francine rivers: 2012

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Happy New Year From all of us folks in Seekerville!
The 13 Seekers and the hundreds of Village People that have made us real every single day of the last 365 days.

This is actually a progressive blog post.

Seekerville will be rockin' for 27 straight hours. We'll start with the Writing Year in Review and My One Word.

Each and every hour until 12 midnight PST Tuesday, January 1st, we'll introduce a hostess and a party server. That hour your hostess and/ or server will chat, tell you about the hour's prize and serve up a yummy treat. Recipes will be available too.

To be entered in a drawing, simply comment. You do not need to be present to win. Every person who comments is entered into the drawing once. We keep drawing until all 27 hours are over. Giveaway winners are announced at the top of the hour. So for this hour we announce the winner at 1 a.m. EST. BTW, if you are really excited about a particular prize do mention it in the comments.

A complete list of winners will be available on Tuesday, January 1st on the blog. It is your responsibility to contact us if you are a winner at seekers@seekerville.net. Complete giveaway rules are available here.

The Seeker authors debuted 23 books and/or novella's in 2012. We've also had the honor of watching many Seeker friends sale off Unpublished Island to the mainland. Congrats to the following Villagers with first sales in 2012.
Clari DeesJan DrexlerMelissa JagearsJessica KellerSarah LaddVirginia Carmichael Munoz
Larissa ReinhartChristina Rich

We've also cheered as these friends of Seekerville obtained agent representation.
Pepper Basham
Anita Mae Draper Jan DrexlerLyndee Henderson
Melissa Jagears Walt Mussell

More cheers for those (published and unpublished) who entered contests, finaled and/or won this year. And those who received requests for partial or full manuscripts. WAY TO GO!!!

We'd love to hear the terrific writing news from your 2012 Writing Year in Review. Let us celebrate with you!!

My One Word

Seekerville has been enjoying the My One Word concept as introduced on the My One Word site for several years. Now there's a book as well!

"The concept of My One Word is simple. Lose the long list of resolutions---all your sweeping promises to change---and do something about one thing this year instead of nothing about everything. Choose just one word that represents what you most hope God will do in you, and focus on it for an entire year. This single act will force clarity and concentrate your efforts. As you focus on your word over an extended period of time, you position yourself for God to form your character at a deep, sustainable level. Growth and change will result."

We'll be giving away a copy of My One Word the book, during our party, and we challenge you to PICK YOUR ONE WORD and share it with us!

Now Let's Get This Party Started!!
Your hostess this hour is Bethany House Publishing, and Barbour author, and Seeker Mary Connealy.

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice finalist. She is the author of bestselling Kincaid Brides Series: Out of Control, In Too Deep, Over the Edge, also, Lassoed in Texas Trilogy, Montana Marriages Trilogy and Sophie's Daughters Trilogy. Mary is married to a Nebraska rancher and has four grown daughters and two spectacular grandchildren.

You can check out Mary's books, her latest release Candlelight Christmas e-novella, and Over the Edge (Book 3 of the Kincaid Brides) on Amazon.

This hour Mary is giving away a $20.13 Gift card to Amazon. (GET IT ? 2013??)

Her co-host for the hour is our village friend and fellow writer, Helen Gray.

Be sure to grab a slice of Helen's Strawberry Dream Pie before it's gone. The recipe can be found here.

Tina Radcliffe is your hostess this hour. Her third Love Inspired release, Mending the Doctor’s Heart will be an April 2013 release. Recently relocated from Colorado, she can be found hiding under a tangerine tree in Arizona. Today she is sharing a never seen before photo of part of her new office with the infamous…sofa.

She's sharing Rose O'Shea's Killer Oatmeal Cookies from her first book, The Rancher's Reunion. Recipe here.
This hour Tina is giving away a copy of Alicia Rasley’s The Character Interviews.

You can virtually locate Tina at www.tinaradcliffe.com

This hour’s host is Captain Jack Sparrow.

These days when not pirating, the good captain is the caretaker for our Unpublished Island Retreat. As always, Jack brings with him a round of the Chicken Dance and Coconut Cake made fresh on the island. The recipe has just been uploaded to the Seekerville New Year's Eve Cookbook here.

This hour Jack is giving away a ten dollar Amazon gift card to one commenter.

BTW Jack will be returning tomorrow at 12 Midnight MST to bring in the New Year.

Tina and Pepper Basham

She’s ba-a-a-ck. This hour Tina Radcliffe will be sharing Walt Mussell’s recipe.

Berry Lime Shortbread Tart (Rachel Ray Recipe adapted by Walt Mussell) You can find it here in the Seekerville New Year’s Eve Cookbook.

Tina’s favorite thing to do on New Year’s Eve is to watch the “Midnight Scene” from When Harry Met Sally. What’s your New Year’s tradition??

This hour’s giveaway is The Plot Thickens: 8 Ways to Bring Fiction to Life by Noah Lukeman.

Ruth Logan Herne is cooking and hostessing for two whole hours!

Not only do you get her wonderful stuffed mushroom recipe but then were passing around trays of Ruthy’s Chinese Noodle cookies. Find her recipes here.

Ruthy lives a Diane Dengel-type existence on a farm in upstate New York with her patient husband, hordes of children streaming in and out, and too many cats, dogs, puppies, kittens and chickens to possibly be healthy. An avid author, she’s completed eleven novels for Love Inspired books. She works full-time, writes in the wee-smalls and loves to boss people around but can be bought with chocolate!

Ruth’s latest release is His Mistletoe Family and her next release is May 2013,The Lawman’s Second Chance.

Additionally she helps manage The Yankee Belle Cafe. If you haven't been to the cafe, you're missing some serious food.

Ruth will be giving away one $20.00 Barnes and Noble gift card each hour. Stand by!

Love Inspired author and Seeker, Glynna Kaye is our hostess at the 6 am EST hour.

Award-winning author 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 many times a houseful of great aunts and uncles gathered with her grandma to share hours of what they called

"windjammers"--candid, heartwarming, poignant, and often humorous tales of their youth and young adulthood. Glynna now lives in Arizona, and when she isn't writing, she's gardening and enjoying photography and the great outdoors.

Glynna's latest release, Look-Alike Lawman is part of the Love Inspired Texas Twins Series.

Glynna is passing out plates of her Molasses Crinkles. The recipe has been uploaded to our Seekerville New Year's Eve Cookbook.

This hour Glynna is giving away TWO $10.00 Barnes and Noble gift cards. One each to two commenters. Winner announced in the comments at the top of the hour.

Sandra Leesmith is your hostess for the 7 am. EST hour. Sandra Leesmith began writing in the 1980s and has published in the genres of romance, contemporary fiction, children’s picture books, and teenage self-help. Sandra lives in Arizona with her husband and two dogs, a Labrador retriever and a toy poodle. During the blistering summer months, she and her brood travel cross-country in their motorhome to savor the outdoors and discover intriguing new ideas for her writing projects.

Sandra's December release from Montlake Romance is Current of Love.

Sandra is joined today by writer and Seeker friend Julie Hilton Steele. You can find Julie on Facebook here.

Julie is sharing her Cinnamon Toasted Almonds this am. The recipe can be found in the Seeker New Year's Eve Cookbook.

Sandra is giving away a surprise package. Winner announced at 8 am EST in the comments. Don't forget to click NEWEST to find the newest comments.

Welcome to the 8 am EST hostess Janet Dean.

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. She married Dale, her college sweetheart, and taught first grade before leaving to rear two daughters, but Janet never lost interest in American history and the accounts of strong men and women of faith who built this country. With her daughters grown, she eagerly turned to Inspirational historical romance. Today Janet spins stories for Love Inspired Historical. When she isn’t writing, Janet stamps greeting cards, plays bridge, a smidgeon of golf, and is never without a book to read. The Deans love to travel and spend time with their family.

Visit Janet at her Website: www.janetdean.net and blog: www.janetdean.blogspot.com

Today Janet is serving up a delicious Breakfast Casserole. You can find the recipe here.

And she's giving away a $20.00 Amazon gift card and an IOU for a copy of her upcoming release from Love Inspired Historical, The Bride Wore Spurs.

Missy Tippens, Melanie Dickerson, Audra Harders

We are delighted to have Melanie Dickerson as our 9 am hostess and she's even in the Seekerville kitchen baking this am. She's sharing her recipe for Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies and giving away a paperback copy of The Fairest Beauty!!

Here's a picture of Melly after she won the 2012 Carol Award for The Merchant's Daughter.

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice and The Merchant’s
Daughter, both Christy Award finalists. Her third novel published by
Zondervan, The Fairest Beauty, released December, 2012. She has a degree in
special education from The University of Alabama and has been a teacher and
a missionary in Eastern Europe.

Melanie is a member of ACFW, teaches at writers conferences, and loves to
interact with readers on facebook,
https://www.facebook.com/melanie.dickerson.author and
https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDickersonBooks, and readers write to her
through her website, http://www.MelanieDickerson.com. She lives and writes
near Huntsville, Alabama with her husband and two daughters.

It's 10 am EST !!

Another treat today is having a debut author with us! Congratulations to Christina Rich on her sale to Love Inspired Historical. We're hoping for more details on her release when she hosts this hour.

Christina Rich

When she was younger, Christina tried to dig herself to China, loved Three Billy Goats Gruff, and had an obsession with maps. She gave up her dig to China but still jumps at the chance to travel even if it’s just down the road. She loves watching modern takes of fairytales and mythologies on the big screen and still has a huge obsession with maps. The older the better.

Natalie Monk

Born and raised in Kansas, where she currently lives with her husband and children, Christina loves to read stories with happily ever afters, research, take photos, knit scarves, dig into her ancestry, fish, visit the ocean, write stories with happily ever afters and talk about her family and Jesus.

Joining Christina is writer and Villager, Natalie Monk. Some of the Seekers have had the opportunity to read Natalie's work and she is on her way to a first sale! You can find Natalie at her blog, In the Sweet South.

Today Natalie is sharing Chocolate Covered Bacon with us!!! Yummmm! Recipe here.

Christina has some fabulous giveaways for the hour.Two giveaways for readers: A wooden cross from Israel and an handmade scarf (color of scarves depend upon availability). See photos of them here.

And for writers, Christina will also be giving away two 1st chapter critiques. If you are ready for a New Year's critique, NO PAIN, NO GAIN, NO GUTS, NO GLORY, please give a shout out!!

11 am EST and all is well!! We haven't crashed Blogger yet.

Welcome to hostess is Barbour author Erica Vetsch! Erica is a transplanted Kansan now residing in Minnesota. She loves history and reading, and is blessed to be able to combine the two by writing historical fiction set in the American West. Whenever she’s not following flights of fancy in her fictional world, she’s the company bookkeeper for the family lumber business, mother of two terrific teens, wife to a man who is her total opposite and soul-mate, and avid museum patron.

And with Erica today is Renee Chaw. Renee "Steeler Girl" has brought piping hot Cheesy Hashbrowns. Renee is one of Seekerville's SUPER READERS! You can find her at Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot.

This hour's giveaway is Sagebrush Knights Erica's latest release.

Journey along with the four Gerhard sisters as they head to Wyoming Territory in search of husbands and discover that happy endings are not ready-made. Evelyn arrives in Wyoming with a secret and a grudge, only to find her prospective groom holds a secret, too. Jane vies for the attention of her workaholic husband who is bent on saving his ranch even if it means losing love. Gwendolyn’s would-be husband dies, leaving her to the will of another man. And Emmeline’s knight-in-shining-armor herds sheep instead of cattle. Will love prevail, or will their journeys have not so happy endings?

Side note: Erica is a hoot. As this picture demonstrates!

12 noon EST! What could be more fun than three of our favorite Peeps in one hour??

Tyndale author Pam Hillman is your hostess. And what timing. Claiming Mariah releases tomorrow!! Pam will be giving away two copies of Claiming Mariah (for Kindle or Nook) this hour.

A favorite picture of Pam!

Pam Hillman and Tina Radcliffe

Award-winning author Pam Hillman writes inspirational fiction set in the turbulent times of the American West and the Gilded Age. Her debut novel, Stealing Jake, was a finalist in the International Digital Awards, and the 2013 EPIC eBook Awards. Claiming Mariah, her second novel releases January 2013, won Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart. She lives in Mississippi with her husband and family. Visit her website at www.pamhillman.com.

Along with Pam are the delightful Debra Marvin and Anita Mae Draper.

Debra has brought Aunt Min's Scottish Shortbread, handed down from her Scottish great grandmother.You must hum "Scotland the Brave" or "Auld Lang Syne" while preparing these cookies.

Anita Mae Draper is bringing Coconut Macaroons. Both recipes can be found in the Seekerville New Year's Eve Cookbook.

Anita Mae and Debra can be found at the Inkwell Inspirations Blog.

A favorite picture of Anita from the archives!

Anita Mae and Cara Lynn James

We in Seekerville are equal opportunity bloggers. So we take a pawful amount of pleasure in introducing May the K9 Spy, your hostess this hour.

May was kind enough to bring her friend and co-author, K.C. Frantzen with her today.

May's second book has just released, May Finds a Way: Peril in Paris from Rushjoy Press. As you can imagine, May did a tremendous amount of grueling research in the streets of Paris. We're hoping she can share.

Today May is giving away two copies of her releases to one very special commenter this hour! Those books are May on the Way: How I Become a K9 Spy and May Finds a Way: Peril in Paris. You can find May's books and some really cool May plush animals on her website.

Along with plenty of Milkbone treats, Abingdon Press and Heartsong author, Myra Johnson has prepared a huge bowl of Holiday Cranberry Salad. You can find Myra at http://www.myrajohnson.com. Keep an eye out for Myra's January release A Horseman's Hope available from Heartsong.

2pm EST

We have a double dose of lovely Abingdon Press authors this hour! Please welcome Kathy Harris and Krista Phillips.

Kathy Harris is an author by way of a divine detour into the Nashville entertainment business. She graduated with a B.S. in Communications from Southern Illinois University and has spent the past two decades employed as a marketing director in the Nashville music industry. Kathy lives near Nashville with her husband and their two Shiloh Shepherd dogs. Her fiction debut,"The Road to Mercy", was released by Abingdon Press on September 1, 2012.

Kathy regularly interviews literary and music guests on her blog at www.DivineDetour.com. Her author site is www.kathyharrisbooks.com. You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KathyHarrisAuthor or Twitter @DivineDetour.
Krista Phillips writes inspirational romantic comedy. She believes a sprinkle of laughter (and a wee bit of chocolate) makes everything a little better! She blogs regularly about life as a wife, mother, follower of Jesus, and mother of a child with a rare congenital heart defect at www.kristaphillips.com. Her debut novel, "Sandwich, With a Side of Romance," released in September, 2012.
Kathy and Krista have cooked up an amazing dessert today. Holiday Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake. You can find the recipe in the Seekerville New Year's Eve Cookbook. YUM!!

Kathy and Krista will be giving away a $25.00 Amazon or Starbucks gift card and a copy of Sandwich: With a Side of Romance and The Road To Mercy to one winner chosen at the end of the hour.

Welcome our 3pm EST guest bloggers!

Author Hallee Bridgeman lives with her husband and their three children in small town Kentucky. When she’s not writing Christian romance novels, she blogs about all things cooking and homemaking at Hallee the Homemaker.

Hallee started writing when her oldest child and only daughter was a baby, but a busy professional career and being the wife of a deployed soldier had her shelve her books for another time. Two more children, a cross country move, and God’s perfect timing brought the books off of the shelf to be dusted off and presented to you now.

Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit. She prays her books are a blessing to you and would love to hear back from you. You can reach Hallee at hallee@bridgemanfamily.com

Today Hallee welcomes Seekerville to visit her website and check out her Jewel Trilogy from Olivia Kimbrell Press.

And she's giving away a copy of all three books to one commenter this hour.

Sapphire Ice, Emerald Fire , Topaz Heat all available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble

Joining Hallee are Carol Moncado and Pepper Basham, award winning writers and friends of Seekerville.

Carol is sharing her BBQ Chicken cups. You can find Carol at her blog, carolmoncado.wordpress.com and be sure to join her Facebook Writing Group 1K1Hr.

Pepper with Mary Connealy

Pepper Basham is a member of the Writers Alley Blog. Accustomed to feeding a crowd she brought us Easy 'Tater Soup.

Both recipes are available in the Seeker New Year's Eve Cookbook.

It's 4pm EST and Angela Breidenbach is hosting and cooking up chili this hour! Cheatin' Chili from A Healing Heart, April 2013 Quilts of Love series, Abingdon Press.

It's a simple dump it all in for lots of flavor and an easy meal for authors on deadline. Check it out in the Seekerville New Year's Eve Cook Book.

Angela Breidenbach is Mrs. Montana International 2009, a multi-award winning inspirational speaker, and author. Look for her next book, A Healing Heart, from Abingdon Press Quilts of Love Books, April 2013. Her works include Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life, Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance, and on Kindle Creative Cooking for Colitis. Other works by Angela include compilation books and devotionals from The Quiet Hour, Guidepost, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers.

Angela also coaches television/media performance, pageant contestants, fitness/weight loss, and writing. She’s certified in mentor/peer counseling as a Stephen Minister and CTA life coach. Angela serves as an assisting minister for her congregation in Missoula, MT.

Not only did she walk the hard line of deciding to donate her mom's brain for the study of schizophrenia, but she’s also on the brain donation list at the Brain Bank-Harvard McLean Hospital. Angela is married with a combined family of six grown children and now several grand children. Funny tidbit? In high school, Angie was voted most likely to have six kids. So she did. But she and her husband have helped raise thirteen. Hers, his, and “Wait, where did that one come from? And that one, and that one, and…” Well, you get the picture.

Find Angela:

www.AngelaBreidenbach.com

www.thefaithgirls.com

A Healing Heart, Abingdon Press, April 2013

www.QuiltsofLoveBooks.com

Angie will be giving away a cook book of choice this hour, Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance or Creative Cooking for Colitis.

We're going to take a moment and pause to wish Pepper Basham a Happy Birthday!
This clipart purchased just for you. You may have it. Enjoy.

It's Julie Lessman time! We bring in the 5pm EST hour with Revell author Julie Lessman!

And she brought passion with her...CHOCOLATE CHIP PIE!!!

( Recipe found at www.seekerville.net)

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and winner of 14 RWA awards, Julie Lessman was voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, as well as #1 Historical Fiction Author, #3 Author, #4 Novel, #3 Series, and Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction.

Julie resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series—A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, A Passion Denied and the “Winds of Change” series—A Hope Undaunted, A Heart Revealed, A Love Surrendered. You can contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com

Julie will be giving away the book of choice-A Love Surrendered or A Light in the Window to one commenter at the end of the hour.

francine rivers

31 Aralık 2012 Pazartesi

The Last Weekend Edition of 2012

Seekerville's Rockin' New Year's Eve Party