BE AWESOME! BE A BOOK NUT!

    “Be Awesome! Be a book nut!”  
 Dr. Seuss wrote this quote decades ago but it still rings true today. 

Jewell Tweedt

Hi, I’m Jewell Tweedt and I’m excited to talk about the benefits of reading today on Seekerville. 

Here’s a little about me- I am a full-time middle school teacher with a masters in Curriculum and Instruction. I write historical fiction and contemporary mysteries and I am a Grace Awards finalist. My latest novel is Lessons Learned-Grace’s Secret set in 1870’s Nebraska. It is the fourth book in the Back to Omaha adventures series.

As a teacher I know how reading can benefit people of all ages. So if you ever feel guilty about taking time to plunk down with a good book and a cup of tea then wipe that guilt away because reading is good for you and everyone around you. So here we go with five benefits of reading and quotations by some pretty impressive people. And thanks to lifehack.org for some of these ideas.

1.    Mental stimulation. If we exercise our bodies then we should also exercise our minds. Studies show reading keeps your brain active and engaged. It’s even been suggested that reading may slow down or prevent Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Hand me a book, quick!

Best-selling author Gary Paulsen writes “I owe everything I am and everything I will be to books.” His love of reading and a lot of hard work has earned him a very successful career and multiple opportunities to influence thousands of adolescents and adults. In my school reading is a top priority and time is built into each day’s schedule for students to read what they want to read. It works. Our test scores improve yearly.

 In Lessons Learned-Grace’s Secret, Grace Freeport is Omaha’s schoolmarm. Shocked to realize most of her children have no books at home she uses her own collection to set up the town’s first public library and the response is overwhelmingly positive. “Miz Freeport, this is a fine thing you’ve done for us.”

2.       Stress reduction and tranquility. In today’s internet driven world and too-busy schedules, a good book can transport you into another realm and reduce your stress.

"Reading is the sole means by which we slip involuntarily, often helplessly into another’s voice, another’s soul.” Joyce Carol Oates. 

Sure beats taking anxiety medication. Seriously, we all need to slow down and enjoy ourselves more and reading is a safe, fun way to do that. Lester Newman, a student in my novel, knows this.  “Eyes wide with anticipation he carefully selected Treasure Island opened it to the first page and began to read.”   

3.       Reading provides knowledge. The more knowledge you have the better equipped you are to succeed in life or at least understand why things happen the way they do. History is full of enthusiastic readers who made monumental changes that impact us even today. President Thomas Jefferson’s thirst for knowledge led to him having the largest personal library in the United States in the 1800s. After he read several volumes about the frontier he made the famous Louisiana Purchase doubling the size of the United States and then sent Lewis and Clark to explore it. Jefferson wrote “I cannot live without books.”  Neither can I.

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 In Lessons Learned Lester Newman is looking at his teacher’s collection. “Miss Freeport, I’ve never seen so many books. That’s how come you’re so smart.”   
  

4.       Vocabulary expansion and memory improvement. Being articulate and well-spoken helps in any profession and situation. When you are reading you are developing thoughts and memories that forge new brain synapses and strengthen existing ones. And you can take those books anywhere. Stephen King writes “Books are a uniquely portable magic.”

According to a study by the Pew Research Center adults still prefer paper over e-books. Sixty-five percent of readers surveyed had read a paper or hardbound book in the past year compared to twenty-eight percent who had read an e-book. E-book sales surged in 2007 but began leveling off about three years ago. Those who do mostly use a tablet or a cell phone like my students.  

5.       Better writing skills. Readers can learn to write better. By observing the cadence, fluidity and writing styles of authors readers can hone their own skills. As a teacher, I can often tell which of my writers are readers. One of the basic rules of being a writer is to read constantly. To quote Dr. Seuss again, “Be awesome! Be a book nut!”

  To celebrate the recent release of Lessons Learned-Grace’s Secret I will be giving away an autographed copy to one lucky person who leaves a comment here on Seekerville. To see other books in the series please visit my blog at tweedtjewell.blogspot.com. I can be reached at tweedtjewell@gmail.com. My books are also available on Amazon.com.

Thank you Seekerville ladies. And to all of you, your homework today is to keep on reading!

Read like a writer . . . then write like a reader!

Myra Johnson

Believe me, I understand. If you’ve been at this writing gig for very long, reading for pleasure is no longer just about reading for pleasure. You see everything differently. Even in a novel that totally absorbs us, it can be hard to turn off the part of our brain that wants to critique every twist and turn of the plot and even mentally rewrite the author’s words.

Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. Because, even when we’re doing this subconsciously, we’re still learning.

But if we really can’t help being critical readers, let’s occasionally get proactive about it.

Read like a writer.

Viewpoint. How is this author handling point of view? Is the story in first person or third? Does the choice work for you? Why or why not? Does the narrative viewpoint draw you in, or does it feel like the author holds you at a distance? How many viewpoints are used in the course of the story? Do the other viewpoints seem like tangents, or do they directly affect the main characters and plot?

Conflict. Does the author include conflict in every scene? Too much, or too little? Do the problems seem contrived, or do they evolve as a natural result of the character’s actions or decisions? Does the author effectively balance high-tension scenes with more relaxed passages? Does each plot twist lead inexorably toward the dramatic climax? Is the conclusion both believable and satisfying?

Characterization. Are the characters’ thoughts and actions consistent with their personalities? Did the author do a good job of blending backstory into the forward plot movement? Why do you like or dislike a particular character? Do you easily grasp the characters’ goals and motivation? Did the author make you care about these people?

Dialogue. Can you “hear” the characters’ individual voices in their speech or internalizations? Does each character’s expression sound natural for the era and setting? Does it suit their personalities and educational background? Is there a good balance between dialogue and narration? Do beats and tags enhance or detract?

Description. Does the author blend description naturally into the flow of the story, or is it dumped in large chunks that interrupt the action? How easy is it for you to picture the characters and setting? Based on the genre, is there too much or too little description? Is it relevant, drawing you deeper into the plot? Or does the description seem extraneous or overwritten?

Some writers go to great lengths to analyze novels, including using colored pens and highlighters to mark different types of passages. When you see the “rainbow” spread across the pages, you can easily see which colors dominate and which areas received the least attention.

Now that you’ve thoroughly analyzed a few novels, it’s time to . . .

Write like a reader.

You know what you like, and in each book you read, you’re learning to identify what works and what doesn’t. You should also be gaining a sense of publishing house tastes and preferences.

So as a writer, your job is to create the most enjoyable reading experience possible within the parameters set by your genre and target market.

Characters and POV. Do readers in your genre prefer third-person point of view, or is first person equally popular? Will they expect a single viewpoint, or alternating viewpoints between hero and heroine? Is there room in the book for relevant scenes in supporting characters’ viewpoints?

Action vs. Introspection. Is your genre typically character driven or plot driven? Suspense readers expect more faced-paced action scenes and fewer thinking/reacting scenes. Readers of pure romance and women’s fiction look for the opposite. Also think about what’s appropriate for your characters. For example, is your hero dwelling too much on his feelings?

Emotional impact. Readers of every genre seek some kind of emotional connection with the story, so make sure you give them the type and amount they expect. Romance, women’s fiction, and coming-of-age stories touch the heart. Action and suspense novels must deliver a steady flow of thrills and chills. Mysteries may also contain an element of danger, but even more important is challenging the reader’s sleuthing skills. Have you dropped enough clues without giving too much away?

Description and narrative. Too much descriptive detail in a suspense novel and your readers will start skimming. Fail to fully engage your reader’s five senses in a romance and you’ve cut the heart out of your story. If you’re writing a historical, what balance of fact-vs-fiction will satisfy discerning readers?

When your draft is finished, give it a week or two before you reread for edits and revisions. Then, once again, read like a writer!

Let’s talk! Have you ever intentionally analyzed a novel to understand why it does or doesn’t work? What did you learn that helped you in your own writing? Is there an author or particular novel that, for you, represents the “ideal” of your genre and the quality of writing you aspire to?

Today I’m giving away a copy of my novel When the Clouds Roll By (book 1, Till We Meet Again, Abingdon Press). To be entered in the drawing, join the conversation and mention your interest in the book!

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. Who 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.

Watch for book 2, Whisper Goodbye, coming this spring!

What's On Your Shelf?

Hi everyone, Audra here. Can you believe it's May already?? Wow. Colorado is known for it's snowstorms in May, but with the hot winds and no moisture along the Front Range, I doubt we have to worry about that. This is more like wildfire weather. Ahhh, I digress, but really, it's nice to finally leave winter behind.

And speaking of winter, I'm sure we all enjoyed our share of reading as we took breaks from writing during cold snaps, right? What other profession can you pursue where your free time is engulfed with the joy of "researching?" I've never heard of an author who didn't voraciously read.

So, the important question I pose today is: What's on your shelf?

(Ha, I kinda feel like the barbarian for Capital One asking "What's in your wallet?" hee)

Take a look at your nightstand, your livingroom table, your keeper shelf and tell me -- besides the cup of coffee and assorted magazines -- what do you see?

A book? Lots of books?
What kind of book? Well-read or hot-off-the-press?
A romance? An adventure? A thriller?

Chances are you have a central theme in the books you hoard, covet, and collect. Now, compare them to your current WIP (work in progress). Are they the same genre? They should be. The old adage remains true: write what you know. And if you've spent years reading and consistently coming back to the same genre, that's the genre of book you should be writing, polishing and working up a killer spiel to present an editor or agent at this year's ACFW conference.

Why?

Because it's obvious you enjoy that genre. It brings you comfort in your rewards. You look forward to carving out moments in your day to follow the characters you love on the adventures you yearn for.

If that's the kind of book you love to read, chances are it's the kind of book you'd write well yourself.

You've got to love what your writing or the enthusiasm will not come through, the emotions will be forced and the research to make it feel real will be just this side of daunting. If you love romance, for example, don't be ashamed of it. Embrace it and put all your passion behind it. Don't try to write a scifi fantasy if that's not the section of the bookstore you camp in. The deadliest mistake an author can make is to write to a market you have no interest in just because it's hot.

If you wouldn't read it, you will not be able to write it.

By writing what you read, you're giving yourself a huge advantage. You've studied the masters, the authors who have engaged your interest enough to have you come back and buy a second book. The rhythm of the genre beats in your heart and the cadence of the words flow from your fingertips. You've studied the characterization; you anticipate the excitement of the plot points. It's a part of you and what better way to channel your emotions and the inner story of your heart that's just dying to come out?

Every kind of writing has it's own expectations and conventions. You can't have a great romance without the hints of passion and purpose (Julie described it best); great Western wouldn't be the same without a shoot'em up scene or two (no one is better than Mary); a great sci-fi has to engage the reader and introduce them to a new world that's different enough to create, yet familar enough for us to identify with (I believe we have a closet sci-fi writing Seeker thinking about this).

Readers expect a certain amount of convention in the genre and they'll expect it from your books, too. Don't overlook all those years of reading romances or mysteries or Amish-time traveling-werewolves as just whiling away the time. Consider all that effort as pre-pub research. Put it to use.

Write a book you want sitting on your nightstand or kitchen table waiting for you to steal a couple minutes and indulge in a few pages. Put your passion to work and write that book that others will want sitting on their tables and chairs just waiting "to take them away."

Hmmm, I started with a credit card slogan and ended with Calgon. There's got to be significance in that somewhere, LOL!

Now for the fun stuff : )

I've implored the Seekers to share their keeper shelves, bedside tables, and all-round places in their homes. They've done a great job of revealing their reading passion. Now it's up to you to guess which photo goes to which Seeker. I'll be giving away prizes to three lucky winners who guess all of them correctly.

What you have to keep in mind is the PERSONALITY of the Seeker, the life they give their books, and consider where their inspiration might come from. I won't lie, a few of the pics are real stumpers, but don't worry, there'll be clues along the way. And oh yeah, you can think out loud all you want, hypothesize to high heaven, work together! I can't wait to see what y'all come up with, LOL!

Match up the photo with the appropriate Seeker: Audra, Debby, Glynna, Janet, Julie, Mary, Missy, Myra, Pam, Ruthy, Sandra, Tina.

I'll have a drawing for three prize packages for three winners! C'mon, time to get creative!!

I'll even start us off with a hint: I'm published with LI, writing contemporary cowboy themes, but before I got The Call, I finaled in both the Contemporary and Historical categories of the Genesis in the same year...and won the Historical Romance category with my Regency era manuscript. NOW can you tell which pic is mine?

Maybe the other Seekers will drop hints about themselves throughout the day...you never know...

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BUT WAIT, there's more!! After this first set of book collections, I have 3 pics left over that really hit the heart of the soul of 3 Seekers. Can you guess who they are???

How well do you know your Seekers???

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B.

C.

 We'll have three winners here, too.

I'll be a mystery to the winner just which Seeker is sending you their book

All winners will be announced in the Weekend Edition. Stop by and see who won this week and check out all the new stuff for next week!!

What I Learned from Reading

Camy here! I’m in the middle of finishing a proposal for Love Inspired Suspense, and I’ve been doing a lot of reading of the most recent Love Inspired Suspense novels (all downloaded onto my Nook!)

Why do I do this? To keep up with the line. I need to know what storylines have been used recently, what character occupations have been written, what types of spiritual arcs have been described.

It’s true that there is nothing new under the sun, but I also don’t want to turn in a proposal with a storyline almost exactly like what was just published, or with character occupations that were just on the shelves last month.

Reading for market research seems a bit like cheating because it’s FUN! And yet you need to do it for your career. Your family rolls their eyes when you say that, right? (At least, mine does.) But it’s totally true. You need to read extensively in the line you’re targeting to make your proposal/manuscript fit in with that publishing house as best as you can make it fit, while at the same time being different enough to wow an editor.

So here are my tips for Reading For Market Research:

Ignore your family if they don’t believe you or understand. Don’t give in to the guilt. You really do need to do this.

Read in the line you’re targeting or read in your genre, or read your genre of the publishing house you’re targeting. If you’re targeting Historical Romance and Revell, then read all Revell’s Historical Romance novels, but you don’t have to read their Contemporary Fiction or Contemporary Romance novels.

Read the most recent books. The ones published 10 years ago are going to have different publishing standards than the ones published this year.

Look for trends. What types of storylines have been done? What character occupations? What story elements? Are any of those too similar to what you’re writing? Then either change up your manuscript or target a different house.

Don’t compare yourself to the writing. That will only lead to poor self-esteem and that shows in your writing. You’re only reading for story and character elements. Don’t compare yourself!!!

Keep up with the line/publishing house. Since houses can change what they want so quickly, don’t fall behind. Keep up with things so you’ll see when there are any changes.

If you’re targeting Love Inspired or Heartsong Presents, aim for the atmosphere of the line, but keep your unique writer’s voice. Since category romance has massive sales through their book clubs, they try to target the books toward that reader demographic, which is very specific compared to the reader demographics of some of the other larger houses. That means that Love Inspired and Heartsong need each book to have a specific reading atmosphere that will be what their readers are expecting. Don’t muffle your writer’s voice, but don’t write in a style that doesn’t fit with the line in general. If you read all the Seekers’ books for Love Inspired, each one has their own writer’s voice, but you’ll notice a certain “atmosphere” that carries through each of the books, too.

So let us know--what line or house are you targeting? If you don’t know, some of us might be able to offer suggestions so you can read for market research!

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is her romantic suspense, Formula for Danger. She is a staff worker for her church youth group, and leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders frivolous things like knitting, running, dogs, and Asiana. Visit her website to sign up for her quarterly newsletter.

Are You A Bookaholic?

Is it possible to have too many books?

Can you relate to this clip from The Gilmore Girls?

Is your TBR pile dangerously high?

Do you have a fear of running out of books to read?


Did you answer:

a) No!
b) Well, yeah.
c) Yes.
d) Seriously? YES!



Welcome to the first online meeting of Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.


When did you first discover you were a bookaholic? My story began innocently enough on the day I got a library card. I scorned Dewey Decimal in favor of wandering down the aisles waiting for my next read to speak to me. (Do I look like a little girl who would grow up needing intervention?)


I clearly remember my very first used bookstore fix. Piles and piles of books, spiraling to the sky. Chaos reigned. There were as many books shelved as not. I began to twitch as I lost myself for hours. I left with bags of books, including Irish Thoroughbred (Nora Roberts), Sweet Savage Love (Rosemary Rogers) and sixteen Dell Candlelight Ecstasy Romances. Clearly someone should have recognized I had a problem. Soon I was living on the streets. Just me and a grocery cart of books.



1993 was my first attempt at rehab. I traded in all 50 copies of my Janet Dailey, Americana Series. Each book was set in a different state. Beginning with Alabama's, Dangerous Masquerade and ending with Wyoming's Darling Jenny.


Unfortunately around this time a powerful and insidious new drug hit the streets. Online bookstores.

Thus began my rapid spiral downward into the abyss of no return. Books arrived daily. I hid them under the mattress, in the trunk of my car and in my darkest hour I traded Dove dark chocolate for books.

At my first meeting of BNSA, (Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous) I discovered I am not alone. Lusting after books is a disease that affects 25% of all people world-wide. There is no cure but there are guidelines to control the disease.

THE TENETS OF BNSA

1. Repeat after me. All books are not keepers. All books are not keepers.

Brace yourself. The first tenet is harsh but once you absorb this concept you are on your way to a addiction free future.



2. You must clearly differentiate between needs, wants, and desires.

Needs constitute basic survival.
Wants are more general and change with various factors such as time, maturity.
Desires are unique and specific based on your unique personality and history. Desires are similar to wants with more emotional attachment.

So you need a thesaurus. You want the latest Jim Butcher, Dresden File series. But you desire (MUST HAVE), Mary Connealy's, Wildflower Bride.



3. RESIST impulse buying. Impulse purchases are unplanned and spontaneous.

You think you have a copy of Ruth Logan Herne's,Winter's End, but your TBR pile is so tall you clearly can't remember. You go ahead and buy another copy because the cover is lovely, and OMG, what if you don't have it? Naturally, you plunk down your mocha latte money---only to discover later that you now own two copies of Winter's End. (Not a bad thing, however with a little planning you could have pre-ordered her next release, Waiting Out The Storm.)



4. Stick to a budget. Successful recovery depends on successful planning. Are you in denial? Do you fail to budget for your books, turning every purchase into a dirty little secret? Experts say you should budget 5% for entertainment. If your needs (see #2 above) require more, I suggest you get a job at a bookstore with a generous discount for employees. Failing to plan is planning to fail.



5. Create boundaries. This is a very simple yet powerful tool. For every book that comes into the house, one must go out. Boundaries. Note: the flimsy booklet that comes with your major appliances is not a book. No cheating.



6. Define a keeper. Keepers are those books that you read over and over again because they guarantee the same emotional satisfaction each and every time. So a Keeper is (re)read depending on what emotional needs you require at any given time. Your Keeper shelf should be as varied as your emotions. A well stocked Keeper shelf is the foundation of recovery.



7. Consider joining a support group for bookaholics such as Library Thing. You can meet others like yourself, satisfy your inner librarian, and best of all, you can catalog your books. That should keep you out of trouble for a few years!

Today Seekerville has tackled a serious problem and we hope that if you recognize yourself you'll seek treatment.


Oh, and one lucky bookaholic will receive a surprise biblio-desire. And for your Keeper shelf we are giving away a copy of Courting Miss Adelaide by Janet Dean.

Two winners will be announced in the Weekend Edition.