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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Hays & Emma

I had a blast visiting with everyone yesterday! The winner of a print copy of Seven Brides for Seven Texans from yesterday's post is: Bonnie Roof!!!

Don't forget to comment on today's post! I'll announce another winner tomorrow.

Over the course of the next seven weeks, the authors from the Seven Brides for Seven Texans novella collection will fill this blog with fun post all about the Hart brothers from Hartville, Texas. You'll learn more about the authors, the Hart brothers and their brides, and the inspiration behind each novella. Along with all that, we'll be giving away lots and lots of prizes!!

Each author will blog for one week in the order her story falls in the collection. Here's a rundown:


Week One: Nov. 28-Dec 2 ~ Gabrielle Meyer
Week Two: Dec. 5-9 ~ Lorna Seilstad
Week Three: Dec. 12-16 ~ Amanda Barratt
Week Four Dec 19-23 ~ Keli Gwyn
Week Five Dec 26-30 ~ Susan Page Davis
Week Six Jan 2-6 ~ Vickie McDonough
Week Seven Jan 9-13 ~ Erica Vetsch

Yesterday I told you a little about my story, First Comes Love, and one of the reasons I wanted to be the first one in the collection. Today I'd love to tell you more about my hero and heroine, Hays & Emma, and share one of my favorite memories of collaborating on this collection.


It was fun to create the character of Hays Hart. As the youngest brother, I wanted him to be charming and carefree. He didn't have the misfortune of going off to war, and he doesn't carry the burden to prove anything to his pa. Instead, he spent his early years as one of the only brothers on the ranch when his mother died and when his brothers left. He quickly learned how to cover his own pain so he wouldn't add any more grief to his pa's. He loves to make people happy, and if he can shoulder someone's troubles, he will, no matter the cost. Most of his brothers had lived full lives before he was old enough to know what was happening, and he feels he has a lot of catching up to do. If he can marry first, it will make his pa proud and it will prove to the rest of his brothers that he's not a child anymore.

Since Hays is rarely serious, I wanted Emma Longley to be his complete opposite. She is the oldest child of Reverend and Mrs. Luke Longley (the hero and heroine from my first novella Four Brides and a Bachelor in The Most Eligible Bachelor Collection). She grew up in central Minnesota and has come to Hartville with her family, since her father is the new pastor in town. She has also agreed to be the school teacher, but she doesn't care for Texas and plans to head back to Minnesota as soon as she fulfills her teaching contract in two months. At first, she dislikes Hays' carefree attitude, but she soon realizes that his personality compliments hers, and they begin to fall in love.


One of the benefits of a continuity series like Seven Brides for Seven Texans is that when the novella ends you don't have to say goodbye to the characters you've come to love. Hays and Emma show up in each novella throughout the collection, and you'll see that their story continues long after they say 'I do.'

Once I created the character sketches for Hays and Emma, I posted them to our group Facebook page which allowed the other authors to use them in their stories (we each did this). So Hays shows up several times throughout the collection, and his fun, easy-going personality shines in each story. Emma is right beside him, tempering his carefree nature with a little dose of her calm demeanor.

It was a blast to write a novella for this collection because of the authors I worked with. I knew almost all of them before, but I know Erica Vetsch better than the others. Erica and I both live in Minnesota and we have a plethora of things in common (we both write historical romances, we both homeschool/homeschooled our children, we LOVE history, we write for a couple of the same group blogs, and so much more). Though we live about three hours apart, we meet once a month half way between in the Twin Cities before our monthly ACFW chapter meeting. We have so much fun laughing and visiting at these monthly get-togethers, I'm sure the other patrons wonder what we're drinking in our tea. :)

Erica and I had talked about getting together at my house for a weekend retreat, and it just so happened that we had scheduled the retreat about a month before the novellas were due to our editor. Erica had asked each author to send her their novellas early so she could read through them for continuity. I asked if she wanted help, and she said yes.

Over the course of about forty-eight hours, we took turns reading six of the seven stories out loud, in chronological order. That's about 150,000 words! By the end of the weekend, it felt as if Erica and I had lived in Hartville for those two days and all the characters in the collection had truly come to life. We stopped to get a little sleep, eat a few meals, and go to a dinner theater, but that's about it! We fell in love with each hero, oohed and aahed over their love stories, and marveled at the amazing authors we were blessed to work with. It was the most fun I've had in a long time and one of my favorite memories while collaborating for this collection.

Tomorrow is a big day! It's the official release of Seven Brides for Seven Texans. To celebrate, we'll be sharing a grand prize here on the blog and I'll let you know how you can enter to win. We're also hosting a live Facebook Party from 3:00-5:30 p.m. EST. Be sure to RSVP so you're sent updates and reminders! There will be more chances to win prizes at the party.

We want to give away as many copies of the collection as possible, so be sure to visit the Goodreads giveaway, as well!

On Friday, I'll share about some of the challenges I faced setting a story in Texas! And why I chose for Emma to originate from Minnesota...

Now I'd love to hear from you! If you're married, are you married to someone who's your complete opposite? Have you relocated from where you grew up (like Emma)? What were some of your challenges when you moved? Or did you stay in your hometown (like Hays)? What are some of the challenges of staying? Do you have a friend who you have a lot in common with (like Erica and I)? What are some of those things?

Don't forget to comment! I'll choose one winner from today's comments and announce them on the blog tomorrow (be sure to comment before midnight tonight!).

Gabrielle Meyer
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Tuesday, November 29, 2016

First Comes Love, by Gabrielle Meyer

Over the course of the next seven weeks, the authors from the Seven Brides for Seven Texans novella collection will fill this blog with fun post all about the Hart brothers from Hartville, Texas. You'll learn more about the authors, the Hart brothers and their brides, and the inspiration behind each novella. Along with all that, we'll be giving away lots and lots of prizes!!

Each author will blog for one week in the order her story falls in the collection. Here's a rundown:


Week One: Nov. 28-Dec 2 ~ Gabrielle Meyer
Week Two: Dec. 5-9 ~ Lorna Seilstad
Week Three: Dec. 12-16 ~ Amanda Barratt
Week Four Dec 19-23 ~ Keli Gwyn
Week Five Dec 26-30 ~ Susan Page Davis
Week Six Jan 2-6 ~ Vickie McDonough
Week Seven Jan 9-13 ~ Erica Vetsch

Since my story is the first in the Seven Brides for Seven Texans collection, I have the distinct honor of posting the first week! Each day this week, I will give away a print copy of the collection to one person who comments, so be sure to check back each day to see if you're a winner and comment on the next post for another chance to win! 

Here's a little bit about my story and my main characters.


First Comes Love, by Gabrielle Meyer

As the youngest Hart brother, Hays has never been first at anything--so he's determined to be the first to marry. He sets his sights on the new teacher, Miss Emma Longley, but soon discovers Emma wants nothing to do with marriage, ranching, or Texas and plans to leave Hartville in two short months. Will Hay's charm be enough to convince her to stay?

John Coffee Hays Hart
(23) is six feet tall with blue eyes and light brown hair. He’s kind, handsome and charming. He’s known as a flirt with the local gals, but it’s all in good fun. He has an easy-going nature and he’s prone to innocent practical jokes. While he uses his humor to cover-up his pain and heartache, he’ll do whatever he can to protect the happiness of the people he loves. The only reason he hasn’t married yet is because he hasn’t fallen in love. When he does, he’ll be as loyal and passionate about her as he is about his family and the Seven Heart Ranch.

Emma Longley (18) is about five-foot-seven inches tall with dark brown hair and pretty green eyes. She is confident, loyal and determined. She’s passionate about education and she loves working with children. As a teacher, she has many goals and dreams, and she values having a purpose and cause in life. While she tends to be serious, she can also have fun and loves that Hays makes her laugh. She’s good at organizing and planning events and hopes to make a difference with her short time in Hartville. She’s never been in love, because she’s never had time to find the right man. When she falls in love, she will take joy in making a happy home.
~ ~ ~ ~
When I accepted the invitation to join this awesome collection, the lead author, Erica Vetsch, had come up with seven names of seven famous Texans and assigned the names to each member of the Hart family. John Coffee Hays Hart (known to his family as Hays) was the youngest of the brothers at the age of twenty-three. I immediately loved his name and decided then and there that as the youngest brother, he was fed up with his older brothers doing everything first! So I asked the six other authors if they would mind if Hays married first, which meant his story would come first in the collection.

Everyone agreed.

Since this is a continuity collection (each story is in chronological order), each author had unique challenges. One of mine was introducing the reader to the town of Hartville and many of the characters that would be important in everyone's stories. (On the flip side, I didn't have to worry about some of the details the others would have to deal with later on.) The first five or ten pages in a story are the most important. You want to draw the reader in and encourage them to keep reading. Since this collection reads like a full-length book, I had the pressure of keeping the reader's attention to not only finish my story, but want to read everyone else's stories, as well! 

As you'll learn in the coming weeks, the authors in this collection worked very close together. On Saturdays each week, Erica will share more details about how we kept our characters straight, how we created a timeline that would work for everyone's stories, how we developed secondary characters, how we created and used a town (and ranch) map, how we communicated, and so much more. She was our fearless leader and she did an amazing job (even if I did drive her crazy asking so many questions those first few days...). 

Above all else, this group of authors had fun! We loved creating the Hart men and I believe you'll understand why after reading the collection. 

Tomorrow, I'll tell you a little more about Hays and Emma, and why I created them the way that I did. I'll also share one of my favorite memories while collaborating with these authors, and I'll be giving away another copy of Seven Brides for Seven Texans!

Now I'd love to hear from you! Have you read a series like this before? What questions do you have for me (or the other authors) about creating this collection? Do you enjoy stories set in Texas? What's your take on handsome cowboys? :)

Don't forget to comment! I'll choose one winner from today's comments and announce them on the blog tomorrow (be sure to comment before midnight tonight!). 

Also, don't forget to RSVP for the Facebook Party on Thursday, December 1st or enter the giveaway on Goodreads for a chance to win one of seven copies of Seven Brides for Seven Texans!

Gabrielle Meyer
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Sunday, November 27, 2016

Several Ways to Win!


Howdy, y'all!

It's hard to believe that Seven Brides for Seven Texans releases this week! We've been working on this collection for over a year and we're itching to introduce you to the Hart brothers of Hartville, Texas! These handsome men have stolen our hearts and we think you'll love them, too. 

To celebrate the long-awaited release, the authors of the collection are having a Facebook Party!


Please mark your calendars to join us on Thursday, December 1st from 3:00-5:30 p.m. EST (2:00-4:30 p.m. CST, 1:00-3:30 p.m. MST, and noon-2:30 p.m. PST.)

We're giving away lots of prizes, sharing behind-the-scenes fun, and introducing you to those Hart brothers.

If you haven't marked "going" on Facebook, be sure to visit here and RSVP to receive updates and reminders about the party.

Here's the party schedule. The seven authors will visit in the order in which their stories appear in the collection. Each author will offer a prize during her time slot and choose a winner from those who comment on her posts.

3:00-3:10 pm EST - Welcome
3:10-3:30 pm EST - Gabrielle Meyer
3:30-3:50 pm EST - Lorna Seilstad
3:50-4:10 pm EST - Amanda Barratt
4:10-4:30 pm EST - Keli Gwyn
4:30-4:50 pm EST - Susan Page Davis
4:50-5:10 pm EST - Vickie McDonough
5:10-5:30 pm EST - Erica Vetsch

That's not all!

We're so excited about this collection, we're giving away as many copies as we can! Be sure to visit Goodreads between November 27th and December 5th for more opportunities to win.


Go here to enter the Goodreads giveaway! It's that easy.

We have lots of exciting contests, giveaways and posts planned for this blog in the coming weeks! On Thursday we'll announce the Texas-worthy grand prize and let you know how you can enter to win. We'll also introduce you to all the authors of the Seven Brides for Seven Texans collection, as well as the colorful and lovable characters that fill the book. You'll hear about the inspiration behind our stories, how we coordinated all the details, and so much more. You won't want to miss a single post! 

Be sure to check back often and tell your friends. We're looking forward to celebrating with y'all!

Let's Chat: Are you a Goodreads user? If so, what do you like/dislike about using Goodreads? Have you connected with your favorite authors there? Have you ever attended a live Facebook party? What do you enjoy or not enjoy about Facebook parties? What would you like us to share on our Facebook party?

Monday, November 21, 2016

We have our first Winner!!


Congratulations to ablst nlki I! You won a copy of 7 Brides for 7 Texans! If you will email me at ericavetsch at gmail dot com and let me know if you want print or ebook, I will get your book to you ASAP!

Thank you to everyone who commented. We will be giving away a LOT more stuff here over the coming weeks, so be sure to come back!

I love the picture above. A field of bluebonnets. Did you know that bluebonnets feature in Lorna Seilstad's 7 Brides story Heart of Texas?

Who doesn't swoon over a handsome cowboy bringing a fistful of freshly-picked flowers to a pretty girl?

What's your favorite flower?


Thursday, November 17, 2016

Howdy, from Hartville, Texas!

Erica Vetsch here:

I am so excited to share an exciting new romance collection with you! I have been joined by six FABULOUS authors, and together we've created a group of stories that we think you are going to LOVE!

Handsome, courageous, manly heroes! Check!

Intelligent, brave, resourceful heroines! Check!

Plots to stir your mind and your pulses! Check!

An interfering, well-meaning, strong-willed old man!  WHAT?



Introducing the 7 Brides for 7 Texans Romance Collection: 

Patriarch of the Hart family, George Washington Hart isn’t getting any younger. He’s got seven strapping sons, and not a one of them has had the decency to marry and produce an heir. It is time for George to meddle. He will divide his massive ranch in the Texas Hill country, the 7-Heart, among his sons with the proviso that each one marry and settle on the land within the next calendar year. The boys, ranging in age from 23-34 and named after famous Texans, are resistant to the idea of settling down, but they’ll be blamed if they’ll lose their inheritance! Each sets about finding a bride in his own way, and in the end, each finds love deep in the heart of Texas.



We hope you'll join us, Amanda Barratt, Susan Page Davis, Keli Gwyn, Vickie McDonough, Gabrielle Meyer, Lorna Seilstad, and me, Erica Vetsch, here on the 7 Brides for 7 Texans blog. Over the next several weeks, we'll be talking about the stories, the setting, the inspiration, the collaboration, and everything we can think of as relates to the 7 Heart Ranch and those fabulous Hart brothers.

We have some BIG BIG BIG giveaways planned, some games, some Q&A, and hopefully lots of fun! 

Sign up to get this blog delivered right to your email so you don't miss a single post! There's a place to sign up in the sidebar to the right, underneath the book cover image.

There will be plenty of action, and you don't want to be left out!

To kick things off, we're giving away a copy of the book!! Leave a comment here on the blog telling us what your favorite cowboy/western movie is, and you'll be entered to win. A winner will be chosen 11/21/16. (Choice of ebook or print for US residents, ebook only for those residing outside the US)