3rd Blogoversary Party ~ Meet Sandra Leesmith!

It's my pleasure to welcome, Sandra Leesmith to the blog as our third guest this week! Sandra is a current client for Editing Through the Seasons, and I'm honored to be working with her.

Sandra contacted me the day I shared a guest post on Seekerville regarding my freelance editing business and what I've learned about spreading the word (and surviving) online. Color me thrilled! We're working on re-publishing some of her backlist titles as e-books - and it's been a great experience for me so far. I'm excited to share more about these projects with you in the near future!

Until then, read on to learn more about Sandra and today's giveaway...

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Amber ~ Welcome, Sandra! Since this is a blogoversary party, could you share with us a little bit about your own blogging history? When did you start blogging for “Seekerville,” and how has that blog changed since it was created? 


Sandra ~ We started Seekerville in 2005. We had bumped into each for the past few years in writing
contests. We started emailing each other and stating that we wished each other would get published so we could win the contests. *smile* We decided that it would be easier to communicate on a loop, so we started sharing information. Then in 2005 it occurred to us that the info we were sharing should be shared with everyone. Until recently, the ins and outs of the publishing world seemed to be a big secret. We learned the hard way and wanted to share our information.

We started the blog and of course had no followers in the beginning. But word of mouth spread the news that we had valuable information for those trying to sail off "unpubbed island." We mostly shared contest information in the beginning, and then it evolved to articles on craft.

Eventually all of us ended up published, hence no more Unpubbed Island and into the village of Seekerville. Many of our friends have sailed into the publishing world and we love celebrating with them. Editors and agents find our information valuable and have supported us by guest-blogging with us. We keep on growing and have reader fans, as well, who are interested in the life of an author.

It has been a blessing to have a blog with a group because then the job doesn’t become so overwhelming. And with so much creative talent, we are always coming up with new and fresh ideas that our readers enjoy, such as the Yankee Belle Café, Speedbo, various parties, etc. Be sure and check us out. You won’t be disappointed.

 Amber ~ That's an awesome story! Seekerville is a happenin' place! ;)

How would you describe the current “season” of your writing career? (Slow? Growing? A harvest of creativity? A dry spell? Hopeful? Frustrating? However you want to describe it!)

Sandra ~ I honestly don’t know how to describe this season. I think it ties in with the season that the publishing world is in right now. A state of flux and major change. That describes me to a T at this point in the game. I pretty much knew what I wanted to accomplish and how the publishing world worked and had set my goals toward those means and ends. But I find myself smack in the middle of the changing paradigm and finding I have to reset my goals to match this new world. The exciting part is learning all of the new aspects of marketing in this new electronic age. I guess I’m learning right along with the traditional publishers.

Amber ~ I’m excited for this chance to work with you on some projects as you navigate the e-world! Can you tell us one thing you’re looking forward to sharing with your readers in the coming months?

Sandra ~ I’m really excited to get some of my out-of-print books back out there. It was a blow when they went off the shelves in six weeks. And the way the distribution went in those days, some of these books were not even in all of the stores. I had friends who could not buy the books even when they were out. Now with Amazon, the books can be purchased at a reasonable price anywhere in the country.

Amber ~ Reminds me of a line from the movie I.Q.: "What an exciting time to be alive!" 

These next questions are fun, brief-response questions. Your favorite season?

Sandra ~ Summer is my favorite season because it always means travel and time outdoors, two of my favorite things to do. When I was a teacher, summer meant travel and time to write.

Amber ~ Two quirky dreams (small or big) that you have?

Sandra ~ I want to travel to Spain to do research for a book that has been in my heart for a long time.

Amber ~ Three blogs you love to visit?

Sandra ~ Seekerville, Love Inspired Authors, and Harlequin Heartwarming

Amber ~ Four books you read recently?

Sandra ~

1. THE BIBLE - I am always reading the Bible.
2. SWEPT AWAY by Mary Connealy
3. THE GENERAL’S SECRETARY by Debby Giusti
4.  JESUS CALLING by Sarah Young

Amber ~ Five different themes for a party that would be fun to attend or host?

Sandra ~

1. I love to go to parties and celebrate an author and his/her books. 
2. I love impromptu happy hours when everyone brings an appetizer to share (our pickleball parties are great).
3. Christmas parties are always a favorite.
4. Picnic in the desert/woods (actually anywhere outdoors).
5. Bunco parties. (At least I don’t fall asleep in those, lol.) 

Amber ~ Thank you for sharing with my readers today, Sandra! I'm looking forward to all that is yet to come. :)

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Giveaway!

I've discovered that Sandra is a very generous person. She basically told me she would go with any sort of book-giveaway I wanted to offer. ;) So today there will be two winners! One winner will receive a hardcover copy of The Price of Victory; another winner will receive a paperback copy of Current of Love. (These are Sandra's most recent novels.)

To enter, just leave a comment with your e-mail address. (If you have a preference as to which book you want to win, please note that in your comment, as well!)

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. The winners will be chosen via the List Randomizer on Random.org and announced on Saturday, March 30th. Good luck!