Karyne Norton's Blog

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – with dragons

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New Website is Here!

I hope you like the color blue! Over the last few months I’ve slowly been working on my new website, and it’s finally looking the way I want it! Just in time for my birthday.

Happy 40th birthday to me!

Feel free to check it out and let me know what you think. I especially hope you’ll like the page of book recommendations, which I hope to update consistently so you can always check back for more good ones!

In honor of my 40th birthday, I’m sharing a story from my fantasy world. The Light That Takes is a prequel short story that leads up to Blood of the Stars, which will be launched on Kickstarted this fall. I’m so excited to share both of them with you, but for now you can only have the short story. So go get it, and let me know if you like it.

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Quality (and Clean) Fiction at Enclave and Noblebright

We have had functioning air conditioning for a week straight now, and this makes me so happy. It reminds me a bit of when we moved back from Rwanda and I enjoyed the little things in life like squishing carpet between my toes, having a dishwasher, and not worrying about shower water getting in my mouth.

Plus, I can think so much clearer when it’s not 85 degrees in the house.

Last week I posted this image on Instagram, and I keep stopping to reread the quote:

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It hits on so many things that are important to me: the value of fantasy and stories, acknowledging that there are hard things in life, the need to equip yourself (and your kids) for those hard things, and the hope that they can be overcome.

I should probably get it framed. 

Lately I’ve been thinking about my reading and writing and how it relates to my faith. I’m a Christian, but I don’t read or write Christian fiction. I think a lot of stories (not all) centering around hope and redemption have to start in dark places. I find the stories that resonate the most with me are ones that show the tough sides of life and then end with that spark of hope instead of a full blown happily ever after.

Still, I prefer clean fiction, which means there have been several times I’ve started a book and not finished it – not because the writing was bad, but because I had to skim so many scenes that I lost the point of the story.

If any of you are in that same boat, I want to send you to two fantastic resources.

First, is Enclave Publishing. Their mission is to publish “out-of-this-world stories that are informed by a coherent theology,” which basically means they publish science fiction and fantasy stories with biblical themes like hope and redemption.

I’ve read several of their books lately, and they do not disappoint! Start with Oathbound by Victoria McCombs if you don’t believe me.

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Second, is Noblebright Fantasy. Yes, this is a term made up by an author, but CJ Brightley is striving to combat the depressing tone of grimdark fantasy by spreading the word about fantasy (and some sci-fi) stories filled with hope. She even has a book box subscription called Phoenix Crate that delivers noblebright fantasy straight to your door!

[image error] Photo by @cjbrightley and subscription through @phoenixcrate.

If you find either of those resources helpful, please let me know! Or if you know of any other resources for clean fiction, I’m all ears!

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Are You an Optimist, Pessimist, or Realist?

In my last post I mentioned that I’m trying to be more positive, and I feel like that requires some unpacking.

For starters, are you a glass half-full or half-empty kind of person? I’ve always hated that question because I think there’s a very clear third option. If the glass was just poured, it’s half-full. If you’ve been drinking from the glass, it’s half-empty. So what does that make me? 

A realist. Or obnoxious. 

Your answer about what that makes me probably depends on whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist, which means the category I fall in is dependent on you. Except then wouldn’t the reverse be true? If my category is dependent on your perception of me, wouldn’t your category be dependent on my perception of you? 

I know. I’m really fun at parties. 

The point is I could always use some help looking at the brighter side of life. 

My husband and I have had this conversation many times over the years, and it ended up in one of the books I shelved. Actually, it’s a deleted scene in a book I’ve shelved, so it’s sort of been killed twice, which is why I’m not going to resurrect it for you here.

The argument took place between the two main characters, Rae, who’s basically me with her suck-it-up-buttercup attitude, and Beau, who could be my husband in that sensitive (yet manly) everything-is-sunshine-and-rainbows demeanor. 

In the end, Rae’s argument is that she is a realist, which is an optimistic way of looking at her pessimism, which actually makes her an optimist.

It makes sense, right?

I miss writing Rae and Beau. And yes, I know that when you put their names together it makes a rainbow. That was intentional. The day I wrote the scene where Rae points out that her clouds and Beau’s sunshine make a rainbow, my son randomly drew this picture for me.

I mean, I know a rainbow is one of the first things a kid learns to draw, but still… it felt like confirmation to keep writing their story.

Since that book is not available for you to read, I’m going to suggest a few others instead. 

Disclaimer: These are books I just snagged because they are discounted and/or free, so I know nothing about the heat level/content. Read at your own risk!

I snagged this book because it was recommended in the IFA Summer Reading Challenge as a hilarious read and because right now it’s FREE.

This book is also FREE! And technically it’s six books in one. I’m excited about this one because I’ve been wanting to check out a few of the authors in here.

This last one is 99 cents, but the proceeds support children impacted by the war on Ukraine, so you get over ten stories from bestselling authors and your dollar supports a great cause.

The deals on these books are all ending soon, so don’t dilly-dally! And if you happen to read one, let me know! I love comparing thoughts after reading!

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Be Thankful for What You Smell

Outside of a ton of free books that you can download (see below), I don’t have much to share. Last time I posted I was sick, and now I’m catching up on life after being sick. 

Yes, I got the sickness that shall not be named, and yes I’m grateful that the worst thing I’ve had to deal with is a loss of taste and smell. This happened to me last time, but it’s hanging on a bit longer than I remember, and it’s making me oddly appreciative of the senses I do have.

As my taste comes back I find myself slowing down and really appreciating foods I took for granted. I still can’t smell anything, and the thing I miss the most is actually the smell of rain. If you haven’t experienced the scent of desert rain, I might cry actual tears for you. Do yourself a favor and book a trip to the desert during monsoon season (July/August). 

Actually, that’s a terrible time to come to the desert because it’s ridiculously hot even when it is raining. Come in January instead. Maybe someone has bottled desert rain in a perfume (off to Google…).

Still, this week I had to suffer and watch my entire family breathe in the desert rain while I smelled… nothing.

However, it’s really nice when I’m assisting my four-year-old in the bathroom and I smell… nothing.

Is that a silver lining? I’m working on being more positive.

Remember that summer reading challenge I told you about? Well the authors running it teamed up to make sure everyone could participate, so here are the free books I promised!

There are over 60 free reads in this link, so prepare to be overwhelmed. I highly recommend starting with Ghost of the White Wood! If you find one you love, be sure to let me know because it’s probably somewhere on my Kindle and I want to love it too.

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Summer Shenanigans and a Free Book

I’ll keep this short and sweet because a) I don’t have much to say and b) most of what I have to say is family life and you might not care about my family life (totally fair – I promised stuff about books). If you just want the freebie, I won’t blame you for scrolling to the end!

It’s clearly summer here in AZ (105-110 averages), so we do everything we can to not be here. Our boys rode with my parents in their motorhome up to North Dakota so they could get that road trip experience I will probably never give them. The rest of us took a plane to meet up at my sister’s house, and I’m happy to report that my girls have finally reached an age where flight travel is pleasant. No changing diapers in a teeny bathroom during turbulence, and no meltdowns during takeoff and landing.

And we got to see what summer is like for the rest of the world. I’d be jealous, except you’ll all wish you were me when winter comes around.

We’re all happily exhausted from the trip, and at least three of us are sick, because that’s what happens when 12 people live in one house at the same time. Still, I did get some writing and reading in, mostly on the plane.

What has your summer been like so far? Are you reading anything good?

I’m currently reading Between Ink and Shadows by Melissa Wright, and so far it’s really good! AND it happens to be free right now. I don’t know how long that will last, so go snag your copy now!

She’ll win back her freedom, even if she has to steal it.

Nimona Weston has a debt to pay. Her father’s dealings with the dark society known as the Trust cost Nim her freedom. There’s one way out of the contract on her life and that’s to bide her time and pay the tithes. But when the Trust assigns Nim to a task in the king’s own castle, her freedom is not the only thing she’ll risk.

Warrick Spenser has a secret. As king’s seneschal, he should be the last soul in Inara to risk association with dark magic, but long-hidden ties to the Trust are harder to shed than simply cutting the threads. When the Trust sends a thief to his rooms, Warrick thinks he’s finally found a way to be rid of them for good. But Nimona Weston is hiding secrets of her own.

Magical contracts, blood-debt accountants, and a deadly game. An epic fantasy with regency flair, an improper and slightly stabby heroine with a penchant for trouble, clean slow burn romance, and a dark and twisty plot that pits magic against kings, love against power, and a gothic underworld against a kingdom desperate to survive. Perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and The Shadows Between Us.

Between our vacation and me being sick, you’re probably likely to finish reading it before me. Let me know what you think!

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Summer Reading Challenge for Grown-Ups

Anyone else signing their kids up for summer reading programs? I have very fond memories of marking my progress with coloring and stickers. It’s probably why I like using Goodreads. There’s something exciting about getting credit for reading even if you’re reading for fun (which is the only way to read).

So for those of us who miss the summer reading programs now that we’re adults, all is not lost. Check out the Indie Fantasy Addicts summer reading challenge! 

There are points and prizes (aka FREE BOOKS), and if you love reading fantasy you need to check this out! There’s even a database showing how you can get free books (yes, you read that right – you get free books to earn points so you can get MORE free books), so if you’re addicted to your library (like me) or unsure what you think about indie books (been there), this is a great opportunity to dip your toes into the world of indie fantasy.

I’m on Team Book Kraken, so sign up, join a team (doesn’t have to be mine), and start reading!

If you think I’m using an annoyingly large amount of parentheses, you’re not alone. But I’m fairly certain there’s no other way for me to explain all this amazingness, so we’re stuck being annoyed together.

Speaking of summer programs, I convinced a good chunk of pre-teens to sign up for NaNoWriMo’s July writing camp when I spoke in my son’s class last month about writing and publishing. I felt a little silly because my only published chapter had more to do with luck and timing than anything else, but that’s sort of the way traditional publishing works, so it’s accurate representation.

At the beginning of my lesson I shared a fun story about a little boy named Dillon who stuck the book he wrote on the shelf at his library, and it now has a huge wait list. I’m sure my local library is thrilled that I’ve inspired 30 kids to hide their books on public library shelves, but it was worth it. Trust me, you want to check out the whole story (complete with his cute illustrations) here. It will probably take you less time to read it than you spent reading this post…

Let me know if you sign up for the summer reading program (as well as if we’re teammates or competitors), and feel free to share this post with a friend if you think they’d be interested in signing up too!

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Teeny Tiny Books

I’m sure you noticed that I didn’t post anything last week…

Or not.

I had good reason. The better half of the reason is at the end of this email. The birth order book that was all the craze years ago taught me that all you babies of the family probably scrolled to the end of this post instead of reading on. 

For all of you first born and middle children who stuck around, the other reason is because I’ve been crazy busy taking a marketing class. And while I have more time now that it’s over, I also have a mile long list of things to do if I ever hope to publish a book. 

Yes, it’s daunting.

So how do I cope? By making tiny books. Yes, you read that right.

Check out this adorable tiny bookshelf I made for my very good friend and critique partner.

Not sure how adorable and tiny it is? Watch the video of me making it here.

There’s actually some really fun “secrets” in this shelf. For one thing, the background is the map of her world. I also made the books get progressively bigger, just like her novels. And the papers with the orange pencil and notes? Actual pages from the draft she sent me. And yes, she prints them out and edits with an orange pen.

See the message in the bottle? The very tiny bottle on the bottom right? Here’s the secret message. If you’ve read her books, you’ll know what it means:

Here’s the better reason for my late email.

The tiny books in the photo above? You can get those full size. Because, Phoenix Rising, is out TODAY. See the pretty gold one on the right?

That one.

I always get some gloating rights that I’m one of the first people to read it, but now you can have your turn! Start with Dragon’s Reach, which is on sale for 99cents through the 15th (or FREE in Kindle Unlimited)!

Here’s the scoop on the first book (since the third book’s back cover would basically be “after Sable SPOILER she joins up with SPOILER to defeat SPOILER”):

One woman’s search for freedom, truth, and most of all, family.

Sable, a thief who can sense the truth in people’s words, has spent ten years trying to protect her family and escape from a ruthless gang boss.

Though she gains her freedom, out at the edges of civilization she discovers a new, terrible truth—the Kalesh Empire, long believed to be an ally, is gathering to attack.

It should be simple to warn the people, but the Empire’s lies are deeply entrenched.

Sable’s gift is stronger than she thinks, but will it be enough to convince the land of the truth before the Empire destroys them all?

I told you it was worth it. Free and discounted books are always worth it.

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Are you a loud or quiet hero?

We are currently neck-deep in Little League. It’s the first year we’ve had three kids in baseball, which means we’re averaging six games a week. 

I love my kids, but sitting at a game that I wouldn’t choose to watch otherwise is tricky. There’s this expectation to cheer them on, but there’s also this fear to shout anything, because maybe I’m wrong and they didn’t have a good eye when they chose not to swing or maybe they shouldn’t keep running the bases.  This feeling gets exaggerated tenfold when it’s my turn to be “snack mom.” There is nothing more anxiety-inducing than looking for a parent-approved “healthy” snack that’s also kid-approved and comprised of mostly sugar. And then bringing it to the game and having ten kids tackle you in their effort to get the strawberry flavor over the cherry flavor. Which is probably only differentiated by the amount of dye put in. I’m likely operating out of some mild PTSD. The first time I brought snacks six years ago, another parent stepped in front of me and handed out different snacks. When I very nicely pointed out the fact that I had signed up for snacks that day, she laughed and said, “You can never have too many snacks!” Yes, actually, you can. But that’s beside the point. The point is that it was my day to bring snacks and I spent money and time and effort and now they were all ripping open her snacks instead.  So what did I do? I yanked her around and punched her right in the face. No. That’s not actually what I did. But you believed me right? Because you’re reading a story, and that’s what people do in stories. I feel like we’ve come to expect characters to do the craziest thing possible in books. And while that might be more exciting, it doesn’t speak to the fact that fifty percent of the world is made up of non-confrontational (mostly) introverts, who will steam about something like that all night and wonder what they would have done if they were the hero in a book. I tend to write quiet characters, because I like them that way. Characters who lead by example more than words. Characters who stew about things and have regrets about not speaking up. Or the ones who speak up and then feel terrible afterward. So many characters these days are unapologetically loud, to the point where I no longer hear when they say something with extra value. It’s overstimulating. Sometimes quieter characters can sit back more easily and see where they went wrong. They can learn and grow in ways that are profoundly simple. In the writing world, it’s called a character arc when you see that shift, and I like when the arc is subtle. I may have slinked away from that woman who stole my snack-mom limelight. I may have weaseled my way out of dozens of snack-mom games by sending my husband those nights instead. But I will say that this year I nailed it. Not only did I have a healthy snack and a yummy snack for each kid, but I put them in brown bags and passed them out in ten seconds flat. A mom even complimented me on my snack efficiency. See, look how I’ve grown. Are you a loud or quiet hero? And yes, you’re a hero. I guarantee someone thinks you’re a hero.  Goddess of Myth & Magic by Angela J. Ford came out last month! It’s the second in a duology, so if you haven’t read the first one, check out Princess of Blood & Blade first. I haven’t read either yet, but I’ve read other books of hers, so I’m pumped to read these as soon as I turn back on my Kindle Unlimited subscription (they’re free on KU)! Here’s the back cover blurb for Princess of Blood & Blade (I’d put in the blurb for Goddess of Myth & Magic, but SPOILERS): An outcast princess, a dangerous goddess, a mysterious iceman and a half-demon. Royal blood is potent. But eighteen-year-old Evie Mor is unaware of the power she carries. Abandoned by her parents to be raised by centaurs, and unsure how to use her magic, she eagerly awaits the day she can leave the sacred forests and reunite with the humans. However, on the morning of her departure, she learns a horrific truth that leaves her questioning her true identity.Frustrated, but taught not to question the will of the gods, Evie travels deep into perilous lands in search of her birth mother.Along the way she accidentally frees a dangerous goddess, befriends a mysterious iceman, and meets a magic-wielding nymph. But threads of betrayal and corruption run deeper than Evie imagined. As she faces trials and tribulations, she questions everything she’s assumed to be true… Welcome to the land of Labraid, a war-torn world where demons rise and the gods and goddesses toy with the desires of humans.

A spellbinding fantasy adventure infused with Celtic Mythology and blood magic with wild plot twists and slow burn romance. Perfect for fans of character-driven fantasy with mythical creatures, treacherous royals and mischievous immortals. If you know someone who might enjoy these posts, please share this link or send them to my Choose Your Own Adventure game – everyone likes wasting time on the internet, right? Maybe that’s just me… Until next time,

Want to get this in your email instead? Sign up for my newsletter here.

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Are You a Loud or Quiet Hero?

We are currently neck-deep in Little League. It’s the first year we’ve had three kids in baseball, which means we’re averaging six games a week. 

I love my kids, but sitting at a game that I wouldn’t choose to watch otherwise is tricky. There’s this expectation to cheer them on, but there’s also this fear to shout anything, because maybe I’m wrong and they didn’t have a good eye when they chose not to swing or maybe they shouldn’t keep running the bases. 

This feeling gets exaggerated tenfold when it’s my turn to be “snack mom.” There is nothing more anxiety-inducing than looking for a parent-approved “healthy” snack that’s also kid-approved and comprised of mostly sugar. 

And then bringing it to the game and having ten kids tackle you in their effort to get the strawberry flavor over the cherry flavor. Which is probably only differentiated by the amount of dye put in.

I’m likely operating out of some mild PTSD. The first time I brought snacks six years ago, another parent stepped in front of me and handed out different snacks. When I very nicely pointed out the fact that I had signed up for snacks that day, she laughed and said, “You can never have too many snacks!”

Yes, actually, you can.

But that’s beside the point. The point is that it was my day to bring snacks and I spent money and time and effort and now they were all ripping open her snacks instead. 

So what did I do? 

I yanked her around and punched her right in the face.

Okay. That’s not actually what I did. But if my story had been in a book, it’s probably what the character would have done.

I feel like we’ve come to expect characters to do the craziest thing possible in books. And while that might be more exciting, it doesn’t speak to the fact that fifty percent of the world is made up of non-confrontational (mostly) introverts, who will steam about something like that all night and wonder what they would have done if they were the hero in a book.

I tend to write quiet characters, because I like them that way. Characters who lead by example more than words. Characters who stew about things and have regrets about not speaking up. Or the ones who speak up and then feel terrible afterward. So many characters these days are unapologetically loud, to the point where I no longer hear when they say something with extra value. It’s overstimulating.

Sometimes quieter characters can sit back more easily and see where they went wrong. They can learn and grow in ways that are profoundly simple. In the writing world, it’s called a character arc when you see that shift, and I like when the arc is subtle.

I may have slinked away from that woman who stole my snack-mom limelight. I may have weaseled my way out of dozens of snack-mom games by sending my husband those nights instead. But I will say that this year I nailed it. Not only did I have a healthy snack and a yummy snack for each kid, but I put them in brown bags and passed them out in ten seconds flat.

A mom even complimented me on my snack efficiency.

See, look how I’ve grown. That’s my character arc.

Are you a loud or quiet hero? 

And yes, you’re a hero. I guarantee someone thinks you’re a hero.

Goddess of Myth & Magic by Angela J. Ford came out last month! It’s the second in a duology, so if you haven’t read the first one, check out Princess of Blood & Blade first. I haven’t read either yet, but I’ve read other books of hers, so I’m pumped to read these as soon as I turn back on my Kindle Unlimited subscription (they’re free on KU)!

Here’s the back cover blurb for Princess of Blood & Blade (I’d put in the blurb for Goddess of Myth & Magic, but SPOILERS):

An outcast princess, a dangerous goddess, a mysterious iceman and a half-demon.

Royal blood is potent. But eighteen-year-old Evie Mor is unaware of the power she carries. Abandoned by her parents to be raised by centaurs, and unsure how to use her magic, she eagerly awaits the day she can leave the sacred forests and reunite with the humans.

However, on the morning of her departure, she learns a horrific truth that leaves her questioning her true identity. Frustrated, but taught not to question the will of the gods, Evie travels deep into perilous lands in search of her birth mother. Along the way she accidentally frees a dangerous goddess, befriends a mysterious iceman, and meets a magic-wielding nymph.

But threads of betrayal and corruption run deeper than Evie imagined. As she faces trials and tribulations, she questions everything she’s assumed to be true…

Welcome to the land of Labraid, a war-torn world where demons rise and the gods and goddesses toy with the desires of humans.

A spellbinding fantasy adventure infused with Celtic Mythology and blood magic with wild plot twists and slow burn romance. Perfect for fans of character-driven fantasy with mythical creatures, treacherous royals and mischievous immortals.

If you know someone who might want these emails, feel free to forward it on or send them to my Choose Your Own Adventure game – everyone likes wasting time on the internet, right? Maybe that’s just me…

The post Are You a Loud or Quiet Hero? appeared first on Author Karyne Norton.