Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 26

Series Review: The Moretti Trilogy by Kristina Hall (Blog Tour)

Yep, I am reviewing three books in one post. Since that is a lot of reviews, on top of introducing y’all to each book, listing the rest of the posts in this tour, and telling y’all about an awesome giveaway, I’ll try and keep things short.

Oh, who am I kidding? I’ve got too much excitement to just “keep things short”!

Yes, my lovelies, today I am taking part in Kristina Hall’s blog tour for her latest series The Moretti Trilogy (and, before you ask, yes, this is her third complete series this year...the last two were duologies, but I’d say that counts)! I am so super, duper excited to finally tell y’all all about these three AMAZING Roaring 20’s mafia novels—full of faith and redemption, wild with suspense and action, with just a pinch of romance.

Yeah, they’re practically perfect.

Before we get started, if y’all are interested in learning a wee bit more about the author, the lovely Miss Kristina Hall, I suggest checking out my interview with her from several months back! And if you’re wondering what I’ve thought of her writing in the past, then read my reviews for her westerns Strangers and Pilgrims and To the Uttermost here and here, respectively!

Now, enough gabbing! (Man, why didn’t I ever say that when that was the name of my blog???) Let’s get into my thoughts!

Okay, never mind. That just sounds weird. Let’s just read my reviews, shall we?

There. That’s better.

Promises Unbroken

How much will she risk to save her sister?

Mae Ashton has every reason to stay in Georgia and marry the man she loves, save one—the disappearance of her sister. Although all evidence points to Hazel’s death, Mae’s discovery of a single picture changes everything. If Hazel is alive, Mae will find her. And she’s left everything to do so.

Davis Everleigh isn’t about to let Mae, his fiancée, go just because of a note that hardly explains her departure to New York City. Instead, he follows her to the city and gains employment with the man Mae believes is somehow connected to Hazel.

As Davis and Mae become further entrenched in their effort to locate Hazel, they find themselves facing a corrupt businessman and his ruthless henchman, Alberto Moretti. In a world of lies, will the truth prevail—both about Hazel and in their own lives?

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Review

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In the very beginning, I wondered why this series was called the Moretti trilogy. After all, it is about the Ashtons, isn’t it? Mae, who risks her life to find her sister. Hazel, who left a broken family behind years ago. Frank, who can’t leave because of his paralysis and troubled heart.

Then I met Alberto. And, as you can imagine me saying in my most dramatic voice, everything changed.

This really is his story. His series. Somehow, this strong, silent mobster henchman wormed his way into the forefront of the story...into my heart...and dominated both of them. His character is so real—every facet of him is not just realistic and authentic...it’s alive. His redemption arc? Even better. Kristina Hall knows, lemme tell ya, how to wear a soul down and led them to the Lord in a way that is touching, powerful, and genuine. I love it. Even if it’s only fictional souls that are coming to Christ.

And, yeah, you could count it as a spoiler that Moretti is redeemed, but to be honest? Once you meet him, you’ll know. He just oozes potential and all-around awesomeness. I love him.

That’s becoming increasingly obvious, isn’t it?

Yeah, I thought so.

I should probably talk some more about the other characters...and the story itself...shouldn’t I?

That is standard procedure, so off we go.

Davis, y’all, Davis was fabulous. Sure, at first I was a wee bit worried about him...mainly that I wouldn’t like him or that he’d be bland. And, in some ways, I think he was missing a bit of flavor, perhaps, but in others, he really was an amazing guy. He was like the grown male version of Elsie Dinsmore, if that makes sense, always striving to do what was right, what honored God, and what helped others. Despite the risk. Despite temptation. Despite the odds, which were never in his favor.

Yeah, Davis’ character was simply fabulous. There’s no other word for it.

As for Mae...y’all, I really wanted to like her. And I did. Sometimes. But I couldn’t relate to her in the way I wanted to or connect with her on a deep lever. That said, from a surface standpoint of her character, she possessed a quiet strength that I admired and a determination that anyone would appreciate. Her struggles were realistic and deftly handled.

Then there’s Lillian/Hazel and Vincenzo. Y’all. Them two made me gag. And it wasn’t necessarily because Vin was a heartless, murdering, mobster and that Lil was crazy for him (I’m just grateful that the two were married)...it was more that the both of them were a couple of spineless sea sponges. I’m with Moretti—Vin wasn’t worthy of his position, he wouldn’t make good on his threats, he lacked the guts needed to handle things, and on top of all of that…he was hopelessly annoying. And Lillian was just a fool.

Is this a bad thing, that Vin and Lil were just so painful to read about? Nope, not at all, because Hall is one of those authors who is so good at making bad characters. If you catch my drift.

And, of course, honorary mention for overall awesomeness goes to John Scranton. I would absolutely love a story about him. Just, y’know, throwing that out there.

Now, moving on to the elements unrelated to characters and fangirling...the suspense and action. Y’all, Hall can keep you on the edge of your seat, lemme tell ya, turning pages (or clicking screens) like there ain’t no tomorrow. And yet, her stories are never rushed. They’re perfectly paced, allowing time for development and depth—something most suspenses sorely lack. Not to mention she can write a durn good fight scene.

Speaking of scenes…that conversion scene. Man, was that powerful or what?

Also, something I really liked, not only about Promises Unbroken but also all of Hall’s historical works, is that she is so immersed in the setting and that it becomes so real, to the point that there’s no need for excessive descriptions or info-dumps about how things looked or functioned back in the 1920s. Not that I don’t mind excessive description and information; those just aren’t elements that belong in a suspense. In a novel like this, being completely invested in the story and only the story is all that matters, and Hall makes that simple.

What’s probably the craziest thing is that, when I finished Promises Unbroken, I thought to myself “Man, that was even better than To the Uttermost! It can’t get any better.”

Then I started reading Mercy Undeserved.

Mercy Undeserved

How much more will she lose?

Lillian Rossi had it all—a devoted husband, a new baby, and all the riches she’d dreamed of. But one January day changed everything. Now, the consequences of her late husband’s sins extend to her and her son, and Matteo, though only a baby, is the rightful heir to the Rossi empire, making him a target.

Alberto Moretti promised to protect Lillian and her son, but he well knows the cruelty and desperation of the Rossi family. He served them all too long—until God set him free.

As Lillian and Alberto are thrown together in a race to save her and Matteo’s lives, their own sins and Stefano Rossi’s plans threaten to destroy them. Will they fall prey to the danger so close behind, or will they find mercy they’ve done nothing to deserve?

Snag Your Copy!

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This one is the first of Hall’s to get a full five stars from me, because y’all. I have literally only one word to accurately express my feelings for this book.

MORETTI. MORETTI. MORETTI. MORETTI. M O R E T T I.

moretti.

Okay, that was technically the same word six times, but you get my point.

I adore the stinkin’ socks off of that man.

I’ll keep this review short, considering the fact that literally all I can do is fangirl over Moretti right now.

This is probably Hall’s most romantic book yet. And it’s, like, extremely diluted. So that’s not really saying much, I suppose, but still. Y’all know I love the whole marriage of convenience thing—and while I would’ve liked a lot of it to be done differently, I know Kristina, and writing a marriage of convenience was probably the most painful thing she’s ever done.

So I’m seriously not gonna complain.

I also think this was one of her most suspenseful. The plot moved fast, and we kept jumping from one dangerous situation to another (definitely a good thing). That said, Hall never disregards her characters’ emotional and spiritual needs. The story is about them, not the plot, and that’s why I keep coming back to her books. The development is spot-on, and y’all know I love how poignant her faith elements are! Plus, she manages to keep things exciting without being complicated, which I love. I read suspenses at the pace the plot goes (which is normally fast...meaning you might catch me skim-reading when things start to get serious), so I don’t need a lot of complicated loopholes to deal with. Any other genres, I’m fine. But when I’m on the edge of my seat already, I really don’t feel like having to scoot back and relax so I can decipher all that’s going on.

Make sense? Good. Moving on.

As for Lillian. Y’all know I hated her at first (I...may have a little bit of Frank in me)…mainly because she seemed to be missing a backbone. Plus she was just a butt to everyone. And, yeah, I just didn’t like her. We’ll put it like that.

However, she grew on me. She actually grew on me.

As she began to soften toward Moretti and feel a bit of guilt for her actions, as she started sacrificing for her son and thinking more about God, I really began to like her, and now that I’m reading Truth Unshaken, I really do love her character.

All the secondary characters were fantabulous, of course. *looks at Scranton*

Long story short, Moretti.

Nuff said.

Truth Unshaken

Whom can they trust?

After losing her parents, Carla Belardi discovers her life was a lie. Now, she must flee unless she wants her parents’ fate to be her own.

Frank Ashton lost the use of his legs—and his desire to live—in the Great War. When Carla is brought to his home injured, he gains a friend. But despite the attraction growing between them, he can never burden her with a cripple.

Alberto Moretti thought he could do good working for the Prohibition Unit—until he finds out his new employer isn’t much better than the criminals he once served. Now, he has to fight both sides—the Prohibition Unit and the crooked Belardis.

When danger surrounds Carla, Frank, and Alberto from too many angles, will they put their trust in the Truth that will never be shaken?

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Review

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Truth Unshaken may be my least favorite in the series in some ways and my most favorite in others. I know that makes no sense, so let me expound.

The plot was *chef’s kiss*. Moretti going undercover...notorious crime boss’s granddaughter on the run for her life...paralyzed kid (okay, okay, man) caring for the stranger his family took in...Moretti being Moretti. Not to mention, Hall is a master at weaving all those things together, moving the story along quickly, and developing each aspect.

Yeah, that’s pretty epic, am I right?

But here’s the thing. I didn’t like Frank. I didn’t dislike him, because I understood where he was coming from and I respected his struggles, but he just didn’t click with me. Is that a me thing? Yes, it probably was. (Aren’t they all?) Did it make the story a little less epic for me? Unfortunately, yes.

However, I must say that Carla was absolutely lovely. She was so genuine and precious and sweet and kind and...yeah...all of Hall’s heroines are fabulous, so how could Carla be any exception? On that note, seeing Mae and Lillian/Hazel again was so good! They’re even better than I remembered! Of course, I loved Davis too. Would’ve liked more of him, honestly.

Moretti is still my favorite, though (probably why Frank didn’t click...he wasn’t Moretti). Honestly, this entire book could’ve centered around him only, and I’d’ve been happier than a cat at a fish fry! (And, no, I don’t think that’s a saying, but you’re more than welcome to use it.)

Speaking of...considering this is the ending of the series, I would’ve liked, I dunno, a huge celebration. An epilogue. Moretti actually calling “the kid” by his real name. Something like that, just to wrap everything up with a bow. Y’all know how I am about stuff like that.

So, did it live up to my expectations? Yes, because I expected Moretti to be wonderful and he was (I legit could marry that guy...if it weren’t for Lillian, of course).

Gosh, I am such a fangirl.

Anyway. Yes, I enjoyed it. Yes, it kept my attention. Yes, I love Moretti’s guts (as weird as that sounds). Yes, I am very, very, very sad that this series is over. Seriously. Why couldn’t it go on forever? Why couldn’t Moretti just pop up in every other book Hall writes? Why couldn’t Moretti be real so that I could give him the bear hug he deserves? (That man seriously needs a hug. *raises hand* I’ll volunteer.)

All in all, I think it’s quite obvious that the Moretti trilogy was absolutely AH-MAY-ZING and that you simply must read it. Like, right now. I’m waaaaiiiiting. (And, yes, that’s a Sonic reference.)

Welp, it’s been real, but I gotta juice! (Another Sonic reference, of course.) *speeds off in a ball of blue energy*

(Sorry about the Sonic quotes...but this is my life now, y’all.)

About the Author

Kristina Hall is a sinner saved by grace who seeks to glorify God with her words. She is a homeschool graduate and holds a degree in accounting. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, arm wrestling, lifting weights, and playing the violin. Follow her on Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, and her website, and subscribe to her newsletter!

The Giveaway

The giveaway runs from 12:00 am on December 13th to 12:00 am on December 19th, and Kristina is giving away the entire Moretti Trilogy (Promises Unbroken, Mercy Undeserved, and Truth Unshaken) in the file type of the winner’s choice (PDF, mobi, or epub). The winner will be announced on December 19th (Sunday) in her blog tour wrap-up post, and she’ll contact this individual by email to find out what file type to send. The entire set of books will be sent by email.

The Tour

Monday, December 13th

Vanessa Hall- Series Spotlight

Allyson (Shay’s Scribbles)- Author Interview

Kristina Hall- Blog Tour Launch Post

Esther (‘Neath the Hackberry Reading Club)- Review of Mercy Undeserved

Tasha Van Kesteren- Author Interview

Judith McNees- Review of Truth Unshaken

Penny Zeller- Series Spotlight

Tuesday, December 14th

Madi’s Musings- Author Interview and Series Spotlight

Emily Yager- Author Interview and Series Spotlight

Issabelle Perry- Author Interview and Series Spotlight

Kristina Hall- Promises Unbroken Post

Wednesday, December 15th

Kristina Hall- Mercy Undeserved Post

Esther (‘Neath the Hackberry Reading Club)- Review of Truth Unshaken

Thursday, December 16th

Vanessa Hall- Author Interview

Madi’s Musings- Guest Post: The Hardest Parts of Writing and Editing The Moretti Trilogy

Katja (Old Fashioned Book Love)- Review of Promises Unbroken

Kristina Hall- Truth Unshaken Post

Friday, December 17th

Vanessa Hall- Review of Truth Unshaken

Katja (Old Fashioned Book Love)- Review of Mercy Undeserved

Grace A. Johnson- Reviews of Promises Unbroken, Mercy Undeserved, and Truth Unshaken

Autumn (Farm and Photography Life)- Series Spotlight

Kristina Hall- My Favorite Character

Saturday, December 18th

Adara (Penlightenment)- Author Interview and Review of Promises Unbroken

Katja (Old Fashioned Book Love) - Review of Truth Unshaken

Kristina Hall- The Themes

Sunday, December 19th

Kristina Hall- Tour Wrap-up and Giveaway Announcement

WOW! Was this a long post or what? I applaud you for making it through, because there was so much fun fangirling and free stuff in this post that I know you wouldn't have wanted to miss! Now, if my raving about Moretti won't peak your interest in this series, I don't know what will, so I think I've accomplished what I set out to do, eh?

Y'all have a fabulous weekend, my lovelies, and I'll see y'all with my next review...As Dawn Breaks!

#blogtour #seriesreview #bookreview #review #giveaway #historicalfiction #historicalromance #romanticsuspense #christianfiction #indie #selfpublished #mafia

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Know the Novel Part 3: Words Written

Wow. November has come and went, and now we're only days away from Christmas! I don't know about y'all, but I'm kinda sad to see November - and Know the Novel - go! Today is the final post in the three-month-long linkup hosted by Christine Smith (click the graphic below to check out her post), all about the words written in my WIP!

If you missed the last two posts, you can find them here and here! Just make sure y'all stick around 'til this end of this one, because I'm got a special surprise for y'all!

Now, without further ado, the questions!

1. How did writing this novel go all around?

All around? As in, since Chapter 1 or just in November? Because if we’re talking the last two years (give or take a couple months) I’ve been working on this novel, then we’ll be here. all. day.

But if we’re just talking November...it went well. I’m honestly surprised by how consistent I was (and I even missed probably two weeks worth of days) and how many words I was able to get in when I just focused. I would’ve liked more progress to have been made, but I’m not gonna complain.

2. Did it turn out like you expected or completely different? And how do you feel about the outcome?

Considering I didn’t expect it to be finished yet, yes, it did turn out as expected. And also considering that consideration of how it’s not finished, I have no comment on the outcome.

Let’s just say that if, when I do reach The End, it looks like I’ve planned, y’all will be very, very mad at me. Like, more so than y’all are now.

3. What aspect of the story did you love writing about the most? (Characters, plot, setting, prose, etc.)

The torture. Seriously. These last few chapters have been pure torture of every kind for my characters, and I’m sorry to say that I’ve been thoroughly enjoying every minute of it. We’re really getting to the heart of things, which is beneficial. Once you get past the pain, of course.

Overall, though, I love the spiritual/faith elements. As difficult as it’s been to tackle all these tough issues in one book, I have enjoyed it and I’ve learned a lot. I only hope I (1) make sense and (2) can impact someone else! And, funnily enough, the romance in this has been kinda wonky. In some ways, I wouldn’t even classify it as a romance, because I’ve just got so many other things going on. It’ll probably get more romantic toward the end, though, which leads me to my point. I’ve also loved writing the romantic moments—when they come...which is often in the form of an argument—because Keaton and Daisy have this electrifying chemistry that’s so...destructive. That’s a strange term, but I did liken them to oil and shoal once, so… Seriously. They’re combustible together. One moment completely chill, the next enraged about something, and then a couple seconds later, kissing and making up.

Sounds like a Harlequin novel, yes, but then there’s this element of innocence and first-love (at least on Keaton’s part...#nospoilers) that just ties it all together.

Anyway, it’s beautiful and I love it, even though I feel like it kind of trickles out at some points. It’ll come rushing back in eventually, though, I’m sure.

4. How about your least favorite part?

How slow it is. Now, I don’t just mean that in terms of how slow I write...I also mean that in terms of the pacing of the actual book. I feel like a single moment stretches across three pages, so when I’m not torturing anyone, I’m literally doing nothing but dragging things out.

5. What do you feel like needs the most work?

All of it. Seriously. Xavier’s scenes need tweaking, since I’m trying to make his character stronger. Everything with Quinn in it needs to be redone, as I think I finally understand his character now. Keaton’s dialogue needs to be cleaned up—and I mean decreasing how much he says...not that he’s cussing or anything. And I need to rewrite that one scene. And...yeah...everything. A lot of the scenes are (1) rushed, (2) too wordy, or (3) unnecessary, and several characters need to undergo some revisions. And that changes a lot.

6. How do you feel about your characters now? Who’s your favorite? Least favorite? Anyone surprise you? Give us all the details!

I’ll put it like this: I don’t hate any of them anymore. My favorite has to be either Rina, Crimson, or Elliot. I’m not writing from Elliot’s POV, which hurts, but I love every moment with him from another character’s perspective. He’s finally back to his jovial old self!

And of course I love Crimson. She’s my girl.

Then there are some of the villains in this story (because, yes, there are actual villains) who are just way too much fun to write. But no spoilers.

Oh! And Julius and Scarlette have definitely surprised me with (1) how smooth and easy they are to write and (2) how much I love them! They both have very consistent characters, which is something I greatly appreciate, and just they themselves are all over the place. I love it.

Least favorite, though? Daisy. I don’t hate her anymore, but I still don’t like her. She’s just way too difficult to put into words. Such a jumble of contradicting emotions and thoughts. You’ll understand it once you meet her.

7. What’s your next plan of action with this novel?

Finish it. And then edit it fifty times.

8. If you could have your greatest dream realized for this novel, what would it be?

Finish it. Seriously. At this point, I have no other expectations.

9. Share some of your favorite snippets!

Yikes, we’ll be here all day. Remember, this is a 54-chapter-long project at the moment. Why don’t I just find one non-spoilery scene?

Okay, yeah, that’s basically impossible. Plus, I've already shared some of my favorite short, relatively un-spoilery snippets in my last Know the Novel post...so lemme see what I can do.

Below are some of my favorite snippets mainly because of how the prose flowed...that said, I think I have a lot better quotes in this book; I just didn't save them out so I honestly don't remember. *facepalm*

Crisp white sails snapped with each sharp thrust of the wind, waving at me with malicious smirks as each clashed with their respective masts and tangled with the strong coiled rigging. Only one streak of canvas stood out from among the rest, a mere speck to the naked eye upon the horizon, obscured by the sunset, in its painstakingly bright red, one more vibrant than the Rina’s maroon of thirteen years ago, one more dangerous than the stripes of red and blue so gleefully worn by the Union Jack. Slashed athwart such an angry sail were two simple words, the name this small brigantine so proudly bore, two words that seemed so foreign as the christened name of a ship and yet so at home on my tongue, against its colors, in my memory’s ears.

Wild Rose.

I leant my head against the bulwark, bracing myself with my elbows, as I examined the deck beneath me and envisioned the dark Cimmerian waves engulfing what was left of my soul. Muted grey despondency washed away the blazing red of anger until every emotion was sunk into a murky pool of complacency, leaving only emptiness, a hollow space that could not be filled by anything. Ever.

"At times, he’s the most definable, vivid, and pragmatic sort of person, running as smoothly as the gears of a clock. Then others, he is a dark, distant, smoldering man with a depth far beyond his years. Sometimes, he has the attitude of a child—fantastical, whimsical, hopeful, creative. Dreaming. Then night falls along with his nightmares, and all else drifts away."

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."

These words…I breathed them in, lifting my head as I groped for the book beside me, flipped to Isaiah with an urgency that nearly tore the pages. They were a promise.

But the question was this: did God speak of the body or the spirit? Did He guarantee that He would always deliver my body from the waves and the streams and the flames? Or did He promise everlasting protection, an unending covenant, the guarantee of eternity? That no matter where I went or what foe—earthly or spiritual—I faced, my spirit remained bound to His, my heart consecrated to Him, my future in His hands, His grace sufficient, and my salvation constant and true?

10. Did you glean any new writing and/or life lessons from writing this novel?

Absolutely! More spiritual lessons than anything else, the main one being the definition of grace. I’d talk about it here...but I also plan on writing a blog post about it. One day. Eventually. Probably not this year, like I’d hoped, but we’ll see!

Now, I dunno if y'all remember, but I promised you quotes graphics and a mockup in my last Know the Novel post...so here they are! You'll probably have to click on the graphics to read the text...

This first one to the left has one of my favorite quotes...the one I hope to expound upon in a post all its own soon!

Now, this one? Whoo, guys, despite the typo (which I assure y'all I fixed in the manuscript), this quote which is by both Crimson and Elliot is another favorite of mine, because not only was it so fun to write, it just makes my heart squeal every time I read over it!

And this is not actually a quote...more like a tagline for the novel as a whole, but y'all know I love tying in the title. Not to mention those colors! *sighs*

This quote literally only makes sense in context, and the scene it's derived from is one of my favorites (I have a lot of favorites, actually)...and I love that picture. I could honestly go for a pink theme with this book if I didn't wanna use pink for the next one.

And, yes, spoiler alert. There will be a book four (after the cliffhanger in Bound and Determined, there'll have to be) and I do plan on weaving the color pink into it.

Now, at long last, I must debut the mockup cover I designed for BAD...

Let it be noted that even though it took me probably an hour to put this thing together - and I took special care to make it resemble the cover for Prisoner at Heart - it's still not even CLOSE to what I want the real cover to look like. This is just for fun and probably what I'll use on proof copies.

Without further ado (I do a lot ado)...

Eh, not too shabby, if I do say so myself! What about you? What do you think? What was your favorite quote/snippet that I shared today? What are you most looking forward to about Bound and Determined? How did your projects go in November? What do you plan to get done in December?

#knowthenovel #boundanddetermined #quotegraphics #snippets #mockup #progress

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Coming Soon: Never Leave Me by Jody Hedlund

Here it is! The third January 4th release! Never Leave Me is the second book in the Waters of Time series, which is Jody Hedlund's first time-travel series and fourth medieval series. I've yet to write my review of the first book, Come Back to Me, but suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and am super excited to start reading Never Leave Me!

I absolutely loved the way Hedlund chose to depict time travel and the method she used to do it. It was the perfect blend of fantasy, science, and Christian mythology that was simply superb! Most time travel novels are either too fantastical or too scientific until the point that you can't grasp how it works, but Hedlund's is simple while still being complex enough to, you know, not be real - more speculative than anything else.

Anyway, y'all know what I mean, don't you?

Good. Then let's move on to learning about this book (and squealing over that gorgeous cover)!

About the Book

In the last stages of a genetic disease, Ellen Creighton has decided to live out her remaining days at the estate of her longtime friend Harrison Burlington. Harrison cares deeply for Ellen, but as a wheelchair-bound paraplegic, he's never allowed himself to get serious in a relationship. However, he's desperately trying to save her by finding the holy water that is believed to heal any disease.

When he locates two flasks, Ellen refuses to drink one of them because she believes the holy water killed her sister and father. In an effort to convince her to take it, Harrison ingests the contents first, and when Ellen witnesses the effects, she can no longer deny the power of the substance in the bottles. Dangerous criminals are also seeking the holy water, and Ellen soon learns they will go to any lengths to get the powerful drug--including sending her back into the past to find it for them.

Bestselling and award-winning author Jody Hedlund plunges you into the swiftly flowing river of history in a race against the clock in this breathtaking, emotional second Waters of Time story.

Snag Your Copy About the Author

Jody Hedlund is the author of over thirty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award.

Jody lives in central Michigan with her husband, five busy children, and five spoiled cats. Although Jody prefers to experience daring and dangerous adventures through her characters rather than in real life, she’s learned that a calm existence is simply not meant to be (at least in this phase of her life!).

When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.

#comingsoon #newrelease #historicalromance #christianfiction #romance #timetravel #speculative #contemporary #fantasy #medieval #favoriteauthor

Coming Soon: Her Darling Mr. Day by Grace Hitchcock

January 4th is the day of sequels, my friends, because not only is To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White (the sequel to The Nature of a Lady) releasing then, but so is the sequel to My Dear Miss Dupre by Grace Hitchcock! (And there's another book releasing on the 4th too, but we'll get to that in a bit, shall we?)

Y'all remember My Dear Miss Dupre, don't ya? It's the book that somehow managed to develop and pull off a love-square/marriage contest without driving me absolutely nuts! You can read the entirety of the thoughts here!

Well, as you can imagine, the sequel to the first book in the American Royalty series is about one member of said love square, Teddy Day...who, obviously, lost by a hair. I actually started shipping him with a side character towards the end of MDMD, so I am SO excited to see how his story unfolds in Her Darling Mr. Day!

About the Book

New Orleans' most eligible bachelor insists he's not on the market . . . but he couldn't be more wrong.Jilted in front of all New York, Theodore Day decides to lose himself in his family's luxury riverboat business in New Orleans and compete against his brother to become the next company head. The brother with the most sales by summer's end will win the position. Thanks to Theodore's fame as a suitor in a socialite's outlandish competition to find a husband, he has become very desirable royalty in Southern society and thus has an advantage.

It took Flora Wingfield's best work to convince her family to summer in New Orleans, but with Teddy Day a bachelor once again, she's leaving nothing to chance. Desperate to stand out from all the clamoring belles, Flora attempts a bold move that goes completely awry, only to find it's her interior design skills that finally catch his notice.But when Flora's father's matchmaking schemes come in the way of her plans, Teddy will have to decide where his happiness truly lies and what he is willing to sacrifice for it.

Preorder Your Copy About the Author

Grace Hitchcock is the author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in Baton Rouge with her husband, Dakota, son and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.

#comingsoon #christianfiction #historicalromance #christianromance #romance #victorianera

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Single Line Story Challenge Tag

When I first read Bella's post, I thought to myself "Dude, that looks cool. I wanna do that. But I stink at one-sentence anythings."

So imagine my surprise when I realized I'd been tagged!

This was actually way easier and funner (that is too a word...don't give me that red line!) than I'd expected, and I would so do it again! I probably will, actually, so y'all let me know which genre of story y'all like the best and which line was your favorite! Lucky for me, I've written in pretty much all of these genres, so I was able to pull from some old story ideas for inspiration!

Also, I hope y'all don't mind, but I add a bit of commentary to some!

Anyway, I'm too excited about this one to keep chattering! Let's go!

The Rules Thank the person who nominated you. (Thank you, Bella!!! Check out her post here !) Write 5 single line stories that fall under any of these genres (you can pick which ones you do!): fantasy romance thriller mystery western contemporary historical drama dystopian adventure sci-fi paranormal young adult You can choose 5 genres that’s easiest for you, or you can challenge yourself to try something new! (Pft, I’ve written something in every single one of these genres, so I’ll do them all!) Nominate 5 blogger/writers who you’d love to see participate and leave an open nomination for all writers! You can do this challenge more than once.The Stories

Fantasy:

My best friend is a frog, I thought ruefully, as I glared down at the once lovely young prince who now bore the curse of being a frog for, presumably, the rest of his life. (So maybe this is more of a fairytale...but that still counts as fantasy, so I’mma roll with it!)

Romance:

With his blue eyes shuttered from her and his lips parted, he began his descent, gently caressing her mouth. (What’s more romantic than a kiss?)

Thriller:

“Objection, Your Honor!” he roared, surging from his seat and jabbing a gnarled finger at the defendant as he hurtled unfounded accusations at him. (Plot twist! It’s a legal thriller!)

Mystery:

Eve dropped to her knees before the wastebasket underneath Mr. Speare’s desk, rummaging through pencil shavings and napkins and crumpled papers to find their only clue.

Western:

The rickety spokes of the wagon clattered noisily as it pulled to a halt outside of Mr. Avery’s mercantile, a dusty rider clambering off and stepping onto the boardwalk.

Contemporary:

I slid my phone out of my back pocket, checking for texts from Mom, who was supposed to message me an hour ago after Dad’s surgery.

Historical:

Miriam clutched her sodden bonnet to her equally soaking bodice, blinking away the rain on her lashes to better glimpse the grey-clad soldier lingering in her backyard. (Anyone wanna guess the era? Or the war?)

Drama:

“I was her best friend!” I shouted at the insolent girl who dared to assume she had a right to criticize Alli, God rest her soul.

Dystopian:

The ruins stretched out as far as the eye could see, remnants of civilization still clinging to the land in the form of scattered bricks and crumbling archways. (Could be Greece...could be a dystopian fantasy world. You decide.)

Adventure:

Roarke gripped the hilt of his sword tightly as he swung into the saddle, readying for whatever the king ordered him to do. (Because, yes, knights go on the best adventures.)

Sci-Fi:

The computers powered up with a chirp and Jindi’s voice began recounting today’s schedule, starting with finalizing the plans for the President’s droid army.

Paranormal:

The hand before me wavered, flesh melting into a mere illusion…my sister fading into a ghost. (This is legit based off a story I'm writing with a friend.)

Young Adult:

Prom was in three days and I had neither a dress nor a date...hence why I was currently holed up in my room with a nearly empty bag of stress-relieving potato chips. (Raise your hand if you'd be holed up in your room regardless. *throws up hand*)

The Tags

Let's see...first of all, any writer reading this post is more than welcome to do this tag on their blog OR, if you don't have a blog, please feel free to drop a few lines in the comments below! I'd love to read your stories!

Second, I have no idea how I'm supposed to pick just five writers. Honestly, I'm at the point where I'll just stick with the open invite! Seriously, though, I'd love to see Joelle Stone, Kads, Kristina Hall, Vanessa Hall, AND my lovely and talented friend Sophia S. (yes, I am calling you out, girlfriend!) try out a few stories!

For real, Soph. Give it a go, will ya? *grins cheekily*

Ooh, and Iris, Libby, Kristianne, and...yep, just...if you're reading this, do the tag, okay?

Well, I dunno about y'all, but that was fun! I consider myself predominately a historical romance author, but FUN FACT, I started out as a mystery/sci-fi/fantasy author. Crazy, I know, right? So I've had some experience with each genre, which made this tag a wee bit easier! What about y'all? What's your favorite genre? To read? To write? What's the first one you've ever read/written in? What's your least favorite genre (apart from horror and erotica, of course)?

#genre #story #singleline #writing #writingchallenge #storychallenge #blogtag

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Coming Soon: To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White

If this month's Christmas theme has cramped my style, it was with this post, because, y'all, red and white doesn't jive with the beautiful blues and greens in this cover!

Yep, my favorite read from last month is making her way into this world, coming to Amazon, B&N, Christianbook, and more on January 4th, 2022!

I know that seems like quite a wait (well, not according to how fast this year has gone by, but still), but never fear! You, my friend, have the chance to receive a free sneak peek of this AMAZING historical romance in your inbox DAILY until closer to the release!

You read that right.

A daily sneak peek.

You shouldn't need any more enticement than that, don't you think?

All you have to do is click the button below to sign up to receive the sneak peek, then sit back and READ!

Ready for the whole thing? Then make sure you preorder your copy today to have it automatically delivered to your doorstep - both physical and digital! You can also preorder a SIGNED copy directly from the author!

Now, I'm sure you're sitting there in front of your laptop or holding your phone, thinking "Okay, Grace, I know you're studying marketing, but that doesn't mean you always have to try and sell me on all these books."

But that's just it, my dear. I do. Why? Because Y'ALL. THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD. Seriously. It was the perfect mix of humor and wit (and Pride and Prejudice references), tender and passionate romance, suspense and intrigue, adventure and angst, and such lovely faith elements. This is quite possibly a novel for everyone.

Plus, there's pirate treasure. Nuff said.

But, if it makes y'all feel better, I will give you the official blurb...

About the Book

1906

Beth Tremayne has always been drawn to adventure. During her childhood, she fed that desire by exploring every inch of the Isles of Scilly. As an adolescent, she dreamed of love in London’s ballrooms. Now, stumbling across an old map on her family’s property, she’s found more adventure than she ever dreamed in the hunt for pirate treasure. Unfortunately, Beth can’t escape the attentions of her family’s guest, Lord Sheridan.

Sheridan has spent years pursuing whatever archaeological interest caught his imagination. And when he discovers that Beth’s search connects with one of his favorite pirates of history, he can’t help getting involved. Plus, he finds her irresistible, even though she insists he stole a prized possession of hers.

As they work together following different clues and drawing closer to danger, they start to piece together a story of tragic love and piratical adventure. But the true surprise is the treasure they discover in one another.

Also, I highly recommend reading my thoughts on the first book in this series, The Nature of a Lady! This book sets the stage for To Treasure an Heiress, introducing us to Beth and Sheridan and all of their amazingness!

Seriously. I'm not sure if I've ever loved two characters so much (apart from all of Julie Lessman's, of course). I typically like the hero more than the heroine or don't like either of them at all...or actually like the heroine and completely despise the hero. Anyway, my point is that Beth and Sheridan are P E R F E C T I O N and I am DYING to review this book...but I have a lot of of other stuff to get to at the moment, so I'm saving the full review for later in the month!

If you're interested in snagging yourself a copy of the first book in the Secret of the Isles series, click here!

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. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

#secretoftheisles #historicalromance #roseannamwhite #totreasureanheiress #christianfiction #comingsoon #bookspotlight #newrelease #christianromance #edwardianromance #favoritebook #favoriteauthor

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Indie Author Tag

I really wish I could've gotten to this sooner...like right after Indie Author Day...however, November was so busy and I thought I'd save all my tags for December...so here we are! #3!

National Indie Author Day was November 12-13 last month (I know, I know, two days), and not only did I do a week-long posting celebration, but my fellow author and good friend R. M. Archer created this tag in honor of IAD and entirely for indie authors! It was so much fun answering these questions and really diving into what being an indie author means!

Now, enough jibber-jabber. I know y'all are ready for the questions!

The Rules

Link back to the original tag ( here !) Link to the authors you mention (or their books) in your answers Tag 5 other indie authorsThe Questions

Why do you publish indie?

Man, we could be here forever if I tried to list all the reasons why I publish indie, including why I chose it in the first place and why I’m content being an indie author now...so, instead of listing them all, I will direct you to this post here, which answers the question quite adeptly, if I do say so myself.

I will say this...I have the ability and quite possibly multiple opportunities to hire an agent and seek traditional publication at this stage in my career (can’t say anything would come of it, but you get my point). I’m even considering doing that sometime in the near future (by near, I mean within the next four years). However, I have my reasons for sticking with self-publishing…

And the main one is that I don’t like the level of control and dictatorship publishers (and editors as well) exert over the novels they choose to publish. Right now, even the Christian market is being saturated by cut-up books without any heart and novels full of unrighteous content. I don’t want to be one of those authors. I want to have the freedom to produce the kind of content I believe in and not have some market expert tell me I need to remove God or tone down the romance or disregard the spirit realm—make sense?

With self-publishing, I’m able to take control of my God-given, American rights (freedom of the press doesn’t just apply to news, people) and put my heart and soul, beliefs and convictions, out there without fear of a publisher, editor, marketer—whoever—finding fault in it or ripping it to shreds.

All that said, there are publishers out there who aren’t as ruthless (at least, I hope so) and authors who have found success within traditional publishing. I’m not dissing it...it’s just not for me at this stage.

What’s your favorite indie standalone?

You’re killin’ me, Smalls. This is SUCH a hard question!

I actually haven’t read that many indie standalones (that I can remember…), at least, not as many as I have series. So, pending further reading, my favorite is a four-way tie (of course it’d be a tie) between He Wore Brass Buttons by Hannah Linder, Fairest Son by H. S. J. Williams, Lady of Conquest by Tamara Leigh, and The Girl Who Could See by Kara Swanson.

Man, that was hard.

What’s your favorite indie series?

Ah, but this is WAY more difficult! I’m not even going to try to be selective here...some of my favorite indie series are as follows (in no particular order, mind you):

Isle of Hope by Julie Lessman Age of Conquest by Tamara Leigh The Moretti Trilogy by Kristina Hall Shadows Rising Trilogy by A. E. Pennymaker The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy by Kellyn Roth Grace Sufficient by Vanessa Hall

And...there are more...but I won’t continue on or I will have exhausted my entire “self-pubbed/indie” shelf on Goodreads.

What’s your most anticipated indie book release?

Oh my gosh, no. I can’t answer this question. AUGH. WHY, ARIEL?! WHY?! There are DOZENS of indie books coming out soon that I can’t wait to read—from Kellyn Roth’s latest to Sara Ella’s first release with Enclave to my friend E. G. Bella’s pirate novel Cabin Girl, not to mention R. M. Archer’s Calligraphy Guild and Jenna Terese’s Embers and THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PICK JUST ONE HUNDRED?

What was your most recent indie read?

Most recent indie read. That’s easy. Whew. Both Sides of the Border by Terry Overton, which took me way too long to read. It was...interesting. I’ll have a review of it coming...eventually...

What is your favorite part of being an indie author?

Another hard one. DOES THE STRUGGLE NEVER END?

Um...all of it?

Well, probably the freedom and control. And the flexibility. And the simplicity. And...I could go on.

What’s the hardest part of being an indie author?

The hardest part? Answering these questions.

*cough * Probably the costliness. I mean, technically, indie/self-publishing is really cheap...if you’re making a profit off of your books. I, for one, make about $2 a month from book sales. Therefore, spending $400 dollars on each release (cover design, buying author copies, stuff like that) isn’t necessarily the best investment.

But that will change, I’m sure.

Do you ever plan to go hybrid?

Absolutely! I’m not sure when or how, but I do have a few projects on the back burner to submit to a few indie presses, as well as the burning desire to be published by Bethany House or Revell.

So maybe it’s more of a dream than a plan at this point, but it’s there.

How many books have you released?

Let’s see...two full-length novels, one novella, and five short stories...not including my short story Cursed, which was released in the Imagine anthology earlier this fall.

Where are you with your current project?

I’m about 85% through with Bound and Determined, the third novel in my Daughters of the Seven Seas series. 85% meaning I’m on Chapter 53 of 62, with 181k words written out of my goal of 200k.

I’m actually farther along than I thought I was...hmm. Whaddya know!

The Tags

Now, for my five indie authors!

Erika Mathews Hannah Linder E. C. Colton Daisy Torres Anna Augustine

I've already mentioned Hannah - who is, like, LEAGUES above most writers...too bad Barbour snatched her up; the indie community needs more writers with her level of talented - but lemme tell y'all a bit about the others!

I had the honor of connecting with Erika Mathews for the first time when I joined her and thirty-some other bloggers/writers for the #WriteforLife tour in October. Now, I have yet to read her books (Promise's Prayer is high up on my TBR, though!), but I've be so grateful to get to know her! She's a Christian fantasy (and nonfiction) author who isn't ashamed to stand up for what she believes in!

E. C. Colton is another young indie author, who I found out about through Goodreads and connected with on her blog! I'm currently reading her novella, Shards of Sky, which is so beautifully written! Her blog, Quill of Hope, is also so fun and inspiring! Y'all should definitely check it out!

Now, Daisy Torres I actually met on Kingdom Pen. We're, like, buds, but it still took her several months to tell me that she published a novel! I rushed to check it out and, lucky me, I had KU and it was on KU and BOOM! I read Era of Shadows, and Y'ALL. That girl has got some seriously gorgeous prose and amazing characterization! I cannot wait to read more from her!

Anna Augustine was another Goodreads find! Friends of friends were just raving about her book, When You Found Me, so during my three-month love affair with Kindle Unlimited, I downloaded, read, and thoroughly enjoyed her novella collection! I love how she wove Bible stories into her medieval world, and I'm super stoked for her upcoming works!

You have been tagged, my friends!

What about y'all? What was the last indie book you read? What about your most anticipated one? Top five favorite indie authors? Lemme know in the comments below! (I just love how that rhymes!)

#indieauthor #indie #indiepublishing #blogtag

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Welcome to December!

Someone help me. I think I've lost, like, six months of my life. There is absolutely no way that it could possibly be December already. Y'all, Christmas is in twenty days. TWENTY DAYS!

Inconceivable.

But somehow true, which means it's time for me to wrap-up last month and list my goals for this one! I'll try and keep this post short, since I'm sure we all have some shopping or wrapping to do (lucky me, I've gotten both done!), so without further ado (you'll find I love saying that)...

What I Did Last Month

What was last month’s goal? There was only one. Y’all remember, don’t ya?

21,000 words in Bound and Determined.

That sounds simple, aye? Well, ‘twas quite a lofty goal for me, and obviously so, for I didn’t reach it.

I’ll tell you how many words I did write in November in the monthly progress section, but suffice it to say that I didn’t reach that goal and I also didn’t do any of the extra things—reviewing books and submitting articles. However, I celebrated Thanksgiving, I did schoolwork, and I survived.

I shall be satisfied with that.

Plus I did get everything together and posted for Indie Author Day, so that was good! Otherwise, I’m now playing catch-up this month, when I should be writing 9 chapters in my novel.

Oh, well.

This Month’s Goals

I’ll go easy on myself this month. I do have several projects I want to work on, but in the end, what matters is finishing BAD. That’ll take 9 chapters and roughly 19k words, but if I can do that, I can be finished.

What a beautiful word.

Monthly Progress

Thanks to Write in Faith Camp, I wrote a total of 10,809 words. Yes, I just told you the exact amount of words I wrote last month. Yes, I am done hiding in shame because I wrote nothing the entire month.

Seriously, even though that wasn’t a lot...or what I wanted...I still made significantly more progress than I have within the last four months. So there.

I also just realized that I’ve miscalculated and have been telling myself and other people wrong for, like, a week now. (So y'all can ignore those numbers up there...)

I have 8 chapters left, an epilogue, and about 22k words left. Whatever. It’s still a lot. I may just have to take an entire day for writing or something.

Reading Highlights

I didn't actually read as much as I'd hoped last month. Let's just say I bought, downloaded, and started a lot more books than I finished...and most of the ones I finished were one I'd been reading for three months.

Anyway, I still count my reads by end dates, so here are the top four!

To Treasure an Heiress by Roseanna M. White. This book is one of my favorite of this year, hands-down! (Along with, like, a seventy other books out of the nearly one hundred and fifty I've read.) My official spotlight is coming Monday, my review following close behind, but I'll tease y'all by saying that this book is simply for everyone! It covers all the bases, which is crazy, from humor to adventure to suspense to romance to faith! And it hits each and every ball out of the park, lemme tell ya! (Yes, I'm in a baseball reference mood today. Surprisingly, I actually know what those phrases mean. Yes. In baseball. Crazy, I know, but true.) Preacher on the Run by Jayna Baas. This was one that I'd been reading for months on end - an amazing historical epic that highlights a lesser known element of pre-Revolution America. I loved Baas' writing, her characters, and how she wove in action, history, and faith so expertly! Both Sides of the Border by Terry Overton. I'm still not sure what exactly I think of this book (I've not written my review just yet), but it definitely provided an interesting perspective on both sides of the American-Mexican border! I love how Overton left it up to the reader if they were pro-open borders or not - she didn't force anything on the reader; simply informed them and allowed the story to take them where it would. If that makes sense! As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin. One word. Scotland. Need I say anything else? Nope. But I will. I've read every single one of Kate Breslin's WWI novels in the last few years. Is this my favorite? I'm not sure, but I know I enjoyed it! Especially the accents... *sighs*

I hope to review all these books sometime this month, but I'm not sure how well that will work out. I'll at least try and shoot for As Dawn Breaks and Preacher on the Run!

Top Posts

Surprisingly enough, I actually managed not to blog half as much as I usually do this month...and I posted every day for a week, so that's saying something! (I probably won't post much this month either...) That said, I did have four posts that were apparently so good that they made up for the lack! *winks* These are the ones readers loved the most in November!

(Now, just because my Know the Novel post didn't get as many views as these doesn't mean it wasn't enjoyable! Y'all might wanna check it out here for some interesting tidbits about Bound and Determined!)

Can I Have Your Thoughts on Cover Design? How to Become an Indie Author Why Do You Love Being Indie? My Favorite Indie Authors

Even though November wasn't as busy on the surface, I still feel drained now that December's here. I wrote more words in a month than I have since this spring (yes, I have been slacking so bad lately *groans*) and I got through quite a bit of school. Yes, my local tech school is getting the brunt of my time and most of my writing contributions. Such is the way of the life of a college student, mon amis, dually enrolled or no.

ALSO! Before I forget, I won third place in Kads' short story contest! Y'all can read my story here! (I think that was the only time I ever won third place in anything...hmm...yes, I am an overachiever. I am a first-place-twice-in-a-row kinda girl. Not that I'm a sore not-first-place-winner. I'm definitely not sore. I'm totally chill and respectful. Peace, yo. *winks*)

ANYWAY! Y'all have a most joyous Advent, my lovelies! I'll see you in the funny papers, next to Frosty and Rudolph!

Ooh, before y'all go, I have a couple questions! #1 What is your all-time favorite Christmas song (song, not carol, so you can answer with anything from a classic hymn to county to pop to jazz)? #2 What're you getting for Christmas this year? (Yes, I am one of those people. I have to ask. *grins*)

#christmas #updates #monthlyupdates #progress #progressreport #readinghighlights #wrapup #goals #topposts #peaceonearth #thismonthsthemeischristmas #noitwillnotjivewitheverypost #yesiamstillgoingtochristmasifyeverything #januarysthemewillbewetandcolorful #butnotarainbow #yesthatisariddle #leaveyourguessinthecomments #dadgumitthatswaytooeasy #manihopeyallstrugglewiththatsome #butjustalittle #nottoomuch #ilovethis #betchacanttell

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Editing Adventures Tag

Well, hullo there, all! Today I've got for you my first of THREE blog tags this month - the Editing Adventures Tag, created by my lovely friend Kristina Hall!

Now, if y'all've been following me for long...or read Held Captive...then you know that I don't do a lot of editing. I mean, I've edited other people's works and I do edit my short stories - but I also edit as I write, per se, and spend three hours perfecting a single sentence before I move on to the next one. So I don't have very many editing adventures...they're rather tangled up in the writing ones. Therefore, my answers to these questions are either vague or drawn from my experiences editing my short stories.

Now, without further ado, the tag!

The Rules Link back to the original site . Thank the person who tagged you. (Thanks, Kristina!) Include the hideous … um … lovely graphic. Answer the ten questions. Create ten new editing-related questions of your own or stick with the questions you answered. Tag however many of your fellow writers you want.The Questions

What’s the goofiest correction spellcheck has suggest you make (nothing profane, please)?

I’ll be entirely honest. I have no idea. Most of the time, if one of those cursed red lines appears beneath my words, I’ll just correct it myself without looking at the suggestions. And I’ve saved most of the unaccepted words/names I regularly use to my dictionary so that said line won’t appear at all.

What’s your most embarrassing typo?

Man, I just made a really embarrassing typo the other day, but I’ve completely forgotten what it was! Honestly, every typo I make is embarrassing. That said, I once went into Held Captive to correct a mistake I’d made (like adding a comma instead of a period or something like that), and I ended up turning my typo into another typo.

Now, that was embarrassing.

What is your record number of complete edits on one project?

Uh, one? No, seriously. I edit as I write—from copy-editing to developmental edits—so when the project is all finished, I give it a once-over for typos and errors, then fix whatever my alpha/beta readers have pointed out.

Unless, of course, we’re counting all the times I’ve edited/updated HC after I published it...in which case...about four, I think. *wink*

That said, I anticipate having to edit Bound and Determined at least three times, so this is subject to change.

When is a project good enough for you?

Never. Nuff said.

Do you live in fear of finding a typo in your published work (novels, short stories, blog posts, etc.)?

Ha. Ha. Ha. I’m used to it by now, honestly. I’ve been picking out so many typos from my stuff that it’s become accepted to publish a rough draft of something.

What mistakes or writing styles drive you the craziest (when you’re reading)?

Hmm. Honestly, style-wise, I can’t stand threadbare writing. Here, let me give you an example… This is an excerpt from BAD (which I just wrote earlier today...it also doesn’t really make sense, but that’s not the point) exactly as I wrote it:

Keaton had seemed so lonely aboard the Rina, out of place with Billy—who was too young to be a peer and too old to be like a son—always at odds with Julius, and standing apart from the rest of the crew. It was a bit strange, as Keaton had been living with most of them since he was ten and six, but now I knew why.

These were his friends.

Keaton held an adorable towheaded boy by the hand as he spoke with a man who cradled a baby in his arms, his shoulders loose and head thrown back in laughter at something his companion had said. A red-haired woman who looked eerily like Scarlette had risen above deck to greet us, tenderly brushing Keaton’s arm as she came to stand between him and the other man.

Of course, the lines in his brow were still present, and his eyes were as sharp as ever, but I’d not seen him so comfortable since he had left home. Even in such a tense situation, he found peace amongst this small family.

My heart clenched. How precious!

This is what it would look like had it been shredded to little, tiny pieces:

Keaton had seemed so lonely on the Rina, which was strange, since he’d been living with them for so long. I knew why now, though, because he appeared so calm with these people. They must be his friends.

Yes, he did still look a little worried, but he also fit in, which was sweet.

Sure, I know a lot of people would prefer the latter. They just want a vague idea of what’s going on to get them through the story. But me? I want the full, immersive experience, and something that reads like a paper written by a lazy college student is not such a thing.

As for mistakes...the classic your/you’re, its/it’s, and their/they’re/they always get on my nerves. Also I can’t stand run-on sentences like this they either don’t separate individual clauses or they leave out commas or they replace periods with commas or vice versa it’s all annoying.

*cough* Classic grammatical blunders, you know. Don’t fall for them.

Have you ever written in a library book to correct a typo?

Ooh, boy, no siree! I don’t even highlight in my Bible, let alone mark up public property. Not to say I haven’t wanted to...

Can you edit and write in the same day?

Absolutely! Considering my edits are about as threadbare as that writing up there… Seriously, though, I have edited and written in the same day. Or at the same time!

What’s your favorite part of editing?

Hmm. Probably line-editing, restructuring sentences and correcting phrasing. I strangely enjoy that, hence why I mentally do it to a lot of disjointed or stilted sentences I read.

What’s your least favorite part?

I HATE having to go in a correct plot holes, add foreshadowing, fix inconsistencies... developmental stuff like that. I did a TON of it with HC (because I #wingedit...meaning I didn’t come up with the main plot twist until I was writing the main plot twist), and it was no fun.

The Tags

Kristina tagged a gracious plenty of authors in her post, so I’ll stick to just a handful. If you’d like to do this tag yourself, consider yourself tagged! You’re more than welcome to borrow it, as long as you link back here and to Kristina’s post!

And I’m really not that good with editing-related things, so y’all can just use Kristina’s questions!

E. K. Seaver R. M. Archer @ Scribes & Archers Jenna Terese Issabelle @ Into My Writing Journey

Welp, that's that! I hope y'all enjoy this post and that it was better in y'all's mind than I thought it'd be! Seriously, there's not much I can say about the editing I've done in my own work thus far. (Unless we're talking implementing the suggestions made by my lovely beta readers!) Now, once I finish up Bound and Determined and take it through the estimated three rounds of edits, I may come back to these questions and answer them again!

Because, yes, BAD is...pretty bad. *winks* Pun intended.

#editing #blogtag #edit #editingprocess

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Cyber Monday Sale!

If y'all've been following my Facebook and checking your inbox, then you know that not only is Held Captive completely FREE for Black Friday through Cyber Monday but there are HUNDREDS more clean and Christian indie novels (and nonfiction too) on sale for less than $1!

If you haven't, then stick around for more information! *winks*

Only hours remain, my lovelies, until Cyber Monday ends and all these amazing ebooks and signed paperbacks return to their normal $5 or even $20...so hurry while you can!!!

Some of the fantastic books that are on sale right now are Kristina Hall's Moretti trilogy, Vanessa Hall's Unknown, Jayna Baas's Preacher on the Run, Erika Mathew's Truth from Taerna series, H. S. J. Williams' Fairest Son and Moonscript, Angela R. Watts' Golgotha, Allison Tebo's Tales of Ambia, and many works by Kendra E. Ardnek!

Now, I know that searching for hundreds of amazing reads is quite the task...which is why I would like to direct you to that beautiful button below! Yep, if you go to sale.perrykirkpatrick.com (or, y'know, click the button), you'll have access to ALL the sales from one place!

Aaaaand guess who's climbed up to the #5 spot on Kindle's bestselling religious historical fiction?

Yep, you guessed it! Held Captive, which is free to download until 3pm EST tonight!!! May I direct you to the next button so that you can take advantage of the same deal 253 others already have?

Also, it is officially official! I'm now offering several premade covers - $10 for an ebook cover, $20 for a wraparound, $30 for both! All you have to do is fill out the customization form and you'll receive your cover soon after!

Not interested in a cover? That's fine! Just be sure to share with any writers you know who might! And if you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know! I'd like to add at least four new designs a month, and I'm always open for fresh ideas!

Welp, that's all for now! Click the buttons and save BIG this holiday season! (Working on my marketing slogans...what do you think? Too generic? Yeah, I feel ya.)

#premadecovers #onsale #freebooks #heldcaptive #cybermonday #blackfriday #readforfree #kindle #ebooks #signedpaperbacks #cleanfiction #christianfiction #indiebooks

Bookishly Yours, Grace