Joy E. Rancatore's Blog, page 5
February 19, 2020
Light Faeries Prevail
This story continues a series of short fiction exploring some of the Faerie Shepherds and Shepherdesses within my fantasy world. Read below the story for further explanation and head over to the Tales of the Faerie Shepherds if you’d like to read more!
We dance; we light;
We mean no fright.
Alive, aware,
Cretins beware.
Good and kindness
Drape o’er blindness,
Save when evil lurks;
And we set to work.
We dance; we light;
Our faces shine bright.
Alive, aware,
Cretins declare;
“Good and kindness
Throws off blindness;
Our deeds uncovered.
Up next, they’re smothered.”
We dance; we light;
Well into night.
Alive, aware,
Cretins ensnare.
Good and kindness,
Absentmindness.
Evil now covered;
Never more uttered.
“ Light Faeries Prevail” Copyright © 2020 by Joy E. Rancatore. All Rights Reserved.
What do you think about this world of mine that I’m building? If you enjoyed this story, please head over to my site to read the entire Tales of the Faerie Shepherds series .
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 February’s prompt, “Vivacious,” 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 poem as well as my other works, please subscribe to my newsletter!
The post Light Faeries Prevail appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.
February 12, 2020
Love in Books: More Than All the Kissing
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Love in Books”? Is it last summer’s hottest rom-com? Does a classic tale of unrequited love surface in your memory? Or, do you react with a giant “Ugh!”?
I get that last one. I’m not one to seek out romance in the reads I choose.
Love, though … love should be something stronger, deeper, more lasting—literarily speaking. I’m thinking beyond boy-meets-girl; first comes love, then comes marriage. When I think of Love in Books, a few specific books come to mind, and this is what I shared during the February 2020 Logos & Mythos Book Club LIVE on my Facebook page. Scroll down to read a summary of what I shared, plus a few extras.
Siblings
The first books that came to my mind for showcasing sibling love are a toss-back to my childhood. The Boxcar Children, The Bobbsey Twins and The Hardy Boys. Each of these series highlights brothers and sisters who work together to solve mysteries or problems. They look out for one another and help one another. Older siblings care for younger siblings. They have their share of disagreements, of course; but, at the end of the day, they’re always there for each other.
Along the disagreement front, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe offers an outstanding example of the possibility of and beauty in forgiveness amongst siblings. Thank you to author Rollan Wengert for reminding me of C.S. Lewis’ amazing book!
Some adult books I thought of that draw in sibling love come from Kristin Hannah. Between Sisters examines the possibility of a reconciliation between two women who have been separated for a couple of decades after a disagreement.
My favorite of her books, though, is Winter Garden. Once again, Hannah brings sisters back together after they’ve grown apart and lived separate lives. This time, though, they come together around their mother—a mother neither of them had a good relationship with or knew very well. Through learning more about who she was, they discover more about themselves and each other as they bond and reach a new level in their sister relationship. You can read my full Goodreads review for more thoughts on the story.
Parent/Child or Guardian/Child
The very first book that popped to my mind to exemplify this relationship might surprise you—Anne of Green Gables. Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, older siblings who never married and live together on a farm on Prince Edward Island, decide to take in an orphan boy to help Matthew with the chores. When the orphanage makes a mistake and sends a girl instead, the siblings take opposite sides on what to do. Matthew—who fell in love with Anne and her spunky nature on the way home from the train station—wants to keep her; Marilla—who heard about another orphan girl who poisoned her family—wants to send her back immediately.
To me, one of the most beautiful parts of L.M. Montgomery’s writing is her character development. Perhaps the greatest example of this is in the relationship between Marilla and Anne. As time goes past, Marilla changes from distrustful of Anne to concerned for her to fond of her to genuinely in love with the impulsive, rash redhead who upended their lives in the best of ways.
Another book that rose in my mind to explore the parent/child relationship is A Wrinkle in Time. This might seem like an odd example since you don’t see a lot of interaction in the scenes between parents and kids, but you do see the influence of the parents in the kids’ actions and words. You also see how they look up to their parents. Beyond the parent/child dynamic, Madeleine L’Engle beautifully portrays sibling love and young love in this book. I have a Goodreads review for this one too!
Friendship
This is probably my second favorite type of love in literature (my favorite’s coming up next). Friends are the family we choose, so it’s no wonder these relationships tend to be extra special.
I came up with three fantastic examples of friendship in books—Anne and Dianna in Anne of Green Gables and Frodo and Sam and Legolas and Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. With the girls, you watch them grow up together. They face every aspect of coming-of-age side by side. They experience joy and heartbreak; anger and misunderstandings—all together.
Frodo and Sam present such a beautiful depiction of selfless friendship. It’s in Sam we find our highest example. The quote I couldn’t read in the video—because I seriously would have started bawling—comes just before the final ascent to Mount Doom. Frodo can no longer even stand. The weight of the ring has taken every ounce of strength he had, and it is there … “at the end of all things” … when he can no longer continue the task which he undertook. Sam looks at him with heartbreak, love and sympathy and says, “I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you and it as well.”
In Legolas and Gimli, we find two races who don’t historically get along. As Tolkien develops each character over the course of the books, he also molds their relationship to one of mutual respect and appreciation and then to one of deep friendship—the kind that sees it an honor to die side-by-side in battle.
Pets and Their Humans
And now, to my favorite love example in literature—pets and their humans. Where the Red Fern Grows is another coming-of-age story with a boy and his two dogs. Billy grows up with his canine companions trotting by his side. It’s a book that teaches, inspires and saddens; but it’s a book full of life.
Probably my favorite book of all when I was growing up was Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. The reader walks a lifetime in the horse’s shoes and uncovers the grace and innocence of a creature who learns to trust and love a kind owner, even after a time of great abuse.
Romantic Love, Turned on Its Head
When it comes to romantic love in literature, I don’t have to have the happily ever after. I like action, adventure, high stakes—or, at the very least, reality. The two books tied for my second favorites of all time are Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. I would have loved to hang out with the Brontës!
In the video, I mention the tale of Beren and Lúthien by J.R.R. Tolkien. I love the fantasy and magic and immortality woven into the love story that was inspired by Tolkien’s own wife, Edith. His prose and verse are masterfully written. The action surrounding these lovers goes from bad to worse to far beyond. It’s full of mythical creatures and magical jewels; not to mention co-existing beauty and horror. You can read my glowing Goodreads review for more details.
And, finally, a lighter love story can be found back in Anne of Green Gables again. Who doesn’t love Gilbert Blythe?
What I love most about his character and his love for Anne is that he loves her from first sight and keeps on loving her. He loves her so completely that, long after he’s given up hope of a return from her, he sacrifices something he worked for, for her good, and did so in such a way that she wouldn’t find out. He gave without expectation of receiving anything in return. Let’s all give it up for Gilbert!
Now, it’s your turn! I want to hear what books you enjoy that showcase some type of loving relationship; whether it’s brothers or lovers or best friends forever, share away in the comments below!
Are you a sappy romance kind of reader or do you tend to steer clear of them? What are you reading right now? As I prepare this post, I’m reading an interesting memoir, Wild Horses of the Summer Sun: A Memoir of Iceland by Tory Bilski, that highlights the friendships between women and the almost magical draw horses can have over humans.
FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
The post Love in Books: More Than All the Kissing appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.
February 5, 2020
Indie Authors and the Case of Wisdom
Since 2017 I’ve chosen a word for each year. These words become lighthouses for me as I venture out onto the vast seas of my literary pursuits, especially when the waves of challenges, doubts and disapprovals threaten to dash me against the rocks.
My word for 2020 is WISDOM. Since my first post sharing this choice, I have had more time to reflect on it and how wisdom can guide Indie Authors.
Opportunities
As an Indie, you never know where an opportunity might present itself. It could be at church, during a community event, through a chance run-in with an old friend or during a trivia night at a bar. Because we don’t have a huge name behind us that makes all the bookstores, celebrity book clubs and library gurus open-handed and eager for all our work, Indies feel an obligation to seize every chance that passes our way.
We want to stand out, to make a dent in the ocean of literature, to be seen and heard and felt by the readers for whom we toil for every perfect word. How can that happen unless we take advantage of every door or window that opens to us?
The problem is, we might receive more of these openings than expected. They begin to add up; and, before we know it, we’ve passed through so many doors, we’re not entirely sure where we are any more (or what our purpose and passion ever were).
Each opportunity requires something of us—time, money, energy, commitment, mental capacity. Each of these are finite resources, so we need wisdom to know when and where and how to invest them.
You may face four open doors and one window left ajar this week. Each of them could lead to fantastic places, but perhaps you should only shimmy through the window and explore behind one door. It could be in the focus on these two openings you get the greatest reward, rather than attempting to spread yourself across all of them.
What if you choose the wrong one and another door would have led to your big break?
Well, my friend, let’s save the what ifs for our stories and characters. Otherwise, we’ll go madder than the Hatter.
As you seek wisdom in the choosing, take a moment. Don’t rush ahead. Pause, reflect and seek advice whenever time allows. Weigh the options; be honest with yourself.
Keep an eye on your primary purpose for why you’re following this crazy passion in the first place. If an opportunity doesn’t support or at least line up with that, give it a pass.
Pursuits
Similar to the variety in origins for opportunities, inspiration strikes any time and anywhere. And, with these frequent and often unexpected presentations of ideas, comes what I like to call Shiny New Idea Syndrome.
You know what I’m talking about. You’re under a deadline. You’re eyeball deep in revisions. We’re talking point of view shifts, scene cuts and plot holes so deep you wonder if they were the downfall of the dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs!
You could write the best-selling series of the century—all about dinosaurs and what really happened to them. You’re picturing covers and writing book descriptions that will draw all the readers (and their wallets) to your front door. This series will put your name in lights and be “the one.”
For the love of pterodactyls, stop it!
Fill in those plot holes; take a machete to those fluffy scenes; get your POV in line; and meet your deadline.
I’ll gloss over the niche-ness of that shiny new idea and remind you that you are in the revision stage of a project you’ve been working on for a while. You’re closing in on that final set of rounds, my friend. Don’t lose faith now to pursue something that may look better at this moment. Next year or the year after, you’ll be in the exact same stage with dinosaurs (perhaps lamenting the fact that your audience is a tad smaller than you had originally expected) and a dragonfly saga will flutter across your mind and pull you away from the task at hand, leaving the long-lost creatures and your readers in a continuing uncertainty of what really happened ages ago.
Seek wisdom in your pursuits. You’ve only got so much time in life. What are the stories you cannot leave unwritten before you die? What are the projects you want to tackle in order to leave behind a wider legacy?
Do those.
If a pursuit doesn’t feel full of purpose, meaning and longevity, you may need to kick it to the curb. How much better would it be to determine that before you get eyeball-deep in the revisions, though?
Weigh each decision with wisdom, and then pursue the winners with the passion we creatives are known for. Onward to The End, writer friend!
Focus
Closely related to my first two points—focus requires wisdom. And, this chosen path of ours, fellow Indies? It demands focus. Whatever you need to do to focus on those opportunities and pursuits you’ve wisely chosen will benefit from another dose of wisdom.
In this case, perhaps our needed wisdom is more practical—learning to utilize to do lists or time-blocking techniques; discovering an outlining method that works for us; reaching out to pull in some more people to our team … critique partners, designers, editors, beta readers, web designers.
I have written this post specifically to Indie Authors, of course; but I would propose this same message applies to anyone, regardless of their chosen life purpose. Without wisdom, we’re aimlessly wandering our ways along the paths of life, unsure where the next step might lead us.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7
What might “getting wisdom” look like for you this year? What do you struggle with in regards to opportunities, pursuits and focus? Why do you think you struggle? I’d love to hear how you choose to Get Wisdom this year!
If you have a process for choosing wisely when it comes to these first two aspects or to focusing on your tasks at hand, I’d love to hear those as well.
Drop me a line any time!
Email Me!
FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
The post Indie Authors and the Case of Wisdom appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.
January 2, 2020
My 2020 Word of the Year
After a lot of mind sifting, I’ve come up with my 2020 word of the year: WISDOM.
As I reflect on the words I’ve chosen the past four years, I realize how powerful and central they’ve been in my forward movement as an Indie Author.
2017—FOCUS
In 2016, I finally overcame Self-Doubt and some of the other foes that kept me from fully embarking on this journey. I was ready to go, emotionally; but, mentally, I was spinning my wheels. Which project should I start with? What task should take first priority?
I needed FOCUS. Once I had that, I began to progress—finally.
2018—COMPLETION
The first full-length manuscript I wrote wasn’t a project for myself. Because it was written for someone else, to be used—or not used—according to their desires, I still felt disappointed that nothing was COMPLETE. So, in 2018, I completed my first novel draft and completed and submitted a short story that was then accepted for publication in an anthology that was published that fall.
2019—PERSEVERANCE
At the start of 2019, I was discouraged. I had completed some work and was ready to move toward publication but couldn’t see how I could financially make that happen. Starting a business and publishing a book are two expensive endeavors.
Despite my fretting, I claimed this word and determined that—whether I scraped the money together for a 2019 publication or not—I would PERSEVERE until I did, because that was my ultimate goal and it was worth waiting for, if necessary.
Starting funds came in an unexpected way, and I launched my Press and published two books.
2020—WISDOM
As I considered my goals for the new year and reflected on the last three words of the year, I found myself torn between two vastly different words. As I continued to mentally mold and shape those goals, though, one word stood out.
While I’ve progressed in my roles as an Indie Author and publisher, I’ve been presented with opportunity on top of opportunity. Many of these have been unexpected; most of them have been fantastic in themselves; all of them have required an investment of a finite resource—time, focus, money. I know as I continue to move forward, I will be presented with even more of these.
The process of weighing each opportunity and determining the worth of my investment without overloading myself will require great WISDOM—far great than I currently possess.
Another truth I’ve noticed as I reflected on these words is, while I may have chosen them for a one-year reign, they remain part of my kingdom of words.
And so, 2020, as we begin our journey together, I meet you with a FOCUS on the COMPLETION of the projects I’ve found the PERSEVERANCE to pursue as I pray daily for the WISDOM to choose wisely as we go.
Do you choose a Word of the Year? If so, I’d love to hear yours! Share in the comments below and tell me a little about why you chose it. Is this the first year you’ve picked one or has this become a common practice for you?
I typically do a reflection post on the past year’s goals and a lineup of intentions for the next year, but this year my co-host Mea Smith and I have put together a focus on goals in our weekly podcast instead. Head to your favorite podcast portal or YouTube and search for QWERTY Writing Life or head to this page for all our primary links. Check out Season 1, Episodes 35 (released 12/31/19) and 36 (releasing 1/7/20) for a brief two-part series on Goal Planning with 2020 Vision. Be sure to drop me a line for your FREE PDF with goal journaling pages to help you plan ahead.
FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
The post My 2020 Word of the Year appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.
December 21, 2019
Best Books of the Decade for Learning
I’m sharing my best books of the decade for learning in today’s post and joining in with some special book bloggers to do so. I got the idea from Allison at Mind Joggle who partnered with her book blogging buddy, Rachel at Never Enough Novels, to link together a bunch of great book lists for the 2010s.
You’ll find some fabulous books on both of their lists. They present all fiction options; my list has some nonfiction as well. Rachel shares her favorites by genre. Allison went by year, and I adopted her approach, choosing three books from each year. Before I describe my process for choosing, here are the links to their lists, so be sure to check them out!
Mind Joggle: 30 of the Best Books of the Decade
Never Enough Novels: Fiction of the Decade: The 2010s
My Process for Choosing
I took Allison’s approach and found—like she did—that it wasn’t always easy to find three per year. Some years, it was hard to find three that stood out. Others, I had a difficult time keeping it to only three. What I discovered along the way was how the books I’ve read over the past decade have influenced me as a writer and driven my publication choices. You will quickly see that my Best Books of the Decade were not necessarily written in this decade.
I chose my top books of each year based on the ones that either became favorites or continue to linger in my mind or changed me in some way—personally, professionally or with my family. You’ll find a couple books on here that have influenced the way I homeschool my children. You’ll also find a few that pushed my own writing career forward.
My Decade of Growth and Learning … through books
It was in this past decade that I fell back into reading. Actually, according to my lovely Goodreads records, I began dipping my toes into the literary pool again in 2008, but 2010 was when I finally submerged myself. College’s extensive required reading rolled into beginning a consuming career, which twirled into marriage and led not long after to motherhood and the daze newborns bring. Once I finally rediscovered sleep after my second child, I found myself longing … for something.
For something I used to love. Someone I used to be.
That someone reemerged with that something, which was the written word.
I started a book club in my home with some other ladies, also young moms. I found Goodreads and glimpsed the enormity of the international book community. In 2010, I started my pursuit of publication. Those first steps were shaky and found no confident footing to continue, but those steps were not in vain. They led me down some rows where I planted a few seeds that needed time to mature.
During this decade I began homeschooling my children, learned more about who I am and what’s most important and discovered I didn’t have to fit everyone else’s expectations of me. I picked up some more tools—confidence, faith and trust—and revisited the seeds that were ready to sprout. Those grew into my first three published works.
Through this progression of books, you will see each of these experiences.
2010
If you have ever wondered about any aspect of life as a nun—why a woman would choose this path, if she could ever get out or just what exactly DO they wear under those gowns—then you should DEFINITELY pick up a copy today!
Full Review
Handle With Care was compelling and extremely well-written while covering some weighty and intense topics.
Full Review
Gramlich provides writers and “seeking” writers with inspiration, information and illustrations for many genres and styles of writing. He shows that every writer, regardless of his or her chosen genre, can learn from every writer, regardless of his or her chosen genre.
Full Review
2011
The book itself was well-written, engaging—a real page-turner. … Alligator Bayou, while a fictional work, is based on a true story in Tallulah, La., in 1899.
Full Review
Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature outlines the life of a woman whose interests and passions were diverse. … I never knew just how much Beatrix Potter contributed to England and the world beyond Peter Rabbit and her other endearing characters.
Full Review
Blue presents not only survival during the atrocities of WWII and the devastating toll of a polio epidemic in the United States, but also a blossoming of imagination, dreams and courage in the midst of it all.
Full Review
2012
(I had to break my three book limit here, but I think you’ll find it worth it. These are four fantastic books!)
Shaffer manages to present a beautiful story full of history, whimsy, sorrow, joy and lovable living characters by way of a series of letters. And, she does with great coherence and flow.
Full Review
The Silmarillion will leave fans of Tolkien and of Middle-earth in awe, completely satisfied and yet in search of more.
Full Review
Lisa See presents a compelling story about two women growing up in nineteenth-century China while facing all the horrors and unfairness of the traditions and customs imposed upon them.
Full Review
This was one of my favorite books as a child. It played a huge role in my life since it was the book I was reading when I realized I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart.
Full Review
2013
A Land More Kind Than Home is a story of redemption, faith and truth.
Full Review
Faulkner’s genius in this work cannot be denied. For many reasons, this is a remarkable piece of literature; and I am glad that I stuck with it to the end.
Full Review
This book changed my outlook on how I homeschool.
Full Review
2014
Genesis Unbound is well-written, engaging and clear with its presentation of a historical and linguistic look at the book of Genesis, the first book in the Bible.
Full Review
This large volume recounts the history of the world from the beginning of recorded deeds to AD 312.
Full Review
Charlotte Bronte weaves together the tale of a young woman cast early into a hopeless life, who refused to allow others’ predictions of her future to dictate what it actually became.
Full Review
2015
Alpha Centauri follows an unlikely hero on her quest to save a mighty race of creatures. It is a story of good and evil; courage and fear; wisdom and foolishness; selflessness and selfishness.
Full Review
Stieg Larsson’s parting gift to the world is a well-written, captivating story that snags the reader from page 1 of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and whisks him along in a frenzy of highs, lows and gasps all the way to page 563 of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest … a part three that defies the odds and becomes the best installment of the lot.
Full Review
Clancy has such a gift for taking multiple seemingly-unrelated storylines and piecing them all together seamlessly in the end.
Full Review
2016
David McFadden whisks readers along on a conversational tour of Scotland in An Innocent in Scotland. I loved the way he spun his tales in a big arc around the entire country, painting vibrant scenes and landscapes along the way.
Full Review
J.R.R. Tolkien’s translation of Beowulf makes for a literary feast! Tolkien’s passion for Old English and his thoroughness of study comes through in his notes, lectures, letters and each translation version that his son, Christopher, compiled for lit lovers in this volume ….
Full Review
From the first page, I fell in love—with the characters, with the setting, with the story and with the author. Susanna Kearsley is my new inspiration! She writes historical fiction like I’ve never read before.
Full Review
2017
Philip and Carol Zaleski brilliantly and quite thoroughly follow the personal and literary lives of four Inklings and the ways they intersected one another to weave a tapestry of logos & mythos that changed (and continues to change) the landscape of literature, academia, philosophy and the Church.
Full Review
Wang examines the thoughts, motives, desires, misconceptions and prejudices of slaves, slave owners, abolitionists, patriots, farmers, rich people, poor people, soldiers, deserters, spies, men, women and everyone in between.
Full Review
Maggie Stiefvater created two beautifully engaging characters with Puck Connolly and Sean Kendrick in The Scorpio Races. Sean’s wisdom-well-beyond-his -years and Puck’s simple snarky-ness made me fall in love with them both from the beginning.
Full Review
2018
Christopher Tolkien has once again gifted the world with a glimpse at his father’s literary genius. A pivotal piece in the creation of The Silmarillion, the “Tale of Beren and Lúthien” showers readers with adventure, magic, original creatures and a love story for the ages.
Full Review
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle filled my imagination tank to full [as a child] and kept it that way. Looking back on my reading choices and writing leanings over the year, I see this tale’s influence throughout it all.
Full Review
Quo Vadis? by Henryk Sienkiewicz has taken a permanent position in my Top 3 favorite books of all time. The writing is perfect; the story is captivating in its horror, sadness and hope; and the history of Nero’s depraved and terrifying reign comes alive in this novel.
Full Review
2019
In All the Crooked Saints, Maggie Stiefvater weaves a tale of legend, fantasy, magic and belief with hints of a literary style that made me put it down with the greatest of reluctance.
Full Review
This book reads worthy of the title “classic.” Ahead of its time in some ways, predictive of the future in others and a fascinating psychological study to boot, Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley leaves readers with much to ponder.
Full Review
Grab your tissues and ready your heart. Light on Glass paints the most accurate picture of an author mom, her emotional creative journey and the tale she nurtures.
Full Review
What are your Best Books of the Decade?
Can you look back at your reading over the past decade and see some lessons those books have taught you? Do you see your personal growth through your reading choices?
What books do you look forward to reading in the coming decade? Do you like to read new books, classics or a combination of both? Do you try to mix up fiction and nonfiction or do you prefer one over the other?
FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
The post Best Books of the Decade for Learning appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.
November 13, 2019
All I Want for Christmas Are BOOKS
Want to give the best gifts you can this holiday season? Then I’ve got the books for you! I believe the best gifts you can give anyone are the gifts of story. Words transport and transform; words inspire and inform. Words are powerful and lasting. When you give the gift of words, your gift will last long after the tinsel, wrapping, fruit cake and other novel items fall away.
During the November 2019 Logos & Mythos Book Club LIVE, I shared a few suggestions for book gifts for all ages and, thanks to the suggestion from one of my listeners—thank you, Heather!—I’m pulling those recommendations into this post for you.
If you’d like more recommendations for specific people on your list, drop me a comment or send me an email. Or, head to your local independent bookstore and chat with the friendly people there. They will have excellent recommendations for you as well!
On to the books!
For anyone on your list:
This 30-day devotional highlights all the beautiful names God has for his children. I cannot recommend this book enough. It will be the perfect gift for all ages on your list, and you can’t beat the price!
Bleeding Heart by Elizabeth Rawls
If you love inspirational poetry, this is the perfect collection, written by Elizabeth and her mother.
Any Good Thing by Joy E. Rancatore
This book has been enjoyed by men and women ranging in age from early 20s to late 60s, but it’s been recommended for late teens all the way up. Non-readers have not been able to put it down, and it’s had all four- and five-star ratings so far.
For all the Sci-Fi and Fantasy lovers on your list, this would be a winner. Plus, all profits go to Compassion International! Each story in this book comes with a PG-13 or under rating, and you can read more details about the content on Rachael’s site.
Fantasy meets steampunk wrapped up in Christian faith in this first in a series. Perfect for tweens through to adults!
For the women on your list:
Remaining Aileen by Autumn Lindsey
This is the best twist on the struggles of motherhood I’ve ever read. Not only does Aileen have to figure out how to embrace her new life as a vampire, but also she has to figure out what that means for her relationship with her husband and two young girls.
Mission Hollywood by Michelle Keener
This is both a fresh and refreshing take on the good-girl-meets-bad-boy story. She interweaves Christian faith in a realistic way. I love the way she writes and this story … and I’m not a huge romance reader.
Light on Glass by Michelle Keener
Michelle’s newest book releases on December 10—just in time for Christmas! I have an advanced copy that I cannot wait to dive into and will update here as soon as I do. Because I’ve already adored everything I’ve read by Michelle, I can go ahead and recommend this one without hesitation. Plus, I have it on good authority that this is the story of the author’s heart, so you know it will be special.
For the girls on your list:
Most girls love horses, fantasy, magic, unicorns and princess tales with a twist. You can’t go wrong with any of those themes.
Take the Reins, Canterwood Crest series by Jessica Burkhart
This is the first in my daughter’s (twelve years old) favorite series, all about horses.
Adela’s Curse by Claire M. Banschbach
The prologue of this book made me cry because the prose was so painfully beautiful. I highly recommend this book for girls of all ages.
The Beauty Thief by Rachael Ritchey
This is the first in a series of adventure, magic and purpose. I recommend this for teens and up, girls and boys. For younger siblings, this picture book follows the story of the first novel.
For the boys on your list:
Most boys love adventure, action, spies and potty humor. Look for any of those themes.
Fetch-22, Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey
The newest book in the Dog Man series, Fetch-22 releases on December 10. If you have a boy on your list, he will love these books. Seriously. You would also do well with any of the Captain Underpants books by the same author.
Niagara Falls, Or Does It? Hank Zipzer series by Henry Winkler
I loved Henry Winkler as the Fonz on Happy Days and I love him even more for his honesty about his struggles with dyslexia and his bravery to start a book series for kids that highlights a main character who faces the same challenges he did. This is the first book in a series that kids, young and old, will love!
A Tragic Introduction, Scott McCulley series by Jessica Joiner
This is the first book in a Christian spy series geared toward teens. I would recommend it for middle school on up, both boys and girls.
The Wolf Prince by Claire M. Banschbach
This is the second in the Faeries of Myrnius series, but you don’t have to read them in order. They stand separate from each other. While the first, Adela’s Curse (linked above) would be more appreciated by girls and this one would be preferred by boys, all ages and genders would love both!
For the men on your list:
In addition to these two specific nonfiction books, I always recommend Tom Clancy or Stephen King novels for men. They are fantastic writers whose stories are engaging, action-packed and thrilling. Stephen King is not just gruesome horror, by the way. If your guy would prefer something more along the psychological thriller vein, I would be happy to recommend a few more specific books.
Chip Gaines (of Joanna Gaines and Fixer Upper fame) shares his philosophies on life, business and learning from mistakes. The conversational tone makes this a quick read; and, because it’s Chip, you’re guaranteed to laugh out loud a time or two.
A friend of the Gaines, Clint has a story all his own. Stuck in a job that didn’t fulfill him, Clint decided to change his future and follow his passion instead.
For the writers on your list:
Since I have quite a few writers following me here, I had to toss out a few suggestions for you!
Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach to Find and Keep Your Writing Critique Partner by Joy E. Rancatore and Meagan Smith
This much-needed book releases in early December, just in time for the holidays. Check back here or on the Logos & Mythos Press site for preorder info!
Business for Authors: How to Be an Author Entrepreneur by Joanna Penn
I recommend every book on writing by Joanna, but this is at the top of the list. Joanna is an industry expert and guiding light for Indie Authors. Whether you read her blog posts, listen to her podcast or read her books, you will learn so much.
Write with Fire by Charles Allen Gramlich
This book lit me on fire when I took my first tentative steps toward a publishing career. It might do the same for the writer on your list. Plus, it’s written by a fellow Louisiana author!
What books top your own wish list this year? Do you have some other recommendations for us? I’d love to hear them! Comment below or send me an email today!
FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
The post All I Want for Christmas Are BOOKS appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.
November 6, 2019
Indie Authors and the Case of Events
For Indie Authors, any opportunity to sell our books is cause for excitement. That is, after all, why we went through the grueling process to publish them. How else are they going to get to readers?
The thing is, though, events are tricky and they won’t always—or perhaps ever (Did I ever mention I’m a bit of a cynic?)—be lucrative.
So, why bother?
What events provide Indie Authors are exposure for your book and opportunities for you to get face to face with readers to gauge their reactions to and interest in the book as you learn how to better identify your ideal reader.
This past weekend, I attended my first big event where I had my own table and sold my own books. I admit to being a little down about the number of sales. Since then I’ve reflected on the weekend and on all the positive parts as well as on some of the lessons I learned.
Be Prepared Before
As I thought back over what I did and didn’t do prior to the event, these were the preparations I thought were most important to do beforehand.
Make sure you have a quality product to sell.
I’m convinced my incredible cover brought at least nine out of every ten people in. That is because I have one of the best cover designers out there. Rachael Ritchey knows what she’s doing, and she does it well. Despite the pithy saying everyone bounces around, every reader judges a book first by its cover. If yours isn’t professional, fewer people will take the time to stop.
The cover is your step one. After that, you have to make sure the back description is well-written and intriguing and you need to have your work priced properly.
Have your price clearly marked with multiple payment methods available.
Personally, I’m unlikely to give more than a quick glance to a table that does not have prices visible from a distance. Make sure potential customers know what they’re getting into. Be prepared to accept payment in both cash—which means you need change on hand—and credit. I got to use my PayPal Here for the first time. I was quite pleased with it. There is one feature I was unable to figure out, but it didn’t affect anything major. I have heard horror stories of people not being able to use their card readers at big events. You will want to do your research on the venue and on your reader. I had no trouble using mine through my mobile network.
Bring enough books to sell but don’t overdo it.
This is a tricky one. In all honesty, you may not sell more than a handful. I didn’t, but I had prepared for a miracle of readers from heaven to fall in my lap. As a result, I’m several hundred dollars in the hole with a whole bunch of books in need of a good home.
So, be wiser than I am!
Offer more than a price tag.
People want free stuff. And, unfortunately, most people who wander around at craft fairs or book festivals are enjoying being at a free event. They may have no money in their pocket or bank account and a stack of bills waiting at home. It might be that they really would love to read your book, but they do not have the funds that day.
If you have something useful or good to give them, a kind word and a smile, they will take that and remember you. When those bills have been handled and their finances even out, they may just still have that bookmark or whatever you gave them and they will find your book. If you take the time to include some information about how they can get your book at their public library then they can send you a silent thank you for the freebie by sharing your book with their community.
I had a fantastic last-minute idea for this event: goodie bags to give away to any writers participating in NaNoWriMo. As my husband and I were frantically trying to finish putting together my little tip booklets for them the night before—when all I really wanted was to get some sleep—I hoped I’d at least give out one of the twelve I made.
I gave away SEVEN!
Turns out it really was a great idea. Now seven active writers have my editing contact information. They also know that I genuinely care about them and their work and am cheering them on through this steep goal of theirs.
We had a bunch of candy on the table as well. That and my cute little cat bookmarks were a big hit, but here’s the thing: those were great freebies for people, but that was a whole lot of money spent for them to not remember who gave them their treat or goodie.
Whatever you give away needs to point them back to you. I’ll be taking my own advice on this next time.
Let people know you’re there.
I failed at this, friends. My week leading up to the festival was non-stop. I had packed every day with more than was humanly possible to complete in a 24-hour period. In my mind, I planned all sorts of posts on all my social media outlets. I also planned to do some LIVE videos during the day, tag some of the amazing authors whose panels I was sad to miss and walk around to some of the other tables to meet other Indies.
Those are all great things you should do. You should also write out those posts or plan videos ahead of time, when you’re not surrounded by people.
Like I said, I did not. In the interest of being entirely honest, though, I was also recovering from a lovely case of food poisoning that hit me the night before. So, there’s that. I wouldn’t advise getting food poisoning the night before a big event.
Be Realistic
You probably won’t sell out of your books. You likely won’t sell more than a few. Of course, you could. And, like me, you’ll want to be prepared for that unicorn event where the stars align and a herd of your ideal readers stampede toward your table.
But, as you prepare, also prepare your emotions for watching the masses drift past.
Be Approachable
I know! I know! We writers tend to yearn for the comfort of a warm and cozy hole in the ground; “not a nasty, dirty, wet hole …”
Sorry … got distracted.
The point is, we would rather be curled up in a favorite chair with a book or pen and paper accompanied by a cup of something warm and perhaps a feline or canine companion than have to face hordes of people passing by and touching our stuff and, essentially, judging our books by their covers.
But … we chose to be authors and, for an author’s work to fulfill its destiny, it needs readers. So, readers we must find! We can’t do that if we’ve pulled our ponchos over our heads and glued our eyes to a screen in order to avoid as much human contact as possible.
Now, I’m positive I didn’t do the best this past weekend, but this was my first experience in a specifically literary context. I hope I learned a few things, though, that will make me better at being approachable next time. If I know anything about the readers who attend these types of events, it’s that most of them are similar to us reclusive authors. So, there’s a fine balance between being welcoming and giving people a reason to stop and running them off with our in-your-face, too-eager friendliness.
I tried to read each person who stopped by. The instinct is to start blabbering away about our book the second someone shows an interest in a desperate attempt to keep them from fleeing before buying, but—as a reader who’s been on the other side of the table many times—I know that’s not always what a person wants. If a reader has stopped at your table, they are interested. Something you’ve put out has caught their eye. They want some time to determine if what caught their eye is worth dipping into their precious book budget for, and it may be too hard to do that if the person behind the table keeps talking to them about the weather or even about the book. Also, I could see in a few of them a look similar to a deer in headlights when I spoke too soon before they’d had a chance to sink in and evaluate the worth of my book.
Now, I might have lost a sale or two by not engaging more with some of the people who stopped and read the book’s description. So, what I will do better next time in my preparation is to think through a few quick lines to say to someone who has read through my book’s description and is turning to go. Perhaps, “If you have any questions about the book, I’m happy to answer them.” “The book is set primarily in the south, so you’ll read about plenty of good southern food.” “Do you enjoy southern fiction?”
Be Prepared After
Now, I’ve given myself this same advice for conferences in the past. I’m not sure why I didn’t think about it for this event as well. What I should have done was made sure I scheduled time to input email addresses gathered for my newsletter signup, to thank the event coordinator and to follow and interact with all the incredible fellow writers I met.
Another aspect I really should have blocked off time for was to write out what worked and what didn’t or what ideas came to me during the day—things I’d like to either do differently or implement next time.
Be Reflective
I’ll admit, I was disappointed in last weekend’s sales. I had this grand image in my mind of breaking down empty book boxes to tuck under my arm as I made my way back to the van, whistling and skipping along the way. Instead, my sweet and patient husband lugged the same four boxes full, full, full and still halfway full back to our van that he had carted out early that morning.
Here’s the thing, though, Saturday was an opportunity that deserved further reflection. Four specific aspects of the day came to me as I thought back and I found myself suddenly cheered up.
Tis better to give …
I got to gift seven lovely writers a bag of encouragement for NaNoWriMo. Not much can lift you up when you’re down than the joy of giving.
Books bring us together.
For an entire day, I was surrounded by fantastic books by passionate authors and the readers who eagerly soaked it all in because we all enjoy a shared love of books.
I’m changing set minds, one at a time.
One gentleman moseyed by and stopped for a closer look. Now, I could tell he was—for the lack of a better way to say it—someone who was a book “professional.” He examined the cover before turning, not to the back like most people do, but to the spine. I watched his gaze drop to my Press logo. He turned to the back, looked inside to the copyright page and a few others. Finally, he looked up and asked, “Who is this publisher?” I could tell he was impressed and, so, with great glee, I simply said, “Me!” I watched a glimmer of shock pass across his eyes before he said, “This is well done.”
I am pleased that I had impressed and shocked a “professional” and hopefully left him considering Indie Authors in a different light. One at a time.
But, the best part of the day hadn’t happened yet. That came with a single sale that reminded me of my why.
Wiley met Ducky.
I noticed him before he noticed me. I also saw he was being drawn by my book’s cover. He came steadily closer, almost like a magnet was pulling him. He never took his eyes off that cover. When he picked it up, it was with such a gentleness. He gazed at it for a moment, then turned it and read the back. He turned it back and looked up at the kind gentleman with him.
“I want this.”
“You’ll have to use your money.”
He immediately pulled out some bills.
He didn’t want the book signed. He didn’t want to put it down.
What he didn’t know was I was fighting back tears.
What dear sweet Wiley didn’t know was that inside of that cover that drew him in is a story that contains a very special character named Ducky. He didn’t know that Ducky is just like him. Kind. Intuitive. Special. Precious. A guy who just happens to have Down Syndrome.
Because I was fighting back tears, I didn’t say all of that. I didn’t ask if he’d be willing to take a picture with me. I didn’t say more to the kind man with him than, “I think you will really love my character Ducky.” What I wanted to say was how much watching Wiley with my book made my day, my year, my life. I didn’t have the spoken words for that in the moment.
So, if by some Wiley/Ducky-like miracle, that sweet man or Wiley or someone who knows them happen to read this, I have the words now.
Thank you for buying my book, Wiley. I sure hope you still like it. I’d be happy to sign a bookmark for you to keep your place in the book. Would you take a picture with the book? I’d like to tape it to my computer—for Ducky and the other characters like him who will use my pen to write themselves into our world. See, Ducky didn’t come from me; Ducky came to me, speaking his story into my ear. I’m so happy you’re part of Ducky’s story now, too. Happy reading, Wiley.
Writers, what tips do you have for successful events? If you haven’t been to an event yet, what questions do you have?
Readers, what do you like to see on an author’s table? What makes you decide to buy?
FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
The post Indie Authors and the Case of Events appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.
October 30, 2019
No Girl’s Land
This story begins a new series of short fiction. Unlike my Tales of the Faerie Shepherds series, I would urge caution for parents of potential younger readers. In these stories, I will explore more explicitly dark themes but will provide trigger warnings when warranted. These stories could be classified as Southern gothic, paranormal or horror. With that preface, I present to you “No Girl’s Land,” An Other-World Tale.
Trigger Warnings: Abuse and Torture
Angelica risked a glimpse back. His stench lassoed her. She stumbled.
Ribs ripped through nearly translucent skin as they scraped the asphalt beneath her. Her scarred and weakened wrists failed to catch her.
The crack of calcium-deprived bones … one more odd against her escape.
Gravel crunched with sickening closeness somewhere behind, lost but too-close found in the foggy pitch. The odor of liquor, tobacco and hallucinogens—all cheap, none free—assaulted her nostrils. Smelling salts for her senses, they and the ever-dropping chill of the air around her shot her system with strength to raise her from the dead ditch, on to life.
Or another form of terror-filled servitude.
Every sting of his belt. Each night the chains reopened old wounds as he held her captive to his sickening will. His malodor. His rancid taste. His poisonous touch.
The memories rose; her senses tingled. The combination gifted her speed, breath, urgency, a superhuman ability to pull farther ahead of the madman pursuing her.
She rose, shaking her head wildly around. Crunchy strands of hair stung her face, blinding her with their presence and the tears they caused. The wind whipped around her as it shredded the past from her skin, leaving her raw, exposed, open to healing … to hope.
Rising before her as though a specter raised the curtains on a new drama set to unfold with her as its starring puppet, ever captive to the script, a visage with an ethereal shimmer loomed. She stopped short, barely retaining her balance. The fortress’ sudden arrival struck her still as its material stonework. Her mouth hung as she looked up, up, up to the disappearance of its crown.
A growling obscenity alerted her.
He had arrived.
The night slithered around her, tightening its grip and constricting her heart and lungs with its horror. Never again would he take her.
Never.
Initially oppressive in its personification, the fog cloaked her and guided her gently forward as she reached down, down, down to a shimmering remnant of courage. Hand outstretched, she touched the gate.
A chill surged up her arm and down her spine as she fingered the rusted metal and it pulled her inward. She tripped over the metal grate within, losing her grip as she rolled over gravel, sand and dirt. Bits and grains and specks adhering to the sweat of her exposed skin.
His voice. Louder, fouler and nearer than ever.
The curses and names he proclaimed over her worthless nature echoed off the walls behind her as the gate swept shut. Its motion—though so quick she nearly missed it—made no sound. His voice continued to reverberate. Out of the mist he appeared, a demon creature from the pits of hell.
Stopping short, the vulgarities snaked their way through the gate to tie her soul in their ever-tightening knots with the threats and descriptions of what awaited her when he once again grasped her in his power. Violent tremors ravaged her body until the light of a small, mighty truth lit within her.
He beat at the air before the fortress. He screamed past her. His malicious glare sought a victim.
He could not see her.
Behind her, a wind rustled, soft at first, then rising faster and faster into a crescendo surpassing Beethoven himself. This was no mere breeze. This force—this element—lived and moved and held its Beings.
It spoke and whispered; hummed and sung. Its cadence other-worldly. Two strains wove around one another in opposite octaves and varying pitches but somehow perfectly paired.
Surrounding her now, the music healed her deepest inner wounds even as it also tore afresh her outer ones. Her hidden peace struck against her free-flowing blood as the music hit an earth-shattering discord.
The man before her—her tormentor, the devil of her every waking moment for the past six years—threw hands up straight above his head as his eyes contained an emotion she’d never witnessed there. Where once only hate and evil pooled, terror ran. The monster of her days and nights quaked with the earth beneath him as he beheld the duet of good and bad.
It was the Symphony of Angels and Demons, and they required his soul to attain its screaming finale.
Angelica watched as the music hewed the man in half, each a clone of the other. It then crushed both, distorting every feature and releasing the foulness within him before it shredded the remainder and cast him a zillion different ways, none of which her eyes could follow, before sinking into the earth beneath where the oppressor had stood seconds past.
She crouched, knees beneath her, staring hard where all had disappeared.
A dream—no—nightmare? Hallucinations?
Had her mind finally snapped under his manipulative pressure?
No.
There, just inside the gate …
Dirt specks rose to dance. Slow, timid then purposeful. Speeding to a waltz, then a reel and finally a tango. The movements jerky, sporadic as more and more rose until the music had returned in full. Within the veil of dirt, silhouettes and glimpses of bright angelic faces and glowing demonic ones wrestled for place and beat and rhythm.
The girl lifted her face to view them all as they rose above and around her. The sound grew deafening as the wrestling shook earth, walls, trees, everything. In the final three six-beat measures, the choirs of the Other-Realm hissed and whispered …
We will protect the Mind. We will collect the Soul. We will connect the Heart.
“No Girl’s Land” Copyright © 2019 by Joy E. Rancatore. All Rights Reserved.
What do you think about this new style? Is this a genre you enjoy and would like to read more of? Please let me know in the comments below!
For more detailed weekly updates on my writing process behind this short story as well as my other works, please subscribe to my newsletter!
The post No Girl’s Land appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.
October 23, 2019
A Day in the Life of an Indie Author: The Homeschooling Author Mom
Welcome to another “Day in the Life of an Indie Author” post. Curious why I chose the Indie path? Check out my introduction to this series.
Now that my fall schedule is back in full swing, I decided to share how a typical weekday works for me. As a homeschooling author mom, the school year presents a bigger challenge for me. Just like any writer who has to juggle writing with a day job and other responsibilities, though, I make it work.
When I first found fellow writer moms through two incredible online groups—Writer Moms, Inc. and Writer Mom Life—I was amazed to discover just how many homeschooled. As I look back and think about it, though, I’m not sure why I was surprised. It makes perfect sense given what I know about homeschoolers.
A Match Made in Heaven
Many of us have the challenge of figuring out life in a two-income culture on one income. Most of the homeschool moms I know have found jobs they can do from home and/or they know how to shop wisely and carefully and don’t waste a single thing.
Want to know how to turn one whole chicken into twelve meals for a family of four? I can answer that.
Added to the ability to manage a household, plan and implement the education for all the children in the family, maintain a small business (or more than one), quite a few of these homeschool moms lean toward the literature side of things. Sure, some are math whizzes or science gurus, but quite often reading and books consume most of their attention. Sometimes, homeschool moms are known to write up their own curriculum when they can’t find exactly what they need!
With all of that tossed together, it makes perfect sense that I’ve met several other writer moms who homeschool.
An Ever-Evolving Balance
Each school year brings changes and shifts in priority. My children are in seventh and fifth grades this year. At this point, we’re working toward more independent learning and work. This makes my balance easier in some ways. Instead of reading history chapters with them or lecturing through the zoology chapter, I can assign them to read the lessons independently, answer questions or write summaries based on what they’ve read and then grade and evaluate them to make sure they’re understanding the concepts.
When they were in preschool, they needed me to sit beside them and guide them as they learned to use scissors, hold a pencil and form their letters. Now, I can assign, evaluate and correct when needed.
Of course, with the higher grades comes more paperwork and more complex lessons to teach. I have the pressure of knowing high school is right around the corner, and high school in a teacher’s mind equals college requirements and the massive importance those institutions place on ACT/SAT scores.
Each year, I have to reevaluate how we do school, how we (and I) schedule our time, which curriculum will best fit the needs of my children and our family, all while adequately preparing them for their future and giving them additional opportunities to explore the subjects and participate in activities that most interest them.
Each child is vastly different. Not only are they in different grades, but they have different learning styles, different interests and different strengths and weaknesses. That often requires double planning.
A Fluid Schedule That Works for Us
So, how does our schedule look this school year?
I lesson plan and schedule out work so that the majority of our lessons fall in the first few days. Most of their work on Thursdays and Fridays can be done independently. On days when everyone focuses and cooperates, our school time all together is easily completed between 8 and noon. They complete the rest of their work in the afternoons.
Often, I might still be grading late in the evening if they didn’t finish everything before I switched my focus to work at 1. Once I’ve completed lessons with them and given them their assignments, I will begin working while I wait for them to turn in work.
Thanks to the gift of a laptop earlier this year from one of my mentors, I try to type up my blog posts and work on my newsletter in bed when I first wake up in the mornings before we start school. Any formatting or photo editing has to be done on my primary computer, though; so those things happen in the afternoons. Other work, like revisions and most social media posting or editing, I prefer to do on my main computer as well.
Some days we help paint boxes that a local group sends to area military personnel overseas or help our local bookstore owner straighten up shelves or put out new books. Other times, our schedule shifts when we keep a friend’s child for a few hours. And still others, we take the day for a field trip to one of many museums, parks, historical spots or more around us.
Though I plan out our week and include any events or activities I know about ahead of time, we often have changes to it as we go. My husband doesn’t have a regular 8 to 5 schedule. Some days he works until 4 or 5; others, he works mid-day until after supper; and still others he’ll be home until around 3 and won’t be back until midnight. His two days off each week typically fall during the week, though. That also tends to change up our daily schedule. He does help out with school and housework and so much more as often as he can.
A Typical Schedule
In theory, a typical school day should play out something like this:
6:30 to 8: Checking emails and social media, typing up blog posts or newsletter content or short stories or revising (while kids are—in theory—doing schoolwork, getting school supplies ready, eating breakfast and getting dressed)
8 to noon: School
Noon to 1: Lunch and grading
1 to 5 or 6: Work (sprinkled with frequent interruptions to grade things, solve arguments, remove garbage from a certain dog’s mouth (hint: it’s not Bentley), start supper preparations, answer texts or phone calls, prepare for the next day’s lessons or plan the next week’s school, welcome the neighbor kid and politely keep him from eating all the snacks and/or wipe up muddy pawprints)
6 to 7 or 7:30: Supper, more grading when necessary
7:30 until: More work—or weekly activities (typically out of the house two nights a week and podcasting one) or spending time with the family or cleaning
Of course, some days—like today—we got a later start because my husband closed at work last night, and we needed a little extra sleep in order to function through the rest of our day. I still finished my teaching before lunchtime and worked on this post while the kids did their independent work.
A later breakfast means a later lunch, which means I probably won’t sit down to start my revision work until 2, but the kids have done most of their work and the stack to be graded is nearly complete. I need to set this aside for now to solve an argument that’s broken out over the pizza slices, then grade their work and catch up on emails.
What questions do you have about my schedule or about homeschooling? What responsibilities do you juggle and what works for you?
It is my desire that every post has something for everyone. If you ever have questions or suggestions for me, please drop me a line. I love to hear from you! To make sure you never miss a post—and to receive other weekly extras, like reading tips and writing tips, occasional exclusives and various freebies, including a few for subscribing—join my Fellowship of newsletter subscribers today. Just click the big red link!
FollowFollowFollowFollowFollow
The post A Day in the Life of an Indie Author: The Homeschooling Author Mom appeared first on Joy E. Rancatore.
October 15, 2019
Interview with a Debut Fantasy Author
We have a special guest today. Please help me welcome one of my dear writer friends, E.E. Rawls, author of Strayborn, a just-out-this-week fantasy meets steampunk tale with characters who face the terrors of coming of age while also learning to use powers of elemental manipulation. You will fall for her two main characters, Cyrus and Aken, just like I have!
I got to ask her a few questions about her book and writing process, and we’re sharing those with you! Read all the way down for a chance to win a special gift! Trust me, you won’t want to miss this GIVEAWAY!
JER: First, tell us a little about the birth of Strayborn. How did the idea come to you? What was the first aspect of the story that came to you?
EER: Funny thing is, I was drafting and playing around with a completely different story idea, when two interesting characters popped into my head: Cyrus and Aken. I was intrigued and kept expanding their story and trying to figure out who they were, until I realized that they needed their own book series and no longer fit in with the little story I had been working on.
JER: Isn’t it fun when our stories take over the plans we thought we had?! Will you share with us some of your favorite moments while writing or revising?
EER: I laughed a lot while writing this book! Aken is quite a character and gets himself into trouble a lot. One LOL moment is when he’s trying to hide from Cyrus because he got disciplined by his master and doesn’t want her to find out about it. Then there are touching moments and sad moments. I felt tears every time I revised a certain scene where a particular companion dies…
JER: Oh no!! I feel the waterworks coming on!! What has been the hardest part of this book’s journey for you?
EER: Every part of the journey has brought its own trials and learning experiences. But I’d say this stage, of getting the book print ready and venturing into book marketing, has been the toughest. There was so much to learn, and now there’s still so much to do, especially concerning marketing. But in the end, all I really care about is that people enjoy the stories I write. 
