Allison Tebo's Blog, page 8
March 13, 2019
The Book Meltdown Tag
*Allison enters stage right*
I was tagged by Lillian at Green Tea With Books to do this very fun and very bookish tag. Thank you, Lillian!
The Rules –
thank, credit, and link to the creator of the tag (@Lillian)
include the rules
choose at least 8 books that you can’t wait to get your hands on in the near future
tag at least 3 people to do this on any social media platform you choose
let the 3 know
And now – onto the tag!
My twin recommended this one to me – and since she knows my reading tastes pretty well, I have a feeling this one will be a winner. What attracts me to it? It’s about ROBOTS, and I adore robots. Give me all the robots (with personalities), and I’m a happy girl. it also looks like a highly unusual robot story, in the fact that it’s a more gentle plot set in England. It sounds highly unique, quirky, whimsical, and perhaps a bit moving . . . plus it has ROBOTS.
I adore C.S. Lewis (he’s in the top three favorite authors), but I never really got into his Space Trilogy. I got a very tentative sniff of it years ago when, I think, I was at a place where I couldn’t yet accept it and was, perhaps, too young to appreciate it. My twin’s enthusiasm for the book over the years though and the vague idea that now is the right time to try again has brought me back to Out of the Silent Planet. I’m looking forward to it, because I am ready to greedily drink a brimming cup-full of C.S. Lewis’ rich analogies and world building.
Do I even have to explain this? It’s ROSEMARY SUTCLIFF, HELLO.
Obviously, pretty much anything I haven’t read yet by Rosemary Sutcliff is an exciting possibility. Did you know Rosemary Sutcliff is one of the greatest authors who ever lived? NO? Well, you should have! She is one of my top five favorite authors of all time, and was a positive genius. *hopes I’ve convinced you to try her* Anyway – *grins* – I’ve also always wanted to get more into the King Arthur stories, and I feel like I have a good chance of liking the legends in the hands of such a master as Sutcliff.
And yes, I know technically this is three books in one, but I’m counting it as one.
Some of you may know that I loved Mollie Reeder’s recent release, The Electrical Menagerie and she’s probably my favorite Indie author. Her world building, characters, and writing are such a delight that, naturally, I can’t wait to get my hands on this novelette. I usually prefer dead authors, so it’s a thrill to be able to promote and support a living author (especially an Indie author)!
Anyway, I’m expecting much humor, lots of fun, AND STEAMPUNK WORLDS AND ROBOTS. #KeyToMyHeart
I do like me a good Star Wars book and I am always on the lookout for one, since not all Star Wars book are equal. I have my eye on this one, because I am interested in reading more about Padme, I’m REALLY hoping the book takes places on Naboo (love that planet) and I’ve always enjoyed books about political intrigue and characters navigating their way through the upper echelons of society and goverment. I’m also hoping there will be some really good female friendships between Padme and her loyal handmaidens I was always intrigued by the possibilities of those relationships.
Several of my buddies absolutely adore this book, and my friend Mary has raved (sweetly) about this book to me and since she and I share similar tastes in reading (excellent tastes, if I do say so myself – *chortles*) this is definitely a book I am interested in trying. I’ve been told that the authoress was heavily influenced by Rosemary Sutcliff (SEE HOW I KEEP SLIPPING THAT NAME IN HERE?)
Anyway, anything influenced by Rosemary Sutcliff makes me want to pounce on it like a squirrel on a nut – immediately, if not sooner. I have also been told that the world in this series is inspired from Greek culture (instead of your more typical Roman) which I find intriguing.
Bet you weren’t expecting that one, were you?
These are pretty much the ultimate escapist reading and I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a good, old-fashioned science fiction adventure!
My brother got me hooked on these marvelous graphic novels a while ago and it’s almost like watching a movie as you turn the pages. The artwork is spectacular, full of movement and highly cinematic. Intricate plots that gallop on at a terrific pace through a boggling series of cultures and worlds absolutely captivated me.
I grew up watching the 1954 film Prince Valiant – a classic medieval film full of true Technicolor pageantry.
^ there is literally nothing I don’t love about this gif ^
This great old film led my brother (and eventually me) to hunt down the original comics.
This series is very different from other comics or graphic novels I’ve liked (such as Tintin or Dan Dare). Each frame has a paragraph of narrative, instead of having the drawn characters speak a lot of dialogue. This method of narrating and the style of artwork gives the impression of walking down a hall of tapestries while a bard relates their story to us.
So what about you, friend? What books can you not WAIT to get your mitts on this year?
March 6, 2019
February in a Nutshell
IT’S.
TIME.
FOR.
NUTSHELLS WITH ALLISON!
Who else is in complete denial over the fact that it’s now MARCH? I’d like a second shot at February, pretty please! Last month was a BLUR.
Two months out of twelve are GONE, people. *eye twitches nervously*
Oh well! The only thing I can do about February now is to talk about it.
February 26, 2019
The Joy of A Royal Masquerade
The photo shoot wasn’t going as perfectly as I had hoped. Due to a scheduling conflict, I was setting up my props during the brightest point of the day instead of the golden hour. The ground was soggy from yesterday’s rain and soaking through my picnic blanket. I was hot and flustered after running in and out of the house so many times. I had something else I had to do once I was finished and the delay was making me anxious.
I had reached the “let’s get this over with” stage.
But something happened as I started setting up my props. Being outside and feeling the sun has always ministered to me. It grounds me and makes me feel more peaceful. I felt myself slowing down, looking around at my surroundings and as I did, something shifted inside me.
I was aware of the smooth gloss of the book cover in my hands, the decadent colors of the macarons, the delicate translucence of my tea cup. The wind ruffled the daffodils I tucked into a vase and ruffled my hair, reminding me to play. To laugh.
I looked at the stack of paperback copies of A Royal Masquerade and something odd happened.
I felt happy as I looked at them.
That’s odd? you ask. Why should that be an odd sensation? This is your book you’re talking about!
Let me explain.
A Royal Masquerade was plagued with problems from the beginning. It was originally conceived as a short story and then blossomed into a novella that was 10,000 words longer than The Reluctant Godfather . It was written and edited while I was struggling with a lot of physical pain, not to mention a crippling attack of writer’s stage fright. Confusion reigned during the beta reading stage. My vision for this book wasn’t as clear to my early readers as I had hoped it would be. I began to doubt the story and my vision. Formatting and cover design turned into a nightmare of technical snarls and hiccups. I had so many problems with Amazon printing my book incorrectly I grew disgusted and nearly decided not to have a paperback edition at all.
“Stressed” might be putting it mildly.
As I squinted through camera and fretted about lighting and damp pants, I realized I was doing the same thing I had been doing off-and-on for several months. I was over-obsessing about details that, ultimately, didn’t really matter. And, in the process, I was losing track of the most significant aspect. I was photographing a paperback edition of my second book! I published! I persevered through all of the problems! A Royal Masquerade has run its course and can now rest in the pasture. And I can rest too.
Sitting there, peering through the camera lens, I suddenly realized something. I had gotten my joy back.
I had been looking at my writing experience through the wrong lens – the settings on my internal camera had been all wrong as I focused on the bumps instead of the road itself.
A Royal Masquerade didn’t just teach me things about writing, but it helped me take a vital step forward in learning the life lesson of training myself not to get stressed about things that don’t matter. After a series of annoying episodes, there was one incident where I very nearly blew my top – but then I found myself doing something I had really struggled to do before.
I let it go.
I pushed aside the emotional response, I dumped all the frustration and I focused on how to turn a defect into an asset.
This was a massive epiphany for me – for I have the dreadful habit of taking on unnecessary burdens, of wasting emotions and energy and mental space by overreacting negatively to life’s hiccups. But this difficult publishing process forced me to exercise the Stop-Over-Reacting Muscle and the Let-It-Go Mindset . . . and the exercise paid off. Those difficulties were actually a positive thing when viewed the right way.
A Royal Masquerade taught me several things as a writer, but also as a person. It was an instrument during a time where I was finally learning to let things go more quickly – and I did.
I was perhaps even more excited about that than in publishing my novella! In the long run, A Royal Masquerade will fade to nothing, but our spirits are eternal. It was far more valuable to me to learn this particular lesson than to have smooth sailing through the publication process.
I admire my paperback copies of A Royal Masquerade. I am truly excited about this novel, and finally, I am proud of it.
The Reluctant Godfather will always be my first baby and hold a special place in my heart. It has reached many milestones that The Royal Masquerade hasn’t yet reached. For instance, being chosen for the book of the month for a book club or being placed into my library’s local author room.
A Royal Masquerade might reach those milestones too, in time, but it will never be for the first time ever again. Firsts can only happen once, and those delights belongs solely to The Reluctant Godfather .
Nevertheless, A Royal Masquerade holds a powerful place in my heart in many ways.
EIGHT REASONS WHY I AM SLIGHTLY MORE PROUD OF A ROYAL MASQUERADE THAN THE RELUCTANT GODFATHER.
I repeated the process. After publishing for the first time, I wrote another story, edited it, and published. I’m not a flash in the pan author! I wrote, edited, published and then repeated the process. Publishing wasn’t a one-time-event that I did for fun. This was life-long commitment, a series of building blocks that I approach daily with dedication and growing skill as I learn how to become a baker of books.
I broke through writers block and kept plugging away despite not being inspired. ( I could still use a little inspiration, if anyone has any to spare. *wink*)
I gained experience in self-editing between The Reluctant Godfather and A Royal Masquerade . When I got The Reluctant Godfather back from my editor, it took me several months to edit it. When I got A Royal Masquerade back, there were fewer edits and I was able to resolve everything within a few weeks, even though it was longer and more complicated. Another words, I produced a cleaner product for my editor to polish and had self-edited more carefully before submitting it to her.
I had to be a lot more creative with this book then I did with The Reluctant Godfather . The story beats in The Goose Girl are not as frequent or as clear as they are in Cinderella. It is quite a confusing tale and a lot more reason and sense had to be injected to it. Because there are not as many specific plot points, I had to come up with a lot more story and plot out of my own head. Plotting is the bane of my writing existence – and yet, I did it! I plotted the book!
The world of Ambia and the rules of magic were slightly expanded, setting the ground work for even more expansion later on in the series.
I really believe that my writing improved between The Reluctant Godfather and A Royal Masquerade I was pleased with The Reluctant Godfather, but when I look at the next book, I can see how my writing has become stronger.
I had a unusual vision for the book and I stuck with it. Inspired by screwball comedies of the 1930s and 40s (my favorite!) and theater (another favorite), I decided to approach the plotting with a unique twist by flipping the plot and subplot to create a madcap and intimate focus with the larger plot unfolding in the background. Well . . . it makes more sense if you just pop over here and have a decko at my Author’s Note .
I got to dive deeper into my characters and set several arcs into motion – and I think they’re off to a good start. *grins*
Are there still some elements about A Royal Masquerade I would like to improve? Yes. I don’t think any author would ever turn down the chance to poke their story a little further into submission.
Are there still some things that I would like tweaked about the design? Yes.
Am I a tad annoyed that my picture-taking and Instagram skills stink? Oh yes!
But you know what? It’s okay! It doesn’t have to be perfect. Sitting out there in the sun, looking down at my book, I felt at peace with A Royal Masquerade and content with the work I had put into it.
It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be good.
And I know it’s good. I don’t say that to boast! – but with the clarity of a ever-growing craftsman who has learned to differentiate poor and good product after years of practice. Not to mention seventeen years of ruthlessly self-critiquing my work. I feel that A Royal Masquerade is a good story, and perhaps a better one than The Reluctant Godfather. I am satisfied.
The macarons were getting warm from so much sunlight. Dampness is still seeping into my leggings, but it doesn’t bother me any more.
I had taken dozens of photos.
It was time to stop.
Time to stop over-obsessing, time to stop worrying, time to embrace the best of whatever I had managed to capture.
A Royal Masquerade is finished – and my own masquerade is finished as well. I no longer have to pretend to be pleased or scrap up satisfaction for my book – because I finally have it.
It was time to have my own private tea party. And I did.
I sat on the picnic blanket and drank cold tea and ate too many macarons and looked at my book and was simply grateful – deeply grateful – God allowed me to write this book at all and helped me reach the finishing line. He has used A Royal Masquerade to bless me in so many ways!
Hopefully, it will bless its readers, too.
I had reached the “let’s get this over with” stage.
But something happened as I started setting up my props. Being outside and feeling the sun has always ministered to me. It grounds me and makes me feel more peaceful. I felt myself slowing down, looking around at my surroundings and as I did, something shifted inside me.
I was aware of the smooth gloss of the book cover in my hands, the decadent colors of the macarons, the delicate translucence of my tea cup. The wind ruffled the daffodils I tucked into a vase and ruffled my hair, reminding me to play. To laugh.
I looked at the stack of paperback copies of A Royal Masquerade and something odd happened.
I felt happy as I looked at them.
That’s odd? you ask. Why should that be an odd sensation? This is your book you’re talking about!
Let me explain.
A Royal Masquerade was plagued with problems from the beginning. It was originally conceived as a short story and then blossomed into a novella that was 10,000 words longer than The Reluctant Godfather . It was written and edited while I was struggling with a lot of physical pain, not to mention a crippling attack of writer’s stage fright. Confusion reigned during the beta reading stage. My vision for this book wasn’t as clear to my early readers as I had hoped it would be. I began to doubt the story and my vision. Formatting and cover design turned into a nightmare of technical snarls and hiccups. I had so many problems with Amazon printing my book incorrectly I grew disgusted and nearly decided not to have a paperback edition at all.
“Stressed” might be putting it mildly.
As I squinted through camera and fretted about lighting and damp pants, I realized I was doing the same thing I had been doing off-and-on for several months. I was over-obsessing about details that, ultimately, didn’t really matter. And, in the process, I was losing track of the most significant aspect. I was photographing a paperback edition of my second book! I published! I persevered through all of the problems! A Royal Masquerade has run its course and can now rest in the pasture. And I can rest too.
Sitting there, peering through the camera lens, I suddenly realized something. I had gotten my joy back.
I had been looking at my writing experience through the wrong lens – the settings on my internal camera had been all wrong as I focused on the bumps instead of the road itself.
A Royal Masquerade didn’t just teach me things about writing, but it helped me take a vital step forward in learning the life lesson of training myself not to get stressed about things that don’t matter. After a series of annoying episodes, there was one incident where I very nearly blew my top – but then I found myself doing something I had really struggled to do before.
I let it go.
I pushed aside the emotional response, I dumped all the frustration and I focused on how to turn a defect into an asset.
This was a massive epiphany for me – for I have the dreadful habit of taking on unnecessary burdens, of wasting emotions and energy and mental space by overreacting negatively to life’s hiccups. But this difficult publishing process forced me to exercise the Stop-Over-Reacting Muscle and the Let-It-Go Mindset . . . and the exercise paid off. Those difficulties were actually a positive thing when viewed the right way.
A Royal Masquerade taught me several things as a writer, but also as a person. It was an instrument during a time where I was finally learning to let things go more quickly – and I did.
I was perhaps even more excited about that than in publishing my novella! In the long run, A Royal Masquerade will fade to nothing, but our spirits are eternal. It was far more valuable to me to learn this particular lesson than to have smooth sailing through the publication process.
I admire my paperback copies of A Royal Masquerade. I am truly excited about this novel, and finally, I am proud of it.
The Reluctant Godfather will always be my first baby and hold a special place in my heart. It has reached many milestones that The Royal Masquerade hasn’t yet reached. For instance, being chosen for the book of the month for a book club or being placed into my library’s local author room.
A Royal Masquerade might reach those milestones too, in time, but it will never be for the first time ever again. Firsts can only happen once, and those delights belongs solely to The Reluctant Godfather .
Nevertheless, A Royal Masquerade holds a powerful place in my heart in many ways.
EIGHT REASONS WHY I AM SLIGHTLY MORE PROUD OF A ROYAL MASQUERADE THAN THE RELUCTANT GODFATHER.
I repeated the process. After publishing for the first time, I wrote another story, edited it, and published. I’m not a flash in the pan author! I wrote, edited, published and then repeated the process. Publishing wasn’t a one-time-event that I did for fun. This was life-long commitment, a series of building blocks that I approach daily with dedication and growing skill as I learn how to become a baker of books.
I broke through writers block and kept plugging away despite not being inspired. ( I could still use a little inspiration, if anyone has any to spare. *wink*)
I gained experience in self-editing between The Reluctant Godfather and A Royal Masquerade . When I got The Reluctant Godfather back from my editor, it took me several months to edit it. When I got A Royal Masquerade back, there were fewer edits and I was able to resolve everything within a few weeks, even though it was longer and more complicated. Another words, I produced a cleaner product for my editor to polish and had self-edited more carefully before submitting it to her.
I had to be a lot more creative with this book then I did with The Reluctant Godfather . The story beats in The Goose Girl are not as frequent or as clear as they are in Cinderella. It is quite a confusing tale and a lot more reason and sense had to be injected to it. Because there are not as many specific plot points, I had to come up with a lot more story and plot out of my own head. Plotting is the bane of my writing existence – and yet, I did it! I plotted the book!
The world of Ambia and the rules of magic were slightly expanded, setting the ground work for even more expansion later on in the series.
I really believe that my writing improved between The Reluctant Godfather and A Royal Masquerade I was pleased with The Reluctant Godfather, but when I look at the next book, I can see how my writing has become stronger.
I had a unusual vision for the book and I stuck with it. Inspired by screwball comedies of the 1930s and 40s (my favorite!) and theater (another favorite), I decided to approach the plotting with a unique twist by flipping the plot and subplot to create a madcap and intimate focus with the larger plot unfolding in the background. Well . . . it makes more sense if you just pop over here and have a decko at my Author’s Note .
I got to dive deeper into my characters and set several arcs into motion – and I think they’re off to a good start. *grins*
Are there still some elements about A Royal Masquerade I would like to improve? Yes. I don’t think any author would ever turn down the chance to poke their story a little further into submission.
Are there still some things that I would like tweaked about the design? Yes.
Am I a tad annoyed that my picture-taking and Instagram skills stink? Oh yes!
But you know what? It’s okay! It doesn’t have to be perfect. Sitting out there in the sun, looking down at my book, I felt at peace with A Royal Masquerade and content with the work I had put into it.
It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be good.
And I know it’s good. I don’t say that to boast! – but with the clarity of a ever-growing craftsman who has learned to differentiate poor and good product after years of practice. Not to mention seventeen years of ruthlessly self-critiquing my work. I feel that A Royal Masquerade is a good story, and perhaps a better one than The Reluctant Godfather. I am satisfied.
The macarons were getting warm from so much sunlight. Dampness is still seeping into my leggings, but it doesn’t bother me any more.
I had taken dozens of photos.
It was time to stop.
Time to stop over-obsessing, time to stop worrying, time to embrace the best of whatever I had managed to capture.
A Royal Masquerade is finished – and my own masquerade is finished as well. I no longer have to pretend to be pleased or scrap up satisfaction for my book – because I finally have it.
It was time to have my own private tea party. And I did.
I sat on the picnic blanket and drank cold tea and ate too many macarons and looked at my book and was simply grateful – deeply grateful – God allowed me to write this book at all and helped me reach the finishing line. He has used A Royal Masquerade to bless me in so many ways!
Hopefully, it will bless its readers, too.
February 21, 2019
The Smashing & Dashing 2018 Character Awards #Book Tag
I’m stealing this tag from my dear friend and fellow blogger, Katie, who stole it from
Cait
. Now, it’s my turn to swipe it!
Ze Rules. (even pirates follow a code, dudes)
nominate characters to fill each category from books read in 2018 (does not have to be published in 2018, just read in 2018)
link back to Cait’s original post
Annnnd that’s enough rules.
Ze Rules. (even pirates follow a code, dudes)
nominate characters to fill each category from books read in 2018 (does not have to be published in 2018, just read in 2018)
link back to Cait’s original post
Annnnd that’s enough rules.
February 15, 2019
The Children’s Giveaway – WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Before we start, I have to apologize.
This was supposed to be a vlog, I said it was going to be a vlog, it WAS going to be a vlog.
*sniffs*
Unfortunately, there was an oversight on my part. I thought I could use a really lousy editing program to cut edit my video.
Well, it took TWO HOURS to edit two minutes of film.
Not even kidding.
I should have filmed a vlog of me trying to edit the vlog.
Then I tried getting another editing program in a hurry and that crashed and a bunch of other things came up and basically I WAS COMPLETELY FOILED.
So I AM REALLY SORRY THAT I PROMISED A VLOG AND YOU’RE GETTING A REGULAR BLOG POST INSTEAD. You’re also getting this a day LATE, since this was supposed to be a Valentine’s Day post.
But, hey, at least you get to see my AMAZING GIF-ING ABILITIES. You can’t use gifs in a vlog! I know that would have been sadly missed.
ANYWAY – onto the blog post!
I have been planning this giveaway for MONTHS, people. Over half a year, I’m sure. Thinking about this giveaway kept me going in so many ways.
I previously talked about how much my younger readers mean to me (this post) and revealed how I wanted to put together a special giveaway just for these young ladies – and I am CRAZY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS TODAY.
There is a dearth of good fiction for children these days, and I’m very passionate about trying to fill that dearth. I truly hope that my stories can light a candle and provide young readers with good, clean fun. It is this passion, and these young readers, who have inspired me to writing even when it was hard!
Several young readers (Annabeth, Lake and Mary) inspired me so much they are in the dedication of A Royal Masquerade . Having these girls read my book is such an honor and it brings such joy to my heart to think of them as my fans! They’re such special and precious souls and to have them enjoy my book is just . . . the best feeling ever.
As it turns out, only two girls entered this giveaway. Which actually makes me happy, because that means EVERYBODY’S GOING TO BE A WINNER TODAY! *SQUEALS* *dolphin squeaking* *flailing*
Note of warning: Just so you know, there are some spoilers ahead for anyone who has not read The Reluctant Godfather or A Royal Masquerade. There are even some vague hints / spoilers for the FUTURE of Ambia!!! EXCITING, RIGHT? I love spoilers. Can’t resist em’.
– THE GIVEAWAY ENTRIES –
First up, we have the lovely . . .
Annabeth – Age 11
Annabeth: I love your books!!!!
Me: AWWWWCK!!!! *GRINS FOOLISHLY* That makes me so happy! Thank you!
Annabeth: How do you write so GOOD?
Me: Knowing your good taste in reading – wow! – that was quite a compliment! Thank you! *beams*
To answer the question . . . well . . . I sense a ramble coming on.
# 1. I’ve been working at it a long time. I’ve been writing for over fifteen years, and (usually) the more you do something the better you’ll do it.
# 2. I’ve worked at it really hard and I haven’t stopped learning. It’s very important that a writer always keeps studying and always takes constructive criticism. I know that my writing can always be improved and honed and its something I work on all the time.
# 3. I have a really great team! You don’t see the messy first draft. My family, my friends, and my editor all make amazing suggestions when they read this draft about how I can improve my story and make it as good as possible and then I polish it vigorously until it becomes the shiny paperback that you have read!
# 4. I’ve read lots of good books ever since I was little. This is essential! Most writers really reflect what they read. It’s like eating healthy food instead of junk food – reading great books will make us better writers because we’re putting so many well-crafted words and stories inside us!
# 5. I actually have an obligation to write as good as I can, because God gave me the gift of writing. Before we were born, God specifically designed both of us to have unique and special gifts. He gave me the gift of words and writing, and when God gives us an ability, we ought to develop that gift as much as we can for His glory.
Thank you so much for your comment and question, Annabeth! I enjoyed answering them so much!
Second, we have the beautiful . . .
Mary – Age 14
Mary: It was really clever of Colin and the troupe to have Burndee dress up as King Gustav.
Me: Aw, thanks, Mary! I had a lot of fun writing A Royal Masquerade and working in the themes of masquerades and disguises into the story!
Mary: Is Poppy enjoying her job as lady-in-waiting?
Me: Yes, she is! And I appreciate you asking about her; I think that’s very kind! Poppy’s enjoying being a lady-in-waiting much more then she enjoyed being a princess. But I think, mostly, she’s relishing this new freedom as she discovers new things about herself.
She still has some choices to make. Poppy won’t be a lady-in-waiting long before more adventures come her way. She has more changes ahead of her – so we’ll just have to see what decisions she makes about her life and career! What do YOU think should happen to Poppy next?
Mary: Will Cynthia’s baby be stolen and replaced when it is born, or will it be stolen by Snell?
Me: First of all, I just have to say, I’m not THAT cruel an author.
February 7, 2019
Best Reads Of 2018 – 3rd and 4th Quarter
I originally wasn’t going to do this post. I was so behind and would be posting this so late . . . well, it would be pretty lame.
However, one of my followers said on a recent survey that they would like to see more about the books I’ve been reading lately, so I changed my mind. I MUST MAKE MY FOLLOWERS HAPPY!
Obviously, the fact that this post is ridiculously late hasn’t changed but whatever. The reviews also range between fairly extensive and tiny blurbs . . .
ANYWAY.
February 1, 2019
January in a Nutshell
This might possibly be one of the shortest Nutshells I have ever written because so little happened in January.
But it wasn’t by choice. Starting around New Year’s Day, I had a bug so nasty I dubbed it Zurg. That way, when the sickness left I could quote Toy Story.
*grins* Not sure what it was, but it was definitely not an ordinary cold.
^ essentially me throughout January ^
Anyway, I spent three to four weeks sick or resting.
January 26, 2019
The Children’s Giveaway
I have always been drawn to children. If friends ever came over, it wouldn’t be long before I was on the floor with the younger ones.
I often walk into the children’s section of a library or bookstore and page through the books. Sometimes I’ll just sit in the corner and watch the children play or talk. It’s such a joy to me to see these young lives rejoicing in their day, to see these young personalities developing and stretching, and their young souls searching for answers.
I have always had the idea that one day I would write for children, but I hadn’t thought it would happen right away. I had originally had the vague thought that The Tales of Ambia was more for a young adult audience (I’m terrible about placing age ranges on books), and I was quite surprised when I discovered that a lot of my readers were reading The Reluctant Godfather aloud to younger siblings.
I don’t know all their names, but I love these young readers so much. Every reviewer means the world to me, but I can’t say how my heart turns over when I hear that children are reading the Tales of Ambia. Three young ladies in particular have been a blessing and an encouragement to me (check out the dedication of A Royal Masquerade). A Royal Masquerade was written and edited during a very difficult period, and those three girls inspired me to keep going even when I didn’t think I could. Thank you, Lake, Annabeth, and Mary – it means so much to me that you are reading my books and I am absolutely delighted that you enjoy them!
Recently, I was blessed with a little video from one of my favorite readers (looking at you, Annabeth!) and the desire of my heart was satisfied to see the joy on her face as she opened up my latest book. To be able to enchant children with words is such a blessing and a huge responsibility that I do not take lightly.
Being young is hard, and it’s getting harder all the time. Good books arm us as we step into the future. All the good stories with themes of truth are woven together into a picture of how to be brave in hard times. Good characters inspire us to be good, to be courageous, and to persevere.
I remember every book that did this for me – and it is my dream to do this for someone else. To give a story to a child to hold to their heart as they grow up would be my idea of true greatness.
While I was reflecting on all this, something occurred to me. I get to interact with lots of readers on social media, and have been able to read the reviews of many of my wonderful older readers, but I’m not hearing a lot from my younger readership!
Frank Baum (the author of the Wizard of Oz series) is my personal inspiration. Like him, I aspire to interact with the children reading my books and use their suggestions and feedback as inspiration for further Ambian adventures.
And I want to hear from these special young readers. Who are you? What are your favorite books? What do you like best about Ambia so far? Is there anything you want to see happen next in Ambia?
I’d love to talk to you more and get to know you – and . . . I also want to host a giveaway just for these young readers! Just because you’re not on social media yet, doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten you!
You might not know this but Valentine’s Day is actually International Book Giving Day, a day that promotes giving books to children.
I can think of no better day to host a giveaway – because I love these young readers and I am passionate about writing good books for them and I would love to express it to them on Valentine’s Day. And so, we have The Children’s Giveaway! You can enter the giveaway now and the giveaway will close on Valentine’s Day!
– The Prizes –
1st Prize: A signed paperback copy of The Reluctant Godfather. A $5.00 Amazon Gift Card. Mini jade Paperblanks journal/notebookknow.
2nd Prize: A signed paperback copy of The Reluctant Godfather and a $5.00 Amazon gift card.
3rd Prize: A signed paperback copy of The Reluctant Godfather.
Now, I need my older readers to help me. You, reading this post right now.
I often walk into the children’s section of a library or bookstore and page through the books. Sometimes I’ll just sit in the corner and watch the children play or talk. It’s such a joy to me to see these young lives rejoicing in their day, to see these young personalities developing and stretching, and their young souls searching for answers.
I have always had the idea that one day I would write for children, but I hadn’t thought it would happen right away. I had originally had the vague thought that The Tales of Ambia was more for a young adult audience (I’m terrible about placing age ranges on books), and I was quite surprised when I discovered that a lot of my readers were reading The Reluctant Godfather aloud to younger siblings.
I don’t know all their names, but I love these young readers so much. Every reviewer means the world to me, but I can’t say how my heart turns over when I hear that children are reading the Tales of Ambia. Three young ladies in particular have been a blessing and an encouragement to me (check out the dedication of A Royal Masquerade). A Royal Masquerade was written and edited during a very difficult period, and those three girls inspired me to keep going even when I didn’t think I could. Thank you, Lake, Annabeth, and Mary – it means so much to me that you are reading my books and I am absolutely delighted that you enjoy them!
Recently, I was blessed with a little video from one of my favorite readers (looking at you, Annabeth!) and the desire of my heart was satisfied to see the joy on her face as she opened up my latest book. To be able to enchant children with words is such a blessing and a huge responsibility that I do not take lightly.
Being young is hard, and it’s getting harder all the time. Good books arm us as we step into the future. All the good stories with themes of truth are woven together into a picture of how to be brave in hard times. Good characters inspire us to be good, to be courageous, and to persevere.
I remember every book that did this for me – and it is my dream to do this for someone else. To give a story to a child to hold to their heart as they grow up would be my idea of true greatness.
While I was reflecting on all this, something occurred to me. I get to interact with lots of readers on social media, and have been able to read the reviews of many of my wonderful older readers, but I’m not hearing a lot from my younger readership!
Frank Baum (the author of the Wizard of Oz series) is my personal inspiration. Like him, I aspire to interact with the children reading my books and use their suggestions and feedback as inspiration for further Ambian adventures.
And I want to hear from these special young readers. Who are you? What are your favorite books? What do you like best about Ambia so far? Is there anything you want to see happen next in Ambia?
I’d love to talk to you more and get to know you – and . . . I also want to host a giveaway just for these young readers! Just because you’re not on social media yet, doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten you!
You might not know this but Valentine’s Day is actually International Book Giving Day, a day that promotes giving books to children.
I can think of no better day to host a giveaway – because I love these young readers and I am passionate about writing good books for them and I would love to express it to them on Valentine’s Day. And so, we have The Children’s Giveaway! You can enter the giveaway now and the giveaway will close on Valentine’s Day!
– The Prizes –
1st Prize: A signed paperback copy of The Reluctant Godfather. A $5.00 Amazon Gift Card. Mini jade Paperblanks journal/notebookknow.
2nd Prize: A signed paperback copy of The Reluctant Godfather and a $5.00 Amazon gift card.
3rd Prize: A signed paperback copy of The Reluctant Godfather.
Now, I need my older readers to help me. You, reading this post right now.
January 22, 2019
The Live Without You Blog Tour
I have some exciting news for you today, people!
My honorary lil’ sister, Sarah Grace Grzy, is published her first book and I am literally going –
I’m always proud of my Sarah Grace, no matter what she’s doing, but today I’m especially excited for her and so happy I could participate in her very first book blog tour!
And – I got to interview Sarah Grace on my blog! *squeals*
You can find the schedule for the rest of the blog tour here.
About The Book:
Piper Redding is a loner, but lonely. Everyone she loves has abandoned her and opening her heart to others is just asking for more pain. She can’t help but blame herself for her brother’s tragic death six years ago, and in her guilt, she shuts herself off from the world. No one could love her—not even the God who promised to be there for her but wasn’t.
For paramedic Ezra Bryant, failure is not an option. He’s had enough of it, and only by God’s grace is he able to put it behind him. But when a traumatic event brings Piper’s greatest fear and Ezra’s failures to light, can they use that event to allow God to mend their broken pieces? Can love triumph over fear, and grace over guilt?
Find the book on Amazon or Goodreads
Author Bio:
Sarah Grace Grzy is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called ‘Life,’ she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a wood stove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other.
A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. Sarah Grace is a freelance web and graphic designer, and when not working, spending time with her ever-growing family, or reading, she can be found painting, playing the piano, or fangirling with her sisters and friends. She inhabits the State of Great Lakes, and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else—unless it meant she could have a baby penguin, in which case, she’d gladly move to the South Pole.
Newsletter – Goodreads – Twitter – Instagram
– The Interview –
What inspired Live Without You?
My main inspiration behind writing Live Without You was a simple phrase: “Write what you want to read.” I’m a sucker for a sweet romance. But I was sick of all the trashy, fluffy, nonsensical romances out there that saturate the genre. Even romances as subplots still drove me crazy! So I decided to write the kind of book I was wanting to read: a sweet, clean romance with depth, some humor, and of course, a few tear-jerking moments.
January 18, 2019
The Reverse Bucket List
It’s January! This is usually the month where everybody posts a recap of their previous year and talks about their goals for the upcoming year.
Yes, you read that right.
I’m not going to do a recap of 2018 (if you want to know what happened to me in 2018, read over all my old posts!)
I’m not going to post goals for 2019. I actually only made two official goals, and I’m keeping them quiet to avoid self-recrimination at some later date.
Because 2018 was all about making myself crazy with goals and beating myself up for not accomplishing more.
I was spread so thin through 2018 that it’s no wonder that I was so tired and had to take December off from everything.
I don’t want 2019 to be more of the same – I want it to be different. I want to cultivate a less stressed approach and multi-task less so I can be more relaxed and more focused. Anyway, that’s the plan.
Since I wasn’t doing the standard sort of blog post, I still wanted something appropriate for the start of a new year. That’s when I thought of the Reverse Bucket List.
This seemed like a perfect time to post it since it signifies everything I want for 2019 – looking back with gratitude and remembering everything I have done, and reminding myself of how far I’ve come so that I can be more relaxed about the work ahead of me and not push myself so hard.
I don’t know about you guys, but I get so obsessed with planning my future that I forget to reflect on the past and forget to relish the present moment, and that’s not the way to live.
Now don’t you just want to rearrange your life after hearing that piece of wisdom???
I swiped the idea for a Reverse Bucket List from my lovely friend, Livy Lynn – so thank you, Livy, for the inspiration. Go check out her blog guys! (after you finish reading mine, of course! *wink*
Please note, I really hope my Reverse Bucket List doesn’t make anybody feel like they’ve missed out. The Internet, sadly, is largely about comparison – and I really pray that that will not be found on Allison’s Well, that no one would walk away from me comparing. The truth is (I’m not proud to admit it!) late last year, I was struggling with comparison and making this list actually helped me. It got the focus away from the things I haven’t done and all the amazing things I have done. I’ve had so many adventures in my life and I am so grateful for every one of them.
And as for you, a lot of my blogging friends have done all kinds of cool things I haven’t done! One friend went to Europe, another competed in eight NaNoWrimo’s (I’ve only done one!). Some of you have your own Etsy shops, some of you speak another language. Some of you are aunties or have younger siblings (yes, I consider those great events). You guys have done incredible things!
Even if you don’t have a blog, I really encourage you to make your own Reverse Bucket List. It’s fun, encouraging, produces gratitude, and dispels comparison. I have had so much fun in my life so far and had so many amazing adventures!
And it’s only begun.
Note: This is by no means a complete list. I left off some things for privacy reason and other things because I forgot them.
THINGS I DID, BUT DON’T REMEMBER (or at least, not much)
1. Visited Sargent York’s House.
2. Visited Monticello. All I remember is a vague memory of a study and sunflowers that were way taller than me.
3. Visited Jamestown.
4. Saw Plymouth Rock.
5. Visited Mystic Seaport. This one just drives me crazy, because all I remember is a teensy image of the seaport, and the other part I remember is me and my twin playing in a stupid plastic boat, and fishing for stupid plastic fish so we could “cook them” in a stupid plastic kitchen. Apparently, my twin and me saw a play area and my mom couldn’t drag us away – so all three of us missed Mystic Seaport.
6. Was in a Japanese film documentary.
Okay, so what happened here is that my family was visiting a museum exhibit at the same time as a Japanese film crew. My siblings and I were running around and playing and the film crew asked my parents if it was okay if we were filmed and they said yes. So somewhere at some point in Japan, I was on television.
7. Visited Niagara Falls and rode past the falls in some sort of boat. All I really remember is a lot of noise, fog, water, legions of yellow slickers and getting very wet.
8. Visited the Thousands Islands. All I really remember of this is that our hotel balcony literally looked down into water so clear I could see fish. I remember squealing to my dad that one of the fish had whiskers and was astounded to learn there were something called catfish. I also remember looking out of our hotel window and seeing a submarine.
THINGS I DO REMEMBER –
9. Lived in four different states.
10. Moved seven times.
11. Traveled through, or visited 18 states.
12. Graduated High School.
13. Preformed for years at a nursing home and once at a “benefit / celebration” party thing given in appreciation for nursing home volunteers.
14. Danced with a WW2 veteran.
15. Published several books.
16. Created my own blog and website. It wasn’t pretty, but I did it.
17. Toured the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination traveling exhibit.
18. Made the jump to hyperspace in a recreated set of the Millennium Falcon.
Image Courtesy Of Google
19. Rode in a limo. Note: Never want to do it again, either. This is not as cool as everybody says it is. I was sick the whole time from the weird “floating” sensation a limo produces and most of the passengers were bickering and turning it into a fiasco.
20. Took singing lessons.
21. Took piano lessons.
22. Wrote a letter to Lois Gladys Leppard and received kitsch in the mail confirming that I was part of the official Mandie club.
23. Was sort of, kind of, in a *play.* I played an indignant Colonial woman whose house was about to be searched by a skinny British soldier with an attack of the giggles. Funny note: While waiting backstage with three other kids for our cues, I started making jokes and getting everyone laughing so that the lady in charge came over and told us to be quiet. Even at 9 I was entertaining and being too rowdy.
24. Been in a real life recording booth twice and cut four songs.
25. Went jet skiiing and tubing. I couldn’t move the day after I went tubing, but it was fun at the time.
26. Slid down a fire pole.
27. Visited the Creation Museum.
28. Visited the Ark Encounter.
29. Went zip lining on the Screaming Raptor Zip lines. I had to be pushed off the first platform because I was frozen, but after that I was fine.
30. Dressed up in a Darth Vader suit and performed awesome dance moves for a highly appreciative audience.
31. Talked to one of my favorite actors on Facebook (don’t break out the fan girls yet, he’s 80 years old).
32. I got into a museum after hours. It was deliciously creepy – especially the snake display.
33. Been to a planetarium / observatory and seen Saturn through a telescope.
34. Been bitten by a crab.
35. Went boogie boarding in the Atlantic ocean. (I can’t steer – as two women found out, too late).
36. Been inside a USPS sorting station. Anyone who doesn’t know how cool this is has never been in a sorting station. It’s a wonder we ever get anything in the mail.
37. Visited St. Augustine: Stops included the famous St George Street, the Castillo de san Marcos, Flagler College, and the Panama Hat company.
38. Visited Williamsburg. Stops included Mount Vernon, the George Wythe House, the Benjamin Powell House, The Courthouse (I was a jury member during a recreation of an old trial), The Magazine, The Governor’s Palace, Dewitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum the and Jamestown Glasshouse. Highlights include seeing reenactors “Fire in Christmas” with cannon fire, nightly torchlight processions of fife and drums and touring Williamsburg trade shops at night.
39. Owned 4 American Girl dolls.
40. Met a famous-ish singer. He heard me practicing and came up to talk to me and I only realized he was famous-ish after I left.
41. Started The Storyteller’s Marketplace , a Facebook group with over a 100 members designed to help authors and creators market their products.
42. Blogged for two years.
43. Sort of wrote songs and score. They were really lame little dribbles, but it actually was sort of music.
44. Been to the ocean multiple times.
45. Owned 3 library cards for three different counties which I’ve used all at the same time.
46. Met Ken Ham.
47. Stayed at Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.
48. Visited the Gaylord Opryland in MD.
49. Holidayed in Destin, Florida.
50. Met 10 online friends.
[image error]
Elsie
Karis
Livy
Melani
Hosanna
Victoria
Hailey
Bella
Sarah Grace
Christine
51. Attended a Cowboy Festival featuring a Native American dance troupe and cowboy reenactments.
52. Visited a monastery.
53. Saw my local city’s boy’s choir perform a Christmas concert.
54. Attended numerous plays and concerts.
55. Started a writer’s club with my siblings that has been meeting nearly every week for the last fourteen years. We recently celebrated our 400th meeting!
56. Made several home movies and starred as Indiana Jones in one of our movies.
57. Learned how to sew by hand and on a machine.
58. Visited historic Cocoa Village. The only highlight there were the cruise ship slips and seeing the cruise ships in the harbor.
59. Took a freezing ride on an old-fashioned paddle boat.
60. Learned how to knit. My hand was in a cast for a month.
61. Participated in NaNoWrimo and several Camp Nano’s.
62. Beta read for several friends.
63. Visited a maple syrup factory.
64. Visited the Biltmore Estate.
65. Learned how to weave baskets.
66. Participated in various blog tours.
67. Discovered several new ice cream flavors.
68. Joined social media.
69. Was published twice in a magazine.
70. Sang at the Fabulous Fox Theater. Not exactly an official performance, it was just a round of Happy Birthday so that we could say we sang at the Fabulous Fox. That counts, right?
71. Saw the Broadway tour production of Aladdin.
Wrong Disney movie, but whatever
72. Visited Fort Ticonderoga.
73. Visited the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory and got a bear.
74. Visited the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in AL.
75. Stood at the foot of Mount Washington. *gnashes teeth* I was little and chickened out of going to the top and I could slap myself for it now.
76. Sat in the parking lot of the Kennedy Space Center.
77. Took a river cruise of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga.
78. Visited the Cabot cheese factory and nearly made myself sick on samples.
79. Saw a baby bear outside of the zoo. While visiting family in rural New York our family drove up to what we thought was a hairy black dog, only to realize it was actually a baby bear who ambled off the road, put his paws on a tree and turned to stare at us, causing us to ooo and aah over how cute he was. A glance at a ravine running parallel to the run revealed several more cubs wandering around. Somewhere in the middle of squealing over baby bears, it suddenly occurred to us we were less than ten feet away from one of the babies and the mother couldn’t be far behind, so we left in a hurry.
80. Visited Longaberger’s headquarters back when Longaberger was a thing and saw the big basket.
Image Courtesy Of Google
81. Visited Cedar Point: “Roller coaster capital of the world.” Unfortunately, I was too little to ride most of the coasters, but I did get to ride this one. It makes me feel a bit queasy just watching this . . .
(not my video – courtesy of YouTube)
82. Attended the Glory Writer’s Retreat.
83. Got snowed in at my house.
84. Visited Washington D.C. twice. Stops included, the Library of Congress, the Washington monument, the Lincoln memorial, Union Station, the American History Museum, the Air and Space Museum, the WW2 memorial and the National Mall’s reflecting pool. (I walked up and down the National Mall more times than I care to recall) I also rode on the subway and fell in love with public transportation. Other highlights include sitting in the observation section of the House of Representatives while the House was in session and I nearly got lost in the United States Capitol – but guards and my Twin won’t let you stay lost for long. We also filmed a recreation of two scenes from National Treasure while sitting on the Lincoln Memorial steps and standing in front of the Declaration of Independence. I played Riley and my older sister played Ben. That was definitely a nerd moment.
85. Met David Barton and got to handle several historic documents.
86. Visited Amish country in PA.
87. Got caught in a tornado.
88. Learned how to swim.
89. Learned how to ride a bike.
90. Visited Tombstone, Arizona.
91. Visited Old Tuscon, AZ and got to see memorabilia and sets featured in movies by dozens of Western movie stars, including John Wayne.
92. Visited Kitt Peak Observatory.
93. Visited Lowell Observatory.
94. Visited the Grand Canyon.
95. Attended Linden, TN’s WW2 reenactment.
96. Raced Go Karts.
97. Steered a boat with an outboard motor around a lake. Hey, I didn’t crash us into the shore, I consider that an accomplishment.
98. Helped plant a garden. I got to plant, weed, water, and later harvest various vegetables. Note: You would not believe how much force it takes to pull a potato out of the ground.
99. Visited the Tennessee Aquarium.
100. Connected online with people from around the world and made friends with dozens of amazing people!
HISTORY MAKING MOMENTS –
Flew before 9/11 and saw that event change the world.
Watched in live time the first vertical rocket landing in history, a revolution in technology and utterly mind blowing to witness. If you don’t follow Space X, you should.
Saw the live dedication of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. After decades of Presidents promising to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognize it as Israel’s capital – setting an example for several other countries who afterwards moved their own embassies to Jerusalem.
Israel was so overwhelmingly grateful, they issued a special coin to honor our President. No foreign leader has been this honored by Israel since King Cyrus.
I had tears running down my face as I watched the live dedication. I am sure, beyond a doubt, that this move was a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. I felt so honored to be witnessing this history-making moment.
Watched part of Prince Harry and Megan Markle’s wedding. This was history-making because, after defeating Britain in two wars, America is now launching a subtle invasion of the British monarchy so that the United States will eventually rule Britain.
I also saw William and Kate’s wedding, but I don’t consider this significant, since it doesn’t have anything to do with the American Takeover of Britain. (kidding!!!!!)
Witnessed a solar eclipse.
Witnessed a lunar eclipse
And those are some of my adventures, my friend. Now I want to talk about you. What incredible things have you done? Have you visited a foreign country? Become an auntie? Have you danced in the rain or stayed up all night until dawn? (two things I’ve always wanted to do, by the way). And if you do the Reverse Bucket List on your blog, please drop a link to your post in the comments below so I can check out your bucket list!
Tell me everything – let’s be amazed together!
