Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 13

Author Interview: A Thousand Stars by Lillian E.

That's right, folks! Another fantastic young author is making her debut! Meet Lillian E, author of A Thousand Stars! Her debut novel is a historical-esque middle-grade fantasy adventure following a young girl by the name of Hopeful!

Wanna learn more about her and her upcoming release? Just keep on reading!

our interview

What first inspired you to write?

I’ve always loved to write since I was little. Telling stories, and then writing down little tidbits; it's always been super fun to look back on all the old books I started as an aspiring ten-year-old. It's a gift that I’ve always loved and one that I plan to continue using in the future.

What are some of the driving forces behind you and your writing now?

It really is just my love for storytelling and writing. I so enjoyed the process of telling the story of Jimmy and Hope, and the creation of their characters. I just can’t wait to start my next book! (Whatever that may be.)

Can you name any authors who have inspired your voice in different ways? How can you see their influence in your writing?

Oh definitely! I’ve always loved and deeply appreciated the talent of those classic authors such as C.S Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, L. M. Montgomery, Charles dickens; I could go on and on! I love drawing from each of their styles, and often I can see different character traits in my own characters that are similar to theirs. Such as my main character's bright red hair; L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. Or my hidden allegory; C.S Lewis’s reference to the bible and Christ.

What are some of your most favorite books/genres—to read and to write?

As I said I have always loved the classics from a rather young age. (My parents call me an old soul, and I quite agree!) I’m also rather a huge history lover, so writing or reading things such as historical fiction, or historical anything is also a favorite. My novella is a historical fantasy allegory.

What do you do when you aren’t writing?

I’m very interested in art, so I’ll often be sketching or doodling in one of my many sketchbooks. I am homeschooled, by my wonderful mother I might add, so that can also fill up my day. I have four rabbits, and I’m also into rock climbing! (Indoor! I can’t scale real cliffs just yet.)

Your debut novel, A Thousand Stars, is releasing in November! What inspired this story?

As I said before I’ve always loved to write tiny tidbits of stories since I was little. It was actually one of those little tidbits which inspired me to write A Thousand Stars. I was going through old google doc files when I found a little story about a girl and a boy named Hopeful and Jimmy. It was very short, only a chapter, but still I wanted to know more about the characters! What was their story? So that was what really got me started on my first ever completed novella.

What does your writing process typically look like?

It normally begins with daydreaming. I’ll dream up some story, or I’ll create some character, then I’ll write it down and put it away for later. I have so many book ideas to choose from I shouldn’t have any problem picking just the right one for my next book!

What do you want, most of all, for readers to take away from your writing?

I truly want readers to just enjoy the story as much as I have enjoyed it. I want them to be so completely immersed in the story that they feel as if they have known the characters. My wish also, is that readers will be able to see deeper into the story. I am a christian, and throughout my book I’ve added subtle references to the bible, and some of the people or creatures represent things such as angels. I think the best stories are the ones that have a deeper meaning, so if a reader is able to discover the one hidden within my story, I think I will have accomplished writing something truly great.

Have you ever endured any discouragement as an author? If so, what inspired you to persevere?

I don’t think I have ever had any real discouragement while writing. As a first time author I am sure I will encounter it some time in life but when it comes I’ll always have my family. They have been the biggest encouragement to me, and I really don’t know how I would have finished the story without them. Through these three years of writing this story, yes it took me three long years, they have been so kind and such a blessing to me every step of the way.

What are your greatest aspirations for your future, be it as a person or as a writer?

I will always keep writing, that I am absolutely sure of! I think my many interests can all really be combined into my love for writing. My love of history, family, art, kids, travel, culture and all the many other things. I’m sure that whatever other adventures my life brings on, my passion and love for writing will continue throughout the rest of my life.

What has being a writer taught you?

Three big things. Patience, perseverance, and the importance of never being afraid to rewrite.

about the book

MEET HOPEFUL AND JIMMY - TWO STRANGERS IN A KINGDOM AT WAR.

They would never have chosen this life.

One an orphan.

The other not knowing where her parents were or why they had left her alone.

But destiny had not yet chosen their fate – and the land of A Thousand Stars was yet to be discovered.

Until one day everything changed.

about the author

Lillian is not your average teenager.

No, it’s not because she raises Holland Lops and started her own rabbitry. It’s not because she’s got 4 siblings who get to call her ‘big sis’. It’s not because she lives on a farmette with lots of chickens, and a Bernese Mountain dog named Maximus.

She’s special because she’s read hundreds of books – especially the classics – and draws from all kinds of styles and genres in writing her own stories.

Her first published book, A Thousand Stars, is the product of over three years of writing, re-writing, brainstorming, collaboration, and sketching characters… and lot of drawings and late-night plotline discussions with her biggest fans (ie her family). Thanks to input from friends and cousins and her at-home fanbase, her goal of writing a book as come to fruition through hard work, prayer, and persistence.

You can learn more about her and her debut, A Thousand Stars, at athousandstarsbook.com!

I dunno about y'all, but that sounds quite intriguing! You'll have to check out the first two chapters (download link above) and let us know what you think!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#comingsoon #upcomingrelease #indie #middlegrade #adventure #fantasy #historicalfantasy

New Release: A Hope and a Prayer by Julie Lessman

HOLD. ON. TO. YOUR. HELMETS. Y'ALL.

It's not often I issue a warning such as that, so y'all KNOW this is gonna be good, right?

RIGHT.

Because none other than JULIE LESSMAN (the QUEEN of romance and my literary godmother...yes, I have just officially christened you my literary godmother, Miss Julie) is releasing her next book in the Cousins O'Connor series (technically cousins and aunt, but we won't go there *winks*), A Hope and a Prayer!!!!

*squeals incessantly*

For those of y'all who haven't heard of Julie Lessman or been exposed to my wild gushing, allow me to refer you back to this post explaining why I love her books...this recent review of her romantic suspense/mystery novel...this interview with Julie...this series review...and this Goodreads shelf featuring reviews of all her books (and several other books as well...this was just the only way to share all my JL reviews at once). (*coughs* Yes, I spent the entirely of 2020 just reading JL books and reviewing them. Hence why it's taken three years to release BAD.)

I DIGRESS.

We are gathered here today to celebrate the release of A Hope and a Prayer, easily one of my favorites (correction: they're all my favorite) of Julie's novels. This one...y'all. It is SO powerful. (What am I saying? They all are!) Once you hear the heart behind the story, you'll realize just how much it means...

And even without knowing that, the message of this story - that Jesus is everything, that no one and nothing else can satisfy, that one person can make a difference, that only God can change someone's heart and life...AH! I'm getting chills just writing this! Anyway, yes, the message is SO strong and poignant!

And the characters are so wonderful...and the romance is so beautiful...and the story is so gripping...

But this isn't my review. I still haven't even read the finalized novel yet! *shakes head at self* This, my dears, is an introduction...so allow me to introduce y'all...

about the book

(NOTE! THIS BOOK IS A SWEET INSPIRATIONAL WITH A HIGHER LEVEL OF ROMANTIC PASSION)

She’s in love with her best friend.

He’s in love with her cousin.

But when the war reveals a gift so rare,

will they be saved by a hope and a prayer?

As Head Nurse at 2d Hospital in Nancy, France, Lieutenant Hope Dennehy is known for her healing touch, especially when it comes to mending the wounds and spirit of her best friend, Lieutenant Bren O’Neill. When Hope’s cousin breaks Bren’s heart, Hope is always there, helping to heal him with a friendship so anointed and deep, it threatens to break her heart too.

Flying high as a daredevil aeromedical evac pilot in the European Theatre, “Lieutenant Love” O’Neill crashes and burns when the woman he loves falls for another. Depending on the support and prayers of Nurse Hope Dennehy to save him, Bren re-evaluates his free-wheeling lifestyle when he witnesses the heinous atrocities of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Suddenly nothing in life is as important as taking care of those he loves … or is it? Battling demons from his past, Bren learns that only one thing can truly save him from himself.

snag your copy about the author

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, and Heart of San Francisco series, Julie Lessman was named American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered 18 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author of the year in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also named on Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction list.

Julie’s first contemporary novel, Isle of Hope, was voted on Family Fiction magazine’s “Best of 2015” list, and Surprised by Love appeared on Family Fiction magazine’s list of “Top Ten Novels of 2014.” Her independent novel A Light in the Window is an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. You can contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.

giveaway

Oh, you better believe there's a giveaway!!!

ONE lucky commenter on THIS POST will win an ebook, and EVERY single commenter will be ENTERED to win either a signed paperback of A Hope and a Prayer or a signed paperback of one of Julie's other novels!

(Pro tip: comment on every single post in tour for even more chances to win! Tour schedule is below!)

Lemme know down in the comments which book you'd like to receive if you win...which books of Julie's you've read...what your favorite WWII fiction is...etc!

the tour

October 1 – https://readingismysuperpower.org/

October 2 – https://myfavoritepastime.blogspot.com/

October 3 – (New-release spotlight) https://www.graceajohnson.com/

October 4 – https://novelscorner.wordpress.com/

October 5 – https://www.literaryscape.com/literaryscape-book-club

October 6 – http://misspippireads.blogspot.com/

October 7 – http://frommipov.blogspot.com/

October 8 – (Live-stream on CrowdCast) https://www.crowdcast.io/c/kv9snz8wcfqr

October 9 – https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.com/

October 10 – https://sarainawhitney.wordpress.com/blog/

October 11 – https://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/

October 12 – https://kellybridgewater.blogspot.com/

October 13 – https://flakymn.blogspot.com/

October 14 – https://blissbooksandjewels.com/

New Lessman novels...more Charity O'Connor Dennehy...giveaways galore? Sounds like a TON of fun to me! I know I am SO excited for this AH-MAY-ZING novel and all that Julie has planned to celebrate its release - including the live Q&A on October 8th! Check out the link in the schedule to learn more!

As Julie says, hugs and more hugs!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#newrelease #bookspotlight #blogtour #giveaway #christianfiction #romance #historicalfiction #historicalromance #julielessman #ww2

Welcome to October! (September Wrapup & October Goals)

Y'ALL. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT DAY IT IS? IT IS OCTOBER FIRST. OCTOBER. FIRST.

THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS LIED. TIME DOES NOT GO BY "SO SLOWLY." TIME. FLIES. TEMPUS FUGIT, PEOPLE. IT HAS WINGS.

Anyway. Rant aside.

It is now October. Which means, once again, we must say goodbye to one month and greet the next with a holy kiss.

(Don't ask where that came from. Just...don't ask.)

(It's actually scripture...)

what i did last month

Let’s take a look-see at my list here…

Survive school—pretty much (I’m on my very last leg, wrapping up the class on the 12th!) Get BAD ready to publish—check (for the most part...still have a couple things left to do before it’s TOTALLY ready, of course) Finish beta-reading—er, no (I even messaged the author [the lovely Issabelle Perry] to let her know that I might not get much reading done) Finish proofreading—nerp Wrap up Tell Me You Love Me edits—YES! In fact, the cover reveal is happening on the 11th, so y’all make sure to SIGN UP HERE to join!!!

I didn’t quite complete everything I’d wanted to last month...especially in the reading department *hides*, but I did get a lot of, well, school done and launch Bound and Determined’s preorder campaign! Whoop whoop!

On a more personal level, I’ve been binge-watching the most wonderful show with la familia…Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Like. It is fantastic. SUCH good characterization and chemistry...the perfect blend of action and suspense and romance...*coughs* young Dean Cain. I mean, some of the plots could use some work, but the actors/characters and just the vibes more than make up for it! *sighs* I’m in love.

I’ve also gotten into baking bread. I’ve made breadsticks multiple times, a loaf of “bread” bread, and hoagie bread for sandwiches! It’s actually been...good...which is a surprise. Not because of my cooking skills, but because of how bad our bread has been in the past. We even had a bread machine several years ago, but it was just bleh.

this month’s goals Complete absolutely everything I need to do with BAD Read/review five books Edit yet another novel for a client Write several guest posts Redo my Instagram theme Wrap up this last class TMYLM cover reveal Finish beta-reading

*coughs* I am busy.

monthly progress

Naturally, I haven’t written much of anything apart from papers and blog posts. (I miss fiction writing soooooooooo much.) Maybe one more installment in The Captain (which is now a Patreon exclusive, so to read the serial, you’ll have to become a patron HERE).

I did get a couple hundred words in for my preorder-perk BAD companion story...

reading highlights

Ha. Ha ha ha. I had grand plans of reading a TON of books this month, but alas. I read, like, three.

Dìlseachd – A Stolen Crown by Cheyenne van Langevelde. I had the pleasure of reading this one for endorsement (although I will review it in full), and it was WONDERFUL! Such a rich historical novel! Worthy of Legend by Roseanna M. White. Of course I adored this one. Y’all can read my review here! Bring Her Home by Hannah Currie. Gah, I have so many mixed thoughts/emotions about this one...I’ll have to hold off until I’ve collected them all in an orderly manner before I share anything.top blog posts Marketing Q&A Pt. 1: Social Media Marketing Welcome to September! Daylight Anniversary Sale Author Interview: Marisa, Jaiden, and Kaytlin Phillips Bound and Determined Preorders Are Live!guest appearances

Here’s the fun part, y’all! In honor of BAD’s upcoming release, I was featured on Saraina Whitney’s blog with this post all about writing a story with a mind of its own! I also got to write a guest post for M.C. Kennedy about why I write Christian historical romance, which you can read here! And, lastly, the lovely Vanessa Hall posted part one of our two-part interview that was SO fun!!

follower updates

Don’t forget, the marketing Q&A form is still open! I’ve been a little slower on answering questions due to my lack of time, but new posts are on their way! Y’all can leave your questions HERE!

And, of course, you can finally preorder BAD!!! And when you do, you’ll receive a loooooong list of epic goodies! Y’all can check it out on Amazon HERE or click the button below to be taken to my special preorder page!

Now, before we part, I have something AH-MAY-ZING to share...

But, naturally, I'mma make y'all scroll.

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No, don't you dare skip to the bottom.

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Why?

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Because the purpose of the long scroll is to...

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Explain some stuff to you.

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You see, back in...well, sometime last month...

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I went to upload my mostly-edited manuscript to KDP.

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Like I'm supposed to.

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Well...it was too big.

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I needed to make the margins wider to accommodate the large spine, BUT making the margins wider increased the amount of pages, until I actually had too many pages.

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Cue me panicking at 9:30 at night.

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Well, to combat this issue, I changed BAD from 5.5x8.5 to 6x9. Only a half-inch difference, but it made the pages long enough to (1) not need the wider margins and (2) stay within the page limit of 828 pages.

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So, I finally had everything figured out and ordered a proof copy...

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Which I just got in last Saturday!!!!

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Cue everyone's shock over how outrageously HUGE my baby is.

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Everyone, meet Bound and Determined.

SHE'S HUGE. LIKE, SHE HURTS WHEN YOU DROP HER ON YOUR TOES! SHE'S HEAVY. IT'S INSANE AND I CANNOT BELIEVE I WROTE THAT. MANY. WORDS. LIKE WHAT THE HECK?!

She's literally bigger than A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. Seriously. Size-wise and word count, since BAD is 206k and AVitW is about 155k.

So. Whatcha think? How long do you think it would take you to read a book that big? Have you ever read a book that long? (Hint: if you've read Gone with the Wind, you have. That thang is huuuuuge. 418k words to be exact.) Have you ever made bread? What TV show are you watching now? Any great recent reads? I wanna hear ALLLLLLL about it in the comments!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#monthlygoals #monthlywrapup #monthlyupdates #monthlyprogress #readinghighlights #topblogpost #guestposts #welcometooctober #followerupdates #progressreport #boundanddetermined #heavythang #bigbaby #howdidiwritethatmuch #nowonderittookthreeyears #ineedtofindtheexactdateistartedwriting #goodbyenow #timetodosomedigging #andcalculating #alsowemissedkeatonsbirthdayandiamashamed #itwasaugust17 #hencewhythebookreleasesonnovember17

New Release: Iron by Madisyn Carlin

Happy, happy release day to this intense and exciting Christian fantasy Cinderella-retelling...IRON by Madisyn Carlin! I'm so excited to share all about Madisyn's latest release + the epic giveaway going on! (*coughs* I totally double-booked again, y'all.)

about the book

Enforcing justice comes with a price.

Detective Redwyn “Red” Deathan will stop at nothing to uncover those behind the ruthless kidnappings of multiple children. But things are not as they seem, and Red’s efforts are thwarted at every turn. With each discovery the danger grows, putting Red and the lives of those she cares about at risk. Can she reveal the mastermind’s identity before she herself becomes a target?

a word from the author

What IRON isn't: 1) A general market "clean" book. 2) A magical fairy tale retelling. 3) Light and fluffy. 4) YA (Young Adult).What IRON is: 1) A Christian Fantasy. 2) Nonmagical. 3) Deep. Different from DECEIVED and not near as intense as SR, but still deep because it deals with human trafficking. 4) NA (New Adult). 5) A story with three (3) POVs in the organized structure the author always follows

about the author

Madisyn Carlin is a Christian, homeschool graduate, blogger, voracious bookdragon, and author. When not spending time with her family or trekking through the mountains, she weaves tales of redemption, faith, and action.

Want to connect? https://linktr.ee/madisyncarlin

giveaway

Madisyn is giving away a signed paperback of IRON to ONE lucky first place winner...AND an ebook copy to a second place winner! Winner's choice of .mobi or .ePUB format, of course!

(Note: if the first place winner is international, they'll receive an ebook as well.)

Just click the button below to enter for your chance to win!

the tour

Monday, September 26

Madisyn Carlin | Introduction + Behind the Scenes

Vanessa Hall | Book Spotlight + Review

Quilling in the Pines | Book Review

Saraina | Character Interview + Book Spotlight

Tuesday, September 27

Tower in the Plains | Book Spotlight

Cassie | IG Book Spotlight

Wednesday, September 28

Joy C. Woodbury | Book Review

Allie Jo Anderson | Character Interview

The Bookdragon’s Alcove | Book Spotlight

Charity | IG Book Review

Thursday, September 29

‘Neath the Hackberry Reading Club | Book Review

Quilling in the Pines | Author Interview

Christine Smith | Book Spotlight

Cassie | Character Spotlight

Friday, September 30

Saraina | Book Review

Rainy Day Writer | Character Interview + Book Spotlight

Of Blades and Thorns | Book Spotlight

Saturday, October 1

Madisyn Carlin | Meet the Characters + Wrapup

Old-fashioned Book Love | Book Review

Cassie | IG Book Review

Penny Zeller | Saturday Spotlight

Doesn't IRON sound so interesting? Congratulations to Madisyn for releasing another fantastic novel!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#newrelease #releaseday #bookspotlight #blogtour #christianfiction #fairytaleretelling #fantasy #newbook #indie

New Release & Giveaway: Judgement Call by E.B. Roshan

I'm pleased to share with y'all not only romantic dystopian suspense author E.B. Roshan's latest release in her Shards of Sevia series...but ALSO an epic EXCLUSIVE giveaway just for y'all! Let's not waste any time diving right in!

about the book

Kiva is handsome, generous, and very much in love with recently-widowed Preen Enda. But the thought of becoming his wife fills her with dread—especially when men from her past—men who know too much—begin appearing in her peaceful town. It's only a matter of time before her secrets are revealed.

If Kiva learns the truth about what happened to Preen's first husband, will he still want to become her second?

about the author

E.B. Roshan has enjoyed a nomadic lifestyle for several years, living in the Middle East and Asia, but is now temporarily settled in Missouri with her husband and two sons.

When she's not cleaning, cooking or chasing after the boys, she's writing the latest installment of her ongoing Romantic Suspense series, Shards of Sevia.

To learn more about E.B. Roshan and her books, visit shardsofsevia.wordpress.com

If you don't want to miss the latest release, sign up at: books2read.com/author/eb-roshan

the giveaway

E.B. Roshan is giving away THREE e-copies of Judgement Call to the first three commenters who answer the following questions! The very first commenter will ALSO get an e-copy of Final Chance!

If you had to choose either to never read another book or watch another movie, which would you choose? What fictional character/s do you see yourself in? Is there a book that you loved when you were younger that seems boring or silly now? What's the last book you stayed up too late reading?

Y'all better comment quick! *winks* May the odds be in your favor, my friends!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#giveaway #newrelease #bookspotlight #newbook #indie #romanticsuspense #dystopian #christianfiction

Marketing Q&A Pt. 2: Sales Promotion

Y'ALL. I am so ashamed of myself. I meant to have this post done and out, like, at least two weeks ago, but here I finally am now. Maybe this means my advice will come at the time y'all truly need it the most. We'll see.

I digress.

Today's Q&A post is all about SALES!!! Getting more sales, selling preorder copies, growing interest, the list goes on! My answers this time include more actionable tips and tricks than a full-out case study, so I advise you to do your own research, study the industry, try things yourself! There is SO much more to learn and discover; I'm only scratching the surface!

Even still, I hope this gets your wheels turning, provides you with a basis to work from, and prompts you to start growing your author business and getting more sales for your books!

m.c. kennedy's questions

What are some good ways to run a successful pre-launch campaign?

Well, I’m actually in the process of running a pre-launch (aka, preorder) campaign, so why don’t I share some of the things I’m testing out?

(Keep in mind that this is my first time running a preorder/pre-launch campaign, so I can’t vouch for the effectiveness of this. However, I’ve done some research for all this, and I advise y’all to do your own research too! Actually, I may add this to the beginning of the post as a bit of a disclaimer…)

ANYWAY.

For starters, I wanted to host a ton of epic giveaways for Bound and Determined, so I started planning ahead and bought notebooks with one of the theme verses on them, had a necklace custom-made (which I’m not so sure I want to give away now…*clutches her pretty pearls tight*), and even got character art done for Daisy!!! (Y’all check out my artist, ,Hadassah Waugh!)

I didn’t go all-out for book swag/merch like I wanted to (because I plan on saving that for my ginormous series re-launch), but I definitely did way more than with my previous books.

Second, I’m doing a preorder campaign, in which I offer all readers who preorder BAD and submit their proof of purchase a bundle full of digital goodies (such as that character art). Not only does this give me an excuse to share about my book more, it also encourages readers to preorder, thereby boosting my sales/ranking on Amazon!

Third, I’m taking advantage of my AH-MAY-ZING street team, who are promoting BAD left and right! Putting together a street team or launch team can help TREMENDOUSLY in getting the word out about your book, growing your platform, and extending your reach!

Also, running a blog tour is fantastic! I’m not doing it for BAD (again, ginormous relaunch), but I did for Daylight (my 9/11 short story), and it was so fun and engaging for both me, my followers/readers, and the blogging community as a whole!

Now, I could go on and on and on about running a campaign (*coughs* currently taking a class on IMC campaigns right now, actually), but we’ll be here all day. So, those are my top tips/suggestions, although there’s a lot more you can learn, try, and put into it!

How early should you start marketing for a new book?

As early as absolutely, humanly possible.

I’m serious.

If you are positive that you will publish—or at least make available in some form—your project at some point in time, start marketing.

Now, marketing doesn’t always look like huge, flashy advertisements—most of the time, it’s just talking about your book and informing readers about your story with no ulterior motives. And, in some ways, that’s the best kind of marketing there is.

So, as soon as you know your story has a future, talk about it! Share snippets and character profiles and writing updates. Get your followers/readers invested in your work from the get-go! Not only will that make your job easier when it comes time to actually market, it also gives your readers the motivation they need to go out and buy/read your book!

How can you keep up the hype for an already-published book (without driving all your followers crazy)?

Good question! I’ve got a whole list of ideas and suggestions just for this!

Offer a sneak peek of your novel with the link to purchase it at the end. I do this on my website, where a link to download the sneak peek pops up on the homepage after a few seconds. I also just recently downloaded and read a sneak peek of another author’s book, and I swanny, I came thiiiis close to ordering the book afterwards. It really pulled me in, just as it was meant to. Always keep the book fresh on their minds. Like with the aforementioned story, the author made sure new readers/followers knew about this book (the first in their main series) before any other…they included the sneak peek at the end of an unrelated short story…and they just offered it for free on Amazon. Your first book—especially if it’s your debut novel as well as the first in a series—needs to be front-and-center everywhere, from on your website to on your social media to what you talk about. Don’t forget about it or push it aside, because if you do, readers will. On that note, discounting or offering your book for free (for a limited time) is always a fantastic idea. Capitalize on bookish holidays (it was National Read a Book Day earlier this month) or on days that are important to your book itself (publication anniversary, completion date, etc.). Even if you just knock off a couple of dollars for a day or two, not only will the sale give you an excuse to talk about the book, it’ll also be a great incentive for readers to purchase a copy! Also, sharing your favorite scenes, snippets, and quotes on your blog, in your newsletter, or on social media just for fun can be a great way to remind readers about your book and get them excited to start reading. It never hurts to share more and more about your story everyday! Behind-the-scenes, the creative process, what inspired it, deleted scenes, all about the characters, Q&As…the list goes on! Try and share new details about your book as often as you can. Offer review copies (either for a limited time, limited amount, or only certain readers) to keep a steady influx of reviews, boost exposure and sales, and have different voices promoting your book. Obtain author endorsements/editorial reviews from prominent book bloggers and authors in your genre. (Tip: DON’T use Kirkus Reviews. If you have to pay for a review, don’t do it. Just cold-call some authors in your genre/style and see what happens!) Work with other bloggers/influencers. Whether it’s a bookstagrammer, interviewer, or someone looking for guest posters, take advantage of social media influencers who are willing to share about your book and bloggers who will feature you on their blog! It also helps to offer or sponsor giveaways on their platforms! Speaking of giveaways, you can NEVER go wrong with a giveaway! Whether there’s one winner or five, or the prize is big (like a signed copy with merch) or small (like just an e-copy), no one can resist the chance to win, win, win! And capitalizing pn that is easy. vanessa's question

I've noticed that the first book in a series tends to be the most popular. What are ways to continue that interest throughout the remaining books in the series?

Part of carrying interest through the entire series actually starts with the first book. If you can build enough momentum for the first installment and draw in plenty of invested readers, then you’re already halfway toward a successful launch for any future installments—especially if you left Book 1 on a cliffhanger. *winks*

I think, a lot of times, readers either want a standalone book they don’t have to commit much to, or they want an entire series that’s consistently good quality and is readily available. So if your first book reads like a standalone, you’ll have to market the succeeding books as standalones. (Of course, they can be in the same series, but if they don’t focus on the same characters/storyline or tie up loose ends from Book 1, you can market it as a “reads-like-a-standalone” installment, which will probably get you more readers.)

And if your series declines in quality or is inconsistent…or, worse, you make your readers wait 3+ years (*glares at self*) for the next book, you’re bound to lose readers and have a difficult time gaining more.

Case in point, start strong so you can finish stronger. Set yourself up from the very beginning to have a very successful series…

BUT (and here’s the next part), don’t do everything all at once!

I personally did things way out of whack by not being prepared at all when I released my first two novels…however, what Gracie’s lack of patience meant for evil, God used for good, and now, with each book, I get to build on and make every launch better, bigger, and more memorable.

(Granted, I’m not going all out since I plan on re-releasing my current series and throwing a humongous party then, but still. I do do a little more each time.)

So, instead of doing the same old, same old every time you launch a book, shake it up a little! Do something new and different to keep old readers engaged and invite new readers to invest. Maybe you do a group giveaway…maybe you do a blog tour for the first time…or a scavenger hunt…or a preorder campaign…or book merch…or a special edition hardcover…or basically ANYTHING you haven’t already done! And even though most launch/marketing tactics seem time-consuming and outrageously expensive, there are ways to do these cheaply and timely.

For example, give away digital copies instead of physical ones. Run an Instagram tour instead of a blog tour. Do a digital preorder campaign instead of insanely expensive book boxes. Give out free ARC copies to friends instead of working with expensive promoters. Cold-call authors for endorsements instead of entering a ton of awards or paying for something like Kirkus Reviews.

And, lastly, on a non-launch-oriented note, invest your readers. Don’t just publish books out of the blue and expect your readers/followers to jump up and race to snag a copy. Be marketing and promoting from day one by sharing about your book on every platform in every way—from progress updates to aesthetic reels to snippets and sneak peeks. And draw your readers into the story by showing it to them even before the book is finished, and invest them in the process and the characters’ journeys so that they thirst to read it and find out what happens!

It never hurts to run a sale or two either, just to boost your sales on whatever book seems to be hurting for interest.

Maybe that helps? Although Held Captive is definitely my most popular book, I feel like interest grows with every book I put out there, so I don't really have much experience. Mainly because my platform grows as well—which is another great way to increase interest. Start by increasing your platform and following rather than focusing solely on how interested your current readers/followers seem. For one, if they ain’t interested, find someone who is. For two, people will often be more interested and invested than they seem.

So there’s that.

kristina's questions

How do I get more sales on Amazon?

Hmm. I’m not sure if I’m the one to ask—I’m not necessarily a bestseller. But, I have tried a few beneficial things before (like Kindle free promos), and I’ve done some research on some other methods!

Acquire and utilize endorsements from other authors that will (1) be featured on your Amazon book page and in/on future books, and (2) can be shared on other platforms to increase credibility and serve a recommendation from that author. Offer a discount or sale on your book to create a temporary boost in sales. Make your book free for a limited time. Now, it may seem like a poor choice…but freebies will surge to the top of Amazon’s bestselling lists, your sales with spike dramatically, you’ll gain more readers and potentially more reviews/exposure, AND (in my experience) you’ll gain a few extra paid sales right before and after the free promotion. Release a special edition or hardcover version. Keep your manuscript up to date. As an indie author, making necessary edits (like correcting typos, adding glossaries or cast lists, or cutting/adding scenes) is as easy as pie, so don’t hesitate to update your manuscript from time to time if you feel it’s necessary…and, of course, make it known that you have removed the typoes or extended the ending! Optimize your keywords/categories on Amazon. Simply putting your book in the right categories (oftentimes the more specific, the better) and switching up your keywords can make a world of difference! Now, keep in mind that keywords are more like key phrases, and they don’t necessarily have to be the generic “fantasy romance.” Try using phrases your potential readers might put in the search bar—like “beauty and the beast retelling,” “slow-burn enemies-to-lovers,” “royal secret identity,” “strong female lead,” etc. Try running an ad. I used Facebook ads once, but I would never recommend them. However, I have heard fantastic things about Amazon ads and look forward to trying them out in the future. Fortunately, regardless of how effective certain ads may be, trying them out for yourself is the best thing to do and won’t usually cost you an arm and a leg. I only paid $14 for my Facebook ad (which is probably why it didn’t do well, but FB ads don’t have the best rep anyway). So give it a try and see if it’s beneficial! Keep promoting your book! Just because all your old readers/followers are probably tired of hearing about it, new readers aren’t! They wanna know all they can and want to be invested into the story, so keep sharing about it, talking about it, and putting out fun content that gets readers engaged and interested!

How do I get readers excited for an upcoming release?

As my brother says, TALK ABOUT IT! If you aren’t consistently vocal about your upcoming book…people aren’t going to know about it or remember it, much less care about it!

So, how do you encourage excitement through your talking/posting rather than just throwing out TV commercial-style self-promos?

BE. EXCITED. If you, the author, are not excited about your own book…why are you even publishing it? *raises an eyebrow* Seriously, though, if you can exude genuine enthusiasm about your book, your readers will catch on. INVEST YOUR READERS. I know this is like the eightieth time I’ve said this, but it is so important! Share things that draw your readers in and make them feel like they’ve put time and effort into your story. Run polls for character names or ask for advice for mock covers—whatever! Just so long as you bring your readers into your story and into the process of putting it out there! On that note…I know some people think writing has become over-commercialized. I mean, we do title and blurb reveals now. Sometimes, we legitimately do over-hype things, so you have got to find a balance…but you also have to remember that balance doesn’t mean not hyping your book up at all. Plan things like cover reveals, blog tours, Instagram tours, etc. Give out advanced reading copies. Host giveaways. Turn even small things (*coughs* like titles) into celebrations if you feel like the hype is dying down. Lastly, share as much as you can! Now, I don’t mean sharing as often as you can, although that’s important too. I mean, share excerpts, character collages, character interviews, aesthetic reels, playlists, quote graphics—shoot, even recipes! All of these fun tidbits are some of readers’ favorite things, and they’re a fun, easy, and inexpensive way to hype up your release!

How do I maintain sales after the release?

Well, most of my tips for this are included in my answers for increasing sales and keeping up the hype (see above), so I’ll keep this short and throw in a few extra, outside-the-box ideas too!

Discount your book. Whether that’s knocking a dollar off or making it free for a limited time, try running a sale and see what happens. Now, don’t just change your price and move on—promote it! Send out email campaigns, blow up your social media, share about the sale on your blog, encourage others to tell their friends/followers, etc. This will not only give you a boost during the sale, but also for some time after it. Get more reviews. I’d try either giving away a limited amount of review copies or offering them for a limited time to gain more reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, etc., to bolster your book’s platform! Reaching out to reviewers—like top reviewers on Amazon, trusted bookstagrammers, or book bloggers—is another great way to get reviews. Stay in touch with your readers/followers—especially after your book launch. Don’t just throw a party and never contact your attendants again…you have to build relationships and constantly bug them keep your book on the forefront of their minds. Email newsletters are a great way to put your book in front of your potential readers’ faces, so try sending out an email campaign once or twice a month! Join group giveaways or promotions. Especially the free ones, like the ,indie author giveaway I’m putting together now! Organizations like JustRead Tours, Celebrate Lit Publicity, and even just lil’ old authors like myself often offer giveaways, blog tours, and other promotional outlets that you can sign up for (sometimes for a small fee, other times free) to have others doing all the heavy lifting in promoting your book! Capitalize on current events and pop culture. Write sweet Regency romance? Advertise your books as a clean alternative to Bridgerton. Write about superheroes? Promote your stories as something Marvel or DC fans will love. Wrote a Christmas novella? Share about it during Christmas. Story set on a remote island? Advertise it as a beach read. See what I mean?

There are so many other things you can do and ways you can shore up your books so that they generate sales for weeks and months to come, so give yourself freedom to try new things, ask others what has helped them, do your research, and find what works for you!

What do y'all think? Which of these methods would you like to try in the future? What tactics have prompted you to buy books before? What ideas or suggestions would you like to add? Let us know in the comments below!

Have more marketing questions? Drop them in THIS form! Missed my last post? Read it here!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#marketing #qanda #marketingqanda #publishing #forauthors #marketingforauthors #socialmedia #socialmediaforauthors #marketingadvice #marketingtips #socialmediamarketing

Book Spotlight: Untold by Vanessa Hall

Y'all...Vanessa Hall's Grace Sufficient series is SO. GOOD. I mean, it's a romantic suspense series set in Russia...with ballerinas, armwrestling, and spies! It can't get any better, now can it?

Y'all can check out my review of the first book, Unknown, here, and my review of the second (Unworthy) is coming soon! As for the third book, Untold, which released on July 30th...allow me to introduce y'all...

about the book

You can only run for so long …

Two years hasn’t erased the sting of betrayal and the shadow of the past, but Nikolai Alexandrov has finally found a way to live. Moscow, Russia, is the last place anyone would look for a rogue ex-CIA officer, and the members of Grace Baptist Church see beyond his past to the man he is now.

Molly Baird never wanted to be a missionary, but due to her father’s wishes, she lands in Moscow to aid her missionary cousin, Gabe Kelly. All is foreign in the massive city, though, rendering her unable to serve. Only the few English speakers in Grace Baptist’s congregation hold a trace of familiarity—including Nikolai, whose kindness she can’t deny.

Yet when a sniper’s bullet strikes far too close, Nikolai and Molly are thrown together in a desperate race against untold threats. When time runs out, will Nikolai and Molly be able to trust God with the past—and with the future?

snag your copy about the author

Vanessa Hall is an author, musician, and homeschool graduate. Most days, she is reading, writing, or practicing the violin—or trying to find time for all three pursuits. Currently, she is working toward gaining a degree in instrumental music education. But above all, she is a sinner saved and held fast by the abounding grace of Jesus Christ.

You can connect with her through her website, Goodreads, and Bookbub, and learn more about her books on Amazon or by subscribing to her newsletter!

giveaway + sale

First off, book 1 in the Grace Sufficient series is only $0.99!!! So if you wanna jump right into this epic series, start with Unknown, $0.99 on Amazon!

And if you just can't wait to read the next two books, Unworthy and Untold (or if you've already read Unknown), then guess what! Vanessa is offering one very lucky winner an e-copy of each book, and you can enter to win HERE! (Winner will be announced on Vanessa's blog on October 1st and thereafter contacted by email to receive their prize. Giveaway open to entrants 18 and older.)

tour

Friday, September 23

Kristina Hall – Spotlight

Rachel – Spotlight

Emma – Review

Rachel Anne English – Spotlight and Author Interview

Vanessa Hall - Tour Kickoff + Giveaway Announcement!

Saturday, September 24

Kristina Hall – Review

Anna – Review

Vanessa Hall - An Author’s Perspective: What Do I Love Most About My Characters?

Lorelai Angelo – Spotlight

Sunday, September 25

Jolene @ Beauty in the Binding – Spotlight

Monday, September 26

Kristina Hall – Character Questionnaire (Daniil, Evgeny, and Gregor)

Grace A. Johnson – Spotlight

Kirby @ The Preppy Book Princess – Review

Tuesday, September 27

Stephanie @ Books Less Travelled – Review

Lillian Keith – Spotlight

Charity Henico – Review

Wednesday, September 28

Lillian Keith – Author Interview

Saraina Whitney – Review

Issabelle Perry – Review

Thursday, September 29

Stephanie @ Books Less Travelled – Author Interview

Madisyn Carlin @ Madi’s Musings – Spotlight and Author Interview

Vanessa Hall - Music of Untold (In Which I Gift You with A Playlist!)

Friday, September 30

Katja L. @ Old-Fashioned Book Love – Spotlight and Review

Rachel Anne English – Review and Character Questionnaire (Nikolai)

Abby Burrus – Review

Issabelle Perry – Author Interview

Saturday, October 1

Saraina Whitney – Character Questionnaire (Molly)

Kayti - Review

Vanessa Hall - Wrapup + Giveaway Winners!

Sounds amazing, doesn't it? ESPECIALLY a sale and a two-book giveaway!!! Y'all don't wanna miss this, or all the other epic posts in the tour!

Have y'all read any of Vanessa's books? What about stories set in Russia or involving ballerinas? Let me know in the comments below! *grins*

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#bookspotlight #newrelease #giveaway #sale #onsale #romanticsuspense #christianfiction #romance #suspense #blogtour

New Release: Untold by Vanessa Hall

Y'all...Vanessa Hall's Grace Sufficient series is SO. GOOD. I mean, it's a romantic suspense series set in Russia...with ballerinas, armwrestling, and spies! It can't get any better, now can it?

Y'all can check out my review of the first book, Unknown, here, and my review of the second (Unworthy) is coming soon! As for the third book, Untold, which released on July 30th...allow me to introduce y'all...

about the book

You can only run for so long …

Two years hasn’t erased the sting of betrayal and the shadow of the past, but Nikolai Alexandrov has finally found a way to live. Moscow, Russia, is the last place anyone would look for a rogue ex-CIA officer, and the members of Grace Baptist Church see beyond his past to the man he is now.

Molly Baird never wanted to be a missionary, but due to her father’s wishes, she lands in Moscow to aid her missionary cousin, Gabe Kelly. All is foreign in the massive city, though, rendering her unable to serve. Only the few English speakers in Grace Baptist’s congregation hold a trace of familiarity—including Nikolai, whose kindness she can’t deny.

Yet when a sniper’s bullet strikes far too close, Nikolai and Molly are thrown together in a desperate race against untold threats. When time runs out, will Nikolai and Molly be able to trust God with the past—and with the future?

snag your copy about the author

Vanessa Hall is an author, musician, and homeschool graduate. Most days, she is reading, writing, or practicing the violin—or trying to find time for all three pursuits. Currently, she is working toward gaining a degree in instrumental music education. But above all, she is a sinner saved and held fast by the abounding grace of Jesus Christ.

You can connect with her through her website, Goodreads, and Bookbub, and learn more about her books on Amazon or by subscribing to her newsletter!

giveaway + sale

First off, book 1 in the Grace Sufficient series is only $0.99!!! So if you wanna jump right into this epic series, start with Unknown, $0.99 on Amazon!

And if you just can't wait to read the next two books, Unworthy and Untold (or if you've already read Unknown), then guess what! Vanessa is offering one very lucky winner an e-copy of each book, and you can enter to win HERE! (Winner will be announced on Vanessa's blog on October 1st and thereafter contacted by email to receive their prize. Giveaway open to entrants 18 and older.)

tour

Friday, September 23

Kristina Hall – Spotlight

Rachel – Spotlight

Emma – Review

Rachel Anne English – Spotlight and Author Interview

Vanessa Hall - Tour Kickoff + Giveaway Announcement!

Saturday, September 24

Kristina Hall – Review

Anna – Review

Vanessa Hall - An Author’s Perspective: What Do I Love Most About My Characters?

Lorelai Angelo – Spotlight

Sunday, September 25

Jolene @ Beauty in the Binding – Spotlight

Monday, September 26

Kristina Hall – Character Questionnaire (Daniil, Evgeny, and Gregor)

Grace A. Johnson – Spotlight

Kirby @ The Preppy Book Princess – Review

Tuesday, September 27

Stephanie @ Books Less Travelled – Review

Lillian Keith – Spotlight

Charity Henico – Review

Wednesday, September 28

Lillian Keith – Author Interview

Saraina Whitney – Review

Issabelle Perry – Review

Thursday, September 29

Stephanie @ Books Less Travelled – Author Interview

Madisyn Carlin @ Madi’s Musings – Spotlight and Author Interview

Vanessa Hall - Music of Untold (In Which I Gift You with A Playlist!)

Friday, September 30

Katja L. @ Old-Fashioned Book Love – Spotlight and Review

Rachel Anne English – Review and Character Questionnaire (Nikolai)

Abby Burrus – Review

Issabelle Perry – Author Interview

Saturday, October 1

Saraina Whitney – Character Questionnaire (Molly)

Kayti - Review

Vanessa Hall - Wrapup + Giveaway Winners!

Sounds amazing, doesn't it? ESPECIALLY a sale and a two-book giveaway!!! Y'all don't wanna miss this, or all the other epic posts in the tour!

Have y'all read any of Vanessa's books? What about stories set in Russia or involving ballerinas? Let me know in the comments below! *grins*

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#bookspotlight #newrelease #giveaway #sale #onsale #romanticsuspense #christianfiction #romance #suspense #blogtour

Review: Worthy of Legend by Roseanna M. White

Stars: 5

Synopsis: There is still treasure to be found among the Isles of Scilly...and Lady Emily Scofield is determined to keep her cruel, greedy brother Nigel from finding it. Alongside the grumpy Lord Bram Sinclair, the compassionate Tremaynes, and the quirky Howes, Emily discovers a wealth of treasure greater than even the legends told—love, forgiveness, and redemption.

What I Loved: What can I say? Every aspect of White’s novels is (almost) impeccable, and Worthy of Legend is no exception. She immediately drew me into the story with her adorable knight in shining armor, Bram Sinclar, and timid Lady Emily Scofield and their tender love story.

Naturally, Bram was a doll. He did remind me a great deal of Barclay, Samuel, Brice, and a whole host of her other heroes, which kept him from standing out like he had in the previous two books...and he simply cannot compare to Sheridan, so there’s that. I wanted more of him being a grump face too, but I guess that’s because I am a grump have a weakness for grumpy characters.

ANYWAY, he was such a dear, and I loved getting a glimpse into his mind and witnessing his fierce desire to protect Emily (and the other women in his life). That trait, so wonderful and pure and right, is so despised in today’s culture, and it saddens me. *sighs* But I digress, else I’ll start ranting.

As for Emily...she was lovely—not a favorite, no, but actually tolerable enough to dance with. Since I have a hard time liking heroines, it means a lot when I say Emily didn’t annoy me at all and was rather admirable. I ADORED her character growth and the way she recognized her faults and strove to do better, seeking God all the way.

And of course I loved the rest of the cast—especially Sheridan, but y’all know that. Vandermeer was a new favorite—so full of wit and precarious mystery and Americanisms, naturally. I shipped him and Millie right from the start, and his interactions with Bram? Pure gold.

The themes and messages and character growth were all exceptional, and I just love how authentic the faith content is. There’s nothing forced or over-the-top or too subtle—everything flows smooth and feels natural and addresses tough questions in a way that reads as real instead of academic paper on the subject. That’s a rare find in anything these days.

Even though this is the last book, let it be duly noted once more than I love the concept. Buried treasure (in a more realistic way than typically depicted in popular culture)? A beautiful island setting? A wee bit of adventure, suspense, and action? Tell me, what is not to love?

What I Didn’t Love: I hate to say it...but even though Emily didn’t annoy me, she didn’t stand out much to me either, but not for lack of character strength and development. It was simply that she reminded me of other characters, and I simply didn’t connect with her and her personality. Is that typical? Yes. Does that mean I like that? Nope.

But moving on…

I tried SO hard to like Tommie...but I failed miserably. For one, she seemed like a copied-and-pasted version of Deirdre from the Ladies of the Manor series, and similar to several other characters too. She didn’t have a very strong personality, and I felt like she either needed more page time to fully develop her or less so that Emily and Bram could flourish.

Speaking of page time and development, it may have just been me, but both romances—Bramily’s and Tomyon’s—seemed kinda rushed. I think a couple more scenes might have helped in that department, though.

And the fact that one minute Bram wanted to protect Emily and the next minute wanted her to protect herself seemed like a bit of a random contradiction. Like, I get it, and I agree that Emily needed some confidence and a gun, but the way it was written seemed a little feministic. *shrugs* But I am paranoid about that stuff, so it could’ve been me.

Also. WHERE WAS MAMM-WYNN??? Like, I feel like she only had two sentences in the whole novel, and that is WRONG. She is the backbone of the series, and for her to just fade into the background is like sin. *sobs* I missed her so much. Same with Sheridan and Beth. I wanted moooore.

Long Story Short: Regardless, this was still a five star read. (Maybe more like four and a half, but whatever.) My pet peeves aside, Worthy of Legend was a worthy ending to this legendary romance series! White did it again, folks. She pulled you into this wild treasure hunt, spun stories of pirates and kings the likes of Mr. Gibson’s tall tales, and led you to the ultimate treasure: love.

(That said, I expect a Christmas novella with all these couples—all seven of them, I think it is—celebrating as a huge family in the Scillies!)

Disclaimer: I received an advanced review copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

snag your copy about the author

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#bookreview #review #secretoftheisle #roseannamwhite #historicalfiction #historicalromance #intrigue #mystery #adventure #romance #christianfiction

Bound and Determined Preorders are Live!

TODAY IS THE DAY, MY LOVELIES! Today is the day that Bound and Determined is OFFICIALLY available for preorder!!!

Now, I know what you're thinking..."So what? I'm not interested in preordering anything."

Well, about that...this ain't just any preorder, peeps. Not only can you receive a SPECIAL preorder price ($2.99 instead of $5.99, which is what the price will be when it releases), you can also receive an EPIC bundle of goodies!!!

But first, allow me to introduce y'all to the book itself...

about the bad boy

Port Royal, Jamaica

1686

​

A wicked twist of fate—or perhaps the hand of God—has landed Captain Rina Bennet in the most precarious situation yet. When her husband and the father of her twin boys leaves at the behest of a family friend, she is left to take charge of the ship she has not sailed on in two years, alongside her two toddlers. She finds herself between a rock and a hard place when her first voyage drastically turns into a rescue mission, leaving her to the ghosts of her old life.

Daisy Sharow has risked it all by escaping from her owner’s tavern in search of her sister. Following God’s direction, she seeks out the only person she trusts to help her: Keaton Clarke. When Daisy stows away aboard the Rina, quartermaster Keaton is faced with a ghost from his past and a decision neither he nor Rina are prepared to make.

Rina has to make a judgment call when the ghosts come knocking, a call that could mean either life or death—for both an innocent girl and herself. Can Daisy, Keaton, and Rina band together to save Daisy’s sister...or is the risk too great?

Bound and Determined is the third novel in the Daughters of the Seven Seas series, which releases on November 17th, 2022. You can read the content/trigger warning before ordering here .

preorder your copy preorder perks Character art of Daisy, the heroine A flash fiction piece sure to make you tear up Several bonus scenes for the extended ending A printable recipe card An excerpt of the first few chapters Printable bookmarks Character aesthetics + access to the Pinterest boards An exclusive instrumental soundtrack + access to the chaotic Spotify playlist Downloadable desktop/phone wallpapers AND a free entry into my EPIC giveaway, coming soon! (Giveaway will be available only in the US.)

That's right, y'all! Every single reader who preorders BAD and submits their proof of purchase can receive EVERYTHING up there! It's all digital, so US and international readers can all get their share of the treasure!

To submit your proof of purchase, all you have to do is either take a screenshot of your purchase receipt from Amazon or simply forward your order confirmation email to me at graceajohnson.author@gmail.com, THEN fill out the form below!

Apart from that, the only other information you need to give is your name and email address to receive your goodies! No shipping address required!

about the captain

Grace is a teenage authoress who has loved books since she was two years old. From Junie B. Jones to Nancy Drew, words and the worlds they create have always been a part of her. At ten years old, she felt the urge to pick up her pencil and start writing some worlds of her own. Now, six years later, she has written and self-published two novels, a novella, and five short stories. She’s obsessed with history, etymology (the study of words; not to be confused with entomology, the study of insects), Jane Austen, art, and music—and when she’s not writing, you can find her reading, snapping photos of books, cooking, and rocking out to her favorite bands.

She lives in beautiful (but humid) South Georgia, surrounded by farmland and forestry (and not as close to the beach as she’d like), with her parents and six younger siblings. Her dream is to be a wife and a mother, follow the Spirit to the mission field, and inspire other young writers to reach for the sky! You can learn more about her by checking out her blog, subscribing to her newsletter, and following her on Instagram @graceajohnsonauthor!

*beams* I dunno about y'all, but I am BEYOND ecstatic for the release of BAD + this epic preorder campaign! If you'd like to learn more about Bound and Determined, check out the following posts below!

Cover Reveal: Bound and Determined by Yours Truly What's My WIP Tag Know the Novel Part 3: Words Written Know the Novel Part 2: Within the WIP Know the Novel Part 1: Introduction BAD Sneak Peek 1 BAD Sneak Peek 2 BAD Sneak Peek 3 BAD Sneak Peek 4 BAD Sneak Peek 5 Meet the Character: Keaton Edward James Clarke Meet My MC Linkup

Y'all have fun reading through that loooooong list, and don't forget to preorder before Nov. 17th to receive your preorder perks! Love y'all, and thank you all for your fantastic support and encouragement through this journey! *hugs*

yours in spirit and script, Grace

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