Kellyn Roth's Blog: Kellyn Roth, Author, page 12
January 28, 2022
The Beyond Her Calling Relaunch Blog Tour | A Post about Scotland
Hey everyone! Guess what? I’m sick. And in addition to being sick, I started a job this week that I wasn’t planning on starting (it’s a good thing, but it means my schedule was screwy). Basically, there is no “post about Scotland” … yet. I’ve been too tired and too sick to write it. That said, for the scavenger hunt, this post had to go up, so here it is.
[A Post About Scotland Shall Be Here Some Day, I Hope! Sorry that it’s not here yet. My throat hurts! And I worked this week before said throat started hurting. 
So yeah.]
Ivy Knight feels that her life may never start. Though her loving family assures her that her place in the world is close to home, she still feels a push to move out of her comfort zone. Hoping against hope, she travels to her old friends at McCale House, seeking a purpose.
Jordy McAllen has just returned to Scotland after his education in London. He fears that what everyone has always said about him may be true: he can’t be a good doctor, let alone a good man. Determined to prove himself, Jordy snatches up the opportunity to become the doctor in the village of Keefmore near his parents’ farm.
When an old friend decides to travel to Keefmore and visit a relative, Ivy follows. She soon finds herself drawn to Jordy, but as their attraction grows, they both face doubts. A relationship between the two of them feels improbable—and might just require a step of impossible faith.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
Saturday, January 22nd
1 — Kickoff Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
2 — “Why Christian Fiction is an Important Genre” — Guest Post Written for Jane Mouttet @ Library Lady’s Kid Lit
Sunday, January 23rd
3 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Hannah E.M. @ Precarious Bookstacks
4 — Interview with the Author by Grace A. Johnson @ Book Nations
Monday, January 24th
5 — A Post about Ivy & Jordy by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
6 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Jane Mouttet @ Library Lady’s Kid Lit
7 — [NOTE: as this post did not go up, please refer directly to the next post in the tour.]
Tuesday, January 25th
8 — “Handling Tough Topics with Respect to Historical Accuracy” — Guest Post Written for Michaela Bush @ Tangled Up in Writing
Wednesday, January 26th
9 — A Post about My Other Characters by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
10 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Grace A. Johnson
Thursday, January 27th
11 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Vanessa Hall
12 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Hannah Killian @ The Writerly Worm
Friday, January 28th
13 — A Post about Scotland by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
14 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Marguerite Martin Gray
15 — “Why Christian Fiction CAN End with a Kiss” — Guest Post Written for Grace A. Johnson
Saturday, January 29th
16 — “My Least Favorite Christian Fiction Tropes” — Guest Post Written for Merie Shen @ Imperial Scribis
17 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Megan Jones @ Why I Read
18 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Katja L. @ Old-Fashioned Book Love
19 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Alexa Mintah @ Thus Far
20 — Final Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
Monday, January 31st
Wrapup Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
Head over to my Instagram account to enter!
Giveaway 1This blog tour hosts two giveaways! The first is as-usual – a simple blog tour giveaway!
Prize:
Beyond Her Calling in paperbackThe first three novels in Audible (audiobook) formatA painted ornament by Painted Prose DesignsTea (!)Giveaway 2The scavenger hunt!
TO – CLICK TO VISIT THE NEXT BLOG
Happy Hunting!
TTFN!
~Kell~
P.S.What do you like about Scotland? Any questions I could answer when I come back to this post?
January 26, 2022
The Beyond Her Calling Relaunch Blog Tour | A Post about Characters
In today’s blog post, I’ll be talking about my top 2 minor characters in Beyond Her Calling as well as the McAllens, who come as a group!
My Favorite Things About Aunt DaphneHer random gardening.Her excellent advice on all matters, even if at times she can be a little abrupt in her mannerisms.How she seems to always know when someone is upset even though she’s pretty practical herself – she basically goes, “C’mere!” whenever she sees someone suffering.Her honesty about her past and the ways she’s grown as a person.Her past relationship with Roger and how she talks about him. <3 <3 <3Her telling Ivy and Violet they aren’t allowed to be English roses. Finally.TEA.My Favorite Things About Ena OwenAgain, her practicality.Her openness to new relationships despite the fact that she’s been kicked when she’s down quite a few times.Her perseverance. Always, her perseverance.The way she parents Bridget in such a no-nonsense way.The whole scene where she was in labor was fun … even though I didn’t run it past anyone so now I’m nervous. Her bookish nature is fun to write, too! And it’s nice to write a bookworm who isn’t dreamy.My Favorite Things About the McAllensMr. and Mrs. McAllen clearly are caring parents who put a lot of energy into raising their children.THE FARM STUFF. YUS.I love how abrupt Edith is, even though it’s a little abrasive. You can tell she really loves and is loyal to her family even so.SHEEP. And Bean.Ben is our stoic king. Yet wise. So wise. Writing his story is going to be so great!Mick is fun, and a little like Jordy, and as the third son … yeah, he’s gonna have to show who is he is as a person sooner or later, which will also be fun to write!Then there’s Liam and Tommy who don’t have a lot going on in this book – though they’re still sweet.I just love their joking, energetic nature. We can definitely tell where Jordy got it!
Ivy Knight feels that her life may never start. Though her loving family assures her that her place in the world is close to home, she still feels a push to move out of her comfort zone. Hoping against hope, she travels to her old friends at McCale House, seeking a purpose.
Jordy McAllen has just returned to Scotland after his education in London. He fears that what everyone has always said about him may be true: he can’t be a good doctor, let alone a good man. Determined to prove himself, Jordy snatches up the opportunity to become the doctor in the village of Keefmore near his parents’ farm.
When an old friend decides to travel to Keefmore and visit a relative, Ivy follows. She soon finds herself drawn to Jordy, but as their attraction grows, they both face doubts. A relationship between the two of them feels improbable—and might just require a step of impossible faith.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
Saturday, January 22nd
1 — Kickoff Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
2 — “Why Christian Fiction is an Important Genre” — Guest Post Written for Jane Mouttet @ Library Lady’s Kid Lit
Sunday, January 23rd
3 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Hannah E.M. @ Precarious Bookstacks
4 — Interview with the Author by Grace A. Johnson @ Book Nations
Monday, January 24th
5 — A Post about Ivy & Jordy by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
6 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Jane Mouttet @ Library Lady’s Kid Lit
7 — Interview with the Author & Review of Beyond Her Calling by Esther Jackson @ The Lost Review of Odd Books
Tuesday, January 25th
8 — “Handling Tough Topics with Respect to Historical Accuracy” — Guest Post Written for Michaela Bush @ Tangled Up in Writing
Wednesday, January 26th
9 — A Post about My Other Characters by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
10 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Grace A. Johnson
Thursday, January 27th
11 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Vanessa Hall
12 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Hannah Killian @ The Writerly Worm
Friday, January 28th
13 — A Post about Scotland by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
14 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Marguerite Martin Gray
15 — “Why Christian Fiction CAN End with a Kiss” — Guest Post Written for Grace A. Johnson
Saturday, January 29th
16 — “My Least Favorite Christian Fiction Tropes” — Guest Post Written for Merie Shen @ Imperial Scribis
17 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Megan Jones @ Why I Read
18 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Katja L. @ Old-Fashioned Book Love
19 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Alexa Mintah @ Thus Far
20 — Final Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
Monday, January 31st
Wrapup Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
Head over to my Instagram account to enter!
Giveaway 1This blog tour hosts two giveaways! The first is as-usual – a simple blog tour giveaway!
Prize:
Beyond Her Calling in paperbackThe first three novels in Audible (audiobook) formatA painted ornament by Painted Prose DesignsTea (!)Giveaway 2The scavenger hunt!
TRAIN – CLICK TO VISIT THE NEXT BLOG
Happy Hunting!
TTFN!
~Kell~
P.S.Do you like the minor characters in my books? What books had their show stolen by minor characters?
January 24, 2022
The Beyond Her Calling Relaunch Blog Tour | A Post about Ivy and Jordy
In today’s blog post, I’ll be talking about Jordy and Ivy, who are one of my favorite couples. I decided to spend a little time listing my favorite things about them. So let’s getting into it!
My Favorite Things About Ivy KnightShe’s super sweet & innocent.Yet I wouldn’t call her naïve, not exactly.She stretches me to write about someone I don’t relate to at all, as I am not nearly as creative and emotional as her.That said, her sweet acceptance of her emotions is super cute to me.Her utter lack of knowledge of her own worth is actually fun to write, too.MUSIC! I love music, and writing her POV is great, because I can include so many little references that only a musician would understand.Also, reading. She loves Jane Austen, which is one of my love languages.My Favorite Things About Jordy McAllenHis accent!His honesty. His utter, stupid honesty, even when it’s not necessary.His common sense can be super fun!His sense of humor can honestly be the best, if only because he is a goofball.I love how he loves his family and other people close to him so devotedly and yet not without common sense. He’s very practical in his devotion.Even beyond his practicality, he’s a lot of fun! It’s great writing an extrovert character (specifically an ESFP Type 7).The fact that he’s a doctor honestly adds depth to his character for me, because beyond his silly exterior, he’s obviously gone pretty far to be responsible and intelligence … which plays in to his character arc, of course!
Ivy Knight feels that her life may never start. Though her loving family assures her that her place in the world is close to home, she still feels a push to move out of her comfort zone. Hoping against hope, she travels to her old friends at McCale House, seeking a purpose.
Jordy McAllen has just returned to Scotland after his education in London. He fears that what everyone has always said about him may be true: he can’t be a good doctor, let alone a good man. Determined to prove himself, Jordy snatches up the opportunity to become the doctor in the village of Keefmore near his parents’ farm.
When an old friend decides to travel to Keefmore and visit a relative, Ivy follows. She soon finds herself drawn to Jordy, but as their attraction grows, they both face doubts. A relationship between the two of them feels improbable—and might just require a step of impossible faith.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
Saturday, January 22nd
1 — Kickoff Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
2 — “Why Christian Fiction is an Important Genre” — Guest Post Written for Jane Mouttet @ Library Lady’s Kid Lit
Sunday, January 23rd
3 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Hannah E.M. @ Precarious Bookstacks
4 — Interview with the Author by Grace A. Johnson @ Book Nations
Monday, January 24th
5 — A Post about Ivy & Jordy by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
6 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Jane Mouttet @ Library Lady’s Kid Lit
7 — Interview with the Author & Review of Beyond Her Calling by Esther Jackson @ The Lost Review of Odd Books
Tuesday, January 25th
8 — “Handling Tough Topics with Respect to Historical Accuracy” — Guest Post Written for Michaela Bush @ Tangled Up in Writing
Wednesday, January 26th
9 — A Post about My Other Characters by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
10 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Grace A. Johnson
Thursday, January 27th
11 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Vanessa Hall
12 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Hannah Killian @ The Writerly Worm
Friday, January 28th
13 — A Post about Scotland by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
14 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Marguerite Martin Gray
15 — “Why Christian Fiction CAN End with a Kiss” — Guest Post Written for Grace A. Johnson
Saturday, January 29th
16 — “My Least Favorite Christian Fiction Tropes” — Guest Post Written for Merie Shen @ Imperial Scribis
17 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Megan Jones @ Why I Read
18 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Katja L. @ Old-Fashioned Book Love
19 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Alexa Mintah @ Thus Far
20 — Final Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
Monday, January 31st
Wrapup Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
Head over to my Instagram account to enter!
Giveaway 1This blog tour hosts two giveaways! The first is as-usual – a simple blog tour giveaway!
Prize:
Beyond Her Calling in paperbackThe first three novels in Audible (audiobook) formatA painted ornament by Painted Prose DesignsTea (!)Giveaway 2The scavenger hunt!
THE – CLICK TO VISIT THE NEXT BLOG
Happy Hunting!
TTFN!
~Kell~
P.S.What are your favorite things about Ivy and Jordy? What makes a character likable to you?
January 22, 2022
The Beyond Her Calling Relaunch Blog Tour | Kick-Off Post
Hey everyone! Guess what? It’s now launch day for Beyond Her Calling! Eek! I can hardly believe it. I frankly can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks of this book.
I have a lot of fun posts coming up in this giveaway – and reviews are being posted on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, etc., too – as well as lots of posts on social media.
Feeling overwhelmed? This is a good place to start!
Ivy Knight feels that her life may never start. Though her loving family assures her that her place in the world is close to home, she still feels a push to move out of her comfort zone. Hoping against hope, she travels to her old friends at McCale House, seeking a purpose.
Jordy McAllen has just returned to Scotland after his education in London. He fears that what everyone has always said about him may be true: he can’t be a good doctor, let alone a good man. Determined to prove himself, Jordy snatches up the opportunity to become the doctor in the village of Keefmore near his parents’ farm.
When an old friend decides to travel to Keefmore and visit a relative, Ivy follows. She soon finds herself drawn to Jordy, but as their attraction grows, they both face doubts. A relationship between the two of them feels improbable—and might just require a step of impossible faith.
Buy on Amazon ~ Add on Goodreads
Saturday, January 22nd
1 — Kickoff Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
2 — “Why Christian Fiction is an Important Genre” — Guest Post Written for Jane Mouttet @ Library Lady’s Kid Lit
Sunday, January 23rd
3 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Hannah E.M. @ Precarious Bookstacks
4 — Interview with the Author by Grace A. Johnson @ Book Nations
Monday, January 24th
5 — A Post about Ivy & Jordy by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
6 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Jane Mouttet @ Library Lady’s Kid Lit
7 — Interview with the Author & Review of Beyond Her Calling by Esther Jackson @ The Lost Review of Odd Books
Tuesday, January 25th
8 — “Handling Tough Topics with Respect to Historical Accuracy” — Guest Post Written for Michaela Bush @ Tangled Up in Writing
Wednesday, January 26th
9 — A Post about My Other Characters by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
10 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Grace A. Johnson
Thursday, January 27th
11 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Vanessa Hall
12 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Hannah Killian @ The Writerly Worm
Friday, January 28th
13 — A Post about Scotland by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
14 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Marguerite Martin Gray
15 — “Why Christian Fiction CAN End with a Kiss” — Guest Post Written for Grace A. Johnson
Saturday, January 29th
16 — “My Least Favorite Christian Fiction Tropes” — Guest Post Written for Merie Shen @ Imperial Scribis
17 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Megan Jones @ Why I Read
18 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Katja L. @ Old-Fashioned Book Love
19 — Review of Beyond Her Calling by Alexa Mintah @ Thus Far
20 — Final Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
Monday, January 31st
Wrapup Post by Kellyn Roth @ Lilacs and Reveries
Head over to my Instagram account to enter!
Giveaway 1This blog tour hosts two giveaways! The first is as-usual – a simple blog tour giveaway!
Prize:
Beyond Her Calling in paperbackThe first three novels in Audible (audiobook) formatA painted ornament by Painted Prose DesignsTea (!)Giveaway 2The scavenger hunt!
THERE – CLICK TO VISIT THE NEXT BLOG
Happy Hunting!
TTFN!
~Kell~
P.S.I can’t believe it’s launch day! I’m so looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks about my book. Have you read it – or will you read it? What are your thoughts on books set in Scotland? Do you have a favorite launch day activity?
January 10, 2022
A Post of Conundrums (in which I ramble about what God is saying to me)
Lately, I’ve been having a lot of thoughts, and it’s been a long time since I’ve rambled here. So I decided to talk about two things:
Being a control freak and being a lazy bum.
More or less.
So let’s talk about that.
The Self-Control ConundrumMy car has been in two accidents (I was in the car both times BUT I SWEAR BOTH TIMES IT WASN’T MY FAULT Y’ALL) in about two weeks in early December, and as someone who has never even got a speeding ticket and rarely even made a stupid driving choice (I’m cautious but efficient in my driving), I have been absolutely furious.
It’s a mix of things. Part of it is that I don’t want to be a poor driver. I take deep pride in driving well. I have gotten pulled over one (1) time several years ago, and it led to me breaking down and sobbing uncontrollably in front of my bosses at work. I can be very efficient in the moment, but later, I get more upset by that kind of thing than anything else.
The other thing, I think, is wanting to be in control.
Driving a car (or any other large machine— or guiding children—or writing stories based off carefully-structured outlines) is a matter of self-control. You do the absolute best to be in control of yourself and even elements outside of your control.
And because when you’re driving a car, every movement matters—and because when you’re herding children, every small expression matters—and because when you’re writing stories, every word matters—you become a bit bogged down because there are just so many elements you CAN control.
Yet, the entire point of humanity is that you can’t control everything. Because we live in a fallen, sinful world. Because we are fallen, sinful beings.
The Alice ConundrumI’m not much like Alice, really.
But since this is such a central theme in both books 3 and 5, I think whenever I mention my struggles with control, people go, “Ohh, right, like Alice!” People like to assume I only write characters based on myself when really nothing could be more untrue.
I write characters who aren’t like myself. Really, I’m a combination of a lot of my characters—and sometimes there is nothing or not much of me in certain characters, too.
But in this case, a lot of my characters’ struggles are fears of mine. I fear being that controlling, like Alice, so I pour my fears into her and speak to her gently (mostly through Nettie), as gently as I wish I would speak to myself.
I fear losing my identity in Christ in an effort to serve a great and powerful master: The Self.
Because guess what? I don’t have car accidents. I don’t let children misbehave, and I don’t let them feel unloved and underappreciated. I don’t write bad books.
On the surface, these are GOOD things. Which is actually part of what I want to talk about here today. But they can become BAD things if the accomplishment of such things is more important to me than the reasons behind them.
As always, the Great Because comes in here.
I don’t have car accidents BECAUSE I believe the way you drive a car says a lot about the kind of person you are (responsible, even-keeled, gentle but firm).
I don’t let children misbehave BECAUSE I want to be a good shepherd of them.
I don’t let children feel unloved or underappreciated BECAUSE they are beautiful small humans who deserve love and respect.
I don’t write bad books BECAUSE I do everything heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.
Which brings us to …
The Responsibility ConundrumWhat. We. Do. Matters.
IT MATTERS, OKAY?
Every action, every word, every thought. Seize it, for it matters!
As a Christian who believes that, without Christ, I am an utter imbecile, sometimes accountability can just go out the window.
We forget that Christ was full of both GRACE (we love that one) and TRUTH (icky, sticky truth).
Oh, folks, we need balance there, for we are RESPONSIBLE.
Christ has removed our sins, but if we drive our car off a cliff, we will have consequences.
If we don’t shepherd the children in our car firmly and lovingly, we will have consequences.
If we half-ass anything (pardon my French, but I want you to remember this), we are not giving God the glory. More than any other group of people on earth, we should be careful and intentional about everything we do.
Yet at the same time, the life of a Christian is one of immeasurable rest.
The Contradiction ConundrumIt feels like a contradiction, doesn’t it?
We need to rest in Christ, focused on His kingdom in Heaven, and yet we are obligated to do so many things on earth, just as Christ Himself did.
The truth is, the life is a constant conundrum of moderation.
One of the most important verses of all times is actually often misinterpreted. A lot of Bibles translate Philippians 4:5 as “let your gentleness be known to all men,” or some variation. However, the root word is truly “moderation.”
In other words, be reasonable. Be seasoned, be mature. Not gentle as in weak. No, not at all! Gentle as in patient, gentle as in mild, gentle as in … loving.
Huh.
Let your moderation, let your love, be known to all men.
You need BOTH complete rest in Christ AND strength from Christ to do the good work He has laid out for you, whatever that is.
The Christian life is full of contradictions that really work perfectly together. Christ was fully man and fully God during his time on earth. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate Beings combined into One perfect whole. A man and wife are one flesh and yet irrevocably separate humans.
Let’s see if I can’t illustrate it a little better.
The Driveway ConundrumA few weeks ago, when the first snowfall of the season happened (I’ve been snowed in more this year than any other year of my life and it’s only January), I couldn’t get my car up my parents’ driveway. If it wasn’t for the fact that I feared my ability to get back into town safely on the slick roads, I would have turned around and headed home.
As it was, though, I had to either get my car into a safe place at the bottom of the driveway, where I could leave it, or get the car up the driveway, which wasn’t working.
I remember praying, a bit scattered, hoping that someone would come along and tell me what to do, preferably one of my uncles. My dad was in surgery at the time, and my go-to brother at work, so I wasn’t sure who to turn to.
But I did know that just sitting at the bottom of the driveway wasn’t an option, no matter how powerful my prayers were.
Long story short, I kept trying. I tried five or six different times, even though after every try, I thought about giving up. However, I’m not sure what got me up that driveway … only that something did.
What I’m saying is that I wasn’t going to go barreling up that driveway—but neither was sitting at the bottom of the driveway going to help me.
The Inconclusive ConundrumThere are some things the human brain can’t know, but we hate it. We hate a conundrum. We want to solve things.
And that’s so hard because, at the end of the day, to be human is to not have anything but the knowledge of good and evil.
Sure, we got that, but we don’t know what to do with that knowledge. It was the original sin, the original falling-away from God, when we demanded what we assumed was wisdom instead of submitting fully to our Creator.
Yet it’s not wisdom. It’s not wisdom to know things. That’s just, well, knowing things. We know what’s right or wrong, we know when something feels off, we know that a lot of life cannot be black and white …
And yet we need it to be. We see darkness and light and want to draw a harsh divide.
I’m rambling now, and I’m sure there shall be a number of condescending comments explaining to me what I mean (I love when y’all do that!), but, well, y’all have to realize that I don’t want the answers anymore.
Right now, in this period of my life, it is enough to trust God.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
And, for today at least, that is enough.
The Peace ConundrumOnly an idiot would be at peace while the world spins around them, tragedies flying about like rocks tossed by a tornado.
Yet here we Christians are. We are supposed to have peace.
Remember:
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
I don’t really have peace right now. I’ll be honest and say that. I don’t understand why things are happening the way they are.
But I do know, with my head at least, that the things that are happening are happening for a reason. God has overcome the world.
And I am His child. He is on my side, and He is not punishing me for past mistakes or expecting me to make future mistakes. He is a Good Father, cheering me on.
I never want to forget to fear the Lord. A lot of idiots (if you are one, I’m not even gonna apologize) like to portray God as all-loving, but He is mighty and fearful, too. Only a fool looks into the mouth of a lion without trembling, and God is both the Lion and the Lamb.
So while I don’t want to be a fool …
Well, I trust that particular Lion to shut His mouth and not eat me alive. God’s strength is often more evident in His restraint. He has so much incredible power, so much potential to absolutely decimate us, and every right and ability, moral and ethical and physical and spiritual, to do so.
Yet He doesn’t. He loves us. He keeps us safe. He wants us to succeed, to be happy, to come to Him with everything.
Anyways, I’m getting off subject. Let’s wrap this puppy up.
The Conclusion ConundrumThe problem with conundrums is there is not always a conclusion.
Sometimes there can’t be a conclusion, and that’s okay. That said, I am learning things about trust and Who God really is that are annoying to me. As always, there’s an element of angsty teenager to my relationship with Christ.
However …
With that inspirational note, I leave you.
TTFN!
~Kell~
P.S.What would you ramble about if you were given the opportunity? (I mean, if you have anything to share, even a link, share it!) What has God been teaching you lately?
Also, Beyond Her Calling is going on tour!January 3, 2022
In Which Denial is Just a River, Really {2021 Wrapup & 2022 Goals}
Dear 2021,
First of all, how dare you?
Okay, but more seriously … I AM IN DENIAL. IT IS NOT 2022!
I always feel a little gobsmacked by the new year, but this time, it feels doubly so.
2021 was a wild year. Like, I always say that, but this time, it is so true. I have always had hopes and expectations (see my 2021 beginning post) for the beginning of the year. To quote last year’s post:
My expectations are based on reality. On things that I see (I mean, foresight is a thing). I can’t see my hopes; I don’t know how they could happen or if they could happen. I’m afraid to believe they would happen!
I actually am going to address some of my hopes for 2021 and how they went later in this post, because I did vaguely type some out.
2021 was a crazy year for me. I mean, I got married! Not only did I get married, but I had no clue I was going to get married until like … April. Of course the actual wedding happened in August. I was crazy busy all summer, and then August and September were crazy, then since then I’ve been bored out of my mind. So yeah.
I’ve moved out of my parents’ house, had job shifts, gotten used to being married, and … well, it’s been crazy but overall pretty good after some adjustments.
Let’s talk about 2021!
Spend serious time in prayer.Check. I have gotten a lot better about praying one way and another. It was really a hard challenge, but I did it!Keep a careful tab on my spending.Check. In part because of my marriage, this was easier, but I also didn’t save as much as I’d like.My Year in WritingI started My Fair Marchioness, an Author Conservatory project, earlier in the year with 23,983 words, but I didn’t finish it.I wrote The Duke’s Firstborn (aka The Duchess Imperative) at 25,721 in September.For NaNoWriMo, I wrote After Our Castle and A Prayer Unanswered with 124,450. I finished A Prayer Unanswered with an additional 27,637 words.I edited: At Her Fingertips, Beyond Her Calling, A Prayer Unanswered, The Duke’s Twin, The Duke’s Firstborn (aka The Duchess Imperative), Souls Astray, and The Lady of the Vineyard.I also outlined four projects with the Author Conservatory, which I may share about at a later date! Oh, and I outlined and planned for a lot of personal projects. So yay!Despite the fact that I got married and edited dozens of projects, I still managed to only write 50k or so less than last year. My total word count for 2021 is 201,791. This is not including thousands and thousands of words added to At Her Fingertips, Beyond Her Calling, etc.My Year in MediaI only read about 57 books this year, and I think at least 10 of them were just my own books (which are on Goodreads), which I’ve written, edited, etc.However, I did read some fiction, and some of those weren’t rereads! A few that stood out were The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham (10/10 recommended), Forget Me Not by Sarah M. Eden (more like fluff but still fun), The Heart’s Charge by Karen Witemeyer (excellent story!), Winning the Gentleman by Kristi Ann Hunter, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë (which I am ashamed I never read before; it’s glorious). I also enjoyed A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis because apparently I love even the incomprehensible.A few books I was less-than-thrilled with (including linked reviews because I still need to write reviews for most of my positive ones but I spit out bad reviews like a rotten bite of apple): You Who?, Marrying Miss Milton, and To Marry An Earl.I reread quite a bit this year, and like I said, I also added several of my own novels to Goodreads. This year, I was ruthless with the “DNF” (did not finish) button. I just didn’t have time for a book I wasn’t going to enjoy thoroughly.As far as movies go, I saw Black Widow in theaters, Encanto recently (there is no LGBT+ stuff in it so everyone shhh), and then rewatched a lot of TV shows and movies. I also saw The Atonement (not rec’d because of content but my gosh I’m broken) for the first time. I watched the TV show Victoria (still crossing my fingers that they’ll make more!) and learned a lot about Victorian history that I hadn’t known since I never have much paid attention to anything between 1820 and 1855 before this year, at least in England. Oh, and I watched Scrubs (a TV show – still not sure what I think of it but boy, did I ever binge it). So that was interesting.I rewatched Chuck, Community, The Mentalist, parts of Psych, Downton Abbey, The Office, a lot of Parks & Recreation, All Hail King Julien, Gilmore Girls, The Andy Griffith Show, parts of Perry Mason, a lot of The Paradise, and … yeah, basically, I’m alone in the apartment all day, and I NEED some background noise or I’ll go crazy. I also am at least halfway through Poldark with my brother (cannot get into it but we keep trying).For music … I don’t have Spotify, so how would I know? But I did listen to a lot of Taylor Swift (evermore stan), some Sea Shanties (My Son John is a whole vibe – I mean, can you hate the British but quietly?), a lot of nostalgic music, and of course more Hamilton and Six and a lot of country music.2021 Hopes WrapupTo quote and respond to last year’s post:
That I’ll find a way to move out or at least develop a new trajectory for my life that feels a bit more structured/less self-contained.I mean … yes? I’m 100% on a new trajectory.That I’ll legitimately learn and grow as a person in Christ.I feel like I have. It’s hard for me to be the judge of that, but other than Christ, no one really can be the judge of that.That I’ll be able to spend more time with my friends, particularly Bailey, and that we’ll be encouraging to each other.Ehhhh … in the first three quarters, yes. In the last, no. But I’m working on getting back to seeing friends!That I’ll develop new friendships – or at least stability in the friendships I have.I feel like this has happened more or less. I still want to work on it, though.That Americans will begin to grow a pair and stand up for what is right.I think more people are, but just not enough.
That people all over the world will turn to God in the fray.I’m hoping this is happened. I’ve seen some changes …That God will extend grace to my country, even if we don’t deserve it.We’ll see.That I’ll look back at 2021 and go, “Wow, I really filled that year well!”I think I can!The Story of 20212021 started with me feeling beaten by 2020 in some ways … and in others, just kind of sad.In the first months, my depression came back full force.I determined to be a better friend – but had several big conflicts and several major disappointments. They eventually resolved themselves, but I felt dispirited by them, nonetheless.Late snows, puppies, and adventures with Bailey highlighted my early 2021. I also had some fun times with a couple other friends.But I still remember often feeling hopeless and friendless. I kept a prayer journal through about April where I wrote a total of 104,813 words to God, and there’s a lot of angst there.Of course, in March 2021, I started dating Matthew Langdon. We were engaged at the end of May, and we got married in August. It was nuts, frankly speaking, but so far it’s been fine.One of my goals for 2022 blogging/Instagram posts is actually to talk more about my marriage on here, and elsewhere, because I feel like I’ve figured out enough that self-isolating is no longer necessary. That may seem ridiculous, as it’s only been slightly longer than four months, but you know. I feel settled. I can talk.I definitely had a number of points in 2021 where I felt hopeless and lost. Right now, though I still wish some things had happened that didn’t, I feel like I have a fairly positive trajectory. That may be because I exercised today, though. (Let’s just say that my depression decreases when I take care of my body by about 50%. Who knew?)In October, I ran out of state funding (it’s more complicated than that but …) and am no longer working with Matthias. Which was tough. Tougher than I expected. Especially since I have these lovely spiraling thoughts while I’m alone.However … I also got so much done in November and October of this year. Like, half of my word count from the year was from November and December. That’s insane. I’ve written two novels and edited like four.I’m actually not beating myself up as much as I used to. I’m not sure why this is. Maybe after years of doing so, God finally got through to me on how ridiculous it is to constantly abuse and discredit the human being He created! I mean, I’m not just my sins. Christ redeemed me. There’s more to me now than that, through His grace.I feel like I have a lot more to say about 2021, but let’s move on to 2022 anyway. Despite my denial, it is here, and I must address it!
2022 Hopes & Expectations2022 has some awesome things coming down the line! I’m hoping to go to at least one writing retreat – and in addition, if it happens, I’ll go to a writing conference (West Coast Christian Writers). Or I may just attend online.
I’m also excited for Year 2 of the Author Conservatory program! We have a lot of fun critique coming up, and y’all know I love critique. Also, the business side looks super fun this year! Oh, and I want to work on outlining a bunch of fun projects while I have the opportunity.
By the end of 2022, I’ll either be on the way to having a baby or be dealing with doctor appointments. Both of which are big things – one good, one not so good.
We’ll see what happens. We’re also looking for a house to rent. Once we do that, we could potentially have a dog (namely, Bonnie), which I would really appreciate.
I’m hoping to spend more time outside, spend more time with friends and family, and be more helpful to other people. At least, that’s the end goal.
My 2022 GoalsPublish Beyond Her Calling (January), A Prayer Unanswered (July), and After Our Castle (October). This will mean my first six novels in The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy are launched!Relaunch the Kees & Colliers series with new covers.Attend writing events! I have at least one planned.Wherever possible, prioritize physical health (exercising, eating, etc.), using my bullet journal to keep track.Write the McAllen Brothers series.Get a job! Whether this is pursuing an old job, if the opportunity presents itself, or taking on a new one, I need to earn income in some way.I’ll probably add more goals later, but for now, those are the main ones! As I mentioned, I was a bit sideswiped by this year, and I’m not prepared.
However, I have time. There’s no need for anything to hurry!
2022 Word of the YearI don’t usually do a word of the year, but last year, I chose “persevere,” which I really liked, and now I’m going to do it again because, even though I kind of think it’s weird, I want to do it. Besides, I like to link it to a Bible verse (last year was Hebrews 10:35-36) which I think try to work through as the year progresses!
My 2022 word of year is:
Sustained
(Past tense, because I already am sustained!)
My verse:
Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. (Psalm 119:116)
So, we begin the year!
TTFN!
~Kell~
P.S.What did you do in 2021? What do you want to do in 2022? SAY SOMETHING TO CONVINCE ME THE TIME HAS ACTUALLY PASSED BECAUSE I CAN’T ACCEPT IT!
November 20, 2021
The Author Conservatory: my review of the college-level writing program {also, giveaway time!}
NOTE: click here to go to the first post in the tour because you’ll need it for the giveaway.
Hey everyone! I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m a student of the Author Conservatory. To quote the website, “The Author Conservatory is an affordable three-year program that launches Christian students into sustainable writing careers.”
I’m part of a student-run, instructor-supported-ish (lol) review tour (that features an epic giveaway!) to share more about the program, so yeah, I am a little biased, but I’m also a huge skeptic. As you know, I enjoy trashing things.
For this reason, I hope you’ll realize that me taking time to tell you about this program is something special and unique.
I honestly a not the most enthusiastic student in this program (more on that later), but I still gush a little because I believe in what Brett Harris and Kara Swanson are doing with the Author Conservatory.
As a lot of you know, I’m an indie author who has been published since January 2016. As such, I’ve spent the last seven years trying to understand the confusing and difficult career of being an author.
I’ve written dozens of books (literally – I did the math, and it is officially into the dozens category). I’ve read all the blogs, tried all the programs, joined various groups, attended a couple events (not so much my speed since I started so young).
But more than that, I’ve been writing since I was seven, and that is now an entirety of thirteen years. I’ve been writing SERIOUSLY (meaning literally almost every day for at least a couple hours) for about eight years, during the biggest changes, biggest transitions, biggest learning periods of my life.
This is not the case for a lot of Author Conservatory students. Yes, the age range in the program is probably anywhere from 13 to a scattering in their early 30s, and some of them (like Faith Blum) are super advanced.
Most of them are not. I think a lot of my friends from the Conservatory would freely admit to you that they did not enter this program as experienced writers. Just as talented writers who needed instruction.
Folks, at this point, though I still need improvement (my plots are not always super tight, my writing can be a bit too old-fashioned) and am not rich from writing by any means (this year was the first when I’ve made a significant profit, and even then, I’m not about to buy a Ferrari), there are a lot of ways in which this program felt, as I looked at it, too basic. (Well, that’s kind of their biggest selling point to me now, but more on that later.)
Originally, Brett Harris and Kara Swanson had launched what was then the “Author Program” tract of the Young Writer’s Workshop to get individualized mentorship (September 2019), and I’d joined just for the mentorship from these amazing professionals. Little did I know then that this was just the beginning of Brett and Kara’s plans!
I took a break over the winter, and when I returned in June 2020, I learned that the program had been majorly revamped. Brett and Kara were launching the Author Conservatory for real.
I wasn’t sure at first if I wanted to be a part of it. I talked to Brett a couple times on the phone, trying to decide if I wanted to join.
After all, instead of the more advanced stuff they’d been teaching before (which had been primarily platform/marketing/etc. things that I’d be able to use at this stage in my career with books already out), I’d have to learn about writing craft, start a side business, et cetera.
I felt like this might slow me down.
Brett basically told me (though don’t quote me on this because I don’t exactly remember what all was said) that they’d love to have me but he also wasn’t sure what I’d get out of this. Still, he thought there was a lot anyone could learn from this program.
I was a Founding Member, so I wasn’t paying full price, and I really do think Brett and Kara are amazing, so I decided to renew my membership and give it a try. Kind of not expecting much, frankly. I thought it’d be fun, and maybe I’d try the first year and see what happened, but like … how much could I possibly learn? I already knew all that stuff.
But in June 2020, I entered the first year of the YWW Author (now Author Conservatory) 3-year fiction program.
And you know, though I enjoyed it, I was still kind of skeptical.
Brett and Kara’s full plans hadn’t been entirely realized at this point, so everything was getting reorganized.All the students felt, at that time, younger than me, in a different place in life and in writing than me. Also, I didn’t know them well, so I didn’t understand yet that they were rock stars. I’m a judgmental curmudgeon. Leave me be.Though I someday want to traditionally publish, I’m in no rush & am perfectly happy being an indie author, but all the students at that point were 100% set on traditional publishing.I also felt a bit out of the loop because so many big transitions had happened while I was gone.Plus I was Dealing With A Lot that summer, so I’m sure I was like 80% out of it.
Then I started attending critique calls. And I loved those! And then the business tract started getting on its feet. And I loved that! And the program kept improving, sharpening itself, becoming better and better … until now, in November 2021, well, it’s frankly quite impressive.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Let’s talk about what the Author Conservatory coursework entailed for me.
Plus, it’s true that a lot of authors DO NOT master the fundamentals. Their books are FUNDAMENTALLY flawed, like a beautiful bridge with shaky construction. Brett and Kara’s approach to teaching writing craft like engineers are taught bridge-building is fantastic.In year two, I took two novels from a basic concept to a completed draft. I’m the type of person who was pretty stuck in my own process – and yet, I added another step, sharpened the way I write synopses and outline … and the drafts I wrote were very tight and quick.Then came the business trainings. I’ll talk about this more, but this was the first time I realized that my fellow students are insane. I’ve adjusted to this, but y’all, if you read this, know that I am impressed and frightened by your enthusiasm. How on earth can anyone sincerely be this excited about anything?! Okay, but back on track.I was also skeptical about the business trainings. (You’re nodding along at this point because I am skeptical of everything, lol. I’m starting to realize, reading the other student reviews, that I’m really the jerk of the program. I do not know how I feel about that fact.) However, they turned out to be super awesome. I learned some new things, but mostly, I’d already grasped a lot of these principles. That said, I deeply value the lessons learned there!However, what I really did learn from here was not the principles but the action steps inspired by them. Though I didn’t run a typical business, and I don’t know that I ever will, I really appreciate what we’re learning through the practical steps of the business training. I think anyone, not just writers, should have this type of mentorship! (P.S. Gregg Harris came on to handle the business side along with Brett, and I was legitimately excited about this and enjoyed working with him on my business!)They started bringing in new instructors and guests like Katie Phillips, Nadine Brandes, Mary Weber, Andrew Peterson, and Sara Ella, and I was an unimpressed historical fiction author until I realized how wise and amazing they are. Now, I’m so grateful they were able to bring on every one of these people to pour their amazing knowledge into us!Then they also brought on Joanne Bischof, and I was VERY HAPPY with that. Plus I’d already adjusted to the idea of new people.I was majorly impressed by Steve Laube. He is … literally the best. So much wisdom and insight! I love listening to his stories.However, the biggest thing I was impressed by is the process itself. The Author Conservatory three-year program … itself. The efficiency and care with which writers are easily turned into authors through this course absolutely blew my mind.The more I understood Brett and Kara’s idea here, the more impressed I was. And as the program has expanded and grown and clarified its purpose, I’ve become more impressed still.This is it – the program that teaches writers exactly what they need to learn to have a successful author career. This program eliminates the struggle, the confusion, the wasted time. It takes writers on a simple, easy-to-follow path that, though not for the faint of heart, is absolutely ground-breaking.
*cue me not understanding my fellow students’ reticence here*
I felt like I’d been waiting for Year Two for forever, and I’m so excited about it! In Year 2, we’re writing and editing a novella. I’ve already finished one and am working on a second just in case, so yeah, I’m thrilled!We’re learning more specialized writing craft stuff which has been fun. Again, I’m struggling to take anything away from it, but I’m definitely loving the reminders.I’ve enjoyed the craft critiques! I like getting my work picked at … don’t @ me.I’m also finally having time and energy to critique other peoples’ works, join all the calls, et cetera. And let me tell you … what I’ve gotten out of it has really increased by leaps and bounds as I put more into it! Not so much in learning, though that, too, but in what I’m getting out of having this community. It is amazing.I loooovvvveee the novella I think I’m going to publish! Can’t wait to share it with you!So far, not a lot of Year Two thoughts (I’ve been a little too busy to engage as I’d like to), but I’m so excited for our many critiques and edits toward the end of the year!
One of the coolest things about the Author Conservatory is that you have this built-in community of like-minded writers (and of course instructors) who are working together to achieve similar goals – namely, to create a sustainable and successful writing career.
These contacts are not going away. You’re basically working with the next bestsellers as you work to become a bestseller yourself. And I absolutely value every one of our awesome students for that reason!
However, let me share some things that I find funny about our community.
Everyone is WILD enthusiastic. Okay, I’ll admit it. Maybe this is because I’d heard a lot of the information before or because I’m just a calmer personality, but I find it HILARIOUS how all of them are so crazy positive about the new trainings! Honestly, even when I learn something hugely ground-breaking for me, I am not … like that? But it’s cool how hard everyone celebrates every little thing (even though I will never join in on this – I just don’t have that much emotional energy, ever, for anything).Everything is a blessing. I’m also apparently a lot less grateful than all the other students. Which I probably need to work on as a spirit of gratitude is so important. As someone who wasn’t born happy about anything, ever, for any reason, this is definitely inspiring to me!There are SO many inside jokes! Honestly, I’ve seen where most of them started, and sometimes, it makes sense, and sometimes, it doesn’t, but frankly, I find them hilarious and enjoy repeating them. I also love how, due to the recorded trainings, so many new students are able to share the inside jokes, too!I love how there’s virtually no difference (besides knowledge level, perspective shifts, etc.) between the newbies and the more Year 2/Year 1.5 writers. We all help each other, we all work together, we all are friends. I never see that in communities! Usually, eventually there get to be little cliques, and it’s hard to make friends, but in the Author Conservatory, this hasn’t happened. (Maybe those cliques will come in time, but it’s certainly not because of anything done by us Founding Members.
Y’all are gonna have to join and start your own cliques.)It’s definitely a unique and special place!
I wasn’t going to talk about this, but I decided I might as well because I know I would like to know what ACTUALLY is done, so here’s that information in case you’re like me.
I’ve drafted a novel and a novella. The Duke’s Twin and The Duke’s Firstborn (might be renamed The Duchess Imperative) are a slightly different genre for me, and they are a lot more twisty and complicated than other stories I’ve written. However, I was able to draft both of them seamlessly thanks to all the feedback I got!I’ve gotten two completed outlines that I was supposed to write but didn’t! Okay, more or less. I’ve started one novel and am debating when I’ll prioritize fixing it. They are both super strong outlines, and once my life stops shifting, I’ll write them pretty easily, I’ll bet! Especially with Author Conservatory support.Launched a business! Despite the fact that it was one of the busiest seasons of my life ever, I was still able to launch and support a virtual assistant business that raked in probably about $1,500 for me for very little effort over six months. Granted, I have probably the least impressive business on the community, and I shut it down after just a few months because I didn’t love the workload, but the process we go through to launch businesses is easy to follow and so perfectly un-scammy while also marketable. I love this process and wish I’d been able to dive into it a little more!Random Fun Story Time:
When I first started at the Author Conservatory and began working on The Duke’s Twin, Brett (who was still doing critique calls at that time) and Kara kept pushing me to find a better plot thread. Yes, it was fine, and I’d actually drafted an outline a while ago that I would’ve written if left to my own devices.
However, Brett and Kara didn’t let me do that.
Instead, they kept pushing me to make the characters likable, the plot make sense, the twists more crazy, the ending more satisfying. They pushed and pushed, and frankly, I wasn’t sure how to reach the ending of this stupid story.
Then, one night, Brett woke up (possibly in a cold sweat, because that sounds more dramatic) and scribbled down this perfect ending for the novel that I couldn’t seem to end.
On our next critique call, he went, “Kellyn, have I got the plot for you.”
And … that’s what I wrote. Frankly, I’m half of a mind to split royalties with him because I think most of the other students had to, um, actually come up with their own stories???
Anyways, it was genius, and I’m so grateful for him for putting that much thought into my novel. (Also, apologies for Ana for any annoyance that came from this. You have my sincerest apologies. I am super blessed by it, though. Every time I reread those last few chapters, the hilarity strikes me again.)
So tell me this. WHEN DOES THAT HAPPEN IN ANY OTHER AUTHOR PROGRAM EVER?!?!
But the thing is, we all support each other like that. It’s not just the instructors. It’s the students. They are all helping each other make their stories into the best ever.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. This is an amazing program, and I’m so happy to be a part of it.
The Author Conservatory is ground-breaking. It just is. I’m proud to be a part of this program, and every day I become more and more amazed by how awesome it is.
The instructors and students are all going above and beyond to create and participate in the most amazing course ever. Already, so many authors, agents, editors, and even publishers have expressed interest in our project. Already so many amazing accomplishments have been made by students.
I am so happy I became part of the Conservatory!
For anyone who participates in the tour, best-selling authors Brett Harris and Kara Swanson will be hosting a live Office Hours where you can ask your questions about writing, careers, Author, and more! Brett & Kara co-founded the Author Conservatory to help writers reach their dreams of becoming self-sustaining authors.
At the end of the tour, you’ll be directed to a Wrap-Up post (on Coralie’s blog) with details on how to register for the Office Hours. Additionally, you’ll find a link to submit your name for two giveaways!
The first giveaway is for six winners. Josiah DeGraaf and Coralie Terry (the admission advisors) will host individual 20 minute coaching sessions via Zoom. Josiah is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Story Embers as well as the Program Director of the Young Writers Workshop. They will each pick three names and spend 20 minutes with each winner to discuss your writing goals and questions. This prize is open internationally.
The second giveaway is for one grand prize winner! Each Author student is required to start a business, so the grand prize is a physical pack featuring products and services from our very own Author students!! The grand prize includes:
You must comment on each of the blog reviews in order to be entered in the grand prize giveaway (and the 20 minute coaching session giveaways).
You must submit the google form at the end of the tour (on the Wrap-up post here) so we can draw your name from the submissions!
The grand prize is open to US participants only. The coaching sessions and Office Hours are open internationally.
Next PostTo find the next post in this series, click here. (It will go live on Monday, 11/22.)
TTFN!
~Kell~
p.s.Are you a writer? What kind of ed-u-cay-shion are you putting yourself through? Would you ever consider a college-level alternative like this one? Let me know in the comments!
October 22, 2021
The Write for Life Blog Tour, Part 2 | To Save a Life
Hey everyone!
It’s time for part 2.
Y’all, I can not speak enough on how valuable children are. I cannot speak enough on how wrong it is to kill a child. And I cannot tell you how scientifically inaccurate it is to say that modern-day abortions do not take the life of a precious baby.
If you believe that abortion is only done on early-term babies who couldn’t survive outside of the womb, you are wrong. This book discusses one of such abortions that is “botched,” allowing the child to be born alive – something that happens more than you would think.
Which is why it means so much that people, like this author and others, are speaking up on the subject!
![To Save a Life (Natty's Warriors Book 1) by [R. M. Peterson]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1634330524i/32052225.jpg)
About To Save a LifeBook 1 of Natty’s Warriors, this book tells the story of two young couples: one with big questions and one with the answers they need. When a baby is born alive after a botched abortion, the parents are faced with questions they have never considered.
This story follows their journey to the Answers they need regarding Christ, the value of Life, and what they must do to turn their lives around.
There’s a bookstagram/blog challenge, author interviews, character spotlights, and more!
See the Rest of the Prolife Tour
Join the Honor Life challenge by posting on your blog or Instagram! Post a photo, or a quote, or a book, or a caption that features one of the prompts, and use the #honorlifechallenge hashtag. Don’t forget to link back to restinglife.com and lifeofheritage.com on a blog or tag @erikamathewsauthor and @lifeofheritage on Instagram!
I was so excited to have been given the opportunity to participate in this tour! <3 This is a cause near and dear to my heart, though I don’t get to talk about it much (mostly because I don’t talk about much of anything on here anymore!), and it’s wonderful seeing so many people sharing about it.
Keep fighting for life, y’all.
TTFN
~Kell~
October 21, 2021
The Write for Life Blog Tour, Part 1 | Sustainer’s Smile
Hey everyone!
I’m back from my yet-another-unofficial-hiatus-sorry-I’m-busy to talk about the Write for Life Blog Tour. (You can find out more about it here.) I’m so excited to be included, even in a small way, in this awesome celebration.
Today I’m spotlighting a story written by one of my dear friends, Erika Mathews. Her book debuted earlier today, and you can check out her launch day post HERE. (Definitely click through and check it out! And congratulate Erika on this awesome launch and awesome book!)
Learn the Basics
It’s Book Four of Truth from Taerna but it can easily be read as a standalone.It’s a prolife novel.It tells the story of Liliora Ellith, who makes peace with her past and discovers her future among the cradles of Taerna’s unwanted babies, born and unborn.It’s a kingdom adventure fiction novel.It’s clean and family-friendly, though it’s recommended for teens and up due to dealing with the issue of abortion. It’s available on Amazon right now!
Suffering suffocates her soul.
How can she ever smile again?
A helpless newborn…that’s exactly how twenty-four-year-old Liliora Ellith feels in her efforts to speak up on behalf of the youngest members of Taerna’s pleasure-driven society. Her tender heart for the defenseless and deep aversion to conflict throw Liliora’s soul into turmoil when tragedy opens her eyes to the quiet yet heartrending war on Taerna’s babies—both born and unborn. Adon Olam’s Word coupled with a secret in her own past fuel her determination. All she wants is to make peace with her past and discover her future among the cradles of unwanted babies. However, the challenges ahead of her threaten to send her spiraling into hopeless depression time and again. Saving innocent lives from the crush of the destroyer and raising a generation in the ways of Adon Olam seem more impossible than ever. At the very end of herself, will the sufferings of her and her babies prove to be anything less than the catalyst for complete disaster?
Win a signed paperback of Promise’s Prayer (Truth from Taerna #1) and other fun prizes! Enter here.
Find the RestThere’s a bookstagram/blog challenge, author interviews, character spotlights, and more!
View or Buy Sustainer’s Smile on Amazon
See the Rest of the Prolife Tour
Join the Honor Life challenge by posting on your blog or Instagram! Post a photo, or a quote, or a book, or a caption that features one of the prompts, and use the #honorlifechallenge hashtag. Don’t forget to link back to restinglife.com and lifeofheritage.com on a blog or tag @erikamathewsauthor and @lifeofheritage on Instagram!
Tomorrow I’ll be back with info on the other book in this tour, but for now, grab yourself a copy of this meaningful book and check out some of the other info!
TTFN
~Kell~
September 15, 2021
6-Year Blogiversary
I just wanted to post here really quickly and say … I’ve been blogging for six years.
And for a twenty-year-old, that’s a lot of my life!
This blog has lasted through high school, my first job(s), learning to drive and getting my license, every book launch I’ve done, my first and second/last boyfriends, and my marriage.
I’ve had this blog just a couple years longer than I’ve known my best friend.
I went from never having shared my stories with anyone outside of my dearest friends to having sold thousands of dollars worth of books in paperback, ebook, and audiobook form. On Kindle Unlimited alone, I’ve had a third of a million page reads (which is how I’m counting things at this still-somewhat-early-stage in my career).
I went from having never earned a dollar as an entrepreneur to having mentored writers, worked as a virtual assistant, and helped authors with blog tours, cover designs, and more.
I made and lost dozens of friends. I’ve had people come in and out of my life.
I’ve written millions upon millions of words.
And, though I don’t know how many blog posts I’ve actually published since I’ve deleted dozens of old ones and bad ones and ones that no longer relate to my current topics …
Well, I’ve written at least 646. And those 646 posts comprised of 577,327 words.
On those posts, there have been at least 10,000 comments, 30,000 views (and 10,000 visitors), and 1,000 likes (because likes aren’t really a thing on the new version of WordPress and of course all my old ones were lost when I switched to hosted in late 2019).
Basically, I know I have way more comments, views, and likes, but, um, I can’t tell you how many.
We have over 1,000 followers, give or take, across various channels.
Since switching over in 2019, the best views EVER were on September 10th, 2020 (I think due to the Growing Writers launch)
Anyways, I’m so excited about this milestone! Last year was obviously a bigger “even number” milestone (5), but this year, at 20, as I look back and realize I was just 14 when I started, well, that’s something special.
TTFN
~Kell~
P.S.What’s a big anniversary you’ve celebrated? For context, depending on what it is, you can view a year or even a month as a big anniversary. Despite the fact that “anniversary” comes from the same root word as “annual” meaning it’s … yearly …
Kellyn Roth, Author
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