S.D. Smith's Blog, page 7

S. D. Smith’s NEW BOOK Cover Reveal

Here’s my Brand New Book

Hi Friends!

I’m so excited to share this BRAND NEW book with you. Here is Mooses with Bazookas and Other Stories Children Should Never Read:

Even though it hasn’t been released to the public yet, the reviews are streaming in and people are raving…

“S. D. SMITH IS in dire need of A GENIUS editor.”

–Art Simonson, Inner Ring Magazine

“FANTASTIC is not a word that comes to mind.”

–Beth Hinkle, author of Elite Prose

“TAKE MY advice, spend your MONEY elsewhere.”

-Jeff J. Jeffs, Pickle Sommelier

Release Date

Mark your calendars: Mooses with Bazookas will be available for order November 7th. You’re going to love it!

While You Wait…

We hope you take advantage of our amazing 10 Green Ember Book Bundle + Free Shirt Deal because it’s going away the end of next week. It’s shipping now!

We’re on your side,

Sam

Shop S. D. Smith Store

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Did We Ruin The Green Ember?

We redesigned the books and issued new editions, but was that a good idea? Why mess with something that is clearly working and that readers very much love?

Books often get redesigned by publishers over the years. We hadn’t done that because, hey, why mess with what works? But I wanted a Green Ember logo that was recognizable and useful for everything we create, from books to shirts, hats, games, shows, or movies.

But it’s also to address a challenge.

Old Natalia? The Archer’s Cup? Where does this book belong? Is this in the main series? How many series are there?

I understand that it can be difficult for fans to figure out the three distinct, but deeply-connected series inside the Green Ember world.

Green Ember Series Green Ember: Old NataliaGreen Ember: Archer

In short, they’re all Green Ember books. So they needed a unifying look, while maintaining the unique series distinctiveness.

We are convinced this redesign and rerelease is a more generous, hospitable way to present these stories.

We’ve also included behind the scenes features in several books that make these must-haves for Green Ember fans.

Get your BRAND NEW EDITIONS BUNDLE featuring all 10 Green Ember books updated at an unbeatable price! For a limited time, we’re including a FREE Green Ember Shirt.

It was challenging for us to pull this off, but we believe it’s worth the investment in the long run. That’s because we are convinced this is going to be a blessing to you. And we are certain that the better we serve you and your family, the more faithfully we are showing up in our calling. We see this as a stewardship and a vocation rooted in love and service.

If you’re confused about how to read the series, check out this post on Recommended Reading Order and vote for your preferred way.

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Green Ember Kid Art Winners | 2023 Q3

It’s time to announce the winners for this quarter’s Green Ember Kid Art contest! Watch the video.

Best Green Ember Kid Art

The FIRST prize goes to the Best #GreenEmberKidArt, judged according to the artist’s age. The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate at the S. D. Smith Store (along with Unimaginable Glory & Prodigious Esteem). 

And the winner is… 

Ramona, age 10!

“Bunnies in polymer clay! Helmer, Wilfred, Cole, Jo, Picket, Emma, Heyna, Heather, and Smalls.”Randomly Selected Kid Artist

For our next prize: Wild Glee, Contagious Joy, and $20 Gift Certificate at the S. D. Smith Store, everyone who submits art is entered.

And the winner is…

Emma, age 15!

“This is a drawing of Whitson Mariner, Queen Lillie, and Prince Lander, completely freehand, made up of sections of drawings in the books.“

Congratulations to these winners!

We had so many wonderful submissions!! Here are some of them:

Check out this video for more!

The contest for the next quarter starts now. Here are the official rules:

To enter, submit your art here.

If you have social media, please share your child’s Green Ember art (publicly) on social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube). Use the hashtag #GreenEmberKidArt (along with #RabbitsWithSwords and #TheGreenEmber if you would) and tag S. D. Smith on either Facebook or Instagram. YouTube submissions may be featured in our playlist here.

Art can include but is not limited to pictures of Green Ember drawings, paintings, songs, poems, animation, sculptures, woodwork, crochet art, and MORE! We love seeing your creativity.

Please submit 1 original piece per quarter. If you have more than one, hold onto it until our next quarterly contest opens up (every 3 months). The next contest ends in December and winners will be announced in January.

2022Q2 WinnersQ3 WinnersQ4 Winners2023Q1 WinnersQ2 Winners

We look forward to seeing your submissions!

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Allies In Imagination—PLUS a Giveaway of 16 Wonderful Books (worth $230)

I have always wanted my books to serve as allies to you in your mission to love your kids and give them memory-making, soul-shaping, darkness-shaking adventures. It’s my prayer that many families will feel that keenly when they pick up the Green Ember and Jack Zulu books. I know many do and I thank God!

I feel that way at my home when I hear there are allies in that fight. One such ally is Wolfbane Books. Their books are amazing—deeply truthful and profoundly beautiful. I recommend them all. 

Another ally is the Young Writer’s Workshop. I’m so hopeful when I see young writers being blessed and encouraged and equipped by Young Writer’s Workshop. There isn’t a better program out there. I’m involved at YWWs and I’m speaking at their FREE online summit next week. 

So I’m inviting you to two things. And both get you an entry into a sweet giveaway. 

1) Sign up for Young Writers Can Change the World Summit if you have a young writer.

AND/OR…

2) Invest even a small amount in Wolfbane’s new kickstarter for their newest books.

I believe many of you will go for it on both and you’ll be delighted to have done so, but I want to pump up the incentive a little and make this more fun. 

If you do #1 and/or #2 go and comment here telling me you did it here (Facebook) or here (Instagram) and/or here at the blog in the comments and…

You’re entered to win a signed set of ALL my books and ALL of their books. 

That’s 16 books valued at $230!

I hope you’ll come to see these allies of mine as allies of yours, and I hope this is a blessing to you and yours. 

Never forget….

I’m on your side, 

Sam

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Happy Birthday to The Black Star of Kingston!

Happy Birthday to Green Ember: Old Natalia 1, The Black Star of Kingston! We’re celebrating with a GIVEAWAY and some FUN NEWS!

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

(1) Complete Signed Set of The Green Ember Series(3) Signed The Black Star of Kingston Books(3) The Black Star of Kingston Audiobooks

We’ll have total of 7 winners! Some will be picked from comments on this post, some from Instagram and some from Facebook.

How to Enter:Follow Sam on Instagram AND Facebook if you have those.Comment (here / Instagram / Facebook) with three emojis that best describe you as a reader.

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

FUN NEWS ALERT! The entire audiobook of The Black Star of Kingston is now free on YouTube!

“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.

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.

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

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The Green Ember is Invading Britain!

We are psyched…er, chuffed…to announce that The Green Ember is invading Britain!

We have been asked by fans for many years when these rabbits and their swords would make their way across the pond. I’m not sure what you guys will think of the new cover.

UK pals, you can preorder the books RIGHT NOW. Please do! (£9.99 + FREE SHIPPING)

PreOrder Now (Sorry for the stereotype art! One of my favourite things about you guys is your sense of self-deprecating humour!)

And please let your friends….er, mates…know about this news. Thank you!

The first two Green Ember books (The Green Ember & Ember Falls) will be first to release in the UK (and Commonwealth). Available end of THIS MONTH.

The next two books (Ember Rising & Ember’s End) will follow in ’24.

Our partners are Reformation Lightning, a wonderful publisher and distributor with an emphasis on books that are faithful to a Christian worldview. Ref Light are fantastic at connecting with readers at conferences and events. We are delighted to be partnering with them! (Maybe I can pop over for some in-person events. Let me know if you’d like that.)

I am so grateful. I pray this leads to soul-shaping, memory-making, darkness-shaking gifts for many UK children and families!

Shop S. D. Smith Store

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Crazy eBook Sale!

Just wanted to let you know there is a crazy sale on Green Ember and Jack Zulu eBooks right now! Get started on the series or complete your set.

Check it out:

FREE The Green Ember , Ember Falls, T he Last Archer , The First Fowler, The Black Star of Kingston , and T he Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner 99 Cents T he Archer’s Cup , and P rince Lander and the Dragon War $1.99 Ember Rising and Ember’s End $2.99 Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key shop now

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Green Ember Kid Art Winners | 2023 Q2

It’s time to announce the winners for this quarter’s Green Ember Kid Art contest! Watch the video.

Best Green Ember Kid Art

The FIRST prize goes to the Best #GreenEmberKidArt, judged according to the artist’s age. The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate at the S. D. Smith Store (along with Unimaginable Glory & Prodigious Esteem). 

And the winner is… 

Hanna, age 12!

“Hanna calls this drawing ‘Heather’s Hope.’ The reflection of the Green Ember is in her eyes, as the Scribe of the Cause calls everyone to bear the flame.“Randomly Selected Kid Artist

For our next prize: Wild Glee, Contagious Joy, and $20 Gift Certificate at the S. D. Smith Store, everyone who submits art is entered.

And the winner is…

Remington, age 12!

“Fleck and Galt at the Battle of Ayman Lake- painted on canvas using acrylics”

Congratulations to these winners!

We had so many wonderful submissions!! Here are some of them:

Check out this video for more!

The contest for the next quarter starts now. Here are the official rules:

To enter, submit your art here.

If you have social media, please share your child’s Green Ember art (publicly) on social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube). Use the hashtag #GreenEmberKidArt (along with #RabbitsWithSwords and #TheGreenEmber if you would) and tag S. D. Smith on either Facebook or Instagram. YouTube submissions may be featured in our playlist here.

Art can include but is not limited to pictures of Green Ember drawings, paintings, songs, poems, animation, sculptures, woodwork, crochet art, and MORE! We love seeing your creativity.

Please submit 1 original piece per quarter. If you have more than one, hold onto it until our next quarterly contest opens up (every 3 months). The next contest ends in September and winners will be announced in October.

2022Q2 WinnersQ3 WinnersQ4 Winners2023Q1 Winners

We look forward to seeing your submissions!

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The Results Are In | Favorite Green Ember Character

We asked our newsletter subscribers to vote for your favorite Green Ember character and the results are in—Helmer wins!

Check out the results:

Join the Conversation

Does this surprise you? Did your pick make the list? Let us know why you chose your favorite character on Facebook or Instagram!

Tell us why

This fan art was made by November, age 13. The art contest ends tomorrow so get your submissions in!

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Only a Few More Opportunities to Meet S. D. Smith!

Howdy friends,

I hope this email finds you all in the midst of some fantastic adventures, both on and off the page. I wanted to take a moment to give you a glimpse into the exciting book tour.

The book signings, sessions, and workshops have been a whirlwind of laughter, stories, and heartfelt conversations. It’s been so special to connect with you in person, to hear how these stories have resonated with your lives.

Check out the tour video playlist here:

Green Ember LIVE has been amazing! We’ve had thousands of fans enjoying songs and stories and signing alongside me and my family. It’s been a huge hit. Sarah Mackenzie from Read-Aloud Revival joined me on stage to perform the story—maybe she’ll be back in Texas?

For those of you who haven’t had a chance to catch me on tour, fear not! There are still a few opportunities to join the fun:

JULY6-8: GHC Texas | Register Here (Green Ember LIVE on Thursday 7-6 at 8pm)14-15: Arizona Home Education Convention by AFHE – Phoenix, AZ | Register Here

I can’t wait to meet even more of you and share stories and high fives!

I’m on your side,

Sam

shop S. D. Smith Store

P. S. Last call for this quarter’s Green Ember Kid Art contest! Get your submissions in here. Winners will be announced in July.

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