S.D. Smith's Blog, page 12

Giveaway ALL Books SIGNED + Arizona Event

Two cool things…

1. I’m coming to Arizona this week!
2. ANYONE ANYWHERE CAN WIN—> I’m also giving away TWO complete SIGNED SETS of ALL TEN Green Ember books.

How to enter to win?

Easy…

LET YOUR ARIZONA AREA PALS KNOW ABOUT THE EVENT IN ARIZONA!
I’ll let you figure out how to do that best (one way is obvious), but once you give them the news and say something like, “you better go see S. D. Smith & Green Ember LIVE in Phoenix, sucka” or something like that, then comment here and you’re entered.

Actual details to pass on to your AZ pals:
S. D. Smith in Phoenix at the AFHE Convention!https://afhe.org/detailsGreen Ember LIVE is super-fun on Friday night!YOU CAN REGISTER AT THE DOOR

(Please refer registration questions to AFHE.)

Rules:
Must have a valid mailing address. Must be 18 or older. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by or associated with the Galactic Empire. Void where prohibited. This giveaway was created in a factory where tree nuts were mashed into chocolate.

Winners will be selected and notified on Monday, July 18.

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Green Ember LIVE | S. D. Smith Author Event

Hi friends,

On July 15 & 16th I will be in Phoenix, Arizona at the 38th Annual AFHE Home Education Convention presenting a new unreleased Green Ember story LIVE! Join me for a sing-along time that’s a mini storytelling concert. New art from the illustrator, Zach Franzen, will also be featured.

Tickets may only be purchased by AFHE Convention attendees through the registration process. See the registration page for details.

At the convention, you can come and meet me, buy some Green Ember merch & books and get them signed! Along with Green Ember LIVE, I will be hosting two workshops:

How to Coach Your Creative ChildChristian Storytelling: An Escape into RealityHow to Coach Your Creative Child

“Your creative child needs encouragement, but also needs guidance and discipline. Join Green Ember author S. D. Smith as he discusses how to help kids gifted in and keen on music, writing, and the arts to say “yes” to their gifting and “no” to the destructive and selfish behaviors associated with artists.”

Christian Storytelling: An Escape into Reality

“Storytelling is everywhere, from Netflix and Disney+ to advertising and politics. Should Christian families be ignorant of the how and why of storytelling? In this talk, bestselling author S. D. Smith shares insights on how Christian parents can wisely think about the challenges and opportunities of storytelling. Christians should be at home with storytelling. After all, we follow a storytelling God.”

For more information about the conference, including on-site registration info, visit here.

Event FAQ: I want to see the Green Ember LIVE! Will you stream the event, publish the new, unreleased story Sam is reading? For now, future in-person events are the only places this story will be shared.

Host S. D. Smith

Sam enjoys meeting readers, firing imaginations, and encouraging kids to live out a great life story.

“Whenever I have the opportunity to hear S. D. ‘Sam’ Smith speak, I always come away thinking and smiling. Sam has a unique ability to connect with his audience, whether with children or adults—he is personal, relational, knowledgeable, and engaging. But even more than that, he is motivated—he cannot hide his own enthusiasm for what he has to share. His connection with children is never just an act, but a genuine extension of his own life at home with four children. Sam is that rare combination of being a successful children’s author who also loves and naturally connects with kids, and that will make them want to connect with books and stories. He makes them think and smile.”

Clay Clarkson, Monument, CO

If you would like to host an author event with S. D. Smith, such as Green Ember Live or a conference presentation, fill out this form here or email josiah@sdsmith.com with questions or proposals.

We look forward to seeing you at a live event!

We’re on your side,

Sam & Team

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My Dad Treated Black Folks Different

It’s the confluence of Father’s Day and Juneteenth (both yesterday) and West Virginia Day (today, happy 159). So, let me tell you some of what my dad taught me about race growing up in our beloved Mountain State. 

I played ball with black kids and had black coaches as a kid. I heard about the klan and got really scared—for them and, for some reason, my own safety. My dad had to tell me about their history and explained why it’s wicked to look at skin tone instead of heart for condemnation or commendation. 

Dad actually didn’t do a lot of explaining. Mom did more of that. (I’m so grateful for her instruction!) Dad was always a “follow my example” kind of leader. He was a good teacher, but I learned most by just watching how he treated people. Growing up, I never once had even the slightest notion that he looked down on black folks. 

We went to a church that was in a white area, and our church reflected that. But dad took us to black churches to visit. He was friends with black pastors and so I had great experiences at (very long, enthusiastic) services that shaped my childhood. Many of my heroes were black men and women.

When we moved to South Africa, it was during apartheid and Nelson Mandela was in prison. There was a practice of all black men of any age being referred to by white folks of any age as “boy.” So a teenage white kid would call an elderly black man “boy.” And even an elderly black man would call a white young boy “boss.” All whites were “boss.” But my dad, contra mundum, would call every black man he met “boss.” He never really lectured me about it, but I saw it, and I followed his lead. 

He treated black folks differently than other people did. He treated them with love and respect.

My dad loves West Virginia more than anyone I’ve ever known, and he loves being here more than anyone I’ve ever known. A creed I learned as a child was, “I’m West Virginia born, and West Virginia bred, and when I die, I’ll be West Virginia dead.” He bleeds gold and blue. 

Still, this mountaineer at heart left his beloved home to spend a significant part of his life loving and serving poor Zulu families alongside a Zulu fellow-pastor. I was often with him in dangerous Zulu townships at night, where attacks on white visitors were frequent and deadly. I was often with him when he would preach in a building where “kill the whites” was written as a warning on the wall. 

My dad didn’t have to tell me he loved black people; his life showed it. 

I love Juneteenth. I love the story of bringing good news all the way to its edge that the wicked practice of slavery was ended in our country. Thank God for those who fought to end that inhuman institution—including many white folks. And I love West Virginia Day, because I love my home state—a state where black folks have always been free and able to vote, though Confederate soldiers were not allowed to for many years. 

Things are far from perfect, and I’m always sympathetic to hear from those most impacted about the ways they aren’t. But I’m grateful for the goodness I have seen in my dad and what I’ve learned by following him. 

I love my dad. He taught me the good news about Jesus, the King of Kings who gathers from every tribe and tongue of every color. We aren’t the same in the body of Christ, but we are one. Dad lived with kingdom values in the face of the zeitgeist. He saw people in light of the law of love and not the law—or customs—of a culture. (A crucial lesson on may fronts.) He showed me how to judge a man fairly, and shared his deep love for our home. 

I’m grateful for my dad. My hero. A good man. 

God bless all good dads and let freedom ring in West Virginia and beyond!

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The OFFICIAL Green Ember Book Club & Party Activity Guide

You asked. We answered.

We’re releasing our OFFICIAL Green Ember Book Club & Party Guide in download format for idea and activity inspiration. It comes in a printable PDF format which contains links for further resources that are clickable. This 32 page guide includes: discussion questions, coloring pages, activities, and more!

Buy Guide

We want you to use this pack as a guide to help you through The Green Ember book club or party. Feel free to adapt it to suit the needs of your group. Let your imagination be your guide as well!

Start your book club off with a personal video welcome from S. D. Smith that is only accessible through this guide.

What’s included in The Green Ember activity guide?

Take a look at the Table of Contents:

Discussion Questions

We’ve come up with some questions to help guide you through your discussion of The Green Ember. In “Additional Resources” you’ll find a page full of more questions we’ve compiled from around the web.

Activities

Create a party banner using the printable to welcome your guests which features the official Rabbit Oath. Activities like the #RabbitsWithSwords Cookies and Lighthall Stained Glass Window Art can be prepped ahead of time.

Coloring Pages

We’ve included a printable maze and 5 coloring pages featuring some favorite characters and scenes from the book.

& More!

These activities can be reprinted as many times as you need. Once you purchase the download, it is yours forever.

You can also get the activity guide for FREE when you purchase the Book Club and Party Pack which features an entire case (28 books) of The Green Ember books for a crazy deal.

We look forward to seeing more Green Ember book clubs in action! Send us your pictures or tag us on the socials: Facebook | Instagram.

We’re on your side.

Buy Guide

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Green Ember Audiobooks | Meet the Narrator + Online Author Event

Prefer to watch? Check out the video version of this update.

Thank you for coming to the Prince Lander and the Dragon War launch party! If you missed the live, you can still watch the video here on our Green Ember YouTube channel.

More Videos:Picket Packslayer Song The Green Ember COMPLETE Audiobook | With Illustrations Prince Lander and the Dragon War Audiobook | First 4 ChaptersGreen Ember Audiobooks

Meet West Virginia native Eric Fritzius, the excellent narrator for six Green Ember adventures, including the newest. Eric is an actor and author, and his deep, resonate voice is perfect for these swashbuckling tales.

You can find ALL TEN of the Green Ember audiobooks wherever you get audiobooks. Psst, they’re also free on Hoopla.

Shop AudiobooksOnline Author Event

I’m joining Tolle Lege Book Community on Thursday, May 5th at 7pm EST to chat and answer questions. Anyone can come! Join this Facebook group (you can pop out once it’s over) and in the challenge questions, let them know you heard about it from S. D. Smith. Hope to see you there!

 That’s all for now!

My place beside you,

Sam

Shop the S. D. Smith Family Store

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Big Giveaways as Green Ember Book Launched & S. D. Smith LIVE Event TONIGHT!

Today is the day! Prince Lander and the Dragon War is available in Audiobook, eBook, and print form at Amazon and more retailers.

Grab Yours Now

We’re celebrating TODAY with a live launch party at 7:30PM ET over on our Green Ember YouTube Channel! There will be a Q & A, reading, giveaways, and more. (Picket Packslayer may or may not make an appearance.)

I know, I know, 7:30PM seems like a long way off. We can’t wait, either. Here are some things to do while you wait for the festivities to begin:

Subscribe

Subscribe to Green Ember on YouTube and click the bell icon to be notified when we’re live! Catch up on any videos you may have missed like seeing kids open Prince Lander or how to prep for the TENTH book.

Here is our newest video:

Review

Did you pre-order Prince Lander and read it already? Nice! We’d be so appreciative if you left a review. You can do so at Amazon, Goodreads, or Audible.

Review on AmazonRespond

What would you like to see tonight? Do you have a question for the Q & A? S. D. Smith loves answering questions from readers of all ages. Post your or your kid’s question in the comments below, on Facebook, or Instagram. Where appropriate, please include a first name and age of the person asking the question. No spoilers please.

Enter

Enter to win our GRAND PRIZE:

SIGNED Set of all 10 Green Ember Series BooksGreen Writer CourseGreen Oath MugGreen Oath HatPicket’s SwordHeather’s Necklace

How to enter: 

Comment on The Green Ember Audiobook video with your quick take on The Green Ember Series. (While you’re there, like & subscribe!)Let us know in the comments below that you are entered. 

We will select one winner for this GRAND PRIZE at the beginning of the Launch Party. 

More Giveaways

There will be multiple chances to win various prizes. Here is what we’re giving away:

Green Writer CoursesSigned copies of Prince Lander and the Dragon WarSigned Trilogy, Green Oath MugAnd one more GRAND PRIZE: Signed Set of all 10 Green Ember Series Books, Green Writer, Green Oath Mug, Green Oath Hat, Picket’s Sword, Heather’s Necklace

Stick around for more chances to win throughout the party!

See you tonight!

Visit The S. D. Smith Family Store

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Growing Givers Not Poor Unfortunate Victims

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I got to hang out with a bunch of writers last weekend. I enjoyed meeting up with friends and making some new ones. I loved meeting readers and listening to their encouraging words about the books we’ve shared between us. 

Elizabeth Yates said, “A writer only begins a book, it is the reader who completes it.” She’s right, of course, and it’s always a delight to meet the people who complete my stories. 

HopeWords Conference is a good time in Bluefield, West Virginia. (About an hour from my hometown.) I was really inspired by Haejin and Mako Fujimora, Malcolm Guite, Hannah Anderson, Travis Lowe and many others. Travis always gives voice to the cry of my heart about our area. He sees the “light of the world” where many just see impenetrable darkness. 

The news guy asked me if I was pleased that the conference drew people from over thirty states and several countries. He wanted to know if I was excited that our area was attracting these amazing people. I said that I was, but I was equally excited about those people being exposed to our area. 

Most of the time people think of Appalachia in general, and West Virginia in particular, as a place where anyone who can leave does leave. They see it as a place of need where kind people go to help the poor, unfortunate souls stuck here. That’s kind of true and we are grateful for everyone who comes with a generous heart of love. But we also have something to give, something to share, and we grow when we have a chance to see ourselves as servants instead of victims. The victim narrative is so seductive, but it’s an impotent story and we need to show up in love and, with humility and dependence on God, get to work shaping our own story. 

That’s certainly my heart for our state, and one of the main reasons I’m so committed to staying here and being part of, not only helping us grow, but also give. We’ll start believing better once we get on the job of serving others with the gifts we have been given. The first step is gratitude and wonder at what we have. 

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Save the Date: LIVE Launch Party & New Recommendation From Anne + GW Tip

Prefer to watch? Check out the video version.

Salutations Ya’ll,

It’s April! The smell of grassoline will soon fill our nostrils. Green Writers will give way to Lawn Choppers and we’ll be mowing and growing into spring. Seriously, as Holy Week approaches, we have so much to reflect on and be grateful for. I do. I’m thankful for you, and I’m thankful to the Lord, who invites us into a better story than any we could ever concoct on our own. I love sharing this newsletter with you. Thanks for reading it and for being on our side! 

Mark Your Calendars

Prince Lander and the Dragon War OFFICIALLY launches April 19th. It will be available in eBook, Audiobook, and print form at Amazon and lots of other awesome retailers!

We’re celebrating the official launch with a LIVE Launch Party at 7:30 PM ET. More details later.

Green Means GO!

What makes for a great beginning of a story?

The beginning is more than the first chapter, or the first few lines. It’s the first section of the story. The first lines are very important, as is the first chapter, but we have a handful of chapters to accomplish what we need to in beginning our story. But what do we want to achieve?

Introduce a character we care about.Introduce a problem we want solved.Introduce the force(s) who are going to make solving that problem hard/impossible.

And remember, the most important thing about the beginning of the story is…

BEGINNING THE STORY.

“This is a terrific writing course. Smith’s winningly idiosyncratic style introduces storytelling skills that are universally valuable, even foundational. The exercises are well-conceived to turn the ideas into practice.”

James D. Witmer, Author and Managing Editor

Try 3 FREE sessions of The Green Writer

Speaking of a great story… check out this book recommendation from my daughter, Anne.

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes

Our story begins with a poor blind boy named Peter Nimble. He is clever, quick-witted, and can easily make a living by stealing anything he needs. But Peter has no real home, and no friends to call his own. There is no lock, box, or pocket he cannot get into. There is no coveted item he can’t sniff out, no place he cannot sneak into. He is, in fact, the greatest thief who ever lived. But he works for Mr. Seamus, a cruel master who lives off of Peter’s pilfering. It isn’t a good life, or one he wants, but all that changes when he encounters a curious Haberdasher. The Haberdasher possesses, along with many other peculiar curiosities, a mysterious box. Peter is unexplainably drawn to the box, and when he gets his hands on it, his life changes forever.

This is a gripping tale that is an instant classic in my book. I was so refreshed when I read it for the first time. It was just the sort of thing I wanted—an epic adventure with lovable characters, humor, danger, magic, wonder, and a hint of fairytale charm. The voice of the book is also really great. It effortlessly narrates Peter’s adventure in a dashing and familiar way. The audiobook is really good as well! Jonathan Auxier is one of the few authors that I trust so much that I will buy whatever he puts out, even before I read it. I’m that confident it will be good, and equally as confident recommending Peter Nimble to you.

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier
Anne-Girl Reviews

That’s all for now. Be on the lookout for the next newsletter that has the details about the LIVE celebration for Prince Lander and the Dragon War’s official release!

I’m on your side,

Sam

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SIGNED FIRST EDITIONS: Last Chance to Get New Green Ember Books Signed

Hey Pals,

Signed copies are back in stock, for a LIMITED TIME. This is the last chance to get a signed first edition of Prince Lander and the Dragon War, unless you catch me at one of the rare events I’m attending this year.

I’m not traveling much this year, but I’m going to be at HopeWords Conference this weekend. It’s a great conference in Bluefield, West Virginia, which is not terribly far from my Grandview home. I’m really excited to meet many of you. If you’re there, be sure to say hi!

Speaking of last days for stuff, today is the LAST DAY for the FREE oath printable. Use the code TheOathFREE at checkout to get it free.

Many of you are getting the new book. Reminder, it’s NOT SAFE, but it IS GOOD. That means there is evil depicted as—you guessed it—evil! It’s an intense story that doesn’t portray bad guys as just needing a hug. It takes evil seriously and, by doing that, takes you as readers seriously. These stories come from a place of love and a sincere desire to serve you and your kids.

I love seeing the pictures and videos of your families opening the new book. Thanks for sharing those! The official launch is April 19 and we’re planning some fun things for that day.

I’m on your side,

Sam

Order and SIGNED copy of Prince Lander and the Dragon War

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Prince Lander LANDS | From Our Hands to Yours

Prefer to watch? Check out the video version, complete with outtakes.

Howdy Partners,

I LOVE seeing the videos and pictures of kids getting Prince Lander and the Dragon War! It’s awesome to see your family holding in your hands what my family touched just the other day when we signed and prepped the books. I hope you enjoy this tenth Green Ember adventure. I’m so grateful for your help in Operation Black Star Rising. It was wonderful, a big success that helped introduce this trilogy inside the bigger Green Ember world—Tales of Old Natalia—to more readers. Thank you for being on our side!

Post Mission Debrief: Operation Black Star Rising

Hello friends!

A week ago, we invited you to join us on Operation Black Star Rising, and boy, did you ever respond!

Why Operation Black Star Rising? Well, we’re always thinking about the challenge of how to introduce people to the world of Green Ember stories. Of course, the best gateway is when the people who love The Green Ember tell other people about it. That’s something that you all do so naturally, and we’re thankful.

But, occasionally we stop to think about how we introduce folks who have read The Green Ember to the rest of the series. And every time we undertake this kind of effort, we hear from a few people saying, “My kids LOVED the Green Ember, but we didn’t know there were other books!” It’s easy to feel like we beat that drum so much that surely everyone already knows about the whole series.

And then, occasionally, we try to think about how to make sure we stay visible in the places where people buy books. You help us with that, too: your reviews of these books have helped us to stay in front of the audience on Amazon, Audible, and everywhere else these books are available. 

But, sometimes, a little concerted effort goes along way. That’s what happened with Operation Black Star Rising. We didn’t quite accomplish the goal of cracking the top 100, but look at what we did accomplish:

An increase of 1022% in sales over the preceding two weeks157 new reviews of The Black Star of KingstonAn increase in sales rank from 75,755 all the way up to 855 overall#1 in Children’s Rabbit Books #1 in Children’s Folk Tales & Myth Collections#1 in Christian Fantasy (Books)

Thanks so much for helping us with Operation Black Star Rising. We’re so thankful for the way you support us. We’re on your side.

Andrew Mackay
Publisher
Story Warren Books

Prince Lander LANDS: From Our Hands to Yours

We’re happy to report that Prince Lander is out of our hands and into yours. Watch this video for more pictures!

There’s still time to grab a signed copy!

Get Prince Lander and the Dragon War HereCome for the Mountains, Stay for the Speakers

HopeWords is just around the corner so now is your opportunity to register! The beautiful mountains and incredible people of Bluefield, WV—my neck of the woods—will force you to slow down and think deeply. Need more convincing? You’ll be challenged by world-class writers and surrounded by readers, thinkers, dreamers, and lovers of words & God.

Register Here#SDSmithDopeQuotesCuration

I curate quotes on the socials and wanted to leave you with this one from, “On Living in an Atomic Age” by C. S. Lewis:

Find more dope quotes here.

That’s all for now.

I’m on your side,

Sam

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