M.J. Padgett's Blog, page 12
July 27, 2020
All About It Series – Week Four
Welcome back to the All About It blog series that introduces readers to my book series!
Today we jump into my favorite series! The overall series is called Archives of the Ancient Kingdoms, but within it are shorter series. Currently, I am writing The History of Goranin. This trilogy began with Eiagan’s Winter, and its sequel, The Revenant Queen, will release on September 1!
This series is a lot different even from my fantasy series because it is focused on an older audience, and the writing style is drastically different. While young adults might still like the series, I wrote it for adults who like sprawling epic fantasies like Game of Thrones. Side note… I’ve never actually read or watched Game of Thrones. I know, I know… I’m so behind!
This first trilogy in the “franchise” of the Ancient Kingdoms follows Queen Eiagan Allurigard, a feared-dragon rider whose rule is… well… less than ideal. If you are a fan of dragons, magic, and the gray between right and wrong, this series is for you!
As an interesting addition, I will say I wrote the first book, Eiagan’s Winter, based on a dream I had. I had been praying for inspiration for some grand idea that would help me take my writing to the next level. That night, I had a dream so vivid, I immediately got up to write it all down when I woke up. From that, the book was born.
There is a lot of me in Eiagan. By that, I mean, as someone who suffers from anxiety, I often find myself stuck in my own head. I also must remind myself to see the beauty in the world, because so much of anxiety is rooted in fear and darkness. I channeled all of that into Eiagan and found myself more connected to her than any other character I have ever written. I mean… if she were REAL, she would terrify me, but I suppose that was the point of writing the book—to remove those feelings from me and put them elsewhere. In this case, I put it all on Eiagan.
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Here are those commonly asked questions again:
What is the target age group?
Adults who enjoy epic fantasy and long-game plot. Young adults might also enjoy the series, but the characters are adults.
2. What are the ages of the characters?
Um… that’s hard to answer. The protagonist was made immortal when she was nineteen, but she’s actually several hundred years old. Others range from mid-twenties and up. Flashback scenes are from birth to adulthood. Short answer—all of the ages?
3. What is the content rating?
There are no sex scenes or cussing in these books, but the violence is graphic—very, very graphic—but not gratuitous. It’s what you would expect in a book that describes war. Probably an R based on violence, but otherwise PG-13.
4. Why did you start this series?
I wanted to bump up my writing game, but I was also stuck in a battle with anxiety that had no end in sight. This was my outlet.
5. Should I read the series in order?
Yes. Each smaller series under the umbrella of Archives of the Ancient Kingdoms should be read in order, or the story will not make any sense. However, once additional sub-series release, those can be read in any order. For example, when I complete The History of Goranin trilogy, I will be working on The History of Nelaravore duology. You could read either series first, but those books within the series should be read in order.
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Here are all the details:
Eiagan’s Winter (available now at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited, coming soon to audiobook):
The land of Goranin has survived the rule of the dreaded Allurigard bloodline for centuries. Suffering perpetual winter at the hands of a tyrannical, bloodthirsty queen, the people seek out a savior to restore their land to its former glory. They find one in Moriarian of Varrow. Moriarian makes grand promises, and the people of Goranin invite him in as their new leader.
Eiagan Allurigard, the feared dragon-riding Winter Queen, wants nothing more than peace and quiet. Her people push her to the edge, stage uprisings, and revolt against her absolute authority. When her immortality is stolen and Moriarian attacks, Eiagan barely escapes her castle alive. With a gaping abdominal wound and nowhere to hide, she seeks out an unlikely ally in her quest to reclaim her throne.
Moriarian’s promise of salvation is too good to be true, and the people are subjugated to a fate worse than death. As Moriarian ravages her land, Eiagan seeks revenge against him and those who betrayed her. Haunted by memories of her past, Eiagan joins forces with a band of rebels, a healer who believes he can save her blackened soul, and a den of dragon-shifters determined to free the land of oppression once and for all.
Traitors, a wicked sorcerer, and deadly creatures threaten their survival, but the queen is determined to win back her birthright at all costs—even if it means sacrificing everything.
You can click on the image below to order!
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Here’s what’s coming!
The Revenant Queen, The History of Goranin II, is in the final stages of editing! It is available for pre-order at Amazon now! To order, you can click on the image below!
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July 21, 2020
New Release!
100 Grand took the world by storm, but the family-made band wasn’t always mega-famous. Once upon a time, they were just a bunch of siblings with nothing more than hope, prayer, and desperation to save the life of one of their friends.
When Caden Grand suggests they enter Band Wars, a national competition for up and coming bands, the family joins together to help him succeed. His best friend needs money for her medical bills, and the payout for taking third prize is just enough to get her by. No one ever expects them to win… but they do, and it rocks their world.
A fictional memoir told by the 100 Grand frontwoman, Olive Grand!
If you love happily ever after (for everyone), strong family bonds, amazing friendships, and the power of hope, then this book is for you!
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You can find 100 Grand at Amazon! Here are some quick links for US and UK readers!
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July 20, 2020
All About It Blog Series, Week Three
Welcome back to the All About It blog series that introduces readers to my book series!
Once again, I’m diving into a newer series. Oddly enough, the whole series is already written! It’s a group of stand-alone books that actually worked well together, so I am tweaking a few character names, settings, and situations and releasing them in a new series!
The Projects of Life series is a group of ten books that should be read in order. Each book has its own conclusion, but the series follows three generations in one family. The series focuses on those big moments in life—falling in love, dealing with frustrating relationships, personal and societal fears, navigating friendships, and much more!
This series also has some quirky, loveable characters, but the themes are a little darker in some of the volumes. Clean and short, this series is also good for binge reading.
Here are those commonly asked questions again:
What is the target age group?
Young adult to younger new adult. The books are clean, free of cussing, and tackle real-life struggles. Some tackle deeper, darker topics like mass shootings, abandonment, and abusive relationships, but they are told in a way that highlights the damage and destruction those issues cause rather than portraying them in a positive way.
2. What are the ages of the characters?
High school to early college age, so roughly 16-25. In the epilogues, most characters are mid-twenties. Since the series follows three generations, you can count on the early generations popping up everywhere, even as adults. I like that because I can show how important parents are in a teenager’s life.
3. What is the content rating?
Most likely PG-13 for the harder hitting situations portrayed in some books.
4. Why did you start this series?
At first, they were a group of stand-alone books, but as I was editing, I saw commonalities among them. I decided they worked better that way, and now I am rewriting parts to better fit a family scenario.
5. Should I read the series in order?
Yes. Each book has its own arc that completes by the end of the book, but since it follows three generations, they should be read in order.
The Love Project, the first book in the series, is already available! The second book is in alpha review and should release in the fall!
Here are all the details:
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The Love Project (available now at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited):
Wesley Baker is a jaded human being. Giving up on love at the ripe old age of seven, she set her sights on much more obtainable goals for her life. She worked hard and eventually found herself exactly where she wanted to be—Professor Saxton’s Introduction to Modern Psychology course, the first step to becoming a world-renowned psychologist. Getting into Brown University was the hardest thing she had ever done, and the most satisfying. And studying psychology was all she ever wanted to do. Only… not like this.
Certainly not alongside Oliver Williams and not discussing the one thing she knows does not exist—love. Why does the semester project have to be a study on such preposterous things? And why, oh why, does she have to be partnered with him? Oliver’s devil may care attitude, his sarcastic humor, and that darn British accent make Wesley wish he’d walk into traffic—until the day he accidentally does.
Left to complete the project on her own, Wesley soon realizes all she’s been missing. Will she get the chance to tell Oliver, or will her heart forever be broken and alone?
Here’s what’s coming!
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July 15, 2020
Where to Find Me!
There seems to be a lot of folks searching for me on social media, and since I will be utilizing it more for updates, promotions, and interaction with readers, I wanted to make sure you had the most accurate information. So, here it is in one place!
To reach any of the pages, just click the hyperlink!
Here you will find information about my series and published booksLots of bonus extras and fun stuffIf you sign up for my newsletters, you get a free book!
I post tons of stuff here—everything from promotions, book updates, new release information, quotes, games, and moreHere is where I also interact with readers!
Almost everything I post on Facebook also goes on Instagram since some people prefer itI will most likely follow you back if you follow me here!
I’m not as active on Twitter, but I hope to change that soon!I’ll post some material from Facebook and Instagram, but also some Twitter exclusive material
Blog (that’s here)
I feel like that one is pretty self-explanatory… updates, ramblings, and whatnots.
Here you will find book trailersComing soon—book updates, readings, and more!
I’m not very active here, but I will add more book reviews and favorites lists as I get more accustomed to using this site
If you don’t want to sign up for the blog, you can also read it here!This is a great place to see my entire collection of work, too.
My blog also posts hereI am a bit more active with reviews here, and you can browse my insane “want to read” pile! I’m always open to recommendations!
Here I post inspiration boards, but will soon add more content like book quotes and more!
July 13, 2020
All About It Blog Series, Week Two
Welcome back to the All About It blog series that introduces readers to my book series!
This week I’m diving into a newer series… which isn’t really all that new. The first two books were written a long time ago, but they needed a lot of rewriting and editing. Once I had the inspiration to push them together into a series, it sort of took on a life of its own.
If you know me, you know I’m a quirky, clumsy person, and I love to portray some of my characters the same way. Well, the I’m Pretty Sure About That series is my quirky, weird character series! You’ll find everything from crummy break-ups to dealing with the death of a family member in this series, but you’ll also find what you’ve come to expect from me—love, friendship, hope, and… (hopefully) laughter.
The first book in the series is I’m Pretty Sure You’re Gonna Miss Me Ronin McKinsey and focuses on Hazel, a plucky, sweet, good-hearted person who can’t stop going over the top for the people she loves most—a character trait that pushes her boyfriend right over the edge. In a bid to get him back after a bad break-up, Hazel teams up with resident nobody, Daniel Starnes in what becomes a comedic tale of friendship, love, and weirdness you’ll love.
If you’re looking for short, easy reads… this is the series for you!
Here are those commonly asked questions again:
1. What is the target age group?
Young adult to younger new adult. The books are clean, free of cussing, and tackle real-life struggles in a positive way.
2. What are the ages of the characters?
High school to college-age, so roughly 16-22. In the epilogues, the characters are mid-twenties.
3. What is the content rating?
Even cleaner than the Secret Author Series, an easy PG.
4. Why did you start this series?
I really wanted a series that would make people laugh through their struggles. I also wanted to put my own personality out front and center, so when you read about those clumsy characters doing ridiculous things—yeah, that’s me.
5. Should I read the series in order?
Yes. Each book has its own arc that fully resolves at the end of the story, but you will see common characters pop up as you go. The series will also incorporate a second generation as it goes on, so it’s important you know who everyone is from the start!
So far, only one book has been published, but book two is in alpha review right now! I expect to release it within the next two to three months!
Here are all the details:
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I’m Pretty Sure You’re Gonna Miss Me Ronin McKinsey (available now at Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited):
Ronin McKinsey broke up with Hazel Simmons in the worst way—publicly and with a lot of fanfare—and now she’s on a mission to make sure he realizes what he lost.
Determined to make her ex jealous, Hazel enlists the help of Daniel, a quirky loner who agrees to kiss her right in front of Ronin. Little does Hazel know, Daniel has plans of his own and offers to help her stick it to her ex if she helps him find a date to prom. Hazel quickly learns there’s more to Daniel than meets the eye, and Daniel seems to be just what she needs to get even—or get over—Ronin McKinsey.
With hijinks, hilarious misunderstandings, and drama around every corner, Hazel and Daniel find more than a mutual understanding between them. They find friendship—the kind that lasts forever.
A young adult novel perfect for fans of fake boyfriends, quirky characters, swoonworthy sweetness, and clean romance.
Here’s what’s coming! The series will include ten books in total, but I’m only planned up through eight!
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July 7, 2020
New Release!
It’s here! The fifth installment of The Secret Author Series, The Telegram, is now available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited! The paperback version is coming soon!
I’m very excited about this installment because it is dedicated to my cousin, Paul Henry Hedrick, who was killed aboard the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Have a few tissues ready when you read!
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When cleaning out her recently deceased great-grandmother’s attic, Easton Long discovers a box of telegrams exchanged between her grandmother and a man whose name she has never heard. Reeling after the loss of her beloved family member, a nasty break-up, and the loss of her job, Easton decides to dive deeper into the life of the mysterious man, William.
When Easton discovers William was Nannie’s childhood friend who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor, she cannot resist the urge to see the wreckage for herself. She is drawn to William and his story, one she isn’t sure has been thoroughly told, and soon finds herself on a cross-country road trip with her own childhood friend, Drew Prescott.
While the two set out to reconnect and get over their past issues, they discover much more than they had anticipated. With each step, the mystery deepens… and love grows.
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July 6, 2020
All About It Blog Series, Week One
I’ve received loads of questions via social media, some through email, and in-person about my many series. In case you haven’t noticed, I do like to genre hop a little, but I do tend to stick with young adult and fantasy. In my upcoming blog series, I will explore each of my book series, so readers will know what they’re getting into when they pick up one of my books (don’t worry, that sounds worse than it is!)
Over the next few weeks, I will spotlight one series with my thoughts and a more in-depth look at why I started it, what readers will find in the story, and why the themes are universal.
Let’s just dive right into the first series, shall we?
This week’s series is THE SECRET AUTHOR SERIES.
My very first published book was The Yellow Note. Sometimes I still cringe when I reread it, but that’s true for any author. Show me one who doesn’t at least wince a little, and I’ll show you someone who hasn’t honed their craft. It’s a process like any other hobby or job, and it takes hours upon hours and thousands upon thousands of words to improve—which I still do every day.
The Yellow Note was supposed to be a stand-alone novel. I put it up on Wattpad just to see what people thought. I was surprised to find they liked it, and when Wattpad put it up as a featured read, it got over three million reads in just a few months. People asked for more, so another book was born—The Postcard. After that, it seemed simple to keep up the theme—a secret person using some sort of correspondence to communicate with the main character… and the rest is history (actually, the rest is The Secret Author Series.)
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Here are some commonly asked questions about this series:
What is the target age group?
That’s difficult to pin down. The themes are certainly universal to any age, but some of the stories are better suited for middle-grade to high-school age (about 13-18), where some are suited for a young adult to new adult age (about 15-25). I’ve had readers in their forties rave about the books, while some even as young as twelve enjoyed the more adult themes.
What are the ages of the characters?
It depends on the book, but most are between the ages of 15 and 25, with a few outliers for supporting characters such as parents, older or younger siblings, mentors, etc.
What is the content rating?
To me, it’s solid PG. There is no sex or heavy petting (there are kissing scenes, but nothing overly heated), no cussing (perhaps the occasional Hell referencing the actual place), no graphic violence. However, in some installments, I do discuss trauma and other intense situations. For example, in The Letter, I discuss PTSD both from combat and from child abuse. In The Text Message, we tackle grief and depression after the death of a sibling. But no matter what the content is, you can rest assured it is managed with care, and to show hope and love.
Why did you start this series?
Amidst all the oversexed, overly vulgar young adult novels out there, I wanted to offer readers something with emotion and feeling, but without all the bad influence and trauma portrayed as a positive thing. I’m not a huge fan of novels that depict abusive relationships as a good thing, or that those people can be changed with just the right amount of love from just the right person. I believe in redemption, but when I write about it, it is hard-earned and deserved. Basically, I wanted to show people that hope can be found in almost any situation.
Should I read the series in order?
No, not at all, unless you want to. I wrote each one to stand on its own, but if you do read them in order, you’ll find a little surprise. Each book is linked to a previous book in at least one way. For example, Conor Hudson is the main character in The Yellow Note. You might catch in book one that her mother’s maiden name was Garrison. In the Postcard, Mark and Hope Garrison are Conor’s first cousins! It’s not directly mentioned, but if you’re careful, you can pick up little gems like that one and many more!
How far have I written in The Secret Author Series?
Well, that’s a loaded question. I initially (after writing The Postcard) decided on a ten-book series, primarily because I couldn’t think of any other forms of communication that would work in a full-length novel. But, as fate would have it, people were intrigued by side characters and stories, and they wanted to know more about them. I found I did too! So, I have also written some spin-off novellas and will continue to do so as long as my alpha and beta readers keep saying things like, “Hey, this would be a cool short story!” or “I’d really like to know more about this character’s life!”
Here’s what we have so far:
The Yellow Note, Book One – follows Conor Hudson as she unravels the mystery of her secret note writer. Along the way, she discovers family secrets, the value of friendship, and a love that lasts forever.
The Postcard, Book Two – follows Aria Scott as she seeks X, the mysterious person sending her postcards with challenges that push the introverted girl way out of her comfort zone.
The Letter, Book Three – follows Penelope Scottsdale as she navigates life with an abusive mother, a tyrannical sister, and a past she’s eager to forget, all while communicating with a deployed soldier—who thinks she’s her sister.
The Text Message, Book Four – Emily Waters navigates a text messaging situation gone wrong, which places her in a tight spot when her deceased brother’s best friend shows interest in her.
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Starting Over – A spin-off novella born from a deleted chapter in The Yellow Note. Atticus Stillwell was a bully, but someone took pity on him and saw the truth. Now he pays it forward.
Biology 101 – A spin-off novella from The Yellow Note, this is the history of Jacob and Delilah, two of the book’s most beloved characters.
Falling For Elizabeth – a second-generation novella, this one follows the next generation of The Yellow Note
The Forget Me Not Pact – a surprise prequel novella that dives deep into the lives of a beloved character’s parents (I can’t tell who! I’d rather you be surprised.)
War Changes Everything – a prequel novella that gaps The Postcard and The Letter and follows Walter, the loveable war vet from The Postcard.
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New installment coming soon:
The Telegram, Book Five – Easton Long finds a box of telegrams in her deceased great-grandmother’s attic. She never expected they would take her on a cross-country road trip to uncover family secrets and lost love.
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Future books include the following in the primary series and planned spin-off prequels, sequels, and novellas!
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I hope you have enjoyed our walk through The Secret Author Series! If you read one of the books and have an idea for future installments, including novella side stories, prequels, or sequels, feel free to send me a message! I’m always open to developing new books with reader input!
Next week we’ll dive into one of my new series, the I’m Pretty Sure About That Series!
June 29, 2020
How I Blindly Co-Wrote a Book… And Made a Great Friend
Writing a book is hard. Co-writing a book has a whole other set of rules. I had no idea how to write with another author when Crystal Crawford and I came up with the idea to write what we affectionately call our weird alien romance. In hindsight, that was probably a blessing. If I had known what I was doing, I don’t think our book would have become the strange, funny, wonderful thing it is.
Crystal and I first met on Wattpad, a writing app where authors can post their work for others to read. I read her book, I Am Not a Stalker, and she read mine, The Yellow Note, then we started messaging privately about our writing. From there, we started beta reading each other’s books, then I joined her hugely supportive beta reader group (who are also dear friends of mine now). After that, the next logical step seemed to be to co-write something.
Even to that point, we had never met in person. We had also never spoken on the phone. We did all of our planning via Facebook Messenger and in Google Docs, proving the level of our itnrovertedness. Is that a word? No? I’m making it a word… introvertedness.
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Moving on, with some semblance of an outline and a lot of pantsing, we managed to chug out quite a few chapters on our own from our individual character’s points-of-view—Grace and Alexia. Then came the tricky part. We had to seamlessly merge our writing styles and our characters into a meeting scene, then move forward to complete the book together. It was definitely an interesting experience that taught us a lot.
We had loads of fun on Google Docs, taking turns writing bits here and there, live on the Doc at the same time. It took us a while to get into the groove (and a lot of laughs), but soon we were building something amazing.
What started as a little idea we bounced back and forth became The Extraordinary Extraterrestrial Love Lives of Doppelgangers! We didn’t intend to write a 100K+ word soft science fiction novel, but we did! We also entered the book in the Wattys, a writer’s award presented by Wattpad. WE WON for our category! And it was the day we won that Crystal and I finally picked up the phone and had a real conversation.
Find The Extraordinary Extraterrestrial Love Lives of Doppelgangers here!
We had a lot to discuss that day, including what we wanted to do with our book. At first, we left it on Wattpad, but we decided to leave the platform and self-publish our book. Together, we created Considerate Malice, our joint publishing brand, where we will also publish the sequel to TEELLoD and a NEW superhero series that is under construction! That’s all sort of hush, hush for now, but I can say if you liked TEELLoD, then you will love the superhero series!
Now, here we are, years later, and Crystal is one of my best friends. We still haven’t met in person, but we spend a lot of time messaging and discussing our brand via lengthy phone conversations (that almost always take multiple tangents, with many ridiculous ideas for books).
So, the point of my blog post today is this… sometimes jumping into a project with little to no idea what you are doing can be great. I mean, I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re, say, an architect, but for two writers, it turned out to be a great thing that let our creativity thrive!
And that’s sort of the point of writing, isn’t it?
June 8, 2020
Behind The Scenes
Ready for a sneak peek into my process? Fair warning, there might be spoilers!
An inside look like this doesn’t happen very often, because I am always rotating my work to keep my brain active! But lately, I’ve been in editing overdrive. I had a backlog of books just waiting to see the world, so I decided to send them on their way while I work on some longer-term things.
So, without further ado… here is my messy book writing process!
There is an ongoing debate in my head over which is better—planning or pantsing. For most of my books, I only plan ahead one chapter at a time, but for some, I try to make a detailed outline. My collaborations are always outlined since it is easier to write with another person when there is a plan. I also write outlines for my epic fantasy series, The History of Goranin. If I didn’t, those books would be twice as long as they already are!
Whether I outline or not, I do tend to take copious notes about ideas, worlds, characters, and anything else that pops into my head when I am in the shower—where all my brilliant ideas hit me.
Here’s a look at some notes from Autumn Awakens, the fourth book in The Immortal Grimm Brothers’ Guide to Sociopathic Princesses:
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Don’t worry… that jumble of nonsense in horrific handwriting does actually make sense to me… and it’s one of the more organized pages!
When I do outline, it looks something like this (which… is probably all wrong but it works for me):
(Contains small spoilers for Eiagan’s Winter)
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After some brief planning or notetaking, I just dive right in. I usually write every day, sometimes entire chapters, other times just a few paragraphs. It really depends on the book. Something light-hearted and fun is much easier than a world-building fantasy with adult characters in death-defying situations.
As I write, I have a team of alpha readers that help me figure out what works and what I should scrap. We share via Google Docs, where we can share comments. After that, there are several rounds of rewrites, editing, and cover design.
Here’s a small outtake from The Telegram that will release this summer:
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Sometimes I buy covers, but most often, I design them myself. That was a huge learning curve, but it is also a lot of fun. For that, I use Photoshop. Then it’s out for a beta read before releasing to the world!
Here is a layout of the cover for Mattie Bender is a Cereal Killer that will release June 15:
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That was a brief look into the process, but if anyone is interested in a more detailed breakdown, I might be willing to do a video series as I write the next (and last) Grimm book! Let me know in the comments if that is something you’d like to see!
June 1, 2020
The Quiet Voices
Far be it from me to tell someone how to react to anything. I am a red-headed firecracker on a path of destruction most days, then I remember in whose image I was made and try to reduce myself back to humbleness. I say that, to say this. I am not here to weigh in on the state of my country right now, because another empty voice shouting into the void does nothing. I will, though, implore anyone reading to understand one thing—not everyone processes grief and expresses themselves the same way.
It’s true. Sometimes it is difficult to understand or accept when someone isn’t as infuriated as you are—or so you believe because they are not raging around destroying everything. But please understand, some people are called upon to do the repair work, some are here to hold hands and offer warm embraces when it’s just too much, some are meant to soothe the souls in the aftermath—not light the world on fire.
Before shaming your friends for not screaming, ask them what they are doing. So, what am I doing? I am raising a daughter who sees all colors as unique and beautiful, created without mistake in the vision of God—even if you disagree with them. I work hard to ensure I support causes that lift people from poverty, and I work in the community to ensure the hungry are fed, the poor have housing, and more.
I do not want to toot my own horn because there is always more work to do. It is never done, and I can never do enough to be worthy enough to say it is. But I am saddened when I hear “you are part of the problem” because I don’t scream, rage, or light things on fire. I am a creator, not a destroyer. Many, like me, hear quiet voices, and it calls us to action. And there are more like me everywhere, so please, let those with soft voices use them because they often reach those who are afraid of the loudness of the world. They reach people who would otherwise hide in their safe, quiet corners and call them to action.
So, obviously, this blog post is a little different. My country is on fire, and it is scary for everyone. But beneath it all, I see hope. I see the quiet exchanges of love, the warm embraces of strangers of all colors, the pure heart of most people—and it is not violence or oppression.
I want to leave this post with a small story of an interaction I had with a man earlier this year. I’m not going to preach or rage, only offer that sliver of hope (I pray).
I was in a bookstore searching for a children’s Bible, which was surprisingly difficult. I passed a man browsing devotionals several times, apologizing profusely for each time I asked him to excuse me (the aisle was small). We stood there searching for at least ten minutes before he spoke up and said, “When did you become a believer?”
My back stiffened as I turned to face him. I was terrified of this man’s question. Anyone who knows me well knows the series of events that took me from someone who “believed in God” to someone who “knows God.” But boy, was it scary to try to tell a stranger.
He knew that, too. There he was, a tall African American man (maybe 18 inches taller than me), large and well built, wearing a black hoodie and jeans—and me, an average-sized, pale as snow, woman on a mission to find something, staring at him with fear. But he was also a wise man. He knew that fear, and he knew it had nothing at all to do with him and everything to do with sharing my story.
His eyes softened, and in them was the most kindness I had ever seen in my life—ever. And I could also see he was afraid, too. I think he was as scared to share his story as I was.
I almost melted right there, and for the first time, I told a complete stranger the story that dragged me through Hell before it deposited me right at the feet of hope. Then he told me his, which, even though I have not stated his name, I will still keep to myself because a confession of faith is something personal and meant to be told by the individual.
There was a moment of uncertainty, that moment when you know you have connected with someone on an indescribable level, but you can’t quite name it. We looked at each other, knowing how close we had both been to devastation, how close one of us was to leaving earth unfulfilled, and how—by chance alone—we found each other in a bookstore searching for the same thing.
It turns out, we weren’t searching for a Bible or a devotional. We were searching for peace, and for another person who could hear our struggle and absorb some of the pain for us.
I offered my hand, he offered his arm. Before I knew it, I was getting one of the best hugs of my life. It was cozy, wrapped up in that hoodie and massive arms!
Then my husband and daughter walked up just after we separated and finished talking. My daughter shyly hugged my leg and waved to him. He waved in return, then shook hands with my husband.
And that was it. We said our goodbyes with what we came for—connection.
During the madness, I urge you to find those who can connect with you where you are. Force never changed anyone for long, so let your quiet protesters do their work. It’s necessary.
What happened to George Floyd was an abomination, and I pray nightly for his family and friends. I pray for the broken hearts and the fearful, that they may find a way to bridge gaps between us all, to end hate, no matter our color because we cannot know another’s pain until we feel it with them.
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