Faith L. Potts's Blog, page 10

13 Reasons Why || Beloved - Character Interview

Happy hump day, friends!

I cannot believe we're already to day three of the tour. It feels like it's going by so quickly—I can hardly keep up with everything that's going on!

Today's theme is character interviews! To make it especially fun, Kate and I decided to interview each other's characters instead of our own. So my interview of Erich Carlos, a main character from Beloved, is below. And Kate's interview with James from Freedom is up on her blog!


Kaitlyn Krispense, Author

|| Interview w/ Erich from Beloved
Welcome to the blog, Erich! Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Thank you Faith! My name is Erich, i’m a born-again Christian, and i’m also a bachelor living with my brother, Peter. What else am i supposed to say? I work at a waffle joint, i hate roman candles (those things are freaky, man!), and i’m striving to be like Christ more every day.


How do you feel about your and your family’s story releasing in just a few days?
Not like i rly had much choice in the matter, lol. i mean, i guess i’m ok with it. For once i’m actually being portrayed as a good guy, so i can’t complain. Not real thrilled at the prospect of people reading all about me, but Cara’s the one whose mind everyone’s gonna see, so i guess it’s ok.




Was your first impression of Cara positive or not so much?
Uhhhhh . . . can i plz plead the fifth on this one? There’s rly no good way to answer this one. She was an annoying brat and i wanted to pound her thru the wall, but other than that, she wasn’t too bad.


If you could go back and change one thing about your past, what would it be?
Oh no, plz not this question. Srsly Faith, why do you have to pick this one?!
Ok, fine. Kaitlyn says I have to answer. *clears throat awkwardly* there’s a lot of things i could mention here, but . . . i’m not too proud of the way i first treated the Carloses when i first came to their house. i mean, there i was, their 2nd foster son, and of course i had to be a real idiot. Not exactly days i’m proud of. If i could go back and redo those days, live them with gratitude . . . man i wish i could.


And lastly, because I just have to know… which Carlos sibling is your favorite?
Lol wouldn’t you like to know. They all have their shortcomings, whereas i, on the other hand, am everyone’s favorite. i mean, just ask Kaitlyn. She says i’m a heartthrob.
In all seriousness tho, i can’t just pick one like a lock (my apologies, i’m not as good at analogies as Cara). I live with Peter, so i guess that means i have to like him. Fergus is obnoxious but funny in his own right. Eddie is . . . well . . . something else. Titus has the ego typical for boys his age, but his heart is good. Cara . . . i guess i’m not supposed to give away any spoilers, so nvm. But i can’t pick just one.


Thank you for hosting me, Faith! I greatly appreciate it.




Thanks for joining us, Erich! And readers, don't forget to preorder your copy of Beloved in Paperback or Kindle! :D


|| R2LToday's reason to live is: laughter. It's a beautiful sound, isn't it? The magical melody of shared laughter with a friend. The giggle of a small child. Laughs circling around the family dinner table. Maybe you're in a season right now where the tears majorly outweigh the laughs. That doesn't mean you can't hold on until the return of the days of laughter. Because they are coming. The joy will return. No drought or famine or storm can last forever. And the wait is worth it. <3


|| Other Stops on the Tour
Wednesday, September 4th

Abby @ Photos by Abby Rose — 2x Review
Brooklyne @ Showers of Blessing — 2x Interview
Faith @ Faith Lane Author — Interview w/ Kate + Spotlight of Beloved
Kassie @ Soldier Girl Stories — 2x Review



Don't forget to enter the giveaway and submit your questions to the Q&A! 

what would you ask Erich, if you had the chance? do you have an R2L of the day? 

13 Reasons Why || Story Behind the Story

Happy Day Two, faithful followers!

Wow, the tour is already off to such an incredible start. I've been so blessed and encouraged by everyone's outpouring of love and display of enthusiasm! <3

Kaitlyn and I are each sharing the inspiration and origination of our books as today's theme. Make sure you check out her post of the day—link below. :D


Kaitlyn Krispense, Author

|| Story Behind the Story I've been asked many times how on earth I ended up writing a book about suicide. The answer? It just kinda happened.

In August 2015, I stumbled across a story about a veteran. After returning to the states after serving a combat tour in Vietnam, he called home, told his parents he was coming home, and asked if they'd mind if he brought a friend along. He explained that the friend had been hurt and was an amputee, and added that he wanted the friend to come to live with his family. The parents expressed sympathy for the friend's plight, but declined the son's request. A few days later, they received a phone call. Their son had committed suicide, and they learned of his secret. Turns out...there was no friend. Their son was the injured soldier.

Quite the story, huh? Around the same time, I came across a video, created by a teenager, which vividly depicts a modern-day retelling of the story I'd read. I've poked around on the internet for more information about this story, but little is known. If it's a true story, that hasn't been verified, but the basic twist of the story has been used in books and movies for years.

Regardless, the creativity wheels were spinning. The story wouldn't get out of my head. And one question plagued me the most: What if...what if he didn't die? 




So I went with it. Started writing a story about a suicidal Marine. The scraps of a story I had at that time grew and broadened, morphed and twisted, and became a different story entirely, but one that's still closely connected to the passionate topic I began with—suicide.

After many days and months of writing and rewriting, crying and moaning, whining and groveling, the Freedom that's releasing in seven days came to be. And I'm SO excited to share it with all of you. <3



|| R2L Today's reason to live is: stories. I don't know about you, but I absolutely adore stories. Happy, sad, funny. Stories of heartbreak or journeys or everyday life. Love stories, children's stories, adventure stories, sob stories. Point is—I.love.stories. That's the cool thing about life—every single soul that's been placed on this earth is living out their own story. And even better than that, all of our stories are intertwined with the story of every person you've ever crossed paths with. And without every single strand, the master story would be incomplete, lacking, unfinished.

Ponder on that next time you feel like your life has no purpose. <3


|| Preorder FreedomIn honor of September being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month as well as release month for Freedom, I'm hosting a special preorder/order option for paperback copies of this new novel.

All profits from Freedom (both Kindle and paperback) for the month of September will be donated to Cover Me Veteran, a non-profit organization fighting for prevention of veteran suicide. If you're hesitant about the validity of the cause, I'd encourage you to read the testimonials listed on their site. Gives me chills. <3

Because I want to amp-up sales of Freedom this month in order to be able to make a sizable donation, I'm offering a discounted total for of $17 for book + shipping. Details are on the form!

claim your preorder copy!

|| Today on the TourEven though it's only day two, I've already been blown away by the number of people posting about the book, sharing the tour on social media, and writing out their own R2Ls. Keep it up, lovelies! <3

Joining us today on the tour, we have...

Victoria @ My Crazy Write Life — Interview w/ Kate
Abigail @ Read Write Breathe — Review of Beloved
Shine @ HauntingGhostTown — 2x Interview + 2x Review
Merie @ Imperial Scribis — 2x Review




Don't forget to enter the giveaway and submit your questions to the Q&A! 


do you find backstories intriguing? favorite part of the tour so far? 

13 Reasons Why || Intro + Q&A Announcement

People. pEopLe. PEOPLE. *lowkey screaming*

Is this even real?! I don't know how this day has finally arrived—but it has, somehow. Day 1 of the 13 Reasons Why blog tour is officially underway, m'friends.

As you probably already know, my friend Kaitlyn Krispense and I are both releasing books on September 10th—World Suicide Prevention Day. And along with that, we're co-hosting a dual blog tour with an emphasis on raising awareness and prevention of suicide.

Are the next thirteen days going to be extremely full? Most definitely.

Kaitlyn and I will both be posting every day, from today through the 14th. So be sure to check out her blog for the featured post, today and every other day of the tour!

Kaitlyn Krispense, Author
|| Intro to 13RWChances are, you're confused by the title of this blog tour. If you're at all familiar with the wording "13 Reasons Why," it's probably from the Netflix series that came out in 2017.

The one that caused a spike in teen suicide during the first month following it's release. The one that had people petitioning for it to be removed from Netflix and not brought back for a second season. Regardless, the show returned for a second season, then a third, and recently, talk of a fourth.

On the show, a high-school aged girl named Hannah records a series of tapes depicting her thirteen reasons for ending her own life. The tapes are found by a friend and classmate, following her suicide. The show is dark, depressing, and focused solely on the negative side.

But, for the 13 days of this tour, we're choosing LIFE. And we're sharing our thirteen reasons for choosing life. We'd love to have you join us, whether that's just by reading along or sharing your own reasons. We're glad you're here. <3

Having just returned to American soil from the desert sands of the Middle East, James Greene is done with his life. 'Double amputee' doesn't seem like a strong enough phrase to label the physical and emotional pain he bears. Add the lack of love and communication with his family members, the demons that haunt him day and night, and he can find nothing worth living for. Ending it all is the only way out. 

Alexandria Lorance is a not-so-ordinary physical therapist, content with aiding in her patients' recoveries. Her work gives her fulfillment, but alone in the silence, she still endures the hidden scars of a past, unhealthy relationship. Reminding herself that true healing is found in Christ alone, she seeks to show kindness and love to everyone she meets. 


When these two broken ones' paths intersect, the spark of friendship is ignited, bringing hope and joy to both. Can they step out of the darkness of suffering and into the freedom of grace? 


A Marine, broken by war. A therapist, scarred by words. A chance meeting in a parking lot bonded them together. But can love grow in these two hurting hearts? Or are they truly too broken to ever find lasting happiness?

Amazon || Goodreads || Paperback Preorder

Life without love is hopeless. 

Foster teen Cara Richards is unloved. With nothing left and nowhere to go, she is determined to find peace, no matter the cost. But despite her intentions, she’s tossed into another foster family and this time, there’s no going back to who she used to be. To make matters worse, one of her five new foster brothers is a Jesus freak, and she refuses to believe that God actually cares. 

Her world is thrown upside down in a way she never expects. Though she prides herself on a resilient heart, her mind is lost adrift among a sea of questions: Is death really the answer? Does God care about someone as unworthy as me? Can everyone truly be loved, no matter what?

Amazon || Goodreads


|| R2L (Reason to Live)My reason to live is: friends. Working on preparations for this tour for the past few weeks and even months has made me appreciative of my friends. Friends who signed up to take part. Friends who offered to do whatever they could to help out even though they're busy with their own projects—just because they care. Friends who agreed to handle the interior design of my book, even though they barely have time. Friends who've prayed for this tour and these books as much as we have.

Today, I'm thankful for the friends God has blessed me with. <3



|| Q&A Announcement GUYS. I'm so excited about this one.... Kate and I are hosting a Q&A! Do you have any questions about books, publishing, or what it's like to host a dual blog tour? Now's your chance to get your answers!

>> 13RW Q&A form << 


|| GiveawayAnnnddd, of course, there's a giveaway. Because honestly, what better way to kick off a party? Three lucky winners will wrap-up the party with anywhere from a ebook copy of one of the books to paperback copies of both!

Giveaway closes midnight September 13th, winners will be announced on the 14th. International entrants are welcome, but should they win first or second place, ebooks will be substituted in place of paperbacks.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


excited for the next twelve days! who's counting down to release day with us?! do you have an R2L to share?  

Blog Tour Prep + End of Summer Vibes || August Recap

Hey, fam. How goes it?

I know I say this like every month, but did August F.L.Y. by or what?! Like, what happened. Seriously.



|| Work• Work was pretty typical. We did have a few positions change, with summer employees going back to school and new people arriving on the scene. There's always good and bad sides to that sort of situation, but it's all starting to fall into place. 
printing lots of tags for new merchandise! 
• Aside from my real job, I spent two days dog-sitting/house-sitting this month. Which included falling asleep on the couch with the puppy in the floor beside me both nights. And getting like four hours sleep before going to work. 'twas great. *thumbs up*

• Another "side job" that I stumbled upon recently was helping my family roof a house. The mission trip we go on every year in June always involves roofing houses, so the #PottsFam figure that makes them professionals...or something...







|| End of Summer Vibes• Lots of end-of-summer vibes this month! Including a lake day with the family which turned out to be loads of fun, even though we did end up trying to get four people and a bunch of stuff across the lake in two single-person kayaks...right before a thunderstorm. But we survived—clearly. xD

Since I didn't get any pictures that day, here's a few random summery pics from the last few weeks. <3








|| Random Life• Helped plan a surprise birthday party for my boss which...turned out to be as much of a surprise for us as it was for her when she showed up 30 minutes early. xD  Anyway, it was a lot of fun though. And everyone got a good laugh out of the whole thing.

• Got to hang out with my sweet friend, Angela! While in the area, she came by to see me at work. We got to talk books and blog tours, laugh and catch-up, and pray together. It was a sweet time. <3

• Went to see Overcomer with a friend and, ummm.... If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and go see it already. It might be their best movie yet. Spoiler: I cried. A lot.




I don't think I read a single book this month?? I did read quite a bit in a book one day, picked up a few books on a sale, and got some from a friend. But other than that? *shakes head* The way things are going, I should just discard this whole section and save myself the trouble. :P






|| UpdateWriting for the month of August consisted of final edits on Freedom (#YEET) and piddling in a few random WIPs when I had a few minutes to spare + had the need for word magic. After the craziness of the blog tour winds down, I'm STOKED to get back to work on Chasing a Dream. :D

|| Snippet

“That’s pretty much it…” I say, staring down at the decking boards that stretch out beneath my feet and run the length of the porch. Anything to not have to see the tears shimmering in her eyes.
She doesn’t say anything, doesn’t have to. I know how she feels. But I just needed to tell her, needed her to know.  

“I’m sorry for bringing this up now,” I say softly, when seconds turn into minutes without a word from her. “This should be a happy time for us,. Not spent dwelling on the past, but… I just needed for you to know.” 

“No.” A pause, and then her voice softens. “No… I’m glad you did.”

— random snippet, random project






|| Blog Tour Prep• Literally spent the whole month figuring out things for the blog tour, sending and responding to emails, answering interview questions, sending review copies, organizing links, creating blog tour schedules and plans, and finalizing giveaway details.

Oh, and did I mention chugging coffee and drawing semicolons on my knee?



|| My Posts. 





|| August Goals• Finish the final edit of Freedom.        YES.

• Send Freedom to the formatter.         YES.

• Prep for the 13 Reasons Why blog tour.            YES.

• Answer all blog tour author interview questions.      barely...

• Pre-write over half the blog tour posts.      *dies laughing* nope. I'm winging it.

• Order a proof copy of Freedom.      hehhhh, no. Soon.

• Finalize paperback preorders of Freedom.      YES! Details releasing tomorrow :D

• Anything and everything Freedom. xD           I guess?

• Probably 74 other things I'm forgetting.          Honestly, who knows....

• Sleep occasionally.         Once in awhile...?


|| September Goals• Rock the world with the 13RW tour.

• Release Freedom.

• Mail all preorder paperback copies.

• Keep up with social media.

• Clear my inbox.

• Figure out what to do with myself once I'm not spending every waking moment freaking out over anything and everything Freedom related... xD

how was your august? are you okay with summer being over? who else is H.Y.P.E.D. for 13RW?!
also this <3

The Divided Nation || blog tour + book spotlight

Hello, friends!

I'm here today with a blog tour for a dear, dear friend of mine. Angela Watts's book released this week and the blog tour has been a BOMB. I just love this gal and her heart for the Lord. And I'm SO proud of her for writing the story God called her to write and not shying away from the tough topics. Rock on, sweet friend. <3

Introducing... *drumroll*... book one of The Infidel Books...


|| The Divided Nation
WHEN THE NATION DIVIDES, THE INFIDELS MUST RISE.

The United States has fallen. Three years after the 2024 presidential election and the declaration of martial law, the nation is at war against itself. Gangs battle, civilians struggle for survival, and officials of the United Nations  thrive. West Johnston, heir to the most powerful ganglord in the country, refuses to continue the family legacy. But, in order to defeat his father, he must become him: bloodthirsty and willing to do whatever it takes for control.

West gains control by helping fellow gangsters, Nate and Simon, when they form an alliance with one of the last remaining townships in America. After years of surviving and winter fast approaching, Springtown is in desperate need of supplies from the two teenagers. When the town leader’s daughter, Rene’, is kidnapped by an unknown rival, Nate and Simon risk their reputations to save her and the town they now love. But without help from West, their rescue mission will fail.

Told in multiple bold, abrasive narratives, THE DIVIDED NATION steps into a future where brotherhood bonds must be stronger than iron to survive a broken world, and faith without courage is dust in the wind.

Amazon || Goodreads




|| About the WriterAngela R. Watts is a Christian fiction author who strives to glorify the Lord in all she does. She’s a homeschooled highschooler living at Step By Step Sanctuary, Tennessee, though with Gypsy and Norwegian in her blood, she tends to travel. She’s been writing stories since she was little, but also enjoys chores, painting, and watching sunsets.
Facebook || Website || Amazon || Instagram || Goodreads



|| GiveawayBecause...what would a blog tour be without a giveaway? ;)  
1st place: hardback copy of The Divided Nation. A custom mug with a quote from the book, bookmark, and an exclusive snippet from The Infidel Books.2nd place: paperback copy of The Divided Nation, bookmark.3rd place: ebook copy of The Divided Nation.

*US shipping only. If an international winner is drawn, they will receive an ebook only.
>> Enter Here <<

Find the rest of the tour schedule on Angela's blog, The Peculiar Messenger! 
have you read The Divided Nation? or any of Ang's previous books? <3 

Always at Work + Sweet Nineteen || July Recap

 
Yes, this is late again. Yes, I'm aware. As with last month's, I almost just skipped, but I didn't want to break a trend. But at the same time... there's not much to report, as I was basically at work all month. xD 


|| House-Sitting• I was house-sitting for about five days this month, making a little extra money. And having an entire house to myself (except for the puppy dogs) for a few days, mwahahahaha. So I basically ate junk food and watched Hallmark every night. :P

stinkin' adorable baby


|| Sweet Nineteen• So, I turned 19. Which is kinda freaky. And also kinda scary. Because I now have less than a year of teenager-ism left?? and then I'll probably have to be a real adult or something????

tired birthday selfie. just cuz.

A dear sweet friend (you know who you are <3) made these darling wood-burned signs for me, with the titles of all of my published or about-to-be-published books. Aren't they amazing? I adore them so much! 
looking into the future like... "lots of clouds...but it's pretty so"

|| Independence Day• So, the 4th of July happened. We were supposed to dress in red, white, and blue for work that weekend, so I pulled out my very patriotic and very adorable, thanks for noticing sandals. And blared patriotic country over the speakers at work. (You're welcome, customers.) 






Yet again, I really don't know what to put in this section. I read some here and there, but only finished one book—The US Marine Corps by Rebecca Rowell. I did buy a few books—The Reinvention of Skylar Holt series by Stephanie Morrill. It was a birthday sale or something, so I went ahead and snagged all three books, even though I haven't even tried Mrs. Morrill's writing yet—except in Go Teen Writers, which I adore.

So yep.



|| Freedom Update Writing wise, Freedom is really all that got my attention during the month of July. Like, at all. Since my editor finished the last week of June, I started working through and applying her edits to the book in my free time. I should be finished with this final edit in the next day or two!

25 days until release!

|| Snippet

I’m suffocating, dying the slow, defeated death of a prisoner. Freedom…  

There’s only one way out.  

A war surges through my mind.  

A war between giving up and getting help. A battle between getting out and waiting until I can think clearly. A fight between doing what my broken mind wants or sticking to what I know is right.  

I grip the top of the dresser with a shaky hand as my head spins, threatening to send me to the floor.  

I can’t, I can’t… 

|| Favorite PostsShowers of Blessing >> Only in You, Lord

Kaitlyn Krispense, Author >> Beloved + Freedom: Blog Tour Signups

RebekahAshleigh >> Exciting News


|| My Posts






|| July Goals• Because I posted the June recap soooo late (later than this one, actually), I didn't state any July goals.


|| August Goals• Finish the final edit of Freedom.

• Send Freedom to the formatter.

• Prep for the 13 Reasons Why blog tour.

• Answer all blog tour author interview questions.

• Pre-write over half the blog tour posts.

• Order a proof copy of Freedom.

• Finalize paperback preorders of Freedom.

• Anything and everything Freedom. xD

• Probably 74 other things I'm forgetting.

• Sleep occasionally.


how goes it, my peeps?! anyone else out there just trying to keep up? *raises hand*

FREEDOM || blog tour signups + ARCs

The time has come, my friends...



Blog tour signups for the long-talked-about, much-loved (at least by me), long-awaited Freedom are HERE!

Even better than that? I'm joining my friend Kaitlyn in the release of her debut novel, Beloved. Utilizing the time, talents, and platform the Lord has given us, we're using this opportunity to speak out against suicide for the 13 days the tour will run.

Why 13 days? Netflix released a series in 2017 known as 13 Reasons Why. There has been much debate over the series—some find it triggering and have even gone through with their own suicide, while others argue that it promotes awareness of mental health. A girl on the show recorded tapes of the 13 reasons why she was committing suicide, and left them for family and friends to listen to following her death. But we believe that anything glorifying the taking of God-given life is in err.

So I present to you: the 13 Reasons Why Blog Tour. 13 days of choosing LIFE. 13 days filled with reasons to stay. Spotlighting two new releases that delve deep into the rough truths and murky darkness that shrouds this life-taking epidemic.

And since the tour will be open to participants for eleven of those thirteen days... now's your chance to join in!


|| Blog Tour
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|| ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies)
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are you signing up? are you as excited about the tour as we are? 

Mission Trip + Birthday Bash || June Recap

Yes, that says June. Yes, I realize this is two days shy of being a month late. Am I back to a consistent schedule? No, but I'm back for right now. Am I promising I'll do better? No, but I'll try. I could make up a bunch of excuses, but I'm basically just a procrastinator who needed some time after a trip the last week of June. And is still trying to get things re-aligned. :P

All that to say...this may be boring and lame, but I didn't want to break my trend of doing a recap every month. And I didn't rly wanna combine it with July, because they felt like distinctly different months. For some reason. xD

So hey there, friend! Please—forgive me for disappearing. And prepare yourself for a photo dump. Also let's talk and catch-up in the comments. :D



|| Random• Work, work, work...and did I mention work?  Okay, seriously, I'm not complaining. At all. But sometimes I feel like I spend 60 hours a week in a checkered uniform shirt. xD


• I also spent a lot of time camped out at the library—hoping for a spot by an outlet, wearing a hoodie, chugging coffee, taking up a whole table with my notebooks and planner and schedule and editing notes and...such—because our internet at home has been iffy.


• When your bro comes by where you work...and as he's leaving, you realize that his means of transportation is farm equipment. 
take a look at dat plow boy
|| SOS = Servants on SiteMy family and a group from our church participated in the same mission trip/group ministry that we've did for the past few summers. It was an absolute blast, and as good and powerful and life-changing as always. <3


in the chow line ;)
SOS 2019 theme
my work crew!
posing in Smithfield's
that sky tho
hauling home ALLL the dirty clothes...
group scavenger hunt on Thursday night :D
girl time!

my pretty mama <3





I read like one book (A Letter to the One by Abby Rose Nichols) during the month of June...which might have been even worse than May, actually—can't remember. I did acquire several books. Including The Broken Prince by Kara Linaburg which I'm super excited to read sometime! Hopefully soon. :D

(Told you this would be lame and boring.)






|| Freedom UpdateFreedom is coming along quite nicely! The lovely Abi Claire finished edits while I was away from home, so as soon as I finish sorting and applying those, the next step is formatting!

Meanwhile, there's a lot of blog tour prep going on behind the scenes. Ya know those situations where you have wayyyy to much to text someone so you call them? That's me and my bestie trying to plan this thing out. It's so crazy—in a good way. xD

Speaking of the blog tour, the lovely Kate and I will be opening the signup form tomorrow! How exciting is that? We'll be sharing an ARC option as well, for anyone who wants to help out but doesn't have a blog and/or just likes to review. ;D

Also, if you're someone who likes for Kindle books to be downloaded directly to their device on the day of release... Freedom is available for preorder!

|| Snippet 

Goodbyes said, I pocket my phone and, foreseeing the opportunity, step ahead to hold the door for the older couple.  

The lady’s eyes lock on mine as she nears. “Was that your girl on the phone?”  

My girl? I can’t help grinning. “Well… she was once.”  

“I hope you’re doing whatever you need to to get her back.”  

“Edna!”

* 

“I could lie and say I hoard phone numbers.”  

The elevator door opens, revealing the walkway to the front doors of the trauma center entrance. I motion for the other couple to exit first and then follow, falling in step a pace behind them over the crosswalk.  

“But that would be a lie. You’re one Lysol can shy of a clean freak.” 

|| Favorite PostsThe Danger of Writing << Ink Blots and Coffee Stains

Waiting for Nothing << The Storybook Journal


|| My Posts





|| Dandelion Dust: Birthday Bash• For those who missed it or didn't realize something was going on, I hosted a birthday bash for Dandelion Dust in June, since June 30th was the 2nd anniversary of the book's release. Many other bloggers and friends in the community helped spread the dandelion love, shared about the book-birthday, and talked about my books on social media!

>> Abigail Harris did an amazing week-long author spotlight. Which was super sweet and a fabulous idea! Give her posts a read.
One ~ Two ~ Three ~ Four ~ Five ~ Six ~ Seven
>> Julia @ Lit Aflame and Liz @ Home with the Hummingbirds and Molly @ Qadash - Set Apart, for Him each did a fantabulous interview!  

>> Brooklyne @ Showers of Blessing — This girl's photoshoot, y'all! I am totally in love. *heart eyes* 

>> And let's not forget the epic peeps on Instagram! So many lovely bookstagram pictures. <3  I felt so loved-on. ^_^

• The Kindle ebook was free on the 30th...and I expected *some* downloads. I was thinking, maybe 50-60 at the very maximum. Guys... we topped out with 576 free ebook downloads of Dandelion Dust.

FIVE.HUNDRED.AND.SEVENTY.SIX.

I'm greatly indebted to and appreciative of y'all for spreading the word! I did very little to promote the free day, and the bash in general, so I was absolutely blown away by that number. Wow, y'all. God is good. <3

• I have some DD bookmarks and postcards left over from the party. If anyone would like a couple, shoot me a message or email with your mailing address and I'll send you a few to keep or share with friends. :)








|| June Goals• Send Freedom to my editor.      YES!
• Celebrate the 2nd book-birthday of Dandelion Dust.         YES! 
• Go on our annual in-country missions trip with the church gang.       YES! 
• Blog weekly.     No-ish?? 
• Read 4 books.      Not quite.... *ahem*
• Resume staying alive.    So it would seem. 

|| July Goals • Considering the date, I'm not going to post July goals...because it would sorta kinda probably be cheating to list things I've already did and/or will finish in the next, like, two days. So check back soon for my July recap + August goals. :P 


how was your June? anything exciting happen/happening/happened over the course of your summer? 

Happy Birthday, Dandelion Dust || Amazon Release + Bash

Happy Monday, lovely readers!

(I actually don't know whether it's a happy Monday or not, as I'm writing this up on Sunday night because I'll be at work by the time it goes live...but that's irrelevant, yes?)

I'm here today with a super-fabulous announcement. One that I've been wanting to make for awhile, even promised once or twice, but lack of time and some technical issues prolonged the process.

Nevertheless, we (me and my amazing cover designer, who deserves all the credit for the beauty you're about to feast your little eyeballs on) persevered. And today I get to divulge to you all my little bookish secret.

The slightly-updated, muchly-beautified, hold-in-your-hand-able paperback version of my debut novella, Dandelion Dust, is now available on Amazon!

It's been a crazy ride to get to this point—five proof copies ordered before a perfect one arrived, if that tells you anything. But it's here now, and I'm super thrilled. It's not really a second edition, because the actual story hasn't been altered at all, but the back cover has been updated. And I adore it! <3

pardon the ugly watermark, but... *heart eyes*
Annndd a clearer look. <33
Amazon: Paperback

~*~

Okay, okay, moving on. Announcement number two.

In celebration of the Amazon release which happened this week and the second anniversary of the original release in less than a month, I'm hosting a birthday bash!

What is a birthday bash? Good question. In this instance, it means three weeks of celebrating two years of Dandelion Dust. It means sharing and re-sharing anything and everything related to this book.

I'd been trying to come up with more ways to a) spread the word about my books, and b) gain more reviews, while c) connecting with my amazing readers. <3  And this is what I came up with, so hopefully it will be as much fun for you as it will be for me!

There's lots of opportunities to join in on the fun and win some great prizes. There are a number of things you can do to help me out and be earning "party points" toward prizes—from reviewing, to hosting author interviews, to sharing on social media. Prize options include book-related mail, access to unpublished books and stories, signed print copies, gift cards—and more!

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join. I won't be sharing all the specific information here on the blog (like how to obtain points and how many points you need to reach each prize bracket), so drop your name in the form and I'll get all the details out to you!

So, basically, it's an interactive celebration of my book baby's second birthday. Three weeks to collect points. Prizes awarded depending on the amount of points obtained.

(Points can be earned from the time you join the team through June 30th, 2019. Prizes will be mailed/emailed by July 12th.)

Any questions? Let me know! Let's explode the web with dandelion love!

Join the team!

do you celebrate bookish birthdays? thoughts on the new back cover? who else is excited for the bash? 

If My Characters were Actors || The Broken Prince by Kara Linaburg || Guest Post

(I have a special treat today, a guest post from Kara of Beautifully Broken fame!) 

I was told to write about ANYTHING about The Broken Prince.
Anything.
WOW.
That's hard.
Really hard.
Basically that's like asking me my favorite Switchfoot song -- choosing just one thing is simply not going to happen without a lot of thought (hence why I am writing this a month in advance).



Oh, hi there. I'm Kara Lynn -- the author of my first published novel The Broken Prince, a YA (light) fantasy novel. I love to travel, spontaneous road trips, deep conversations, interacting with fellow humans, and helping people find beauty in their brokenness. I'm twenty years old but being an old soul, I feel at least twenty five.


This is my book -- I'm a bit in love with the cover honestly...a bit biased I'm sure, but I think every author should love her cover and not be ashamed of it.
The Broken Prince is based in a country where those with magical-like powers are outcasts and the king rules his folk with an iron fist. My heroine must choose whether to allow the labels of her birth and Gift to define her, or step out and fight the darkness threatening her and those she loves.
 If you will, please scroll to meet my characters that are more real than any fictional human should be and made this story possible...

Alexander Vlahos in Merlin BBC TV series (aka Milosh)Alexander Vlahos is probably the character closest to my hero and prince, Milosh. He is what I imagined when writing over the last few years even before I had seen the show. He did an incredible job with Mordred in Merlin, showing both a deep vulnerability and longing to belong. However, those eyes could often turn to quick rage, not unlike my own hero.
BUT then, my sister ruined this image and showed me....


Henry Cavill.


Okay.
He wins. Milosh, he is.
Holliday Grainger (the closest person I could get to Serena)
Serena is my heroine and the story stays based from her point of view. Most female characters tend to get the stereotype as kick-butt characters, and I didn't want that completely from Serena. I imagine her with a quiet soul that can become like the fire that can pour from her hands. She is dangerous (I'll grant you that!), but I do not think she can comprehend how dangerous or how much potential she has. She has spent her life hiding her Gift, living fear of who she is because of what society has told her.

Breton Thwaites as Hunter, Serena's brotherHands down, a younger version of Brenton Thwaites. I enjoyed him in The Giver, and Hunter is around the age Jonas would have been in the movie. Hunter is Serena's young brother and they have become each other's protector in the dark times that have fallen in Sindaleer.

Lara Pulver as Enid, my villain Lara Pulver is my sorceress hands-down. I thought of her instantly when I created the character after watching Robin Hood BBC and again in Sherlock. My sorceress Enid, is out for revenge against the evil king who just so happens to be Milosh's father. She's a Gifted with born-powers that she's twisted to become dark and evil.

Presenting Stephan Baldwin as ElstonIt took me a bit to imagine which actor would be my beloved and mischievous Elston, but basically I think I could say I see him as a much younger Stephan Baldwin -- think The Young Riders if you've had the fortune of seeing that western (I'm dorky, I know...).
Elston is...well...he's a lot of fun and I imagine he was a handful as a child. I want you to experience this human  character in person so I won't give too much away, but he loves to stir up a heck of a lot of trouble if he wants to.

In conclusion, you have officially met my beautiful creations. Putting a face with the name is always so fun, and I hope you have enjoyed reading these rambles by a stranger who has hacked borrowed Faith's blog for a day.
I would love to meet you -- I blog over at my own blog Beautifully Broken, where I write rambles weekly. You can also add The Broken Prince on Goodreads here, pre-order an e-book copy of my baby here, or just simply say hi in the comments below. Whichever way you choose, I am always up for making new friends. Next to watching the sun set, this is one of my favorite things to do.
Thank you for putting up with me intruding on the blog.
Have a blessed week, readers!




If you combined Lucy Ricardo, Jo March, and Tonks...you would have Kara. Queen of awkward, writer before she could properly spell, and maker of imaginary humans, she is passionate about creating characters that display beauty in brokenness. Kara took to blogging as a teenager, words soon becoming one of her greatest passions. When she’s not being a mad scientist in the kitchen or daydreaming about her next adventure, she loves to connect with readers. She lives in West Virginia where country roads always take her home. You can feel free to stalk her blog www.thebeautifullybrokenblog.com where she rambles weekly.
Social media: @karalynnauthorBlog: Beautifully Broken BlogE-mail: authorkaralynn@gmail.com