S.D. Smith's Blog, page 29
June 6, 2018
The Green Ember Goes West: California Leg of The S. D. Smith 2018 Book Tour!
I am so excited to be heading to California this month for two weeks of meetings and events!
We have some powwows with movie-making types and also some exciting author events. I can’t wait to high-five kids, sign books (and posters and shirts and whatever), and get to speak to kids and families about stories and life and light!
If you’re in California and interested in those events, here they are…
June 14-16 Ontario, California
Great Homeschool Convention (details)
June 17 Irvine, California
Private Event
June 19 Santa Cruz, California
TICKETS AVAILABLE: Eventbrite
Author Event (Details)
June 21 San Fransisco Bay Area, California (Concord)
TICKETS AVAILABLE: Eventbrite
Author Event (Details)
June 22 Chico, California
FREE EVENT
Author Event (Details)
I hope to see you!
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June 5, 2018
#GreenEmberKidArt May Prize Winners Announced!
May was our first month of #GreenEmberKidArt prizewinning fun!
We had LOTS of amazing artists share their work in the month of May and we loved every bit of it. As you know from the official rules, the child’s age needed to be posted (and age is taken into account) and the post needed to be public on either Instagram or Facebook. The art can be be of different varieties. Get yours posted now for June!
We pick one random winner (from among all eligible entrants) and one we judged (accounting for age) the “best.”
Drumroll please…..
Our Best #GreenEmberKidArt of the Month Winner!
By Titus, age 8.
And now…
Our Randomly Selected Kid Artist Winner!
By Ariel, age 8.
Congrats to Titus and Ariel!
It was a good month for 8 year olds. Would love to see some more postings by some older kids next month as well. We had so many good entrants and I hope you’ll keep it up!
Follow this tag (#GreenEmberKidArt) to see the wonderful art by the kids (posted by parents) on Instagram.
And here for the same tag on Facebook.
It’s wonderful stuff!
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May 17, 2018
Announcing #GreenEmberKidArt Monthly Prizes!
Hey Pals!
I get some incredible Green Ember fan art in the mail and will occasionally share it online with the hashtag #GreenEmberKidArt. We thought it would be neat to open up and have a little fun inviting parents to share their kids’ art for a chance at some cool prizes! I hope you enjoy it!
Cheers,
Sam
**See the cool prizes and simple Official Rules below!**
***** ***** *****
Official Rules:
To enter, simply share your child’s Green Ember art (publicly) on Instagram or Facebook. Use the hashtag #GreenEmberKidArt (along with #RabbitsWithSwords and #TheGreenEmber if you would) and tag Sam’s author account in either Facebook or Instagram (both for more entires). Please indicate the child’s age. Use of child’s first name or picture is optional, and up to parents’ judgement. Parents are entering for kids. Kids may not enter on their own. Good luck!
Monthly Winners
1) Randomly Selected Kid Artist!
EVERYONE who does the above is entered to win this! Any age. Any skill-level. Just have fun!
Prize: Wild Glee, Contagious Joy, and $15 Gift Certificate at www.SDSmith.net/Store!
2) Best #GreenEmberKidArt of the Month
This will be the piece judged (by our secret, unscientific formulas) to be the “best.” Age will be considered, so each will be judged against expectations appropriate for the artist’s age. Come all ye diligent artists!
Prize: Unimaginable Glory, Prodigious Esteem, and $15 Gift Certificate at www.SDSmith.net/Store!
Year-End Winners
A GRAND PRIZE will be awarded in both categories at the end of the year. All monthly winners of the “Best” Category are entered for one Grand Prize.
Everyone who posts (according to the rules) is entered for the Random Grand Prize!
Grand Prizes will include an on-line Author Visit with S. D. Smith! Signed sets of the books! More!
***** ***** *****
Here are some I have received recently. These kids really are amazing, from the young to the old!
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April 17, 2018
You Held My Heart In Your Hands
All an author asks for is a chance. A chance, and the worshipful adulation of millions and the affirmation of our stubborn fathers and skyrocketing sales and awards and parades and magnificent statues looming before grand institutions named in our honor.
We are a modest bunch.
When I wrote The Green Ember, I genuinely just wanted a chance. I wanted a try-out, to use sports terminology (my go-to way of explaining/understanding the world). I wanted readers to give it a try. Also, I was terrified of this very thing. It turns out this is normal.
I am afraid it is only too likely to be true what you say about the critics and the public. I am dreading the publication for it will be impossible not to mind what is said. I have exposed my heart to be shot at.”
—J. R. R. Tolkien (as publication of The Lord of the Rings neared)
Getting past the fear is not possible. It cannot be sneaked around. The fear must be assaulted like war on a sorcerer’s tower, again and again, until it becomes a habit. Fear and Intelligence are the great enemies. They must be both conquered and turned into a weapon we use to our own ends. Good ends. Crazy ends. The ends of sharing something with the world. The ends of getting a chance.
Give us a chance, and we will give you our hearts. We will expose our hearts to be shot at. It is a brave thing to stick your neck out in a world full of flashing swords. Few are brave enough to stick out their soft, supple necks, but everyone has a sword. Everyone loves to use their swords. Swords are easy to use. It’s easy to go around chop, chop, chopping.
When I was ready to share The Green Ember the weapons were there. “Friendly fire” hit me from behind, from where I expected cover and succor. I reeled, wounded. But then help came, and it came, and it came. It has never stopped coming.
Allies, near and far, charged in. Surrounded me. Pushed me ahead. I was wounded (there are always wounds), but we were advancing. I was pushing ahead and I didn’t even understand how it was happening. But nearly everywhere I looked there were friends, old and new, and I was on the march again.
You gave me a chance. You held my heart in your hands and you surprised me with your tenderness. Thank you.
I realize I am rambling on, like an author using conflicting metaphors, but I began thinking these thankful thoughts for a reason.
I am thinking of my friend, Glenn. I am thinking of his new work and what it feels like to share your heart with a world that is often best described as “stabby.”
So I want to write short notes to Glenn and to the rest of us.
To Glenn:
The Misadventured Summer of Tubleweed Thompson is wonderful. I think this book will delight and charm thousands of children. It is generous to them, hospitable and hopeful, in an era that is often hostile and predatory. I think Tumbleweed is lovely and hilarious and beautiful. Joe Sutphin’s art is genuinely spectacular. It is perfectly paired with your profound gifts as a writer. I think you are scared and stupid and I love that about you. (It means you are brave and brilliant.) You write with such clarity and musicality that I can’t decide if I want to punch you from envy, or high-five you with delight. Way to go, Glenn!
Your friend and fan, Sam”
To the Rest of the World:
Give Glenn and his Tumbleweed a chance. I think you will be happy you did.
Your friend and fan, Sam”
My pal, Glenn. A brave guy. And his beautiful family.
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March 28, 2018
A Fan of Letters: Why I May Not Write Your Child Back
I love being an author. I love that these stories are finding a place in so many homes around the world. I’m honored. It’s astonishing to me that so many precious kids have found adventure and love and light in The Green Ember Series. I LOVE hearing from kids! It’s such an honor to receive these beautiful letters and art and questions and the profoundly encouraging words!
I have over a hundred unopened letters from all over the world beside me right now. Letters from California to Maine, and from exotic places like England, China, and Cement, Oklahoma. (It’s real!) My email and social media inboxes are teeming with unread and unanswered messages.
My heart’s sincere desire is to respond thoughtfully and fully to every letter and email and comment and message I get (especially from kids!), but reality is against me and I can’t quite keep up! It was easier to respond earlier on, but as things have grown, that has changed. I love the connectivity opportunities of the modern age and it truly is a wonderful time to be an author. However, I am honestly not able to respond to everyone. (Not and write more stories.) So many of you just want to share something encouraging and I always see those and I am always so grateful to you. Lots of people have questions and our team tries to respond as we are able, but we are a very small operation and it can be challenging.
I recently read Deep Work, by Cal Newport. Among its many insights, Deep Work reveals the habits of people who produce unusually excellent work. Common among many of these excellent individuals is a habit of almost never responding to any kind of message or request. Many only check email for one or two hours only one day a week. I don’t plan to do that just yet, but I do want to move in a direction where I’m spending as much time and energy as I can on the things I am most clearly called to. It happens that this is also what most of you want from me as well. More books! Movies/series (potentially)! While I don’t class myself with these “top performers” at all, I am convicted by the call to be more intentional and protect space to create generous, hospital work—to protect my best ability to serve my readers (including these beautiful children).
It’s amazing to be able to have a connection between author and reader, but it also makes things challenging. What I want to be clear about is if you haven’t received a quick (or slow) reply from me, it is NOT because I don’t value you and your note/letter/email/comment. Many of us already struggle with a “normal” level of email etc. When that is cranked up quite a lot, it becomes profoundly difficult to manage. This is an awesome problem to have! I’d take it over “no one cares enough to write” any day! 
March 8, 2018
Free Books, Giveaways of Mug and Much More, and…OH YEAH! The New Green Ember Releases Today!
Hello, pals!
Some very cool things going on. Please check this out…
Free Books
Best Kindle deals ever for my books! GET SOME!
Audiobook Protip Deals
Hey, once you have the Kindle versions, add the audiobooks at Amazon for STEEP discounts!
Ember Rising Out Today! GIVEAWAYS!
It’s release day! To celebrate, and because we are nuts, we’re giving away one BEAUTIFUL hand-thrown mug by Eefaw Potter himself!
And we’re giving away a new audiobook to TEN winners!
And we’re giving away THREE signed sets of all five books!
And we’re giving away THREE signed Mended Wood t-shirts!
To enter all the giveaways:
Be sure you “Like” my Facebook Page.
Click on “Follow” and “See First” on my Facebook Page. (On mobile it’s “Follow, Get Notifications, See First.”)
Go to this post. Like, share, and comment on the post.
In comments, tag 5 friends you appreciate and would like to to see win as well. (They’ll be entered too, then.)
High-five a foreign dignitary and/or the air.
Winners will be announced on Monday, March 12.
Thanks! Good luck. These giveaways are a fun way to stay connected to you guys and (together) reach more readers for these adventures!
If you’re near South Carolina, come and say howdy! I’m here tonight at GHC until Saturday. Texas next week!
I keep hearing from families about what these stories mean for them, and from young readers who are touched in surprising, profound ways by sharing in these adventures. That is an answer to prayer. So are you, our incredible allies. God bless you!
Sam
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March 2, 2018
Ember Rising is available to order! New Mended Wood T-shirts in stock!
Ember Rising is available to order! New Mended Wood T-shirts in stock! Get your own BRAND NEW Mended Wood T-Shirt NOW!
The popular Oath T-shirt will not be restocked after current supplies are sold.
Ember Rising: The Green Ember Book III is now available at our store for release day —> MARCH 8!
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February 28, 2018
Green Ember Giveaways Galore: Current Winners and New Giveaways Announced!
Did you know that we regularly giveaway cool things to folks who back S. D. Smith by GIVING HIM 5? We do! ANOTHER beautiful Eefaw Potter mug is going to go to a Gimme 5 friend soon. Have you given Sam 5?
Also…another sweet giveaway is coming soon to Sam’s Instagram followers soon. Might want to jump on that.
Stretch Goal Kickstarter Giveaways Announced!
Since we met our stretch goal of 75K, every back got some cool loot and these backers won extra!
WINNER of the Online Author Event… Brain Pate of Florida!
WINNER of the Eefaw Potter Mug… Jennifer Shingeck of Maryland!
WINNER of a signed set of The Green Ember Series… Gary Miller of Indiana!
WINNER of a signed Mended Wood t-shirt… Shane Maki of Wisconsin!
WINNER of a signed set ofThe Green Ember Series… April Little of Georgia!
WINNER of a signed Mended Wood t-shirt… Dayahana Martinez of Minnesota!
WINNER of a signed set of The Green Ember Series… Alicia Clark of Maryland!
WINNER of a signed Mended Wood t-shirt… Rachel Hellstern of Texas
WINNER of a signed set of The Green Ember Series… James Morrison of Idaho!
WINNER of a signed Mended Wood t-shirt… Anica Dickinson of Kentucky!
WINNER of a signed set of all five S. D. Smith books… Katie Alen of Arizona!
WINNER of a signed Mended Wood t-shirt… Michael Anderson of West Virginia!
Congratulations to all the winners!
');
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February 27, 2018
S. D. Smith Book Tour 2018: Green Ember Author Coming Your Way?
With the release of the new Green Ember adventure, Sam is speaking all over the United States this year! There’s still time to get him booked…if you act fast. In fact, if he’s already in the area, then the budget might work better for everyone! (Requests to josiah@sdsmith.net.)
NOTE: Sam is only able to do events where he is invited and where hosts (organizations/schools/churches) have a plan and a budget. Lots of folks say “come to [my hometown],” but that’s not quite enough. We wish it were that simple!
February 8, 2018
Bestselling Green Ember Audiobook DEALS!
As of writing, ALL FOUR of the available Green Ember audiobooks are in the Audible TOP 50 for Kids!
Your kids will love listening to these for hours and hours! Great for trips, bedtimes, and just for fun.
It’s easy to add audiobooks on Amazon or Audible.
If you have taken advantage of our FREE/cheap eBook deals, then the price will be greatly reduced. A steal! Just go to Amazon and add the audiobook there. Links are below. If you follow these, it helps us out!
Ember Falls: The Green Ember Book II at Amazon
Ember Falls: The Green Ember Book II at Audible
The Black Star of Kingston at Amazon
The Black Star of Kingston at Audible
The Last Archer: A Green Ember Story at Amazon
The Last Archer: A Green Ember Story at Audible
Ember Rising: The Green Ember Book III at Kickstarter
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