Tabitha Caplinger's Blog: TabithaCaplinger.com, page 2

Living Chosen is Through Unconditional Obedience

I want to welcome Laura A. Grace to the blog today. Before you read about how she lives chosen, take a moment to celebrate the release of her first book, Dear Author: Letters from a Bookish Fangirl. (Happy dance, y'all!) More info on how to connect with Laura and get her book to follow. Now keep reading to get the scoop on Laura and living chosen.Since I first felt called to write about five years ago, I have always known that writing is (and was) one way to show my faith in the Creator by actively writing. If I believed I really was called to write, then I would be willing to lay down all my doubts and fears and serve God faithfully in this area of my life.Yet, it wasn’t until recently did I realize how horrible of a view I had towards this calling.I have viewed it as sacred, yes, I would write, but those next four years were spent in deep struggle to even write a few words a day. I could not understand how one could honor a calling with love and joy if one couldn’t write stories, especially if that’s what they felt called to do.Every time I tried writing, it was like hitting a brick wall. No matter how hard I tried to pull bricks out of this wall, the words simply would not come. I didn’t have any “sudden” breakthroughs.I didn’t have any memories to “fall back on” to remind me why I was enduring this.No, it was just me standing at my brick wall with clenched hands, an angry mindset, and a weary heart from fighting so hard. What started as an exciting idea to pen stories quickly became an idea that only filled me with loathing and bitterness. If I was obeying God by trying to write, why wouldn’t the words come? Why would He call me to something that felt so fruitless by any means of me creating?Wait. Did you catch that?By means of me creating.It took watching a recent anime, trying to promote my book Dear Author: Letters from a Bookish Fangirl,and a new revelation concerning a childhood fear to realize that as much as I would love to say I was fulfilling my calling, I wasn’t.I haven’t been. I mean, at least, not really. Because in my heart, writing was no longer about serving God or connecting with other people.It had become about me and what I could do on my own knowledge, my own strength.And the words wouldn’t come because I didn’t know what I was doing. But God does. He always does, and I can joyfully obey Him no matter if words are flowing or not because I am His child and He called me chosen before I even had an inkling to write stories. I no longer need to look up at that looming brick wall and see myself as a failure because I couldn’t break through it.No, I can look up at that looming wall and just keep writing, just keep trusting my Creator and this calling on my life because I know He can break through it. I don’t have to have all the right words.I don’t have to have a perfect writing process.I don’t even have to write well. I can simply live chosen by believing one more word written, one more story idea recorded, will lead to something that God can use.Why?Because He chose me and He’s going to finish the good work He started in me. Walking in obedience, living chosen, isn't always easy. But it's not in our own strength that we have to walk, that we pursue our purpose. I love that! And I think the song Laura included for us is right on point. Now that you have gotten a little glimpse into Laura's writing journey, I'd love for you to check out her debut book. It is so full of heart and encouragement. About Dear Author: Letters from a Bookish FangirlThink your words might not matter? Think again.Words have the power to change lives, especially when they are used to create meaningful stories. In this collection of letters, bookish fangirl Laura A. Grace addresses topics related to every writer’s journey. From “character conversations,” to embracing one’s unique writing style, to celebrating a release day—there is a letter for every author no matter where they may be in sharing their story with others.“Dear Author” includes six illustrations by Hannah S.J. Williams.Purchase LinksAmazon — Barnes & Noble — Book Depository— GoodreadsAbout the AuthorLaura A. Grace had a lifelong dream of getting to know authors behind the covers of her favorite reads. Little did she know that one day she would become an author too! Now an avid book blogger at Unicorn Quester and writer of clean, Christian manga, Laura creatively balances her passions of supporting indie authors and feeding her readers new stories. In between, she wields plastic lightsabers with her children and binge-watches anime with her husband. Join her quest to find wandering unicorns for your favorite authors at unicornquester.com!Website — Facebook — Twitter — Instagram — YouTubeJoin in the celebration of Laura A. Grace’s debut motivational, Dear Author: Letters form a Bookish Fangirl, on December 5th from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM EST (5:30 PM PST and 6:30 PM MDT)! Grab your favorite drink and snack and be prepared for a fun time of encouragement, games, and giveaways. (Possibly an exclusive sneak peek to upcoming projects!) Special guests Janeen Ippolito and Katie Phillips will also be joining in the fun!

Dear Author Cover Reveal

Writing is hard, y'all. Really hard. And not just the putting together of the book words (though there are a lot of words that have to be put together to create a book and you have to come up with all of them) but also the putting the book out into the world part. A book is a piece of you, and you are sending it into the expanse of humanity and some people will love it and that will make you feel good. Some people will hate it and that will make you want to curl up in a ball and cry. Writing can also feel super lonely. You spend so much time with your own thoughts while you craft a book that it's easy to curl into yourself with all the other bits too. It's easy to only hear the negative voices and miss the love and light that is also present. What does all that have to do with a cover reveal? Well, what if, as a writer, you could have letters from your biggest fans to hold onto and read over and over again when the shadows creep in, or when you feel lonely, or when you need someone to celebrate with you, or when you need to remember why you started writing in the first place?Dear Author is just that. It's beautiful and sweet and heartfelt letters from your biggest fan. A gift you can go back to whenever you need a little pick-me-up. Laura A. Grace (whom I know and adore her fangirl heart) has put together a collection of letters that are exactly what your fans would want you to know. So, without further ado, check out this sweet little gift to all the writers out there...Isn't it the cutest, sweetest thing?! Here's all the details, because I know you want them. About Dear Author: Letters from a Bookish Fangirl:Think your words might not matter? Think again.Words have the power to change lives, especially when they are used to create meaningful stories. In this collection of letters, bookish fangirl Laura A. Grace addresses topics related to every writer’s journey. From “character conversations,” to embracing one’s unique writing style, to celebrating a release day—there is a letter for every author no matter where they may be in sharing their story with others.“Dear Author” includes six illustrations by Hannah S.J. Williams.Purchase LinksSigned Paperback —Amazon — Barnes & Noble — Book Depository (Coming soon!)Goodreads—Pre-Order Goodies Form (to get the goodies pictured below).About the AuthorLaura A. Grace had a lifelong dream of getting to know authors behind the covers of her favorite reads. Little did she know that one day she would become an author too! Now an avid book blogger at Unicorn Quester and writer of clean, Christian manga, Laura creatively balances her passions of supporting indie authors and feeding her readers new stories. In between, she wields plastic lightsabers with her children and binge-watches anime with her husband. Join her quest to find wandering unicorns for your favorite authors at unicornquester.com!Her Social Media LinksWebsite — Newsletter — Facebook — Twitter — Instagram — YouTube

The Making of a World

I am so excited to have Kandi Wyatt as a guest today! She's celebrating the cover reveal of her latest book and sharing with us some behind the scenes goodness on how she builds the worlds of her awesome books. (Keep scrolling to see the new cover!)Making up a world is the best part of writing for me. Often I’ll take my time, like Skymnia and Muintir in my current work in progress. The idea for their planet came from my husband asking a ‘what if’ question, and then brainstorming for the past year and a half. Other worlds are not as involved and may only come about after a day or two of thinking or even just a few moments. Shinwano was somewhere in the middle of those two extremes. The first glimpses of the world started when I wrote An Unexpected Escapade and Kajri allowed us to enter her woods. However, the majority of the work came when I asked, ‘what if bigfoot was a protector of the portals?’I already knew that Shinwano was home to the mythical creatures, but what creatures? We already had seen Steria (get book 1 if you’ve not yet met this purple dragon) and Kajri, but what others may live here? I brainstormed a list of possible creatures—fairies, centaurs, fauns, gryphons, and of course bigfoot—to add to the dragons and unicorns. The creature that surprised me was Cantharellus the brownie. When he showed up, I knew what had inspired him, one of my favorite dragon books of all, The Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke. What I didn’t expect was for his personality to take over, to the point that the brownies even have a different name, because ‘Cant wouldn’t want to be left out’ as my editor said.Now that I had creatures, what were their cultures like? I liked the idea of yeti, but realized that yeti and sasquatch aren’t quite the same cryptids. My way of keeping the two in one culture was to create words based on Nepali transliterations and then adjusted how the words are pronounced. For instance, sanraksaka (the name for bigfoot) comes from the Nepali word for protector. Ladaku, the main sanraksaka is derived from fighter, and his sister Sahasi is from bravery. With that in mind, I’ll leave the rest of the hidden words for you to discover. While sanraksaka came from Nepali, the fairy language and words came from Hindi.I’ve always loved the stars and staring up at the Milky Way, and in a culture without technology, the stars would be important. So, the constellations all received names. It was fun to have Franklin show a bit of my upbringing. I learned to find the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia by my sixth grade year. Here on the Southern Oregon Coast, hunters would need to know the stars to keep their bearings, so it was a perfect fit. All the constellation names came from the Nepali words for the creatures they look like.The world features themselves developed as I wrote. I knew the woods would be there, but what kinds? Myrtle Beach has evergreens, so I decided to make it different in Shinwano. The evergreens of the Pacific Northwest are conifer, but Shinwano has evergreen deciduous trees—eucalyptus and myrtlewood. The lake with mountains on the other side was a natural backdrop for gryphons to soar, while larger sanraksaka from the north would be more like yeti. When I finished writing, I knew this world held potential, but I didn’t have any more ideas for books. This summer at a conference, I was given the idea to ask my readers for input. When you finish reading An Unexpected Exploit, you’ll find a link for a google formto give me ideas of things you’d like to learn more about. Who knows, maybe your idea will end up in a story of Shinwano. Protect a mythical realm or his family?Sixteen-year-old Franklin follows a Sasquatch through a portal to the realm of Shinwano and discovers a world full of mythical creatures he never expected to actually exist. Upon returning to Myrtle Beach, Oregon, he vows to protect the land, not realizing how difficult it will be to keep his promise, especially when a poacher, a NSA agent, and his friends are interested in the portal—and all for different reasons. When the poacher threatens his family, Franklin must reconsider his vow to protect this new world to keep his family safe. The consequences of his decision reach further than just a rift in the space-time continuum. Can Franklin live up to the trust placed on him and save this new world from an even greater danger? Even as a young girl, Kandi J Wyatt, had a knack for words. She loved to read them, even if it was on a shampoo bottle! By high school Kandi had learned to put words together on paper to create stories for those she loved. Nowadays, she writes for her kids, whether that's her own five or the hundreds of students she's been lucky to teach. When Kandi's not spinning words to create stories, she's using them to teach students about Spanish, life, and leadership. (Click her pic to connect with Kandi.)There's also a giveaway for those who preorder. Use this link to enter.

A Faded Rose

There was one instance when my mother was asked to share at a ladies event. It wasn't long after her mother, my grandmother, had passed away and she took the opportunity to share about the legacy my grandmother had left to her and therefore to me and my sisters and even my daughters. Recently my mom sent me the notes from that event and they meant so much I wanted to share them here. The things I want to share I hope will help you as a mother and as a daughter.My mama was a prayer warrior! She believed in prayer and often got lost in His Presence while she was praying. I learned about Jesus by watching my mama! She left me a legacy worth more than gold. She taught me that when you don't think you can make it, don't look at the circumstances or things from earth's point of view, but look at it from Heaven's point of view. Now you say, "I've never been to Heaven so how can I see from Heaven, how is this going to work?" Maybe her story will help you understand.My mama was a Heaven's Point of View person, she had to be because if she had considered her circumstance from earth's standards she would never have made it. My mama was shot at, cheated on, had very little according to the world's standards. Plus she had seven children to contend with, to feed and watch and love. And she had very little in the way of earthly wealth. When my mothers estate was settled and all the expenses had been paid I think each child ended up with something like $34 each.That was in part because she never had much and in part because mama was a giving person! She always said "you can't outgive God." But I think sometimes she tried.!!! I never cared about her money. Mama left me something far greater than wealth, she taught me about the Lord and she taught me how to pray. She taught me that Jesus was my Rock and I could depend on Him.I remember my dad telling us that he would take the older children out to get wood for the winter. When he and my brothers and sister would return home mama would be praying and they could hear her calling her children and husband by name and it would go on and on. This was normal, to hear mama praying for us. My dad would be very annoyed but he would not let them disturb her until she was finished. She would just be lost in the presence of God and time seemed to stand still for her. She never knew she was holding my dad up, that he might have been waiting for her because she was waiting on God.One particular time I remember her telling that she had been burdened for someone (most likely my dad at that time becuase he was not saved until much later). She had put lunch on to cook and in those days she she cooked on a wood stove.How many of you have ever cooked dried navy beans on a wood stove? Well, she went to pray and she only intended to spend a short time in prayer and then finish the meal before daddy and the others came in from the fields. But when she finally finished and looked out the window she realized time had gotten away from her again as my dad was already coming across the road. She said she knew she was in trouble. She rushed to the kitchen thinking that her fire was out and nothing would be ready, thinking of a backup plan to fix something in a hurry, not that there would be many options. Guess what? The beans were done to perfection, the fire was still warm enough to get the biscuits done and in a matter of minutes she had lunch ready. Mama always said the angels cooked dinner for her that day because there was no way the little wood she had put in the stove would have lasted 3 hours. Now, my mama was not a saint, she made mistakes. She was just an ordinary person that believed in prayer and God honored her prayers.She passed on that torch to me! She never let her circumstances get her down. (I am still working on that). Though she had many rough situations she had to walk through and she often struggled to make sure her family had what they needed. She would always say, "I have to look at this from Heaven's Point of View."Mama loved roses, red was her favorite. But even rose bushes that are cultivated and taken care of will lose their blooms and fade away when winter comes.The last few years of mama's life, her winter months, strokes had ravaged her body and her mind. She was in and out of the hospital many times. I remember we were called to the hospital on a Sunday night and as I walked into her hospital room I saw how each stroke was taking a little more of mama and leaving a shell in her place. I asked mama a hard question. I said, "mama if you don't make it this time is everything still alright between you and the Lord?" Now, I knew she loved Jesus, I was asking this for me, my own assurance. Though her words were slurred this is what she said to me, "it's just a little trip over the river and I'll be home, everything is alright" I'll remember those words as long as I live and I want to be able to say to my children, "It's just a little trip over the river and I'll be home. Everything is all right!" Celebrate Me Home!Though my mother faded away as a rose fades in the winter time she left a well cultivated rose bush, with deep, healthy roots, and the buds are springing into life. I see God's hand moving over my family and I know mama's prayers are still at work.One last side note, God loves His children and He honors their prayers. My oldest brother was 65 plus and mama had prayed for him for years. She didn't see this while on earth but a few weeks after her passing, in a little Methodist church, he went forth and gave his heart to the Lord. So no, mama did not see it from earth's point of view but I am sure she saw it from Heaven's point of view and I am sure she was dancing with Jesus. Her prayers were answered!Above is my grandmother with two of her sons. And to the right is myself and my mother.

Cracks in the Dam

My 2019 word of the year has been Breakthrough. I talked all about it back inJanuaryand just read through that post again this morning. It was a little invigorating remembering all that God had been speaking to me in those cold winter months.What I didn't share in that post was something God had spoken to me during a prayer time a few months earlier. It was something I was keeping close to my heart, a secret between me and Jesus. It wasn't until the last couple of weeks that I have felt open to talk about it outside my tight inner circle. It had been a rough few months for me leading up to that prayer time. Writing is hard. Getting published is hard. Selling books is hard. This thing that I love and that I knew God wanted me to do, well, it was really hard and I was wondering if I was cut out to do it anymore. I was questioning if writing was just a season and it was over and I should walk away from it. Those questions were painful because I loved what I had written, what I was writing. But it was hard. So hard and I doubted I was cut out for it. So, I did what I always do when I am struggling and unsure, I prayed. And not just a little whisper prayer (though those are totally fine). No, this was a battle prayer, this was an all or nothing, laying it on the line, getting real with myself and Jesus prayer. I was home alone so I cranked up the worship music and walked circles around my living room praying and crying and sorting out my heart and mind with Jesus. I pleaded for answers and strength and something that would tell me what to do. (I'm pretty sure I scared my dogs, y'all. LOL) I needed answers and I wasn't walking away until I had them. Ever have that kind of moment with Jesus? God is so good. I don't know if you even believe in God (if you don't this might all sound a little weird but it's honest), but believe in Him or not, He is good! In that desperate moment He showed up, whispering words that my heart and soul could hear. He reminded me of the last time I had these doubts about pursuing writing. (Yes, I needed to be told twice, sometimes I'm stubborn.) I needed that sweet reminder, the patience of a God who would repeat Himself because I needed Him to. But after the grace of the reminding came a new picture. I started thinking about a dam. I could see it in my mind, a wall blocking a river. I could feel it in my spirit, the wall trying to hold back my dreams, my purpose. Then I started to see cracks in the dam. Small at first. Not even enough for water to drip through. But then the cracks lengthened and expanded until water dribbled down the wall. Drops and dribbles turned to small streams that pushed the cracks even further apart, splitting the stone of the wall until the river gushed out, no longer held back. It was invigorating and scary for all the reasons I mentioned in that January Word of the Yearpost. I took that secret, that image, the words God gave me and I tucked them away, a promise to save for later. I didn't know when, just later. Then that word, BREAKTHROUGH, woke me up and I tried to ignore it. I told myself it was just me. I knew it wasn't. (I don't know how I knew, I just knew. Sometimes with God you just know in a deep place that you can't explain.) So I embraced the word and I remembered the secret, but, if I'm honest, I didn't get my hopes up. Not really. Here we are, halfway through 2019, and I see the cracks in the dam. It's been kind of surreal. I'm nowhere near hitting a best seller list. I'm currently just trying to find a publisher for my next book. I'm writing away on another manuscript. I'm enjoying it again. It's still hard, but hard isn't stealing my joy or making me doubt. And there are cracks. Little ones, just big enough for water to drip through. What's the water look like when it comes to my purpose, to me living chosen? It looks like doors opening that were previously closed. It looks like a no turning to a yes. It looks like fuller schedules and new readers. It looks like momentum. (That's something I haven't felt for a while, by the way.) It hasn't all just fallen in my lap. I'm true to my word and have done what I set out to do, "pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on me." But work that wasn't working before is working now. I see the cracks in the dam. I can feel the pressure of the water and the freedom of it all at the same time. I don't know that by the end of the year if the whole river will burst through or if it'll take another five years, but I see the cracks in the dam. Are you waiting on a breakthrough? Are you waiting on a promise to be fulfilled or revealed? Are you praying like it depends on God and working like it depends on you? God is good and I'd love to join you in prayer and encourage you in the work of it. Send me an email or leave a comment.

Heart of the Curiosity Blog Tour

EEK!! I'm so stoked to welcome H.L. Burke to the blog today in celebration of her new release, Heart of the Curiosity! Scroll down to find out how discovering your purpose plays into this epic story as well as her own life. “Because a person’s knack says something about them. Muse's means she's graceful and lighthearted. Yours means your dependable and smart. Emilia's means she's shrewd and perceptive. Reid ... well, he really likes books. Mine is only good for tricking and manipulating people, for making them do or think things they wouldn’t have otherwise.” Shame flared within her, warming her cheeks. “How can a person with that sort of knack be good enough for anyone, let alone you?”In the world of Heart of the Curiosity, everyone has magic, but not big flashy “fireball and frostbolt” magic. They’re tiny little individualized magical abilities called “knacks.” Some knacks are more common than others (strength knacks that make an individual be able to lift slightly more than they would’ve been able to otherwise are decently common.), but all tie into the individual’s purpose in life.A dancer might have a balance or agility knack. A librarian or bookseller might have an ability to mend ripped pages. A casting director could have the ability to discern the knacks of others and therefore know how best to use them in their shows. However some people have knacks that push them into vocations they don’t like … or may even find morally repulsive.The main character of Heart of the Curiosity, Leo, has a knack that allows her to manipulate the emotions of others, and she’s never been able to figure out how to use it in a way that doesn’t feel, if not downright evil, at least morally ambiguous. Always a pragmatist, she tries to use a bad thing to do good, at least to the extent that she uses it to protect herself and her little sister and ensure them a better life, but ends up working as a professional audience member, also known as a claqueur. Her job is to sway the audience at The Curiosity theater to have a good impression of the show and so she can drum up excitement and ticket sales. Leo doesn’t like this much. She’d just as soon forget that she has this ability and never use it again … unfortunately life keeps throwing situations in her way that make using her knack the expedient thing to do if she wants to stay alive and keep her sister safe. Similarly, her best friend, Paxton, regrets that his knack isn’t “enough.” A gifted mechanic, Paxton can tell exactly how a machine is broken at a glance. It’s a handy skill which he uses to keep equipment running around his family’s theater. However, Paxton comes from a long line of people with the “inventor” knack, the ability to think up and construct improbable and creative machines which the theater uses in their elaborate shows. When the inventor knack skipped over him, his family was left without an acting propmaster. Paxton bends and twists himself trying to make do in the position with his simple mechanic’s knack, but constantly feels like he’s letting down his family legacy. Both Paxton and Leo want to be more than their knacks have said they are but, in a world where people are defined by their magical abilities, feel stuck in their paths. Finding out what one is good at, figuring out what we’re meant to do, is a huge part of growing up, and some of us take longer to stumble onto it than others. I was lucky to figure out early that I wanted to be a story teller/writer, but it took a while for me to learn how to forge that path. It’s interesting now for me to watch my own daughters decide what they want to do (The seven-year-old wants to be a Youtuber … or work at Wendy’s so she can eat all the fries. She goes back and forth) and figure out what they’re good at. It’s something we all have to go through, finding why we’ve been put on this earth … and with or without magic, it can be both a struggle and an adventure. To find out if Leo and Paxton find theirs, you’ll have to read Heart of the Curiosity. ;)The secret lies with the Heart. Born with a magical knack for manipulating emotions, Leodora's only dream is to ensure her talented little sister dances on the biggest, brightest stage in the Republic: The Curiosity, a grand old theater of tradition and innovation. After escaping a cruel carnival, Leo secures her sister a place in the Curiosity’s chorus line, and herself a job as a professional audience member, swaying the crowd's mood with her magic. The girls have a home for the first time in their lives. Then a tragic accident darkens the theater. A greedy businessman begins blackmailing Leo, and financial woes threaten to close the show forever. The Curiosity's sole hope lies in a mythical power source hidden beneath the maze-like passages and trapdoors of the theater—the Heart. And Leo’s only friend Paxton, nephew of the theater's stagemistress, is the key to finding it. While Leo and Paxton hunt for the Heart, the blackmailer’s threats loom larger. Mysterious figures, cryptic clues, and deadly traps hinder the search at every turn. If the friends cannot recover the Heart in time, Leo and her sister will be cast out of the only home they’ve ever known, and the final curtain will fall on The Curiosity. Enter a world reminiscent of The Greatest Showman, with a puzzle worthy of Sherlock Holmes and National Treasure, in this new Steampunk Fantasy from H. L. Burke.Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and was always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic. An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture. Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes that home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.Facebook PageFacebook Reader GroupTwitterInstagramWebsite

A Unicorn Book For Unicorn Day

"When a unicorn waltzes into Daisy’s pasture, a poacher shows up, who will stop at nothing to gain the unicorn horn and its tears." My friend and fellow, former Vox Dei author, Kandi Wyatt has a new book releasing just in time and perfect for National Unicorn Day! She was kind of enough to stop by and give us all the details. Background informationIn my full-time job, I’m a teacher. I have dream class sizes, but not the dream schedule. Most high school teachers have over 100 students a day they come in contact with but only teach one or two different classes. We have a total of 75 in 7th-12th grade at my school, but I teach seven different classes a day. In a rural town, many kids feel like Harley, my main character for An Unexpected Adventure. “Why would anyone famous want to come to little ol’ Myrtle Beach, Oregon? Sure, it was rumored that Brad Pitt (or his mom, depending on who you talked with) had a house in the town south of us, but that wasn’t Myrtle Beach where the sheep, cattle, and cranberries outnumbered the people.”With that mentality, most of the kids want to escape when they’re out of high school. They don’t see the value to our rural area, or the worth of the traditional jobs. So, I decided to write about our area to inspire teens and pre-teens to be who they are, where they are. Thus was born Myth Coast Adventures, a science-fantasy trilogy based on the Southern Oregon Coast. The booksHarley Maegher is the main character in book 1 and everything is seen from his perspective (my only first person book I’ve written). In April, Harley and his friends, Chase and Will, discover what they think is a thunderegg, Oregon’s state rock. To their surprise, they realize it’s a real egg from a creature that’s not supposed to exist! They vow to protect the baby dragon that hatches and soon find themselves running from a government agent, and trying to hide a rapidly growing dragon. After the boys solve their dilemma, fall rolls around, and our attention shifts to eighth grade girls, Daisy and Ana, and a unicorn that has come to live in Ana’s horse pasture. The girls enjoy its company until the government agent shows up claiming he can protect the unicorn from a poacher. As the girls juggle junior high, a unicorn, government agent, poacher, and a new friend, they have decisions to make regarding friendship and family. A year after the first book, Franklin Benson disappears from sleepy (or not so sleepy) Myrtle Beach. When he returns with a Sasquatch following him, the characters from the first two books vow to help him protect the portals from humans slipping into the realm of Shinwano where mythical creatures live. However, the poacher from book two isn’t going to make that easy. Where books one and two focus on Myrtle Beach, book three turns into a portal fantasy.The CharactersWith this series, I wanted to showcase different characters. At first I wasn’t even sure if the same characters would be throughout the whole trilogy, but specific ones came through strong. Will is one of those. He’s a quiet character who came from a family who fights to make ends meet. Yet, he’s loyal and a hard worker. His position at the crab shack brought him into a key place for helping Harley in book 1 (no spoilers here). That same job puts him in contact with Ana in book 2. There he blossoms into a faithful friend who’s there for Ana as she needs him. By book 3, he’s more in the background, but there are still some scenes I love as he tries to protect Ana from the horrors of the poacher.I also wanted to have believable characters with real-life issues. Harley struggles with asthma and uses an inhaler. Daisy stutters, and Ana’s family has health problems that make her reevaluate what family means to her. My goal is to have pre-teens and teens see how these characters deal with life and be inspired, just as my students have inspired me. Each of the characters is inspired by different students. These teens made an impression on me in some way or another. One wanted to become a logger and had others make fun of him for the way he dressed and spoke. Another refused to read, and I wondered if I wrote him into a story would he read it. (I was told he didn’t want to put it down when the bell rang to move on to the next class!) Yet a third has a faith that is solid and unwavering. One eighth grader faced the death of both her parents in less than a year with more bounce in her step than I could ever imagine being able to have in her shoes. A final high school student spent time in my room over lunch and told me about basketball, hunting, and life. To these kids, I say thank you for entrusting your days to my care. I hope I did you justice and that you see the good side of your life portrayed through Myth Coast Adventures. Even as a young girl, Kandi J Wyatt, had a knack for words. She loved to read them, even if it was on a shampoo bottle! By high school Kandi had learned to put words together on paper to create stories for those she loved. Nowadays, she writes for her kids, whether that's her own five or the hundreds of students she's been lucky to teach. When Kandi's not spinning words to create stories, she's using them to teach students about Spanish, life, and leadership.Ana and Daisy have been friends since third grade, but a rift in the space-time continuum in their little town may change that. When a unicorn waltzes into the pasture with Daisy’s appaloosas, a poacher, who will stop at nothing to gain the unicorn horn and its healing tears, shows up. Daisy is focused on saving the unicorn while Ana’s parents face sudden life-threatening health issues. When Ana learns about the healing tears, she’s forced to choose between friendship and her family’s health. Can the girls find the grace to compromise and save Ana’s parents and the unicorn?Doesn't this book sound super fun? Oh, and I forgot to mention there is a GIVEAWAY!!!CLICK HERE TO ENTER

New Year, New Word

2016 was my year on PURPOSE.2017 was my year of PROMISE.2018 was my year of PASSION.(Don't you love the alliteration there? I do. It makes me happy and to be honest I wasn't even trying for it but that's how much Jesus gets me.)I didn't plan on having a word of the year for 2019, Really I didn't. Those previous three years and three words neatly tied up a season of my life, and using them as points of focus made sense. So as 2018 came to a close I didn't give thought to coming up with a new word. I was going to keep trucking along with these three, they felt like enough. But God has this way of showing up, and shaking us up, and, in this particular case, waking us (well, me) up. Literally. Just the other night, I was laying in bed, nearly asleep, when out of nowhere...and I mean NOWHERE...a word popped into my head. It was a little weird. But sometimes weird makes us sit up and pay attention, so that's what I did. The word kept circulating through my mind like a prayer and I knew that it was supposed to be my word for 2019. What was this word, you ask? I'll tell you!Breakthrough!EEK! I know. But it gets better. In previous years I got a word and just went with it. I didn't dive deep. But with this one I couldn't leave it at the surface. I needed to dig a little and really sink my teeth into what this meant. I started with the dictionary definition. breakthrough noun, often attributivebreak·through | \ˈbrāk-ˌthrü \1: warfare : an offensive military assault that penetrates and carries beyond a defensive line2: an act or instance of moving through or beyond an obstacle 3a: a sudden advance especially in knowledge or technique like a medical breakthroughb: a person's first notable success like a breakthrough novelReading those definitions gave me chills for a few reasons.1. My SpiritI love how it's a warfare term and I love that it's about breaking through a defensive line. Cuz here's the thing. We are part of a war. We may not slay demons with swords like Claire and Zoe, but oh man we fight the shadows just the same. But we aren't the ones just trying to hold the line. We aren't the ones quaking in fear at the coming attack. WE ARE THE COMING ATTACK! (I mean, girl if that doesn't get your inner demon slayer fired up I don't know what will.)2. My HeartAnxiety has become an obstacle for me. It doesn't stop me but it can slow me down a bit. Insecurities, especially when it comes to career, can do the same thing. I'm sure you're already thinking of similar things in your life. I get tired of dealing with them. I'm ready to move beyond them. (So ready. Anybody with me?)3. My MindIt's easy to put all this on God and be tempted to sit back and just wait for my breakthrough to come. But I love Mark Batterson's quote, "pray like it depends on God, but work like it depends on you." I'm ready for breakthrough in some areas of my life. Some of them only God can handle but others require some work on my part. I need to learn more, I need to grow and prepare so I can be ready for where God is taking me. (I am making plans to do just that by the way, but I won't go into all of it here. I'll save it for another post.)4. My DreamsOkay, I don't have a big frilly commentary for this one. But just look at definition 3b again please. What does it say? I didn't come up with the "like a breakthrough novel" part, folks. That was just there. And while you can chalk it up to coincidence (to be fair it also said something about a breakthrough role for an actress and I left that out for space.) I think God is strategic and intentional. Don't get me wrong, I'm not pinning my hopes on Merriam-Webster, but I will pin them on God. He knows my dreams, He gave them to me. And I think He throws us these little morsels on occasion just to remind us that He hasn't forgotten. But I didn't stop at the dictionary definition. What does God's Word say about breakthrough? I wasn't sure, so I Googled. A lot of awesome verses that would pump any of us up showed up on the list. But one in particular stuck out to me. Now, I'm not going to post the whole chapter, though the whole chapter is what I read over and over again. I'm just going to share with you a few key verses. This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, The God who summons horses and chariots and armies— they lie down and then can’t get up; they’re snuffed out like so many candles: “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.Isaiah 43:16-19 MSG"It's bursting out!" Don't you love that! This chapter is talking about something new God is about to do for His people and I read it getting the feeling that even God is excited about it. I'm not gonna lie. The word breakthrough was exciting when it first popped in my mind. But as excited as I might be by what God wants to do, I know He is more excited. Why? Because He loves me a lot. He loves you a lot too. (Doesn't thinking about God being excited about things that are gonna happen in your life make you feel all warm and squishy?)But I'm also a little nervous. Why? Again, this is going to take work and preparation on my part. I want to be ready for the other side and I know that means a need to grow. Growth is uncomfortable and sometimes painful. I also know that breaking through enemy line's sounds good but it means having to fight. It means fighting complacency, fighting apathy, fighting the procrastination monster, fighting insecurity, fighting fear. Fights are tiring. Fights get bloody. But breakthrough takes a fight and ya girl is down for it! (The cool thing is we don't fight alone, the Maker fights for us and beside us.)My word for 2019 is BREAKTHROUGH. I am praying for God to make me ready. I am praying for God to take that word to every corner of my life. For breakthrough to the next level in marriage and ministry. Breakthrough for my kids and their fears and insecurities. Breakthrough for my family from illness and addiction and fear. Breakthrough in my own heart and mind so that I can become more of who Jesus wants me to be. Breakthrough in my writing so that it can go to all the places God wants it to go. I pray that I will do my part. That I will be obedient to Him even when it is hard, or scary, or I just plain don't feel like it. (Obedience is key.) But the awesome thing is, If I am obedient, then the results are on Him, the actual breakthrough is His job, not mine. So this year of breakthrough is really a year I am giving to the Maker. I am putting my 2019 in His hands and knowing He is trustworthy and He is faithful. He will make it all the things I can't. Do you have a word of the year for 2019? I'd love for you to share it with me.PS: The Sunday after discovering my word of the year we sang this song at church. I absolutely love it, but it took on extra inspiration and encouragement on this particular morning. I thought I'd share it with you in hopes it will be a sweet reminder for you, whatever your New Year might hold, that God is faithful and He is good.

New Year's Eve In Torch Creek

In just a few hours, 2018 will end and 2019 will begin. Whether you go out with friends, countdown in front of New Year's Rockin' Eve in your own living room, or go to bed early, the new year will come at the stroke of midnight. Are you ready for what it holds?In The Chronicle of the Three: Eden Sword (the final installment in the trilogy) Zoe is struggling to celebrate as her destiny weighs on her. Thankfully, she's got Daniel with her. Below is an excerpt from New Year's Eve in Torch Creek. “Cute,” Anna said, reaching toward the dangling charm and mouthing it’s inscription as she read it. She looked at Zoe with an open mouth, seeming like she about to comment or question further, when the barista announced the ball drop would be starting in just a few minutes at the courthouse steps. Josh grabbed his jacket as he stood up. “We better go so we can get a good view,” he said. “You two coming?” Kyle asked. “You three go on ahead,” Daniel said as he linked his fingers with Zoe’s. “We get it, the lovebirds want to be alone,” Anna giggled. “Happy New Year you two!” “Happy New Year,” Zoe replied. Her voice barely made it over the noise of the exiting patrons to elicit a small wink and wave from Anna as she stepped outside. “Still want that coffee?” Daniel asked. Zoe leaned close, placing a sweet kiss on his lips. “What was that for?” “For being you.” Daniel responded with his own soft kiss. “I’m gonna forgive how cheesy this moment is because I like you so much.” “I’m not cheesy, I’m adorable,” Zoe giggled as she pulled him to his feet. “Now, let’s get that coffee and go ring in the New Year.” A few minutes later Zoe was sipping her latte, still smiling, her arm linked with Daniel’s while they walked toward the crowd waiting at the courthouse. They were already counting down the final seconds of the year as a glittering disco ball was slowly being lowered. Ten…nine… Zoe, like always, could smell it first. The ash and blood tickled her nose. She surveyed the street and swore she saw glowing eyes scattered amongst the spectators. When she blinked, they were all gone.Eight…seven… A scream echoed. She jerked her head and the image of Maggie lying on the curb from her previous vision replaced the happy throng. Six…five…four… Another blink and reality blurred again. She watched Daniel being dragged into the alleyway. “No,” she whispered, and the specter was gone. The street was full again and she was clinging to Daniel’s arm. “You okay?” Daniel whispered. Three…two… Another scream distracted Zoe. She peered ahead through the still chanting and cheering partiers who slowly faded to reveal Claire lying bleeding on the courthouse steps and Michael dying beside her. “This isn’t real.” “What isn’t?” Daniel asked, grabbing Zoe’s arms and maneuvering her to look him in the eye. “Zoe, what’s going on?” “He ruins everything. He’s going to take everything away from me, destroy every moment of happiness.” Happy-New-Year’s were shouted as fireworks whizzed and then boomed overhead, but none of that could subdue Zoe’s fear. It trembled inside her, shaking the oxygen out of her lungs. “Zo, Abaddon isn’t here,” Daniel said. His stare was intense, pushing his eyebrows tighter together. His eyes darted back and forth, searching for something in hers. His lips were parted like a word had been on the tip of his tongue ready to spring out but got lost. Zoe wanted to tell him she was fine. She wanted to lie and say she was just tired. It would only be a half-lie. Half or whole, it wouldn’t find its way out. Neither would the tears that she could feel, heavy things waiting behind her eyes. She blinked hoping to release them but it didn’t work. The fear rumbled again. “He’s always here,” she whispered. Daniel hugged her. His cheek rested against the top of her head. “You have to fight him, Zo.” Her latte dropped to the ground spilling open. “I’m tired of fighting,” Zoe said, “I’m not some soldier, I’m not a warrior.” “We are all warriors,” Daniel replied. “We may not feel like it but we are. Descendant, bloodline, prophecy—none of it matters. We all fight the darkness every day.”Zoe pulled back until she was free from his embrace. “This isn’t some normal situation, some small daily tragedy. This is for the whole world, life and death,” she scorned. Daniel’s face softened but his eyes remained fierce. “Those are always the stakes,” he said. “It’s always life and death. Most people are just never aware of that fact.” Zoe watched the bright colors that lit the black canvas above them. “I want that ignorance back,” she said. “That’s not going to happen,” Daniel said stepping behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. His thumbs circled against her tense muscles. “But I don’t think ignorance is what you need back—I think it’s faith.” “Easy for you to say. I’m the Daughter, I’m the one who has to carry the sword. I’m the one who will walk into Hell alone.” She turned out of his touch to look directly at his face. “You aren’t alone, you will never be alone,” he said as he took her hand. “Faith seems like a luxury. Something for people who can’t see the truth. I mean, it feels like the Maker has forgotten about us—about me. He hasn’t exactly been making Himself known.” Her tears grew even heavier and finally began to tip over her long lashes. “This girl I know once told me the Maker was a big enough boy to handle us being mad at Him. Maybe the problem isn’t that He hasn’t shown up, but that you’ve just stopped seeing Him.” Daniel reached his hands to her cheeks, brushing tears away with his fingers. “Maybe you need to open your eyes.” “It’s that easy?” she asked, hopeful. A wistful smile pricked at the corners of Daniel’s lips. “Or that hard,” he said. What does 2019 hold for you? Are you eager to jump into the New Year like it is a long awaited adventure? Or are you weighed down by fear and struggle? May you find some extra faith to strengthen you. The Maker is there, He has a plan and purpose for you and He hasn't left you. May you see Him.I say it all the time around here (because I 100% believe it's true and want you to believe it too) but to start off your New Year, no matter what it looks like from where you are standing today, remember...You are powerful, chosen, loved and never alone. PS: Follow me on Facebook for weekly #LiveChosen content and lots of support and encouragement throughout the new year.

Gifting!

Is gifting even a word? Did I make that up? I don't know, it doesn't matter. What matters is it means giving gifts. In Eden Sword we find out that one of Claire's super powers is giving amazing gifts. I have to admit, I'm not quite as good at gifting as Claire but I do love giving good gifts to those I love. (It's one of my top two love languages so that could be part of it.) Birthdays, Holidays, just because...I love it when I find the perfect gift for someone. You know the one...the one that they didn't think you knew they wanted or that even they didn't know they wanted until they opened it and realized it is exactly what they wanted. Gifting, especially at Christmas can be more frustrating and stressful than awesome and loving, if we are honest. (Let's be honest, please.) We could all use a little help to be as awesome as Claire. (I mean did you see the thoughtful gifts she got for her family? They were epic and I'm not just saying that because I'm the author. Trust me, I surprised myself.)So how can we be gifting superheroes?1. Know that it really is the thought that counts, so put some thought in it. What do they like? What are their hobbies? What do they talk about? What is their personal style? What are they passionate about? Take a little time to think about the person you are buying for and what would make them smile. Don't buy them what you think they need, or what you think they should want. There's always a place for socks and underwear (Trust me, I don't turn my nose up when opening that gift.) But gifting is about the other person more than you. So what will put a smile on their face? 2. Listen for the hints. When Christmas is approaching my husband and kids always start talking about what they want. Sometimes they just text me links. Sometimes they are more subtle. I'm sure it's the same for you. Be sure to pay attention. 3. Plan and Prepare.Christmas is the same day every year. Don't wait until the last minute. That only makes it more stressful and harder to be thoughtful. Start making a list early. (I start in October.) And make a budget too! Again, it's the thought that counts not the price tag. Don't go into debt over Christmas, it's not worth it. You can give thoughtful gifts they will love without going over budget. 4. Sometimes Less is More.Have you ever watched a kid get bored and need a break in the middle of opening all their presents? I have. It's kind of sad. I know what it is to want to get your kids (or anyone you love) everything they want for Christmas. But some of the joy gets lost in the pile. Sometimes just a couple really special gifts are better than a ton of stuff that just takes up space. On this note what we've done for our daughters is a three-present rule (three because that's how many presents Jesus got.) They each get three gifts from us, plus one gift from Santa (and not the most expensive thing from Mr. Claus) and then they get candy and little (and I do mean little, read cheap) things in their stockings. We also limit the list they send to their grandparents. My husband and I do the same for each other, or less depending on budget. Another idea is to give them something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. I know you might read all that and think we are a scrooges but trust me, we are able to be much more thoughtful and give special gifts when we put limits on it. So there are my thoughts on how to take the stress out of gifting and make what's under the tree even more special this holiday season. Or next, if you are a planner like me. What are your tips and tricks for being a world-class gifter?