From Blurb to Book to Besties

Hi, it’s Donna Gartshore here with Laurel Blount. We’re a couple of Love Inspired Newbies and thrilled to be here!  Today we’re going to talk a bit about our experiences with getting contracts and forming a lasting friendship through the From Blurb to Book Pitch.

I remember that after we had both made it to round three and had submitted our full manuscripts, we started chatting on Facebook, along with other contest participants, as a way to deal with the nerves of waiting to hear from the editors. In fact, I was online with Laurel the day she got THE CALL! Now, here’s an inside scoop – she hung up on her sister to take that call! But I’ll let Laurel chime in here and tell her side of the story …

Hi! Laurel here, and listen, ya’ll. When you’re in the final round of a writing contest for Love Inspired, and a New York editor’s number shows up on your caller I.D., your sister just has to understand! Seriously, all my family members were thrilled for me, which made my special moment even more special.

But you know who really understood the scope of what had happened? The online writing buddies I’d met during the contest—like Donna! When I typed in my news with shaking fingers, Donna instantly began celebrating with me. I think I heard her squealing all the way from Canada! Her congratulations were even more meaningful because she really “got it.” I’m delighted to say that I was celebrating her book sale to Love Inspired shortly afterwards. We discovered that selling our books wasn’t the “happily ever after” ending but instead was the start of a new, exciting…and bewildering…chapter—one we’re thankful to travel together!

Oh, there goes Laurel with the `y’alls’, but what can you expect from a good Southern girl? I’ll just have to toss out a few Canadian `ehs’ to even things out!

 Laurel said she celebrated my sale with me a short time after. But my journey had an extra step.  I didn’t get a contract right away but instead received an opportunity to revise and resubmit. While I was relieved that it wasn’t a rejection, I felt overwhelmed by the requested changes and worried I wouldn’t pull it off. I was so grateful to have writing friends who encouraged me, and pushed me, and believed that I could do it even when I wasn’t sure myself. The day I got THE CALL, I told my daughter first, and Laurel second.

As Laurel says, we’ve discovered that this is only the beginning of the journey. We are so glad to have each other to talk to – not just about writing, but about our college-aged daughters and work challenges too. It’s great to have LI friends that share our love of writing and our love of God. I can’t wait to make friends in person at the RWA Conference in July. Which reminds me, Laurel, tell them who’s going to be your roommate, eh?! (couldn’t resist!)

 I’m so excited! I finally get to meet Donna in real life! I’m amazed at how close we’ve become via a computer connection, especially given how different we are. We don’t share a country, a climate, or even a writing style—Donna is primarily a pantser, while I am a plotter! Donna started out writing short stories, which might explain why she perpetually worries about meeting her word count, while I’m usually cutting words!

However, Donna and I are here to tell you that crossing the gaps of geography and personal styles has been well worth it! Writing can feel so competitive that sometimes it’s hard to truly connect with other authors, to make yourself transparent and vulnerable. But when you make those connections, you tap into wonderful resources that will help you weather both the successes of this journey (like being a finalist in the HOLT and the New England Reader’s Choice awards, yay!) and its challenges (like the dreaded sophomore slump…when IS that next book coming out? Boo!).

I couldn’t agree with Laurel more. We want to encourage anyone who has a dream to write for Love Inspired to learn from all the tips available and not give up. Speaking of stories – Don’t miss Laurel’s debut book A Family for the Farmer, a wonderful story full of heart, humour and hope.

Laurel's website 

And definitely watch for Donna’s fabulous, heart-catching romance Instant Family, which will be released December 2017. It’s available for pre-order on Amazon now! 

Visit Donna on Facebook!

Trick or Treat!!

Okay, no tricks! But we do have some treats for you. Danica Favorite here, and I was going through some old photos from college, and I found a picture of my favorite costume ever. Yup, that's me (and someone else- but I have no idea who it was) dressed as a pig. Throughout high school and college, pigs were my favorite animals. Now I'm more of a chicken lover, thanks to my pet chickens. But I don't think I'll be dressing up as a chicken anytime soon. It's been a long time since I dressed up for Halloween.

How about you? Do you dress up for Halloween? Do you have a favorite costume you've worn over the years?

Now for the treats...
As you know, we've been giving away books on Thursdays, so comment on the post for your chance to win. Here are the details on our Thursday giveaways in case you missed them: http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/2013/10/announcing-our-october-reader-contest.html

Last week's winner was Jackie Smith!!

And, since I don't yet have a release date for my book, I don't have a book to give away. But don't despair, I've got a special treat for you. If you're entering the giveaway, just let me know which current release from our authors you'd like to win, and I'll make sure you get a copy! This week's winner will also get a book from Lenora Worth, Rhonda Gibson, and Margaret Daley.

Autumn recipe: White Bean Chicken Chili

courtesy of www.sxc.hu

Lacy Williams here with a cool weather recipe you can curl up with--and maybe win a good book, too!

We live in Oklahoma Sooner country and now that the weather has cooled off, we've gone from hamburgers and hot dogs for our watch parties to foods that favor the autumn temps.

I tried this chicken chili a couple weeks ago to rave reviews. Hope you like it too!

Don't forget that anyone who comments during the month of October is entered for a chance to win books. See details here.

Hearty White-Bean Chicken Chili

 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
 1 small onion, chopped
 2 cloves garlic, minced
 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
 1 can Rotel green chile flavor
 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian spices (can substitute oregano)
 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
 2 cups frozen corn
 1-1.5 pound chicken breasts
 2 (15 ounce) cans white beans
 1 pinch salt & pepper to taste

Warm a skillet on medium. Heat the olive oil and then carmelize the onions and garlic. Dice the chicken and add it to skillet. Cook until it starts to turn white, then shred (I use two forks to pull the meat apart).

Add the chicken broth, Rotel, beans and spices and simmer for about twenty minutes. Alternately, once you cook the chicken, onions and garlic you can throw it all in a crockpot on high for an hour and then serve.

In a house like mine, with little kids and lots of chaos, easy is better, and this recipe worked for me. What's your favorite chili or soup recipe? Don't forget to leave a comment.

In honor of her sixth full-length book releasing, Lacy will do an additional giveaway. Anyone who joins her newsletter list by clicking here before Sunday, October 27, will be entered to win one of three copies of RETURN OF THE COWBOY DOCTOR. Good luck!

 

Announcing our October reader contest

Lacy Williams here with a big announcement! Drumroll please...

If you are an ACFW member or attended the 2013 conference in Indianapolis, you might've seen this ad in the conference booklet:

That's right. A bunch of the CRAFTIE Ladies are giving away books.

How do you win? Post a comment on any Thursday in October and you will be entered to win a book from each participating author.

Tell your friends, your neighbors, your Facebook followers. We want to make sure everyone knows about this giveaway for 18 books!

Stop by every Thursday for special posts and don't forget to comment!

Ask Elnora--About Books? Lenora Worth

This will be short and sweet, my sweethearts. Elnora and the Internet are not agreeing today. We’ve had connection problems all week. What we have here is a failure to communicate. I’ve been reading more lately, judging contests and trying to get through my “to read” pile. When we make the big move later this year, alas, Elnora can’t take all of the books. So I must read, read, read. So before I get kicked out of cyberspace and before I have another hissy fit about that happening, let’s discuss----books! What are you reading? Let’s name some names! I’ll tell you mine, too.

Contests by Merrillee Whren

Isn't it fun to win a contest? Winning a prize is thrilling. This past week we've been talking about awards and contests. I have just returned from the American Fiction Writers Conference held in St. Louis this year. Lyn Cote, one of the Craftie Ladies, won a Carol Award for her short historical romance, Her Healing Ways.



Two other Love Inspired authors also won Carol Awards this year. Irene Hannon's book, A Father for Zach, won in the short contemporary category, and Sharon Dunn's book, Night Prey, won in the short romantic suspense category.

Since we're talking about contests, I'm going to give away copies of all three books in my Kellerville series to someone who comments on today's post. I recently learned that the first two books in the series have won first and second place in the Published Beacon Contest.






Tell us about any contests you have won.