Rae Knightly's Blog, page 2
February 6, 2021
Finalist in the 2021 Feathered Quill Book Awards Program
“Ben Archer and the World Beyond” is a Finalist in the 2021 Feathered Quill Book Awards Program for the Young Readers category!Ben Archer and the World Beyond
December 4, 2020
NEWS22 't is the season of GIFTS (from me to you)
Balm for your soul after a tough year.
Dear friends,
It's been a tough year.
Nobody could have prepared us for it.
But there's a light at the end of the tunnel. 2021 will bring us good things, such as a vaccine that will allow us to safely visit our loved ones. Soon we'll put covid-19 behind us and we'll go on with our normal lives.
Let me tell you, we will look back on these days slightly incredulous. Years from now, these unusual times will fuel stories at family dinners, your grand-children will listen to you with wide eyes, and you may even feel proud (or overwhelmed?) for having lived through a global pandemic.
Think about it for a minute. Do you realize we are living an adventure of international proportions? One that will be talked about for decades to come?
I know, I know... adventure isn't the right term - especially for those of us who have suffered directly from the consequences of the virus.
But as a writer, I guess I find solace jotting down positive details that I see every day: people social-distancing while doing their groceries wearing masks, messages of encouragement posted along city streets, people cheering from their doorways and balconies, birthday parties held on Zoom, self-isolating in the comfort of our homes... I'm sure my children will read these little memories in the future - as they don't realize they are living a historic event yet.
In the meantime, we will celebrate the end of the year as best we can, and I want to put a bit of balm on your souls: so scroll down for GIFTS and FUN ACTIVITIES* (*mail subscribers only)!
News about The Alien Skill Series
- 2020 IAN Book of the Year Awards
But first, some fantastic news! Ben Archer and the World Beyond is a winner in the 2020 IAN Book of the Year Awards! YAY!
If you're looking for Christmas gifts, you might want to check out some of the amazing children/teens/YA IAN 2020 winners here:
https://raeknightly.blogspot.com/2020...
- Goodreads Giveaway
Second, I gave away 3 Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall books on Goodreads in November.
1602 people participated and Goodreads picked 3 winners! I'm stoked!
Congratulations to:
1. Ashli from Arkansas
2. Julie from Alaska
3. Amanda from Mississippi
- Ben Archer and the Toreq Son
Third: the first draft of Ben Archer and the Toreq Son is practically wrapped up! I'm super excited and nervous about this 6th installment in The Alien Skill Series. It's been by far the most challenging book to write, not only on the creative science-fiction side, but also because many knots needed to be tied.
I would have loved to release this book before Christmas just because I hated to leave you dangling at the end of book 5, but I'm so glad I gave myself some extra time to go over the details of the book. You'll get a cleaner, much more enjoyable and exciting read!
Stay tuned for more information starting January 2021!
COMING March 2, 2021
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HWQYPH5
What's up in the neighbourhood?
The good thing about self-isolating is that our Christmas tree is up with plenty of time to go. I don't think we've ever been this organized this time of year.
Also, we got a kitten.
It's name is Cheerio and the curious thing is that we don't know if it's a boy or a girl. The vet will tell us next week so maybe I'll know more for next time. Anyway, our older cat is furious and runs away hissing and growling as soon as Cheerio wants to go give it a playful kiss on the nose. Poor kitty! We have our hands full maintaining peace in our house.
Seriously, how can you growl at this tiny face (image)?
Wishing you good health, peace and happiness. See you in 2021!
Rae
Dear friends,
It's been a tough year.
Nobody could have prepared us for it.
But there's a light at the end of the tunnel. 2021 will bring us good things, such as a vaccine that will allow us to safely visit our loved ones. Soon we'll put covid-19 behind us and we'll go on with our normal lives.
Let me tell you, we will look back on these days slightly incredulous. Years from now, these unusual times will fuel stories at family dinners, your grand-children will listen to you with wide eyes, and you may even feel proud (or overwhelmed?) for having lived through a global pandemic.
Think about it for a minute. Do you realize we are living an adventure of international proportions? One that will be talked about for decades to come?
I know, I know... adventure isn't the right term - especially for those of us who have suffered directly from the consequences of the virus.
But as a writer, I guess I find solace jotting down positive details that I see every day: people social-distancing while doing their groceries wearing masks, messages of encouragement posted along city streets, people cheering from their doorways and balconies, birthday parties held on Zoom, self-isolating in the comfort of our homes... I'm sure my children will read these little memories in the future - as they don't realize they are living a historic event yet.
In the meantime, we will celebrate the end of the year as best we can, and I want to put a bit of balm on your souls: so scroll down for GIFTS and FUN ACTIVITIES* (*mail subscribers only)!
News about The Alien Skill Series
- 2020 IAN Book of the Year Awards
But first, some fantastic news! Ben Archer and the World Beyond is a winner in the 2020 IAN Book of the Year Awards! YAY!
If you're looking for Christmas gifts, you might want to check out some of the amazing children/teens/YA IAN 2020 winners here:
https://raeknightly.blogspot.com/2020...
- Goodreads Giveaway
Second, I gave away 3 Ben Archer and the Cosmic Fall books on Goodreads in November.
1602 people participated and Goodreads picked 3 winners! I'm stoked!
Congratulations to:
1. Ashli from Arkansas
2. Julie from Alaska
3. Amanda from Mississippi
- Ben Archer and the Toreq Son
Third: the first draft of Ben Archer and the Toreq Son is practically wrapped up! I'm super excited and nervous about this 6th installment in The Alien Skill Series. It's been by far the most challenging book to write, not only on the creative science-fiction side, but also because many knots needed to be tied.
I would have loved to release this book before Christmas just because I hated to leave you dangling at the end of book 5, but I'm so glad I gave myself some extra time to go over the details of the book. You'll get a cleaner, much more enjoyable and exciting read!
Stay tuned for more information starting January 2021!
COMING March 2, 2021
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HWQYPH5
What's up in the neighbourhood?
The good thing about self-isolating is that our Christmas tree is up with plenty of time to go. I don't think we've ever been this organized this time of year.
Also, we got a kitten.
It's name is Cheerio and the curious thing is that we don't know if it's a boy or a girl. The vet will tell us next week so maybe I'll know more for next time. Anyway, our older cat is furious and runs away hissing and growling as soon as Cheerio wants to go give it a playful kiss on the nose. Poor kitty! We have our hands full maintaining peace in our house.
Seriously, how can you growl at this tiny face (image)?
Wishing you good health, peace and happiness. See you in 2021!
Rae
November 8, 2020
A winner in the 2020 IAN Book of the Year Awards!
Ben Archer and the World Beyond is a winner in the 2020 IAN Book of the Year Awards!
When judging completed Ben Archer and the World Beyond was selected as a finalist in one category: “Children’s Fiction.”
Ben Archer and the World Beyond
When judging completed Ben Archer and the World Beyond was selected as a finalist in one category: “Children’s Fiction.”
Ben Archer and the World Beyond
November 1, 2020
Things have gotten weird...
...and it's not just because of Halloween.
Things have gotten weird.
Maybe it's because we celebrated Halloween last night and it left me with a creepy-crawly feeling.
Or, maybe there's something more.
We're heading towards the end of the year and everything just feels so... unusual. Are we heading into a second COVID-19 wave? Will we be able to celebrate Christmas like we've done for as long as we can remember? And, for those of you who are in the US, will you be able to safely celebrate Thanksgiving? Will world leaders lead us to a safer, happier 2021?
I feel like life is tugging at the carpet under my feet every time I try to settle in. I do quite well in a stable, foreseeable environment filled with calendars, post-its and to-do lists. But lately I keep having to dump my post-its and to-do lists in the garbage and start over with every upheaval that 2020 is bringing us, and it's become quite exhausting.
It's not very good for my creative mind either, which, in itself, is like trying to keep a butterfly on a leash.
So, I must confess, writing has been tough in the past weeks and I almost gave up.
Almost.
That is, until I learned a powerful lesson.
This lesson came from none other than my characters - my 'superheroes' - themselves. I thought of Ben and Mesmo, and I realized: what kind of a role model would I be, if I gave up on them? The consequences would be drastic! They would cease to exist. Their world would fall apart. All their heroic deeds would be meaningless.
Needless to say I felt ashamed, especially knowing that Ben and Mesmo would never give up, no matter what hardships they faced.
And so, I owe it to my characters to be as brave as I can be. This month I'll redo my calendars, post-its and to-do lists; and I'll write with renewed determination - no matter how weird and difficult this world might get.
Rae Knightly
(Extract from my November 2020 Newsletter)
Things have gotten weird.
Maybe it's because we celebrated Halloween last night and it left me with a creepy-crawly feeling.
Or, maybe there's something more.
We're heading towards the end of the year and everything just feels so... unusual. Are we heading into a second COVID-19 wave? Will we be able to celebrate Christmas like we've done for as long as we can remember? And, for those of you who are in the US, will you be able to safely celebrate Thanksgiving? Will world leaders lead us to a safer, happier 2021?
I feel like life is tugging at the carpet under my feet every time I try to settle in. I do quite well in a stable, foreseeable environment filled with calendars, post-its and to-do lists. But lately I keep having to dump my post-its and to-do lists in the garbage and start over with every upheaval that 2020 is bringing us, and it's become quite exhausting.
It's not very good for my creative mind either, which, in itself, is like trying to keep a butterfly on a leash.
So, I must confess, writing has been tough in the past weeks and I almost gave up.
Almost.
That is, until I learned a powerful lesson.
This lesson came from none other than my characters - my 'superheroes' - themselves. I thought of Ben and Mesmo, and I realized: what kind of a role model would I be, if I gave up on them? The consequences would be drastic! They would cease to exist. Their world would fall apart. All their heroic deeds would be meaningless.
Needless to say I felt ashamed, especially knowing that Ben and Mesmo would never give up, no matter what hardships they faced.
And so, I owe it to my characters to be as brave as I can be. This month I'll redo my calendars, post-its and to-do lists; and I'll write with renewed determination - no matter how weird and difficult this world might get.
Rae Knightly
(Extract from my November 2020 Newsletter)
