Angie Thompson's Blog, page 4
March 11, 2023
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February 21, 2022
The Single Line Story Challenge
Well, it's been a while, but then again, I'm not actually a blogger, so whatever ends up here is extra, right? :D
The lovely Katja tagged me for this challenge, so I decided I'd try it--and then ended up writing most of them in a burst of inspiration over my lunch break. So here goes...I hope you enjoy!
Rules:
- Thank the person who nominated you/mention whose blog you found this on // Thank you, Katja!
- Include the rules and badge in your post. Check!
- Write 5 single line stories that fall under any of these genres (you can pick which ones you do!):
~ fantasy
~ romance
~ thriller
~ mystery
~ western
~ contemporary
~ historical
~ drama
~ dystopian
~ adventure
~ sci-fi
~ paranormal
~ young adult
- You can choose 5 genres that’s easiest for you, or you can challenge yourself to try something new!
- Nominate 5 blogger/writers who you’d love to see participate and leave an open nomination for all writers! Since I don't actually blog, I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you want to try it, feel free! ;)
- You can do this challenge more than once.
Okay, here goes...
Romance
A lifetime of grief, pain, and fear squeezed from his eye in a single tear as she cupped his scarred face in her hands and softly murmured, "I love you."
Mystery
"Obviously," Elaine stated flatly as she eyed the diamond necklace spilling from the bear's torn heart, "it means you're not at all the man I thought you were."
Western
"I done it, Pa," Trace whispered, leaning against the fence to watch the children playing on the lawn, the gold of the sun tinting their hair the color of ripe wheat as it sank behind the hills.
Dystopian
The boy's scowl offered no encouragement, but his protective stance as he shoved me behind him gave me the first glimmer I'd had in weeks of something just vaguely like hope.
Sci-Fi
"Not yet, we're not," Cy breathed, ignoring the alarms blaring on all sides and keeping his hands steady on the controls as the enemy ship edged closer.
Want to do it yourself? Did you have a favorite? Let me know!
The lovely Katja tagged me for this challenge, so I decided I'd try it--and then ended up writing most of them in a burst of inspiration over my lunch break. So here goes...I hope you enjoy!
Rules:
- Thank the person who nominated you/mention whose blog you found this on // Thank you, Katja!
- Include the rules and badge in your post. Check!
- Write 5 single line stories that fall under any of these genres (you can pick which ones you do!):
~ fantasy
~ romance
~ thriller
~ mystery
~ western
~ contemporary
~ historical
~ drama
~ dystopian
~ adventure
~ sci-fi
~ paranormal
~ young adult
- You can choose 5 genres that’s easiest for you, or you can challenge yourself to try something new!
- Nominate 5 blogger/writers who you’d love to see participate and leave an open nomination for all writers! Since I don't actually blog, I'm not going to tag anyone, but if you want to try it, feel free! ;)
- You can do this challenge more than once.
Okay, here goes...
Romance
A lifetime of grief, pain, and fear squeezed from his eye in a single tear as she cupped his scarred face in her hands and softly murmured, "I love you."
Mystery
"Obviously," Elaine stated flatly as she eyed the diamond necklace spilling from the bear's torn heart, "it means you're not at all the man I thought you were."
Western
"I done it, Pa," Trace whispered, leaning against the fence to watch the children playing on the lawn, the gold of the sun tinting their hair the color of ripe wheat as it sank behind the hills.
Dystopian
The boy's scowl offered no encouragement, but his protective stance as he shoved me behind him gave me the first glimmer I'd had in weeks of something just vaguely like hope.
Sci-Fi
"Not yet, we're not," Cy breathed, ignoring the alarms blaring on all sides and keeping his hands steady on the controls as the enemy ship edged closer.
Want to do it yourself? Did you have a favorite? Let me know!
November 29, 2019
Multi-Author Book Sale!
It's that time of year again! Welcome back to the Black Friday Indie Book Sale! Dozens of books for under $1!!! Check it out HERE!!!
August 26, 2019
Blog Tour Time!
Hey, everyone! Just a quick note to let you know that my newest book (and first full-length novel), A Brother Is Born, is now available! It's also ON SALE for $0.99 this week only, so if you're interested, you may want to snatch a copy before it goes back up to full price. ;)
Also, I'm teaming up with Rebekah Morris to celebrate her release of By Paths Unknown with a joint blog tour, hosted on her blog. We've got a ton of fun posts planned for this week, so please hop over and check it out!
And while you're at it, you can take a peek at my Pinterest board for the story here. More extras to come in the blog tour, so don't miss out... :D
Have a great day!
June 22, 2019
Flash Fiction - Traitor
Hey, guys! I recently ran across a flash fiction contest with a prompt that really grabbed my attention. I haven't written a lot of super-short pieces, but I was inspired for this one, so I gave it a shot, and I thought I'd share it with you here. :D
Give it a read, and let me know what you think!
~Traitor~
They say we were born for a purpose. That our role is to serve the king in any way he requires. Maybe it is.
But I can't believe everything they say.
They say we could never live on the outside. That the walls exist for our protection. That we would die without their care.
But only Elispeth could have known the symbol scratched beneath the single word "safe."
They say without the king our city would collapse into ruin. That he cares for us like a father. That it is our duty to preserve him.
But when the nest in the tree beyond the east gate was threatened, I saw the father bird risk his own life for his young.
They say we were born in test tubes. That we have no right to feelings. That our only value is in our service.
But they never looked deep into little Jemmy's eyes.
They say he alone has the power to save the king. That it might be a full generation before they breed another with the perfect blood type. That without him, the king will die in a year.
But why is a child's life of less value than a king's?
They don't try to pretend that Jemmy would live through the procedure. They know he is too small. Instead, they talk about duty and prosperity and our purpose and our place.
But all I can feel is Jemmy's trusting little hand in mine.
They say life is trouble and pain. That Jemmy would be better not knowing it. That his would be an easy and merciful end.
But I believe the stories of a God who made life and says it should not be destroyed.
They say they've improved security. That our quarters are sealed tight. That no one will ever make another escape.
But Jemmy and Elispeth are already over the wall.
They say Jemmy is a state asset. That I am to blame for his escape. That if he is not returned, I will die with the king.
But Elispeth knows that I chose this path.
They say I'm a traitor. Maybe I am.
Maybe I don't care.
Give it a read, and let me know what you think!
~Traitor~
They say we were born for a purpose. That our role is to serve the king in any way he requires. Maybe it is.
But I can't believe everything they say.
They say we could never live on the outside. That the walls exist for our protection. That we would die without their care.
But only Elispeth could have known the symbol scratched beneath the single word "safe."
They say without the king our city would collapse into ruin. That he cares for us like a father. That it is our duty to preserve him.
But when the nest in the tree beyond the east gate was threatened, I saw the father bird risk his own life for his young.
They say we were born in test tubes. That we have no right to feelings. That our only value is in our service.
But they never looked deep into little Jemmy's eyes.
They say he alone has the power to save the king. That it might be a full generation before they breed another with the perfect blood type. That without him, the king will die in a year.
But why is a child's life of less value than a king's?
They don't try to pretend that Jemmy would live through the procedure. They know he is too small. Instead, they talk about duty and prosperity and our purpose and our place.
But all I can feel is Jemmy's trusting little hand in mine.
They say life is trouble and pain. That Jemmy would be better not knowing it. That his would be an easy and merciful end.
But I believe the stories of a God who made life and says it should not be destroyed.
They say they've improved security. That our quarters are sealed tight. That no one will ever make another escape.
But Jemmy and Elispeth are already over the wall.
They say Jemmy is a state asset. That I am to blame for his escape. That if he is not returned, I will die with the king.
But Elispeth knows that I chose this path.
They say I'm a traitor. Maybe I am.
Maybe I don't care.
March 30, 2019
Voted Most Likely Blogger Tag
Hello, everyone! So, I saw this super fun blog tag going around, and even though I'm not a real blogger, I thought I'd take a shot at it. Because it's about my own characters, and who doesn't like that? :D
So here's the thing. I'm going to break the rules just slightly. Because I can! Haha, yeah, no, I'm actually a major rule follower. But I've tweaked a couple of the questions that I wasn't quite comfortable with, because some rules are more important to me than others. No offense to anyone; just my personal convictions. I've also included a couple of bonus follow-up questions that popped into my head while I was working on these. Just because I can. ;)
Rule 1: Thank the blogger who tagged you.
I wasn't tagged (not a surprise, since I'm not actually a blogger :P), but I stole the idea from the lovely Kate Willis. :D
Rule 2: Include the link to the original blog.
I don't know anything about this author or their work, but they absolutely deserve credit for this awesome tag. :)
phoebeamorryce.wordpress.com/2018/10/...
Rule 3: Use your own lovely Original Characters (OC’s); don’t use a friend’s characters or characters from your favorite fandom. They can be from any project, so long as you created them. For more fun, try to use as many different characters as possible.
Not a problem! Actually, I narrowed it a bit more and made myself only use characters from stories that are either already published or that I have a decent chance of writing on in the next couple years or so. (Cause my story files run so deep, you guys.)
Rule 4: Nominate five other bloggers.
I'm going to skip this one since I wasn't officially tagged, but if anyone wants to pick it up, feel free. Also, you can refer back to Kate's post or the original for the actual questions, because like I said, I modified a couple.
And now, my own most likely list:
Most Likely to Become a Poet
Rick from Home for the Summer
He's already a writer (journalist and aspiring author) and the one line I've written that he's written is pretty poetic, so he could totally do this! Plus, he's got lot of solid advice to give, so I feel like his poetry (if he ever wrote it) would be super meaningful and not just random fluff.
Most Likely to Dance in the Rain
Mel from Love Blind
She'd probably do it and pull whoever was with her along just to make them smile. She's always thinking of sweet or fun little things to brighten the day for the people she loves, and she's got a definite zest for life, so I could see her doing this.
*Most likely to give me a death stare for suggesting it:*
Ron from Home for the Summer
Because his story was the one already on my mind, and when I glanced at the characters to see if any of them fit, that's what I got. Probably because Ron's both much too mature for anything so childish (he's twelve years old, for Pete's sake) and because he doesn't hesitate to let you know when he's not happy with you. So there you go.
Most Likely to Look Good in a Kilt
Andre from The Shepherd's Song
This one took me a really long time, but I'm pretty confident in my answer. The setting isn't quite right, but if the story was transplanted to Scotland, I'd have no trouble picturing Andre in a kilt. He's a rugged, strong, weather-beaten shepherd, who's also incredibly gentle and kind-hearted--I can so see it! Maybe I should move the story to Scotland...
Funny thing is, I have another character who grew up in a place I modeled off the Scottish highlands, but as hard as I try, I can't picture him in a kilt. :P
Most Likely to Get Punched in the Face
Azariah from Paths of Exile
Because he literally does, in the very first scene of the book. Not that he asks for it or deserves it in the slightest--he's a sweet, innocent, precious baby who should never have anything bad happen to him. But when sweet, innocent babies are captured by Babylonian soldiers, things happen, okay?
I do have some other characters who deserve it much more, but they tend to be super intimidating and/or in positions of power, and my good guys are usually too honorable to take a swing at them anyway. So even though some of them deserve a punch in the face, they're not very likely to get it.
Most Likely to Drop Everything and Become a Sheep Herder
Jaret from Along a Hidden Path
Because this would literally be his dream life. He grew up this way before tragedy struck his family, and he still carries a deep love and longing for the simple life in the highlands. His life has taken some wildly unexpected turns since then, and he's the last one to shirk his responsibilities. But he still feels very inadequate at times, and if he could drop everything and go back without feeling like he was abandoning his best friend, he'd do it in a heartbeat.
Most Likely Found in a Library
Ryan from Home for the Summer
Uh, yeah. I've probably written a lot of bookworm characters, but there's literally no contest. Ryan doesn't just love books; he loves libraries specifically. His choice of activity on vacation would be to visit a library. (At least, if he thought he could choose it without making Ron mad at him.) Ryan's had a rough life growing up, and the library was a safe (and free) place to hang out and lose himself in books. So yeah, he loves them.
Most Likely to Sleep Through an Earthquake
Jess from A Brother Is Born
At least if it hit before about nine in the morning... Jess is a seriously late sleeper and usually doesn't roll out of bed until the last possible second. He's also used to having a bunch of siblings/cousins around, so the noise wouldn't bother him. If he didn't actually sleep through it, he'd probably open one eye, glance at the clock, and go back to sleep--as long as it wasn't threatening to splash water on his face. That gets him up pretty fast.
Most Likely to Steal Food from Other People’s Plates
I'm struggling between two choices for this one, but for very different reasons.
Dodge from Unnamed Dystopian Allegory
This kid would totally do it if he had a reason to want your food. But you'd never catch him at it. He's way too sneaky and smart for his own good. So yeah.
Kevin from Code
Kevin would totally be the type to steal a French fry (or six) off your plate right under your nose--and grin at you while he did it. Mostly because he knows his grin is irresistible and nobody can stay mad at him.
Most Likely to Cheat on a Test
Jordan from Unnamed Mystery
I feel kind of bad about this; Jordan's not really a terrible kid. But he's not always the best behaved kid in the bunch either, and he doesn't have the greatest moral compass or an abundance of self-control, so yeah. I feel like if the temptation was strong enough, he probably would.
*Most likely to tell on him:*
Amelia from Random Hurricane Plot Bunny
Because the girl is obsessed with rules. Like, her siblings and cousins are in emergency survival mode, and she can't stop complaining about all the rules they're breaking. I'm a rule follower myself, but she definitely overdoes it a little.
Most Likely to Say “Oops” After Setting Something on Fire
Dodge from Unnamed Dystopian Allegory
However, it would definitely be because he meant to set it on fire, whatever it was. He can be a little worrisome at times. (Which is a nice way of saying the kid has some serious issues. We're working on it.) Just to be clear, he's not a firebug, but if a fire served his purposes for some reason, he wouldn't have any qualms about starting one.
Most Likely to Open an Orphanage
Actually, I have a few characters who have pretty much done this, but most of them are from stories currently covered in at least two inches of dust. So I'll try to go with someone whose story actually has the potential to be written somewhat soonish.
Astrid from The Butler's Position
Not that she does this, but I could see her doing it under different circumstances, and she'd probably be good at it. She's very sweet and gentle and loves kids, so yeah. (She's also got the most adorable Swedish accent! Which has nothing to do with her ability to run an orphanage, but quite a lot to do with how much I love her...)
Most Likely to Run Off to the Circus
Addi from Paths of Exile
That's a little misleading; Addi's generally too chill to actually run off. But he likes variety, so if he was offered a place in a circus, I feel like he'd take it without hesitation. (Although I'm not sure ancient Babylon had circuses...) Oh well--the personality fits.
[Most Likely to Survive a Catastrophic Takeover]
DaVonte from Bridgers
This was a hard one; apparently I don't have any really tough, battle-skilled characters. But DaVonte is both pretty strong and pretty good at keeping his head down, so I feel like he'd have a good shot at making it. He'd be very determined to make sure his friends survived as well, so you'll want to stay close to this one.
Most Likely to Fake Their Own Death
Umm, actually that's a spoiler. Like a major spoiler. Because if one of my characters actually did do that, he's definitely the most likely, right? But I can't tell you about that.
So, going with the most likely to who hasn't actually done it...
Bryan from Unnamed Dystopian Allegory
I don't necessarily think it's something he wants to do, but if he thought it would be better for his family, I can see him doing it. Particularly because Jetty doesn't intend to let him go without a fight, so he might see it as being easier on her. BTW, remind me not to let this thought cross Bryan's mind. Jetty would kill me!
[Most Likely to Annoy a Sibling to Death]
Chris and Cate from According to Plan
They're actually the first pair of twins I've written that don't get along very well. Cate's got some attitude issues going on, and Chris isn't a fan of backing off, so they get in a lot of sparring matches. I'm not sure which one would wear the other down first if their older brothers weren't around to run interference.
So what'd you guys think? Any of these characters or stories pique your interest? Any other "most likely" questions you'd like answered? Want to try this with your own characters? :D
So here's the thing. I'm going to break the rules just slightly. Because I can! Haha, yeah, no, I'm actually a major rule follower. But I've tweaked a couple of the questions that I wasn't quite comfortable with, because some rules are more important to me than others. No offense to anyone; just my personal convictions. I've also included a couple of bonus follow-up questions that popped into my head while I was working on these. Just because I can. ;)
Rule 1: Thank the blogger who tagged you.
I wasn't tagged (not a surprise, since I'm not actually a blogger :P), but I stole the idea from the lovely Kate Willis. :D
Rule 2: Include the link to the original blog.
I don't know anything about this author or their work, but they absolutely deserve credit for this awesome tag. :)
phoebeamorryce.wordpress.com/2018/10/...
Rule 3: Use your own lovely Original Characters (OC’s); don’t use a friend’s characters or characters from your favorite fandom. They can be from any project, so long as you created them. For more fun, try to use as many different characters as possible.
Not a problem! Actually, I narrowed it a bit more and made myself only use characters from stories that are either already published or that I have a decent chance of writing on in the next couple years or so. (Cause my story files run so deep, you guys.)
Rule 4: Nominate five other bloggers.
I'm going to skip this one since I wasn't officially tagged, but if anyone wants to pick it up, feel free. Also, you can refer back to Kate's post or the original for the actual questions, because like I said, I modified a couple.
And now, my own most likely list:
Most Likely to Become a Poet
Rick from Home for the Summer
He's already a writer (journalist and aspiring author) and the one line I've written that he's written is pretty poetic, so he could totally do this! Plus, he's got lot of solid advice to give, so I feel like his poetry (if he ever wrote it) would be super meaningful and not just random fluff.
Most Likely to Dance in the Rain
Mel from Love Blind
She'd probably do it and pull whoever was with her along just to make them smile. She's always thinking of sweet or fun little things to brighten the day for the people she loves, and she's got a definite zest for life, so I could see her doing this.
*Most likely to give me a death stare for suggesting it:*
Ron from Home for the Summer
Because his story was the one already on my mind, and when I glanced at the characters to see if any of them fit, that's what I got. Probably because Ron's both much too mature for anything so childish (he's twelve years old, for Pete's sake) and because he doesn't hesitate to let you know when he's not happy with you. So there you go.
Most Likely to Look Good in a Kilt
Andre from The Shepherd's Song
This one took me a really long time, but I'm pretty confident in my answer. The setting isn't quite right, but if the story was transplanted to Scotland, I'd have no trouble picturing Andre in a kilt. He's a rugged, strong, weather-beaten shepherd, who's also incredibly gentle and kind-hearted--I can so see it! Maybe I should move the story to Scotland...
Funny thing is, I have another character who grew up in a place I modeled off the Scottish highlands, but as hard as I try, I can't picture him in a kilt. :P
Most Likely to Get Punched in the Face
Azariah from Paths of Exile
Because he literally does, in the very first scene of the book. Not that he asks for it or deserves it in the slightest--he's a sweet, innocent, precious baby who should never have anything bad happen to him. But when sweet, innocent babies are captured by Babylonian soldiers, things happen, okay?
I do have some other characters who deserve it much more, but they tend to be super intimidating and/or in positions of power, and my good guys are usually too honorable to take a swing at them anyway. So even though some of them deserve a punch in the face, they're not very likely to get it.
Most Likely to Drop Everything and Become a Sheep Herder
Jaret from Along a Hidden Path
Because this would literally be his dream life. He grew up this way before tragedy struck his family, and he still carries a deep love and longing for the simple life in the highlands. His life has taken some wildly unexpected turns since then, and he's the last one to shirk his responsibilities. But he still feels very inadequate at times, and if he could drop everything and go back without feeling like he was abandoning his best friend, he'd do it in a heartbeat.
Most Likely Found in a Library
Ryan from Home for the Summer
Uh, yeah. I've probably written a lot of bookworm characters, but there's literally no contest. Ryan doesn't just love books; he loves libraries specifically. His choice of activity on vacation would be to visit a library. (At least, if he thought he could choose it without making Ron mad at him.) Ryan's had a rough life growing up, and the library was a safe (and free) place to hang out and lose himself in books. So yeah, he loves them.
Most Likely to Sleep Through an Earthquake
Jess from A Brother Is Born
At least if it hit before about nine in the morning... Jess is a seriously late sleeper and usually doesn't roll out of bed until the last possible second. He's also used to having a bunch of siblings/cousins around, so the noise wouldn't bother him. If he didn't actually sleep through it, he'd probably open one eye, glance at the clock, and go back to sleep--as long as it wasn't threatening to splash water on his face. That gets him up pretty fast.
Most Likely to Steal Food from Other People’s Plates
I'm struggling between two choices for this one, but for very different reasons.
Dodge from Unnamed Dystopian Allegory
This kid would totally do it if he had a reason to want your food. But you'd never catch him at it. He's way too sneaky and smart for his own good. So yeah.
Kevin from Code
Kevin would totally be the type to steal a French fry (or six) off your plate right under your nose--and grin at you while he did it. Mostly because he knows his grin is irresistible and nobody can stay mad at him.
Most Likely to Cheat on a Test
Jordan from Unnamed Mystery
I feel kind of bad about this; Jordan's not really a terrible kid. But he's not always the best behaved kid in the bunch either, and he doesn't have the greatest moral compass or an abundance of self-control, so yeah. I feel like if the temptation was strong enough, he probably would.
*Most likely to tell on him:*
Amelia from Random Hurricane Plot Bunny
Because the girl is obsessed with rules. Like, her siblings and cousins are in emergency survival mode, and she can't stop complaining about all the rules they're breaking. I'm a rule follower myself, but she definitely overdoes it a little.
Most Likely to Say “Oops” After Setting Something on Fire
Dodge from Unnamed Dystopian Allegory
However, it would definitely be because he meant to set it on fire, whatever it was. He can be a little worrisome at times. (Which is a nice way of saying the kid has some serious issues. We're working on it.) Just to be clear, he's not a firebug, but if a fire served his purposes for some reason, he wouldn't have any qualms about starting one.
Most Likely to Open an Orphanage
Actually, I have a few characters who have pretty much done this, but most of them are from stories currently covered in at least two inches of dust. So I'll try to go with someone whose story actually has the potential to be written somewhat soonish.
Astrid from The Butler's Position
Not that she does this, but I could see her doing it under different circumstances, and she'd probably be good at it. She's very sweet and gentle and loves kids, so yeah. (She's also got the most adorable Swedish accent! Which has nothing to do with her ability to run an orphanage, but quite a lot to do with how much I love her...)
Most Likely to Run Off to the Circus
Addi from Paths of Exile
That's a little misleading; Addi's generally too chill to actually run off. But he likes variety, so if he was offered a place in a circus, I feel like he'd take it without hesitation. (Although I'm not sure ancient Babylon had circuses...) Oh well--the personality fits.
[Most Likely to Survive a Catastrophic Takeover]
DaVonte from Bridgers
This was a hard one; apparently I don't have any really tough, battle-skilled characters. But DaVonte is both pretty strong and pretty good at keeping his head down, so I feel like he'd have a good shot at making it. He'd be very determined to make sure his friends survived as well, so you'll want to stay close to this one.
Most Likely to Fake Their Own Death
Umm, actually that's a spoiler. Like a major spoiler. Because if one of my characters actually did do that, he's definitely the most likely, right? But I can't tell you about that.
So, going with the most likely to who hasn't actually done it...
Bryan from Unnamed Dystopian Allegory
I don't necessarily think it's something he wants to do, but if he thought it would be better for his family, I can see him doing it. Particularly because Jetty doesn't intend to let him go without a fight, so he might see it as being easier on her. BTW, remind me not to let this thought cross Bryan's mind. Jetty would kill me!
[Most Likely to Annoy a Sibling to Death]
Chris and Cate from According to Plan
They're actually the first pair of twins I've written that don't get along very well. Cate's got some attitude issues going on, and Chris isn't a fan of backing off, so they get in a lot of sparring matches. I'm not sure which one would wear the other down first if their older brothers weren't around to run interference.
So what'd you guys think? Any of these characters or stories pique your interest? Any other "most likely" questions you'd like answered? Want to try this with your own characters? :D
January 2, 2019
My 2018 Book Awards
Dear Authors I Read in 2018,
Do you realize how difficult you have made my life? I am now agonizing over questions like: What was your favorite read of the year? Who was your favorite new author? Who was your favorite couple/friendship/character/random extra? So because all these questions make me feel like I’m leaving out incredible books that deserve to be recognized, I’m going to create my own awards.
Because I can, that’s why! :D
And no, this isn’t an every-book-gets-a-participation-medal party. These are only the best of the best, and I’m not even listing all my five-star reads this year. Check my ratings if you don’t believe me. I’ve doubled up and pared down everywhere I can, but you might want to grab some snacks; this could take a while!
The five-stars-is-not-enough award--Becoming Nikki by Ashley Elliot. I was so blown away by this amazing story of sibling love and second chances! My expectations were high going in, and this book absolutely shattered them. <3 Really need an option for more stars, please!
Honorable mention to Behold by Faith Potts (for evoking the squealing fangirl I try to pretend doesn’t exist with “What Matters”, the sequel to Dandelion Dust) and The Rivers of Judah by Catherine Farnes (which was a re-read this year and which whole series I will never be tired of re-reading).
The you-wrote-it-I’ll-buy-it award--Probably several authors, but the one that rises to the top is Rebekah A. Morris. There’s a reason I’m not attempting to list all my individual 4.5-5 star reads from her. (Let’s say two reasons--your time and my sanity.) Let’s do the math--so far, she’s published 30 books and short stories. I own 28 of them, the exceptions being a photo alphabet book and a collection of short stories also sold individually. Of those 28, I have only 5 left to read. And I only discovered her as an author in 2018! Let’s just say that I don’t really worry about reading the blurb anymore. (I didn’t write that to be ironic, but now I’m laughing. Some of you may understand why. :D) The point is, if Rebekah wrote it, I want to read it--period.
I said I wasn’t listing all my favorites from Rebekah, and I’m not, but I just had to name-drop The Unexpected Request. I think it’s my favorite of hers so far, although it’s got some really stiff competition. It would also be in the running for the award above. ;)
The can-I-pleeeeease-live-in-your-story award--The StormBreathers series by A.J. Sky. I really, really, really want one of these dragons. And to be friends with the Storm Riders team. And to live in Eye of the Storm, where I can eat dragon-milk ice cream and play with fuzzy little yeti cubs and charge my phone with a dragon-powered battery before playing hide-and-seek with glowing dragon spikes. Kay? Inform me immediately of any vacancies, please and thank you!
The melt-me-into-a-puddle award (please don’t tell my Camp NaNo cabinmates; there’s a standing threat of being thrown into a lake if I do it again)--Kiera by Kate Willis. Soooo many things to love about this story, but it’s Brennan’s character that turns my heart into a helpless mess every time. And don’t get me started on the Christmas prequel The Least of These.
Honorable mention goes to Rebekah Morris’s stellar Irish accents, particularly in “A Good Summer” from Pirates of Rocky Crag Bay and Other Stories, which have nearly the same effect...
The really-really-really-need-the-next-book award--Dronefall by A.L. Buehrer. Such an amazing and well-written story with wonderful characters and so many unanswered questions! I literally want to make grabby hands every time I see a progress update for book #2.
The please-just-publish-it-already award (otherwise known as “books I alpha/beta-read that aren’t released yet”)--tie between Casey Newman's Guide To Being Funny by Penny Wood and A Soldier’s Freedom by Faith Potts. Very different books, but I love them both to death! Can’t wait until they’re out and you can love them, too. <3
The absolutely-must-share award--tie between Kate's Innocence by Sarah Holman (I bought the whole series for my mom) and Beyond the Horizon by Jesseca Wheaton (I bought a paper copy to loan to my sister). One day they will have time to follow up on my repeated recommendations. The StormBreathers series also qualifies for this one--I finally have my paper copies and plan to shove them at anyone who will take them!
Honorable mention goes to Honey Butter by Millie Florence; I bought copies for two elementary-school teachers to share with their classrooms. :)
The re-read-for-the-no-ideath-time award--The Quest for Truth series by Brock Eastman. One of my two favorite Christian sci-fi series. Seriously, why did this take so long to become a thing? I re-read them all this year in anticipation of the release of the final volume--which has been pushed back to 2019. Guess I’ll just have to re-read them all again... Oh, well, good thing I own them in three different formats! :D
The hope-in-the-darkness award--Proof of Purple by J.C. Buchanan. I’m still in shock at the way the heavy themes and raw pain and heart-stopping tension came together to create something this beautiful and profound. If you’d described it to me with those words, I’d probably have given you a smiling “no, thank you”. But this book--I don’t regret it for one minute.
Other serious contenders are Counted Worthy by Leah E. Good, Even in the Grey by Laura Guenot, and Emmanuel by Angela R. Watts. Kiera by Kate Willis would also fall in this category. All dealing with difficult, scary, or painful topics but in a way that made me love them in spite of it. That, my friends, is high praise.
The how-are-you-making-me-laugh-this-much award--The Castaways series by Jes Drew. When I picked the first one up, I expected a survival adventure, not a rolling-on-my-bed comedy. What I got was both! And neither the adventure nor the humor weakens as the series goes along.
Honorable mention goes to the Kitten Files series by Perry Kirkpatrick for a hilarious cat’s-eye-view of a detective’s life and There Was Always Laughter In Our House by Sarah Holman for a heartwarming and way-too-true-to-life memoir of growing up in a big family.
The glued-to-my-seat award--24 Days Before Christmas by Rebekah Jones. An incredible Christmas mystery that I could not put down. Rarely does a book this long keep me engaged this fully! Outstanding work!
The sweet-romance-done-right award--Breath of Christmas by E.A. West, Three Little Words by Melissa Tagg, and I Don't Dance by Jesseca Wheaton. Take your pick; they’re all fantastic.
The literally-gave-me-goosebumps award--The Notes in Our Hearts by Gabriellyn Gidman. Utterly beautiful little story that fell short in nothing except the cliches you’d expect. I need to re-read this treasure.
The too-sweet-for-anything-but-not-at-all-sappy Christmas award--tie between Our Christmas Bear by Sarah Brazytis and Some Christmas Camouflage by Elisabeth Grace Foley. It’s like someone bottled up the perfect holiday spirit and stuck it between the pages of a book. If I don’t come back to these every year at Christmas, someone please slap me!
Too many honorable mentions to list here, but many of them have already been touched on above. Special shout-out to Rebekah Morris’s Christmas stories, which again, I’m not going to mention by name. :)
The why-did-it-take-me-so-long award--Every Perfect Gift by Julie Nye. I’ve had this on my shelf for years and kept hesitating to open it. I half-expected a story of sullen brooding and teenage angst. What I got instead was a lovely coming-of-age story with a vivid setting and a beautiful message. Serves me right for waiting this long to read it!
The where-has-this-been-all-my-life award--Maud Melville's Marriage by Evelyn Everett-Green. This is an absolutely fantastic book that reads like a romance novel but is closely based on a true story. If the terms “child marriage” and “faithful lover” and “wrongful accusation” make you roll your eyes, don’t worry; I did too. Until I read it! This little gem definitely deserves to be much better known.
Honorable mention goes to Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery for its beautiful and heartwarming portrayal of truth, loyalty, and family ties in WWII Britain. I don’t know why I’d never heard of it until this year, but I’m certainly glad I did!
The still-haven’t-shaken-my-book-crush award--The Firmament series by J. Grace Pennington. Okay, yes, these books could qualify for so many other awards. They’re absolutely fantastic in every way! A year of exceptional reading (see above) still hasn’t dislodged them from among the very top of my favorites list. But this is still one of my first thoughts every time I look at them, so… ;)
*counts up on my fingers* Seventeen awards? Maybe I should make it an even twenty… *scans the audience to see if anyone’s still there* Or maybe I’d better stop.
Happy new year, everyone! Here’s to another year of too many good books to name!
Angie
Do you realize how difficult you have made my life? I am now agonizing over questions like: What was your favorite read of the year? Who was your favorite new author? Who was your favorite couple/friendship/character/random extra? So because all these questions make me feel like I’m leaving out incredible books that deserve to be recognized, I’m going to create my own awards.
Because I can, that’s why! :D
And no, this isn’t an every-book-gets-a-participation-medal party. These are only the best of the best, and I’m not even listing all my five-star reads this year. Check my ratings if you don’t believe me. I’ve doubled up and pared down everywhere I can, but you might want to grab some snacks; this could take a while!
The five-stars-is-not-enough award--Becoming Nikki by Ashley Elliot. I was so blown away by this amazing story of sibling love and second chances! My expectations were high going in, and this book absolutely shattered them. <3 Really need an option for more stars, please!
Honorable mention to Behold by Faith Potts (for evoking the squealing fangirl I try to pretend doesn’t exist with “What Matters”, the sequel to Dandelion Dust) and The Rivers of Judah by Catherine Farnes (which was a re-read this year and which whole series I will never be tired of re-reading).
The you-wrote-it-I’ll-buy-it award--Probably several authors, but the one that rises to the top is Rebekah A. Morris. There’s a reason I’m not attempting to list all my individual 4.5-5 star reads from her. (Let’s say two reasons--your time and my sanity.) Let’s do the math--so far, she’s published 30 books and short stories. I own 28 of them, the exceptions being a photo alphabet book and a collection of short stories also sold individually. Of those 28, I have only 5 left to read. And I only discovered her as an author in 2018! Let’s just say that I don’t really worry about reading the blurb anymore. (I didn’t write that to be ironic, but now I’m laughing. Some of you may understand why. :D) The point is, if Rebekah wrote it, I want to read it--period.
I said I wasn’t listing all my favorites from Rebekah, and I’m not, but I just had to name-drop The Unexpected Request. I think it’s my favorite of hers so far, although it’s got some really stiff competition. It would also be in the running for the award above. ;)
The can-I-pleeeeease-live-in-your-story award--The StormBreathers series by A.J. Sky. I really, really, really want one of these dragons. And to be friends with the Storm Riders team. And to live in Eye of the Storm, where I can eat dragon-milk ice cream and play with fuzzy little yeti cubs and charge my phone with a dragon-powered battery before playing hide-and-seek with glowing dragon spikes. Kay? Inform me immediately of any vacancies, please and thank you!
The melt-me-into-a-puddle award (please don’t tell my Camp NaNo cabinmates; there’s a standing threat of being thrown into a lake if I do it again)--Kiera by Kate Willis. Soooo many things to love about this story, but it’s Brennan’s character that turns my heart into a helpless mess every time. And don’t get me started on the Christmas prequel The Least of These.
Honorable mention goes to Rebekah Morris’s stellar Irish accents, particularly in “A Good Summer” from Pirates of Rocky Crag Bay and Other Stories, which have nearly the same effect...
The really-really-really-need-the-next-book award--Dronefall by A.L. Buehrer. Such an amazing and well-written story with wonderful characters and so many unanswered questions! I literally want to make grabby hands every time I see a progress update for book #2.
The please-just-publish-it-already award (otherwise known as “books I alpha/beta-read that aren’t released yet”)--tie between Casey Newman's Guide To Being Funny by Penny Wood and A Soldier’s Freedom by Faith Potts. Very different books, but I love them both to death! Can’t wait until they’re out and you can love them, too. <3
The absolutely-must-share award--tie between Kate's Innocence by Sarah Holman (I bought the whole series for my mom) and Beyond the Horizon by Jesseca Wheaton (I bought a paper copy to loan to my sister). One day they will have time to follow up on my repeated recommendations. The StormBreathers series also qualifies for this one--I finally have my paper copies and plan to shove them at anyone who will take them!
Honorable mention goes to Honey Butter by Millie Florence; I bought copies for two elementary-school teachers to share with their classrooms. :)
The re-read-for-the-no-ideath-time award--The Quest for Truth series by Brock Eastman. One of my two favorite Christian sci-fi series. Seriously, why did this take so long to become a thing? I re-read them all this year in anticipation of the release of the final volume--which has been pushed back to 2019. Guess I’ll just have to re-read them all again... Oh, well, good thing I own them in three different formats! :D
The hope-in-the-darkness award--Proof of Purple by J.C. Buchanan. I’m still in shock at the way the heavy themes and raw pain and heart-stopping tension came together to create something this beautiful and profound. If you’d described it to me with those words, I’d probably have given you a smiling “no, thank you”. But this book--I don’t regret it for one minute.
Other serious contenders are Counted Worthy by Leah E. Good, Even in the Grey by Laura Guenot, and Emmanuel by Angela R. Watts. Kiera by Kate Willis would also fall in this category. All dealing with difficult, scary, or painful topics but in a way that made me love them in spite of it. That, my friends, is high praise.
The how-are-you-making-me-laugh-this-much award--The Castaways series by Jes Drew. When I picked the first one up, I expected a survival adventure, not a rolling-on-my-bed comedy. What I got was both! And neither the adventure nor the humor weakens as the series goes along.
Honorable mention goes to the Kitten Files series by Perry Kirkpatrick for a hilarious cat’s-eye-view of a detective’s life and There Was Always Laughter In Our House by Sarah Holman for a heartwarming and way-too-true-to-life memoir of growing up in a big family.
The glued-to-my-seat award--24 Days Before Christmas by Rebekah Jones. An incredible Christmas mystery that I could not put down. Rarely does a book this long keep me engaged this fully! Outstanding work!
The sweet-romance-done-right award--Breath of Christmas by E.A. West, Three Little Words by Melissa Tagg, and I Don't Dance by Jesseca Wheaton. Take your pick; they’re all fantastic.
The literally-gave-me-goosebumps award--The Notes in Our Hearts by Gabriellyn Gidman. Utterly beautiful little story that fell short in nothing except the cliches you’d expect. I need to re-read this treasure.
The too-sweet-for-anything-but-not-at-all-sappy Christmas award--tie between Our Christmas Bear by Sarah Brazytis and Some Christmas Camouflage by Elisabeth Grace Foley. It’s like someone bottled up the perfect holiday spirit and stuck it between the pages of a book. If I don’t come back to these every year at Christmas, someone please slap me!
Too many honorable mentions to list here, but many of them have already been touched on above. Special shout-out to Rebekah Morris’s Christmas stories, which again, I’m not going to mention by name. :)
The why-did-it-take-me-so-long award--Every Perfect Gift by Julie Nye. I’ve had this on my shelf for years and kept hesitating to open it. I half-expected a story of sullen brooding and teenage angst. What I got instead was a lovely coming-of-age story with a vivid setting and a beautiful message. Serves me right for waiting this long to read it!
The where-has-this-been-all-my-life award--Maud Melville's Marriage by Evelyn Everett-Green. This is an absolutely fantastic book that reads like a romance novel but is closely based on a true story. If the terms “child marriage” and “faithful lover” and “wrongful accusation” make you roll your eyes, don’t worry; I did too. Until I read it! This little gem definitely deserves to be much better known.
Honorable mention goes to Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery for its beautiful and heartwarming portrayal of truth, loyalty, and family ties in WWII Britain. I don’t know why I’d never heard of it until this year, but I’m certainly glad I did!
The still-haven’t-shaken-my-book-crush award--The Firmament series by J. Grace Pennington. Okay, yes, these books could qualify for so many other awards. They’re absolutely fantastic in every way! A year of exceptional reading (see above) still hasn’t dislodged them from among the very top of my favorites list. But this is still one of my first thoughts every time I look at them, so… ;)
*counts up on my fingers* Seventeen awards? Maybe I should make it an even twenty… *scans the audience to see if anyone’s still there* Or maybe I’d better stop.
Happy new year, everyone! Here’s to another year of too many good books to name!
Angie
December 26, 2018
A Christmas Present!
Hey, everyone! I have a short Christmas present for you. :) (And no, I don't mean small; I mean short--as in, another short short story you can read for free!)
I'll admit that it's not exactly a Christmas story. In fact, it's more summery than anything. But hey, if people can have Christmas in July, why can't I have July in Christmas? Also, I didn't have an idea for a Christmas story, so you get this one or nothing. ;)
Hope you enjoy! I'd love to hear what you think. :)
Rob gritted his teeth and willed his tired legs to keep pedaling. Only two more miles. Just two and he would be home. It had been the longest day of his life. Joining the gang for a bike ride to the ocean had seemed like a fun idea. Only he hadn’t stopped to calculate how long of a ride it was. But he had made it. At least this far. Couldn’t he make the last two miles? The other guys were all up ahead and when one shouted something back, he nodded and waved.
“I wonder what he said,” he mused as they disappeared around a bend in the road. “I hope it wasn’t important.”
His legs burned as he steered his bike toward the turn, feeling like he was moving by inches. Two miles. Less than two miles. Not much less, but still. He had to make it. If the guys started thinking they had to treat him gently, it would be the end of the easy friendship he’d basked in since moving to the little coastal town two months before.
And Phil. Rob’s already red face flushed hotter at the thought of his brother. Phil had said he couldn’t do it, had tried to convince Mom not to let him go. He wouldn’t give Phil the satisfaction of seeing him come into town on the back of another boy’s bike. He’d make it on his own if it killed him. Of course, Phil had been convinced it’d do just that.
Not strong enough. He was so tired of being not strong enough. It’d been six months since he’d been released from the hospital. Would Phil ever see him as strong enough? Two miles. Less than two. He was going to make it. He had to.
As he rounded the turn, Rob saw the rest of the group in the distance. How had they gained so quickly? They must be racing. It wouldn’t be the first time today. They’d stop and wait for him eventually.
He’d slowed too much watching the cloud of dust and wheels ahead of him, and his bike began to wobble. Rob jerked the handlebars and gave one quick kick to the pedals, and the front wheel veered sharply toward a large rock. He grabbed for the brakes, but it was too late. The bike bucked, twisted, and rolled into the deep gully that bordered the road, landing on top of him at the bottom in a tangle of arms, legs, rocks, and spokes.
For a moment, Rob lay half stunned, then he slowly raised himself on his elbow. With a good deal of effort, he managed to pry himself apart from the bike and sit up. The gully spun around him, and he grabbed a nearby rock to keep himself upright.
As the world settled a little, Rob became aware of a dull pounding in his head and raised his hand to find something warm and wet trickling from a cut just below his hairline. He started to lift his other hand, but a sharper stab of pain revealed a larger, faster-bleeding gash on his right arm. He pulled his sleeve down over his shoulder and used his left hand to hold it against the cut as he glanced down at his legs. The left one was scratched and bruised, and his ankle throbbed a bit when he moved it. His right knee was scraped raw and covered in blood.
His eyes slid to his bike, and he winced. He was in no condition to ride, but the bent front wheel would make even walking the bike an awful task in his current state. Rob leaned his head against the side of the gully and closed his eyes as he waited for the bleeding to slow. He mentally traced the route they had followed that morning—no houses until the dirt road merged with the end of Main Street. How long would it take the boys to come looking for him? Or had that call he’d missed been a “see you tomorrow”? If they’d all gone home, he could sit here for hours without being found.
Rob groaned. He’d have given anything at that moment to be tucked under the soft, clean covers of his own bed, even if Mom’s worried fussing and Phil’s “I told you so” were part of the deal. If Phil would only show up now…
“I have to get home.” He’d kept the self-pep talks inside his head all day, but saying them out loud made them seem truer, more real. “Someone’s got to come along, but if they don’t—I’ve just got to start. I won’t get anywhere sitting here.”
Rob checked the bleeding on his arm, which had slowed, then carefully inched himself out of the gully, dragging the bent bicycle by the handlebars with his feet. At the top, he tried to stand but gasped and sank back to the ground as his knee gave a sharp protest. Tears stung his eyes, and he buried his face in his good arm.
“This isn’t getting me home.” Hissing the words through clenched teeth, Rob staggered to his feet, ignoring the throbbing in his ankle and holding tightly to his thighs until the pain in his knee subsided a little. With some effort and more than one searing reminder of the cut in his arm, he got the bike upright and leaned against the handlebars. It actually wasn’t a bad crutch, or wouldn’t have been if the front wheel hadn’t been so uncooperative. Still, it was better than nothing, or at least that’s what he’d tell himself.
Rob bit back a cry at the pain in his knee as he began inching along the road. Two miles. A little less, but still—almost two miles. He’d been pushing to make it on a bike. But walking—and walking injured? The thought made him dizzy, and he turned his attention back to his feet. A painful step. An excruciating step. Stay upright when the bent wheel caught or twisted. Catch a breath when the throbbing dulled for an instant, then hold it for a fresh wave of pain. Looking up at the trees in the unattainable distance was torture, and after a few glances, he kept his eyes trained on the dirt road. Left foot. Grit teeth. Right foot. Breathe. One step more. Just one step more.
The pattern became his entire existence. It consumed him so completely that he barely registered the whine of a car motor until a door slammed with a thump.
“Robbie!”
Rob slowly lifted his gaze and collapsed into his brother’s arms. It was a minute before he knew anything else, but when the fog began to clear, he found himself on the ground with Phil leaning over him, wiping his face with a wet handkerchief.
“Phil.” The word was a sob, and Phil looked down quickly.
“Take it easy, Robbie. It’ll all be okay. What happened?”
“Caught my wheel—on a rock. Crashed in the gully. Too far behind—no one saw.” To his dismay, Rob found himself trembling all over. Phil held a canteen to his lips and lifted his head to help him drink, then went to work tending his cuts with the first-aid kit he always carried. He talked softly as he worked.
“I saw the boys at Marco’s, and Gary told me they’d raced the last mile and a half. They were waiting for you, but I told them I’d meet you and send you straight home to supper. I didn’t think you’d want them to see if you’d given out.”
“You were right, Phil.” Rob closed his eyes, and his shoulders slumped, then tensed again as Phil touched his knee.
“Right about what?”
“I wasn’t strong enough. I couldn’t make it. I shouldn’t have—” Rob couldn’t keep back a grunt of pain as Phil applied an alcohol wipe to the scrape. “I shouldn’t have tried.”
Phil didn’t answer until he’d wrapped the knee in gauze and cleaned a couple of smaller cuts. Finally, his eyes met Rob’s.
“Robbie, I’ve never been so wrong in my life.”
Rob blinked at him dully.
“About what?”
“Lots of things. But mostly about you.” He moved to sit near Rob’s head again and carefully stroked his brother’s hair back from his face. “I was so scared, Robbie. All that time you were in the hospital, and then afterwards—I’ve never been so scared in my life. All I could think was that we’d lose you—and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.” Phil swallowed hard, and Rob wondered if there were really tears in his eyes, or if it was just a trick of the sun. Phil went on talking quietly. “When you started to get better—I couldn’t let go of that fear. I just wanted to hide you away where nothing could hurt you ever again.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Rob murmured. The tension was draining from his body, and Phil’s gentle stroking of his hair had nearly put him to sleep.
“No, Robbie.” Phil’s voice was quiet, but his words had a ring that made Rob’s eyes open wide. “That would have been the worst mistake of my life. You’re not one of Mom’s porcelain figurines that needs to be wrapped in cotton and stuck on a shelf. You’re stronger than that—much stronger—and I can see that now. Taking your life away to protect you—it’d hurt you much worse than anything else could.”
“But I’m not strong, Phil.” Rob felt his lip trembling. “You were right; the ride was too long. I was beat—a long time before I fell.”
“Beat, but not licked.”
“Huh?”
“Where’d you fall, Robbie?”
“Just after the turn.”
“So you made over eighteen miles of a twenty-mile round trip on your bike, when I didn’t think you’d last ten. And you would have made the rest if you hadn’t hit that rock.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I found you half a mile from that spot, limping on a bad knee and not an overly good ankle and pushing a bent bicycle, that’s how.” Phil tipped Rob’s chin up and looked into his eyes. “You’ve got grit, kid. Right-down, pure, unadulterated grit. And when those cuts heal up, you’re going to prove it by biking out to Pickett’s Gorge with me.”
Rob caught his breath. He’d heard so much about Pickett’s Gorge, and to go there with Phil— He broke off the train of thought and shook his head.
“That’s a fifteen-mile ride one way. I’d never make the whole thing, even if I wasn’t still stiff and sore.”
“We’ll wait ‘til the soreness is past. And we’ll take it in easy stages—camp there a couple nights instead of coming straight home. Are you game?”
For answer, Rob wrapped his better arm around his brother and held on tightly.
“You can look out for me any time, Phil.”
“I plan to. You’re a special kid, Robbie. But I don’t aim to be the one that rubs your grit off.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting rid of some of it.” Rob brushed at the coating of dirt that covered his skin, and Phil laughed.
“The outer stuff we can take care of. Just don’t let anyone steal it from your heart.” In another minute, he’d swept Rob off the ground and into the car. “Let’s get you home, hero. What do you say?”
“I say I love you, Phil.” Rob smiled and closed his eyes as he lay back against the seat. “And if you’re really taking me out to Pickett’s Gorge, then I’d say I’m not the only one who’s brave.”
“Maybe you’ve taught me something.” Phil reached over and stroked his brother’s hair again before putting the car in gear. And under the whine of the motor, Rob was certain he heard, “And I love you, too, kid.”
Copyright December 2018 by Angie Thompson
Photo by Pietro De Grandi, courtesy of Unsplash
Special thanks to Rebekah Morris and Kate Willis for the original story prompt :)
I'll admit that it's not exactly a Christmas story. In fact, it's more summery than anything. But hey, if people can have Christmas in July, why can't I have July in Christmas? Also, I didn't have an idea for a Christmas story, so you get this one or nothing. ;)
Hope you enjoy! I'd love to hear what you think. :)
Rob gritted his teeth and willed his tired legs to keep pedaling. Only two more miles. Just two and he would be home. It had been the longest day of his life. Joining the gang for a bike ride to the ocean had seemed like a fun idea. Only he hadn’t stopped to calculate how long of a ride it was. But he had made it. At least this far. Couldn’t he make the last two miles? The other guys were all up ahead and when one shouted something back, he nodded and waved.
“I wonder what he said,” he mused as they disappeared around a bend in the road. “I hope it wasn’t important.”
His legs burned as he steered his bike toward the turn, feeling like he was moving by inches. Two miles. Less than two miles. Not much less, but still. He had to make it. If the guys started thinking they had to treat him gently, it would be the end of the easy friendship he’d basked in since moving to the little coastal town two months before.
And Phil. Rob’s already red face flushed hotter at the thought of his brother. Phil had said he couldn’t do it, had tried to convince Mom not to let him go. He wouldn’t give Phil the satisfaction of seeing him come into town on the back of another boy’s bike. He’d make it on his own if it killed him. Of course, Phil had been convinced it’d do just that.
Not strong enough. He was so tired of being not strong enough. It’d been six months since he’d been released from the hospital. Would Phil ever see him as strong enough? Two miles. Less than two. He was going to make it. He had to.
As he rounded the turn, Rob saw the rest of the group in the distance. How had they gained so quickly? They must be racing. It wouldn’t be the first time today. They’d stop and wait for him eventually.
He’d slowed too much watching the cloud of dust and wheels ahead of him, and his bike began to wobble. Rob jerked the handlebars and gave one quick kick to the pedals, and the front wheel veered sharply toward a large rock. He grabbed for the brakes, but it was too late. The bike bucked, twisted, and rolled into the deep gully that bordered the road, landing on top of him at the bottom in a tangle of arms, legs, rocks, and spokes.
For a moment, Rob lay half stunned, then he slowly raised himself on his elbow. With a good deal of effort, he managed to pry himself apart from the bike and sit up. The gully spun around him, and he grabbed a nearby rock to keep himself upright.
As the world settled a little, Rob became aware of a dull pounding in his head and raised his hand to find something warm and wet trickling from a cut just below his hairline. He started to lift his other hand, but a sharper stab of pain revealed a larger, faster-bleeding gash on his right arm. He pulled his sleeve down over his shoulder and used his left hand to hold it against the cut as he glanced down at his legs. The left one was scratched and bruised, and his ankle throbbed a bit when he moved it. His right knee was scraped raw and covered in blood.
His eyes slid to his bike, and he winced. He was in no condition to ride, but the bent front wheel would make even walking the bike an awful task in his current state. Rob leaned his head against the side of the gully and closed his eyes as he waited for the bleeding to slow. He mentally traced the route they had followed that morning—no houses until the dirt road merged with the end of Main Street. How long would it take the boys to come looking for him? Or had that call he’d missed been a “see you tomorrow”? If they’d all gone home, he could sit here for hours without being found.
Rob groaned. He’d have given anything at that moment to be tucked under the soft, clean covers of his own bed, even if Mom’s worried fussing and Phil’s “I told you so” were part of the deal. If Phil would only show up now…
“I have to get home.” He’d kept the self-pep talks inside his head all day, but saying them out loud made them seem truer, more real. “Someone’s got to come along, but if they don’t—I’ve just got to start. I won’t get anywhere sitting here.”
Rob checked the bleeding on his arm, which had slowed, then carefully inched himself out of the gully, dragging the bent bicycle by the handlebars with his feet. At the top, he tried to stand but gasped and sank back to the ground as his knee gave a sharp protest. Tears stung his eyes, and he buried his face in his good arm.
“This isn’t getting me home.” Hissing the words through clenched teeth, Rob staggered to his feet, ignoring the throbbing in his ankle and holding tightly to his thighs until the pain in his knee subsided a little. With some effort and more than one searing reminder of the cut in his arm, he got the bike upright and leaned against the handlebars. It actually wasn’t a bad crutch, or wouldn’t have been if the front wheel hadn’t been so uncooperative. Still, it was better than nothing, or at least that’s what he’d tell himself.
Rob bit back a cry at the pain in his knee as he began inching along the road. Two miles. A little less, but still—almost two miles. He’d been pushing to make it on a bike. But walking—and walking injured? The thought made him dizzy, and he turned his attention back to his feet. A painful step. An excruciating step. Stay upright when the bent wheel caught or twisted. Catch a breath when the throbbing dulled for an instant, then hold it for a fresh wave of pain. Looking up at the trees in the unattainable distance was torture, and after a few glances, he kept his eyes trained on the dirt road. Left foot. Grit teeth. Right foot. Breathe. One step more. Just one step more.
The pattern became his entire existence. It consumed him so completely that he barely registered the whine of a car motor until a door slammed with a thump.
“Robbie!”
Rob slowly lifted his gaze and collapsed into his brother’s arms. It was a minute before he knew anything else, but when the fog began to clear, he found himself on the ground with Phil leaning over him, wiping his face with a wet handkerchief.
“Phil.” The word was a sob, and Phil looked down quickly.
“Take it easy, Robbie. It’ll all be okay. What happened?”
“Caught my wheel—on a rock. Crashed in the gully. Too far behind—no one saw.” To his dismay, Rob found himself trembling all over. Phil held a canteen to his lips and lifted his head to help him drink, then went to work tending his cuts with the first-aid kit he always carried. He talked softly as he worked.
“I saw the boys at Marco’s, and Gary told me they’d raced the last mile and a half. They were waiting for you, but I told them I’d meet you and send you straight home to supper. I didn’t think you’d want them to see if you’d given out.”
“You were right, Phil.” Rob closed his eyes, and his shoulders slumped, then tensed again as Phil touched his knee.
“Right about what?”
“I wasn’t strong enough. I couldn’t make it. I shouldn’t have—” Rob couldn’t keep back a grunt of pain as Phil applied an alcohol wipe to the scrape. “I shouldn’t have tried.”
Phil didn’t answer until he’d wrapped the knee in gauze and cleaned a couple of smaller cuts. Finally, his eyes met Rob’s.
“Robbie, I’ve never been so wrong in my life.”
Rob blinked at him dully.
“About what?”
“Lots of things. But mostly about you.” He moved to sit near Rob’s head again and carefully stroked his brother’s hair back from his face. “I was so scared, Robbie. All that time you were in the hospital, and then afterwards—I’ve never been so scared in my life. All I could think was that we’d lose you—and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.” Phil swallowed hard, and Rob wondered if there were really tears in his eyes, or if it was just a trick of the sun. Phil went on talking quietly. “When you started to get better—I couldn’t let go of that fear. I just wanted to hide you away where nothing could hurt you ever again.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Rob murmured. The tension was draining from his body, and Phil’s gentle stroking of his hair had nearly put him to sleep.
“No, Robbie.” Phil’s voice was quiet, but his words had a ring that made Rob’s eyes open wide. “That would have been the worst mistake of my life. You’re not one of Mom’s porcelain figurines that needs to be wrapped in cotton and stuck on a shelf. You’re stronger than that—much stronger—and I can see that now. Taking your life away to protect you—it’d hurt you much worse than anything else could.”
“But I’m not strong, Phil.” Rob felt his lip trembling. “You were right; the ride was too long. I was beat—a long time before I fell.”
“Beat, but not licked.”
“Huh?”
“Where’d you fall, Robbie?”
“Just after the turn.”
“So you made over eighteen miles of a twenty-mile round trip on your bike, when I didn’t think you’d last ten. And you would have made the rest if you hadn’t hit that rock.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I found you half a mile from that spot, limping on a bad knee and not an overly good ankle and pushing a bent bicycle, that’s how.” Phil tipped Rob’s chin up and looked into his eyes. “You’ve got grit, kid. Right-down, pure, unadulterated grit. And when those cuts heal up, you’re going to prove it by biking out to Pickett’s Gorge with me.”
Rob caught his breath. He’d heard so much about Pickett’s Gorge, and to go there with Phil— He broke off the train of thought and shook his head.
“That’s a fifteen-mile ride one way. I’d never make the whole thing, even if I wasn’t still stiff and sore.”
“We’ll wait ‘til the soreness is past. And we’ll take it in easy stages—camp there a couple nights instead of coming straight home. Are you game?”
For answer, Rob wrapped his better arm around his brother and held on tightly.
“You can look out for me any time, Phil.”
“I plan to. You’re a special kid, Robbie. But I don’t aim to be the one that rubs your grit off.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting rid of some of it.” Rob brushed at the coating of dirt that covered his skin, and Phil laughed.
“The outer stuff we can take care of. Just don’t let anyone steal it from your heart.” In another minute, he’d swept Rob off the ground and into the car. “Let’s get you home, hero. What do you say?”
“I say I love you, Phil.” Rob smiled and closed his eyes as he lay back against the seat. “And if you’re really taking me out to Pickett’s Gorge, then I’d say I’m not the only one who’s brave.”
“Maybe you’ve taught me something.” Phil reached over and stroked his brother’s hair again before putting the car in gear. And under the whine of the motor, Rob was certain he heard, “And I love you, too, kid.”
Copyright December 2018 by Angie Thompson
Photo by Pietro De Grandi, courtesy of Unsplash
Special thanks to Rebekah Morris and Kate Willis for the original story prompt :)
November 23, 2018
New Release, Author Interview, and Huge Book Sale!
So many things to cover in this post! I'll try to be brief, but it's all happening so fast, and it's all so exciting!
First off, my newest short story, Lessons, was released earlier this week! While it's not technically a Thanksgiving story, it does have an old-fashioned, homey feel with a hint of wood stoves and crisp fall weather. It's only $0.99, so if you're in the mood for a quick, feel-good read with your leftover pumpkin pie, pop on over and check it out!
Second, I have the distinct privilege of interviewing a fellow indie author as part of the Black Friday Indie Book Sale blog tour! More on the sale in a second--be a nice reader and play along... ;)
J. Grace Pennington was one of my first introductions to the world of Christian indie fiction--and what an introduction! Nearly a year and an absolute flood of books later, her Firmament series is still holding its own among my top favorites ever! (Oh, and that's favorites of all time, not just favorite Christian indie books.) I could go on for quite a while about how much I love this series, but since I know you're anxious to get to the sale, I'll refrain. (Quick tip--they're in the sale. Buy them. Just saying...)
Okay, on to the interview!
First off, congratulations on your new baby! Such a pretty name--Violet Kathylene. :) When creating a new character, do you tend to put a lot of thought into choosing a name? Or do you usually go with the first name that pops into your head?
Thank you! It's a little bit of both, honestly. Sometimes it does just pop into my head. “Andi Lloyd” is one example of that--I have no idea where her name came from. The same goes for all of the characters in October. They just came to me.
But a lot of the time I really do go searching for the perfect name. I have a list I've compiled over the years from movie credits, baby name databases, and other sources of names I would like to use at some point, so I'll go there first. If nothing there seems right, I'll scour more credits and more baby name databases to find something that sounds just right! Captain Trent's name took me an especially long time--I remember cooking while my younger brother sat on the other side of the room with a name dictionary and and read me the names one at a time.
Some, like Crash, come partly from other people. My siblings once were speculating about how funny it would be to have a pilot named Mr. Crash, and I swiped the idea. So I get my names from all kinds of sources!
Sounds about right--I've never been able to figure out why some names come so easily and others take so much work! And Crash's name just fits his personality so well! (Then again, maybe you have to be a little reckless to even attempt being a pilot with that name...) :D
I know you've written in several different genres. Do you have a favorite genre to write in/read? If so, what makes it your favorite?
My favorite to write in, by far, is science-fiction. Partly because I'm fascinated by science, especially anatomy and physiology, and love to research those things, but also because of the scope it gives to explore an idea or a theme in a way we can't see it in the real world. At least, not the world we live in now!
As far as reading, I don't really have a favorite. I'll read any well-written story. A lot of my favorite books do tend to be just general fiction or classics, but some genre fiction makes its way in there, too!
Well, your science fiction is my favorite, too, so that works out well! ;)
As an author, I'm always surprised to find how much of my attitude, personality, experience, etc. creeps into my characters when I'm not looking. Which of your characters would you say is the most like you?
Andi Lloyd, by far! She is essentially a more confident, outgoing version of myself. We share affectionate, stubborn personalities and tend to have strong principles. We also both really hate change. October also has many similarities to me, although it's more complicated because I specifically gave her a more troubled past than myself to exacerbate certain issues that she has.
Mmmm...I love Andi! And I haven't read October, but I totally get turning up the dial for a character on an issue you can relate to.
If you could have one of your characters as a friend in real life, which would it be?
That's a tough question, because I really consider all of my characters to be amazing friends! But if I had to choose I think I might have to say the Doctor. He's my favorite of my characters, and I would love to have someone in my life with that kind of loyalty and wisdom.
So, I have to admit that after I asked this, I started wondering which of your characters I would choose to be friends with in real life...and then reminded myself what a silly question that was. (For the record, I still haven't gotten over my almost-year-long book crush. Also, I haven't tried. <3) However, that out of the way, I'd have a hard time picking, shall we say, a second. ;) I'd love to meet so many of them!
And finally, what is one question you've never been asked in an interview that you'd love to answer? Give us the answer, too, please!
Hmm, that's an interesting question (or non-question?). I don't think I've ever been asked about my fascination with doctors--I think I have major doctor characters in every one of my books except for October.
The answer to that would definitely have something to do with my love for all things anatomy and physiology. I'm intensely interested in how our bodies work, how they fail, how they heal, and how they are designed to work so intricately and so brilliantly. But I think that's also combined with a fondness for characters who are deeply concerned with caring for others. A doctor has to see and deal with so many difficult and terrible situations, but he does it because he so wants to help those under his care; to make them whole again. I love that.
Thank you so much for interviewing me, Angie!
Oh, that's a great question/answer! I love the medical details in your books, even though I'm not half as knowledgeable as you are. (Which also means that my penchant for writing medical characters is on a much shakier foundation...)
Thank you for the lovely interview! It's been so much fun! Hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Again, I highly recommend checking out J. Grace Pennington's books, especially the Firmament series! I also really enjoyed her western mystery, Never. And the only reason I haven't read the others is because of my very personal comfort level with certain themes and plots.
Also check her out at the links below:
www.jgracepennington.com
www.facebook.com/jgracepenningtonthea...
www.twitter.com/jgracetheauthor
And now the moment you've all been waiting for...
The Black Friday Indie Book Sale!
Over 80 indie authors have gotten together to offer over 150 books for $0.99 or FREE from Black Friday through Cyber Monday!
If you didn't just click away to the sale itself, I seriously commend your self-control! And congratulations, because it gets better...there are also giveaways involved! More on that in just a second.
As part of the sale, you can get my debut novella, Bridgers, for only $0.99 through Monday! You'll also find all my currently published short stories in the list, too, except Lessons, which was a little too new to make the cut. Feel free to pass the information on to anyone else who might be interested; we want as many people as possible to take advantage of this sale! And if you have any bookworms on your Christmas list, some authors are also offering discounted paperbacks...
NOTE: I haven't read all of the books being offered, so I can't vouch for their content, but all of them should fall under a Mild+ or lower rating. You can link to rating definitions and filter books by content level on the sale page.
I know I hope to pick up a bunch of new books this weekend; thankfully for you, ebooks can't sell out! ;)
And finally, the giveaways! Enter below--US addresses only for the print giveaway, but the ebook giveaway is open to everyone!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...?
Grand Prize (20 paperbacks)
Mythical Doorways by Jenelle Schmidt
Faith is the Victory by Faith Blum
Kiera by Kate Willis
Because Anonymous by Diana L. Sharples
After: Book One in The Neverway Chronicles by Savannah Jezowski
Specter: Book Two in The Neverway Chronicles by Savannah Jezowski
Leandra’s Enchanted Flute by Katy Huth Jones
Eagle Eyes by Tammy Lash
London in the Dark by Victoria Lynn
When Beauty Blooms by Victoria Lynn
Aerisia: Land Beyond the Sunset by Sarah Ashwood
Iced by Avery Daniels
Nailed by Avery Daniels
There Was Always Laughter in Our House by Sarah Holman
Bridgers: A Parable by Angie Thompson
Love Blind by Angie Thompson
Code by Angie Thompson
Christmas Eve at the Backdoor by Rebekah Morris
The Seven Drawers by Kendra E. Ardnek
He's Making Diamonds: A Teen's Thoughts on Faith Through Chronic Illness by Sara Willoughby
2nd Prize (20 ebooks/audiobooks)
Gather Round the Fables by Erika Matthews
The Case of the Tabloid Tattler (audiobook) by Perry Kirkpatrick
The Twelve Cats of Christmas (audiobook) by Perry Kirkpatrick
Coffee Shop Christmas by Ryana Lynn Miller
The Land of Cotton by Ryana Lynn Miller
Entertaining Angels, Entertaining Angels Book 1 by Emerald Barnes
Secret’s Kept by Jennette Mbewe
The Firethorn Crown by Lea Doue
Beyond Broken Pencils by Julie C. Gilbert
Ashlynn's Dreams by Julie C. Gilbert
Soldier On by Vanessa Rasanen
Burning Rose by Hope Ann
Iced by Avery Daniels
Nailed by Avery Daniels
Imani Earns Her Cape by Bokerah Brumley
October by J. Grace Pennington
Disowned by Sarah Addison Fox
My Compass Home by Michaela Bush
Summer Shadows by Killarney Traynor
Necessary Evil by Killarney Traynor
If anyone's still reading, you should get a prize...or a slap upside the head. Get going already! Buy books! Enter giveaways! Tell friends! That is all.
Oh, and happy Thanksgiving! :D
First off, my newest short story, Lessons, was released earlier this week! While it's not technically a Thanksgiving story, it does have an old-fashioned, homey feel with a hint of wood stoves and crisp fall weather. It's only $0.99, so if you're in the mood for a quick, feel-good read with your leftover pumpkin pie, pop on over and check it out!
Second, I have the distinct privilege of interviewing a fellow indie author as part of the Black Friday Indie Book Sale blog tour! More on the sale in a second--be a nice reader and play along... ;)
J. Grace Pennington was one of my first introductions to the world of Christian indie fiction--and what an introduction! Nearly a year and an absolute flood of books later, her Firmament series is still holding its own among my top favorites ever! (Oh, and that's favorites of all time, not just favorite Christian indie books.) I could go on for quite a while about how much I love this series, but since I know you're anxious to get to the sale, I'll refrain. (Quick tip--they're in the sale. Buy them. Just saying...)
Okay, on to the interview!
First off, congratulations on your new baby! Such a pretty name--Violet Kathylene. :) When creating a new character, do you tend to put a lot of thought into choosing a name? Or do you usually go with the first name that pops into your head?
Thank you! It's a little bit of both, honestly. Sometimes it does just pop into my head. “Andi Lloyd” is one example of that--I have no idea where her name came from. The same goes for all of the characters in October. They just came to me.
But a lot of the time I really do go searching for the perfect name. I have a list I've compiled over the years from movie credits, baby name databases, and other sources of names I would like to use at some point, so I'll go there first. If nothing there seems right, I'll scour more credits and more baby name databases to find something that sounds just right! Captain Trent's name took me an especially long time--I remember cooking while my younger brother sat on the other side of the room with a name dictionary and and read me the names one at a time.
Some, like Crash, come partly from other people. My siblings once were speculating about how funny it would be to have a pilot named Mr. Crash, and I swiped the idea. So I get my names from all kinds of sources!
Sounds about right--I've never been able to figure out why some names come so easily and others take so much work! And Crash's name just fits his personality so well! (Then again, maybe you have to be a little reckless to even attempt being a pilot with that name...) :D
I know you've written in several different genres. Do you have a favorite genre to write in/read? If so, what makes it your favorite?
My favorite to write in, by far, is science-fiction. Partly because I'm fascinated by science, especially anatomy and physiology, and love to research those things, but also because of the scope it gives to explore an idea or a theme in a way we can't see it in the real world. At least, not the world we live in now!
As far as reading, I don't really have a favorite. I'll read any well-written story. A lot of my favorite books do tend to be just general fiction or classics, but some genre fiction makes its way in there, too!
Well, your science fiction is my favorite, too, so that works out well! ;)
As an author, I'm always surprised to find how much of my attitude, personality, experience, etc. creeps into my characters when I'm not looking. Which of your characters would you say is the most like you?
Andi Lloyd, by far! She is essentially a more confident, outgoing version of myself. We share affectionate, stubborn personalities and tend to have strong principles. We also both really hate change. October also has many similarities to me, although it's more complicated because I specifically gave her a more troubled past than myself to exacerbate certain issues that she has.
Mmmm...I love Andi! And I haven't read October, but I totally get turning up the dial for a character on an issue you can relate to.
If you could have one of your characters as a friend in real life, which would it be?
That's a tough question, because I really consider all of my characters to be amazing friends! But if I had to choose I think I might have to say the Doctor. He's my favorite of my characters, and I would love to have someone in my life with that kind of loyalty and wisdom.
So, I have to admit that after I asked this, I started wondering which of your characters I would choose to be friends with in real life...and then reminded myself what a silly question that was. (For the record, I still haven't gotten over my almost-year-long book crush. Also, I haven't tried. <3) However, that out of the way, I'd have a hard time picking, shall we say, a second. ;) I'd love to meet so many of them!
And finally, what is one question you've never been asked in an interview that you'd love to answer? Give us the answer, too, please!
Hmm, that's an interesting question (or non-question?). I don't think I've ever been asked about my fascination with doctors--I think I have major doctor characters in every one of my books except for October.
The answer to that would definitely have something to do with my love for all things anatomy and physiology. I'm intensely interested in how our bodies work, how they fail, how they heal, and how they are designed to work so intricately and so brilliantly. But I think that's also combined with a fondness for characters who are deeply concerned with caring for others. A doctor has to see and deal with so many difficult and terrible situations, but he does it because he so wants to help those under his care; to make them whole again. I love that.
Thank you so much for interviewing me, Angie!
Oh, that's a great question/answer! I love the medical details in your books, even though I'm not half as knowledgeable as you are. (Which also means that my penchant for writing medical characters is on a much shakier foundation...)
Thank you for the lovely interview! It's been so much fun! Hope you have a wonderful holiday!
Again, I highly recommend checking out J. Grace Pennington's books, especially the Firmament series! I also really enjoyed her western mystery, Never. And the only reason I haven't read the others is because of my very personal comfort level with certain themes and plots.
Also check her out at the links below:
www.jgracepennington.com
www.facebook.com/jgracepenningtonthea...
www.twitter.com/jgracetheauthor
And now the moment you've all been waiting for...
The Black Friday Indie Book Sale!
Over 80 indie authors have gotten together to offer over 150 books for $0.99 or FREE from Black Friday through Cyber Monday!
If you didn't just click away to the sale itself, I seriously commend your self-control! And congratulations, because it gets better...there are also giveaways involved! More on that in just a second.
As part of the sale, you can get my debut novella, Bridgers, for only $0.99 through Monday! You'll also find all my currently published short stories in the list, too, except Lessons, which was a little too new to make the cut. Feel free to pass the information on to anyone else who might be interested; we want as many people as possible to take advantage of this sale! And if you have any bookworms on your Christmas list, some authors are also offering discounted paperbacks...
NOTE: I haven't read all of the books being offered, so I can't vouch for their content, but all of them should fall under a Mild+ or lower rating. You can link to rating definitions and filter books by content level on the sale page.
I know I hope to pick up a bunch of new books this weekend; thankfully for you, ebooks can't sell out! ;)
And finally, the giveaways! Enter below--US addresses only for the print giveaway, but the ebook giveaway is open to everyone!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...?
Grand Prize (20 paperbacks)
Mythical Doorways by Jenelle Schmidt
Faith is the Victory by Faith Blum
Kiera by Kate Willis
Because Anonymous by Diana L. Sharples
After: Book One in The Neverway Chronicles by Savannah Jezowski
Specter: Book Two in The Neverway Chronicles by Savannah Jezowski
Leandra’s Enchanted Flute by Katy Huth Jones
Eagle Eyes by Tammy Lash
London in the Dark by Victoria Lynn
When Beauty Blooms by Victoria Lynn
Aerisia: Land Beyond the Sunset by Sarah Ashwood
Iced by Avery Daniels
Nailed by Avery Daniels
There Was Always Laughter in Our House by Sarah Holman
Bridgers: A Parable by Angie Thompson
Love Blind by Angie Thompson
Code by Angie Thompson
Christmas Eve at the Backdoor by Rebekah Morris
The Seven Drawers by Kendra E. Ardnek
He's Making Diamonds: A Teen's Thoughts on Faith Through Chronic Illness by Sara Willoughby
2nd Prize (20 ebooks/audiobooks)
Gather Round the Fables by Erika Matthews
The Case of the Tabloid Tattler (audiobook) by Perry Kirkpatrick
The Twelve Cats of Christmas (audiobook) by Perry Kirkpatrick
Coffee Shop Christmas by Ryana Lynn Miller
The Land of Cotton by Ryana Lynn Miller
Entertaining Angels, Entertaining Angels Book 1 by Emerald Barnes
Secret’s Kept by Jennette Mbewe
The Firethorn Crown by Lea Doue
Beyond Broken Pencils by Julie C. Gilbert
Ashlynn's Dreams by Julie C. Gilbert
Soldier On by Vanessa Rasanen
Burning Rose by Hope Ann
Iced by Avery Daniels
Nailed by Avery Daniels
Imani Earns Her Cape by Bokerah Brumley
October by J. Grace Pennington
Disowned by Sarah Addison Fox
My Compass Home by Michaela Bush
Summer Shadows by Killarney Traynor
Necessary Evil by Killarney Traynor
If anyone's still reading, you should get a prize...or a slap upside the head. Get going already! Buy books! Enter giveaways! Tell friends! That is all.
Oh, and happy Thanksgiving! :D
November 9, 2018
New Anthology
So far, I've talked quite a bit about the stories I wrote for the Indie E-Con contest this spring. But what I haven't mentioned is the other contest I entered in February--the one that gave me the confidence that maybe I could actually do this short-story thing after all...
Most of the reason I haven't mentioned it yet is because it's taken a while--between judging, editing, compiling, etc.--to get things into their final form, but the wait is almost over! The Crux Anthology is now available for pre-order (at the special price of 0.99) on Amazon and Smashwords!
So what's the story? Interested writers were challenged to come up with a short piece of sci-fi, adventure, or fantasy based on Rachael Ritchey's amazing cover design (see below). Those stories have now been combined into an anthology, and all profits will be donated to Compassion International. I haven't read the other entries yet, so I can't vouch for all of them (although cleanliness was a requirement for the contest), but I'm very excited to get my hands on the book and see what everyone else came up with. (You guys know by now that I'm not a fantasy reader, but I'm really looking forward to the adventure and sci-fi stuff!)
My own story was adapted from an idea that my brother originated years ago, then left to me when he got tired of it. It's morphed into my take on a sci-fi castaway story...with a twist. Here's the blurb I wrote for it, just for fun. If it piques your interest, definitely check out the anthology; there's a lot more inside, and it's for a great cause!
Restore
Abandoned and alone--or are they?
After Marick's ship is wrecked on a barren planet, companionship is the least of his worries. But when he rescues a strange girl from a watery death, their lives will change in ways neither could have predicted. As unseen dangers threaten, the two must band together for survival, and in the process, uncover the secrets hidden in the forbidden world--and each other.
If you'd like more information, you can check it out on Facebook or sign up for a special-editon newsletter for updates. Hope you enjoy!
Most of the reason I haven't mentioned it yet is because it's taken a while--between judging, editing, compiling, etc.--to get things into their final form, but the wait is almost over! The Crux Anthology is now available for pre-order (at the special price of 0.99) on Amazon and Smashwords!
So what's the story? Interested writers were challenged to come up with a short piece of sci-fi, adventure, or fantasy based on Rachael Ritchey's amazing cover design (see below). Those stories have now been combined into an anthology, and all profits will be donated to Compassion International. I haven't read the other entries yet, so I can't vouch for all of them (although cleanliness was a requirement for the contest), but I'm very excited to get my hands on the book and see what everyone else came up with. (You guys know by now that I'm not a fantasy reader, but I'm really looking forward to the adventure and sci-fi stuff!)
My own story was adapted from an idea that my brother originated years ago, then left to me when he got tired of it. It's morphed into my take on a sci-fi castaway story...with a twist. Here's the blurb I wrote for it, just for fun. If it piques your interest, definitely check out the anthology; there's a lot more inside, and it's for a great cause!
Restore
Abandoned and alone--or are they?
After Marick's ship is wrecked on a barren planet, companionship is the least of his worries. But when he rescues a strange girl from a watery death, their lives will change in ways neither could have predicted. As unseen dangers threaten, the two must band together for survival, and in the process, uncover the secrets hidden in the forbidden world--and each other.
If you'd like more information, you can check it out on Facebook or sign up for a special-editon newsletter for updates. Hope you enjoy!
