Folks, I am so excited to share this morning’s post with you! This cover has been sitting around on my computer for a long time, and now I finally get to release it to the world. 😁
But first, history.
So y’all know me, I like to have significance behind dates. For example, I’m planning to publish this on the 80th anniversary of V-E Day. That begs the question: what’s so special about December 16th? I mean, it’s 9 days before Christmas – 10 days before Logan’s birthday – but that isn’t all that interesting.
Well, as it happens, December 16th was a day the guys in the 4th Infantry wouldn’t soon forget. For the past week or so, they had been resting in Luxembourg after their disastrous time in Hürtgen Forest. But on the morning of the 16th, *things* happened. Artillery started coming in, and shortly afterward the German ground troops attacked. It was the beginning of the Ardennes Offensive, better known to us as the Battle of the Bulge.
While the fighting in Belgium is the best-known part of the Bulge, it actually extended across a wide sector of the American lines. The 4th Infantry happened to be on the very southern end of the attack. They were able to hold their ground and kept the vital communications hub of Luxembourg City from falling to the enemy. Within a short time, the 4th’s situation had stabilized, and they launched a counterattack.
Logan and friends are there for the initial attack, but y’all will have to wait for the book to see what happens to them. 😉
And, speaking of which, since it IS a cover reveal day:
ARE
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YOU
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READY?
Here we go . . .
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(I’m super happy with this one because it’s a very different style for me. 😁)
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
6 years ago, I went insane.
No, I'm just kidding. 😉 I'm still sane (mostly), just INCREDIBLY tired. (I *could* go off on a long tangent about how sometimes we Christians do seem a little crazy because sometimes God asks us to do WILD things . . . but I won't.)
Anyway, yeah - I've been a published author for six years, and y'all have heard this spiel before, so I'll skip it this time around. But it's really funny sometimes how God works; the first book I published was set in WWII, and now 6 years later, the next book I'm going to be publishing ( We Gave Our Tomorrows ) is also set in WWII. But this time I did my research. 😉
I thought it would be interesting to compare my writing from both books. Prepare for cringe:
Never Left Alone, 2018
The general rolled his eyes and groaned inwardly. "Happy and foolish are two entirely different matters. There is a time and place for playfulness, and this is neither. Franz, you are twenty-two years old! Can't you stop behaving childishly?"
"Afraid not, sir," Franz replied, doing his best to put on a mournful face. "It's a part of who I am."
"Fine, you may be dismissed," the general told him. "If you can do anything seriously at all (which I doubt), try to think seriously about what I said."
We Gave Our Tomorrows, 2024
Jack cocks his head, looking at my face. “Hm, that is a nice scratch. If you’re lucky, it might scar, and then you’d look heroic like me.” He grins, touching the shrapnel scar on his own cheek.
“You, heroic?” Sam scoffs.
“Yeah, me. Just like my brother Jimmy. Did I tell you about how he shot down a Jap at Pearl Harbor and made it in the Oakland Tribune – especially since he had to bail out with a dozen Zeros on his tail?”
“About a hundred times. Get your own heroic tail back upstairs before I kick it up there for ya.”
Jack makes a face at him. “You’re not Parker, you can’t tell me what to do.” He neatly avoids Sam’s lunge at him and takes the stairs two at a time.
Maybe one of these days I'll rewrite that original book. It needs a major overhaul though so it would be pretty unrecognizable. 😆
Y'all are probably impatient to find out who won a book, so we'll get on to the giveaway entries now. The winners are . . .
- To Stand and Balsam & Spice wax melt: Greta B.
- End of the Earth and Kona Coffee wax melt: Esther K.
And I didn't announce this before, but I decided to draw a surprise third winner. So another copy of To Stand goes to Faith A.!
Congrats to the winners, stay safe, have a merry Christmas, and God bless y'all!
And don't forget that We Gave Our Tomorrows cover reveal is on MONDAY!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Hey, folks! Last year I held a giveaway to celebrate 5 years of being a published author. This December will be my sixth year, so I'm going to hold another giveaway to celebrate! I'm giving away two prizes this year:
One (1) copy of To Stand and a Balsam & Spice scented wax melt (the official scent of the series)
One (1) copy of End of the Earth and a Kona Coffee scented wax melt
Rules for this year are the same as last: Email me with the word "Giveaway" in the subject line, and put your name and email address in the body of the email. Your information will be kept strictly private, but I will add you to my email update list unless you request otherwise. Deadline to enter is December 12th as I'll be picking winners on the 13th.
And don't forget to share the news with your friends and enemies! :D
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Originally posted on We Gave Our Tomorrows site
Remembering Our Veterans
November 11th is the day we set aside to remember the veterans who have fought for our freedom, wherever and whenever they have served. Many of them have struggles that we civilians cannot understand. Some of them would like to forget their past.
Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.
-Brad Meltzer
Sadly, many people today do forget the sacrifices these veterans have made. They never stop to think about why they have these freedoms to enjoy. Veteran's Day, for them, is just a chance to get a day off from work.
But it gets worse. There is a class of people who are opposed to the just wars America has been involved in. They seek to revise history, make Americans out to be the bad guys, and vilify the soldiers who fought for us. What they don't realize is that it's thanks to those who fought that they still have the freedom to say those things.
Folks, let's not be part of the problem. This Veteran's Day, stop and think about those who have given so much for you. Thank God for them and for your liberty. Pray for them. And if you see a veteran - or, for that matter, an active duty member - thank them for their service.
On This Day
On the night of November 10th, 1944, the 4th Infantry Division loaded up in trucks and were driven about 30 miles north of their current location to a new position. They arrived in the Hürtgen Forest early on the morning of November 11th.
During their time in Hürtgen, the 4th sustained about 100% casualties - it was the most brutal engagement they were involved in. Following their time in the "meat grinder", they were sent to Luxembourg to rest in early December.
We are on Amazon!
I've got some exciting news! We Gave Our Tomorrows (the ebook version) is available for preorder on Amazon now. Release date, as planned, is set for May 8th. The $5.50 price is my best guess because I don't know yet how long the book will end up being, and length affects price. 🫠 Not to worry, if you order now and I lower the price, you will be charged the lower price; on the other hand, if the price goes up, you'll only get charged $5.50. (At least this is how it works in the US - I think it's different for Amazon Germany and India as well.)
Happy Veteran's Day! 🫡
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Life never stops, haha! Even for worn-out college students 😮💨 I've got a few events coming up next month:
Bonsai Books
Saturday, November 2, 12-3
This will be a multi-author event - myself and a few other local authors.
307 Made
Friday, November 22
This is going to be a "meet & greet" with a few different authors at different time slots during the day . . . I haven't heard anything more from Michelle so I have no idea what times I'll be there 😆
And looking ahead . . .
Homeschool Craft Fair
Saturday, December 14 at Calvary Chapel Cheyenne
Time TBA, but I'm guessing 10-1ish?
And that's all! (Pfft, isn't that enough?! What with school and all . . .)
And have no fear, writing is continuing (albeit a little more slowly) on We Gave Our Tomorrows. 😉
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
It's a big day, folks! End of the Earth , which I've been talking about for a while now, is finally available on Amazon! I'm going to be selling copies for the first time at my local bookstore this afternoon. ^-^
And I want to apologize: I just realized this morning that I never posted character pictures and intros, like I did for To Stand. My life is insane right now, and I ALWAYS have a hard time keeping track of things unless I use sticky notes or a planner. Even then I forget stuff. Oh well, maybe I can post them later, huh?
(That "insane life" spiel is also why I'm not making any long speeches in this post. 😅)
Hope you all have a wonderful day!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Good morning friends! I'm excited to announce the release of a brand-new website - We Gave Our Tomorrows! For a while now I've wanted to create a site just for my WWII WIP, so this is it. (Might as well put what I learned in web design class to use, right?) 😉 There's not a whole lot there right now, but I'm planning to post more at some point. Head over there and take a look!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Hello y'all! I'm going to be at a couple events in Cheyenne soon:
End of the Earth release party
Bonsai Books
Saturday, September 28th, 1-3
Check for updates on their Facebook page.
Local Author Celebration
Laramie County Library
Saturday, October 12th, 10-2
More information here.
And now . . . about that WIP I promised, eh?
So . . . those of y'all who have been around me lately know that I'm currently into all things WWII. Like, really into it. Singing Vera Lynn songs and doing my hair in a victory roll. (I don't care what anyone says, it looks fine with a t-shirt.) I've been doing extensive research on weapons, battles, and small-scale tactics; reading memoirs and online articles; watching an old TV show; and hanging out with reenactors to talk about guns and stuff. (Lemme just say here and now, a Tommy gun is a dream to handle. Didn't actually get to shoot it, but it felt SO. GOOD. in my hands.)
All of this is for a purpose, and I promise I'll stop rambling. For now. 😜
Yes, I am working on a book. And this time I'm actually giving out some information ahead of time. Not a whole lot, because I don't want to give spoilers, and there aren't any settled dates yet. But *some*.
This WIP, titled We Gave Our Tomorrows (yes, there's a story behind that), follows a young American soldier (and his squad) through the Second World War in Europe. He doesn't land at D-Day - comes as a replacement later - but sees action from June 1944 to May 1945. Operation Cobra to V-E Day, Normandy to Germany.
I'll probably be posting updates as I get further along in the process. I'm currently in the middle of writing the first draft . . . I'm nearly up to the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge), so about halfway through the war . . . ? It's actually been going pretty fast; I currently have 18 chapters and 38000 words. My goal is to get it written by the end of the year so that I have plenty of time for proofs and edits. Lord willing, I'm hoping to release it on May 8th, for the 80th anniversary of V-E Day.
I've made a new page (linked in the menu bar up top) for this and future WIPs. Updates and fun facts will probably be posted there! I'll also be posting stuff on my Goodreads blog, so do check there as well.
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Yes, my friends, you saw right; End of the Earth is now online and available for Kindle preorder! Tentative release date is September 28th.
Are you ready for:
-island vibes 🏝️
-coffee ☕ (because we know I can't survive without it, lol)
-storms ⛈️
-a volcano 🌋 (again, the island thing, right?)
-a bratty princess 👸🏽
-dragons 🐉
This has been a LONG time coming! Stay tuned for updates and maybe some character intros like I did for the last book!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Well guys, here it is - the cover reveal at last! End of the Earth will finally have a face - this is my Hobbit birthday present to y'all, a day late. 😊 (I mean, yes it was scheduled for today, but my birthday was yesterday, so we'll just go with the Hobbit thing, haha.)
ARE
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YOU
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READY?!?!
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TA-DAA!!!!!
And for the blurb I promised:
A fishing trip takes an unexpected turn when a wind squall strands crown prince Rhett and his friend Kaide on a small island. Opportunistic pirates seize the unfortunate pair, taking them away on their ship to be sold as slaves.
On the distant island of Leiale, the boys are separated: Rhett is taken for a prestigious position, while Kaide is bought to serve as a field hand. Both situations have their dangers, and neither young man has much hope of seeing his family again.
But back in Veridon, Princess Rhian is not about to give up her brother and friend as lost. Gathering a trusted few, she sets out across the ocean on a near-hopeless quest.
Will the boys—lost at the ends of the earth—ever get home?
Eep! Y'all excited? I know I am! No release date as yet, but Lord willing sometime this month.
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Hi friends! I know I haven't been very communicative lately regarding End of the Earth; it's going slooooooowww. I'm trying to finish writing one last scene that needs added, and my brain doesn't want to work when I try to make it. 🫤
But I haven't been *entirely* useless (just mostly 😆) . . . and now here's my news: I'm going to be revealing the cover next week! Monday, August 5th you get to see this thing! I've had it sitting on my computer for a long time, just waiting to be shown to the world.
But for now I'll give you a teaser, to pique your interest . . .
Ooh! And did I mention: I finally have a blurb! No, no, you don't get to read it yet. Next week, okay?
Meanwhile a bunch of random (or are they random?) emojis to drive you crazy keep you interested. 😏
🐉🛖☕🍍🫘🌴🌋🏝️🌊
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Oh y'all, have I got news for you! This has been more or less under wraps for the past year + a few months, but I'm finally ready to give the world a big reveal!
Back in April, I published To Stand, which I said was the first book in a series: Tales of Veridon. I am very pleased to announce the upcoming sequel . . .
*drum roll please*
. . . End of the Earth.
How close are we to seeing this published?
Lord willing, release date is sometime this summer. I want to get it into the world before college starts again, plus the book has a decidedly summery vibe. I'm in semi-final edits right now, so once that's done and my cartographer (read: my brother) draws the map, we'll be all set to go!
Apparently I'm not on my game right now, because I haven't written a blurb yet. 😆 Hopefully the inspiration will strike sooner rather than later . . .
So what can you expect? Well, I don't wanna give too many spoilers, so instead I've included a moodboard of sorts. Enjoy!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
The day is finally here, y'all! I've been waiting for a long time (at least it feels like it) to share this with you, and now at last To Stand is being released to the world!
To Stand . . . the book that almost broke me as an author. And I'm not kidding. So often I felt like giving up, not just on this book, but my writing career in general. It took me over a year of literal sweat and tears (but not literal blood, just literary XD) to finally get this from beginning idea to finished project. Which really isn't a long time, all things considered, but often it felt like a real struggle. But it was SO worth it, because now it's a good story that I really love.
Sometimes people ask me how I got the idea for a book, and I'm not always sure. But in this case, I do know. I was in the shower (the best time for ideas lol) when a few lines of a song popped into my head. I thought "Hey, this is cool, it sounds like it could be part of a story" . . . and the ideas totally mushroomed from there over the weekend. I started writing it shortly thereafter during a trip, and finished the whole thing (my longest book to date) in just over 2 months.
Much thanks to God, my family, proofreaders, and friends for helping me, putting up with me, and encouraging me to the end.
So with that all said, y'all, please enjoy this story . . . my early readers have really liked it so far, and I hope you will too. 🙂 And once you've read it, I actually created a quiz so you can see which of the characters you are!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
"I could not serve a heartless monster like you. I'd sooner die."
Five years ago, Rhys's life was shattered by an unforeseen tragedy. Now, scarred inside and out, he struggles on, doing his best to live normally. Though they don't know his past, his friends are good for him . . . and in turn, he'd give his life to protect them. He may be a tough warrior, but he does care deeply about others.
Since Rhys is the main character, I spent a lot of time in his head - and yeah, I love him. Any questions for my precious cinnamon roll?
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
"I'm here to help you and support you however I can. I feel like I belong with you all."
Although Shara has zero experience with being a warrior, she's willing to make sacrifices for those she cares about. A sensitive, loving heart, she tries to show others Emmanuel's love through her actions. Some might think her weak, but she's not; El Shaddai is her strength, and through Him she'll do anything for her friends.
Do you think anything will happen to Shara? And will she be prepared if it does? You can ask her what she thinks; she's a little shy, but she'll answer.
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
"I'll live . . . until they kill me."
It's hard to be gloomy with Killian around. The red-haired Elven always has a wide grin or a snarky quip ready. Sure, it gets him in trouble sometimes, but what else do you use a ready wit for? Don't let his joking nature fool you, though; he's a loyal friend, and deadly with that long rapier of his.
Do you know anyone like Killian? He'd sure be a fun person to have in your life! If you have anything you want to ask him, he'll probably tease you but answer eventually.
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
"But I haven't forgotten. He'll regret it someday, I swear he will."
It's hard to gain Raven's trust. Street-wise and a bit cynical, she'd rather be in some dark corner by herself than associating with others. She knows every corner and back alleyway in the city of Valleyfair, and she won't hesitate to defend herself in a knife fight. She speaks her mind openly, except when it comes to personal matters. On that she's silent.
But even a cold, closed heart contains secrets, and hers is no exception . . .
What secrets is Raven hiding? Do you think you could be friends in real life? If you have questions for her, I'll try to make her answer them . . . she won't be happy, but too bad for her. 😜
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
I don't know about you, but for me often what makes or breaks a book is the characters. And as an author, the more invested I am in the charries, the more likely it is to be a good story. So to get y'all more excited for To Stand's release (because I hope you're at least a little excited already!) I've decided to do a fun thing. Every other day leading up to the release (the 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, and 19th) I'm going to be posting a brief character sketch (spoiler-free!) with a faceclaim to pique your interest. So, shall we get started?
"Sorry, but it's fun." The man's teeth shone in the dim light of a nearby window as he grinned. "I like making you mad."
As his name implies, Smoke is a slippery one. Stealthy and cunning, he steals in and out of the shadows with ease. He may be watching you without you ever knowing he's there.
But he's a good one to have on your side. He can get you places you can't go on your own, and he's only too ready to help a friend in need. Just be prepared for lots of teasing, impish grins, and trips to the kitchen - because he loves his food. Also a word of warning: don't play cards with him.
What do you think of Smoke? What role is he going to play in the story? Feel free to email me with comments, or ask Smoke a question - he loves the attention!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Hello friends!!
I've got exciting news . . . though you may have already seen it by now, since I'm a wee bit behind. 😆 Yes, I'm talking about my latest title, To Stand .
I know, I've been talking about it for a while now, and keeping it *sort of* under wraps. But the time has come (finally!) where I can reveal it to the world.
Potential release date (subject to change by a week) is Saturday, April 20th. The Kindle version is available for preorder now!
And about that cover reveal . . .
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ARE
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YOU
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READY????!!!
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TA-DA!!!!!
Book 1, Phoebs?
Oh yeah. This is a series, folks! Lord willing, Book 2 will be coming out this year . . . or maybe in '25. You never know what my life is gonna bring. 😉
That's all for now! Y'all excited? Stay tuned for more news, and if you've got friends who might like it, spread the word!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Five years ago on this day, I hit "Publish" to send my first book out into the world. And it's sure been a wild, crazy ride!
I was 15 then.
I am 20 now.
I have learned a lot since then.
I learned writing techniques that I never knew before.
I learned that characters can become like family to you - and that they can surprise you in ways you never saw coming.
I learned that you can't ignore your real family for the sake of your charrie family.
I learned that writing can be the best way to express your pain and work through what you're feeling.
I learned that you can't write in your own strength.
There are so many people I could thank. My family - my friends - my proofing team - my readers - and above all, my God.
You are the reason I am here today.
You are the reason I keep going.
I couldn't have done this without you.
Okay Phoebs, that's all very nice, but can we get on to the giveaway winners please? I want to find out if I got lucky!
*Ahem* yes, sorry.
*drum roll please*
And the lucky winners are . . .
King of Hearts: Liesl K.
The Treasure Beyond: Jared M.
Thunder of Time + wooden Roman dagger: Gemma S.
Congratulations, y'all! 🥳
I'll be emailing the winners today to notify them. If everything goes well, they can expect their books to be in the mail within the week.
And that's all the excitement for this post. Thanks for putting up with me!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Y'all, I have exciting news. Next month, December 13th, marks five years since I first became a published author. Time for celebration, right??
So! I'm going to do something I've never done before, and run a giveaway. I'll be giving away three prizes:
-One (1) autographed copy of King of Hearts
-One (1) autographed copy of The Treasure Beyond
-One (1) grand prize, autographed copy of Thunder of Time with a wooden Roman-style dagger, made by my friend SFC.
(And let me tell y'all, she does awesome work! I have a dagger she made based on Bonnie's in The Treasure Beyond, and it is just gorgeous.)
The giveaway will be open now through December 12th, and winners will be announced on the 13th.
So the obvious question becomes . . . how do I enter, Phoebs? It's pretty simple, since I decided not to go through the bother of setting up a Rafflecopter account. Email me through my website with your name and email address, and please make sure to put "Giveaway" in the subject line. On December 13th, I will randomly choose one winner for each prize! (Your information will be kept strictly private, I promise. At the moment, I don't have an email newsletter, but if I start one in the future, I will add you to that mailing list unless you request otherwise.)
(But Phoebs, what if I already have the books? Well, it's Christmas season, right? And books make awesome gifts!)
Make sure you enter by December 12th! And please - please, PLEASE - pass the word along! Indie authors like me rely on word-of-mouth, so if you know someone who might be interested, tell them about it. Enjoy and stay safe!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
It's almost September, which means another chapter of Lou & Marik, right? Well, unfortunately, I've come to the end of the chapters I'd written ahead of time. That means I'd have to sit down and write the next chapter now. And . . . I just don't have the time or mental capacity at the moment.
See, there's this thing called Life. Or, more specifically, college. My classes are all online, but still. I'm under a lot of stress and really struggling with burnout. I don't get much sleep anymore, and I'm having a hard time meeting deadlines. (I know, I sound pathetic. I don't mean to be whiny, but it feels like I have a lot being dumped on me right now. Bear with me please. :)
But there is some good (sort of?) news in all of this. I've been working as much as I can on To Stand, though I'm still in first edits. It needed a lot of rewrites: scenes taken out, added, reworked, etc . . . a lot of work, but I really am enjoying getting back to these dear charries. :) At this point, it looks like it'll probably be published late '23 or early '24.
And there's other news. I'm now on Goodreads (finally!) so you can now follow me and ask me questions on there. Also, 307 Made (the store downtown where I'm selling copies of King of Hearts) is celebrating their 2-year anniversary this weekend! There'll be door prizes and specials on items, so hop in and enjoy the fun!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
For the last book I published, I decided to use Amazon KDP instead of Lulu, and I'm so glad I did. Once I figured out their system, it was so much easier to work with, and less expensive to order author copies. With that said, I've been putting this off for a while, but I finally migrated King of Hearts and The Treasure Beyond over to Amazon. This means that they'll now be printed and shipped by KDP (and it means I won't have to charge as much for selling them at live events).
I also took the opportunity to redesign King of Hearts. The old cover was hand-drawn, which worked fine at the time. But looking at it later, after I'd learned more about cover design, I had to admit that it wasn't the greatest. It just looked amateur - not the kind of cover that would make me grab the book and say "Ooh! Must read!!" (Um, yeah. I'm drawn to epic covers . . . and yes, I do sometimes talk like that when I'm excited.) I also resized it - it had previously been 6"x9", instead of 8"x5" like my others. I prefer the smaller size, in part because it fits on bookshelves better, and it also makes the book look fatter. And I'm all for fat books. :) I changed The Treasure Beyond's cover a bit too; got a better quality image for the front, and played around with the back some.
Check out the new cover for King of Hearts! Looks much more professional, doesn't it? ;)
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Hello y'all! I looked at the calendar yesterday, and promptly freaked out at the realization that it was July and I'd forgotten to post a Lou & Marik™ chapter. Lol. I've been highly distracted recently with multiple books (both writing and editing), as well as trying to figure out college stuff for the fall. Never mind the fact that my brain is normally a disorderly wreck. XD
Anyways, I've posted that installment today. This story's been an interesting journey, but it's winding down to a close (I'm guessing there's only about two or three more chapters left). There's a lot of work that goes into posting it monthly, besides just writing the chapter. So I plan to get the crew back to Armir and then sign off. Don't worry, the chapters will still be available for you to read afterwards - and I may write more adventures for them sometime in the future. *wink wink* Thanks for following along with them (and for having patience with me)!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Howdy y'all! This is just a quick update to let you know that Amazon will be increasing print prices for books in the next month. Unfortunately, that means list prices will also be going up, to maintain the same royalty rate. I'll be doing a price update some time in June. Save a few denarii and make sure to snag your copy of Thunder of Time before June 20th, when prices go up!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
". . . it was all I could do to get up in the morning, knowing I'd face another day of misery."
~Rhys Carnahan, To Stand
Broken things have always held an attraction for me, whether it's a broken toy, worn-out clothes, or a broken heart. I just want to take them, turn them in my hands, and give them new life by fixing what's wrong. Part of that might be the big sister in me, the protective instinct that wants to take care of things.
So it should come as no surprise that, in fiction, the broken characters are some of my favorites. Characters like Ben-Hur, Ilyon Chronicles' Jace Ilvaran, or Captain Nemo from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (the Disney movie that is, I haven't read the book). Characters that are dark and brooding, struggling to live with their past, while trying to cope with the present. These are the characters that resonate with me, that make my heart ache, that I wish I could wrap in a hug and assure them that everything will be all right. (Read Isaiah 61:1-3. These verses sum up what I often long to do.)
Because we all, at one point or another, have struggled with some kind of brokenness in our lives. Maybe it's the loss of a loved one, the haunting shadows of past actions, or just the rat race of daily life. All these things can wear us down, making us wonder if there is any hope in the end. Trust me, friend, there is. Read on. ^-^
In To Stand, my current WIP, Rhys Carnahan begins the story as a broken young man, worn down by the things that happened to him four years ago. He's tried to rise above them and go on with life, but it's a continual struggle. The scar on his face reminds him of that, every time he looks at it.
But there is hope, though he's battered and bruised. To El Shaddai, the greatest Healer, no one is hopeless.
A dear friend of mine sent me the lyrics to the song "Worn", by Tenth Avenue North. Reading them, I was struck by how much it reminded me of Rhys, and all that he goes through. The song is melancholy, but at the same time there's hope to it.
Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That You can mend a heart that's frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise
From the ashes of a broken life
And all that's dead inside can be reborn
'Cause I'm worn
(Copyright ©Tenth Avenue North.)
To Stand is a dark book. I knew it would be. But even in the midst of the darkness, there's still hope. There is always hope, because God's still on the throne.
Dear friend, if you're feeling broken today, don't despair. Look to the One who sees all and knows what you're feeling. Cry out to Him, and He can heal you and give you the peace and joy you didn't even know was possible.
I'll leave you with another quote from Rhys (this one comes later on, towards the end of the book):
"I can tell you’re hurting, though you probably don’t want to admit it. I know the old memories are painful, and your wounds will take a long time to heal. But there’s One who can heal both body and soul. I know . . . because I met Him."
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!
Great seasons, how could I have put off this news for so long?! (Because I'm a highly distracted procrastinator, that's how. :P) But anyways, let's begin, shall we? Because all three (yes, I said THREE) updates I'm sharing today are super exciting!!!
Okay, so first of all . . . autographed copies of King of Hearts are now available at 307 Made in downtown Cheyenne. This is a cute little store that sells homemade products from local crafters (and authors too, obviously). I like stopping in there after music lessons, because you never know what you might find that you can't live without. (Like the little resin bunny I got last time - I'm continually swamped by plot bunnies, so I figured it was appropriate. :D) But I digress. If you're looking for a good gift for someone (or for yourself!) go head downtown and pick up a copy! (Shameless self-promotion. :D)
Next . . . in early February this year, our family went to the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum in Crawfordsville, Indiana. (If you've ever checked out my About page, then chances are you know Ben-Hur ranks among my favorite books.) The lady who gave us the tour was very helpful and friendly, and I told her about Thunder of Time, because (SPOILER) Judah Ben-Hur and some members of his family appear as supporting characters in it. (Ben-Hur actually plays a fairly large role.) Their exhibit theme this year is about how Ben-Hur has influenced material culture, so I sent them a copy of Thunder of Time. And yesterday morning, I got an email from Mrs. King (our tour guide) with this picture of one of their display cases!
(Eep! How cool is that?)
Now, last but not least . . . you know how I talked about that top-secret WIP of mine? Well, I'm thrilled to announce that I officially finished writing it at 9:15 a.m. on April 3rd. Two months, one day from start to finish. 107 Word pages and almost 46K words. I've broken my record!!!!! :DDD
First draft has gone out to my proofing team for the initial edit. My brother finished reading it already . . . and hasn't given me his opinion yet.
And yes, it DOES have a title! That title is . . .
(Thanks for the sword photo, RC! :D)
To Stand. The title comes from Ephesians 6:13 - "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." This verse and the one preceding it sort of sum up the theme of the book.
So! Stay posted for news on its progress, tell your friends (and your enemies, in-laws, outlaws, etc.), and let me know if you're interested in spreading the word!
Any questions? Feel free to contact me and I'll try to get back with you as soon as I can!