Ralene Burke's Blog, page 12

A Spekkie Author Christmas Part 2

Christmas is my favorite time of year–always has been. So many memories . . . Like the time I bought my mom a special book and made her cry, or the time we were moving over Christmas and “decorated” our van, or the first Christmas I spent with my husband. What’s not to love?

So, this week, I asked the speculative fiction authors what their favorite Christmas memory is. As with any group, it’s a fun array of answers!

Oh, so many! My siblings and I would stay up all night long reading books in...

December 2015 Goals

So, we’re going to pretend that I didn’t make goals for November. Everyone okay with that? Seriously, though, it was another rough month for me. A lot of things kind of converging at the same time across the board, mostly because of illness pushing stuff back . . . again.

I didn’t accomplish any of my goals for November, but I did manage to make a little progress with my health. Yay for progress! (You know I like to keep things positive!)

Now we’re into December–the last month of the year! Ca...

A Spekkie Author Christmas

Spekkie? What’s a spekkie? Well, I’m glad you asked.

A spekkie is the nickname people at Realm Makers have given speculative fiction writers. What’s speculative fiction? Well, that’s a term that encompasses genres like fantasy, sci-fi, supernatural, and the like.

It’s been several years since I delved into the world of speculative fiction. And what an exciting adventure it has been! I’ve met a lot of amazing people who have imaginations as wild as mine–many more so.

For the next few Wednesday...

Bellanok is Free!

In honor of Cyber Monday, Bellanok: The Reluctant Savior is FREEtoday and tomorrow (Nov. 30-Dec. 1). If you haven’t got your copy yet, now’s the time!

Currently, it is still only available on Amazon, but don’t let that hold you back. Remember, you can always get the Kindle app for your phone, your tablet, your computer . . .

Now, I know many of you were expecting the release of Bellanok: An Urgent Quest sometime today or over the last weekend. However, due to many things going wrong at the s...

Never Give Up! (by Ane Mulligan)

God invited you on this writing journey with Him, so even when discouragement hits—and it will—don’t give up. God kept the publishing door shut to me for many years. I first went to committee back in 2006. I didn’t get a contract, but I got an agent out of that trip.

I went ahead and wrote another book. The following year, my first manuscript found its way to committee again. Then the second one did. I was getting a lot of affirmation, but no contract. Then, the second book went to pub board...

Why I Write Romance (by Patty Smith Hall)

‘And the LORD GOD said, “It is not good than man should be alone; I will make a helpmeet for him.”’ Genesis 2:18 KJV

Love! Romance! Commitment!

And that’s just Genesis, folks!

A lot of folks don’t know this but I almost gave up writing Christian romance years ago. It was after a published author I admired told me to stop writing ‘fluff’ and work on something that would bring honor to the Lord. The pain I felt at those words! I knew God had called me to write romance but I couldn’t help wonde...

Bellanok Part 2 Cover Reveal!

I know you’ve been waiting for it, folks. And here it is . . .

Bellanok: An Urgent Quest

(Part 2 in Bellanok serial)

Brian has finally arrived on the island of Bellanok. But everything is not as Fauna, the fairy queen, had described it. As he explores his new surroundings, danger lurks around every bend in the mountains, every tree in the forest, and even in Brian’s own mind.

Something is calling to Brianfrom the vast wilderness, and it won’t let him rest.

Yeah? Who’s ready to read it? Onl...

Confessions from an Angry Chewer (by Hannah Conway)

Angry chewing: excess, quick grinding of chewing gum until the point one’s jaw tires.

It’s a real thing, or at least it is now.

Confession: I’m an angry chewer. Not angry as in I’m having some inner turmoil eruption. Angry as in focused, determined.

When it’s time to get serious, tackle the job in front of me, I pop in a piece of gum, and go into warrior mode, winning all life’s battles.

Laundry piled high and needs folding? Not a problem. Angry chew.

Forty-twoindividually wrapped snacks for...

Tea with Me: Of Bellanok’s Origins and Characters from OUAT

It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged regularly. I’m excited that one of my goals is to get back into it as I so enjoy sharing with you all. So, I’m glad you’ve taken time from your busy schedule to join me for another spot of tea.

There are several questions that I get asked over and over again. So, I thought, in addition to the ones I specifically get asked on my Facebook page, I’ll try to answer at least one of those on my “Tea with Me” posts.

Where did you get the idea for Bellanok?

Like m...

Confidence in Uncertainty (by Jennifer Slattery)

What would you do, if you knew you couldn’t possibly fail?

You’ve probably heard that question before, maybe at a conference, or perhaps you read it in a Facebook meme. We love questions like that, don’t we? They remind us of God’s incomprehensible power and faithful love. For surely, if He plants the desire within us, and if He calls us to it, the doors will begin to open fast and wide.

But what if I asked a different question? What would you do if you knew you might fail? If you knew the ro...