"On the Write Track" - 5 new articles
Winner of Tidings of Great Boys
This week, the giveaway in The 12 Books of Christmas was Tidings of Great Boys by Shelley Adina. Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter. If you didn't win, I encourage you to go out and pick up a copy of this book. I know I'm going to! My daughter will love it. Without further ado, the book goes to.... MICAH! Congratulations, Micah! Your book will be on its way to you very soon. Check back on Monday for the next giveaway in The 12 Books of Christmas! AND be sure to pop over next Friday (Black Friday) for another great giveaway!  Marketing SchmarketingMy name is Lynda and I'm a people pleaser.
I used to be a direct sales consultant for Jafra Cosmetics and Usborne Books at Home. And while I loved the products and the process of ordering, planning the parties, organizing open houses and, of course, making money, the one thing I hated was the promoting. I felt like when people saw me coming, they wanted to run away screaming. I was sure they thought, "Oh, great. Here she comes. She's going to ask me to have a party. She's going to talk about her products. Kill me now." They probably didn't think those things (and if you did, please don't tell me!) but because I am a people-pleaser, I hate the thought of possibly annoying someone (except my husband and kids. Annoying them is fun). So I quit my direct sales businesses. I just couldn't make myself send out one more bulk email to my friends or ask another person to host a party or beg for another sale. Couldn't do it. I went back to what I love. Writing. But the joke's on me. Because in the writing business, it seems like marketing is what it's all about. Not that I don't like the act of marketing. I don't mind posting on Twitter and Facebook and message boards about the projects I've got going, the articles I've written, and leaving links for people to click on. In fact, I like the thought of all those potential visitors to my site, future readers of my books, and expanding audience. But when does it become too much? Do you groan and want to remove people from your friends list when they post link after link about book reviews, interviews, articles, blog posts, etc.? I don't intend on stopping my marketing efforts. I understand the why of it all. I just don't want to annoy my friends with my constant "business" posts and self-promotion. I want you all to like me instead of rolling your eyes when you see another email or post. But then again, it's many of you who end up clicking on these links (thank you! thank you! thank you!) So my question to you is what are your feelings about marketing and promotion? Love it? Hate it? Do you get irritated by it all? Oh - and which marketing sites do you use besides Facebook and Twitter? Maybe I'll see you there...  Interview with Debut Author, Erica VetschErica Vetsch beat me in last year's Genesis contest in the chick lit category (Hey, I came in 2nd). OK, so it stung for a minute. But I'm over it! In fact, I'm not only over it, I'm thrilled to announce that not only did Erica take home a first place win from the 2008 ACFW conference, she also took home her first contract.
Here is a brief synopsis: 
Jonathan Kennebrae is furious when his grandfather informs him that his future has been decided. He will marry Melissa Brooke or be disinherited. Jonathan has invested years of his life in Kennabrae Shipping, but heaven help him if Grandfather decides to take it all away for this. Melissa, too, is devastated when her parents make their announcement. As little more than a bargaining chip in her father’s business maneuvers, she feels her secure world slipping away. Engaged to marry a man she has never met—someone “considerably older” than herself? What have her parents done? Can Jonathan and Melissa find a way out of this loveless marriage, or must they find a way forward together? Erica was kind enough to answer a few questions about this book and about her writing. LYNDA: Where did the idea for this book come from? ERICA: The original germ of an idea came from touring a museum in Duluth, MN. I learned about a fantastic storm that hit that area in the fall of 1905 that resulted in catastrophic losses for the shipping industry and spawned the movement to build more lighthouses on the shores of Lake Superior. That sparked the story idea. LYNDA: Have you always been drawn to historical romance? ERICA: Oh, yes. Everything from Little House on the Prairie (These Happy Golden Years, where Laura and Almanzo finally get married, was my favorite) to Janette Oke, to John Wayne westerns, I love anything set in the past where the guy gets the girl and they live happily ever after. LYNDA: This is your debut novel. Tell us what it was like to receive "the call." ERICA: My 'call' was a bit unusual. I was awarded my first contract at the 2008 ACFW Conference. My editor, JoAnne Simmons, announced the contract at one of the general sessions in front of 500 writers, agents, and editors. It was amazing. LYNDA: That is so cool. A writer's dream, really (at least, mine! LoL). What is your favorite part of the writing process? ERICA: Living in my storyworld. I love daydreaming about my characters, the setting, and the story, living through them. I've always had a very vivid, intense imagination, and now I get to put that to use creating storyworlds for my books. LYNDA: How about the most challenging? ERICA: The daily discipline it takes to write. Writing when I don't feel like it. And letting myself write a rather wretched first draft and telling myself it is okay, I can go back and fix it later. LYNDA: So what can we expect next from you? ERICA: The Marriage Masquerade, the sequel to The Bartered Bride comes out this winter, and the third book in the series, The Engineered Engagement is due out in early summer. I'm also working on another three book series that comes out with Heartsong later in 2010. LYNDA: What do you hope readers take away from The Bartered Bride? ERICA: Hopefully, first, a good read. I hope the reader enjoys the experience of reading The Bartered Bride. If they also learn a little of MN history that would be great, since it is a subject I'm passionate about. And if they, like me, learn the same spiritual lessons as the characters, that God is sovereign, that He can turn anyone's heart, and that His plans are good, that would be the best of all. LYNDA: I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions, Erica. Best wishes as you continue on this exciting journey! ERICA: Thank you so much, Lynda, for having me on your blog. 
ERICA VETSCH is married to Peter and keeps the company books for the family lumber business. A home-school mom to Heather and James, Erica loves history, romance, and storytelling. Her ideal vacation is taking her family to out-of-the-way history museums and chatting to curators about local history. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Calvary Bible College in Secondary Education: Social Studies. You can find her on the web at http://www.onthewritepath.blogspot.com/  The 12 Books of Christmas - Shelley Adina
This week's 12 Books of Christmas author is YA author, Shelley Adina. She is giving away a copy of her book, Tidings of Great Boys (is that a great title, or what?) This book is part of the All About Us series. Another book in this series, The Fruit of my Lipstick, was a Christy award finalist. If you have a teenage girl, or know one, you'll definitely want to enter to win this book. After reading the synopsis and the customer reviews, I intend on buying a copy for my own daughter this Christmas.
Here is a synopsis: Finals week is approaching, and Mac is still undecided on where to spend the holidays. Normally she’d go home to Scotland, but spending two weeks alone in the castle with her dad isn’t as appealing as it used to be. So she invites Carly, Lissa, Gillian, and Shani to join her for the holidays! Mac is determined to make this the best Christmas ever. She even decides to organize the traditional Hogmanay dance for New Year’s Eve. If she can get her mother involved, maybe her parents will finally get back together. But when Mac and the girls arrive in Scotland, they are faced with bad news: The castle is falling apart and Mac’s parents are struggling financially. Not only that, but Shani is in big trouble with Prince Rashid’s royal family. Can the girls find a way to celebrate the holidays, get Mac’s parents back together, save the castle, and rescue Shani ... and will Mac believe it's all part of God's plan? There’s only one way to find out! Read the first three chapters of Tidings of Great Boys. Leave a comment on this blog post to be automatically entered to win. A name will be randomly selected and the winner will be announced on Saturday, November 21st.
Here's one of Shelley's favorite holiday recipes:
SHELLEY'S GRANDMA'S WHIPPED SHORTBREAD COOKIES 
1 pound butter 1 cup icing sugar 1/2 cup cornstarch 3 1/2 cups flour 1 tsp. vanilla Beat all ingredients together until fluffy (about 20 minutes). Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet (or foil covered, ungreased). Bake 15 minutes at 350F or until golden brown. Makes 8 dozen cookies. _________________________________________________________________________ 
Award-winning author Shelley Adina wrote her first teen novel when she was 13. It was rejected by the literary publisher to whom she sent it, but he did say she knew how to tell a story. That was enough to keep her going through the rest of her adolescence, a career, a move to another country, a B.A. in Literature, an M.A. in Writing Popular Fiction, and countless manuscript pages. Shelley is a world traveler and pop culture junkie with an incurable addiction to designer handbags. She writes books about fun and faith--with a side of glamour. Between books, Shelley loves traveling, playing the piano and Celtic harp, watching movies, and making period costumes. Learn more about Shelley and her books at http://www.shelleyadina.com/. **Contest disclaimer: Void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents. Odds of winning depend on number of entrants. Only one book allowed per person throughout the duration of the event.  Winner of Big Apple Christmas
Thanks to everyone who entered to win Lynette Sowell's Big Apple Christmas! I have blindly selected a winner's name this morning. And the book goes to...
JO!
Congratulations, Jo. Your book will be on its way very soon. Enjoy!
On Monday, we continue The 12 Books of Christmas giveaway. If you have a teenage daughter or know a YA reader, you'll want to check back for sure!
Also looking ahead...
This coming Wednesday, November 18, I'll be offering yet another giveaway. That's TWO next week! The freebies just keep coming!
And speaking of giveaways, don't forget about a great surprise giveaway on Black Friday!
Lots of good stuff coming up. Tell your friends!
Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday!
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