Michaela Bush's Blog, page 9

DUAL COVER REVEALS: DRAGON HEART PRESS!

 Hey everyone! I'm beyond thrilled to share the dual cover reveals for two poetry collections from Dragon Heart Press! These collections are written by absolutely phenomenal poets, and I just know they're going to be amazing. Check out the info below!

Tending Clay, Unearthing Stars by MJ Anthony releases March 10, 2025 through Dragon Heart Press.

Today I am learning to take anxiety by the hand and teach this trembling, fragile beast that we are (and yet will be) okay.

In their debut collection, MJ Anthony navigates a complicated web of intersecting topics such as complex trauma, neurodiversity, lasting illness, and practicing self-love in a body long-alienated from you. Alongside the reader, the author combs tangles into threads and weaves them into a gentler future, reunifying selves and stories both old and new. Part hurting, part healing, and wholly original, Tending Clay; Unearthing Stars is a love letter to everyone living with a broken body or a troubled mind.

When One World Ends, Another Begins by Nathaniel Luscombe releases February 25th, 2025 through

Dragon Heart Press.

"Words became my bloodletting. I’ve been bleeding now for years."

At times playful, at times heartbreaking, When One World Ends, Another Begins is a raw, honest look at how it feels to be alive. On the surface, these poems are an examination of what it is to be human. Underneath, they’re an exploration of body image, fear, faith, and the ways life runs in circles. They exist to peel back the tough layers and expose the softness inside.

I had the privilege of reading an ARC copy of When One World Ends, Another Begins and it was absolutely phenomenal. I can't begin to recommend it enough. If you enjoy poetry in the slightest, you'll want to pick up a copy.

Make sure you follow MJ Anthony and Nathaniel Luscombe on Instagram for updates, plus Dragon Bone Press and Dragon Heart Press for future projects! (You can click each name for the link!)

Cover Reveal: WHERE HOPE BEGINS!

Hey everyone! I'm excited to share a super cute cover, this one for a Valentine's Day novella releasing on...Valentine's Day! Where Hope Begins is a quick read celebrating small-town romance, western charm and hospitality, healing, and hope.  It's a simple little story on choosing hope when you don't think you have it in you to care anymore. Choosing to see the light when you just want to give up. 

I had the opportunity to work with Brooklyne Elysse Design Studio on this cute cover, and she made the graphic below as well! She's currently available for cover design, so if you're looking to support a gifted designer who loves Jesus, give her a follow on Insta (or get that cover order in!) 

Without further ado, the cover:

BLURB:

Ellie Hopf isn’t looking for a new start, but it finds her in small-town New Mexico. Sent there to alleviate office tensions brought on by her ex-boyfriend, Ellie’s assignment is to document a Valentine’s Day festival held at Maxwell Creek Ranch. It’s there that she meets ranch hand Tate, who’s spent his own time running from problems.

Thanks to a nosy rancher’s wife, Tate and Ellie keep bumping into one another while she’s completing her assignment, and it’s clear that they work well together. But when push comes to shove, can they both learn to trust? Or will Ellie run back to what she knows before she gives Tate a chance?

Where Hope Begins is a clean romance novella celebrating small-town romances and finding hope in the midst of hurt.

Available on Amazon HERE. (Paperbacks available on release day, February 14th!)

Are you excited for this one? Let me know in the comments!

WHERE THE BRIDGE BEGINS: WHY?

 So. Why did I bother writing Where the Bridge Begins, featuring a chronically-ill main character?

Avery has a twofold problem: first, she was born with a Chiari malformation. It can cause balance issues, migraines, vestibular issues, and other more severe struggles, but it can be (sometimes) treated with surgery. Secondly, she struggles with Lyme disease--something that's an absolute powerhouse that can destroy someone with a myriad of symptoms. In the book, she struggles with a resurgence of symptoms, trying to find doctors who will treat her and listen to her problems instead of writing them off, and then the issue of experiencing uncomfortable symptoms as the Lyme disease is treated. The ups-and-downs of chronic illness are very real, and they don't go away with medicine or drinking more water or just powering through it. And a lot of times, people just don't understand or accept that. 

I wrote this for the years family members have struggled to be heard, understood, and treated by rural hospitals and doctors that are either ignorant or uncaring. 

I wrote this for friends who duke it out daily with chronic illness and still continue to live and shine a light for others.

It's for everyone who has been affected by Lyme disease, which is sweeping across my state and others through ticks--with no prevention, it's easy to catch and hard to get rid of. 

Before I was healed? I wrote this for the moment a pastor looked at me and said, "I'm sorry you missed out over just a little bit of a headache," when I spent the prior two days curled in the fetal position with the worst migraine of my life.

I wrote this in honor of everyone who knows an individual with chronic illness, who is a caregiver or a friend or family member, who genuinely care. 

It's a topic I'd like to shine more light on in the future, since chronic illness is rapidly becoming mainstream in the U.S. and while I wish it wasn't a topic we have to talk about--it is, and it's something I wish others knew more about. So if you're in the same boat as I am, it's releasing February 11th--a little "heart" story, so to speak. And while everyone's chronic illness story is different, I hope Avery and her friends shed some light and hope on the subject for someone.

Teaser: WHERE HOPE BEGINS, releasing February 14th!

Coming soon: Where Hope Begins, a cutesy little novella set over Valentine's Day featuring themes of hope, healing, and hints of romance. I wrote this little novella in a week's time, a slice-of-life brought on by the question of what we'll do when life tells us it's time to move forward...even if we're not quite ready yet. Thing is, God doesn't wait until we're "ready" to call us into His plans. He equips us along the way. Heals us, helps us, and then gives us the tools to help others out of the same struggles we find ourselves in. So without further ado...

BLURB

Ellie Hopf isn’t looking for a new start, but it finds her in small-town New Mexico. Sent there to alleviate office tensions brought on by her ex-boyfriend, Ellie’s assignment is to document a Valentine’s Day festival held at Maxwell Creek Ranch. It’s there that she meets ranch hand Tate, who’s spent his own time running from problems.Thanks to a nosy rancher’s wife, Tate and Ellie keep bumping into one another while she’s completing her assignment, and it’s clear that they work well together. But when push comes to shove, can they both learn to trust? Or will Ellie run back to what she knows before she gives Tate a chance?Where Hope Begins is a clean romance novella celebrating small-town romances and finding hope in the midst of hurt.Check back soon for the preorder link!
The cover reveal is January 14th, and I'm excited to share it with you because it was designed by @brooklyne_elysse_design_studio! She's such a sweet gal to work with, and talented! Make sure you give her a follow over on Instagram by clicking the handle above.
And check out a snippet below!

Writing Goals: 2025 edition!

So I'm going to try something new this year, with keeping folks updated on the projects I'm toying with! SO. For accountability's sake, here's a list of the current roster, and what I'd like to do in 2025. 
Current short stories pending approval/rejection: Five
Current short stories pending publication with anthologies: Two
January goal: Write two short stories for submission to two anthologies--one fantasy, one magical realism--and something for a journal. Finish writing Where the Bridge Begins, polish Project WHB, and finish up hello is goodbye. (Which is just me obsessing over the formatting, nothing fun.) Work on draft two for Super Secret Project CL. Work on Legends of Lanaria 5. Work on draft two of my next devotional.
2025 goals: Publish hello is goodbye 
                    Publish Where the Bridge Begins
                    Publish Project WHB
                    Publish Legends of Lanaria 5 (TKOTT)
                    Publish my devotional
                    Write two novellas within the Midnight Hour series (#0.75 and #1.5)
                    Publish Super Secret Project CL
                    Write the first draft of a middle grade series
                    Write a sequel to A Dance of Rebels
                    Write Super Secret Project...Acronym Pending
                    Plot thriller series--Project PRM
                    Start Legends of Lanaria 6 (TQOL)
                    Plot a horse-themed series, young adult 
We'll see how long these last before they get derailed by other ideas, or what I like to call "new shinies," ha! But I'll be sharing updates not only on Insta/Facebook, but here as well, and I think it might be fun to keep track and look back on! 
                    

COVER, BLURB & TITLE REVEAL: WHERE THE BRIDGE BEGINS

 Surprise! I'm sharing the cover, blurb and title reveal for Where the Bridge Begins, my upcoming Bethlehem Belle Novella releasing February 11, 2025. 

Check it out below! 

BLURB

Avery just can’t catch a break, and right now she has two options: she can bring her struggles to the table, or she can bury them until her sister Joy’s wedding in September. But when she’s immersed into Joy’s friend group, including her almost sister-in-law Kylie White, she finds it harder and harder to avoid the truth. And it’s even harder to avoid Noah Becker, her old enemy from school—who matchmaker Rose thinks would be an excellent candidate for Avery’s plus-one to the wedding. When Noah’s thrown into the chaos, she finds it harder than ever to avoid hope.

But then a diagnosis brings Avery’s plans crumbling down, and she’s mourning what could have been. How can she have hope for her future when so few people understand? 

Where the Bridge Begins is a hopeful story of chronic illness awareness, frenemies to lovers, forgiveness, and how healing affects every aspect of life. Stay tuned for the preorder link coming soon!

READS FOR RELIEF FUNDRAISER + GIVEAWAY

 Hey everyone! Today I'm sharing a special fundraiser and giveaway. READS FOR RELIEF is put together by Kaytlin Phillips to benefit ongoing relief efforts for Hurricane Helene survivors. Be Loved Asheville will receive any donations that are made. Our goal is to fundraise a minimum of $200 for relief efforts. In October, another fundraiser was put together that raised over $2,000 for the same mission! Click HERE to view the fundraiser page. The fundraiser runs from December 9th through December 13th. 

There's a twist, though: If you choose a donation "perk," you will be entered to win either a massive paperback and hardcover book giveaway (US shipping addresses only) ORRRR an also-massive e-book giveaway! I have one book in each category (a paperback of A Dance of Rebels and an e-book of Where the Last Verse Ends) and there are TONS of fantastic books up for grabs. Authors like S.D. Smith, Millie Florence, Saraiana Whitney, Alissa Zavalianos, Alena Mentink, Kristina Hall, and many, many more have donated books for this giveaway!

Even if you don't want to win over 30 books (and I don't know why you wouldn't), you can STILL donate toward relief efforts, and I ask that you would! Every bit helps. FEMA is moving out of North Carolina and Tennessee, the Appalachian regions that were blindsided and obliterated by the hurricane. People are still living in tents in the middle of winter, having lost everything, and the media and our government are moving on. I have some sweet friends living in the thick of this mess. It's homegrown, boots-on-the-ground help like Be Loved Asheville that will offer the most impact for the survivors. 

Don't forget to check the fundraiser out HERE by December 13th!

FREELANCE FRIDAY #12: KILLING YOUR DARLINGS

 

FREELANCEFRIDAY #12: KILLING YOUR DARLINGS

If you’ve been a writerfor very long, you’ve probably heard the phrase, “kill your darlings.” Today’s FreelanceFriday article will take us into a quick look through knowing what needs cut outof your manuscript, when you know you need more in your manuscript, andoverall, the most important things you need to nail down in any manuscript.

Beef Up Your ManuscriptWith…

·      Internal struggle. Agood story will have internal character struggles on top of the externalproblem the characters have set out to solve. For example, in The Hunger Games,Katniss’ internal struggles include a sick mother, the fear she won’t be ableto protect her sister or be the person she needs to be as the Mockingjay. Ofcourse, the external problem is winning the Games (twice) and then abolishingthem. In Lord of the Rings, the external problem is disposing of the One Ring,but each character has internal struggles of inadequacy, fear, being plagued bydarkness, and that’s just scratching the surface. In 1984, we see thepush-and-pull between the conditioning characters experience in their dystopianand the sense that there’s something more they could reach if they just evadedBig Brother. It’s something that must be overcome genuinely, and it’s the thingthat will cause readers to relate to your character more than the actualexternal struggle.

·      Symbolism. Often,the best books will also feature symbolism, emblems, mottos, or motifs that areinterconnected to a bigger purpose throughout the book. In Back To Me, mything was water, first as a comfort, then the thing the main character felt shewas drowning in, and then as the thing that helped her experience renewal. TheHunger Games is rich with examples—the roses, Mockingjay, dandelions, bread, sun;the beautiful twisted into something other.

·      Background. Youdon’t need to dump every character’s life history in your book, but you needjust enough to give readers an image of why they are the way they are. Thisgoes for governments, world systems, magic systems—the world you’re immersingreaders into didn’t appear overnight.

·      Impact. Ineach detail and line of your manuscript, you need impact for the reader. Thisis perhaps the biggest “tell” for whether something needs cut or not. Let thedetails about the setting reflect the character’s mood, or tip the readers offabout something that’s soon to become relevant. Let the characters tear at oneanother in the most cutting, memorable argument and then smooth it over later witha confession.

CutOut If…

·      It doesn’t propel the story forward. Ifyour characters are on a side-quest that you totally wanted to write because it’sfun, that’s okay. But make sure it has a purpose and a reason for being there.If not, readers will often consider it a loose end or grow bored with the storyif it takes too long to move ahead. It might be a spectacular scenario, butconsider putting it in its own document. Make it a freebie short story, a “leadmagnet” for your newsletter, or even recycle it for another story where itbecomes central.

·      It’s too overstated.  Readers don’t need every last thing explainedto them all the time; repetition can often become tedious. Look at the endingof the Mockingjay book by Suzanne Collins. She doesn’t tell readersKatniss struggles with the loss of Prim. No, Prim’s cat shows up, Katniss startsscreaming the thing she was trying to ignore—“She’s gone!”—and ends up wailingwith the cat while fixing its injured paw, essentially filling Prim’s shoes forthe first time when the Katniss we were introduced to originally hated cats anddidn’t deal with tender care. Do you see the symbolism in that? The sheer powerin a reader understanding that change rather than just being told—Katniss mourned?In every lesson your character learns, let it be embedded with meaning. Showus, don’t just tell us.

·      You’re bored. Yeah…soif you’re bored reading the story (or writing it!) chances are, your readerswill be too. Sometimes you can spice things up with a writing exercise, and sometimesyou just need to reevaluate whether the scene is truly critical to thestoryline.

·      If its impact detracts from theoverall plot you’re trying to tell. This is where it getstricky. When you need to kill your darling. Maybe you have an ultra powerfulsubplot that ended up taking over the story, but then you have loose ends. Thisis when you need to reevaluate which story needs told. The other storycan obviously be recycled into a new story of its own, but it’s still going totake work to revamp the manuscript. Choose which one will best serve yourreaders above all else, and save the extra scenes in a fresh document becausethey will always come in handy later on.

Sowe don’t really need to kill your darlings, you just need to choosewhich ones go into which story. (That’s sometimes important to keep in mindwhen you’re bummed about something you need to cut!) You always want to makesure that each line in your story has some sort of impact or forward momentumfor your characters. Your readers will thank you.

So what are some of yourfavorite tips for choosing what stays and what doesn’t in the revisionprocess?

BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY DEALS FOR KINDLE!

 BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY 2024 SALES!Welcome to the 2024 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Kindle sale event! Here, you will find great fiction and nonfiction finds in genres from fantasy, romance, historical, middle grade, and more. To view and purchase a book, please click the title and it will automatically take you to the appropriate sale page. If you have a minute, also make sure to scroll to the bottom of this page and give our authors a follow! Thanks so much and happy reading! If you're looking for even MORE books (as in, hundreds) as well as some of the books listed below, check out the Perry Kirkpatrick sale going on HERE.FANTASY (plus nonmagical fantasy)  Cabin Girl - FREE by E. G. Bella (CW: For readers 13+ containing frequent non-gory violence, slavery, non-descriptive self harm, harassments, fighting, injuries, depression, grief, death)A Noble Grace - $0.99 by E.G. BellaEtania's Worth - $0.99 by M.H. Elrich (CW: mild violence)Etania's Calling - $0.99 by M.H. Elrich (CW: mild violence, alcoholism, off-page premarital sex, demons)Etania's Destiny - $0.99 by M.H. Elrich (CW: mild violence, alcoholism, lustful thoughts portrayed as sin, demons)Exiled - $0.99 by Kristina HallA Dance of Rebels - $0.99 by Michaela BushChasing the Lutetia Light - $0.99-2.99 countdown deal by Michaela BushGather 'Round the Fables - FREE by Erika Mathews Dust and Crown - $2.99 by Havelah McLat (CW: Death, mild violence, nothing explicit.)Promise's Prayer - FREE by Erika MathewsVictory's Voice - $0.99 by Erika MathewsSurrender's Strength - $0.99 by Erika MathewsSustainer's Smile - $0.99 by Erika Mathews (CW: Addresses abortion in non-graphic, off-page manner.)Memory's Mind - $0.99 by Erika MathewsRomance's Rest - $0.99 by Erika Mathews Treasures from Taerna - $0.99 by Erika Mathews 
The Lady of Lanaria - FREE by Michaela BushThe Healer of the Brigade - FREE by Michaela BushThe Highlander's Victory - FREE by Michaela Bush
The Kingdom's True Queen - $0.99 by Michaela Bush








CONTEMPORARY FICTION


Sing a Song Again - $0.99 by Katja LabonteWhere the Last Verse Ends -FREE by Michaela BushFaith, Hope, and Love Volume 1 - FREE by Michaela BushFaith, Hope, and Love Volume 2 - FREE by Michaela Bush
Falling for the Farmer  -  $0.99 by Hannah Foster
Raindrop World - $0.99 by Katja Labonte
Back To Me - FREE by Michaela Bush
Between Us - FREE by Michaela Bush
Willow - $0.99 by Bethany M. Griggs
When You Returned - $2.99 by Havelah McLat (CW: Death, loss, trauma, grief, and it briefly touches on anxiety.)
Just Alissa - $0.99 by Katja LabonteSomething Sweet Someone Sweet - FREE by Hannah FosterEverything - $0.99 by Katja LabonteEverything: A Christmas Reminisce - $0.99 
by Erika Mathews










NONFICTION Resting Life: Jesus' Rest for the Busy or Burdened Believer - $0.99 by Erika MathewsBack To Him - $0.99  by Michaela BushSustain - $0.99-2.99 countdown by Michaela Bush





THRILLER & SUSPENSE 24 Hour Lockdown - $0.99 by Virginia Henderson
Log Off - FREE by Virginia HendersonMasquerade - $0.99 by Virginia HendersonRelentless - $0.99 by Virginia Henderson




DYSTOPIANMidnight Will Come - $0.99 by Kristina Hall
Omnibus Edition - $2.99-5.99 countdown by Makenzie Gray
Those with Ears  - FREE by Makenzie Gray
Let Them Hear - FREE by Makenzie GrayEyes To See - FREE by Makenzie GrayRemnant of Us - $0.99 by Makenzie GrayUntil Kingdom Come - $0.99-2.99 countdown by Makenzie Gray










  SCI-FI Starganauts - $0.99 by C.E. Stone Starganauts: Retribution - $0.99 by C.E. Stone
Starganauts: Defector - $0.99 by C.E. Stone
Starganauts: Invasion - $0.99 by C.E. Stone (CW: This book features non-graphic depictions of suicidal ideation, PTSD, and a tragic accident scene. This content may be triggering for some readers.)






ROMANCE
Ella Pursued - FREE by Hannah FosterFalling for the Preacher - $0.99 by Hannah FosterIt's Called Grace - FREE by Virginia HendersonA Stolen Heart - $0.99 by Virginia Henderson





MIDDLE GRADE
The White Rider Storybook - $1.99 by Sean & Kylie Hunt

A Family For Christmas - FREE by Hannah Foster for Black Friday & Cyber Monday





POETRY


Overrun By Your Love - $0.99 by Erika Mathews
wading through the fog on a sunny day - FREE by Michaela Busheverything i became - FREE by Michaela BushEverything And Nothing - FREE by Michaela BushEverything I Never Said - FREE by Michaela Bush





SHORT STORIESToymaker's Doll - $0.99 by E.G. Bella
In the Multitude of His Mercy - $0.99 by Katja Labonte
The Little Sunflower - $0.99 by Katja Labonte





HISTORICAL 







Preacher on the Run: A Novel of Early America - $0.99 by Jayna BaasTrouble in Dry Springs - $0.99 by Kristina HallAn Old-Time Christmas - $0.99 by Katja Labonte Who Murdered Nelson Manning? - BLOG FREEBIE by Virginia Henderson!To Make a Merry Christmas - $0.99 by Erika MathewsHappiness Below - $0.99 by Erika Mathews Heart of Trust - $0.99 by Kristina HallThe Christmas Fruit Bowl - $0.99 by Erika MathewsThe Christmas Violin - $0.99 by Erika MathewsA Bargain to Keep - $0.99 by Alena Mentink
A Choice of Love - $0.99 by Alena Mentink








Paperbacks and HardcoversPaperbacks of the Truth from Taerna series, Resting Life, Gather 'Round the Fables, Overrun By Your Love, and Everything: A Christmas Reminisce by Erika Mathews will be available on sale at her website HERE.

A hardcover edition of The White Rider Storybook by Sean & Kylie Hunt will be on sale for $21 HERE!
Paperbacks of A Bargain to Keep by Alena Mentink are on sale for $7.99 , and paperbacks of A Choice of Love are on sale for $15.99 !
You can find some of my own books (signed) as well as a lot of gently used books for sale on my PangoBooks store! I'm running a 35% off sale for orders over $5 and if you're new to PangoBooks, you can use code TANGLEDUPINWRITING for $5 off your order (even if you don't order from me!)

Click HERE.

About the AuthorsC.E. Stone - Follow her on INSTAGRAM and her WEBSITE and NEWSLETTER!
M.H. Elrich - Follow her NEWSLETTER and GOODREADS!
Katja Labonte - Follow her BLOG!
Hannah Foster - Follow on AMAZON, GOODREADS, INSTAGRAM, BOOKBUB, NEWSLETTER, or her WEBSITE
Virginia Henderson - Follow on her WEBSITE, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, and YOUTUBE.
Jayna Baas - Follow her on her NEWSLETTER, GOODREADS, BOOKBUB, and AMAZON!
Kristina Hall - Follow her on her BLOG, INSTAGRAM, NEWSLETTER, and GOODREADS!
Bethany M. Griggs - Follow her on her WEBSITE, GOODREADS, and FACEBOOK!
Sean & Kylie Hunt - Follow their WEBSITE or SOCIAL MEDIA!
Havelah McLat - Follow her on INSTAGRAM!
Erika Mathews - Follow her NEWSLETTER, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and GOODREADS!
E. G. Bella - Follow her WEBSITE, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, and NEWSLETTER!
Alena Mentink - Follow her , , BOOKBUB, GOODREADS, AMAZON, , and !

Perry Kirkpatrick's Black Friday Sale - coming next week!

Hey everyone! I just wanted to take a quick second and remind you that the Perry Kirkpatrick Black Friday sale will kick off next Friday -- hundreds of books on sale for less than $1 is a pretty great time to load up your Kindle. I'll have several books included in the sale, including my personal bestseller, the Legends of Lanaria series--so if you want to snag good books at good prices, now's the time to do it! (Well, next week.) Find it at blackfridaybooksale.com!