It's been 6 years since Gina Welborn realized a dream of bringing a group of female inspirational writers together for the purpose of friendship and support by way of the Inkwell Inspirations blog. Read Gina's inaugural blogpost where she introduced us to the world.
A mere couple of weeks later in September 2009, several of us met for the first time at the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) conference in Denver, Colorado. The conference is now our annual destination for get-togethers - a time for tears and laughter as we share our rejections, accomplishments, and bloopers - a physical embodiment of Gina's dream.
Inktropolis has never been stagnant. As time passed, opportunities arose, and priorities changed. Some initial members moved on, and others took their place. And some of us have been there from the start.
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| ACFW Dallas 2012: (L to R) Lisa Richardson, Jennifer AlLee, Gina Welborn, Anita Mae Draper, and Dina Sleiman (in front) |
Just because some Inkies can't make it to conference, doesn't mean they are forgotten.
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| ACFW Indianapolis 2013: The whole Inkwell Inspirations crew in flesh and spirit after Friday night's Genre Dinner. (Standing L to R) Jennifer AlLee holding photo of Dina Sleiman, Barb Early, Lisa Karon Richardson holding photo of Niki Turner, Anita Mae Draper, Gina Welborn, Susan Johnson holding photo of DeAnna Dodson. (Sitting L to R) Susanne Dietze, Debra E Marvin holding photo of C.J. Chase |
Whether it's news of an award nomination or result, or the offer of a contract, we've prayed for each other and offered tears of comfort and congratulations regardless of the results.
And speaking of contracts, we have news to share. Three years ago, eight Inkies decided to create a novella series we called, Austen in Austin, where we took 8 Jane Austen heroines and transplanted them in late 19th century Texas. This past June, WhiteFire Publishing contracted all eight of our novellas and Inky joy flowed.
Thanks WhiteFire Publishing! And thank you to Roseanna White for designing our fabulous book covers and promotional aids.
Volume 1 contains novellas by Susanne Dietze, Anita Mae Draper, Debra E. Marvin, and Gina Welborn, and releases January 2016!
But best of all, the paperback version of Volume One is available for pre-order on Amazon right now!
Volume Two will follow along in September 2016 with novellas by Suzie Johnson, Lisa Karon Richardson, Dina Sleiman, and Niki Turner. And coming soon are the complete volumes, as well as individual novellas in ebook format.
As for the Inkies as a group, publication of the Austen in Austin series means every Inky has now reached publication status! Yay!!!
We want you to share our success! Leave a comment on this blogpost before midnight tomorrow Sept 1st, 2015, and we'll draw one name for each $25 Amazon gift card.
Yes, that's 2 winners!
The Inkies will be giving away Austen in Austen Volume One postcards while at the ACFW conference in Dallas, TX this September. If you see us there, just ask and it's yours.
Don't forget to leave a comment with a way of contacting you and we'll put your name in the draw for one of the $25 Amazon gift cards.
Congratulations on 6 years together!! :) What fun!! The Austen in Austin Texas-set novellas looks like lots of fun! Thanks for the Amazon gift card giveaway! :D
ReplyDeletesydneyjames68[at]gmail[dot]com
Thanks, Sydney. :)
DeleteCongratulations, ladies, on your success! I'm thrilled for you all.
ReplyDeleteCarlagade at g mail dot com
Hey Carla, nice seeing you here. Glad to have your support. :)
DeleteHappy 6th Anniversary! I'm looking forward to reading the new Austen in Austin book!
ReplyDeletescamag@ymail.com
me too! I've read them all but it will be great to see the final product! Thanks for commenting and being in the drawing.
DeleteHappy blogoversary to us! Thanks for the fun post, Anita Mae, and thanks to all who are helping us celebrate!
ReplyDeleteSydney, Carla, scamag, you're entered into the drawing!
You're welcome, Susie. I'm so very glad we took that photo with all of us, including the Inkies who couldn't come. Who's idea was that? I'd like to give credit for the excellent idea.
DeleteCongratulations and happy blogiversary! Can't wait to read the book! :)
ReplyDeletecolorvibrant at gmail dot com
Thanks, Heidi. You're very inspiring. :)
DeleteHAPPY 6TH ANNIVERSARY! I am SO excited for you! Austen in Austin is a MUST read.
ReplyDeletepsalm103and138[at]gmail[dot]com
Thank you, Caryl. Love the support. :)
DeleteHappy blogiversary! Wish I could be at ACFW this year, it's so close to me.
ReplyDeletejlmbewe at gmail dot com
Thanks, Jennette. If you're wanting a postcard, send a private message to the Inkwell facebook page or any one of us that you're friends with and we'll pop one in the mail after the conference.
DeleteHappy Blogiversary to all! And SO HAPPY and EXCITED about the Austin in Austin series - I can't wait to read the stories!! Congrats all around!
ReplyDeletemaquis15[at]gmail[dot]com
Thank you, Maquis. The stories were so much fun to write, and with 8 authors, they're sure to please. :)
DeleteHappy Anniversary! Wow, 6 years, how cool is that?
ReplyDeleteThank you!
campbellamyd at gmail dot com
And thank you, Amy! The time has gone by very quickly and we're glad you're here to celebrate it with us. :)
DeleteHi Ladies! I'm so glad everyone has stopped by. Thank you for the support and good wishes. I'm working today (lunch break now) so I'm quite late to the party. Everyone here has become so important to me. I'm truly blessed to be part of this incredible group.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! I wish I remembered how I found this blog. I don't think it was too long after you'd started. It is listed in my favourites and checked regularly.
ReplyDeleteI am really looking forward to the Austin in Austin in books. Based on the writing in these blogs, it will be worth reading.
Congratulations Ladies!!
elaineking1 at hotmail dot come
And here I thought you'd followed me here from the church blog. So much for my ego. :D
DeleteThank you for being a regular visitor. THAT's good for our ego. :)
BTW, I'm open to speaking about Austen in Austin, being a writer, blogging, etc, if some group or book club was thinking of inviting me. (Just thought I'd throw it out there.)
:)
It could very well be that I followed you, Anita, here from your church blog. That makes the most sense to me! So...your ego is intact! ;)
DeleteThanks for celebrating with us, everyone! We are so excited here at the Inkwell. Everyone who's stopped by and left an email addy has been entered into the drawing!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, all you Austin/Austen ladies! Woot! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, DeAnna! And you may have been a late bloomer as an Inky, but I'm sure I speak for all when I say that I can't imagine being an Inky without you now. :)
DeleteAwww, thank you, Anita! You're a sweetheart, and I am so happy and blessed to be part of this group.
DeleteI agree with Anita Mae! I'm so glad we are Inky sisters!
DeleteIf there's still time to enter, I'd love to! This is my email:
ReplyDeleteGodspeculiartreasurerae(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks!
You bet, Raechel! You're entered. Thanks so much for coming by to help us celebrate!
DeleteCongrats to Inkwell! Can I get in on the drawing? Please, please?
ReplyDeletecj (at) tryingtogetawaywithone (dot) con
Haha, CJ, nice try. Maybe a couple years ago, but you're an official member now and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Deletepssst - love that email address. Very authentic.
:D
I knew I should have made the email address
Deletenotcj (at) tryingtogetawaywithone (dot) con
Then you'd have never known it was me. I'll never go for the minimalist look again.
Thank you, Anita, for putting this post together! And thank you to ALL my Inky sisters for your love and prayers and encouragement this past 6 years, and especially to Gina, for being obedient and reaching out to a complete newbie who couldn't even format her contest entry correctly! I know without a doubt I wouldn't be where I'm at in my writing life without all of you! God did a good thing!!! Can't wait for the day I can hug all of you in person! Well, one at a time, anyway. ;)
ReplyDeleteAmen, Niki! Praise God for His wisdom and abundant blessings!
DeleteNiki, you're so right. I remember the day I received an email from a stranger named Gina. She said she didn't know me, but God had put me on her heart when she was looking for writers to start this blog and she was answering His nudge. That email made me cry. And I'm tearing up just thinking of it. I know He knows my needs, but it's overwhelming to think that He knew exactly who would listen to Him and reach out to me, especially when I lived in a different country. Thank you, Gina.
DeleteI am so blessed and grateful to be an Inky.
Anita, I didn't know that story! WOW!
DeleteWaving to all my friends who stopped by. Thanks Anita for organizing the post and the giveaway! Love all my Inky sisters.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Dina. You bring such a unique aspect to this blog. Hugs.
DeleteAnd thanks to all the Inkies who contributed to the giveaways. :)
Happy, Happy Day and many , many more celebrations!!!
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Hey Melanie! I'm glad you're here! Thanks for helping us celebrate!
DeleteHappy 6 years! Congratulations on all being published! Can't wait to read this collection. I love the story of how you came together, prayed together, and met at conferences. That is wonderful! I am just starting my journey, but that seems like a great way to connect and share. God knows exactly what we need when we need it. Congratulations again on 6 years!
ReplyDeletesallyshupe1 at gmail dot com
Hi Sally! Thanks for celebrating with us. How exciting to be on your journey toward publication. Good for you!
DeleteYou're entered into the drawing!
Thank you so much! Look forward to hearing more about your journeys!
DeleteCongrats ladies! I enjoy reading your books! j_gilmore24 at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteThanks for such kind words, Jamie! I'm so glad you could come by today. You're entered into the drawing!
DeleteHappy 6th blog anniversary!! The new book "Austen in Austin" looks like a great book :-) I just discovered this blog via a newsletter I get from Susanne Dietze and I am loving it already. What a wonderful group of women!! Congrats to each of you and blessings!
ReplyDeleteteamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
DeleteThanks, Trixi. I received Susie's newsletter this morning too, and I must say she's doing a wonderful job with it. So very glad you followed her here. :)
DeleteWaving hi to Trixi! I'm so glad to see you! Thanks so much for coming by and joining in the celebration. You're entered into the drawing for an Amazon card.
DeleteThat is wonderful news about your anniversary. Congrats on many more years together. God bless to all of you. mommystuck1(at)optonline(dot)net
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy! Thanks for the good wishes and for joining in our party. God bless you, too!
DeleteYou're entered into the drawing!
Congratulations to Maquis and Elaine K, our winners!
ReplyDeleteThanks to all who came by to help us celebrate. We are so grateful for all of you!
Congrats to our winners!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks to all who celebrated with us.
Thank you so much for this prize! I'm thinking that I'll spend it on books or ebooks by Inkwell authors!
ReplyDeleteapologies for being too late to the celebrations. I've been so busy at work and home of late, I've missed my visits to the Inkwell. I cannot believe it's been SIX years already!!!! I am SO looking forward to buying your novella collections when they get released.
ReplyDeleteYou all have done such an awesome job with the Inkwell. YAY!! Congrats and Happy Blog-o-versary!!!
p.s. I think y'all should let someone over at Seekerville in on the Austin in Austin collection info so y'all can do a post closer to the pub date. It would be so AWESOME! my two FAVORITE blogs to visit combined for celebration/promotion. Best blog day ever!
ReplyDeleteJust sayin...