Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 16

Coming Soon: Dìlseachd – A Stolen Crown by Cheyenne van Langevelde

Y'allllllll. This absolutely amazing author is quickly climbing to the top of my list...Cheyenne van Langevelde is writing the stories I've always wanted to read - exploring old worlds and ancient times in a new way - and I cannot wait to dive into her upcoming release, Dìlseachd – A Stolen Crown!

Wondering why? Just keep on reading! I know that blurb will pull you right in, just like it did me!

about the book

A TIME OF DARKNESS

Six years since the Danes invaded Scotland, slaying her finest men. Five since the Highland King married one of the enemy, betraying his countrymen and losing the Lowlanders’ support. Three since the king died and the Danes imprisoned the remaining blood heir to the throne.Her crown stolen, her country desolated, Fiona McCurragh now faces the looming threat of execution.

The Lowlanders, weary of enemy rule, seek to free their stolen homeland. With the aid of a blind harper, they attempt to rescue their Highland princess when the Danes ride in on Lowlander territory, shattering the fragile peace. The Scots are left with no choice except to launch a war in the face of the coming winter. If they do not attack now, the Scots—and their princess—may not live to see the spring.

In the face of despair, Fiona McCurragh finds courage in friendship with two chief’s sons. Yet conflict lies on more than one side, and for some of the Scots and their allies, loyalty no longer has any meaning.

snag your copy about the author

Cheyenne van Langevelde is a young author and musician whose greatest passion is weaving tales through story and song. When not struggling to attempt the most metaphorical prose, she enjoys composing and recording soundtrack pieces for books, practicing calligraphy and Irish dance, and studying the Welsh language. She occasionally emerges into the real world to restock her chocolate supply, of which she hoards like a dragon would his gold.

You can connect with her on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Goodreads, and Pinterest!

Also. Don't y'all just LOVE that cover??? I know that'll look absolutely gorgeous on my shelf! *winks*

Y'all be sure to add Dìlseachd – A Stolen Crown to Goodreads, and follow Cheyenne on social media to keep an eye out for ARC signups! This is a historical tale you won't wanna miss!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#comingsoon #preordernow #historicalfiction #historicalromance #christianfiction #indiebook #upcomingrelease #indie #preorder

Author Interview: Cheyenne van Langevelde

I first saw Cheyenne and her debut novel, Between Two Worlds, on Goodreads a year or two ago. The book looked interesting, I added to it my want-to-read shelf, and started following Cheyenne...but it wasn't until I (finally) showed up on Instagram that I got a chance to connect with this amazing, creative, and inspiring young author, musician, and dancer! She's quickly become a fabulous friend, and I am SO excited to introduce her (and her work) to y'all! I think you'll like her just as much as I do! *winks*

What first inspired you to write?

Reading novels by Rosemary Sutcliff! I hated writing because of the curriculum we had been using, since it destroyed any creativity. But after reading her books about Roman Britain and falling in love with her style of storytelling (especially in The Shining Company), I decided to give writing another try. (Also switching curriculums helped!)

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

Honestly, it’s the act of storytelling. Giving a voice to the scenes and dialogue and actions both of story and characters in my head. I think it’s especially the gift of being able to tell the stories I wish I could have read when I was younger, writing stories of hope and courage regardless of setting and atmosphere.

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

Besides the obvious one, Rosemary Sutcliff, other HUGE influencers are Emily Hayse, Verity Buchanan, J.R.R. Tolkien, Marcus Zuzak, Leigh Bardugo, and Brianna De Man—who isn’t published yet, but has taught me so much, both as a writer and editor.

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

Reading wise, favorite genre is historical fiction, but I also have fallen in love with fantasy in recent years. Not the mainstream type, mind. I like original and fresh storytelling. As far as writing goes, I write mostly historical fiction, but I’ve also written some fantasy, sci-fi/literary fic, and one Phantom of the Opera telling that classifies as paranormal, apparently. Only very lightly so, I tend to avoid most of that stuff like the plague.

What do you do when you aren’t writing?

Usually I’m at work. Or on social media. In terms of hobbies, though, I enjoy Irish dance, reading (a lot!), traditional calligraphy, editing and graphic design, and most importantly, composing music.

Looking back, what has changed for you as a writer—be it how you write or what you write about?

My first few stories were me just trying to imitate my favorite authors and and write about the characters in my head going on adventures. I’ve since learned that trying to imitate is only going to bring frustration because I can’t be the second Rosemary Sutcliff etc. but I can be the only one of me. Discovering what my own style was, establishing my author brand has probably been the biggest learning curve for me as a writer. (Also, to give perspective, I’ve been writing seriously since the end of 2015 and only discovered what my “author brand” was in 2021. So if you feel like you still haven’t figured it out, don’t sweat it. It doesn’t come at once.) This has been especially important since I tried out a variety of genres and learned that I can write almost anything once I have established what my style is like.

Another huge change was learning how to actually tell a story. Unfortunately, writing dialogue and description isn’t all you need to write a story. Studying how to show character emotion, understanding story conceit, and how to build an interesting plot were all things I had to learn over time—and am still learning. Writing is an art, and like any art, you will always have something new to learn.

Out of all of your books (published or unpublished), which one is your favorite? Why? (Bonus question: who is your most favorite character?)

All of my stories hold a special place in my heart (or at least most of them do). But my all-time favorite, my magnum opus, is definitely The Princess of the Highlands Trilogy. The first book, Dìlseachd - A Stolen Crown, is releasing this September. Not only have I been working on this the longest, but this was the prime story concept that I wanted to read when I was younger. Granted, it’s taken me six years to really develop it into what I originally envisioned it to be, but I think all the hard work has paid off.

Favorite character out of this trilogy…this is a tough question. I love them all in different ways and I think it unfair to decide between my trio, Fiona, Angus, and Malcolm. Fiona is unashamedly me. Just far prettier. Writing about her struggles of unworthiness and doubt was a way for me to work through many of the issues I was going through when I was the age she is supposed to be in the first book. Angus is also me in some ways, and his trauma and consequently path toward healing gave me hope that there was a way out for me as well. Malcolm…is just Malcolm. I’ve yet to meet a reader who DIDN’T like him. 100% a cinnamon roll, his childlike innocence has been described as a breath of fresh air in an otherwise rather grim story, and the way he believes in hope and a new day gives me courage. (I’ve also received death threats from readers in case anything ever happens to him. Of which I can promise nothing.)

What does your writing process look like? Do you pants? plot? How long does it usually take you to write a novel?

I’ll be completely honest with you here. I haven’t actually written anything “new” in over two years. I’ve just been so busy editing works I wrote years ago. But I do have some stories I have started that are back burner during this publishing stage, don’t worry. I haven’t given writing up.

Originally, I used to just pants my way through a novel. Dìlseachd - A Stolen Crown was such a book, which made it a nightmare to edit. Generally, I have a loose outline so I know where the story most likely will end up, and then pants the rest of it. However, my latest story is actually quite detailed in its plot and I wrote most of it out just so I remember everything that needs to happen.

I’ve participated in challenges like NaNoWriMo, and have completed writing books within a month. I also have books that have taken me years to write that are still unfinished because I had to focus on other things. It really depends on the book and what stage of life I’m at at the time.

What made you choose self-publishing?

I actually never intended to self-publish. But after finding myself in a situation where (this was for my debut, Between Two Worlds) I had signed with a hybrid press and had a fundraising campaign going, I knew that if I split with them, I either had to refund everyone and start all over, or split, keep the fundraiser going, and self-publish. After doing lots of research, I decided to go with self-publishing. And if I’m honest, while there are a few stories I might try to traditionally publish, I like the aspect of being able to control every part of the process and not worry about someone else ruining your vision for your book. I love self-publishing, even as costly as it can be sometimes.

What are your thoughts for other aspiring writers on writing and publishing?

Oh goodness, there is so much I could say. Writing wise, I think the most important advice I ever received was this: write for yourself, edit for your audience. It’s a struggle, especially for me being a perfectionist, to spend too much time making the words perfect the first time and consequently never getting anything done. But you can’t edit what you don’t have, so just go write it. You can fix it later.

As far as publishing goes, this is split both ways. If you’re seeking traditional publishing, be mindful that it is a hard and oftentimes long journey. It’s going to require endless amount of patience. It’s going to sting when you receive rejections, especially on full requests. But be mindful that your identity isn’t in your work. People aren’t critiquing YOU, but your work. And so often, it’s subjective more than anything else.

The same goes for self-publishing. It can be hard and costly to find the right editors, cover designers, etc., but the end product is worth it and feels so much more special and intimate because of it. Negative reviews and low sales can be very discouraging. But remember, it’s all part of the journey. No one has an easy time of it. Your identity isn’t in your story, so never feel attacked. (And unless the agent or reviewer is completely a jerk, majority of cases, you will not be verbally attacked either.) It’s all subjective, which makes sense when you remember that writing is an art form. Not everyone loves the same painting or piece of music. Same goes for your story.

Dìlseachd – A Stolen Crown is your upcoming release—can you tell me a little bit about it?

I could be smart and chuck the blurb at you. So I’ll just say this intro and then give the blurb since I worked too hard on it not to use it. ^_^

Think Disney’s BRAVE meets BRAVEHEART.

A TIME OF DARKNESS

Six years since the Danes invaded Scotland, slaying her finest men.

Five since the Highland King married one of the enemy, betraying his countrymen and losing the Lowlanders' support.

Three since the king died and the Danes imprisoned the remaining blood heir to the throne.

Her crown stolen, her country desolated, Fiona McCurragh now faces the looming threat of execution.

The Lowlanders, weary of enemy rule, seek to free their stolen homeland. With the aid of a blind harper, they attempt to rescue their Highland princess when the Danes ride in on Lowlander territory, shattering the fragile peace. The Scots are left with no choice except to launch a war in the face of the coming winter. If they do not attack now, the Scots—and their princess—may not live to see the spring.

In the face of despair, Fiona McCurragh finds courage in friendship with two chief's sons. Yet conflict lies on more than one side, and for some of the Scots and their allies, loyalty no longer has any meaning.

Which part of Dìlseachd – A Stolen Crown was the easiest to write, and what was the hardest? Where did you stumble and second-guess yourself in the writing of this novel?

The easiest parts were actually some of the most emotionally high-strung sequences. I can’t say much for fear of spoiling. Those scenes were the ones that came easiest to mind prior to writing and still the ones I see most clearly in my head. The most challenging part of answering this question, honestly, is the fact that the first draft was the mere bare bones of this story. 75% of this story was written later during the editing stages. To give some perspective, the first draft was 34k words. The final draft, including the hardcover extras, is a couple hundred words short of 99k.

The hardest parts were things like battle sequences and just ordinary day life. Making the battle sequences interesting and believable, and making ordinary day life not “boring”.

What do you want your readers to take away from this story?

Oh, this is a great question. I think, besides enjoying the story for the sake of the story, it’s the themes. Hope in the face of adversity is the underlying theme of the entire series, but loyalty is the primary theme of book one. (Hence the title, dìlseachd: loyalty in Scots’ Gàdhlig) Hope in the face of despair and loyalty vs abandonment are very personal things to me, and became such a huge part of writing this book. I hope that readers are encouraged by seeing my characters grow courageous and persevere in spite of everything they go through.

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

I think any author would be lying if they said they never got discouraged. I know I definitely have, especially with working on this story for so long, seeing all the mistakes even after rounds and rounds of editing. I just had to keep in mind that this work is going to pay off someday. J.R.R. Tolkien took 14 YEARS to write the beloved Lord of the Rings and even he had doubts about it. And it’s still the most popular fantasy book sold today. If he pushed through, then so can I.

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

It’s cliché to say I’d like to write full-time, and I actually don’t want to. Because as a creative, I need breaks to refresh and depending on writing as my main source of income would be far too stressful.

I’d love to have a successful business with editing and cover design, helping other authors fulfill their dreams. But we’ll see what ends up happening. ;)

What has being a writer taught you?

So many things. It’s taught me to be compassionate for people, to try to understand where they come from. (This stems from trying to be better at portraying my characters on the page for readers to understand and sympathize with). It’s taught me to be patient, to learn that I can’t force myself to be creative. It’s taught me the wonder that comes with describing ordinary things and making them extraordinary. It’s taught me that no one is in the same boat and it’s harmful to compare individual journeys. But most importantly, it’s taught me that my words are not my own and to be grateful to the One who’s given me the gift of story-telling and allowed me to write the books I always wanted to read.

about the author

Cheyenne van Langevelde is a young author and musician whose greatest passion is weaving tales through story and song. When not struggling to attempt the most metaphorical prose, she enjoys composing and recording soundtrack pieces for books, practicing calligraphy and Irish dance, and studying the Welsh language. She occasionally emerges into the real world to restock her chocolate supply, of which she hoards like a dragon would his gold.

You can connect with her on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, Goodreads, and Pinterest!

Y'all make sure to follow this girl! She puts out some amazing content, from inspirational posts on Instagram to beautiful music on YouTube and Spotify! And definitely check out her books! My review of Between Two Worlds, a lovely biblical novel fans of Francine Rivers will love, will be coming soon, and I'll be sharing about her upcoming release soon! (Y'all, I am SO excited for Dìlseachd – A Stolen Crown!! I dunno about y'all, but it sounds AH-MAY-ZING!)

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#authorinterview #interview #indieauthor #christianauthor

Romance Q&A Pt. 1: Married Couples, Subtlety, & the Importance of Romance

WHOA. Y'all, it's only been about a week since I posted my romance Q&A form...and I've already got dozens of questions! I just picked out a few questions for this post, so expect three or four more in the coming weeks! And y'all keep in mind that, uh, my answers are insanely long. Let's just say I get my Rina ramble on. *winks* So I've summed up the answer to each question in the last paragraph of my answer to keep things concise, and I've bolded the most important parts to make things memorable. Hopefully that'll help.

(Oh, and I wrote my answers out of order, so if I repeat myself, that's why.)

Now, before we get into it, if you have any questions (or more), just hop on over to this here form!

Without further rambling (actually, we're about to get into the real rambling), my first question!

vanessa's question

What are your best tips for writing romance that is more subtle (for example, small cues between the characters at the beginning of a romance)?

Gosh, I feel like the answer to every question could be (1) be balanced and authentic and (2) stay true to your characters and focus on them rather than the plot or romance criteria. *sighs* So to keep from repeating myself fifty times over, I’m gonna get really specific with this one!

First off, that answer-to-every-question still applies. One of my favorite romance-writing tips is to consider how your characters will express their attraction or love for another person! In the case of the first flush of romance, you’re going to be dealing more with attraction than love (most likely), so think of your character as having a crush. How would they communicate nonverbally to their crush that they like them? What behavior would they think is a sign their crush likes them back?

For example, a shy (or socially awkward) character wouldn’t bat her eyelashes or flirt with the hero…but she will follow him with her eyes (and immediately glance down as soon as he looks her way), defend him to her friends/family or comment about him seemingly at random, and sit close (or directly across) from him. But the outgoing hero will always be teasing her, flirting with her, brushing hands or bumping shoulders, and trying to keep her attention in every way he can!

When it comes to a subtle romance that’s already blossomed, you’ll need to figure out your characters’ love languages! You can’t confine your characters’ interactions to a strict criteria, no, but having an idea of what their love languages and expressions are will give you a foundation to begin with! If your heroine’s love language is quality time or acts of service, she’ll always be shuffling things around and sacrificing her time and energy for the hero (which could cause some friction, but I’ll save the love language analysis for another post *winks*). And if the hero’s is words of affirmation and physical touch, he’ll (you guessed it) still be brushing hands (or maybe holding hands) and flirting (and really meaning it when he says she’s the most beautiful girl he knows)! (Which, again, can cause conflict with our shy, awkward heroine who just wants to cook a nice meal and clean the kitchen with her busy boyfriend. …I should seriously write a whole post about all this.)

Second, language is key. There is literally a romance language (and I don’t mean French or Spanish), a way writers use simply their word choice to convey a myriad of emotions or foreshadow upcoming twists. In one of my side projects (which Vanessa got to read a few chapters of), I set up a love triangle within the first seven chapters, not because both heroes are flirting with the heroine or because the heroine is daydreaming about both…but because of my words and which ones I use. It’s that simple.

The first aspect of the romance language is what you write. Instead of skimming over your hero with a quick “he had brown hair and blue eyes,” you’re going to take the time to describe him in depth, because your heroine is taking note of exactly what he looks like. More than that, how you write it going to change; you’ll use more adjectives and adverbs (like “electrifying blue eyes” or “he winked teasingly”) and stronger nouns/verbs that add more definition (i.e., “he sauntered up to me” or “hazelnut curls that fell into his eyes”).

And you’ll dive deeper into actions, reactions, thoughts, and feelings than you would in any other character interaction. A conversation between the hero and his mother might look like this: She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “I know you’ll do great, Brett. You always do.” He smiled. “Thanks.” But when the heroine says the same thing to the hero, it’ll look more like this: She gave him one of her signature crooked smiles and a cheeky wink., melting all the doubt away. “I know you’ll do great, Brett.” Her hand, small but strong, squeezed his shoulder, the touch seemingly friendly but secretly tantalizing. “You always do.” He grinned back, cupping her hand with his. “Thanks.”

See the difference? Just a couple extra sentences turn this from a quick “You go, son” to an intense, emotionally charged moment between two friends who are on the fast track to becoming lovers. You don’t have to be as wordy as me, of course, but try following the pattern of action, description, reaction/thought/feeling, and see how it spices your interactions up!

This is how I managed a friends-to-lovers romance in my (very) short story, Daylight! A couple sentences established a colorful backstory for Sylvie and August (“I want to wait until he’s healed and home and we can watch Rambo in his next-door apartment while eating cold pizza and ice cream.”); a few well-placed words and extra descriptions give the illusion that Sylvie’s attracted to her best friend (“He just took my hand, squeezed it hard, and said in his low, sexy voice and raspy Bronx accent…”); and some deep, dark inner thoughts show the readers how Sylvie really does feel (“Gosh, I love it when he looks at me like that. Part teasing, part angry, part...almost hungry, really. As if he wants me as bad as I want him.”).

(Just a little personal plug here…if you wanna see that in action, you can find Daylight ,here!)

And there you have it, Vanessa! Two easy ways to hint at a romance are (1) to include your characters’ ways of showing attraction or expressing love, and (2) use language that shows the readers what the characters are thinking and how they feel! Of course, you can always find a list of generalized romance cues, but this way, you’ll stay more natural and authentic!

kristina's question

What are your best tips for writing romance between a married couple?

Ah, I LOVE this one! Most of y’all know that half of my romances are between married couples, as I write long series with the same characters, and I absolutely love developing my characters on into their married years! (It’s SO much more fun once they start having arguments and babies and really getting deep into their relationship!)

In my experience, I try not to think “Oh, these guys are married, so they’re going to act like XYZ.” I mean, these are my charries, my babies, my hardened female pirate and my gentle captain (or whichever characters I’m writing at the time), and that’s what I focus on. Their personalities and struggles and what they would say to their spouse and what conflict there would be between them and how they’d express their love and fun stuff like that.

So when it comes down to it, try not to go too far to the left or right – as in, don’t make the scene too argumentative (married couples don’t just argue, believe it or not) or too lovey-dovey. Balance it. Get deep. Like, scenes between the couple before they’re married will only go so far – and I mean emotionally, not just physically. With your husband and wife, get down to the nitty-gritty of their relationship, have them ask each other the hard questions, etc. But don’t be afraid to have a moment of just casual companionship. Everything doesn’t have to be climatic in their relationship – it can be just normal. Just a conversation. Just a kiss on the cheek.

Again, balance is key. *winks*

joelle's questions

How does one write realistic romance without making it touchy-feely?

Simple. Don’t make it touchy-feely.

OKAY OKAY. I’ll be serious here.

FOCUS ON YOUR CHARACTERS. Yes, that’s me being serious. This is also me repeating what I say about prettyyyy much everything. Don’t focus on the moment or what you’re writing or what your book would be rated if it were a movie or if your grandma would approve. Focus on who your characters are, what their life experiences are, what their love language is, etc. In the end, realism is dependent upon how well you stick to your characters and how authentic their actions, reactions, etc. feel.

Because, guess what. If your character’s love language is physical touch, your romance is gonna hafta be touchy-feely. If your character has a past of being a player, your romance may have a few touchy-feely moments. If your characters are married, you must have touchy-feeliness.

BUT. There is good news. When your characters don’t like physical touch…or haven’t been in relationships before…or have anxiety…or don’t trust people…or haven’t had good examples of relationships in their lives (the list goes on)...their relationship might not be touchy-feely.

On a more technical level, if you wanna bypass lengthy kiss scenes, be simple. Say “He leaned in and kissed her gently” rather than going on a three-page exposition. Don’t be overly vague about it, especially if you just spent three pages describing a tree (stay consistent, people), but don’t feel obligated to get all detailed. (Newsflash: if a reader reads clean/Christian romances, chances are they’re just there for the sweet “I love yous,” not the touchy stuff.)

Another thing to do is focus on the emotional aspect rather than the physical one. Write “He kissed her, and her world tilted upside down as she experienced a sweet, gentle touch like nothing she’d ever felt. His kiss was like a warm blanket, making her feel safe and treasured” instead of “He leaned in, grazing her cheek with his nose, as his breath wafted over her face, sending pinpricks of pleasure down her spine.” Can you read the difference? One snippet focuses on how the heroine feels on the inside, while the other one describes exactly what the hero is doing and how it makes the heroine feel physically. I recommend a balance of both, but a lot of people prefer to read–and write–just the emotional side of things, and a lot of times, that works perfectly for the scene and characters!

Or, you could just have those moments happen off-page unless they’re central to the plot. Or, set your story in a bygone era where most people didn’t even hold hands until after they were married (or model your fantasy world after a time period/culture like that).

Pretty sure this sums it up: focus on your characters and who they are. They will guide your romance and keep you straight on what their relationship will look like. Limit your detail and page-time. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER…just one kiss scene is plenty. In most romances, after the first kiss, the subsequent ones will be just a quick “He kissed her.” Or there won’t even be anymore. Don’t force yourself to throw in a bunch of smooching if that (1) is not what your characters would do and (2) isn’t necessary for the course of the story.

Why is romance important to those who are not ready for those kinds of thoughts?

Guess what. Romance has absolutely nothing to do with ”those kinds of thoughts.”

You don’t believe me.

Allow me to direct you to the infamous hand flex that the entire world has been going gaga over since 2005. Yes, a hand. Flexing. Just…flexing. In the air. By its owner’s side. So…boring.

And yet, for years, women have been fangirling over how blasted sweet and adorable and precious it was that Mr. Darcy was so affected by the touch of Elizabeth’s hand as he helped her out of a carriage. WOW.

And that’s not even romance. That is just an example of how something as simple as a necessary let-me-help-you hand touch could mean the world. As my friend Brooklyn O’Brennan put it, “love is the little things.” So is romance.

Romance is helping someone down from a carriage and savoring the feeling of their hand in yours. Romance is choosing to watch clouds with someone instead of playing ball with your buddies. Romance is longing to see someone, even though they just walked away a minute ago. Romance is bringing ice cream to cheer someone up. Romance is waiting in the car so that someone can open the door for you, because you know it makes him feel like a gallant knight. Romance is also opening the door for someone and helping her out of the car, because you’d rather help her out than have her trip and stub her toe. Romance is seeing the good in someone and helping bring it out. Romance is admiring someone even when they think they stink. Romance is just being calm and quiet...and soaking in someone’s presence…because you’d rather be in the middle of nowhere with them than on top of the world without them.

Does that make sense?

Romance is not “oh, he’s so cute, I love the way he makes me feel.” Romane is not “oh, let’s go out on Saturday night.” Romance is not “lemme buy them a bunch of fancy stuff so they’ll like me.”

Love is part of romance. Love, that beautiful thing that is not proud or unkind or impatient or selfish. Love, that outpouring of God’s heart among us. Love, that power that triumphs over death.

That’s part of romance, so you can’t tell me romance isn’t something amazing. It’s something God created and gave us, something He placed in our hearts to go hand-in-hand with some of His other lovely creations: marriage, sex, and, of course, love.

Case in point, romance matters to people who aren’t ready for mushy-gushy feelings and touchy-feely moments because it goes beyond that. Because God thought it was important enough to create. Because it’s a reflection of God’s feelings for us. Because it brings a little light and life into this world. Because it’s life-changing and powerful and beautiful and exciting and absolutely lovely. Because, without it, there are a lot of things that would be pretty darn boring. *winks*

And romance novels matter because they give us examples of relationships and people in those relationships. Some show us what not to do…others show us what to do. Either way, we can learn from them and be inspired by them to be the kind of spouse we’d want someday, to be the kind of person someone would daydream about and desire to be with, to be the kind of person worthy of a beautiful love story, to be the kind of person God has called us to be. We can strengthen our convictions through them, learn not to settle through them, and enhance our common sense with them.

But I digress. (Forgive my rant, Joelle.) Long story short, romance is important because it’s an amazing thing that goes beyond icky thoughts in its true state, because God created it and gave it to us, and because it is a small reflection of what Christ feels for His bride. Romance novels are important because they should go beyond ickiness to something real and meaningful, because they give us examples to learn from, and because they too are a reflection of God’s love–just like the Song of Solomon is!

HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU WRITE IT WITHOUT CRINGING AT YOURSELF?

*snorts* That’s easy. I treat it just like any other relationship. (That, and I ADORE romance and fangirl over my characters and ships ALL. THE. TIME.) Instead of trying to write the romance like a script for a Hallmark movie, keep things natural and authentic, and focus on developing their relationship just like you would a friendship or siblings. Of course, it’s not going to look the same, and you aren’t going to write the same interactions, but don’t overthink it or stress over it just because it’s a romance. And don’t make a checklist of romantic elements (like five kisses, three hugs, four “I love yous,” and one long mushy speech) to include in your story or feel like you have to meet a certain criteria–just let your characters lead the way, and let their romance play out how it will, in a natural and authentic way!

And, seriously. Don’t stress over it! Don’t read over your interactions and think “Oh, my gosh, this is so cringey!!” Just do your best, trust your gut, observe movies and other books and real-life couples, and have readers give their feedback! And even if your fictional relationship looks different than your parents’, friends’, or OTP’s (one true pairing) doesn’t mean it’s not realistic! Everyone’s romance is gonna be totally unique to them–even in books!

faith's question

How do you write a romance that shows both characters truly trying to honor God and each other in that romance, and what are some of your favorite books that have this aspect?

Honestly, there’s nothing that works better in this regard than a challenge. After all, you can never see growth unless you see a trial or challenge, refining fire, if you will.

So to really highlight characters seeking God and following His precepts, throw in some temptation and challenges. Whether that’s something as simple as them being made fun of for not laughing at a crude joke about their relationship…or it’s as serious as them making a conscious effort to wait for marriage, even when they wonder if their partner is pulling away from them. (If you get what I mean…)

Don’t force it, though. Don’t make every single romance story about a guy and girl fighting sexual temptation. Your couple’s struggles should be tailored to their characters, not to whatever message or ideal you want to enforce. If your character sinned in their past and still struggles, then please don’t leave that out! But if your characters have overcome or never dealt with certain temptations, don’t drag them into the story just to prove a point. That is preachiness.

Maybe one couple will struggle with communication, another with honesty. Another with respect. And even in struggles that aren’t of a sexual natural, your characters will need to rely on God to get them through and help them grow…and your readers will see not only how your characters’ faith is proven, but how they too can have the strength to stand firm in their beliefs and follow God’s precepts!

In summary: Provide temptation and challenges for your characters…but be focused on them, not the point you’re trying to make. Let their struggles flow naturally from them, not your plot, and have them make conscious efforts to choose God above all else.

As for books that showcase this…ANYTHING by Julie Lessman. I’m serious. She has a lot of stories that tackle purity and the importance of it, but they’re all genuine, real, and heartfelt–not forced or over-hyped. Basically, they feel authentic, not like a 2000s purity culture sermon. And she also weaves in tons of other elements–like honesty, respect, loyalty, etc.–to create a story that’s full of conflict…but also full of Christ!

brooklyn's question

What is your ideal romantic date night?

*facepalm* I knew I had it coming… LOL! Two words: bookstores and coffee. Seriously. Just me, my cute guy who is eerily similar to Mr. Darcy, and a huge bookstore/coffee shop aaaallll to ourselves. *sighs* (Okay, maybe a chaperone. And a barista. And a store clerk. ANYWAY.)

abigail's question

I for one would be curious about what instantly makes you 'love' certain romance stories more than others. What takes it from being just another...bleh...romance story to something worthy of notice?

This is being asked by both a writer and an avid reader, and having an answer for both angles would be nice.

This question is GOLD. I could spend a whole post on just this one! (Who am I kidding? I’ll say that about all the others too!)

The simple answer is shippability. If you’ve hung around the book world for a while, you’ll know what “shipping” means: wanting a relationship to develop between two characters. (Simple concept. Can’t believe it took this long for a word to be coined for it.) So from a surface level, the shippability of the characters/relationship itself is one of the most important elements. I have got to want the characters to get together, and I need a valid reason for that! Even if it’s just “they’re cute together,” when I have a reason to want the hero and heroine to become love interests, I’ll be investing a lot more into their romance.

On a deeper, more tangible level, I require three things: (1) a unique dynamic between the hero and heroine, (2) for the hero and heroine to have a positive impact on each other, and (3) for both (or one, if we’ve got a redemption arc going on) of the characters to bring God into the relationship.

Most Hallmark (or Hallmark-style) movies fall so short because every. single. one. is. exactly. the. same. You can literally boil every story down to “high-powered, dyed-hair executive moves back home and falls in love with an old flame/rugged man with a closely-trimmed beard and flannel who can’t really do much beyond chop fake wood with a prop ax while in a very thin shirt.” *coughs* The worst part about this overused trope is not that there’s always a businesswoman or always a rugged dude with an ax…it’s that the dynamic between the characters is always the same. They have a shared past, but they’ve been burned before, and they’re not ready to open back up to each other again, so they stay closed-off and defensive…but slowly they begin to realize that they were meant for each other all this time, and that there’s more to the other than meets the eye, and love is worth sacrificing their job/home…yadda, yadda, yadda.

It could be a surfer and a celebrity, a personal trainer and dog groomer, or photographer and chef. It could be set in a small town in the Midwest, on a ranch in Montana, or in Ireland. It could have all the disability rep and diversity you could ask for, but guess what? The dynamic follows the same pattern, and in the end, regardless of every other unique element, the story still gives off the same vibe as the executive and ax dude at Christmastime.

(Please keep in mind that there are about three other dynamic tropes that most romances follow; the example given is just the most, most common.)

And most historical romances I’ve read are still stuck in the “boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy loses girl, boy and girl get back together and live happily ever after” cycle. (Or girl meets boy, etc.)

Naturally, it gets boring, so when I find a romance that has a unique dynamic between the characters that flows from them and their personalities, experiences, backstories, etc., rather than a plot or relationship trope, I’m much more invested and excited about their relationship!

This is why slow-burn romances succeed. Think about your favorite TV show (yes, even that old Disney Channel show from your childhood *coughs* Kickin’ It *coughs*), where two of the characters were just perfect for each other, but the series stretched on and on and they never got together (except until, like, the veryyyyy end). Instead of relying on how the characters met and how their relationship was established, the screenwriters relied on the progression of their platonic relationship and their growth as characters to influence how viewers saw them and their potential romance. (Please tell me that makes sense.) It’s not about plot devices anymore. It’s about who the characters are and what the viewers see. Same goes for long book or film series.

Rant aside, focus on creating a genuine dynamic that is unique to your characters…because they are unique individuals, not tools in a trope that can be twisted whatever way. They are their own person, and just like their personal arc is unique to them, so is their romantic relationship! Just like *gasp* in real life!

My next point…positive impacts. Something that’s become a hot topic in the romance world (and other realms) is toxic relationships. Most people seem to think that they’re defined by how loud the man yells or how hard he may grab the girl’s arm before she stomps away…or if he kisses her without her written consent…or really whatever way the dude messes up and behaves in a politically incorrect manner. That is a toxic relationship…

WRONG.

A toxic relationship of any kind is when the two parties don’t have a positive impact on each other; in fact, it’s entirely negative. If the characters don’t build each other up, inspire the other to do better, motivate them to choose right, and promote selflessness…then they shouldn’t be together. They can make a myriad of other mistakes, but in the end, the characters should have been positively impacted and changed for the better by their relationship…and that should continue throughout the rest of their lives!

My favorite relationships are the ones where, yes, the heroine is manipulative and the hero doesn’t take her crap, but they also are the ones that stay when no one else does…who sees good in the other that they don’t even see in themselves…who motivates them to make the right choice next time. Whether it’s Charity and Mitch in A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman or a knight and his lovely lady, when I can see the positive impact the characters have on each other, I’ll be rooting for them to stick it out ‘til the end! After all, I wouldn’t want my precious characters saddled with someone who’ll make them miserable!

Lastly, they must bring God into the relationship. This goes hand-in-hand with having a positive impact. The characters have got to drag God into the relationship. Not just invite Him in and say, “Hey, God, come do Your thing,” but pick Him up and deposit Him in the middle of their relationship–not forcing, but making a conscious decision to choose God in everything they do, especially in regards to their romantic relationship. Even if it’s a one-sided deal (no, especially if it is), where only one character is a believer and the other has a redemption arc (or doesn’t...if your story’s a tragedy), that one Christian character has GOT to make an effort to bring God into their relationship, to seek Him and His will, to stand on His word, to follow His direction and precepts, to listen to Him and their convictions. THAT is what will make or break a relationship, especially a romantic one.

And that is what I want to see most. I want a relationship I can admire and appreciate. One, yes, that’s shippable and cutesy and full of GET TOGETHER ALREADY tension…but mostly one that inspires me not to settle, to seek after God and wait for a man who will challenge me and support me, a man who will inspire me to become more like Christ and to make wise decisions, a man who will love me like Christ loves the Church, even through our mistakes. A man who will bring God in and constantly choose Him, especially if that means choosing God over me.

That is what takes a romance over the top, leaving “bleh” in the dust.

If you made it through all this...God bless you! I'm so proud. *beams* Seriously. I know I went on and on (and probably stepped on some toes), but romance is SUPER important to me and something I feel called to talk about, so this was just perfect, and I had a ton of fun! (I actually don't have many romance posts on this blog, so this was loooong overdue!)

So, do you have any follow-up questions? Any recommendations that fit my criteria? Any other tips you'd like to add? Just leave 'em all in the comments, and let me know...what takes a romance from eh to AH! for you? Why is romance important to you? What's your OTP?

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#romance #qanda #romancewriting #christianromance #passion #authenticity #characterization #development #writingtips #writingadvice #writing

Author Interview: Victoria Lynn

Victoria's back, and this time with an encouraging and insightful interview! (If you didn't catch my review of her latest release, Once I Knew, this morning, you can read it here!)

Now, let's not waste time in introducing the lovely Miss Victoria Lynn - an inspiring and ambitious Christian author, editor, entrepreneur, marketer, author coach, and the list goes on!

What first inspired you to write and what has continued to motivate you?

I started writing simply because I didn't have enough stories that I wanted to read that I liked, so I ended up writing them simply for myself. It wasn't until about 7-8 years later that I realized others may like to read them and I have been motivated by the fact that stories are important and they have power to encourage and change peoples lives!Can you name any authors who have inspired your voice in different ways? How can you see their influence in your writing?

L.M. Montgomery and Louisa May Alcott have both massively inspired me. Their style definitely has seeped into my writing as I purposefully have an old fashioned form of prose that reminds me of them. Lord of the Rings definitely inspires me as well, though I didn't get into that till later in life. Looking back, what has changed for you as a writer—be it how you write or what you write about—over the last few years?

I think what God is talking to me about in any given moment definitely influences my writing. God has a way of having me do things I never thought I would do and taking me out of my element to try new things and step out of the box. That's something He tells me often, that I wasn't meant to be inside of a box and do what everyone else seems to think is the right thing. He has called me to do what He has called me to do, even if that is against the norm. What's the story behind Once I Knew? What has inspired you to persevere through your work on this novel?

I started writing it for a writing prompt on my blog. It was going to be super short and that was going to be the end of it. BUT... the Lord had other plans. I wrote another chapter, then another and then I had the idea for the entire story and I couldn't not write more. I started writing it as a novel but then God asked me to take a break. Life got really intense and there was a lot going on, so I did. It was super hard to stop, but I knew it was important to be obedient to what He was asking. He opened the door in 2021 and asked me to finish writing it. It was like an instant faucet had been turned on, and inspiration came back. I also felt it important to get the story into the world so I was determined to finish it!What do you want, most of all, for readers to take away from Once I Knew?

I hope they are filled with hope and reminded that God has a plan for their lives. I pray that they are inspired to pursue what God has called them to and embrace their destiny and legacy. What has being a writer taught you?

Not to give up and that God cares about our stories as much as we do! What led you to choose self-publishing? Will you continue to self-publish, or do you have plans to traditionally publish one day?

I'm open to whatever door the Lord opens for me! I feel led to continue self-publishing for as long as I can, but I would love to be a hybrid author someday! What are your thoughts for other aspiring writers on writing and publishing?

Find your people! Pray and ask God for them! He cares about your stories as much as you do and He has a purpose for your stories and for your books!

about the author

Victoria Lynn has an insatiable desire for truth, light and beauty.

Traveling to destinations of beauty created by our Heavenly Father, reveling in creative pursuits that fill her with joy, or pouring her heart into words of life are some of her favorite things to do.

She seeks to bring the life giving words of the Savior to a dark and broken world that desperately needs to know of His sacrifice.

A writing and publishing coach, author, journalist, seamstress and creator, she loves spending time with any of her 8 siblings, exploring her native state of Michigan, and sewing gowns fit for a princess.

You can connect with Victoria on her website and through her newsletter, or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Goodreads, and Amazon!

the tour

June 22:

Kaitlyn Jones // IG Post

Drew Taylor // IG Post

Adriana // Story Only

Faith Mathewson // IG POST

Morgan Smith // IG POST

Naomi Sowell // IG REVIEW & INTERVIEW

Robin Degan // IG and BLOG REVIEW

Gabrielle Childers // IG Review and Reel

Katie Marie // IG REVIEW

Virginia Burford // IG Spotlight

Sarah Young // IG Review, Blog Review, Author Interview

Natalie Claire // IG spotlight, Blog Spotlight

Brynn // IG Review/Spotlight

Alexandria Grace // Story Interview

Lily // Blog Review and Spotlight

Samantha Beiser // IG Spotlight

Eva-Joy// BLOG REVIEW

Ella // IG spotlight, IG reel

Joy C. Woodbury // IG spotlight, Blog Spotlight

June 23:

C. K. Heartwing // Author Interview

Victoria Marentette // Author Interview

June 24:

Maryam Obeid // IG REVIEW

Kate // IG spotlight, Author Interview

June 25:

Kristina Hall // IG Review, Blog Review

June 27:

Crystal Grant // interview

Marissa // IG Review, IG Reel

June 28:

Claire Tucker // IG Review, IG Interview, Author Interview

Abigail Hayven // IG Review, IG Interview, IG Reel

June 29:

Kristianne // IG Reel, Blog Review

Samantha Beiser // IG REEL

June 30:

Emily Hebert // IG Interview, IG spotlight, Author Interview

Holly // IG Review, Blog Review

July 1:

Kylie Hunt // IG spotlight, IG Reel

July 5:

Eliza Noel // IG Review

Anna Augustine // Author Interview

July 6:

Kellyn Roth // IG spotlight, Author Interview

Samantha Beiser // IG REVIEW

July 7:

Jordan // IG Spotlight

July 8:

Rachel T Taylor // IG Review, IG spotlight, IG Reel

Faith Blum // IG spotlight, IG Reel

July 11:

Ryana Lynn // IG spotlight

July 12:

Stacey Ulferts // IG Review

Hosanna Emily // IG spotlight

Mariposa Aristeo // IG Review, IG spotlight

July: 13

Morgan Giesbrecht // IG Review

July 14:

Sofia V.D. // IG Review, IG Reel

July 15:

Jana T. // IG spotlight, IG Reel, Blog Review, Blog Spotlight

July 18:

Laurel Jean // IG spotlight, Blog Review, Blog Spotlight, Author Interview

July 19:

PJ // IG Review, IG spotlight

July 20:

Ysa // IG Review

July 22:

Grace A. Johnson // IG Review, Blog Review, Author Interview

Katja L. // Blog Review

I hope y'all enjoyed our interview as much as I did! Victoria has even more encouragement and advice to share on her Instagram (not to mention absolutely gorgeous photos), so be sure to check her out on social media AND read over the rest of the posts in the tour! *winks*

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#interview #authorinterview #blogtour #victorialynn #indieauthor #christianauthor

Review: Once I Knew by Victoria Lynn

Warnings: #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out.

Stars: 4

Synopsis: Violet Frell’s life has finally found a routine—tend the fields, care for the house, and ensure her grandmother’s mental lapses didn’t worsen—when her world is disrupted by the injured and unconscious kingsman she finds in the woods. Caring for this broken man could cause more harm than good, yet Violet takes the chance, without a single clue of what she’s really getting into.

What I Loved: Let’s face it: a medieval-esque Christian non-magical kingdom fantasy with cottagecore vibes and the amnesia trope and a sweet, tender romance is destined for perfection. Not to mention the fact that I have come to absolutely adore Victoria Lynn and pretty much everything about her since I began following her on Instagram. So part of what I loved about this book is really just...its essence, I guess. Its heart. More specifically, the heart of the author and the story behind the story.

But that’s sentimental nonsense, so on to the actual story we go!

First and foremost, the themes. I absolutely loved seeing the real and alive faith content (especially considering this is fantasy) and watching Violet and Obed’s spiritual growth! (And, naturally, I taught myself the difference between spiritual arcs and spiritual growth...definitely something worth a blog post about!)

On that note, Violet’s struggles with anxiety were two-sided, and I both loved and hated it (I’ll talk about the hated side in the next section). The aspect I loved was how Violet’s anxiety wasn’t thrown in for representation or for brownie points on the mental-health-in-books chart. The word anxiety wasn’t even used—it was simply a real, human struggle that fit Violet’s character, influenced her actions and the course of the story, and was part of her spiritual growth. Victoria portrayed her anxiety in a way that was authentic (almost too authentic...more on that later) and honestly quite admirable!

Now, on to that other main character we’re all so curious about...Obed! Let me just say that I totally saw all of that coming, and the Lady of Assumptions won yet again! (Man, the Lady of Assumptions hasn’t made an appearance in quite some time...do y’all even remember her?) Otherwise, I loved this guy. Granted, I felt like there was a lot missing (which I can’t talk about now, because this is the love section… *sighs*), but I still loved him. Like, he was just so sweet and precious and it was just nice to see a hero who was real and vibrant and, yeah, he had a past, but it wasn’t the focal point of the story...and he was on fire and passionate and protective and just the perfection combination of sweet love interest and Chosen One—if that makes sense. It seems like you either have a male protagonist or a love interest in fantasy stories these days—you never have an actual hero who makes an impact on the heroine and the story.

Which brings me to another point...this story wasn’t about a badbutt (it’s not the same with butt, it just isn’t), independent, strong female MC who fixed everything. But it wasn’t about a prophesied hero who rose up and saved the day either. It was about two broken individuals—one male, one female—who worked alongside each other and God to do what He had called them to do. I loved that. (And the fact that Obed was actually born into his calling instead of trained was such a lovely twist.)

And the romance...some reviewers have mentioned it going too fast or just happening all of a sudden, but I thought it fit perfectly with the pacing (which was fast-paced, I’ll admit, but even and smooth) and was so tender and sweet! Not necessarily how I usually take my romantic tea, but still a breath of fresh air in comparison to some of the more melodramatic romances I’ve read. *winks*

Then there were the secondary characters—Granny, Marcus, Fendrel, Everard. I adored these guys and I wanted to see SO much more of them!!! Maybe in the next book, eh?

Finally, the last thing I loved about this story was the dialogue. It had such a rich, classical, almost Jane Austen-esque flavor that is simply my favorite!

What I Didn’t Love: Now, for the painful part of this review...as much as the story pulled me in and captivated me, it did fall flat in some places. From a more objective point of view, the prose could’ve stood a good line edit. Yes, there were some beautiful descriptions and lovely word choices, but it needed a balance between constant description (description of movement specifically) and the lacking emotions/thoughts. There was little to no variation in the sentence structure either, and it wasn’t the most immersive or showing…

Except for Violet’s anxiety. From a writer’s standpoint, I must applaud Victoria for how well she wrote Vi’s panic attacks and emotions (her word choices took the moments over the top when other things were missing)...but from a reader’s standpoint, I got anxiety from all that. I’m not the only one, either, as another reader with anxiety noticed the same. Should there have been a trigger warning? I don’t know...it wasn’t necessarily like I was “triggered” or anything; just a little too immersed in the moment, I guess! It’s kinda laughable, really, but the older I get (and I’ll just be seventeen next month), the more books just plain stress me out. *shakes head* I need help.

On that note, those tense moments were also the only ones in which I clicked with Violet. *sighs* I wanted so much to love her, because she wasn’t a feminist or obnoxious or a control freak or selfish, and I appreciated her character, but I never could connect with her or really quite love her. Y’all know me and heroines.

As for Obed, the only qualm I had with his character was that there was so little of it! I wanted more of him as Obed and more of his past (flashbacks, anyone?) and just more of him, his journey, his healing, his arc, his feelings for Violet...all of it! I guess that’s both a good and bad thing.

I mentioned earlier how much I loved the secondary characters and how vivid they were—and that goes for all but the chancellor/regent/villain/dude who reminded me of Palpatine (whose name I cannot spell for the life of me). I just really felt like he was missing something to make him stand out from all the other villains, something distinctive and memorable, whether that was an aspect of his personality or something he did. He (apart from Violet, but that’s subjective) was the only character I just didn’t like.

From a more technical, less pet peevial perspective, I felt like the story moved too fast and was lacking some things. Like, the pacing was smooth, so it wasn’t like it was slow and then fast and then dragged and then skipped over six months; it was all even and balanced...I just didn’t like the balance. I think a slightly slow pace that focused more on character development would’ve been perfect! And there were some elements of the storyline that were rather cliche/obvious. Otherwise, though, the story was engaging and gripping and pulled me in!

Long Story Short: The face value of Once I Knew is very high. The story is rich and vibrant, captivating and enchanting, pure and refreshing. It’s all your favorite fantasy elements without the smut and with lovely themes and faith content! Of course, critical readers like myself can nitpick about certain aspects, and the prose could’ve used a bit of tweaking, but none of that took away from how intriguing and satisfying the story was! I would definitely recommend it to pretty much everyone, and I cannot wait to read more by Victoria Lynn!

Disclaimer: I received an advanced review copy of this book from the lovely author. All opinions expressed are my own.

about the book

Violet lives her quiet life in her sleepy village, trying to remain as dead to the politics that are threatening their world as possible. She follows the rules, stays out of trouble and does her best to remain out of sight from the dreaded and overbearing Kingsmen.

With the new regent on the throne till the prince comes of age, the country has been thrown into a turmoil. Unlike the kindly king before him, the new ruler is overbearing, frightening and tyrannical in his rule. Taxes are bleeding the people dry and without the money or goods to pay, they have been forced into penal servitude and imprisonment by the Kingsmen, who show no mercy. The despair and fear that has taken over their lives has ruled out any level of hope.

When Violet stumbles upon an unconscious and injured Kingsman in the woods, despite the consequences, she is compelled to take care of the injured man. When he wakes and has no memory of his identity or past, she takes the only precaution that will keep her and her grandmother safe; she destroys the evidence of his past life.

If Violet’s lowly Kingsman regains his memory, will she survive the consequences? And will the Kingsman be able to live with his past life? Who will fight to free Elira?

snag your copy about the author

Victoria Lynn has an insatiable desire for truth, light and beauty.

Traveling to destinations of beauty created by our Heavenly Father, reveling in creative pursuits that fill her with joy, or pouring her heart into words of life are some of her favorite things to do.

She seeks to bring the life giving words of the Savior to a dark and broken world that desperately needs to know of His sacrifice.

A writing and publishing coach, author, journalist, seamstress and creator, she loves spending time with any of her 8 siblings, exploring her native state of Michigan, and sewing gowns fit for a princess.

You can connect with Victoria on her website and through her newsletter, or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Goodreads, and Amazon!

the tour

June 22:

Kaitlyn Jones // IG Post

Drew Taylor // IG Post

Adriana // Story Only (must include purchase link)

Faith Mathewson // IG POST

Morgan Smith // IG POST

Naomi Sowell // IG REVIEW & INTERVIEW

Robin Degan // IG and BLOG REVIEW

Gabrielle childers // IG Review and Reel

Katie Marie // IG REVIEW

Virginia Burford // IG Spotlight

Sarah Young // IG Review, Blog Review, Author Interview

Natalie Claire // IG spotlight, Blog Spotlight

Brynn // IG Review/Spotlight

Alexandria Grace // Story Interview

Lily // Blog Review and Spotlight

Samantha Beiser // IG Spotlight

Eva-Joy// BLOG REVIEWElla // IG spotlight, IG reel

Joy C. Woodbury // IG spotlight, Blog Spotlight

June 23:

C. K. Heartwing // Author Interview

Victoria Marentette // Author Interview

June 24:

Maryam Obeid // IG REVIEW

Kate // IG spotlight, Author Interview

June 25:

Kristina Hall // IG Review, Blog Review

June 27:

Crystal Grant // interview

Marissa // IG Review, IG Reel

June 28:

Claire Tucker // IG Review, IG Interview, Author Interview

Abigail Hayven // IG Review, IG Interview, IG Reel

June 29:

Kristianne // IG Reel, Blog Review

Samantha Beiser // IG REEL

June 30:

Emily Hebert // IG Interview, IG spotlight, Author Interview

Holly // IG Review, Blog Review

July 1:

Kylie Hunt // IG spotlight, IG Reel

July 5:

Eliza Noel // IG Review

Anna Augustine // Author Interview

July 6:

Kellyn Roth // IG spotlight, Author Interview

Samantha Beiser // IG REVIEW

July 7:

Jordan // IG Spotlight

July 8:

Rachel T Taylor // IG Review, IG spotlight, IG Reel

Faith Blum // IG spotlight, IG Reel

July 11:

Ryana Lynn // IG spotlight

July 12:

Stacey Ulferts // IG Review

Hosanna Emily // IG spotlight

Mariposa Aristeo // IG Review, IG spotlight

July: 13

Morgan Giesbrecht // IG Review

July 14:

Sofia V.D. // IG Review, IG Reel

July 15:

Jana T. // IG spotlight, IG Reel, Blog Review, Blog Spotlight

July 18:

Laurel Jean // IG spotlight, Blog Review, Blog Spotlight, Author Interview

July 19:

PJ // IG Review, IG spotlight

July 20:

Ysa // IG Review

July 22:

Grace A. Johnson // IG Review, IG Interview, Blog Review, Author Interview

Katja L. // Blog Review

Y'all, I could say more about this book (especially after reading some negative reviews on Goodreads *growls*)!!! But this review is already SO long!!! If you have any questions or wanna know more, just lemme know in the comments! I'd love to share more about Once I Knew! (Love that title, by the way...)

ALSO. If you wanna know more about Victoria, then STAY TUNED! She'll be on later today for an author interview!!! Oh, and don't forget to check out other posts in the tour!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#bookreview #review #blogtour #newbook #newrelease #christianfiction #fantasy #romance #medieval #victorialynn

New Release: A Prayer Unanswered by Kellyn Roth

Guess what??? That's right! A Prayer Unanswered, the fifth novel in the Chronicles of Alice and Ivy series, is now out in the world! Y'all. This book. This one is painful. It's heavy. It's definitely the hardest of the series, and yet it's the most beautiful, I think. This is truly the moment we've all been waiting for when it comes to our not-so-beloved Alice, and trust me, it's even better (or perhaps worse) than you could ever imagine!

about the book

As Alice Strauss enters her first year of marriage—full of optimism and determination—she finds herself wholly unprepared for reality. In a new country, with a new family, she struggles to find her footing. Difficult relationships and situations batter her, but she is determined to establish a perfect life with the man she loves.

Unfortunately, perfection seems just beyond her reach. An unexpected tragedy flings Alice out of control, and she struggles to rise from the ruins. Her world is full of spinning variables and agony beyond anything she has ever experienced.

However, there is hope—in a God who loves her and a future established for her since before time began. Yet the devastation of Alice’s life seems beyond even the touch of grace.

snag your copy about the author

Kellyn Roth is a historical romance & women’s fiction author who writes about the empty places where hope has the most room to grow. Her novels include the inspirational Victorian family saga, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the Kees & Colliers series, which follows a broken family in the tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century.

Kellyn is a student of the Author Conservatory and a writing coach. When not building her author career, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, watching period dramas and facetious comedies, or spending time with her husband.

the tour

16th:

Book Spotlight @ ,https://kristinahallauthor.wordpress.com/blog/

Author Interview/Book Spotlight @ https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress....

17th:

Book Review @ novelsdragonsandwardrobedoors.blogspot.com

Book Review/Spotlight @ https://tangledupinwriting.com

18th:

Book Spotlight @ ,www.graceajohnson.com/blog

Book Review @ http://www.precariousbookstacks.com/

19th:

Book Review @ Oldfashionedbooklove.WordPress.com

Book Review/Spotlight @ https://vanessahallauthor.wordpress.com/

20th:

Author Interview/Book Spotlight @ thelongvoyage.org

Book Review @ ,https://thewriterlyworm.com/

Book Review/Spotlight @ losingthebusyness.wordpress.com

21st:

Book Review @ ,https://mckennedyauthor.com/

Book Review @ janemouttet.wordpress.com

22nd:

Book Review/Spotlight @ ,https://discipleshipwithjoy.com

Book Review @ ,www.towerintheplainswordpress.com

Tour hosted by ,Jen’s Author Assistance

the giveaway

Y'all know it's not a blog tour without a GIVEAWAY!!! *cheers* This go-round, you have the chance to win a paperback copy of A Prayer Unanswered, and a bracelet and locket! (As in the image to the side, of course!)

Just click the link below to enter! May the Force - I mean, the odds be in your favor!

(Seriously, aren't these quote graphics just gorgeous??? I love these lines!)

If you haven't yet, you MUST order your copy of this tear-jerking, heart-wrenching novel! You don't want to miss this part of Alice's journey!

Have you read any of Kellyn's books? Any of Alice and Ivy? Who's your favorite - Alice or Ivy? Peter or Jordy? Let me know in the comments below, and try to guess my favorites!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#newrelease #releaseday #newbook #aliceandivy #kellynroth #historicalfiction #womensfiction #christianfiction

Contest + Questionnaire

Sooooooo, I'm giving myself a reason to procrastinate editing + something to read/write by (you guessed it) hosting a short story contest!!! My lovely friend Hannah Foster convinced me yesterday to throw this together...so here we are! It's nothing special, just something to help us all procrastinate the more important projects - I mean, have some fun!

The rules are simple:

Pick a prompt (below). Write a story 3k words or less. Submit it HERE ! All genres are allowed, but let's keep things clean/biblical! One winner will have their story published on my blog AND will receive a Kindle ebook from their wishlist (US only, $9.99 or less); two runners-up will have their stories published on my blog as well! Contest ends on August 13th, and winners will be announced shortly thereafter!

Note: You HAVE to base it in some way, subtle or obvious, on the picture prompt you choose. I know, it's stifling...but I couldn't help myself. Pinterest was just full of epic images! I tried to spare y'all all the romantic ones...

That said, all image prompts were found on Pinterest. I don't own the rights to any of them.

You can drop any questions you have below OR just read over all the information in the form!

(Hint: If you wanna cater to the judge here...I absolutely adore romance, especially unique romances with intriguing settings, and deep themes and beautiful prose and colorful characters! That's not to say I'm judging based on that...but you never know.)

Here are the prompts! I hope you find something you like! *winks*

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But that's not all!

romance questionnaire

I've set up a quick form for all your romance-related questions! If you wanna know how to write a romance (or any particular aspect of one), why romance is important, why I write romance, what my top romance reads are...ANYTHING romantic at all (except for personal questions, although I doubt any of y'all are planning on taking me on my ideal romantic date night)...just drop it in this form! I'll be answering them in an upcoming post(s) here!

Hopefully y'all can have some fun with that. I know I will! Happy writing!

OH! And before I go...I just wanna thank everyone who shared (or is going to share) the cover for Bound and Determined!!! Especially of those of you posted on your blogs! Kristina, Vanessa, Saraina, Joelle, Tasha, Emma, M.C., and Lily...thank y'all SO MUCH!!! I appreciate it more than words can say!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#shortstorycontest #writingcontest #picturepromptcontest #storypromptcontest #writingpromptcontest #storyinspiration #contest #romance #romancewriting #romancebooks #questions

Cover Reveal: Bound and Determined by Yours Truly

Y'all, I literally don't have words right now. Like...this is all so surreal. After so many months of torture - I mean, hard work and dedication, I finally get to share the cover of Bound and Determined with you guys. I just...I can't believe it.

Now, I don't have a preorder link yet or even a release date or anything at all planned at this moment (still knee-deep in edits, y'all), but if you wanna keep up-to-date on all the goings-on with BAD, you can stick around here and follow me on social media...or add BAD to your want-to-read shelf on Goodreads!!!

about the book

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?

Book #3 in the Daughters of the Seven Seas series! Learn more here !

posts about the book

If you're interested in learning more about BAD + reading some epic (and unedited) sneak peeks, just check out these posts!

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

Whew. I think that sums it all up...

book stats

Date Began: December 2019

Date Completed: March 28th, 2022

Current Word Count: 206,067 words

Current Page Count: 784 pages

Amount of Sweet Tea Consumed While Writing: N/A

Amount of Sleep Lost: Too much

the cover

Yes, I was making you wait... Which you're gonna have to do some more of.

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It was the worst day for a funeral.

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Too calm. Too beautiful.

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The sun shone too bright.

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The sky was too clear.

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The breeze was too gentle.

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It should’ve been raining, storming, the sky dark and crashing with thunder and lightning.

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But it wasn't.

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And somehow it fit.

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I didn't want to think about why.

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(Yes, that is the opening of this lovely novel, in case you were wondering. *winks*)

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NOW. FOR THE MOMENT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR...LE COVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So. Whaddya think? Pretty? Tolerable? Not handsome enough to dance with? *coughs* (Don't mind my Pride and Prejudice references...) I wanna hear AAAALLLL your thoughts in the comments!!!!

yours in spirit and script and cover reveals, Grace

#boundanddetermined #coverreveal #coverlove #comingsoon #daughtersofthesevenseas #bookcover #excerpt

Review: When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer

Warnings: #1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out.

Synopsis: Libby is a rare woman, a time-crosser who lives two separate lives in two separate eras. When her life in 1914 takes a turn for the worst, Libby searches for a way to survive until she can forfeit that path for her life in 1774...but destiny has other plans.

Stars: 3

What I Loved: My fingers are crossed that this section is longer than I think it’ll be… First off, the concept of this is so epic. I typically dislike dual/split-time novels because neither time is fully fleshed out, the characters fall flat, and I end up picking sides (and it’s almost always the historical side I like best)...so when I saw that this was a dualtime novel about the SAME GIRL in two historical timelines, I was sold. The idea of time-crossers is so deliciously speculative, and I honestly wanted more of that aspect (not that Libby didn’t cross time a lot, because she did every day, but just more depth to it and exploration of the concept).

I absolutely loved how I didn’t have to get to know four different characters or cringe over two separate barely developed romances, so that was a huge plus!

The prose was well-done and Libby’s voice came through clearly, although there was nothing necessarily unique or distinct about either…

Character-wise, I adored Mama and all her good advice! Even though I didn’t always agree with her 20th century ideals, she brought a gracious perspective to the Revolutionary War that I so appreciated! (Everyone sees the British as heartless monsters, but Mama always saw them as humans who fought for what they believed in, and she kept Libby grounded through it all!)Henry was lovely…but I felt like he was one of those just-here-to-fall-in-love-with-the-heroine kinda guys, which was depressing, because he had potential, it just wasn’t tapped into. *sighs*

And then there’s Reggie. Unpopular opinion here, but I loved him. My heart broke for the poor guy who just needed love and guidance! I feel like the author herself wrote a realistic and redeemable unwanted husband character—even though Libby never saw him in that light—and I really appreciated that! So many times the unwanted suitor/arranged husband is either never seen but always hated or is a total jerk face...but not Reggie. Sure, he made mistakes, but he also sought forgiveness and help to overcome his struggles. *sniffs* Still so sad over what happened to him.

What I Didn’t Love: Libby. I think my entire experience with this book could be summed up in “I hated Libby.” And y’all know it’s bad when I loved the abusive husband but hated the “perfect” heroine.

Part of the reason why I didn’t like Libby can be blamed on my general disdain for heroines and my anti-feminist ideals. The other part, though, is simply how she was written. Believe it or not, Libby also had potential for an amazing arc and character—but she didn’t make it there. Although there were themes of being pro-life, making sacrifices for those you love, and trusting God’s plan, these themes (which were wonderful) never actually had an impact on Libby. Her character never grew or changed, even despite all the things she went through and learned. Not to mention she didn’t really love people unless they loved her back and benefited her, y’know? Had she actually had a character arc and experienced some growth, I would’ve actually found myself liking her...but alas.

And y’all know how I feel about the arranged marriage deal, so I’m not even gonna go there today. On that note, though, I have serious problems with the moral issues of being married in one timeline and kissing another bloke in a different timeline...not cool, man. Sure, it’s not the same body, but it is the same mind, so I count it as adultery, which should NEVER under any circumstances be glorified or deemed “romantic.” Ever.

On a less rantish note...as interesting as the concept is, the plot felt very cliché and predictable to me. Which is crazy, because I know a lot of readers have been wildly surprised by this book, but I saw it all coming—except the ending. That was the only surprise, and I wanted so much more of that! I think the story itself could’ve really excelled if the plot had been shifted a little bit to include more of Libby’s time in 1917 Baltimore and less of her whining about her life in the beginning.

Long Story Short: When the Day Comes has the backbone of a great novel—intriguing concept and premise, lovely side characters, beautiful themes—but it fell flat in many ways. Naturally, some of that had to do with my personal preference...but a lot of it could’ve easily been rectified! I think the story would’ve flowed better and the characters (and the romance) could’ve gotten more development had the focus been shifted—less of the beginning and more of the ending, you could say! And had Libby’s character been given a viable arc and some spiritual growth, I would’ve actually grown to love her!

As it is, I probably wouldn’t recommend this novel to a reader like me, but one I know enjoys feminist heroines and isn’t as critical as I am, maybe so! There are readers who have enjoyed this book immensely, so as usual, it’s probably just me. *shrugs* I might give Gabrielle Meyer’s work another try, but we’ll see!

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

snag your copy about the author

Gabrielle Meyer grew up above a carriage house on a historic estate near the banks of the Mississippi River, imagining real and make-believe stories about the occupants who had lived there. She went on to work for the Minnesota Historical Society and loves writing fiction inspired by real people, places, and events. She currently resides in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River, not far from where she grew up, with her husband and four children. By day, she’s a busy homeschool mom, and by night she pens fiction and non-fiction filled with hope. Learn more about Gabrielle and her writing by visiting www.gabriellemeyer.com.

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#review #bookreview #historicalfiction #christianfiction #historicalromance #romance #timetravel #speculative

Welcome to July! (June Wrapup + July Goals)

For once, I am actually glad another month has passed! June is, naturally, my new least favorite month of the year…not that I’m very fond of any of the summer months. Believe it or not, I am NOT a summer girl. *shudders*

But enough about that! I hope y’all have been enjoying the deathly heat—maybe y’all had sense enough to vacation in the Alps or something. *winks* Speaking of vacation, that is the excuse I’m giving for not having completed everything on my to-do list this month. And the same excuse for spending wayyyy too much money.

*coughs* Moving on...

what i did last month

I (fortunately) went easy on myself at the beginning of June and just committed to Bound and Determined and Tell Me You Love Me. Now, I haven’t made much progress on the first, but TMYLM is now in the hands of betas! *cheers*

I did, however, post pretty consistently on Instagram, beta read several chapters of the lovely Issabelle Perry’s latest project, and get started on a new editing project with S&J Editors! Oh, and I wrote something special I’ll talk about in just a minute!

this month’s goals

Again, BAD. (No surprise there.) I also have that beta reading and editing to finish up…a few posts to share and reviews to write…and a COVER REVEAL!!!!!! Y’all can sign up HERE!!

monthly progress

I actually wrote 4k in June! *mind blows* I literally crammed to write and submit a short story for Sisters Three’s anthology! Granted, it probably won’t be included (I fudged the rules with a dual POV historical romance), but it was SO fun to write! I also had enough time to put together a Pinterest board for it…if y’all wanna get an idea of The Girl in the Pages and what it’s about, just scroll through my 109 pins here!

reading highlights

Reading in June certainly had its ups and downs (more downs than ups, really, and that’s out of the mere five books I read).

The best books I read boils down to Much Ado About Persuasion by Barbara Cornthwaite (review here) and Once I Knew by Victoria Lynn (review coming on July 22nd)! These two captivated me fully, and their many good qualities far outweighed the few things I could nitpick about!

top blog posts The Bookworm’s Tag 4 Review: Love in Disguise by Penny Zeller The Get to Know Me Tagguest appearances

Yep, it’s back, baby! I had several posts go live on two different blogs last month…two of mine on Kingdom Pen were reshares of old posts (3 Lessons I Learned as a Young Writer and How to Pants—Successfully Write a Novel Without an Outline) and one was brand-spankin’-new (Free Ways to Edit and Proofread Your Novel Manuscript). And I won Joelle Stone’s short story contest, so my untitled story was posted on her blog, Sword of the Penmaiden, and she shared another guest post of mine full of writing prompts!

Now, before I go, DON’T FORGET to sign up for the Bound and Determined cover reveal! If you have a blog, newsletter, or any kind of social media, then you can share the cover when I finally reveal it to the world on July 10th!

Welp, I’m off to edit until my eyeballs fall out of my head! Y’all have an epic July and a blessed Independence Day!

yours in spirit and script, Grace

#monthlyupdates #monthlyprogress #wrapup #progressreport #readinghighlights #guestposts #shortstory #coverreveal #boundanddetermined #signup