Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 21

Welcome to April! (March Wrapup + April Goals)

Y’all...it is April. Springtime is here. Pollen fills the air. Easter eggs have all been hid. The winter snow is through. But I still have one egg to hide! A special one for you! Springtime is joyful. There’s always something new. But every spring’s a happy spring, when I’m springing with you! Oh, the flowers in my field, I wish you could see! I wish it every day. The clear skies fill me with desire...to see you and to say...that I wish you a happy springtime. I wish you a happy springtime. I wish you a happy springtime and a lovely summer!

(And, yes, this is my Christmas medley springtime parody. Can you guess the three songs I parodied?)

Anyway, enough weirdness. Let’s dive into what I accomplished in March (I think you’ll be surprised…) and what I hope to do this month!

What I Did Last Month

March’s goals were simple: finish BAD, submit short stories, post reviews, post on Book Nations and Sky’s the Limit Press, polish With Fear and Trembling, and push submissions for Tell Me You Love Me and my newsletter swap.

Fun fact: I completed ALL except for posting BN and STLP.

That means, yes. I did it.

I finished Bound and Determined.

*squeals incessantly *

This is my first official announcement of completing—the writing part, at least—BAD at 805 pages, 210k words, 65 chapters plus the prologue and epilogue. I’m currently editing it now with a FANTASTIC groups of betas reading over the first third!

I. Am. So. Excited. I seriously cannot believe any of this! I’ve even already ordered the cover, which should be completed sometime in May!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think this calls for a celebratory gif, don’t you?

This Month’s Goals

Obviously, finish editing BAD and get the full manuscript to my betas (sending it in parts right now). Release With Fear and Trembling. Start editing the stories for Tell Me You Love Me. Post eighty times for the forty different blog tours I’ve joined this month (not really eighty...or forty...but it feels like it). Book Nations and Sky’s the Limit Press posts too, of course. Fingers are crossed, y’all.

Monthly Progress

Well, I’m not entirely sure how much I wrote, because I added some new scenes to what I’d already written...but about 8k-10k...all that was needed to make it to The End! I also wrote a lot of flash fiction...and by a lot, I mean, like, three stories. Which is a lot. Because I’ve only ever written one flash fiction story before, so.

Reading Highlights

I managed a total of seven books in March (literally crammed that last one in on March 31st), and the absolute best of the best were…

The Lady of Lanaria by Michaela Bush. This Rapunzel retelling was SO GOOD! I loved how Bush handled the elements of witchcraft (from a biblical perspective, in case you’re wondering), how she wove Christianity into the fairytale’s premise, and the sweet romance! Chasing Shadows by Lynn Austin. This WWII novel literally made me cry. I teared up four times, which has NEVER happened! Fled for Refuge by Kristina Hall. I thoroughly enjoyed this Christian dystopian suspense...and y’all. That cliffhanger. Definitely a me-worthy cliffhanger! *winks* (Those who have read my books know I can’t write anything without leaving it on a huge cliffhanger!) The Reflections by E.K. Seaver. Another Christian dystopian, this one a mash-up of The Hunger Games and To Best the Boys! I can’t wait for the release of this one!Most Popular Posts

What’s crazy is that all four of these posts from last month got OVER a hundred views!! (I think it’s because I struck up some long convos in the comments! *winks*)

Introducing...Sky’s the Limit Press Gracie’s Guide to Clean and Christian YA Fiction! The Sunshine Blogger Award #3 Don’t Forget to Submit!

What about y’all? How are you spending spring break? What spring releases are you looking forward to? (Can I hop forward to if you’re looking forward to Bound and Determined this summer?) What were y’all’s favorite reads from last month? Have you ever written flash fiction? Let me know in the comments!

Also...whoever guesses all three songs (or even just the more obvious two) will get a shout-out in my next blog post AND a sneak peek of my devotional! (Because, y’all. I’m pretty sure you’d deserve that if you could guess those songs right.)

Y’all have a lovely spring, darlings!

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#monthlyupdates #spring #iamsoweirdyallhelpme #goals #updates #progressreport #illbereportingoneditingprogressfromhereonout #reading #blogposts #boundanddetermined #badisdone #theend

Coming Soon: Shadowed Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

It's that time again, y'all! Roseanna M. White is releasing her second (of three) book this year...and this time it's a Roaring Twenties Italian mafia romance published by her own company, WhiteFire!

Those who know me well know I absolutely adore anything mafia-related (particularly the Italian mafia), so of course I am so stoked for the release of Shadowed Loyalty and I've already started on my ARC copy!

I'm sure y'all are thinking to yourselves, "Dang, I wish I could get an early start on this fantastic novel."

Well, do I have news for you! When you sign up for Roseanna's newsletter, you'll receive a daily one-page sneak peek of the novel until it releases on May 2nd! The sneak peek begins TOMORROW, so y'all sign up HERE before you miss anything! (Oh, and if you do miss anything, no worries. She usually includes a link back to the previous pages!)

Not so sure this novel will interest you? Wanna know more? Then, in true salesperson fashion, allow me to direct you to the blurb! (Somehow, these posts always read like ads or sales pitches. Help.)

About the Book

Sabina Mancari never questioned her life as the daughter of Chicago’s leading mob boss until bullets tear apart her world and the man she thought she loved turns out to be an undercover Prohibition agent. Ambushes, bribes, murder, prostitution—all her life, her father sheltered her from his crimes, but now she can no longer turn away from the truth. Maybe Lorenzo, the fiancé who barely paid her any attention in the last two years, has the right idea by planning to escape their world. But can she truly turn her back on her family?

All his life, Lorenzo’s family assumed he would become a priest, but he has different ideas—marrying Sabina and pursuing a career in the law. Despite his morals, he knows at the core he isn’t so unlike his mafiosi father and brothers. Has he, in trying to protect Sabina, forced her into the arms of the Prohibition agent bent on tearing her family apart? How can they rebuild what has so long been neglected and do it in the shadow of the dark empire of the Mafia?

Shadowed Loyalty, set amid the glitz and scandal of the Roaring Twenties, examines what love really means and how we draw lines between family and our own convictions, especially when following one could mean losing the other.

I dunno about y'all, but that sounds pretty epic to me. Suspense, confusion, betrayal, love, faith...all that wonderfulness. Yep. Definitely worth checking out...and preordering!!

Yes, preorders are live on Amazon and directly from the author! You can preorder your Kindle copy for only $4.99 or preorder a SIGNED print copy from the author for only $12.00!

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

#comingsoon #mafia #romance #Christianfiction #Catholicfiction #indie #historicalromance #roaringtwenties #preordernow #sneakpeek #historicalfiction

PS: What would y'all think if I did a newsletter sneak peek of Bound and Determined too?

The Sunshine Blogger Award #3

Once again, I have been nominated for the fantastic Sunshine Blogger Award, this time by the lovely R.M. Archer! You can check out her post here, and you can read my previous posts here and here!

Now, without further (or, well, any) ado...

The Rules Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog (thank you, R.M.!!) Answer the questions Nominate eleven bloggers and ask them eleven questionsThe Questions

1. Who is your favorite musician right now?

Dangit, girl! If only you’d asked me this six months ago, I could’ve given you an answer! Now, I can’t pick just one favorite! Honestly, it’s a tie between Lifehouse, Hawk Nelson (the original one), Relient K, and a myriad of other groups, from Jeremy Camp to Red to Parachute.

2. What is your favorite color and why?

I don’t necessarily have a favorite color, mainly because I like certain ones for certain reasons (and dislike others for certain reasons)...but I am rather fond of sage green and this strange pinkish orangey beige rose color here on my website. Lately, any softer shade of pink has been catching my eye, actually.

3. What are some of your favorite words?

Favorite words? Oy, this’ll be fun! There are SO many and, again, for so many reasons! I love the imagery of words like scathing, the archaic-ness of words like sooth, the metaphors I can make with dance, the meaning of the word kiss.

I need to make a list, because I could so go on forever…

4. What would be your dream book to find on the shelf? (Be as specific as you’d like!)

Dream book? Yikes! Right now, I would LOVE to have a beautiful copy of Pride and Prejudice pop up on a shelf...wait. No. That reminds me. The Penguin clothbound classics. I know that’s more than one book, but y’all. Who would not want all that loveliness on their shelf?

5. Do you play any video games?

Once upon a time, I tried my hand at a few. Unfortunately, I’ve not the time nor the patience nor the desire to play video games. I did, however, waste my entire childhood on computer games and apps like Township and Candy Crush.

6. What book are you most excited to read this year?

I will literally be here all day listing all the books I’m excited about this year (because y’all seriously don’t expect me to pick the “one” I’m “most” excited about, do you?), so let me direct y’all to my votes on this fantastic Goodreads list! These are just a few books I am super excited to read this year!

(I will give a shout-out to a few, though. ‘Cuz why not? I absolutely cannot wait for my ARC copy of Calligraphy Guild by R.M. Archer, which is sure to be a pleasure to read, and y’all. When my preorder copy of The Reflections by E.K. Seaver comes in...I will probably scream.)

7. What’s something you find restful that a lot of people don’t enjoy?

Reading. Then again, most people outside of my family do find reading restful, so…

I don’t know. I don’t do a lot of typical “resting.” To me, listening to rock ballads while cooking or baking is restful. Honestly, working is restful. I enjoy working.

(By working, I do not mean pulling weeds and chopping down trees. I mean writing, marketing, editing...author work.)

Otherwise, sleep. Food and sleep. Which everyone considers restful, so, yeah. I got nothin’.

8. If you gave a TEDtalk, what would the topic be? (If you want, write up a preview. )

Dude. Just one talk? WHY MUST WE LIMIT EVERYTHING TO ONE? THIS IS NUMBER DISCRIMINATION, PEOPLE. INCLUDE OTHER NUMBERS, OKAY?!

Ahem. Numeral injustice, perhaps?

No, seriously, I’d probably do it on writing/self-publishing! I could go on for hours!

9. How many books are on your TBR?

Don’t...don’t even ask. That’s not a plausible question, because I (a) have a Kindle TBR of about 250 books (150 of which aren’t on my Goodreads), (b) have a physical TBR, and (c) have a Goodreads TBR (that you can check out here). Not even Goodreads has them all, though.

10. Libraries or bookstores?

Once upon a time, I would’ve said libraries. (I used to be a serious library girl. Like, my best Christmas present was a library card; I never bought or owned my own books; I went to the library every week.) But after a while, I began to realize that (a) it’s much simpler to buy the book and keep it forever than request it from the library eighty times, (b) the library doesn’t have everything I want to read (especially my local library), and (c) I get very, very possessive of my books.

11. What’s your favorite piece of classic literature?

Finally! A “one” question I can answer, praise God!

Pride and Prejudice. Always and forever, Pride and Prejudice.

Then again, I haven’t read a lot of classic lit...which is gonna change, because I just got a HUGE stack of classic lit collections from a local flea market...actually, I’mma share a pic.

See what I mean? I’ve got a loooot of reading to do!

My Nominees + Questions

I nominate…

Saraina Whitney Ryan Elizabeth @ Ryan Elizabeth Writes Emily Charlotte Alyssa @ Seeking the Timeless Anchor Joelle Stone @ Sword of the Penmaiden Issabelle Perry Libby @ Thoughts From a Stumbling Saint Kads @ Your Writerly Friend Kads Iris @ Elfwing’s Wanderings Tasha Van Kesteren Allyson Jamison

My questions for y’all (don’t feel obligated to pick only one *winks*)…

If you could spend a day with anyone, dead or alive or fictional, who would it be? Would you rather live in the Wild West or the Dark Ages? Unicorn or mermaid (this is important, folks)? What is the most expensive thing you ever bought for yourself? If you could travel into any fictional world, which one would it be? What’s your least favorite movie ever? Dream car (or truck...or any other mode of transportation)? Have you ever flown before? If so, where to? If not, would you like to one day? Favorite Bible verse/passage? You’ve just been elected President of the United States...what’s the first thing you do? What’s something super popular now that you just can’t stand (i.e., pop music, Bridgerton, acid wash jeans)?

Y'all feel free to answer any of these questions in the comments as well! (And rant about those terrible-but-popular-things...I could go on about the ever-popular "period dramas" all day! *winks*)

What about y'all? What are y'all looking for the reading this spring? Any new or unknown books coming out you'd like to share? How's your spring been so far? (Yes, I'm gonna ask y'all every question I can think of...and say y'all as many times as I can. *grins*)

Y'all's in spirit and script,

Grace

#sunshinebloggeraward #nominated #tagged #blogtag #blogaward #ilikeyallsbetter #whatdoyallthink #aboutme #photodump #yesijustphotodumpedyall #yesitwastotallyunplanned #iregretnothing

I Need Your Help!

If you think the main reason I created this post is because I like making surveys and forms...

You're right.

But the second reason is because I'm considering starting up a Patreon page (or something similar), but I'm not sure exactly what to do! I want this to be full of fantastic things and opportunities for y'all, and I want this to be tailored to my readers more than anything, SO I am enlisting y'all's help through the powers of the almighty survey.

All I need is for y'all to answer just a few questions, and we're good to go! I'll keep you posted on what I decide to do and - hopefully - we'll soon have an awesome membership thingamajig set up so that y'all can be getting some amazing goodies!

Anyway. Enough chit-chat.

It's survey time.

Thank you all so much for your help, support, encouragement, and feedback!!! Y'all are the very best readers a girl could ask for! Love y'all! *hugs*

Yours in spirit, script, and surveys, Grace

#survey #readers #membership #patreon #feedback #helpneeded

Don't Forget to Submit!

Y'all.

Y A L L.

There is literally only a WEEK until submissions close for Tell Me You Love Me! THIS IS INSANITY I FEEL LIKE I JUST CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA LIKE WHAT???!!!! We've got some AH-MAY-ZING writers crafting some incredible stories for this anthology and I am just in. awe. of all the people who are coming out of the woodworks coming together to contribute to this anthology! Of course, there can never be too many fabulous stories, so please send yours over! *grins*

Remember, this is Christian romance...which means our theme is romantic love that reflects Christ's love for His people and the beauty of the words "I love you" when they're spoken from the heart!

If you're looking for more information, click HERE, and if you have any questions at all, feel free to leave them in the comments below or shoot me a message!

If you're ready to submit, all you have to do is fill out the submissions form and upload your story! It's as easy as pie! *winks*

I can't wait to read it! Thank you SO MUCH to all of y'all who have already submitted! The time and energy you poured into your stories...y'all, it's just surreal. Just...thank you. I simply cannot wait to read y'all's stories and get them out in the world!

Happy writing and submitting and all that fun stuff! *winks*

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#tellmeyouloveme #anthology #romance #shortstories #submit #submissionsopen

Blogging for Authors: How Can I Make the Most of My Time?

Well, it seems I was right! One of y’all’s biggest problems with maintaining a blog is time. Boy, do I feel you or what?! Time management is one of those spectacular talents I have yet to fully master...but that doesn’t mean I haven’t learned a thing or two in these last couple years of blogging!

Most everyone was asking specifically about making time to work on posts, posting consistently, and having the energy to blog and keep up other things, so I’m sharing just a few of my thoughts and advice on those ever popular issues!

Please note that not all of these tips will work for everyone...and that they’re tailored for the author, not for getting the most out of your blog. If you want to make big bucks and have the largest blog known to man, you’ll probably end up sacrificing your physical and mental health, all your relationships, and Lord only knows what else. That’s why this post is focused on making blogging easier for you while still being effective!

Now, without further ado, my first tip for finding time to blog…

Make a Schedule That Works for You

So many bloggers (myself included) feel like they have to post just as often (or seldom, in some cases) as everyone else. What makes that difficult is that there are so many varying opinions on how often and how much you should post (and how long each post should be), and everyone is doing something different, so when you first start out, it seems so hard to figure out what exactly you should do.

And that’s the point! If everyone is doing something different—Grace posts 15 to 20 posts a month, R.M. posts 5 times a month, and E.K. only posts when she has news—then who’s to say there’s a strict structure for blogging?

No one. Exactly.

Everyone’s schedule is different, tailored to them and their needs (and often to their audience’s preference)...so how do you find out what works specifically for you?

#1: Be aware of your current lifestyle. Some bloggers, like myself, don’t go to school or work a job, so we can manage posting twice a week, while others have full-time jobs or families to take care of, so they only post twice a month. Consider your lifestyle right now—not what it was six months ago or what it might be in the future. Be aware of your workload, your schoolwork, your family responsibilities...and plan accordingly! As important as your blog is for your author career, it isn’t your priority, so always work around prior commitments and responsibilities! If that means only posting once a month for the time being, that’s fine! If that means you can eke out a post every other day, fantastic! Just don’t push yourself to write when you simply can’t!

#2 Understand your audience and type of blog. Some bloggers have history and research blogs, so naturally their posts are detailed and extensive, but often few and far between. Others do short product reviews and spotlights that only take thirty minutes to throw together. When you understand what you’re blogging about—occasional writing updates, web serials, book reviews and blog tours, etc.—you’ll have a better grasp of how often you should post and how long your posts should be!

The same goes for understanding your audience. Some authors blog for their readers, so their posts may be shorter and more engaging, with excerpts, updates, giveaways, and fun graphics. Other authors blog for fellow writers, so their posts may be long and well-researched, all about writing and publishing and marketing. Others still (like myself) do a mix of both, so some months their blog feed is full of short, fun posts and other times there’s just a trickle of deep, informative posts like this! Know who you’re writing for and what they’re interested in, and you’ll not only be able to craft an effective schedule, you’ll also feel less stressed when it comes to content!

#3 Don’t be afraid to try! Some things you’ll simply never know until you try, so do it! For your first week, throw out a short, poignant post every day, then evaluate the effects! Were you burned out or even more inspired? Or maybe try only a couple posts a month to get started, and see how much time you end up having leftover—enough to blog some more, or only enough to respond to comments.

After your first month, you’ll probably be able to see what you have time for and what works best, so keep that in mind as you continue blogging! You can always switch things up or reevaluate what you’re doing as time goes on—never feel ashamed to cut back on your posts (or throw out a few extra)...your readers will understand, trust me!

Stay Consistent

It sounds hard, I know, but consistency isn’t actually as difficult as it seems! People often mistake consistency for posting on the same day every week at the exact same time...but it’s not! Consistency goes right in with creating that schedule of yours by always be tailored toward your limitations and your preferences and by being as flexible as you make it!

I used to try and have a post out every Monday and every Wednesday, and then work around those posts for the rest of the week if I had anything extra to share...but I quickly ran out of ideas and motivation, and I noticed that my blog wasn’t getting much traction. It was actually once I broke out of this cycle that my blog took off and I felt more creative and inspired! I tried many new things, a lot of which have become fan favorites!

#1 Think of consistency on a monthly basis. Instead of thinking of consistency on a daily basis, think of it on a monthly basis. If you want to post five times a month, then focus on posting according to that rather than a strict regiment of posting every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If that means one post comes out in the first week, three come out in the second, and one comes out on the weekend, that’s fine! As long as you’re able to get those five posts out and get out another five posts the next month, you’re good!

#2 Write and schedule ahead. Most blog hosts allow you to schedule your posts (which is literally the greatest thing ever), so don’t ever feel like you have to wait until twenty minutes before you want your post to go live to write it and publish it. If you can, write it when you can and then schedule ahead! Scheduling is what will keep you from having three posts in one day or one post in March and seventeen in April...you can stay consistent without being strict!

#3 Write inspired. Don’t want to write that long post about the Civil War? Would rather write a free verse poem? Then do it! Write what you want, when you want to, and then, if you’ve already posted every day this week—you guessed it—schedule ahead! Don’t be afraid to try something new or break the regular schedule—you may find that readers prefer this new content or read more on Friday than they do on Tuesday!

What Else Can I Do?

Good question! One of the absolute best aspects of blogging is that it is so versatile! Don’t get what I mean? Allow me to explain…

I write a blog post. I share my post graphic (and any other images in my post) to my blog Pinterest board. I share a link to my post (plus a snippet) on Facebook. I (used to) share my top posts each month in my monthly newsletter.

I could also (1) make an infographic or quote graphic from my post for Pinterest, (2) share a graphic on Instagram, (3) make a story/TikTok with some of my thoughts on the post, (4) do a YouTube video or podcast episode about the same topic I just posted, (5) send out an email whenever a post goes live, (6) share a short form of my post on Facebook and Tumblr, (7) repost on Medium, (8) tweet my favorite line from the post, and the list goes on! A single blog post can be repurposed in so many ways, becoming the foundation of my author platform and every other marketing strategy I use.

Not only does that make blogging more effective, it also saves time! This method works in the reverse also—I know bloggers who share their IG stories or YT videos on their blogs or compile Facebook posts into a blog post. Instead of writing something new for every single platform, try sharing across platforms!

In the same vein, don’t hesitant to repost something from the archives every now and then! You’ll always have new followers and readers who’d be interested in reading some of your old content! With WordPress, you can repost other bloggers’ posts that you enjoyed, and you can always share guest posts, stories, or articles that you previously posted on other blogs and publications once their rights to the story have expired!

Speaking of guest posts...if you’re going to be away for some time or are going on hiatus (on that note, don’t feel bad if you feel like you need to go on hiatus), you can always put out a call for guest posts! Have a friend or fellow blogger share something on your blog whenever you don’t have time to write something yourself. Not only will you save time, you’ll also have a fresh, new voice brightening up your blog, and you’ll have their friends and followers hopping over to your blog to read their post and probably some of yours too!

What are some of your ideas and tips for saving and managing time? What do you do to stay consistent but fresh? How do you balance your life with your blog? Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#blogging #timemanagement #bloggingforauthors #marketingforauthors #blog #blogger #authorblogs #consistency #time #bookmarketing #writingadvice

Coming Soon: The Reflections by E.K. Seaver

I cannot talk about this book enough, can I? *grins* I am BEYOND exciting for my lovely friend E.K. Seaver's upcoming Christian dystopian novel, The Reflections!!

And guess what?

We don't have to wait any longer to go ahead and order our copy of this epic book!! *cheers*

Yes, dears, that's right! Preorders are officially LIVE for TR! You can preorder your Kindle copy OR preorder a SIGNED paperback copy straight from the author! And that's not all! The signed copy comes with some fantastic preorder goodies...and if you don't want a print copy (or are an international reader), you can still get those goodies by ordering them separately!

It doesn't get much better than this, now does it?

Nope. It doesn't.

So, without further ado...the preorder links!

The book releases on April 8th, 2022, so your Kindle copy will automatically download the moment it releases, and you can expect your print copy (and goodies) sometime after!

Now, I'm sure y'all are probably wanting to learn a little more about the book before you up and buy it, doncha? Well, you're in luck, because not only do I have the customary blurb to share...E.K. put together an AMAZING book trailer that I cannot wait to share with y'all! Trust me, y'all don't wanna miss this fantastic new novel!

About the Book

Everyone in the Alliance knows about the Reflections. It’s the opportunity to get into the University, the only government-recognized form of education, and those accepted are guaranteed success and comfort for the rest of their lives. Thus, when Em Gades receives the silver invitation, her future is secured. The worst that could happen is she gets sent home, right?

Until she arrives, and the rumors about the Reflections prove true. The only way to live is to get into the University, and to do that you must be one of the four remaining Chosens at the end of the competition. Although she was warned beforehand to trust no one, Em quickly forms attachments to her fellow teammates with the hope that as many of them can survive as possible. However, as Chosens are rapidly executed for failing competitions, Em struggles to understand that, if God is real, why he would let something so terrible happen to a group of mostly innocent teenagers. With likely no more than a few days left to live, she and the other Chosens must navigate life or death situations and find answers to the question:

Are their lives worth the deaths of others?

The Trailer About the Author

To find an E. K. Seaver, you must set a trap. The best option is to lure her in using chocolate, blankets, and a typewriter, but if none of those are on hand, spare books and Broadway music can be easily substituted.

She prefers to be wild and free, though. Whether it includes adventuring through the Rocky Mountains or curled up at a local bookshop, she uses her freedom to produce art. From books to scarves to paintings, Ms. Seaver strives to honor her King in every aspect of her creative works. She desires her stories to hold meaning beyond the tale and attempts to follow in the footsteps of storytellers who came before her.

You can find her and her wild adventures at ekseaver.wordpress.com or on Instagram @ekseaver.author.

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#newrelease #dystopian #christianfiction #comingsoon #indie #youngauthor #ya #booktrailer #preorder

Cover Reveals: The Kees & Colliers Series by Kellyn Roth

Y'all, oh y'all, oh y'all! (I love saying that.) Today is the day...the day I reveal THREE g o r g e o u s book covers and introduce y'all to another amazing series by Kellyn Roth that you're sure to love almost as much as The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy!

You heard that right. Kellyn Roth, one of my favorite authors, is relaunching her Kees & Colliers trilogy (which, fun fact, is actually set in the same "bookiverse" as Alice and Ivy with) this spring with ALL NEW COVERS and, of course, some fantastic updates! I actually had the pleasure of proofreading/editing these lovely novels, so I can assure you...you're in for a treat!

Now, without further ado...the books!

Souls Astray

Adele Collier has sought a carefree lifestyle ever since her tragic childhood. Determined to never allow anyone or anything to control her life or emotions again, she consistently seeks distraction in gaiety. But shaking her ghosts isn’t as easy as she’d like.

Troy Kee has been alone in the world since the Great War took his parents and left him in charge of his younger sister. When she marries, he’s left to seek after his goal of a healthy, complete family. But how can he focus on his dream when trouble plagues his family vineyard?

When Adele and Troy meet, a whirlwind romance begins—but can two lost souls have a healthy relationship?

Inspired by Gone with the Wind and The Great Gatsby (with a Christian twist), this series combines a dash of whimsy with a period drama to create sweet, compelling stories that tug on all your heartstrings.

And, y'all, that's no exaggeration!

Kellyn manages to capture a slice-of-life aspect and craft this not quite character-driven, not quite plot-driven story that really does read like a classic in so many ways. The reader becomes so immersed in just the everyday vibe of the story, so much so that it’s like we’ve been journeying with the characters through all of it. It’s like a movie that feels like a TV show, and I love it! I simply cannot wait for y'all to read this beautiful, heart-wrenching story!

The Lady of the Vineyard

When her ex-husband reappears in her life determined to spend more time with their child, Adele Collier allows him to take Judy to France for the summer. As the summer goes by, an internal battle rages in Adele’s heart. Can she give up her glamorous lifestyle to win her daughter’s heart?

Six-year-old Judy is more than happy to trade Adele’s neglect for her father’s adoring care. She loves his vineyard and wishes she could stay there forever, but someday she must return to England. Can Judy trust her mother again?

Somehow, Kellyn picks up Adele and Troy's story so many years in the future, throwing in new emotions and plotlines and characterization and weaving them all in so seamlessly! The authenticity of her writing style and characters is awe-inspiring! *heart eyes*

Her classical style fits every era and every character perfectly, and everything flows so smoothly, no matter how much time passes! And, of course, as always, her secondary characters are all so vivid and contribute so much to the story!

Flowers in Her Heart

When her husband goes off to war, Adele feels lost and confused. In a new, less-than-ideal place in a frightening, less-than-ideal time, she flees to the garden with her daughters, determined to make their new house a home, even if it is from the outside in.

Battered by her own inner turmoil and scoffed at by those close to her, Adele seeks to make something beautiful amidst chaos. But can even the most beautiful flowers cover the years of scars?

Y'all, the culmination of this heart-wrenching, emotional saga leaves nothing wanting! The story is so beautiful and touching and augh my heart.

Guys...if y'all think these covers are pretty...the actual stories are even more so!

Kees & Colliers is drastically different from Alice and Ivy. It's dark and gritty, an emotional rollercoaster...and one I honestly wasn't sure I'd enjoy.

But I did. Lemme tell ya, I did!

Everything is handled so tastefully and perfectly biblical, befitting the culture of the time while also never drifting away from the characters’ beliefs. I am simply amazed by how Kellyn writes arcs and handles tough topics...she is insanely talented, no lie, and y'all are gonna adore this series!

Also. Covers. Y'all don't tell me that these ain't just the purtiest thangs? The way they coordinate and stand out and just draw you into the settings...yep. I'm in love.

Y'all buckle up, because April is gonna be full of amazing stories coming (back) into the world! I dunno about you, but I can't wait!

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.

You can connect with her at kellynrothauthor.com!

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#keesandcolliersseries #keesandcollierstrilogy #soulsastray #theladyofthevineyard #flowersinherheart #kellynroth #historicalfiction #christianfiction #historicalromance #historicalromancetrilogy #womensfiction #historicalwomensfiction #historicalwomensfictiontrilogy #wwi #worldwar1 #ww1 #thegreatwar #coverreveal #coverlove #comingsoon #spotlight #seriesspotlight

Is an Author Blog Worth it?

That, my dears, is an insanely good question. Personally, I know of a lot of authors with active blogs who dedicate time, money, and effort into maintaining their presence in the blogosphere...and I know a lot of authors who either don’t have a blog at all or have a stagnant one for fear of wasting time on cultivating it with no benefits.

Both types of authors have many good, plausible reasons for choosing the path they did and most will probably end up satisfied with the results of their marketing efforts.

Sure, the blogger authors won’t have the largest social media following...but those authors with the huge Instagram accounts and popular TikToks are missing out on one of the most effective digital marketing strategies out there.

You heard me right. Blogging is one of the most effective digital marketing strategies you can employ.

I know some authors won’t believe me, because they’re absolutely certain that they’re wasting their time, efforts, and money, and that blogging is detracting from their writing...and depending on how they go about blogging, they could be right. But there are ways to manage your time and blog for free and still reap all the amazing benefits out there!

I don’t spend a dime on my blog (unless you count what I pay for my website...but I’d be paying that for my site whether I had a blog or not), I don’t do any active advertising or promoting for my blog, and I don’t spend more than a few hours a week working on it! (I don’t have a set schedule, nor am I a consistent poster, nor do I keep track of my hours...so I don’t really know, but I’d guesstimate about an hour or two a week on only blog content [as in, not counting reviews and stuff I post on other platforms, but definitely counting the time it takes to create blog graphics and format my posts].)

So what kind of benefits have I seen from maintaining a blog, and what kind of growth have I seen in it these last couple years?

Another good question!

Benefits of Blogging: A Word from the Amateur Blogger

First of all, let’s start with the stats. I first started my blog on Goodreads in late 2019, but it wasn’t until August 2020 that I migrated to an actual website/blog and starting consistently posting. So my blog is just a little over a year and a half, and so far I’ve written 327 posts, with average views per post, and have 108 subscribers. My most popular post, “Submissions Open for Tell Me You Love Me Anthology,” has had 289 views at the time of me writing this post (and that's within a month exactly). I have an average of 300-350 views a month on my blog in general.

The only ways I promote my blog are (1) through Goodreads by linking my RSS feed, (2) through Amazon with my RSS feed, (3) by saving post graphics/images to my Pinterest, (4) sharing posts on Facebook, (5) joining blog tours, cover reveals, and reviewing books, (6) the occasional author interview or guest post (either on my blog or someone else’s), and of course (7) word of mouth. None of these methods cost me anything...and to be honest, I think I get the most traffic just by putting myself out there rather than my blog itself...by making friends, following other blogs, and interacting with people on social media. These people will google me or search for my links, and naturally they’ll find my blog out there.

(Raise your hand in the comments if you found me/my blog by actively looking for me rather than being directed through my promotional methods above!)

First and foremost, blogging has created readers. Notice I don’t say that blogging has “brought” me readers, although it has. But blogging has actually gone beyond bringing readers who are actively seeking pirate romances to the front door of my virtual castle...it’s taken fellow writers, fantasy readers, friends and family, random strangers, and cultivated them into readers who are interested and invested in my work. They’ve gotten to know me and my writing, and now they’re not only loyal readers, they’re friends. They’re beta readers and reviewers, influencers and supporters. They’re not passive customers; they’re constantly pouring into my work and changing along with me, becoming my audience rather than the audience of my genre or publisher.

Second, blogging has enhanced my writing. Most novelists probably see blogging the bane of their existence. I mean, why waste time writing trivial posts for the Internet’s algorithms to prey upon when they could be working on the next great American novel, am I right? Well, here’s the thing. Blogging hasn’t actually taken away from my writing; it’s added it to. Sure, there have been nights (like this one) where I’ve focused on delivering a quality blog post instead of pounding out a couple hundred words in my WIP...but overall, I’ve had (1) more story ideas, (2) better quality writing, (3) better understanding of writing, and (4) more writing opportunities since I’ve started blogging. Not only am I growing and evolving in the writing craft, I’m branching out into new genres and markets. For example, I never would have written a devotional if I hadn’t written “He Will Move Mountains.” I never would have written Daylight or decided to write a sequel if it hadn’t been for my amazing followers! I’m starting to realize my limitations as a writer...and how few there really are!

Third, blogging has sold my books. Let’s face it. Before I had a blog, the only people buying my books were friends and family in my hometown. Sure, that generated a lot of sales and revenue when the first book came out...but I’ve watched that trickle down to a couple random strangers and a few loyal friends who buy old print copies at my grandmother’s gift shop. I know I’m not optimizing my blog like I could be, nor am I actually generating half as many sales as I should...but I can see where blogging has expanded my horizons beyond just my neighborhood to include readers all across the world!

Fourth, blogging has built a community. My blog very literally is my virtual home. I love this place! I love writing for y’all and hanging out with you guys! And in making friends and sharing unpopular opinions, I’ve built a community around my blog and my writing. This is one thing you’ll find many authors and other businesses listing when it comes to blogging benefits—and that’s because it is so true! This community is always changing and growing, and it’s always finding new ways to interact with you and support your work! The blogging community—whether as a whole or just your own—is full of opportunities, from reviews, guest posts, and interviews, to building street teams, to starting new side hustles to bring fresh content to your followers!

And get this. Your blog is your blog. It’s not a social media platform that’s dominated by myriads of other creators...it’s just you and your readers! You’re able to connect with them and establish meaningful relationships with them that you can’t do anywhere else. More than that, a lot of people who follow blogs aren’t on social media—for all kinds of reasons, from personal views to time to mental health to age—so a blog offers them a safe, exclusive environment to interact with their favorite authors! And come to think of it...a lot of people who follow your blog might not be “officially” following your blog. They could be reading your content and clicking on your links and investing in your journey without ever hitting the subscribe button or liking a post! How crazy is that, right? It’s a kind of success you can’t measure, but that’s fine! It just means that there are readers out there even when you can’t see them!

But don’t take it from me! There are so many authors and businesses who agree with me, that blogging is super effective and in some cases necessary to your career—whether it’s in writing or soap carving!

Blogging in General: A Word from the Experts

Prism Global Marketing Solutions offers a list of the benefits of blogging in general, and even though they’re tailored toward traditional businesses, you can easily apply them to authors and other creators as well!

Keep Your Audience Engaged and Share Relevant, Helpful Content Attract New Prospects and Clients Promote the Idea of a Community Centered Around Your Organization Build Your Brand and Increase Thought Leadership Advertise While Sharing Meaningful Content Build Trust with Your Audience

According to Hubspot, blogging also:

helps drive traffic to your website; helps convert traffic into leads; drives long-term results; helps with link building; and helps you share company news!

As if that wasn’t enough, blogging helps with SEO, gives you insight into your audience, and helps with lead generation, nurturing, and conversion, says Connection Model!

Blogging for Authors: A Word from the Author Blog Pros

If you don’t believe me and the marketers...believe the actual author bloggers and publishers! IngramSpark—yes, the print-on-demand company, y’all—offers a list of amazing benefits of having an author blog!

It can:

generate website traffic; attract new book buyers; help you cultivate a community (what did I tell you? *winks*); be an integral part of your social media strategy; create new alliances; and attract media attention.

That may not sound like a lot, which is why I heartily recommend reading the full post here, where the author expounds upon each benefit and just how beneficial it is!

And, of course, The Creative Penn, a popular writing blog, recommends blogging for introverted authors, as it connects you directly with readers without showing your face, preparing for an event, or spending hours smiling until your cheeks fall off. A blog also gives you feedback from your audience and allows readers to peek into your life, but only as far as your open the proverbial door (unlike social media, where they can easily find disturbing images of you without any makeup on *winks*).

The Creative Penn also mentions how a blog makes you “real” to your readers (I can attest to this) and establishes your credibility with not only your readers but with agents and editors too, and that you have complete control over your content—from what you write to when you write it to if you promote it or get paid for it!

I highly recommend reading their full post here for more insight!

Author Blogs: Lead By Example

I hate to say it, but I will go so far as to not read a book by an author who doesn’t have a blog or doesn’t maintain the one they have. I know that seems...harsh, I guess, but I hold blogs (and especially websites) in extremely high regard. I mean, if you’re actively writing your blog, you’re alive, for one. You’re also interested in your readers, excited about your books and your content, and you’re open to connecting with your followers. You exude life, authority, enthusiasm, and genuineness when you maintain a nice blog! I’m able to connect with you, get to know you, have a taste of your writing, and feel like I’m part of your life, your journey. I’m able to be impacted by you and in return impact you in some way by following your blog and interacting with your posts.

I know not everyone has the time or even the desire to keep a blog, and I understand that (which is why an active social media platform or newsletter can be substituted...I just don’t like them as much), but it does enhance an author’s persona for me as a reader when they maintain a blog! Especially a pretty one with relevant, intriguing content!

That’s why I want to highlight some exceptionally done blogs that have really helped me establish a relationship with the authors...and, of course, some of the industry’s most prominent author blogs out there! Maybe you’ll feel inspired to start a blog of your own! And even if you don’t feel ready to create a blog of your own, there are some amazing group blogs (and writing blogs that accept submissions) out there that unite multiple amazing authors in one place! Sure, it’s not as comfy cozy or personal, but it does have a community all its own! I’ve included a few of those too!

Roseanna M. White Julie Lessman Kellyn Roth R.M. Archer Vanessa Hall Kristina Hall Maribeth Barber Sarah Sundin Jane Friedman The Creative Penn Jerry Jenkins Seekerville Inspired by Life...and Fiction Petticoats & Pistols Story Embers Kingdom Pen Sky’s the Limit Press

Is an Author Blog Worth It?

I think we have our answer now...yes. Yes, it most assuredly is! There are so many benefits to having and maintaining an author blog, and even if you only reap one or two of those benefits, you’re still utilizing an amazing marketing strategy and you are building a platform that will last for years to come! And that, come to think of it, is another valuable benefit to blogging! Blogs have a longer shelf life than emails or social media—trust me, a lot of blogs from the early infant-hood of the Internet are still out there and they are still just as awesome as ever. Emails are deleted; blog posts stay in the same place forever (or as long as the author wants them to). Social media posts are lost in a sea of millions of other posts; blog posts have a forever home. See what I mean?

So there you have it, folks! If you’re looking to enhance your author career or establish your very first platform as a beginning writer, a website with a blog is the best place to begin! Even if you start out with one long post a month or a 200-word post a week (the latter is actually the most beneficial), just having and maintaining that platform is one of the best decisions you’ll make as a writer!

I know what you’re thinking, though. I don’t have time! What if it ends up costing money? How in the world am I supposed to do that? How do I get myself out there? What am I supposed to post?

All fantastic and very important questions, and ones I would love to answer! If you wanna know what I have to say about the most common blogging problems/excuses, just let me know what you thought of this post in the comments and what you want me to talk about next! If you have any specific questions or thoughts, I’d love to hear those too!

I hope this helped break the blogging bias and inspired you to consider starting your own blog! If you’re not a writer but you know someone who is, feel free to share this post with them to help encourage them in their writing journey!

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#authors #writers #writingadvice #publishingadvice #authoradvice #blog #authorblogs #blogging #blogger #bloggingadvice #marketingtips #bookmarketing #authormarketing #authorplatforms #yesevenhashtagsaregoodforauthors #iloveyouguys #yallareawesome #iwouldntbewritingthispostifitwasntforyou #technicallythoughthispostwasforem #loveyouem #thanksforinspiringmetowritethis

Gracie's Guide to Clean and Christian YA Fiction!

So...I've noticed a trend lately. Clean fiction - specifically Christian and inspirational fiction - fades into the background, overrun in libraries and bookstores by secular fiction that would make even secular fiction of a hundred years ago turn over in its grave...and I don't mean just adult fiction. I'm talking young adult fiction.

Kids are picking up books with heavy violence and profanity...and that's the good part, because authors and publishers are pushing sex outside of marriage and, worse, homosexuality and transgenderism...to children.

That rotten basket of apples spoils the whole orchard, and many Christian readers are either left to fend for themselves in the vast wasteland of corrupted reading material...or they turn their noses up to fiction altogether and depart from the land in which many glories could be unearthed.

Pardon my prose, but I think you get my point.

This is why I've put together (along with the help of my friends...thank y'all!!!) a guide to some of the best Christian and clean YA fiction out there! Now, be aware that this is mainly all that my friends and I thought of off the top of our heads...there is a LOT more wholesome YA fiction out there, waiting to be read, which is why I'm open to any and all suggestions you have...and why I'll be updating this list periodically to include any other fantastic tales that need to be shared!

Now, before I list the books/series, let me define this list, shall I?

Everything is Christian, inspirational, allegorical, clean, and wholesome fiction for ages 12 to 18, ranging from fantasy to contemporary to speculative to historical to romance! Wondering what constitutes clean and Christian YA fiction? Click ,here!

Books containing romance will be marked by an asterisk! *winks*

Without further ado...the list! I hope y'all find many new books and authors to read and enjoy!

Gracie's Guide to Clean and Christian YA Fiction!

Fantasy/Fairytale/Allegory

The Toymaker’s Doll by E. G. Bella Lost Girl by R. M. Archer* Era of Shadows by Daisy Torres* The Princess Companion by Melanie Cellier* When You Found Me by Anna Augustine* The Seven Sleepers series by Gilbert L. Morris The Unblemished series by Sara Ella* The Tales of Goldstone Wood series by Anne Elisabeth Stengl* Dragons in Our Midst series by Bryan Davis The Lost Princesses series by Jody Hedlund* The Fairest Maidens series by Jody Hedlund* Knights of Brethren series by Jody Hedlund* Daughters of Peverell series by Hannah Currie* The House That Didn't End by E.K. Seaver* Dust and Shadow by Kara Swanson* The Tales of Ambia series by Allison Tebo* The Goblin and the Dancer by Allison Tebo* The Truth from Taerna series by Erika Mathews* Moonscript by H.S.J. Williams Fairest Son by H.S.J. Williams The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

Speculative

Ignite by Jenna Terese The Girl Who Could See by Kara Swanson* Left Behind: The Kids series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim Lahaye The Key to the Chains by Allison Tebo The Out of Time series by Nadine Brandes*

Contemporary

The Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn* Shattered Rose by Tammy L. Gray* Phantom Thief by P.D. Atkerson Meet My Boyfriend by Willowy Whisper* Aftermath by Terri Blackstock* The Tradewinds series by Taylor Bennett* Shards of Sky by E.C. Colton

Historical

The Hagenheim series by Melanie Dickerson* The Elsie Dinsmore series by Martha Finley He Wore Brass Buttons by Willowy Whisper Within These Lines by Stephanie Morrill* An Uncertain Choice series by Jody Hedlund* The Regency Spies of London series by Melanie Dickerson* The Dericott Tales series by Melanie Dickerson* A Medieval Fairytale series by Melanie Dickerson* The Life of Jesus trilogy by Marjorie Holmes Engraved on the Heart by Tara Johnson* The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy series by Kellyn Roth*

If you have any suggestions or recommendations for anything that fits my criteria, please drop them in the comments below! And if y'all have any friends and fellow readers looking for new reads, pass this along!

Happy reading, y'all! *waves*

Yours in spirit and script, Grace

#graciesguide #christianfiction #readinglist #cleanreads #wholesomefiction #inspirationalfiction #fantasy #allegorical #youngadultfiction #middlegradefiction #booksforchristianreaders #romance #historicalfiction #contemporaryfiction #speculativefiction #fairytales #retellings