Michaela Bush's Blog, page 10

TURNING FOR GOOD: PHILIPPIANS 1:12

 Good overcomes evil. It's easy to say, easy to hope for, but when the rubber meets the road--what about then? When you're faced with difficulty and asking why, it's not an easy pill to swallow, right? I was really struck with that while studying Philippians 1:12 and surrounding sections for a WIP I'm working on and wanted to share. Because Paul knows a few things about turning evil for good, and just how the Lord manages to work through and despite trial and difficulty and thorns in sides and persecution the likes of which the Church hasn't seen for a long time.

In this verse, Paul was encouraging the Philippians that, even though he's under arrest right now, the Lord was using those circumstances to actually reach the guards that were holding Paul prisoner! He continued to share the gospel message to anyone and everyone he came in contact with, and people were converted because of Paul's example and dedication to the faith. 

Paul didn't stop what he was doing for the Lord, nor did he allow bitterness or unrest or unease settle into his spirit through his prison time, even though he easily could have. How often do we question God and ask why when we're going through difficult circumstances because we chose to follow Him?

Because Paul didn't allow his circumstances to color his attitude toward the Lord, Paul was still moldable in God's hands and able to be used for God's intents, making the most of the prison sentence. 
It's the same assurance woven through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Notably, Genesis 50:20 when Joseph tells his brothers that, even though their actions were meant for evil, the Lord turned it for good and the rescuing of many people. We see it time and time again through the Bible, not just with Joseph and Paul. David, too, shows this change from sorrow to delight in many of his psalms. Because the Lord takes darkness and turns it to light--and He is the only one who can. We must only be obedient and moldable.  


He can even take our own mistakes and screw-ups and turn them into testimonies of how He drew us out of the darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Does that mean that God's will aligns exactly with how we envisioned or dreamed our life would be? 
No.
There's trial and circumstance and pain on the path of following Him, but so is joy and peace and hope and love and mercy beyond anything we can comprehend. And if we give up our own will and align ourselves with the Lord's, we'll rejoice with every opportunity, just as Paul did. 

Freelance Friday: Dialogue and Setting (and how to improve both!)

 

Okay, so this Freelance Friday article is one I’velooked forward to alllll year. (I’m not sure why I waited this long to shareit.) (It could’ve totally been for January.)

One of the questions I got last year when I launchedthis idea was: How can you improve dialogue and setting descriptions as awriter? And this was honestly one of my favorite things about my collegecareer, because I learned so much, and this question helped me rememberthose tips.

So without further ado…

DIALOGUE

It can be tricky to ensure that each character “sounds”unique to the point that readers don’t get lost in dialogue because everyonesounds monotone. So one of the best things you can do is create a characterinfo document. Where’s the character from? What’s his/her accent? Are theredialects specific to this region? If it’s a made-up region, what real-lifeexamples can you pull to describe them? Do they always mispronounce certainwords, and other characters always correct them? Do they use a lot of fillerwords (like, and, but, etc.) or do they use big words to the point of being abit annoying? What’s their laugh sound like? Their voice—gravelly, soft, harsh,nasally? Do they get quiet when they’re mad, or do they start screaming? Dothey have a favorite insult or perhaps a pet name? Do they struggle to recallnames and so they give everyone descriptive nicknames instead, like Pink Hairor Crooked Nose?

Once you have those character traits sorted out, youcan work on sprinkling them throughout your manuscript consistently, but not sooften that readers get annoyed. You can easily create such character sheets forevery character in your novel, secondary characters included (because most ofthe time, readers end up adoring the secondary folks too)!

SETTING

This is one of the most important things that peopletend to forget in writing their novels, but you can create such an amazingresponse in readers when you describe the setting. You can even use setting to provokea particular mood for readers, and of course, it’s important that readersclearly understand where in space the characters are at. So how can you honeyour setting?

Ask yourself what colors best represent your character’scurrent mood and internal struggle. Go on one of those paint websites andscroll through their color selectors to pick out an aesthetic and save it.Print it out. Paste it in your notebook, whatever it takes. How can youincorporate those colors into their setting? Maybe the houses have a particulargloomy gray color when the character is going through their “dark night of thesoul” to borrow from Save the Cat! Or maybe the sun is a little brighterand the leaves more vibrant just moments before the news that changes yourcharacter’s world. Perhaps those colors are washed out until your characterfinds the person that’s meant to turn their world upside-down, and then oneday, the neon lights hanging in diner windows are a little brighter. And so on! 

Is there certain imagery or something important to thecharacter? Incorporate that often. For example, in Back To Me, mycharacter feels like she’s drowning. So she visits a bridge and watches thewater underneath it often. She works nearby, and she can see it from her placeof work when she’s struggling mentally. As the story progresses, she learns tosee the water as something softer, not something she’s thrashing around in. It’sincorporated both metaphorically and literally in the story to maintain thatthread throughout. 

Another good tip for incorporating crisp descriptorsfor your settings? Go outside with a journal and pencil and describe in verseyour surroundings. Don’t use any filler words at all. Find ways to describe thecrisp orange leaves rattling in wind. How clouds scuttle across blue oceans ofsky. Dead bark standing stark against winter’s white…you get the gist. Thisexercise can be difficult, but it’s important to flex your writer’s muscles inways you’re maybe not used to, and doing so can improve your prose as well. Now,once you’re comfortable with this exercise? Sit down and envision yourself ineach setting your characters will find themselves in. Bring it up in your mind’seye and describe it the same way. Pull from your favorite lines and incorporatethose descriptions in your novel.

It takes work, exercise, and experience to improveyour dialogue and setting skills, but it’s one of the best ways to gut-punch areader and evoke something.

Do you have any tips you’d like to share?

RELEASE DAY - WHERE THE LAST VERSE ENDS

 It's officially release day for my little contemporary Christmas novella slice-of-life, Where The Last Verse Ends! It's a cutesy novella, a quick read, and the perfect super-sweet story to curl up with a cup of coffee with. You can snag a copy for $0.99 today, before the price goes up tomorrow! It's also available in paperback format as of today. 

BLURB

All Kylie White wants is a quiet Christmas in her hometown of Bethlehem. But when she returns home jobless to crash at her parents' place, she has to face the past she left behind. All chaos breaks loose: well-meaning friends setting her up on blind dates, a secret admirer, small-town rumors, and when things couldn't get worse, Kylie crosses paths with Dustin James: Bethlehem's favorite homegrown musician and the one person she never wanted to see again.

Kylie is faced with a choice: she can unravel the past and step into the next chapter of her life, or she can keep running away. But when the truth splits open, can she choose to let go of her own hurt?

Where The Last Verse Ends is a hopeful, fun story celebrating friends, family, forgiveness, second-chance romance...and a Christmas miracle or two.

You can snag a paperback or Kindle copy now on Amazon - click HERE - or if you need a little more persuasion, check out reviews on Goodreads HERE from my sweet ARC readers!

And if you want to check out the tropes, here are a few! Is your interest piqued? 

Blessed are the meek?

 Long-ish post today, rambling about something called meekness. 

Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

When my young adult Bible study did a study on the fruits of the Spirit awhile back and meekness came up, every head turned toward me. But no matter the biblical standing of the characteristic, it’s something I struggle to accept within myself. The problem with meekness is, people exploit it. You draw the attention of people who don’t have good intentions. Folks who know how to manipulate well will find you. And then you’re tempted to become something other than what God created you. Something tough enough to scare everyone off. And I’ve fought against that for years. 

But satan loves to take something good and twist it. Maybe the point of meekness is that you’re strong in Christ without the harsh and sharp edges. That your strength is gentler than most, but that doesn’t mean you’re weaker. That you’re confident enough in God’s protection that you stop being afraid of the repercussions of being meek in a wicked world. 

I’m speaking to myself here, folks, but to you too. It’s easy for me to want to become harsh. To put on a facade that I hate because I hate the games people play, the fact that people have *often* gotten in my face and expected me to bend to their will, not God’s. 

But what will you hate more—the world in all of its flesh, or God’s design for your life? 

Blessed are the meek, for God will take care of them. Me and you both. Whether it’s His divine protection or godly friends who jump in when they notice something’s not quite right, or when God gives you the strength to gently but firmly reject the hurt and intimidation and mind games — He’s got your back because He knew what you’d face in this world. 

REVIEW: I WANT TO TRUST YOU, BUT I DON'T by Lisa TerKeurst

Hey everyone! I'm thrilled to be sharing a review of I want to Trust You, But I Don't by Lisa TerKeurst. It's such an important topic and book, so check out the blurb before you read my review!

BLURB

New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst shows you what to do with your skepticism and distrust so you can heal from past betrayals and move forward with strength and resilience.

Trust is the oxygen of all human relationships. But it's also what trips you up after you've been burned. Maybe a friend constantly lets you down. A leader or organization you respect turns out to be different than they portray themselves to be. A spouse cheats on you. A family member betrays you. You're exhausted by other people's choices and starting to question your own discernment. And you're wondering, If God let this happen, can he even be trusted?

How can you live well and step into the future when you keep stumbling over trust issues? Lysa TerKeurst says it's not simply about finding better people to walk with. It's about developing the stability you long for within yourself and with God, so you don't become cynical and carry a broken belief system into every new relationship. In I Want to Trust You, But I Don't, Lysa shows you how to

identify which of the eleven relational red flags are stirring up distrust, so you can pinpoint why you're feeling uneasy;stop having more faith in your fears coming true than God coming through for you by asking crucial "what if" questions to better process your doubts;recognize when a fractured relationship can be repaired by considering a reasonable list of characteristics necessary for rebuilding trust; andunderstand the physical, emotional, and neurological impact of the betrayals you've experienced and start healing from the inside out.

In a world where so many things feel alarming, this book will give you a peace that isn't dependent on unpredictable people, circumstances, and experiences. Instead, it offers practical and biblical ways to make real progress toward healthier perspectives, relationships, and a future you can authentically look forward to.

 GOODREADS | AMAZON

MY REVIEW
This book is phenomenal, hands down. If you have struggled with betrayal, trust issues, insecure attachment styles, or anxiety around your social relationships, this book is an absolute must-read. TerKeurst takes a biblical, biochemical, and physiological perspective on trust issues, taking the time to study why exactly our body reacts the way it does if we have had broken relationship problems in the past, and then relates it back to biblical foundations. She points out how to understand the impact of problems we've faced in our life and how they make us prone to certain reactions with new people, whether we should trust them or not, and how to sharpen our God-given discernment to not only heal, but also recognize when that discernment is throwing a red flag correctly. It's an incredibly important book designed to help us gently grow in discernment, correct ourselves, step away from negative experiences, and ultimately to heal in a biblical manner. It's the rare book I would recommend literally every single person to read.

CHRISTMAS STORY RECS!

 Yeah, yeah, it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But in case you needed to add to your TBR for Christmas, have I ever got the cute recs for you!

Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters -- this one has all the pop culture references, a suspense plot, a Christmas breakup and an adorable couple to replace the situationship breakup. It's an easy five-star read for me, and I can't wait to reread it this year.

Meddling with Mistletoe by Liz Johnson -- this one is a hysterical matchmaking mishap, Christmas in a small town, featuring the mandatory Christmas pageant, and also including an antique shop, which I loved. Check out my review HERE.

Between Us by Michaela Bush (yours truly) -- for a plot around healing, sweet romance, a Christmassy wedding, and forgiveness, this is the novella sequel to Back to Me. It's a quick read, too, and full of heart. (PLUS they go caroling at a super cool Victorian historical museum. Which was a blast to research.) 

and Where the Last Verse Ends by yours truly -- for matchmaking, friends like family, second-chance romance, Christmassy towns, and cafes with music, oh and a secret admirer. You'll want to grab a preorder soon! This one releases November 5th, and it's a quick little novella with friends based on my very own Chaos Crew. *Names have been changed to protect the...uh..."innocent..." 

COVER REVEAL: LIKE THE AIR AFTER RAIN by Kellyn Roth!

 Hey all! Today's cover reveal is for Like the Air After Rain by Kellyn Roth! If you're a fan of historical fiction, you're sure to enjoy this book. Check out the blurb below!

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What if nothing’s left after the storm fades?

Aubrey Montgomery has three problems: the care of his adolescent sisters, the managing of his household, and his own loneliness. Over two years have passed since he was rejected by Cassie Hilton. Although he no longer trusts himself to love a woman properly, he could settle for an amicable partnership—if the right woman came along.

Lorelei Hilton only has one problem that she knows of: her manipulative and controlling father is arranging a marriage to a spineless boy in order to maintain the family business—and keep it out of her very determined, very female hands. But if Lorelei can’t force her way through a door, she’ll crawl in a window. To rescue herself and her sister, she sails off to England in search of a man with the gumption to stand up to her father.

After a chance meeting and an intense contract negotiation, Lorelei and Aubrey agree to a marriage of convenience. As they grow closer and struggle through the trials of their utilitarian arrangement, Aubrey is left with a question. Can the sacrament of marriage be entirely practical—or is there something otherworldly about it?

Like the Air After Rain is the second novel in The Hilton Legacy, a stand-alone trilogy featuring characters from the author’s first series, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy.

Preorder now - click HERE! This is Book 2 in The Hilton Legacy, arriving May 2025, for readers of Christian Historical Romance and fans of the Victorian era.

(And look at those tropes...*insert heart eyes*) 

Are you excited for this next installment in the series? Have you read Book 1, Like a Ship on the Sea, yet?

JUSTREAD REVIEW: GUARDING TRUTH by Lynette Eason & Kelly Underwood

Hey everyone! I'm excited to share my review for Guarding Truth by Lynette Eason and Kelly Underwood, part of the Elite Guardians: Savannah series! I've really been enjoying these books, so I was excited to review this one too! Here's some more about this novel. 

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The truth might destroy them both…

The one thing that Former Army Ranger turned elite bodyguard Juliette Montgomery regrets is never telling fellow solider Caleb Styles her true feelings. But how could she? They were co-workers, and then the guy went and saved her life. And that turned out to be the one thing that cost them their relationship.

So Juliette has moved on, trying to forget Caleb—and her feelings.

Caleb hasn’t forgotten her either. But he has no idea she now lives in Savannah, Georgia…especially since his life is full as guardian of his niece, Ivy, after her parents were killed.

And then he discovers that his brilliant niece’s computer skills have attracted a notorious hacker group. More, when Ivy tracks the hackers, she endangers Caleb's cyber-security company.

Enter his need for the Elite Guardians.

The last—very last—person Juliette thought she’d see again is Caleb Styles, let alone be assigned to protect him. And now, suddenly, the very last thing she needs is to let her heart take over. She must protect them both—which means ignoring…or trying to ignore—the attraction between them.

Caleb never understood why Juliette walked away from him…but he can’t deny that his feelings for her never died. Except maybe she doesn’t share those feelings because her only goal seems to be protecting Ivy. And, it’s probably for the best.

After all, they need all their wits about them to find the hackers and unravel their plans.

And then they discover the hackers’ true intent—and it becomes a race against time. But it too late to protect their hearts from the truth?

An electrifying blend of suspense, chemistry, and unbreakable bonds, this romantic thriller is a must-read for fans of the Elite Guardian series.

Elite Guardians: Savannah
Book 1: Vanishing Legacy
Book 2: Hunting Justice
Book 3: Guarding Truth

Elite Guardians Collection
Book 1: Driving Force
Book2: Impending Strike
Book 3: Defending Honor
Book 4: Christmas in the Crosshairs 

AMAZON | GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

This story was a bit of a slow start, personally, but it really hit the ground running in the second half of the book! It's explosive, really thought-provoking, and there's a few plot twists you just can't believe until it's happening. It's easy to empathize with the main characters, and the addition of Ivy really keeps the story rolling along. AND, even better, the tension between Jules and Caleb is realistic, it's not forced or mere miscommunication or something that's typically overused, it's a very legitimate problem they have to work through (on top of, you know, fighting the elite hacking group targeting Ivy). If you enjoy the Elite Guardians series, you'll definitely love this book and the others in the Guardians collections. Loved it!!

FTC: I read an advanced edition in order to review; thoughts are my own.

SIGNED BOOKS AVAILABLE!

 

Well folks, it's that time of year again. If you're looking for signed books in time for Christmas (or if you've just been waiting to snag a copy), I'm now taking orders! Orders will be due by early November. Check out my full list HERE and order if you're interested! If you have a paperback already and want a signed bookplate, those are available for free on the form, too. Check it out!

AUTHORS: FREE ADVERTISING! BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY SALE PREP!

 Hey everyone! 

So in case you forgot about last year, which was the first year I offered a list of books authors were offering for sale during Black Friday/Cyber Monday, I'm doing so again this year and looking forward to it! It's more fun peddling sales when you can also cheerlead about someone else's books! ;) SO if you're an author and you're looking to get some exposure, maybe for a different audience than what you normally reach, please check out the link below and fill out the info! 

Click HERE to get rolling! It's basically free advertising, y'all. More info can be found there! Deadline is November 1st!