Autumn Slaght's Blog: Inspired Words, page 2

New Novel Approaching

Good evening, readers! Just a quick little update, I'm currently working on my third novel completely unrelated to anything I've written so far. This one is set in one of my favorite genres to write - Medieval Fiction. We are looking to release it in February 2020! So be on the lookout for it!

Bennett Days, 2019

Good evening, fellow readers and friends! The members of River Tree Press and some friends of the family have all just completed a long day yesterday of running a vendor booth for Bennett Hometown Days, 2019. What a great day it was! Even despite getting up early in the morning (yes, I'm just like Tammy Winters from Broken For You when it comes to that!!) we had so much fun setting up the booth, introducing our books to everyone and enjoying all the delights that Bennett Days produces. Now that it is over, I sit back and reflect.
Life has been challenging on my end of the world, dear readers. That is why I haven't been very active on my Goodreads or Facebook account until now. But little by little, as the storm continues to bring rainfall and thunder, as the night continues to keep me in the dark, I am beginning to discover Who my God is. And He has sparked an idea for another novel which deals with a very important question that every Christian must answer at some time or another.
Who is God? What do you believe about Him?
Dare I go so far to say that the book makes mention of the disaster, Hurricane Dorian? It is true. I'm sure we've all seen the pictures from the Bahamas and heard the heart breaking stories of the survivors therein. Please do not forget to pray for them. Sometimes I find myself easily forgetting that other people have had their entire lives devastated just a little way into the ocean. But I have come close to losing my home to a natural disaster on several occasions, I know the panic that grips your chest and leaves you breathless as you brace yourself to go around that corner, expecting to see your home in shambles. These are the people of the Bahamas. Please do not forget to pray for them. Think of them. Help, where we can.
That is all for now. As I sit here, the crickets are chirping peacefully and I am invited to go be a part of the quietude for a while. Happy reading, as always and may September bring you cooler weather and no more deadly storms!

Broken For You Book Signing

Good afternoon, dear readers!
Happy belated Resurrection Sunday and May Day! I hope your spring season has been going well so far.
Things have been interesting here in my corner of the world. We have added 9 chicks and a new puppy to our family. Gabriel is 8 weeks old and is an Aussie and Border Collie mix. It has been a delight to watch him grow, however difficult the training process might be.
About three weeks ago, I was unexpectedly laid off from my position at the junkyard due to the company dissolving. Surprise! But thankfully, as I'm in the process of finding employment elsewhere, it has given me time to dedicate to River Tree Press and the books we hope to publish through them again.
But there is other news that have us very excited. River Tree Press is going to be hosting it's first book signing on May 18th, 2019 at 2:00 pm. It'll be held at
GIFT Bible Church, in Bennett, Co. Autographed copies of Broken For You are $17.00 each, copies that are not autographed are $15.00.
We hope to see you there if you are local in the area. If not, your prayers that this will be a successful event would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Happy reading!

Broken For You Is Finally Here!

Good evening, fellow readers! It's been a while, but I hope that your holidays were as wonderful as mine were! I had nearly 2 weeks off of work at Christmastime which pleased me greatly...and gave me time to dedicate to a project that I'm very passionate about.
It is with overwhelming joy that I write these words. I am happy to announce that my second novel, Broken For You, is fully published! It is available on Amazon. For now, it is only available in paperback format, but as we progress into 2019, we are planning to release it in Ebook format, too.
The book is what the Lord used to help me fall in love with Him as I wrote it's final chapters. The storyline details young Tammy Winters, a 21st century girl who, although struggling in her love relationship with Christ, is shown how very much Jesus cares for her in a very real way. It is in the wonderful land of Israel that this happens, so come along with Tammy as she journeys from her homeland of Hawaii, to Jerusalem, Israel, and discover what she discovers on the way there.
I hope this book brings you closer to Christ as it did for me. Be on the lookout for more updates, we are hoping to do a book trailer and possibly a music video to go along with it. Maybe I'll even see you at one of my book signings. :) Until then, my dear readers, happy reading!

Announcement...

Good evening, good evening all my dear readers!
On the night that I am writing this, the air is cold, the stars are barely shining and the leaves are turning beautiful colors. I have to admit my favorite season is autumn. (No, not just because of my name although, come to think of it, Autumn is one of my favorite names, too. :)) I was born in the autumn, and the chill of the air brings nothing but good memories for me. Everything good seems to happen in the fall.
Which includes my next announcement. My mother and I have started our own publishing company. For now, we are publishing only the books that she and I write, but we are hoping it will grow to include other talented authors around the world of all ages. We are happy to welcome River Tree Press to the world of book publishing.
That being the case, River Tree Press is proud to announce: The first book published by our small company, the one that I've been blogging about for, what, two years now almost? We have currently been working out a situation with getting it printed, but as of now, we are hoping to officially release my newest novel, Broken For You, in March, 2019!
There you have it, my dear readers. The title that I've been concealing from you for so long is finally out in the light. The novel deals with a lot of events that surround Resurrection Sunday, so what better time to release it than around that time of year next year? If the Lord wills, the message will soon be out for everyone to read! Please feel free to spread the word and be on the watch for it! Also keep an eye on my blog for any updates that might occur. Between now and March, I hope to release a book trailer or give a few teasers before it's release.
Now that editing Broken For You and working on getting everything in order to publish it is behind me, I'm focusing on getting caught up on my reading. Three books behind schedule, but I can do this! *raises victorious fist in the air* Two of the books on my reading list, Roses and Precious Stones are for research for my next book - yes, writing stories NEVER stops for me! And I'm also starting book one in the Kiera Cass Selection Series. It's so popular, I picked it up, curious what it's all about and can't wait to read it!
I hope that you all are having a beautiful fall season. Happy reading and happy fall!

Quarterly Touch

Hello my friends and reviewers/followers!

I'm sorry that I have not been on Goodreads, lately. I keep thinking about you all and praying for you. But, well, I admit, my lack of reading this year is getting to me, so it's hard for me to look at my reading challenge stats and see how far behind I am.

This has been a busy year for me so far. On top of my full time job, I traveled to Georgia to be in a movie this summer. It was delightful. I was merely an extra, but it's a start, isn't it? :) I met some truly wonderful people and it will forever be in my heart.

And finally, as I'm sure you all are tired of hearing of it, but this time it's for real. I've got a brand new book that's right around the corner from being published. The process takes some time, but soon it'll be available to read, my dear readers. So keep an eye out, for soon I hope to post the good news that my second book is on the market.

Until then, I will keep you in my prayers, try to get caught up on my reading and look forward to the cool weather headed our way in the fall. Again, thank you all!

2018 So Far

Greetings, friends and readers!
It has been so long since a post of mine. How has the year 2018 been for all of you? Has anything exciting been going on as of yet?
The beginning of this year has been an interesting one for me. I'm still working at my job in the salvage yard, but my hours are more tolerable now, so that is a relief. I've been going full speed with my studies of business management, voice and violin, and am even taking a Hebrew class, too!
Some challenges have also risen within the last few months. My dad has been going through some health issues. The doctors are not quite sure what these issues are, although everything points to the heart. We have been in and out of doctor's offices like crazy trying to figure out what in the world is wrong, but at the same time, our bond as a family is growing deeper, even if we can't quite see it yet. There is a morning coming...I am sure of it. :)
But on a lighter note, some other wonderful things are happening. First, my sister is going to have another baby. This one is a little baby nephew, whom I am very excited to meet in August when he arrives!
And lastly, the book that I've been promising is getting close to being published...is finally on it's way. Very close, now.
You are probably very curious about the title, so I'll give you a little hint. :) In the KJV version of the Bible, look up 1st Corinthians 11:24. The title of the soon to be published book is contained in the verse. So feel free to have a guess at it! Comment below and let me know what you think the title is!
I hope that 2018 has been a good year for all of you so far! I'm eager to get caught up on my reading and maybe make my goal this year. Until my next post, happy reading!

Where Our Hope Lies

Good morning all my friends and readers.
I can hardly believe that it has been since April since I've written a blog post. Life has been too full to dedicate some time to a serious post, I suppose. Oh, how I have missed all of you and hope to be more consistent here on Goodreads.
What have I been doing in my absence? It's been a spiritual journey so far this year. April 3rd, I started a new job as a receptionist in a local salvage yard. I never pictured myself working in a such a place, but my God had other plans. I've slowly learned to call the yard my mission field, my Moab, if you will. I work for an amazing boss and have truly wonderful coworkers. Since then, I've been promoted into doing a second job, working in an auto body shop in addition to the auto parts sales. Can you start to see why I have not been on Goodreads in a while? :)
But on the side of working two jobs, my writing is still going along nicely and the new book (whose name I still will not reveal, not yet. :)) is nearly finished. Well, I say that now. Keep watching for updates because I hope to send it off to the publisher very soon!
I suppose the latest update from me had I been consistently keeping up with this blog was the event two days ago that the entire US was talking about - A total solar eclipse. I had the privilege of watching it with my family, my two little nieces, sister and parents. We saw only 95% of it where we were, but that was still enough to cool the world down and darken it to make our surroundings appear like we were looking through tinted windows. It was beautiful and breathtaking. If you like, comment below and let me know, did you see the eclipse in the United Sates? Did you see all of it or just part of it? What did you think about it? What was it like?
As I was walking in my back pasture just this morning, I could not help but think about one word that's been echoing in my mind for a long time: Hope. I won't deny that there are a lot of weird and unhappy things going on all around us all over the world. (No, don't worry. I'm not going to predict the end of the world, here. Can't predict what I don't know.) Things have been happening for centuries that make us feel like the entire world is falling apart, or our own words are doing the same. It's been happening since Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord. There's been some turmoil in my own life, but one thing became clear to me yesterday. We cannot place our trust in the people around us. We cannot place our trust in the ground beneath our feet, for even then, it may start to shake at any time. We cannot even fully trust the sun in the sky, for the light of such a star can even be eclipsed. There is only One who can offer hope, that we can place our trust in forever. The One who made the stars of the Heavens, Who created a beautiful eclipse two days ago for the US to enjoy and take delight in. Who gave everything so that He could have a relationship with us.
Find your hope in Him, my dear readers. He is faithful and will not be moved. He is steadfast, His light will never stop shining even when it seems the world has gone dark.
I hope to hear from you all soon! Happy reading!
In Christ's service,
Autumn Slaght

Love, Victory and Freedom

He has risen.
He has risen indeed.
“Autumn, what's your favorite holiday?” I'm often asked. To which I reply without thinking… “Resurrection Sunday.”
I have two. Valentine's Day, as I believe I've mentioned before is my second favorite. The love holiday. But there is one that trumps even February 14th on my list of favorites. That is another love holiday. A day to celebrate a love deeper than we can imagine. A day to celebrate three things: Love. Victory. And freedom.
Love. Love was a light in the earth's darkest hours. Spoke encouraging words to a table filled with fearful men. Prayed diligently for friends and for all men and women. Love knelt in a garden, pouring sweat and blood. Love knew what was to come, what love had to face in the moments ahead and dreaded it, shuddered at the thought but chose the route anyway. Love reached out with a healing hand and healed the bleeding ear of an enemy's servant. Love admitted to being the one that the soldiers were searching for, but told them to let his friends go their way, let them go, don't take them! Remained silent as false accusations assaulted Him, even though He was innocent.
Love carried a crossbeam and was nailed to the splintery tree.
Love was when God became a man. Love was God nailed to bleed and die to reach and love one such as I. (Taken from the song “Love Was When” by John E. Walvoord.)
Victory. The entire world was silenced. Darkness breathed down the necks of the men and women who walked the streets of Jerusalem. The enemy laughed and his minions no doubt were dancing in the streets. Until the moment. The sun broke the horizon. The earth shook.
And in that moment, the Son of God conquered death.
Now for those who believe in Him as Savior, death no longer holds any despair for us. Jesus Christ conquered sin and death in those three days that His blood poured out, that He lay in the tomb and rose again, shattering the chains that sin and death had clamped around the world. It is finished. The Greek Word that Jesus used on the cross tetelestai was also used on business documents or receipts meaning...paid in full. So when Jesus used it, He meant that the punishment for sin for us was paid in full. Done. No more needed to be done. In that moment, the work was finished and victory belonged to Jesus over sin. And when He rose on the third day, what we celebrate today, death no longer has a hold on those who believe in Him.
Freedom. I have felt the chains of sin binding me. The voices of guilt and despair hissing into my ear. Feeling so lost in the darkness that no matter which way I turn, all I see is darkness. Yes, I was a captive to sin. Until Jesus rescued me. He was the only One who could deliver me from the clutches of sin. The only one to offer me forgiveness. The only one to declare me free. One of my favorite verses is “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36. All because Jesus was willing to give up His life, we can now be free. Free not for a time, not for our life...but for eternity.
My friends. I hope today that you were reminded of the great love, victory and freedom we have in Jesus. It was a beautiful day and for many, a day for getting together with family. But look! Take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of sacrifice. Remember. “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. I hope that this day, you were reminded of this great love that your Savior had for you.
On that same note. All this was coming to my mind as I worked on my second novel, the one that I really, really hope to get published this year sometime. That is what the book focuses on. How great is the love and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. How real it was. How deep. It deals with the details of His last supper, His prayers in Gethsemane, His death and His resurrection in personal detail. So keep watching! I've been working on this novel diligently for a year now and I hope to see it in the hands of my readers very soon.
Happy Resurrection Day! And remember...He is risen.
He is risen indeed.

As Vast As The Ocean

March 31st. 2017. Today, I stood and looked out over the ocean and dipped my feet in the water and heard the roar and song of the waves for the first time ever.
What can I tell you? It took my breath away.
Hearing that I needed to do some research for the next book that I'm writing (whose title still remains a mystery…don't worry, I'll tell you eventually.) my sweet flight attendant friend from church let me accompany her on an overnight. So I got to fly commercial for the first time, and lay eyes upon the ocean. One of the best days of my life.
As I sat on the beach next to my friend, I closed my eyes and just heard the waves. The roar followed by the fizz as the waves crashed onto the shore was deafening, but soothing at the same time. The sound of the waves was like thousands of tiny base voices singing the same note all at once. The bubbles as they washed onto shore then retreated back out to sea was like a sigh of relief from the voices, a hissing contentment. The tips of the waves spattered, as if millions of tiny white creatures were racing for the shore.
I watched wave after wave roll up onto the shore. I observed a little bird with long legs running out to bury his beak in the sand after the waters retreated to look for some tasty morsel to eat that might have been carried in by the tide. He would wait until the last minute, then run just ahead of the tide before the larger waves could overtake him. The joy that was brought into my heart from that little bird and from the saltwater dancing their way to shore ran deep and contenting.
As I sat there, little bits and pieces of music filled my mind. “As vast as the ocean, as full as the sea.” I had heard songs, messages, sayings that mentioned that God's love is more vast than the ocean, stronger than a thousand seas. As deep as the ocean, how it surrounds us like the ocean surrounds a swimmer. I've even heard some simple things like God's love is as big as the ocean!
But I never really, fully grasped the meaning of those words until I looked around at the ocean. I found myself agreeing with everyone who has said that His love is like the ocean. I was thinking about it.
Think of how magnificent the ocean is. As far as the eye can see. Deeper than we can fathom. (No, that time, “fathom” was not a pun. Although it would have made a good one… :)) Vast, untamed, unimaginable. Such is the love of God for us.
The ocean is always active. It is never still. Waves tip the surface and the closer they come to the shore, the larger they become. God, Himself, is always at work, always doing something in our lives. Could be small waves, barely making themselves known in the very midst of the Pacific Ocean. They could be huge breakers that overtake you in seconds and plunge you under the waters. You definitely cannot miss seeing the huge waves rolling and tumbling, headed right for the shores. But the Lord, and His love, is never inactive...it's always somewhere changing someone's life, being present in someone's heart.
But my favorite? My friend talked about standing further out into the ocean than I dared venture into. “You can feel the pull of the waves.” She said. “You can literally feel the sand washing out from underneath you and as the waves go back into the ocean, you can feel them pulling you with them, drawing you out. And yet, it's weird because at the same time, you can feel them trying to push you back.”
Even standing in ankle deep water, I could feel this pull that she talked about. Hard to keep my balance. Hard not to go deeper into the waters. Such is the love of God for us. Even if we're only immersing ourselves in, so to speak, ankle deep water, if Jesus Christ is your personal Lord and Savior, can you not feel His love trying to pull you further and deeper in? A pull so strong that you fight to take a step back, but you want to take another step forward. The things of this world, the father of lies, sin, the pleasures of this world, our overflowing schedule they try to push us back onto shore. The Lord wants you to go deeper, but the rest of the world wants you to go back to the shore.
I have felt these conflicting pulls before. God's love was so strong that I wanted to go deeper. Knee deep. Waist deep. Shoulder deep. Over my head. But the rest of life...it happens to us all...wanted me to go back onto shore. Try to push me back, knock me over, anything to keep me from going any deeper. Have you felt the pull and tug of God's love, my readers? Perhaps you are feeling it now? Perhaps you feel the longing of the Lord to go into a deeper relationship with you. Breathe in. Take a step forward. It's okay; the God who is calling you to go deeper knows about your fears, He knows about what is holding you back. He knows, and He will take care of you. It's okay...just take that first step. Even if hard things come, it's worth it. As He lets His love, care, forgiveness and chances for second chances wash over you, you will find that it's worth that next step deeper into the relationship with Him.
It was hard for me to leave the ocean. I would have stayed there longer. I would have never left. But the memories that I've taken with me off of the beach will never leave me. The lessons that God taught me about His love just from those four hours of watching the waves tumble and crash onto the shore will become part of me, just as the ocean has.