Weaving in the Inspirational Thread

Debby Giusti here!

Have you ever watched a weaver create cloth? With her shuttle and loom, she pulls different threads together to form an intricate pattern, just as we do with our manuscripts. The character arcs, suspense, romance, plot, perhaps a few red herrings, an antagonist or villain, a mentor and/or best friend are all woven together to create a satisfying story.

In inspirational romantic suspense, which I write, the romance needs to be equally balanced with the suspense. The faith threads are usually woven more loosely through the work, yet they play a significant role in the story and are the topic for this blog post.

Since June 14 was Flag Day and the Fourth of July is
right around the corner, I'm posting patriotic photos
in honor of our brave men and women in uniform.
Photo courtesy US Army.

You may have heard me mention that my early rejections included comments about the characters not being compelling enough. The word compelling always seemed a bit nebulous or abstract. “What makes a character compelling?” I often asked published friends, who responded with obscure explanations that left me even more confused.

Eventually, the light bulb went off when I made a slight shift in my secular suspense stories and added a faith element. Suddenly, I had compelling characters. Was it the Christian angle that made the difference? Not exclusively, but it did deepen the internal conflict, which, in my opinion, is the key.

Photo courtesy US Army

If you struggle to portray memorable—and compelling--characters, beef up their internal conflict. I’m convinced that aspect of the hero or heroine’s journey is the make or break issue. Adding a faith element enhances that conflict and makes it even stronger.

Readers—and editors—love flawed heroes. No one relates to a perfect person. All of us feel connected to the underdog. Most of us carry some extra baggage, and we identify with characters that balance a lot on their shoulders as well. We want to root for the weak and watch as they triumph and succeed in spite of seemingly insurmountable odds. Adding a faith element to that flawed character ups the emotional impact for the reader.

Photo courtesy US Army.

What if Joe Cop, our wounded hero, has something in his past he tries to hide? Perhaps he inadvertently ignored his partner’s call for help, which left the partner in a dangerous situation without backup. Partner died or was seriously maimed, and Joe is still carrying the guilt. Even if he wasn’t personally responsible. That in itself is good internal conflict and could make a compelling character. But let’s add the faith thread and see how Joe’s pain deepens.

If Joe feels his mistake is so huge that even God can’t forgive him or so heinous that Joe can’t bring himself to ask the Lord’s forgiveness, his personal guilt becomes even more profound. He doesn’t like himself. He can live with that. But if he imagines God doesn’t like him, the internal pain becomes unbearable. Without God, Joe feels total rejection.

A word of caution: readers don’t want a Bible lesson or a let-me-tell-you-everything-I-know-about-the-Lord exposition mixed in with their fiction. Less, in this case, is more.

Photo courtesy US Army

A verse from scripture can remind the heroine of her past life when she was in right relationship with the Lord. Here’s an excerpt from The Colonel’s Daughter:

Lance’s picture smiled at her from the dresser. She opened the top drawer and saw the Bible he had given her. A book she hadn’t read since his death. 

Her gaze fell on a small framed verse she’d received as a child. All things work together for good to those who love God. 

After everything that had happened, she couldn’t trust the Lord. Not now. Not ever. 

A short prayer recited at a time of need can bring comfort and peace. The heroine in Nowhere To Hide finds strength from a prayer stitched on a sampler.

Reaching to turn off the bedside lamp, Lydia noticed a small cross-stitch sampler perched near the clock. 

Jesus I Trust In You, was stitched in tiny Xs across the fabric. 

“If only I could,” she mumbled as she turned off the light. 

At her darkest hour, she repeats the prayer and finds the strength to confront her greatest fear. 

Lydia’s heart broke. Her son shouldn’t have to die in this dark cave because his mother didn’t have the courage to save him. 

Matt believed in her. She had to believe in herself. And even more important, she had to believe in God. 

Jesus, I trust in You. 

Photo courtesy US Army.

A religious symbol, such as the gold cross necklace Kate Murphy finds in Scared to Death, can remind the heroine of God’s faithfulness and love. Isolated and alone, my gal slips the cross around her neck and feels a connection with her grandfather who taught her about the Lord.

A lump formed in Kate’s throat. Her hands shook as she opened the box and pulled out the gold cross that had been missing from her life for over three years. 

Grandda’s cross. 

She fingered the heavy Florentine metal and slipped the chain over her head. A sense of security settled over her as comforting as her grandfather’s warm embrace. 

Wearing the cross, Kate races to save an unborn child. This excerpt starts when the unwed mom mentions her fear.

“I’m…I’m scared.” 

So am I, Kate wanted to add. “We’re almost at the hospital.” At least she hoped they were. 

“Will you pray for me, Kate? Pray for the baby.” 

“I can’t.” Kate focused on the road and held the steering wheel even more tightly. “God doesn’t listen to my prayers.” 

“Pl-please,” Tracy pleaded, her face contorted as she started to push. 

Kate had tried so many times to reach the Almighty, but her prayers—even her pleas for help—had turned on seemingly deaf ears. Why would today be any different? 

Because a tiny baby’s life hangs in the balance. 

The thought flew through her mind. Kate pulled in a strengthening breath. If only she could find the right words. 

“God…?” 

Would He hear her? Kate glanced at Tracy’s face twisted with pain. He had to hear her. 

“Tracy and her baby need help, Lord. Get…Get us to the hospital before this baby comes into the world. And most of all, keep both of them safe.”

Photo courtesy US Army

 Not sure where to add the first faith thread?

At the beginning of the story, after the hero and heroine are introduced, some reference should be made to where they are in their faith journey, especially if their relationship with the Lord is flawed. Usually I include a line of introspection that gives the reader an idea of their struggle.

After introducing Lydia Sloan in Nowhere to Hide, I added the following in her point of view:

She had asked God to help her learn the truth. So far, He’d ignored her request. 

In the middle of the book, the hero and heroine or the protagonist and mentor/best friend can have a brief discussion about God, such as this conversation in Protecting Her Child:

Sheila’s eyes were filled with questions. “Eve says her faith and her suffering make her stronger. I wish I could believe what she tells me. But it’s hard. If God has the power to change lives, why didn’t He cure my son?” 

The same question Pete asked himself concerning Eve. 

“Eve told me the dark times come from our human condition,” Sheila continued. “But God can bring light into the darkness. She said Brice is now free of disease and pain and the uncertainty of when or where the next tumor will appear. He’s whole and healthy and surrounded by everything good. She called it the fullness of eternal life.” 

“Did her words help? 

“They brought peace. I still grieve for my son, but I no longer worry about him. Can you understand that?” 

“I’m not sure.” 

He pulled the china cup to his mouth and took a long swig of the hot coffee. What about Meredith? Did she have VHL? Would she learn that her baby was affected as well? Seemed that a loving God wouldn’t let an innocent child be stricken with a fatal condition. 

“I’m not sure I can believe in anything except what I can influence, Sheila.” 

He glanced up at the bedroom window where Meredith was sleeping. If he couldn’t save Eve, maybe his research might benefit Meredith and her unborn child. 

And what about God? 

Would Pete ask for His help? 

Not now. 

Maybe not ever. 

Photo courtesy US Army

At the climax, I try to take everything away from the main character that previously offered him security. He’s on his own to save the woman he now realizes he loves. Then I compound the situation with inclement weather or an injury or wound that hinders him in confronting and/or battling the antagonist.

When the hero has nowhere else to turn, he must turn to the Lord. Usually, my guys acknowledge their past mistake and ask God, in spite of the wrong they may have done, to help them now because of the woman they feel IS worthy of God’s mercy.

A hostage situation in my novella Yule Die, featured in Christmas Peril, forces the hero to turn to the Lord. 

Joe’s eyes fell on the tiny manger and the babe who came so that all might have eternal life. 

Malachi? Would he see the face of God? 

Robbie? Oh, Lord, he needs medical care. Keep him alive. 

And Callie? Keep her safe. 

Take me instead, Lord. 

Even after turning to God, the hero still has to fight the antagonist (the problem can’t be solved with a miraculous intervention), but he’s renewed with a sense of hope. In spite of the odds, the hero is willing to sacrifice everything for the woman he loves, knowing God has listened to his cry for help. 

This excerpt from The Officer’s Secret provides an example:

Nate picked up his cell phone and pushed the speed dial for Jamison. “I’m approaching the bridge. Water’s spilling over the sides, but it looks navigable. I’ve got a visual on the red Mustang parked in the underbrush near the cabin. I’m moving in.” 

“The bridge from the south is washed out, Nate. We won’t be able to get to you.” 

"What about from the air?” 

“Not in this storm.” 

“Then I’ll have to handle this one on my own.” 

When Jamison failed to respond, Nate glanced at his cell. Call Disconnected. No bars. No reception. He threw his phone on the passenger seat, knowing he couldn’t rely on anyone else for help. 

Anyone except the Lord. 

Pulling in a ragged breath, he gripped the steering wheel even harder. “I don’t deserve Your help, God, but Maggie does. Let’s work together to save her.” 

The bridge lay ahead. Water washed over the wooden planks. Nate shifted into low gear and eased the car onto the bridge, keeping an even pressure on the accelerator. If the engine died, he’d have to risk hoofing it to the other side. Feeling the pull of the water, Nate knew he’d be sucked into the river and washed downstream. 

“Stay with me, Lord,” he muttered. Without railings, he could be headed off the bridge and straight into the swirling mass of water. Once the wheels gripped pavement on the far side, he let out a sigh of relief. Maybe God was listening after all. 

In the end, once the danger has passed and he’s reunited with his love, the hero sees his past mistake through new eyes. Because God has forgiven him, the hero is able to forgive himself. He is redeemed and once again made whole. With God’s help, he can accept love and walk boldly into the future.

I concluded The Officer’s Secret in this way:

“Oh, Nate, I love you so much.” 

“Promise…” He hesitated, soaking in the feel of her in his arms. “Promise you’ll love me forever?” 

“Longer than forever.” 

As he lowered his lips to hers, he thought of the journey they had traveled. Both of them had carried heavy burdens from the past that, at the time, had seemed insurmountable. Now, holding the woman he loved more than anything, Nate vowed to enjoy this moment and every moment God gave them, knowing the Lord had a wonderful future planned for their lifetime together. 

Photo courtesy US Army.

Although sometimes subtle, the faith thread can change a ho-hum hero and heroine into compelling characters that sell your book.

How do you weave faith into your stories? As a reader, what do you like or dislike about the faith journey in inspirational fiction? Leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for one of my books, winner's choice. 

Today’s breakfast is light—bagels with cream cheese and jelly, fresh fruit and grits.

Happy writing! Happy reading!

Wishing you abundant blessings,
Debby Giusti
www.DebbyGiusti.com
www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com
www.crossmyheartprayerteam.blogspot.com

THE GENERAL'S SECRETARY
By Debby Giusti
Trusting the Wrong Person Can Be Deadly... Lillie Beaumont's dark past has just turned up on her porch--fatally wounded. The dying words of the man imprisoned for killing Lillie's mother suggest hidden secrets. Criminal Investigations Division special agent Dawson Timmons agrees. He has his own motive for seeking the truth, and it gives Lillie every reason to doubt him. But even as they reluctantly begin to face painful secrets together, Dawson fears that a murderer is waiting to strike again. And this time, Lillie is right in the line of fire...

All of my books can be found at Amazon.com. Watch for The Soldier’s Sister, to be released in September. The sixth book in my Military Investigations series, The Agent's Secret Past, will be out in March 2014.

Breaking All the Rules with Guest Debby Mayne

I’ve heard everything from, “First person doesn’t sell,” to, “More than two POVs, and you’re looking at the kiss of death from editors.” Oh, and there’s the dreaded present tense that is too immediate and intimate, and no one will ever read it because it’s too uncomfortable.

Well, guess what! All three books in my Class Reunion series with Abingdon Press – Pretty Is as Pretty Does (June 2013), Bless Her Heart (August 2013), and Tickled Pink (September 2013)- are written in multiple first person present tense. What was I thinking? 

  Do I want people to read these books? You bet I do. 




Then why did I write this series using devices that so many people dislike so intensely? Because they work for these stories.

I was originally going to write this series in the traditional third person past tense, but it felt too distant for the characters in these books. They needed to be more up-close and personal, and they practically demanded to have readers right there in the scenes with them.

Most of my writing life I’ve gone by the rules. I would go to writing workshops and take judicious notes, and then I’d go back home and write my stories using all the things I’d learned from editors and more advanced writers. It obviously worked for me because I’ve sold more than 30 books while following conventional rules.

And then Priscilla, Laura, Tim, Trudy, and Celeste came along and showed me how these rules don’t work for them. In fact, most rules don’t work for any of these characters, so it seemed fitting to do things in an unorthodox manner.

Priscilla’s valedictorian and “Most Likely to Succeed” titles in high school seem to conflict with her desire to drop out of college to become a hairdresser. Laura’s teetotaler lifestyle makes her an odd match for her lush of a husband who always has a beer in his hand. Beauty supply salesman Tim discovers that an extensive vocabulary doesn’t necessarily show a person’s IQ. Former beauty queen Trudy has to learn to value herself beneath her creamy complexion and once-perfect figure. Celeste’s bony elbows, bushy eyebrows, and stringy hair aren’t quite so bad after she gets a decent haircut, stands up straight, and learns to pluck and groom.

The weight of all the changes in these stories would have snapped the rules right in half. By doing things a bit differently, I was able to maneuver the framework to fit the stories and people in them.

That said, I still think think rules are good because they give us a structure for most of our stories. Without guidelines, we’d wind up with messy works that go nowhere and a bunch of frustrated editors who would have to make sense of our confusing submissions. New writers, in particular, need to learn what works for most readers so they have an advantage out of the starting gate. Even if they choose not to follow these rules, even in the beginning, knowing them makes breaking them more intentional. The rules should only be broken when that’s the only way to tell the story in the most believable way.

That’s the key to what I’ve done. I wrote Pretty Is as Pretty Does, Bless Her Heart, and Tickled Pink with intentional devices designed to provide immediacy and pull the reader uncomfortably close to the characters’ lives. I wanted readers to feel every little pain, including Laura’s annoyance when she caught her son trying to scoop his sister’s goldfish out of the toilet and later having to deal with her husband’s drinking. Knowing what Trudy goes through in spite of her beauty lets readers in on the secret of what really motivates her. And readers need to have that closeness to understand the relationship between Priscilla and her mom…and Priscilla and Tim…and Priscilla and her business.

We writers have created quite a few rules that editors may or may not agree with. In addition to the POV and past vs. present tense issue, we talk about floating or flying body parts, overuse of dialogue tags, never turning off a light at the end of a chapter, etc. In most cases, these rules provide a better read and give the writer the tools to keep readers turning pages and buying future books.

In my Class Reunion series, you’ll see all of the above. However, I do think that when I mention someone rolling her eyes, you’ll know that they’re not literally rolling across the floor based on the context of the phrase. And when I have someone throwing up her hands in frustration, you’ll assume that these hands are still attached to her arms. I think most readers are intelligent people who understand that the act of eyes popping out of a character’s head indicates surprise rather than a medical condition.

Even though I broke a few of the conventional rules for the commercial fiction market, I still recommend knowing them and following as many as possible when starting out to prevent an editor from tossing your submission into the “reject” pile. Go to workshops, take notes, and follow the advice from editors and skilled authors who have proven themselves in the industry. Once you establish yourself, gain a few readers, show editors you know the difference between first and third person, and find creative ways to show scenes and emotions through a single POV, you can stretch and try new things. Intentionally.

Oh, another thing you’ll want is the blessing of your editor who needs to be on board with your lack of convention. Fortunately, I was blessed with an editor who not only accepted it she encouraged it. Thanks, Ramona Richards!

Bio: Debby Mayne has published more than 30 books and novellas, 400 print short stories and articles, 1,000 web articles, and dozens of devotions for women. She has worked as managing editor of a national health magazine, product information writer for HSN, and creative writing instructor for Long Ridge Writers Group. She also judges the Writers Digest Annual Competition, Short-Short Contest, and Self-Published Book Competition. Three of Debby’s books have been top ten favorites by the Heartsong Presents book club. Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida received 4-1/2 stars and a Top Pick from Romantic Times Magazine in July 2009.

Pretty is as Pretty Does

Class Reunion Series Book 1


Priscilla Slater goes to her ten-year high school reunion with equal parts dread and eager anticipation. Even though she's a successful owner of a chain of hair salons and no longer has the mousy brown hair, crooked teeth, and discount-store wardrobe, she still feels like the ugly duckling. But when she arrives at the reunion, Priscilla soon realizes that her old classmates aren't exactly as she remembers them. With humor and a just a touch of sassiness, Priscilla finds herself facing her own truth-and she may be surprised at what she discovers.




 If you had a reunion coming up next month, what would you do to get ready for it?


Debby has generously offered to giveaway a copy of her latest release. If you would like to be entered in a drawing for Pretty Is as Pretty Does, please mention it in the comments. Winner announced in the Weekend Edition. And be sure to check out the book trailer here.

Welcome Guest Sandra Orchard!

A Tip for Choosing the Strengths and Weaknesses in Your Characters

By Sandra Orchard

While out for a walk with my husband, I made an offhanded comment about one of his character traits—a comment that apparently came out sounding a tad negative—to which he responded, “You know, some people would find that a strength not a weakness!”

And therein lies the key to choosing your character’s primary strength and weakness.

Let me start with an example from my current release, Deadly Devotion, in which the heroine’s greatest strength is that she chooses to believe the best about people, which manifests as fierce loyalty. The hero, a detective, who has learned from experience that people are rarely what they seem, sees the trait as a weakness, a potentially dangerous weakness.

Yet, he begrudgingly admires it, too. It’s been a long time since he’s felt as certain about anyone as Kate Adams is about her friend.

Even so, if asked what his greatest strength is, he’d say it’s the opposite of Kate’s. He’s realistic—he sees people and situations for what they really are. How can that be a weakness?

Well… Kate would call his realism cynicism. Does that sound more like a weakness to you?

Any trait taken to either extreme can be viewed as a weakness or strength. That’s the technical sweetness of choosing a fatal flaw that lies somewhere between.

In a story, the role of the character’s flaw is to rush him headlong into the black moment, while the role of his greatest strength is to enable him to save the day.

So… will the hero’s cynicism, and resulting distrust, drive him toward disaster? Or will his realistic perspective of the situation save the day? 

Will the heroine’s faith in people lead her to gullibly trust the wrong person and put her life at risk, or will her loyalty save the day?

Could go either way couldn’t it?

Photo credit: Crestock/donskarpo

The heroine could learn that it’s better to look at the world realistically, instead of through rose-colored glasses. Or she might convince the hero that sometimes he just has to believe in people and have faith in who they are, because when everything is at stake, faith may be all he has left—faith in God and faith in his friends?

The beauty of choosing strengths and weaknesses that are essentially a matter of perspective or extremes of the same trait is that it makes the character’s growth very organic. What he or she becomes is rooted in his or her personality as depicted from page one. But… along the way she’ll be forced to change what she believes about the trait. And in the process will learn something.

Let’s consider a few other examples. I’m a highly task-oriented person. I esteem that trait in others. I get things done. It’s a positive trait—a strength—right?

Not always. Not if I routinely choose accomplishing tasks over spending time with my family or friends. I’m sure we can all imagine plenty of ways the seemingly valuable trait could cause trouble.

What about a confident person? If their flaw is that they need to succeed, their confidence could soon look more like being domineering.

The possibilities are boundless. Persuasiveness can be perceived as manipulation. Self-assurance as arrogance.  Courage as recklessness.

A self-reliant person might not be able to rely on others. A determined person might not give up even when it’s prudent to do so.

Of course, make sure the traits and fatal flaw you choose for your characters are rooted in their wound. For example, a determined person’s flaw might be that he “fears failure”. Perhaps in his past he failed to stick to a task and the result was tragic, and he’s vowed never to let that happen again. Or a determined person’s flaw might be that he “needs results”, because of a completely different type of event in his past that deeply affected him.

In my heroine’s case, her father was arrested when she was a child and died in police custody. She was told and believes he did nothing wrong. People who thought otherwise were cruel to her, and those experiences caused her to become fiercely loyal to family and friends, to believe in them no matter how things looked.

Your turn: What are some other examples of positive and negative extremes of the same trait and a character flaw that might lead to them?

Deadly Devotion

Kate knows the truth is out there—but if she’s right, that means a killer is out there too.

Research scientists Kate Adams and Daisy Leacock were on the brink of a breakthrough for treating depression with herbal medicine when Daisy was suddenly found dead. Kate knows that her mentor’s death wasn’t suicide or a careless accident—and she’s determined to do whatever it takes to unearth the truth about what happened to the woman who changed her life.

Former FBI agent Tom Parker is finding it hard to adjust to life back in his hometown of Port Aster. Though an old buddy gave him a job as a detective on the local police force, not everyone approves. Tom’s just trying to keep a low profile, so when Kate Adams demands he reopen the investigation into her friend’s death, he knows his job is at stake. But despite his attraction to her, Tom thinks Kate herself may have something to hide.
As evidence mounts, a web of intrigue is woven around the sleepy town of Port Aster. Can Kate uncover the truth? Or will Tom stand in her way?

Sandra Orchard is an award-winning Canadian author of inspirational romantic suspense with Love Inspired Suspense and Revell. She is an active member in American Christian Fiction Writers, The Word Guild, and Romance Writers of America. To find out more about her novels, and to read interesting bonus features, please visit www.sandraorchard.com or connect at www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard

Weekend Edition

This weekend we're day dreaming, letting our plots and characters percolate on those clouds in our minds.  I'm seeing a cute guy on a horse who looks like Henry Cavill in those clouds. What do you see?

We Have Winners

 Contact us at our email address if you are a winner. If you haven't received your prize in 6-8 weeks, per our legal page, drop us a line. 

Contact us at our email address if you are a winner. If you haven't received your prize in 6-8 weeks, per our legal page, drop us a line.  - See more at: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/#sthash.5W2tILn4.dpuf

Contact us at our email address if you are a winner. If you haven't received your prize in 6-8 weeks, per our legal page, drop us a line.  - See more at: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/#sthash.JJi8hhGM.dpuf

Monday: Today Janet Dean talks about writing with clarity in her post entitled "My Two Cents: Worth Every Penny. " Janet will give away a signed copy of her April Love Inspired Historical The Bride Wore Spurs.


Tuesday:Abingdon Press and Heartsong Presents author Myra Johnson is your hostess on Tuesday. Join Myra for "Character Casting Call" and some hands-on practice in searching the Internet for just the right photos to represent your heroes and heroines. Myra will give away winner's choice of one of her Heartsong Presents "Horseman" novels.


Wednesday:OH, NO!!! What happens when your plot thickens … uh ... all the way to concrete?? When historical research or editors lock your story up, how do you get things stirring again? Join Julie Lessman with her experiences and solutions in her Seekervile blog entitled  "WHEN THE PLOT THICKENS TO CONCRETE!" A giveaway of choice of Julie's books is included.

Thursday:Can't afford a conference? Or don't choose to go, but hate missing the fun of gathering with your writer buds???? You've come to the right place, City Slickers and Cowpokes! Grab your chaps, your boots and your laptops because Ruth Logan Herne and the Seekers are inviting you to take a totally fun, amazingly FREE and marvelously encouraging Virtual Writer's Retreat housed at a Dude Ranch. For eight wonderful days we'll gather around the mountainside campfire... or the indoor hearth if the weather turns on us... and we'll chat about what we've done to further our careers, to carve out writing time, to build our career one day at a time. Don't miss Thursday's post for details.


Friday: Want to learn how to spice up your writing with the freshness editors crave? Come learn one of the secret ingredients that has propelled Karen Witemeyer's stories to the CBA bestseller lists. Don't miss her post on "The Art of Analogies." She'll be giving away a copy of her latest book, Stealing the Preacher, to one lucky commenter (US residents only). - See more at: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/#sthash.56f4TEei.dpuf

Monday: Today Janet Dean talks about writing with clarity in her post entitled "My Two Cents: Worth Every Penny. " Janet will give away a signed copy of her April Love Inspired Historical The Bride Wore Spurs.


Tuesday:Abingdon Press and Heartsong Presents author Myra Johnson is your hostess on Tuesday. Join Myra for "Character Casting Call" and some hands-on practice in searching the Internet for just the right photos to represent your heroes and heroines. Myra will give away winner's choice of one of her Heartsong Presents "Horseman" novels.


Wednesday:OH, NO!!! What happens when your plot thickens … uh ... all the way to concrete?? When historical research or editors lock your story up, how do you get things stirring again? Join Julie Lessman with her experiences and solutions in her Seekervile blog entitled  "WHEN THE PLOT THICKENS TO CONCRETE!" A giveaway of choice of Julie's books is included.

Thursday:Can't afford a conference? Or don't choose to go, but hate missing the fun of gathering with your writer buds???? You've come to the right place, City Slickers and Cowpokes! Grab your chaps, your boots and your laptops because Ruth Logan Herne and the Seekers are inviting you to take a totally fun, amazingly FREE and marvelously encouraging Virtual Writer's Retreat housed at a Dude Ranch. For eight wonderful days we'll gather around the mountainside campfire... or the indoor hearth if the weather turns on us... and we'll chat about what we've done to further our careers, to carve out writing time, to build our career one day at a time. Don't miss Thursday's post for details.


Friday: Want to learn how to spice up your writing with the freshness editors crave? Come learn one of the secret ingredients that has propelled Karen Witemeyer's stories to the CBA bestseller lists. Don't miss her post on "The Art of Analogies." She'll be giving away a copy of her latest book, Stealing the Preacher, to one lucky commenter (US residents only). - See more at: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/#sthash.56f4TEei.dpuf

Monday Janet Dean talked about writing with clarity in her post entitled "My Two Cents: Worth Every Penny. " Winner of her April Love Inspired Historical The Bride Wore Spurs is Amber Perry.
 

Tuesday Abingdon Press and Heartsong Presents author Myra Johnson was your hostess. Join with "Character Casting Call" and  hands-on practice in searching the Internet for just the right photos to represent your heroes and heroines. Winner's choice of any one of Myra's three Horseman romances is Lyndee H--please specify book title when claiming your prize.


OH, NO!!! What happens when your plot thickens … uh ... all the way to concrete?? When historical research or editors lock your story up, how do you get things stirring again?  Julie Lessman shared her  experiences and solutions in her Seekervile blog entitled  "WHEN THE PLOT THICKENS TO CONCRETE!" The winner for the blog itself for choice of any of Julie's books is LornaFaith.The winner of the Rafflecopter contest who will have a character named after them in Julie's next book and a signed copy of that book is: Shannon Murphy. The 2nd runner up who wins a signed copy of choice of Julie's books is: Callie.The random winner of a signed choice of Julie's books (where even one entry could win) is: Glenda Alexander
 

Friday we learned how to spice up your writing with the freshness editors crave? Come learn one of the secret ingredients that has propelled Karen Witemeyer's stories to the CBA bestseller lists. Don't miss her post on "The Art of Analogies."  Winner of her latest book, Stealing the Preacher, is Karen Kirst.

Friday: Want to learn how to spice up your writing with the freshness editors crave? Come learn one of the secret ingredients that has propelled Karen Witemeyer's stories to the CBA bestseller lists. Don't miss her post on "The Art of Analogies." She'll be giving away a copy of her latest book, Stealing the Preacher, to one lucky commenter (US residents only). - See more at: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/#sthash.56f4TEei.dpuf

Friday: Want to learn how to spice up your writing with the freshness editors crave? Come learn one of the secret ingredients that has propelled Karen Witemeyer's stories to the CBA bestseller lists. Don't miss her post on "The Art of Analogies." She'll be giving away a copy of her latest book, Stealing the Preacher, to one lucky commenter (US residents only). - See more at: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/#sthash.56f4TEei.dpuf

Friday: Want to learn how to spice up your writing with the freshness editors crave? Come learn one of the secret ingredients that has propelled Karen Witemeyer's stories to the CBA bestseller lists. Don't miss her post on "The Art of Analogies." She'll be giving away a copy of her latest book, Stealing the Preacher, to one lucky commenter (US residents only). - See more at: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/#sthash.56f4TEei.dpuf

Friday: Want to learn how to spice up your writing with the freshness editors crave? Come learn one of the secret ingredients that has propelled Karen Witemeyer's stories to the CBA bestseller lists. Don't miss her post on "The Art of Analogies." She'll be giving away a copy of her latest book, Stealing the Preacher, to one lucky commenter (US residents only). - See more at: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/#sthash.56f4TEei.dpuf

Next Week In Seekerville


Monday:Welcome Love Inspired Suspense and Revell author Sandra Orchard! Sandra will share with us "A Tip for Choosing the Strengths and Weaknesses in Your Characters."



Tuesday:Seekerville welcome Heartsong Presents, author Debby Mayne. Stop by and let's talk about "Breaking All the Rules." Debby gives new meaning to the word multi-published. She's published with Avalon, Summerside Press, Charisma House, Guidepost, Barbour Publishing, Heartsong Presents, B& H and Abingdon Press. Debby is also giving away a copy her June release from Abingdon Press,Pretty is As Pretty Does!



Wednesday:Stop by today to read Love Inspired Suspense author Debby Giusti's blog post, "Weaving the Inspirational Thread Into Our Stories." Leave a comment to win one of Debby's books, winner's choice!



Thursday:Readers don’t want to read a story, they want to feel it. Today Thomas Nelson author  Margaret Brownley will discuss ways to touch your readers’ deepest emotions. Margaret will be giving away a copy of Waiting for Morning.  


Friday: In "Creating Characters Who Breathe," 2013 RITA finalist Robin Lee Hatcher gives some tips on how she discovers the inner workings of her characters, how she loves to watch them come to life and begin to tell her their stories. Robin will give away a copy of her book Heart of Gold. The hero and heroine from that book make a cameo appearance in her novella in A Bride for All Seasons.  

Seeker Sightings

 Don't forget the Seeker's Semi-Annual Writer's Retreat lead by Ruth Logan Herne starts Sunday, June 16 and goes for 8 days. This session is at a Dude Ranch! Saddle up your horse, and pack up your S'mores. 

Email us at seekersvirtualwritersretreat-subscribe at   yahoogroups dot com to get enrolled. 

Prepare to brainstorm, write, chat and raid the mess hall at intervals. We'll meet daily to talk and swap tall writing tales from 8-9 PM EST ( 7:00 - 8:00  CST, 6:00 - 7:00 PM MST and 5:00 - 6:00 PST) See you there.

2013 RITA finalist, Missy Tippens is thrilled to announce the sale of two books to Love Inspired!!!! Release dates TBA.

Congratulations to Janet Dean! Her  novella, Last Minute Bride, is a 2013 Holt Medallion Award of Merit recipient. 

 This weekend, Debby Giusti is blogging with Camy Tang in honor of Flag Day. Stop by Camy's Loft and leave a comment for a chance to win Debby's latest release, The Colonel's Daughter.

Exciting News!! The General's Secretary, the fourth book in Debby Giusti's Military Investigations series, is an Award of Merit recipient in the HOLT Medallion Contest.

Random News & Information


Why Amish Novels Are Hot (WSJ) 



Loglines and Taglines are Different And You Need Both (RWA San Diego)



 5 Ways to Make the Ordinary Menacing in Your Suspense Novel (WD)



 HarperCollins makes it easier for authors to give away their ebooks (paidContent)



 Check Out These Free Guides by bookbaby



Why The Hero’s Journey is a Tourist Trap (Writer Unboxed)



PUSHING THE BUTTON, PART 2: GOING INDIE (A Newbie's Guide to Publishing)



How to Know You're a Writer (In GIF Form) (Nathan Bransford)



Cover Designer to the Self-Published Stars( GalleyCat)




What Writers and Publishers Need to Know About Pinterest (GalleyCat)



Writing the Perfect Scene (Advanced Fiction Writing) 



 Small Towns, Broad Tastes: Focus on Romance 2013 (PW)




That's it! Have a great weekend! And Happy Father's Day!

Please welcome our guest Karen Witemeyer

The Art of Analogies

By Karen Witemeyer

Editors are always talking about how they are looking for fresh writing, individual style, and characters that draw them into a story. Well, today I'm going to share with you my secret ingredient for baking up fresh writing.

Are you ready? Here it comes . . . the life-shattering secret . . . 


Analogies.


OK. So analogies on their own aren't going to sell your book. However, a well-crafted, unique analogy can sell your character, deepen your POV, and give your writing that pinch of freshness and originality that editors hunger for. It can be the touch of spice that sets your book apart from the others.




One of my favorite ways to deepen POV is to create fresh comparisons that are unique to my POV character's personality and background. If your hero is a western cowboy, the comparisons that mean something to him will be far different from those of a British nobleman.
This is an aspect of craft that keeps you from getting lazy. Clichés are nearly always the first comparisons that come to mind when we write. Don't accept that easy road. Work to make your analogies unique to your POV character. In doing so, you will deepen the POV and create memorable moments for your reader.



Example:
In my new release, Stealing the Preacher, I have three POV characters: the hero, the heroine, and the heroine's father. In one scene, the heroine is racing on horseback to reach her father who is out with the cattle. We are in the father's POV, and as he notes her racing in, he makes a comparison.

Now, as I wrote this scene, the first comparison that came to mind was that she rode as if a pack of wild dogs were on her tail. This, of course, is a cliché. I searched and searched for a better simile. I came up blank. Finally, I dug deeper into who my POV character was. He is an ex-outlaw who's eluded the law for two decades. He's gone straight, but that outlaw blood still runs through his veins. As I pondered this character trait, the perfect comparison finally came to mind.

He twisted his neck to the side to work out a kink, and caught sight of his daughter riding down upon them as if a hangin' posse were in pursuit.

Not only does this analogy capture the POV character's personality, but it deepens the POV because that isn't something I as the author would say in narration. But it is exactly what an ex-outlaw would use as a descriptor were he relating the story.

Click to Buy on Amazon

Analogies can highlight the emotions of a character. Here's an example from near the end of the book:

Joanna's already frayed emotions shredded like a piece of antique lace being dragged across a thistle patch.

It creates a vivid picture, one that provokes an answering emotional response in the reader.

Sometimes analogies can be derived from something as simple as the setting. In this example, Joanna's been working in the garden all morning. Crockett has just returned and told her that he's willing to stay on and work at her abandoned church despite the fact that her father kidnapped him earlier. The news staggers her.

In an instant, Crockett Archer was by her side, steadying her elbow with a solid grip. He angled himself slightly behind her as if he were a stake propping up a drooping bean plant.

The analogy breathes another layer of life into the scene and draws a picture that shows instead of tells what the characters are experiencing.

Now it's time for you to practice. Take a clichéd comparison and rework it with your own character in mind. Here are some to choose from:

Light as a feather

Strong as an ox

Melted like butter

Stubborn as a mule

Leave a comment with a short descriptor of your character and your reworked cliché. We'll be giving away a copy of Stealing the Preacher to one lucky commenter (US residents only).

I can't wait to see what you come up with!

http://karenwitemeyer.com/

Seekers' Semi-Annual Virtual Writer's Retreat!

Last week Mary Connealy talked about being unbalanced.

Like, pshaw, Dude. Was that supposed to be some well-kept secret????

Hahahahahahahahaha!

But her post struck a nerve with me. Usually they just make me wince, or get sick to my stomach, in the nicest way possible, of course, BLESS HER HEART, but this time her words hit home... Writers are unbalanced and WE LIKE IT THAT WAY.

Tina says most of us are "A.D.D." but I was too busy twirling my hair and imagining my next hero to hear her.

:)

And a lot of us are torn (as Mary said so succinctly) by life's expectations when we'd really rather Emily Dickinson-it and just write, write, write (with catered food, of course) in our gabled bedroom. With little or no interruption.

Well, that ain't about to happen, so we're plannin' the next best thing: A Virtual Writer's Retreat for youse!

Cost:  Nothing
Time Involved: Totally up to you, Individually-based
Lodging:  Green Mountain Dude Ranch in Northern Idaho
Food: Virtually Amazing!!!
Writing Time: As you wish
Communal Time with other writers: Nightly 8-9 PM Eastern

This is your chance to "get away" without going anywhere, without grabbing a credit or debit card for any reason, an opportunity to hobnob with other time-starved authors like yourself. A chance to work, create, brainstorm, laugh, report your word count, commiserate...

I love retreats and when I go on a writer's retreat I work. Writing is my gift to myself, so this is our chance to gift ourselves without hurting the budget and with the support of our own kind.

Definition: "Our Own Kind": Weird loners with strange people living in their heads. Like this one:

And this one:

And then there's THIS ONE!!!

And her...

And don't forget them!!!

 And where would we be without these guys???

Although only virtual pets are okay to bring on the retreat! Sorry, Lyndee!!!

:)

So here's the skinny! RWR (Romance Writers Report, issue June 2013, the one that I'm in TWICE, by the way, once revealing my former stupid self, the second time listing 4 (Four) books coming out this year, a fact that I have to pinch myself to believe) talked about writer's retreats this month.  Years ago the late Janet Edgar (The Inn at Shadow Lake, Love Inspired Suspense 2006) 

hosted a retreat like this one cold, dark January to jump-start writers after the holidays. In her honor I'd like to do the same thing this spring/summer. So starting on Sunday June16,  we'll begin our eight-day retreat. E-mail us HERE!!!!! and I'll send you a Yahoo Group Invite to our "Semi-Annual Writer's Retreat." Remember to e-mail us from an e-mail address that is okay for the public to see because it will be visible to anyone on the loop.

And you know how these mountain men can get!!!  :)

Come to a place where you're not only understood, you're respected. Your time is your own. You can take advantage of the hunky (and very inspirational) cowboys or chill-lax in the shade of your porch and write as much or as little as you'd like. Each day will bring you inspirational messages....

Links to inspirational music....

Camaraderie....

Fun....

Food!!!!

And fellowship.

Taking time for ourselves and our careers is huge... Finding that time is difficult for so many of us. So this time treat yourself to a retreat that costs nothing...

But could be the turning point you've been looking for!

Basic Itinerary: 

1. Morning message from ranch owner and operator Jake MacKillian.

2. Free time to write or ride or peruse the ranch... check out the scenery... :) If the scenery is wearing Chaps, all the better!

3. Lunch

4. Free time to gather/sightsee/write/check out the cowboys

5. Dinner on own or with friends

6. 8:00-9:00 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time ( do not ask me to do the math, it's too right-brain for me, check Google time) you can pop into the Great Room and we can chat together! 

No dress code, comfy is recommended but totally stylin' is fine if that's your gig!

What do you have to do?
E-mail us HERE  (I'm posting it a second time just in case you slept through the first one or started skimming around paragraph 30).

and I'll send you and "invite" to the Dude Ranch. The Dude Ranch will look like a Yahoo Group, but we know the truth!

And the truth shall set you free.  :)

Stop in this morning, Helen should be by with coffee and I'm always grateful for her attention to detail! Breakfast is Dude Ranch style, sizzlin' fritatta, griddle cakes, real maple syrup or triple berry syrup put up by Jake's two daughters, bagels (Gus makes the bagels fresh daily), fresh fruit in season (which means shipped in from California because it's not a season for much yet in northern Idaho) and fresh, cold spring water.

We've got chairs facin' east, some lookin' west and free wi-fi. Mother Nature's on the house too.