Joy E. Rancatore's Blog, page 10

Heart Within the Mountain

Early morning’s spectral breath crept through the open window. In its wake, a shudder rippled throughout the thistle-embroidered lace. As the icy phantom touch swept across the girl’s sleeping form, she startled awake with a gasp.

Eyes wide beneath disheveled dark red locks, she whispered, “I could’ve reached out and scaled it bit by bit.”

The young woman beside her stirred and rose, concern written on her forehead. “What is it?”

Montana shook her head as if to dislodge some troubling thing stuck within before turning her gaze to the deep chocolate eyes that mirrored her own. 

“It was a dream, I suppose. But it was … there.” She stretched a shaking hand toward something just out of her reach … and her sister’s vision. As she gazed ahead to a lingering image, a reddish glow surrounded her and music overflowed from somewhere within her.

Marin stood to watch as Montana sang an other-worldly tune, soft and low at first but rising to a warming crescendo.

I close my eyes

And deep within

I feel a song arise.

 

The earth will swell

And reach and raise,

Forms where my heart will dwell.

 

My eyes fly wide

To quickly scale

New-birthed mount, my own pride.

 

Deep in my chest

I feel the tug

From within, I am pressed.

 

My heart runs free

Away it soars

To be chased or let flee.

The crimson glow surrounding Montana slowly receded, back into its home realm. With the last of its lingering notes caressing the corners of the air around the sisters, the magic vanished. In its place remained its most tangible memory—a warming veil around them.

Montana’s breathing evened out as she blinked away the scene she’d witnessed. Turning to Marin, she held a thousand questions in her eyes.

“Baby Sister, you’ve been called to your piece of nature. Always will the mountains claim your heart. Your choice awaits. Accept and become Mountain Shepherdess. Deny … and forever relinquish your heart.”

“Heart Within the Mountain” Copyright © 2018 by Joy E. Rancatore. All Rights Reserved.

 

I’d love to hear what you think about Montana and Marin! To read more of their stories and of other characters—including my main Faerie Shepherdess, Elspeth—click here for my Tales of the Faerie Shepherds.

This month’s story flowed from the inspiration of a delightful monthly online writing prompt, #BlogBattle. As you will read on their site, “Blog Battle is a monthly writing prompt meant to inspire writers and entertain readers.” To read several outstanding stories inspired by December’s prompt, “Heart,” head on over to the BlogBattlers site! You may just find a new favorite author to follow … in fact, a few of my absolute favorites have stories up this month!

For more detailed weekly updates on my writing process behind this short story as well as my other tales, please subscribe to my newsletter!

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Writing with Purpose

Writers care.

Genuinely.

These past few weeks I’ve been reminded just how caring and giving the writing community can be and how beautiful writing with purpose is.

Sure, we’ve got the bad apples. Every bushel does. For the most part, though, when you stumble upon a mass of writers on social media or in a local critique group, they’re helping one another in some way or they’re finding ways to give back to readers or better their communities.

A great example of this is The Crux Anthology. Thanks to Rachael Ritchey’s generous spirit, a huge draw to this whole process has been the fact that all profits from the book go to Compassion International.

Knowing that upfront was one of the main reasons I decided to enter the competition back in the spring and part of why I’m so proud to be part of The Crux Crew. Though I certainly cannot speak for the entire cast of talented authors whose stories fill the covers of this compilation, I know several have mentioned this giving aspect as a drawing factor for them as well.

When we can use our God-given talents and abilities to help others in some way—however small—we find the truest joy in our work.

Frequently, I see authors dedicating book sales to various causes. Whether that effort nets a few buck or thousands, it’s a beautiful example of humans reaching out to others to help however they can.

Let’s be honest—most authors will never be rich. Some write only for the joy of the process. Others hope to sell enough copies to pay for publishing costs; and still others—like me—desire to build a business that can be sustainable for their families.

Regardless of their ultimate goals in the literary industry, authors tend to be among the first to look for ways to give back. I am proud to be a small part of this and plan to continue this spirit of generosity through all my literary endeavors. While I continue to develop and build my business plan with a desire to succeed for my family, giving remains a huge part of it.

If we don’t share what we can when we can with others, then what is the higher point?

I want to share a few of these plans with you today because I’d love to hear ways you or an author you follow have used your talents to give back. Perhaps my plans will encourage you to find ways you can use your talents in your community—or further—to help others and give back as well.

Often, books inspire giving.

My debut novel, which I hope to publish in 2019, encourages generosity to many outstanding causes because various characters face different challenges.

My main character (MC), Jack Calhoun, enlists in the Marine Corps where he becomes a Scout Sniper. I have my eyes on an organization that I hope to contribute to first and can’t wait to share more on that next year. If I am financially able to set up my press early in the year, I hope to release this book in plenty of time for a charity drive over November 10, 11 and 12—the Marine Corps birthday, Veterans Day and my brother’s birthday.

My brother Justin has played a huge role in assisting me with this book, especially the Marine parts. I’ll never forget attending all his graduations and ceremonies throughout his time in the Corps. His stories and those of other Marines in my life made making my MC a Marine a simple decision. It seems only right that my first choice for donations would be USMC-related.

In addition to this organization, I plan to donate proceeds from this book to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center near me and an organization to benefit individuals with Down Syndrome.

The novella that will be a prequel of sorts to this novel will benefit an organization that hosts a camp for children who have lost a parent, guardian or sibling—Camp Savannah. It would also be perfect to benefit organizations focused on cancer care. I’m specifically looking for organizations that reach out to families with young children whose mothers have a terminal illness. If you have any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate an email.

Other times, giving inspires books!

Sunday, I began brainstorming and planning with a fellow writer for a book that will benefit a very special group in our area. I cannot wait to tell you more about it … and be far less vague when I do! If the group likes the idea and if this book can benefit them, our tentative plan is for a 2020 publication.

Charitable giving will continue to be a big part of my marketing plans for each book I publish. Whether I schedule special donation drives or put a project’s entire proceeds toward a good cause, I will always look for ways to help outstanding organizations.

Giving doesn’t always mean money.

Another way I will continue to give back is with time and influence in my own community.

I have taught writing, reading and speech classes in the past in our homeschooling community. This is something I’d like to do more in the future, if possible. Instilling the love of reading and writing in children—especially those who may have been reluctant before—brings so much joy.

My family has always been frequent visitors at our local public library, and we look forward to doing whatever we can to give back there. In addition, I’m planning two book drives in our community this year and can’t wait to see how many books we can gather. The first will be with our American Heritage Girls Troop. In January, our girls will be gathering books to give to the T.A.R.D.I.S. Little Free Library—yes, our town has THE coolest LFL ever! The next drive came about through the suggestion of a sweet friend of mine at church. I have been doing some straightening and ordering in our church library. I mentioned to my friend Heather some books I’d love to see in there, and she suggested we do a book drive for them!

Many authors and others are currently donating to disaster relief in California. If you’re already planning to purchase books this month, be sure to check out the author’s website. You may be surprised to see how they’re giving back. Here are a few authors from around social media who were kind enough to share their current giving plans with me:

Mark Huntley-James and many other writers have contributed short stories to various anthologies produced by the One Million Project (OMP) with the goal to raise one million pounds/dollars for EMMAUS Homeless Programs and Cancer Research UK. Mark is an absolute delight in our writing community. He blogs regularly for OMP, and his contributing story is titled “While We Were Sleeping.” One of my favorite things is to sip my coffee while reading his anecdotes of life with his feline friends … and the occasional nuisance—looking at you, Thug!

David Beckler and fellow writers put together The Road More Travelled: Tales of Those Seeking Refuge. This anthology benefits another UK organization, Refugee Council.

Fellow Writer Mom, Tonya Royston gives part of the proceeds from each of her book sales to the Ian Somerhalder Foundation.

I’m excited about all the opportunities to give in 2019 and would love to hear from YOU!

 

What are some ways you can give back in your own community? Whether you’re a writer, a CEO, a stay-at-home mom or a truck driver, you have talents that can help someone. Maybe you have money to donate. Maybe you have the ability to raise money. Or, perhaps you know ways your time and willing spirit to help can benefit others. Whatever it is, I’d love to hear about it!

Do you follow other writers who donate proceeds from their work? What are some drives that caught your eye?

The post Writing with Purpose appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.

Literary Traditions Make the Best Traditions

It’s that time again.

The time for unwrapping stored treasures, recalling the day each child made every hand-crafted ornament, laughing about why that star decoration is missing a point or grieving for the poor third wise man who got shattered somewhere during the toddler years.

It’s the time for traditions.

Some of these center around items that have been passed down or annual events we attend or just whose house we go to on which day and at what time.

Others revolve around words. And, friends, these are some of the sweetest traditions of all for me.

I want to share with you four of my family’s literary traditions.

Daily Readings During Advent and Epiphany

I grew up in a Christian home, but I didn’t grow up with an Advent or Epiphany tradition. Sure, I’d heard of Advent. I knew some churches had this wreath thing with candles in it. But, I had little personal experience with it and even less with Epiphany.

Even before I had children, I knew I wanted to be very intentional in the traditions we started at Christmas and the focus we have at this time of year. Once we had our first child, I was probably a little too excited about buying all the cutesy little things for her.

As they grew, I’ll be honest, I floundered a little bit about how to keep all our thoughts turned toward the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ and the eternal life he gives.

It’s really just been in the past few years that my understanding of Advent and Epiphany has grown. I’ve come from a childhood where, quite honestly, I dreaded Christmas to an adulthood where I now eagerly anticipate the excitement of these two observances—and, I hope, will pass that excitement on to my children.

December 1 was the first day of Advent, and I shared these words on my social media pages to explain what our family does during these next several weeks.

Over the past few years, we have tried to be more intentional with what our family focuses on during this time of year because it’s far too easy to become overwhelmed, scattered, depressed and self-centered.

I know many of you hold different beliefs and traditions this time of year, but I thought you may be interested in how my family celebrates. If so, here you go!

Advent is the time from December 1-25 when many Christians reflect on the Savior who was promised specifically to the Jewish people throughout the Old Testament. We remember how they looked forward to his coming, and we joyfully read how Jesus Christ fulfilled each of those promises when he came to earth as a human to live a perfect life and be the only perfect sacrifice for us. I say “joyfully” because that reminder that God kept all of his promises before also reminds us that he will keep all of his promises again. He has promised eternal life to all who believe in him. He has promised … not ease … but peace to all who follow him. And he has promised to come again and to bring all his children to spend eternity with him. So, it is with a joyful reflection on promises kept that we are able to look forward to this beautiful future. This is Advent—an awaiting for the Savior’s arrival.

A few things we have started doing over the past few years during this time are reading daily Bible verses and devotions both together as a family and individually. This year we’re reading through John Piper’s devotion, Good News of Great Joy, which you can download for free!

Last year, my kids enjoyed coloring through Tasha Wiginton‘s Advent Family Devotional, and they’ve requested I print it out again this year. You can do that too!

We have a garland in our hall with verses to read each day of Advent. I plan to update them so they match the verses from the two resources above … just to keep it all a little simpler!

And, we also have an Advent “candle wreath.” As you’ll notice in the photo, it’s neither real candles nor wreath! I printed and colored this page a few years ago, leaving the candle “flames” plain, and then laminated it. We use a dry erase marker to “light” one flame for the four Sundays leading up to Christmas and then the final one on either Christmas Eve or Day. Here’s a link to print out a guide for this.

Now, I mentioned Advent and something else.

Epiphany.

Have you ever experienced a huge let-down after Christmas? There are no more surprises to anxiously await. No more figgy pudding to devour. Maybe that let-down doesn’t come until January 2, but you know it’s coming.

From December 26 through January 6, we add to our focus the fact that God sent a Savior not just to one group of people, but to ALL people … even me!

You may have heard of Three Kings Day or Kings Day? That would be January 6. Around our neck of the woods it means it’s time for king cake and gearing up for Mardi Gras, but for my family it’s a reminder that God came in human form to be the Savior we all need. Those wise men who traveled for a couple of years knew that. That is why they took that hard route to bring gifts to not just a king, THE King. The King of kings and Lord of lords.

So, instead of feeling let down after the wrapping paper’s littered the house, we choose to get excited again! Our tiny wise men continue their slow journey across our living room to where Jesus was growing up, and we read and reflect on the greatest gift—eternal life with God through Jesus Christ.

So, that’s a little of what our family does this time of year. We don’t always do it all perfectly, and this making of a family tradition didn’t happen overnight. On the outskirts of these pictures are boxes and mess and clutter and dust and dog hair. But, in these little things, we strive to be intentional. We desire to focus on the greatest gift in the midst of the whirlwind of lights, things and expectations.

Socks for Christmas

My sister Jane has been a wonderful example for me in the way of creating special and lasting traditions for our children.

A few years ago, she shared a book with my family that was part of her boys’ Christmas routine—Socks for Christmas by Andy Andrews. This book is the author’s reflections on a Christmas in his childhood when he first realized that not every child gets fun presents. Some parents have to pinch pennies for necessities like shoes, leaving nothing for extras like socks.

Told in a true storyteller’s fashion that has us laughing one minute, bawling the next and finishing up with laughter through our tears, this book has become a favorite read for my kids. It reminds us that getting things isn’t important but looking for ways to give is.

My kids get one more reminder of this book’s beautiful message when they find a pair of socks at the top of their stockings.

The Greatest (True!) Story Ever Told

This tradition has been with me my entire life.

Every year on either Christmas Eve or Christmas day—before any gifts are unwrapped—we read part of the greatest (TRUE!) story ever told from Luke, chapters 1 and 2 in the Bible. This gives us an opportunity to slow down in the busyness of those two days full of food, family and fun to focus on the most important thing in our lives—God.

The Nutcracker

Now, a literary tradition in its strictest definition rests on the written word, but I’m going to deviate just slightly from that with this one.

At the end of the day—or maybe I should say from the beginning of time—we have been a people of STORIES. Before we had the tools for a true literary tradition, we had an oral tradition—stories passed down from generation to generation.

Today we have the privilege of enjoying stories in many different ways—oral, written or performed. Songs are stories in themselves … opera being a great example of that. We have movies, televisions shows, plays acted out on stages, radio dramas. Wherever we look, we find stories.

The story that probably holds some of my most precious childhood memories is The Nutcracker.

This is a tale we’re all familiar with in some way. We can read it in books, watch it performed either through drama, ballet or instrumental performance. This year, we have a brand new magical film version to add to our Nutcracker traditions. (I, for one, cannot wait to watch it!)

But, my little memory of this story rests in the version set on ice. I spent many special moments watching The Nutcracker on Ice, featuring Dorothy Hamill and Robin Cousins, with my grandfather. We would snuggle. There would usually be some sort of snack involved. And, I remember talking—though not the exact words—and laughter. Lots of laughter.

That was my grandfather.

Quality time. His undivided attention. His untiring ear for my little child words. His joyful smile and precious laugh.

We loved that story.

Because of that tradition, I have Nutcrackers in my house. I tear up when I hear any of Tchaikovsky’s beautiful music. And, I know I will bawl my eyes out whenever I do finally watch the new movie.

 

So, what about you? What are some of your family’s traditions? Do you have any specifically literary traditions for this time of year?

If you have any questions about some of the activities or books I mentioned, drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you!

The post Literary Traditions Make the Best Traditions appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.

How to Buy the Right Book … for Someone Else

With the holidays rapidly approaching, I’m working on my gift list for all the people in my life. Since I happen to be rather fond of books, you know those are generally my first gift choices. However, books as gifts require a good deal of thought. To make it a little easier, I’ve got Five Questions to Ask When Buying Books for Someone Else.

WHO

With this question, you have the obvious: adult or child, male or female. Clearly I’m not going to give the same book to my nine-year-old as I would to my mother-in-law.

Let’s take it few steps deeper, though. Is this person you’re buying for a regular reader or a reluctant reader? Have they mentioned favorite books or authors? Have they talked about how they wish they could read more or wish they could find books they enjoy? You’ll want to take each of these aspects into consideration as you consider the right book.

You also have to think about who they are on a deeper level. What are their hobbies, passions, interests? If your friend spent several of their young adult days in the Peace Corps in rural parts of Asia, they may be more drawn to biographies of people who have left comfort to help others than to a flippant quick read about the plights and perils of dating in the United States. Then again, maybe that friend prefers their reading to be on the lighter side!

WHAT

We live in a time where our reading options are widely diverse … and not just in content!

You can read your favorite book or the latest release in either hardcover or paperback, download it to a variety of e-readers or even listen to it read via CDs or an app on your phone or computer.

You may think this is a simple choice. It may not be.

Some people do have a strong preference.

For example, I would much rather have a paperback version than any of the others. I am thankful for e-books, though, because I am able to get many more books than I would have before. Plus, it sure does make packing easier! When it comes down to it, though, give me a soft, flexible paperback to sniff … I mean, read.

Preferences may change depending on the book.

Using myself as an example again: if I’m getting an all-time favorite book, I would much rather have a hardcover version or an early edition or a signed edition. Let’s just say you wanted to give me a signed first edition of The Hobbit. First, I would kiss you and then faint … or vice versa. That would be a great example of a book that would be best given as a special version for me.

If your friend has followed a certain author for the past 20 years and already has all the hardcovers that are out, you’ll want to make sure you buy the hardcover to match her set.

As I said, most other books, I would rather have in paperback format. But, if you’re wanting me to check out your absolute favorite Indie author, but you’re not entirely sure if I’ll like her or not and she’s written 20 books and you want me to have them all … you may want to go with e-books.

Or, let’s say you were in my life about a year ago and magically knew ahead of time that I would be spending a lot of time traveling by myself to visit an ill mother, you may have chosen the audiobook version of War and Peace. (Is there an audiobook version of War and Peace?)

Anyway, I hope you see what I mean. The person’s preference and even season in life may change what type of book you purchase for them.

The type may depend on the book as well.

Not all books have all four options.

While audiobooks are definitely rising in popularity, that may still be the least likely available option. Some authors choose to only release e-versions … no killing trees for them. And, certain genres simply will never produce hardcover versions of their books because those readers are just fine with their paperbacks, thank you very much.

Lest you thought I forgot … there are large print AND braille versions of some books as well. If you have a friend who prefers one of these, you may have to do your research to determine where and what books you can get for them.

WHEN

As I write this post, we’re preparing for the Christmas holidays in the United States. But, you may be reading this two-and-a-half years from now. Or, you may not celebrate Christmas or any other winter gift-giving holiday.

However, if you are reading this, chances are quite high that you plan to give a book as a gift for some reason.

So, let’s think of all those possible reasons! Your friend or loved one may have a special occasion coming up, such as a big birthday or anniversary. They may be expecting a big life event like a graduation, new job, marriage, move or birth of a child. That big event may have come in the form of a tremendous loss. We have all the major holidays scattered throughout the year, as well.

Your friend may have a big trip coming up or a surgery that will force them to stay in bed for a while. Either of these would be perfect times to catch up on their reading!

Of course, giving books doesn’t require a special occasion. If someone popped up and handed me a book today, I’d be thrilled!

Regardless of the reason—or the “just because”—it may influence what kind of book you choose. Nonfiction or fiction, serious or light.

WHY

That’s a wonderful question, isn’t it?

(When it’s not demanded by a toddler at regular 10-second intervals for hours on end.)

Why would you like to gift this special person a book? I thought of three main reasons we may choose to go the book route as opposed to the simpler gift card route, for instance.

We choose to give books to … increase or fuel the love of reading.

I’ve seen the excitement in a child’s eyes when they’ve either just learned to read on their own or they’ve just discovered the joy of reading. They long for more!

Adults who didn’t discover that joy until later in life experience something similar. Once they have that first positive experience, all they want is more.

I’ve also seen the benefits in people whose family and friends constantly fed their fire for the written word. Either those readers have become writers or teachers or they’re sharing the love of books with others. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

I’m living proof of that!

We choose to give books to … create a love of reading.

Some people just need the right books in their life … or the right kind of encouragement to accept those books.

When you encounter a reluctant reader—whether they are a child or an adult—and you choose to pour thought into a book choice for them, you are planting a seed of something special.

Now, not everyone will devour Shakespeare or check their way through the Top 1,000 Classics list. But, everyone should have the opportunity to see reading in a positive light. At the very least, you will open up the door to a whole new world for them.

In the case of some people, part of their reluctance could be that no one ever invested the time into them to help them master reading on their own. Illiteracy—even among adults in the United States—is unfortunately not that uncommon. So, your gift may require more of a time commitment than a monetary investment.

We choose to give books to … share something important or special.

Do you have a favorite author?

If you’re still reading this post of mine, I’m pretty positive that answer is an emphatic YES! You probably have more than one. There’s probably a classic author whose works you’ve devoured on multiple occasions. I’m guessing you likely have a favorite current author or two as well—perhaps someone whose next book you’ve already got preordered. 

You may simply want to share the joy you feel about that favorite author’s works with someone special. You’ll chat about the books over tea. Already, you have planned to ask them to call you after Chapter 22 because you just know they’ll want to talk about the tragedy or shocking revelation or whatever it may be.

Maybe your friend is considering starting a business. You did the same thing five years ago, but you wouldn’t have made it this far without a certain book.

Perhaps you read a book every year at Christmas with your children. It’s become a beautiful tradition you look forward to every year. Now, maybe they’ve grown up and they have their own family. It’s time they have a new copy to begin their own family’s memories.

I’m sure there are many more reasons we choose to give books as gifts. At the end of the day, though, you may be wondering if they’ll be as excited about it as you are.

So what?

What if their eyes glaze over, and your book gift goes in the pile of socks and fruitcake?

Well, I can’t say that won’t hurt.

I can also say that if you’ve asked yourself all these questions and put great care and thought into your choice for them, that book may just become one of their most cherished gifts.

At the end of the day, you’ve considered who they are on multiple levels and what they mean to you. Your passion and excitement will shine brighter than the sparkly bow you chose, and you can observe the power in giving a gift of the written word.

I recently did a full Facebook LIVE video about choosing books as gifts. Check it out here! If you’d like some help with your book gift list, feel free to drop me an email any time. I’m always up for talking books! If you want to hear what’s on my family’s book wish list, give my Facebook page a like and follow to catch next month’s LIVE video chat.

 

What about you? What books are on your wish list this year? Which was the best book gift you ever received, who gave it to you and what made it so special? Need some help choosing books for family and friends? Drop me a line! I’d love to help, if I can!

The post How to Buy the Right Book … for Someone Else appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.

The Education of Elspeth

The following is a short story that will one day be part of a much larger series of books surrounding Elspeth, Shepherdess of the Fae. You can read another longer tale of Elspeth’s arrival at Temple Taepaeum for her Training in The Crux Anthology, releasing on November 26.

A blaze of red flashed beneath the sun’s rays. With a twitch of its bushy tail, the skinny red squirrel beckoned. Elspeth’s chubby little hand held her giggle for a moment before releasing it to follow the scampering squirrel across the grass toward the giant hedge. The wee girl watched until the creature stopped again to turn and bid her follow him. This time she eagerly skipped along after him. Nevermind her parents’ repeated scolding answers to her questions concerning what the overgrown hedgerow contained.

“Not a thing. It’s simply a wild bush, and ye’ll do well to obey and stay clear of it. Ye’re not to go past the width of the house.”

Elspeth would drop her head and nod her agreement to obey while tugging on the sleeve covering the red markings on her arm. Even at five years old, she knew better than to question an order from her parents or to let anyone see the odd rune patterns covering her left arm. She had always known they disapproved of the marks’ existence.

As an infant, she spent hours cooing at each line and squiggle as she tapped and patted her arm. Once she began toddling about, she constantly tugged at her worrisome sleeves until a few good smacks to her bottom impressed the depth of her parents’ loathing for her tattooed limb. As often as she could hide away from their disapproving gazes, she would study each form and shape—all while singing songs in a foreign tongue more familiar to her ears, though she’d never heard them uttered by anyone else … not even her sister, Arabel.

Of course, she never glared at Elspeth’s arm or odd songs. She would smile dreamily. “Sing it again, Elspeth. Tis my favorite and makes me feel tingly,” she would say as she lay her red head on Elspeth’s arm. And so, Elspeth was able to be herself in secret or with Arabel. She had already learned the soothing solitude of the moors, but it was the hedge that called to her most clearly. At times she stared and stared, sure there was something within—just out of sight. Other times she heard indiscernible whispers emanating from beyond, carried on breezes heavy with the scent of flowers—flowers whose beauty Elspeth could envision simply from their smells.

On this morning, Elspeth’s skipping revealed her carefree, adventurous spirit as she passed the invisible confines of her house’s edge and followed the busy-tailed leader ahead to what turned out to be a rectangular hedge so tall she thought it caressed the blue sky blanketing them.

The squirrel rested on its haunches, observing her for a moment before he effortlessly hopped up and over into whatever lay within.

Elspeth cautiously approached the towering fortress. She stood only an arm-length away. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply. Spicy, floral, earthy and warm—the scent of whatever this hedgerow hid from her filled her lungs and brought a longing to her lips even as it enticed her to reach out and touch the deep green leaves. As she sang one of her secret songs and caressed nature’s wall before her, the words came back to her as a choir of hidden voices joined her own.

“Lambda socci, remiscienti tuum lumenasteri ollihesttapha maen trium coom unisum tuah, Dhae.”

As the song grew and deepened, the leaves beneath her fingertips shifted. They began to sway, then swirl in a drifting dance that created an entry into brilliant light within. The luminescence enveloped Elspeth and made her appear to glow from its brightness glistening on her deep brown locks. She continued to sing as she stepped into another world—one far from the strict, simple, unimaginative home in which she’d been raised.

Her unclad feet sank into softer moss than she’d ever experienced. It pressed up between each of her toes, cushioned them and urged her to dance and twirl to the tune she carried. Lightly landing, she jigged and leapt upon the springy ground until she’d crossed the open space to a garden teeming with flowers of every type Elspeth had ever seen, some she’d only envisioned in dreams and still others as foreign as the light and hedgerow around her.

The song slowly drifted away as Elspeth knelt before a bed of the most brilliant white flowers she’d ever seen. The light came, in part, from them and she felt their warmth gently radiating onto her skin until she thought, perhaps, she was glowing as well.

She reached out a curious hand to stroke one of the seven silky petals that curled up into itself when the sound of tinkling laughter, soft and low as a melodic whisper, greeted her. The petals unrolled themselves to reveal two tiny Faeries within them. She first noticed the red-haired one who had giggled. The tiny creature before her reminded her dearly of Arabel, but it was silver-haired Lailiana with whom she first spoke.

“How are ye so wee? I’d like to be yer size an’ sit on a flow’r to sing.”

The Flower Faerie observed the human child before her with widening, admiring soulful gray eyes. Her laugh spilled out like a song playing its way through the reeds on the banks of the river.

“At last we meet, beautiful Elspeth, Faerie Shepherdess of All Peoples. Ages I have watched and aeons have I longed for our greetings. Much you have to learn; more you have to lose; most you have to give.”

For one month Lailiana trained Elspeth in Faerie ways each afternoon in the garden by her home. Though the little girl understood very little of her destiny and couldn’t quite grasp the danger posed by Maelphaeus and all the Daemon Faeries he commanded, she understood the Flower Faeries with their lovely faces and lyrical names. She found herself able to tend to the flowers, aiding them in their growth in such a way even exacting Raisie had come to praise her on occasion.

And then one afternoon her time with the Faeries ended abruptly with a call from her mother. A fellow minister from a nearby town had come to call on her father, and she was expected to join them for tea.

“Elspeth! Whatever stained yer smock since this morning?” her mother gasped, mortified, as the minister leaned forward for a better view of the incriminating blemish.

“Oh! ‘Tis a bit of jam and greenery and magic. The Faeries set forth a most lovely tea this morn. We even had wee jam scones! And,” she leaned toward the minister, still bent toward her, eyes widened, “Lailiana—she’s the main Faerie, ye know—let me have three sugar lumps—three!”

With this shocking revelation, Elspeth emphasized her point with a well-practiced wink aimed right at Reverend MacLeod.

Barely concealing a bewildered grin, the minister cleared his throat and exclaimed, “A most amusing game of fancy you had this morning, lass!”

“Oh, sir, it wasnae fancy—well, the tea was fancy, as teas with Faeries must be, of course—but it wasnae fancy as ye mean. I take tea with them each morning. This was extra finely prepared as we were celebrating completion of my second fortnight of Faerie lessons.”

She continued in her most grown-up tone, “Ye see, I am to be their leader one day, a mighty Faerie warrior to fight against the evil Faeries and other foul creatures of the world. It is my destiny, written in the flow’r dust and foretold in the shadows of the magic stone rings.”

A jarring crash of shattering china broke the reverie of the ominously still drawing room. Elspeth’s mother’s cheeks deepened to a rich red as her father rose swiftly to contain the already embarrassing situation the young girl had created.

“Elspeth! That will be quite enough superstitious nonsense! I willnae have ye talking of such demonic subjects, especially in the presence of the minister. Awa’ wi’ ye to yer studies! And, ye will add some memory from the Confession today. I want to hear your recitations at supper.”

Her emerald eyes wide with fright and bewilderment at what offense she could have caused, they sought answers from her parents’ crimson cheeks and on the minister’s grave face, which no longer concealed anything resembling a smile. Finding no answers, she slunk out of the room, tears clouding her vision as she stumbled toward her approved lessons.

Elspeth’s spirit wasn’t broken, of course. It was simply tucked away—much like the Faerie garden—to strengthen and sharpen until the time of her Calling arrived.

“The Education of Elspeth” Copyright © 2018 by Joy E. Rancatore. All Rights Reserved.

 

I’d love to hear what you think about little Elspeth! Once you read her story in The Crux Anthology, please drop me a line and let me know how you liked that one as well. I look forward to further developing Elspeth’s tale.

This month’s story flowed from the inspiration of a delightful monthly online writing prompt, #BlogBattle. As you will read on their site, “Blog Battle is a monthly writing prompt meant to inspire writers and entertain readers.” To read several outstanding stories inspired by November’s prompt, “Education,” head on over to the BlogBattlers site! You may just find a new favorite author to follow!

For more detailed weekly updates on my writing process behind this short story as well as my other tales, please subscribe to my newsletter!

The post The Education of Elspeth appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.

Word Lovers Say Gramercy!

Gramercy, Reader Friend!

Today, we’re closing out our little journey of thankfulness by considering how we can express our gratitude for the written word.

Wait … you’ve got us thanking words now, Joy? That’s it! Time to get you out of the house and away from the computer!

Just hear me out! I promise I am still as sane as any homeschooling, volunteering, work-at-home, aspiring author mom can be!

Just ask my cat. He’ll vouch for me … right after he helps me edit another draft of my novel.

Now, where were we?

Ah, yes! Thanking the written word.

As a kid, books were my primary companions, so I was never lonely. As I grew, I discovered myself in their pages.

As a writer, it is through words that I express myself, release my imagination and breathe life into the dreams that dance in my heart.

It is with words, we vow our hearts to another, say goodbye to a loved one and welcome a baby after its first cry. Words of hope surround us and uplift us on our darkest days. Words enable us to express every one of the emotions roiling within us.

The same God who created you and me, created words with which to do all these things I’ve already mentioned and so much more.

He also created stories, all stories—truth, fiction; poetry, prose; nonsensical, lyrical, descriptive or informative. He created us to be a people of stories. It is through these stories—and the words that build them—that we leave pieces of ourselves behind forever. Words are lasting, powerful, potent.

So, on this day of thanks, I urge you to thank our Creator for everything—including WORDS.

Gramercy, Reader Friend!

 

What are you most thankful for concerning words? Have you ever considered just how powerful they can be? Thank you for joining me on this journey of saying Gramercy!

The post Word Lovers Say Gramercy! appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.

Writers Say Gramercy!

Gramercy, Reader Friend!

Last time, I shared a few ways Readers can say Gramercy! to their favorite Writers! (I also gave you the thrilling background on that 14th-century interjection, so be sure to hop back and check it out!)

Today, let’s see how Writers can return the favor. Think about it—without Readers, a Writer’s stories die with them; so we’ve got a lot of reasons to say thank you!

By saying (or typing) Thank You, of course!

Authors do get some precious white space in their books for thank yous. Be sure to use at least some of that for your readers. Even though I know that author has no clue who I am or that I’m reading their words in that moment, I feel like I’m reading a letter written just for me when I finish a new favorite book and find a page with a heartfelt thanks on it. When you’re scheduling out your graphics and memes and ads, include some intentional thanks-for-reading/following posts.

Interact with them on social media.

Make sure you’re posting things to engage with your readers. Now, I do realize that this next thought will become impossible at some point (since we’re all expecting to hit international fame status, of course), but I suggest you stick to it as long as is possible.

When a reader comments or DMs or emails you, respond. It only takes a line or two. If someone has reached out to you to thank you for your words or to ask where your inspiration comes from or what you’re working on next, they have put themselves out there for you. It’s not easy reaching out to someone you admire, so let them know you appreciate it.

Share … YOU!

What on earth do I mean?

Well, it’s simple. Readers who fall in love with your words and your characters want more. I’ve got two suggestions of how you can do just that!

Behind-the-Scenes

They want to know how those characters came to be. They want to know that the child you mention at the end of the novel was named after two very important people. They want to know the personal details behind a name or date or location.

They want to know that you prefer Scotch and red wine to beer when writing. They want to listen to your novel’s music playlist. And, they want to know which parts were hardest for you to write … and why.

So, share your pictures on social media. Prepare behind-the-scenes posts to go along with each book and share more of you—and your books—with your loyal readers! They will love you for it!

On-the-Town

Writers, as a lot, tend to be more comfortable with fuzzy socks and cats than nightlife and small talk.

I get it … says the lady who hasn’t left her house in five days and is completely okay with that.

Take a deep breath, release. Now, take a chance. Back away from the computer and leave your house. Offer book signings, writing chats, book readings. Participate in author panels at your local library and state book fest. Put yourself out there and meet your readers. Get to know who they are.

Ask them questions, too!

How did they first hear about your books? What do they like so much? Who’s their favorite character? Do they have any questions?

See, as you interact with them—which will be a huge moment for them—you’re actually receiving a ton of great stuff in return.

You’re learning what marketing is working and what isn’t. You’re learning what you’re doing well and what could use some work in your writing. And, you’re having opportunities to pose for photos with a bunch of readers who will, in turn, blast them out across their social media to all their other book-loving friends … who you would otherwise have never reached!

Is anyone else getting excited? 

Just me?

Moving on …

Give gifts whenever and however you can.

Hold up, Joy! Just how much money do you think we’re actually going to make from our books? We can’t go flinging gifts around!

Calm down! Calm down!

What I mean by gifts isn’t what you’re thinking. I’m talking about outside-of-the-box, often free gifts—short stories for subscribers; deleted scenes or sneak peeks for readers.

If you’re on Facebook, you can host live video events any time you want from the comfort of your own home and reach people all over the world! How cool is that?!?!

I host a monthly book club live on my page—first Monday of every month. You could do something like that or have writer video updates every Wednesday—moment to add that to my shiny new idea board!—and even read a line or two from your current WIP!

Fellow writer mom, Alicia Gaile, hosted a read-along of one of her books in a special Facebook group. She combined live videos with interactive Q&A posts for an amazing experience that lasted for a few weeks! It was so much fun!

Other writers encourage their readers to get in on the writing action, like another writer mom, Everly Reed. She’s got a VIP section that’s free for subscribers who want to experience a “Choose Your Own {Romantic} Adventure” story. I don’t know about you, but I loved those “Choose-Your-Own” books when I was a kid! It’s super fun to follow along and participate in the action as an adult, too!

I plan to offer visits—in person and online—to book clubs who choose my books. With all the technology we have these days, the sky isn’t even the limit!

Make them part of your team … and thank them for it.

Many authors have them—launch teams, street teams, Da Book Crew, Joy’s Jesters (just testing names, guys). Whatever you call them, they serve two roles: assisting the author with the overwhelming task of marketing and giving the reader ownership in one of their favorite books.

While the opportunity may be thanks enough for these loyal readers, be sure to offer some token of gratitude for their help.

 

Writers, have you thanked your readers today?

Hang on a second …

THANK YOU, MY WONDERFUL READER!! YOU’RE WHY I WRITE … AND KEEP WRITING! I HOPE TO MAKE YOU PROUD ONE DAY!

As I was saying *sniff, sniff* …

What are some other ways you’ve found to thank your readers? What’s been your favorite? Readers, what have your favorite authors done that gave you all the feels and then some?

The post Writers Say Gramercy! appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.

Readers Say Gramercy!

Gramercy, Reader Friend!

I have a revelation that will come as little shock to you. I love archaic words. Bring back all the old words, I say!

Let’s begin with gramercy.

In the fourteenth century, this word found its use as an interjection of thankfulness. Its French roots make it mean, literally, “great thanks.” As many words do, its use evolved. It became more of an interjection of surprise—I imagine it similar to the Southerner’s “Have mercy!” (Whether or not that last statement is accurate, you’d need to consult someone far more well-versed in etymology than I.)

What is certainly not archaic is the daily cause for thankfulness. As a community of readers and writers, we share, create and promote the written word. We have—I believe—tremendous cause to be thankful.

As I see it, we’ve got at least three distinct sets of thanks going on here: Readers thanking Writers; Writers thanking Readers; and ALL of us thanking the Written Word! Hold on to your hats for a three-part series during this week of gratitude that, I hope, will inspire you throughout the year.

How can we as Readers express the gratitude we hold for the Writers who create worlds or impart knowledge to us?

I’m so glad you asked!

Read on for a few suggestions.

When you read a book that gives you chills, makes you utter a contented sigh, transfers you to another realm, teaches you something about yourself or gives you an imaginary friend to brighten your day, don’t you just want to run up to their creator and give him or her a giant bear hug?

I agree. The words restraining order popped in my mind as well.

So, maybe we can’t attack authors with a well-meaning hug; but there are plenty of ways we can let them know just how much they mean to us.

By saying (or typing) Thank You, of course!

Email, DM, social media posts and website comment forms—readers have many ways to reach their favorite authors these days. And, trust me, they LOVE to hear from you. Whether or not they’re able to personally respond, your appreciation of their stories means more than you know.

Interact with them on social media.

Follow them on social media and interact with what they’re posting. Subscribe to their newsletter. Enter their giveaways—someone’s going to win; it could be you! Attend their events if you live nearby or if they come to your area. Be sure to capture your experience with photos and tag them online. Comment on their blog posts or reply to their emails. If they invite feedback or send a survey or anything like that, it’s because they’re doing their best to thank you by including you in their writing journey!

Spread the word.

Share their posts, tweets, news, events and books with all your reader friends. Marketing isn’t cheap or always effective, but recommendations from friends are gold. Many of the books I read come highly suggested by my friends.

Buy their books … and make sure your library does, too!

Yes, you can do that! Next time you’re at your library, ask how you can place a book request! [Sidenote: Libraries are supportive of Indie Authors, too!] You could also purchase extra copies for your local Little Free Libraries, for friends or to leave in a public place for a lucky reader to discover.

Leave reviews.

I cannot repeat this one enough, and I’m trying to do it more now before I’m officially an author and will need those reviews for myself … but will feel weird asking! Reviews, quite literally, drive the success—or not—of authors these days. If all you have time for is to tap your chosen number of stars, that’s fine! Just get it out there as many places as you can—wherever you bought it, other booksellers, Goodreads and anywhere else you can think of. Be honest in your review, though. It can get challenging when you want to support someone, but their book just isn’t for you. If it’s just a matter of personal taste, do your best to rate fairly and explain your reaction. If you can’t think of anything positive to say, though, it really may be best to just skip a review on that one.

Not every book is for everyone, so if your dislike stems simply from the fact that it was out of your personal comfort zone, don’t ruin their ratings. Certainly be honest for other readers with similar tastes to yours, but don’t give a well-written, carefully conceived story one star simply because you don’t like dragons.

But—if you’d don’t like dragons, we need to talk.

Seriously … DRAGONS!

 

Readers, have you thanked an author today? Did I mention anything you’ve never thought about before? Can you think of anything else? Writers, hop in here! What have I forgotten? What is the most thoughtful thank you you’ve ever received from a reader?

The post Readers Say Gramercy! appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.

The Crux Crew mini-Interview

 

Is it tea time where you are? Are you sipping your morning coffee? Even if it’s neither, I invite you to pour yourself a cuppa and join me, Joy E. Rancatore, (JER) and authors R J Rodda (RJR) and Audrey Driscoll (AD) as we have a little chat about writing, stories and the release of The Crux Anthology. We are proud to be part of The Crux Crew—16 international authors who contributed to this collection of Adventure SciFi & Fantasy short stories, edited by the fabulous Rachael Ritchey.

We hope you enjoy our little chat. Please check out all the links below to connect with each of us and to order a copy of this incredible collection today! All profits go to Compassion International!

Let’s dive right in with the most important question …

Coffee or Tea?

AD:  Tea, please. Writers run on coffee, but I’ve had too much lately!

JER: I hear you! Once, while on a tight deadline, I consumed 30 cups of coffee in three days—true story. I enjoy strong, black coffee each morning, but there’s nothing better than a good cup of tea in the afternoon.

RJR: Although I do like my green tea in the morning, the rest of the day is coffee. Love it.

Now that we’ve got that settled, I want to know more about you ladies. None of us have met in person, of course. In fact, we come from three different countries!

Tell us who you are, where you’re from and what led you to your writing path in the first place.

AD:  I’m Audrey Driscoll, from Victoria, British Columbia. Former cataloguing librarian, now a writer and self-publisher. I resisted writing for years, thinking it was an all or nothing deal. Finally, in 2000 I couldn’t hold out any longer and started writing my first novel. Since then I’ve written several others and published five of them.

RJR: I grew up in a country town in South Australia and was the oldest child. I loved to entertain my younger siblings with never-ending stories of princes and quests on horseback. My sister even took me to task at my wedding for never finishing one epic adventure story. I also had my Nanna as an example. Despite only having a grade seven education, she loved writing poetry and drama and stories. She self-published a number of books. Her aim was to always cover costs and so she would door-knock to sell them. That kind of bravery, to believe in your work enough to ask total strangers in person to buy it, I still find astounding. She always sold enough to fund her next book.

JER: She sounds like an absolute delight! I always love to hear how influential writers’ families are to their pursuit of writing. My grandparents, parents and siblings influenced and fueled my love of literature. I chose a career in journalism and then PR, and now I’m doing exactly what God created me to do—write stories. I am an aspiring Indie author with plans to publish my debut literary fiction novel in 2019. While I don’t have any one hometown since we moved a good deal, I am from the United States and currently reside near New Orleans. If I were to call anywhere home, it would be the mountains of NC. I spent one summer in Asheville and have been in love ever since. I realize it sounds crazy, but I swear the mountains call to me sometimes.

If we haven’t scared you off yet and you’d like to get to know us better, we’ve got bios as well as links below so you can follow us in your favorite online spots!

For now, let’s share any published works or online tales everyone can read while they’re waiting for The Crux!

RJR: I have a true story “She Stood Up” appearing in the upcoming Three Dummies in a Dinghy and other Stories of Life anthology and a Wattpad account with a variety of both fiction and non-fiction. If you drop by, don’t forget to comment! It’s the interaction around reading that makes Wattpad fun. I also intend to start posting the novel The Vixen Trials which has some of the same characters as “Chosen for the Fox-dance.”

JER: You may just convince me to “officially” get on Wattpad, R J! I have read some of your stories there and love the idea of that community. I have a few fantasy short stories posted on my blog that are set in the extended world of “Ealiverel Awakened.” Subscribers to my blog, Logos & Mythos, will also receive a contemporary short story, “Walking the Parade Route,” as a sign-up thanks. My goal is to publish my first novel—a contemporary Southern literary fiction—in 2019 while I continue working on the fantasy series of which Elspeth’s story will be part!

AD:  Well, my magnum opus (ha, ha!) is The Herbert West Series. It’s available in ebook and print form. And I’ve just published She Who Comes Forth, a paranormal adventure set in Luxor, Egypt, in 1962. It’s a standalone novel, but in a way, it’s a sequel to the HW Series.

Let’s get to the CRUX of the matter now with a few questions about our winning short stories and this incredible anthology! 

What made you decide to submit to Rachael’s Adventure SciFi & Fantasy Short Story Contest?

RJR: I looked at the cover picture of the pavilion and got inspired! I also looked at the contest guidelines and really liked that the anthology would raise money for Compassion International and that it was PG in content.

JER: I love that because we have several of the same reasons! A theme I’m noticing is that quite a few of us found major inspiration for our stories in Rachael’s delightful cover! I haven’t told her this yet—I don’t think anyway—but I stumbled upon Rachael on Goodreads. It was one of those entirely random (AKA totally GOD) occurrences where I was scrolling and noticed a friend followed this author, Rachael Ritchey. This is going to sound very judge-a-book-by-its-cover-y, but I saw her picture and thought, “She looks super nice!” I started clicking and following and next thing I know it’s super late and I’ve become a fangirl. See, she’s a Christian wife and mom who’s a published Indie author … that’s my favorite kind of super hero! Her books looked right up my alley, and I was excited to discover she’s already done something I was planning for my fantasy series—she’s created a picture book that tells the story of her novel. As if all that weren’t enough, I see she’s just about to launch this contest. Like R J, I admired the cover and then got a little more excited with each aspect of the guidelines. I sent a link to the guidelines to one of my writing besties and she immediately said, “Sounds right up your alley!” I completely agreed.

AD:  I read a post announcing the contest that was reblogged on R.J. Llewellyn’s “heroicallybadwriters” blog, which I’d been following for a while. Somehow the photo and the description ticked all the boxes for me, so I right away resolved to enter. R.J. has a story in The Crux Anthology, by the way. I’m looking forward to reading it.

I just have to wonder what the odds are that we end up with TWO authors by the name of R J in the same anthology! In case you missed it in earlier posts, the R J we’re currently chatting with (RJR!) won first place with her story [Check out her interview with Rachael here … ], mine won second [ … and mine … ] and Audrey’s won third [ … and hers!].

Of course, all sixteen tales are winners, in my opinion. Seriously, if you like stories full of adventure that pull you in and don’t let go, you will want to read this collection cover to gorgeous cover!

When you got the news, how did you celebrate?

AD:  After I finished racing around yelling, “Woo, hoo!” and telling my husband and dog the news, I sat down and reblogged Rachael’s post announcing the winners.

RJR: I went all quiet and then after I’d processed the news, I told those who support my writing journey. I couldn’t stop smiling.

JER: Does anyone else find it hilarious how you two reacted in the opposite way? My family just happened to be camping that week near my critique partner and her family, so we decided to consider our dinner at a favorite burger place a celebration!

Now let’s talk about the most important thing here: the STORIES!

Please share with us what your story is all about!

RJR: “Chosen for the Fox-dance” is the story of a desperate girl who fights to save herself and her young friend from dying. She battles with all her cleverness against the much-feared Hattavah and in doing so, changes him.

JER: Elspeth has accepted her calling—Faerie Shepherdess. She journeys to Temple Taepaeum where she must pass several Trials to awaken all her power within in order to begin her Training.

AD:  In a fantastic, cliff-like city, two young people strive for achievement. Deon wants to make a blue rose. Luna is in the City Guard, learning how to govern and administer. The Master Fabricator Sylvius acts as mentor to them both, but his motives are ambiguous, influenced by his own creative ambitions and his knowledge of an ancient apocalypse. The land beyond the City exerts a perilous allure, setting Deon and Luna at odds and beguiling them to make risky choices.

We all want to know, what was the inspiration behind each of these incredible tales? Any real-life experiences that may have fueled them?

AD: It began with the idea of creating a blue rose. In real life, I’m a gardener, and I’ve read about the mostly unsuccessful efforts to do this. It struck me as a grand ambition that goes against nature. But that’s also its appeal. It reminded me of alchemy, which lurks in the background of the book series I’ve been involved with (writing and publishing) for more than 15 years. I guess I’m drawn to the intersection between science and magic, as played out by characters who add to the mix human emotions such as ambition, love, and fear. The setting and characters came to me organically, without much artifice on my part, but thinking about it, I see influences form J.R.R. Tolkien and H.P. Lovecraft’s novella The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath.

JER: Tolkien is my all-time favorite author, Audrey! I love that concept of science and magic coming together, and it seems several stories in The Crux play with that thought. My story actually began one hot summer afternoon in 2017. That’s when I started this journey with Elspeth, thanks to a journal prompt that set the “What ifs” to rolling. When I decided to enter this contest, I decided to explore what I felt was a “crux” for her in the midst of this whole series I’m developing—her first steps toward training to become what she’d been prophesied to be: Faerie Shepherdess.

RJR: I looked at the picture of the white pavilion and it reminded me of a scripture I half-remembered: “In the time of trouble he will hide me in his pavilion.” (Psalm 27:5). I wondered what would happen if someone misunderstood that verse and thought it meant a real pavilion and that reaching it would somehow magically save them and then what would happen when it didn’t. But above all, I wanted this to be a story of a very unlikely friendship and of a girl using cleverness to survive and protect the young boy she cared for. Further real-life inspiration came for me from a family outing. We once went hiking in the Grampians. I suddenly found myself climbing over huge rocks that I was afraid I would slip down, especially because I was wearing thongs that couldn’t grip the surface. I definitely used that memory in this story.

As you can see, writers’ favorite questions begin with “What if …” Before we take our final sips and wrap up this chat, let’s tie together two more questions.

What has been the best part of participating in this venture? And, what are you most excited about for our readers?

RJR: Rachael has been terrific to work with. I admire her enthusiasm and energy. The readers have a huge variety of stories to look forward to, all inspired by the same picture as well as the satisfaction that comes from knowing they have supported a good cause. And glad to have the opportunity to met you Joy via Twitter!

JER: Same here!! I always enjoy tweeting about camping with you! And, I have to echo your words about Rachael and all the stories. I have enjoyed slowly getting to know each of the writers. Each one I’ve “met” so far has been absolutely delightful! E. E. Rawls, author of “Vanished,” has become a huge encouragement to me as we’ve started following one another’s writing journeys. Our readers have a treat in store, not only with the fantastic fiction but also with a lineup of incredible writers who love stories and let their commitment to literature shine!

AD:  It was a great motivator to complete and polish a story! And then to risk putting it out there to be judged. Of course, I can’t deny that winning a prize was a thrill. I hope the book will delight readers and inspire them to seek out more by this group of writers. Given the theme, this book is a portal to new worlds and vicarious adventures, which is what reading fiction is all about.

Audrey is so right! And—great news!—you don’t have to wait any longer to preorder your copy of The Crux Anthology, set to release on November 26! Here are all the links you need:

Amazon  (ebook)

(If you purchase the print version on Amazon, you will receive a Kindle ebook version for FREE!)

Barnes & Noble  (ebook)

Barnes & Noble (print)

Apple  (ebook)

Kobo  (ebook)

Smashwords  (ebook)

Thank you for joining us today for our little chat! I’ve had a blast getting to know more about these ladies and their stories and can’t wait for you all to read them! We’d love to chat some more, so follow us on all our social places!

R J Rodda

R J Rodda is an Aussie Christian mum living on a mandarin farm in an ex-Soviet country. Her inspiring non-fiction has been published in The Age and the Three Dummies in a Dinghy and other Stories of Life anthology. “Chosen for the Fox-dance” is a teaser for her upcoming Wattpad novel The Vixen Trials about the Hattavah being ordered to kill his childhood sweetheart.

Follow R J on Twitter and find more of her stories on Wattpad, where she will soon be releasing more of the story surrounding “Chosen for the Fox-dance”—one chapter at a time!

 

Joy E. Rancatore

Joy E. Rancatore writes fiction, nonfiction and everything in between. When she’s not doing horrible things to her characters or dreaming up faery creatures and fantastic weapons, she beats her husband at card games, homeschools her two children, snuggles her two stinky dogs and lets her cat, Tolkien, do whatever he wants. They’d prefer to live in Middle-earth or Narnia or Hogwarts or in a galaxy far, far away; but, for now, they live across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans.

Visit her any time on her website, follow her on Goodreads and subscribe to her newsletter for a behind-the-scenes look at a sleep-deprived writer and exclusive content, including upcoming releases, cover and title reveals and more!

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Audrey Driscoll

Audrey Driscoll grew up reading books, and found she was as interested in how stories were constructed as in how they turned out. She worked out scenes and bits of dialogue in her head, and made her friends act out little dramas based on her favourite book at the time – Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book.

With that background, it was inevitable she would become a writer. It just took a while. After establishing a career as a librarian – first at the University of Saskatchewan and then at the Greater Victoria Public Library in British Columbia – Audrey had a meaningful encounter with H.P. Lovecraft’s character Herbert West.

Audrey was fascinated by HPL’s corpse-reanimating physician and his friend the nameless narrator. The result was The Friendship of Mortals, which was followed by three more novels to form the Herbert West Series. Self-publishing became respectable and relatively easy just in time to rescue Audrey from the sad fate of the Unpublished Writer.

In November 2018 Audrey published She Who Comes Forth, a paranormal adventure set in Luxor, Egypt, in 1962.

Audrey Driscoll lives in Victoria, British Columbia, with her husband and a Newfoundland dog. Her opinions on a variety of loosely connected topics and information about her books may be found on her blog at https://audreydriscoll.com.

Purchase all her lovely books on Amazon.com, Amazon.uk, Amazon.ca, Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Give her a follow on Goodreads and then leave her some great reviews!

 

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The post The Crux Crew mini-Interview appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.

My Name on a Book Cover

No matter how many times you have that dream …

No matter how often you stare at the screen with its blinking cursor and envision the goal instead …

No matter how many times you talk about the day it finally happens …

Nothing prepares you for the moment you see your name on the cover of a book.

That moment came for me last weekend when I opened an email from Rachael Ritchey. And, there it was …

I cried.

I’ll be totally honest with you, I really didn’t expect to have such a strong reaction because I’m just a small part of this incredible anthology. But, when I saw my name on a book’s cover, excitement, awe and joy washed over me like the cascading waterfall in my story … complete with giggling, bouncing Aquaerie Sprites.

This is part of the vision and the goal, and now I’m looking at it … on a super gorgeous cover, thanks to the multi-talented Rachael Ritchey!

On November 26, we can all hold this beautiful book in our hands in either print or e-book versions!

In the meantime, you’ve got three ways to keep up with all the important details about The Crux Anthology—including preorder dates and links, introductions to this incredibly talented writing lineup and fun previews, such as quotes from my story and a special prologue for Rachael’s story, “The Forever Door”. 

Follow The Crux Crew on Facebook!

Subscribe today for emailed updates for all things Crux!

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Before I leave you, here are some more places where you can find details about The Crux Anthology!

Meet the entire Crux Crew!

Get details on the top three winners and check out links to more info on each of the talented writers in this contest winner announcement.

Watch a video!

My November Pelican Book Club LIVE was all about giving books as gifts, and The Crux took top recommendation spot! I also shared a few behind-the-scenes details on my story and read the first quote from it.

Some other views of the book cover!

This intro comes to you from Audrey Driscoll.

More beautiful graphics to introduce the anthology!

Check out this intro from another contributor, Briar Shea.

Interview with First Place Winner, RJ Rodda!
Interview with Second Place Winner … Yours Truly!

(FYI: It’s not by someone named Yours Truly; it’s me!)

Interview with Third Place Winner, Audrey Driscoll!

 

The Crux graphics created by Rachael Ritchey and used with her kind permission.

The post appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.