 2017!!!! Speakers will be revealed on January 2nd with a giveaway at our Christian Fiction Readers Retreat facebook page. More info on venue location and registration dates/costs coming soon but go ahead and save the date on your calendar!

So excited for CFRR2017! Will be watching for more info on January 2!!

Let's welcome Tanya Agler as our hostess for Hour 16!!

I live in a sprawled out suburban area so I spend a lot of time driving. One upside to that is sitting in traffic, praying and taking time to look around at the beautiful scenery God created all around me. Sometimes that road leads me to the gym where I think about the characters in my books and what they should do next or take a few minutes to read a couple of chapters of a book on my Kindle. Sometimes the road leads me home to read a night-night story to my youngest daughter while I take a moment to look around and remember why I do what I do, how blessed I am to do so and try to kick discouragement to the curb. 

Award winning write-at-home wife and mother of four, Tanya Agler is a graduate of the University of Georgia. When not writing or driving her kids all over town, she loves to enjoy a cup of tea along with a good book or a Cary Grant movie.

The giveaway for this hour is a
$10 Amazon gift card

Every commenter's name goes into the rugged and mightily good looking cowboy hat for the hourly drawings and the grand prize drawing... So leave a comment to be entered or just join right in on any conversation that looks likely! 

Tanya, thanks for spending your New Year's Eve with us!!!

Hour 17!! Can you believe how time is flying? WooHoo!! We have amazing Terri Weldon sharing her words of wisdom with us!!

Let's face it, discouragement comes with writing. We receive rejections from editors and agents, bad reviews, even unwanted comments from friends. Dwelling on discouragement will drain the joy out of your life and derail the plan God has for you. So give yourself a few hours, but as Tina often tells us no more than a day. Then get busy writing that next book. And while you're writing - remind yourself this is what God called you to do.

Nolly Grace and Crosby

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in the Heartland of the United States. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and RWA. Her novella, The Christmas Bride Wore Boots, released in December 2016.

Readers can connect with Terri: Website: www.TerriWeldon.com or Blog: Seriously Write

Every commenter's name goes into the rugged and mightily good looking cowboy hat for the hourly drawings and the grand prize drawing... So leave a comment to be entered or just join right in on any conversation that looks likely! 

Terri is offering 2 ebook copies of The Christmas Bride Wore Boots. 

The Christmas Bride Wore Boots

AND

$25 Gift Card

Terri, what a fun hour! Give those two little Westies a kiss from us!

Missy Tippens is joining us for Hour 18. You know this is going to be fun!!

If you get down or discouraged this year, I hope you'll stop by the Seekerville blog for a shot of encouragement. Sometimes no one but a fellow writer understands the ups and downs of this crazy journey. Let's kick discouragement to the curb together!

Missy Tippens, a pastor’s wife and mom of three from near Atlanta, Georgia, made her first sale to Harlequin Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, ACFW Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Maggie Award, Beacon Contest and a 2013 RT Reviewer’s Choice Award. A House Full of Hope was a Romance Writers of America 2013 RITA^® Nominee. Her most recent release is The Doctor’s Second Chance from Love Inspired. Visit Missy and sign up for her newsletter at  www.missytippens.com, and chat with her at https://twitter.com/MissyTippens and http://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers.

To wish everyone the happiest of New Years, Missy is giving away one of her books of choice and two fun Hallmark items--prizes she rediscovered when she moved!--to this hour's winner!

And here is Missy's trusty old writing buddy "Duke" who keeps her feet warm while she works...

Oh, those eyes could just MELT YOU, couldn't they????  Happy New Year, old fellow!

Happy New Year, East Coast!!!

Missy, we all hope you get that NYE ball drop in NY streaming!!

It's Hour 19 and time for Mary Connealy to grace us with her bits of western wisdom and uncanny way of making us laugh. Welcome, Mary!

Here's the thing about being discouraged. I think I'm an incredibly tough person with a strong sense of self-worth. Whatever is going on around me, including taking ten years and about a zillion rejections to get published (And no I did NOT keep them or count them--a zillion is a close estimate). And including raising four daughters, who were all teenagers at the same time and seemed split on whether I was just a huge embarrassment or simply stupid--and were far too willing to try and save me from being either of those. Or a rural wife who's husband comes in starving, exhausted and far too often short of patience with the woman trying to serve him food and wave him on to bed (please go now-now-now).

Anyway, all that swirls around me and of course affects me, but inside, maybe deep deep (deep deep deep) inside I think I've got a really solid sense of self-worth. In fact, I can look at all those years of rejection (NOW, not during) and think, "That is heartbreaking, but I always knew my books were good."

I can look at those overly emotional but beautiful and smart and faithful daughters and think, "I needed that. It made me tough. I needed to be tough. And they needed someone as tough as me to test their strength and maturity against."

I can look at that sometimes cranky husband and see the exhaustion, the hard work, the man who supported me and my daughters for years and years so I could be home with our girls. (My Cowboy's way of putting this is, "I guess being around their mom didn't hurt the girls any" --but he's trying to be funny right? RIGHT?)

I can even read my own one-star reviews with a shake of my head and a shrug.

It never touches the core of who I am. The person who believes she's intelligent, believes her faith is real and strong and connected to a loving God, the person who thinks, "Maybe being 'a good person' is unexciting but it's the right thing, a quiet, good life is enough. (I watched a show about that on Phil Donohue years ago - is being a good person a good thing? Of course, the idiot decided it wasn't!!!) 

All of who I am, deep inside, in my vivid thought life, was settled on me by loving, intelligent, poor-but-honest parents. Or maybe they get no credit, maybe it's all just internal. But despite many days of discouragement (see, I did get around to the point) fundamentally I can fight off falling to any real depths of it simply by believing in myself. And I hope everyone here finds that and believes in him/herself, too. 

Mary Connealy is a bestselling author, a Rita and Christy Award finalist and a two-time winner of the Carol Award. Some of her many series are Cimarron Legacy Series. Including the prequel, The Boden Birthright is a free ebook, No Way Up released last July, Long Time Gone, available for pre-order and Too Far Down, coming in October 2017.
Mary has two novellas releasing in October, Cowboy Christmas Homecoming—a four-book collection, and the single novella, Room at the Inn for Christmas. Also these series: Wild at Heart, Trouble in Texas, Kincaid Brides, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages, and Sophie's Daughters.

She lives in Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero, has four grown daughters and four spectacular grandchildren.

This hour, Mary is giving away a signed copy of No Way Up!

Cows. 

Mary is showing us her cows. 

Did we expect anything different?? Still, don't you just want to reach out and hug a calf??

HEY THEY ARE MY ONLY PETS

AS IF A DOG OR CAT IS CUTER THEN THIS...and I killed my last goldfish

Happy New Year, Central Time!!

Mary, you may think Central is Real Time, but you're wrong...

L.A. Sartor is with us for Hour 20. She's ringing in the New Year (in Real Mountain Time) and Everyone gets a gift!! 

The line that really connected with me in this year's Seekerville is Be Strong and Courageous. Using my own experience in this crazy world of writing and publishing, either trad or indie, I'm going to give you my suggestion for kicking discouragement to the curb. And believe me, it doesn't matter if you're a best-selling author or a newbie, discouragement is bound to affect you at some point...or at many points. From that white page waiting for your genius or those red lines from your editor, discouragement fills you and you're not sure where to turn.

. 

Re-read this verse and then take a walk and be surrounded by the beauty of this world. The gifts we've been given. The wonders right in front of you. Think of all who have gone before you, the pioneers, the seafaring folks, the daring, the bold. What would have happened if they stopped because they were discouraged?  Oh and notice I didn't say read a book. GET OUT and look around you. Admire that tender shoot of grass, that oh-so-blue sky, the child running toward its loved one. Let all of creation fill you with Strength and Courage, until you're nearly bursting with energy. Then go back and see if you can continue. I'll bet you can. 

L.A. Sartor is a bestselling, award-winning author. She began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at L.A.’s insistence, wrote them down and L.A. illustrated them. As an adult, she writes suspense and action-adventure novels with a dash of romance, and screenplays—she's had a contracted adaptation!  She lives in Colorado with her husband whom she met on a blind date.  L.A. loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey.  She has a blog and a mailing list. And visit her on Facebook and Twitter!

Free Download for Seekerville NYE!!

L.A. is offering a giveaway to everyone here in Seekerville! Click on the link: ( http://www.mediafire.com/file/gn5ls1wbdpi48sd/Gift_Calendar_2017.pdf  )
or click below the picture to download a set of digital calendar months for 2017! You get all 12 months, each individually created :) This giveaway will be available through January 3rd!

To see more of LA's creations, visit HeartToHeart WordArt on Etsy.

Happy New Year, Mountain Time!!

Thank you Leslie, Vince, Mary, and many more for making this past hour a non-stop string of laughter!

Hour 21 is here!! It's been quite a night, hasn't it? We have one more guest, Keli Gwyn!! She has a special reason for claiming the coveted anchor spot for our New Year's Eve party...it's her daughter's birthday!! Let's help Keli and Adriana celebrate!!

I’m excited to be covering the final shift of the party and ringing in my daughter’s birthday, er, make that New Year’s Day. Our gal finally returns from her three years in Europe, and I look forward to a New Year’s Eve with her, what would have been the first in years, and what does she do? Decides to go her church’s young adult New Year’s Eve celebration instead, that’s what. The noive. (That’s my attempt at a New Yawk accent, Ruthy. Are ya laughing? Or groaning?)

I can’t say as I fault Adriana for making her plans. I mean, what brand-spanking-new twenty-six-year-old would rather hang with her well-seasoned parents instead of her hip and happening new, YOUNG church friends? She could be missing out, though. She could be home with us watching her morning-person dad doze on the couch as he makes a valiant attempt to stay awake until midnight for her sake. But no, our gal will leave me here all by my lonesome to listen to the sounds of Carl snoring along with his devoted cat.

All joking aside, I’m happy to have a wonderful place to spend the last hour of 2016 chatting with wonderful people.

And now for a pet picture. Hmm. What is said picture meant to show? Me with the furry fellow looking loyal, the furry fellow just looking cute, or…? Since my pet is a cat and the first option isn’t going to happen, I’ll go with the second. I’ve included a picture my cat since my husband’s cat won’t deign to spend time with me very often. The high-strung, turn-on-you-in-a-heartbeat fellow who tolerates me on his good days is named Sandy. Yes, it’s a sissy name, which he reminds me often. How? He talks. Incessantly. But he is cute. Or handsome, as he prefers.

Let’s talk giveaway. I have a good one. No kidding. It’s AWESOME! Why? Because it encompasses the Seekerville verse for 2017. Can’t think of anything better to give away as the New Year is birthed. Sure, I could offer one of my books, but let’s be honest. They’ve all been out for months or years and aren’t gonna get anyone excited enough to stay up and keep me company until the ball drops (or drops on re-runs, I should say.)

Just what is this awesome prize? See the picture, and I think you’ll agree that I scored. I mean seriously. It’s got the verse, and it’s got Aslan. I should get super spiritual points for that. Of course, knowing how on top of things the Teenster is, she might already have a crate of these super duper prizes stashed in her prize vault, ready to give away. After all, I found the item on good ol’ Amazon. It’s wood, and I hope it’s as cool in real life as it looks on the screen. It could even go to a guy, and he wouldn’t roll his eyes. Much.

Keli Gwyn is both a native Californian who proudly resides in the Golden State and a long-time night owl, making her an ideal candidate to host the final hour of one of the most well-renown New Year’s Eve parties in Cyberspace. Keli is actually coherent at that late hour. In fact, she does some of her best work late at night and has been known to still be up surfing Facebook when Ruthy is just starting her day out in New York and posting cute pics of the Mighty Finn.

Keli is a converted cat person and has the clothing covered in bright orange dander to prove it. When she’s not procrastinating, battling a pesky case of perfectionism or attempting to slay the dreaded Doubt Dragon, Keli writes inspirational historical romance. She has a few books to her credit, but she’s not going to knock Mary, Julie, Ruthy or any of the other prolific Seekers off their pedestals, and she’s OK with that. Keli is, however, a wordy writer, which is why this bio has gotten so long. Because she cares about you, she’s going to refrain from telling you her life story and bring this to a close.

Final Happy New Year, West Coast Time!