S.D. Smith's Blog, page 15

A Few Words Remembering Thomas McKenzie

I love Thomas McKenzie. He died on Monday.

I met Thomas years ago at The Rabbit Room’s conference. We hit it off immediately—for lots of reasons. We laughed so much, and connected easily over playful jibes and witty banter. He was funny. But there was much more to him than a great sense of humor.

Thomas was perhaps the best storyteller I have ever heard in person. Hilarious, poignant, with incredible energy and recall, his stories are seared into my memory. Whether during a sermon, or around Andrew Peterson’s campfire, huddled in the halls during a conference, or over fried chicken at McDougals, his stories were unforgettable. They varied from gut-bustingly hysterical to (literally) supernatural and sacred, and he delivered them with so much candor and ease, that you never wanted them to end. Many times I’ve asked him to tell a story “one more time” for a person who hadn’t yet heard it. Soon a group would gather as he bent to his tale, face illuminated by the bright fire.

Thomas was also a wonderful writer and wise guide when Gina and I were exploring the Anglican way of Christianity. Before his book on the subject was published, he acted as sounding board and source of information for me, delivered always with generosity and tenderness. We needed that, because we were tender in many ways and he engaged our hurt with the kind heart of a pastor.

At his church, where he celebrated and preached Christ, we felt more “home” than we ever had before in our spiritual life. We decided, with tears in our eyes and no idea how it would ever work out, that we were undeniably called by God to this faithful way of following Christ. It wasn’t only emotional, of course, and Thomas was available to answer hard questions. We didn’t always agree, and sometimes he frustrated me, and I him, intensely. That never stopped happening in this life. But he has been a quietly crucial character in the story of how our family’s faith has rooted and grown in astonishing and life-giving ways.

I loved him. I love him. I miss him. I will miss him. Until we see him once again, we will remember him with gratitude and praise to the God he loved and served.

Rest In Peace, Father Thomas.

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Upcoming Events | Sam Goes Places

Engines are starting, seats are set out, and S. D. Smith is getting ready to go. That can only mean one thing: in-person events are about to take off! 

Here are a few upcoming events where you will find S. D. Smith:

August 12-14: Cincinnati, Ohio | Great Homeschool Conventions
August 26-28: Ontario, California | Great Homeschool Conventions
September 24-25: Colorado Springs, Colorado | Anselm Society’s Imagination Redeemed Conference

Great Homeschool Conventions

It’s the homeschooling event of the year and S. D. Smith has the honor of being a featured speaker along with Sarah Mackenzie from Read-Aloud Revival, Colleen Kessler from Raising Lifelong Learners, and many, many more delightful authors and artists who can be found here.

These speakers bring a wide range of educational expertise to help you sift through the options of home education and choose what works best for you and your family. If you look closely while wandering in Lighthall the Exhibit Hall you will find Rabbits With Swords in a booth where you can get signatures, books, and more!

S. D. Smith will be hosting 3 workshops:

Five Anchor Words for Every Kind of WriterEvery Parent’s Three Simple Keys for ImaginationBeginning Writers of All Ages Welcome: How to Become a Green Writer

Are you excited yet? Are you this excited? (Watch to see their reaction once they learn they will see S. D. Smith in person!)

But wait, there’s more!

S. D. Smith will also team up with Glenn McCarty, author and creative writing teacher, for a Storyteller’s Q & A. Glenn McCarthy just announced the release of his latest book, Dead-Eye Dan and the Cimarron Kid. Word on the frontier is it’s ‘a rootin’-tootin’ cowboy story.’

Bring your questions to the Storyteller’s Q & A because they have answers. And they may even have the answers to your questions.

You can register today for Ohio or California. Hope to see you there!

Imagination Redeemed Conference

S. D. Smith will also be in the northwest foothills of Colorado this fall.

Nestled on over 700 acres in the majestic mountains of Colorado stands the stunning Lady Glen Glen Eyrie Castle. That’s right, a castle. In the mountains. 

Oh, and Sam. He’ll be there, too, standing.

Anselm Society brings you Imagination Redeemed, an invitation to re-enchant your faith and the world around you under the guidance of these brilliant and engaging minds: S. D. Smith, Jessica Hooten Wilson, Brian Brown, and more.

But wait, there’s more!

There will be live music to hear, bistro cuisine to taste, and stone walls to smell. Ah.. the joys of being in-person. 

If you’re an introvert, fear not. There’s something for you as well. Picture this: an old-fashioned room with old-fashioned furnishings and comfy armchairs appropriately named the Quiet Room.

Rumor has it there will be a special event with S. D. Smith geared specifically toward kids on Thursday 9/23.

You can register here.

If you can’t make it to any of the in-person events, you can catch the highlights on the socials:
S. D. Smith Instagram, Facebook
Anselm Society’s Imagination Redeemed

Here are some photos from previous years:

Hope to see you at one of these events!

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A Grateful Writer: Thanks, Walt

https://wordlily.wordpress.com/2010/08/24/walt-wangerin-teaches-hutchmoot-keynote/

“This is what shapers do for those who have neither universe, nor personhood, nor name: We weave the world around them.” – Walt Wangerin, Jr.

I was sad to learn of the death of author Walt Wangerin, Jr. He died yesterday. 

Walt’s The Book of the Dunn Cow is phenomenal, and he’s written many excellent books. But hearing him speak at the first ever Rabbit Room Hutchmoot in Nashville, many years ago, was more important for me than even those books. 

I was talking to Randall Goodgame (of Slugs & Bugs) right after Walt’s talk and he summed up Walt’s gift to us so well. “I feel so validated.” 

I did too. It was an artful encouragement and validation of the place for artists in God’s work. 

Walt’s words that day, about the role of storytellers and artists in culture and the kingdom, helped me break more completely away from years of impoverished, unbliblical views about The Doctrine of Vocation in general, and the vocation of a writer in particular. 

It was a sort of “last straw” for me in a positive way. 

I praise God for that gift. I have been working in the shade of that tree for many years and I intend to pass it on. 

Rest in peace, Walt Wangerin, Jr. 

And thank you. 

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I Love Creating

I love creating,

Making,
Shaping,
and
Sharing,

I love shipping,
I live,
Hoping,

What I made,
Might make,
You glad.

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Happy Birthday to The Black Star of Kingston!

Happy Birthday to The Black Star of Kingston! We’re celebrating with a GIVEAWAY so read on!

“I am afraid…But I keep on loving what’s on the other side of this fight, and that will have to make me brave.”

–The Black Star of Kingston

And that is how a hero rises.

But what hero? Who was the founder of Natalia? What led to the inception of the oath we know and love?

The Black Star of Kingston has the answers:

“A century before Heather and Picket’s adventures in The Green Ember, a displaced community fights for hope on the ragged edge of survival. Whitson Mariner and Fleck Blackstar face old fears and new enemies, forging a legend that will echo through the ages.
Old wars haunt. New enemies threaten. An oath is born.”

Watch the video to see what S.D. Smith has to say about this legendary oath!

Fun fact: The Black Star of Kingston shares a birthday month with World Emoji Day. Show us your favorite #rabbitswithswords emojis in the comments! Here’s ours:

A short sail down memory lane reveals that The Blackstar of Kingston has been loved since the beginning. Take a look in the video!

Have you had a chance to review this book? Let us know what you think on Goodreads, Amazon, or Audible.

Black Star Patch

Now it’s time to join the ranks of Fleck Blackstar and his crew by creating your very own black star patch.

Grab a FREE printable guide with instructions and template for this patch here.

*While you’re at it, pick up some FREE coloring pages when you Gimme 5!*

For the black star patch you will need:Felt, black and whiteScissorsAdhesive (glue, thread, tape, etc.)Directions:

Cut a rectangle from white felt.
Cut a star from black felt.
Attach the black star to the white felt using an adhesive.

Ta-da! I hereby dub thee part of the Blackstar Company. 

My place beside you
My blood for yours
Till the Green Ember rises
Or the end of the world.

★

We’d love to see your creations! Use #rabbitswithswords and tag @sdsmithereens on Instagram or Facebook. Here are some we’ve received:

New to The Green Ember? Get started with the first audiobook for FREE.

If you want your very own copy, The Black Star of Kingston is available at the S. D. Smith Family Store (where you get the best deal & CURRENTLY ON SALE!) and is also available on audiobook and eBook (and print) at Amazon and your favorite bookshops.

More birthday fun: You can get The Green Ember and The Black Star of Kingston on Kindle for FREE!

Did you know: if your library partners with Hoopla, you can listen to ALL the audiobooks for free?! Make sure to check with your local library & follow the recommended reading order.

Now it is time for the GIVEAWAY!!

To celebrate The Black Star of Kingston’s birthday, we’re giving away:

(1) Complete Signed Set of The Green Ember Series(6) Signed The Black Star of Kingston Books(6) The Black Star of Kingston Audiobooks

for a total of 13 winners!

How to Enter:Follow @sdsmithereens AND @thegreenemberofficial on Instagram.Comment (here / Instagram / Facebook) with your favorite #rabbitswithswords inspired emoji for a chance to win one of these prizes!

Winners will be chosen and contacted on August 5th.

Rules: Must have a U.S. mailing address. Must be 18 or older. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by or associated with Facebook or Instagram. Void where prohibited.

Thank you for celebrating The Black Star of Kingston‘s birthday with us!

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Which Green Ember Character Are You? | New Effect!

Have you ever wondered if you are more of a Heather or a Picket? Now you can find out!

Introducing: “Which Green Ember Character Are You?” Now available as a filter effect in Stories on Instagram & Facebook.

This effect uses highly sophisticated methods to analyze the angle of the sun in relation to your frontal lobe, while making allowance for the hypothesis of quantization.

In other words, it’s completely random.

To access this effect, create an Instagram Story. Near the shutter button, scroll all the way to the right and select Browse Effects. Search The Green Ember, select the result, and tap Try It. Once you begin recording, the quiz will start! You can bookmark it for quick access.

You can also access it here on Facebook and here on Instagram.

Take the quiz, share it in your stories, and tag @sdsmithereens so we can see! 

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It’s a Great Day to Disbelieve Lies and Ignore Prompts to Outrage

Today is a great day to ignore social media and traditional media prompts to hatred, envy, outrage, and despair. It’s a good day to love real people we’re in real community with and to try super hard to disbelieve the lies we tell ourselves about our story and the lies our families or tribes or idols demand we affirm. It’s a good day to turn to Jesus.

It is also a good day for a cookie.

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Don’t Stop at The Green Ember! Get The Follow-Up Book For FREE + GRAB a FREE Ember COLORING SHEET Here!)

Have you stopped reading after reaching the end of The Green Ember? Don’t!

Ember Falls is a thrilling adventure field-tested by thousands of other families. There are nearly 1,500 reviews on Amazon and they rate it 4.9 out of 5! Over 90% give it all five stars.

I am so grateful for the positive feedback! And always appreciate those who take the time to review! It helps so much.

FREE? SAY WHAT?

YES! Now through Monday, July 5 (2021), Ember Falls is FREE on Kindle!

ALSO—> I’m giving you a FREE Picket Longtreader coloring sheet. Grab it HERE!

On Hoopla, you can listen to the follow-up to The Green Ember Book II: Ember Falls (and any of the rest) for free. (That is, if your library is using Hoopla. Check with them and ask for S. D. Smith’s books!)

Here’s a video from way back when we first published Ember Falls! So relevant today.

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What Are We Reading? What Are You Reading?

What book are you loving now?

We Smiths are traveling and having a great time.

I asked each member of our family to tell me what they are reading (or listening to) on the trip. 

Gina/Mom: The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
Sam/Dad: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 
Anne: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy 
Josiah: The Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis
Micah: As Brave as You by Jason Reynolds 
Norah: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren 

Yep, no one is reading any of my books sadface.
Ha ha, I kid.

(Don’t get too impressed, by the way. We love them, but we aren’t always reading classics.)

So, what are YOU reading?

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My Place BESIDE You…

“My place beside you…”

That’s the start of the sacred oath the characters recite in The Green Ember that resonated deeply with me when it first flowed from my fingers into the tale and has since moved so many readers.

I don’t view my work as a platform to achieve “elite artist status” but as a magical-ordinary vocation where God has called me to be an ally in imagination to families who are desperate for daring adventures that are dangerous to the darkness. Tales that help make us all dangerous to the darkness.

So it’s not just in the stories. It’s in the calling of creating and sharing them too.

My place BESIDE you.
Always.

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