Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 27

Know the Novel Part 2: Within the WIP

Part 2 of Know the Novel is HERE! Yes, my lovelies, it's time for updates and progress reports and sneak peeks and all that fun stuff! Before we dive in, I'mma shout out to the lovely Christine Smith, who created this amazing linkup! You can read her kickoff post for this month here, and if you're interested in joining, you still have a chance! Or you can wait until December for Part 3 to talk about how many words you wrote in your WIP in November!

Did you miss last month's post, all about my project Bound and Determined? Just click here to read it and get some exclusive peeks into the novel and characters!

(By the way, I do remember that I promised y'all posts about the themes and about my mysterious heroine, Daisy Sharow, in that post. I'd hoped to have them up late last month or even this month, but alas, life has been busy. I probably won't get around to those posts until December...possibly January. But rest assured, they will come.)

Now, without further ado...the questions!

1. How’s the writing going overall?

Better than expected, worse than hoped, not as bad as it has been, not as good as it used to be.

Make sense?

I set a goal of 21k words, and I’ve written about 9k of that. So, as you can tell, I’m probably not going to make it. That said, the last few months, I’ve only been writing, like, a hundred words a month in BAD, so this...this is huge progress. Then again, back in early spring and last year, I was writing more like 14k every month.

So, as you can see, could be better, could be worse. I’mma just be content.

2. What’s been the most fun aspect about writing this novel so far?

Crossing chapters off my list. Seriously. I mean, there are better parts of writing, of course, but when you’ve been working on something for over two years and you literally only have like a dozen chapters to go, every time you get to finish one and start another is ah-may-zing. Participating in camp this month has really given me the motivation I’ve needed, and I think having that element of community weaved into this last part of Bound and Determined has really given it a new layer of awesomeness.

Even if I’ve refrained from sharing any sneaky peekies with the girls as of yet...

3. What do you think of your characters at this point? Who’s your favorite to write about?

Well, I’ve been stuck with these guys since, yeesh, 2017-18 (2019 for Daisy, I think), so let’s just say I’ve thought a lot of things about them—most of which has been pretty negative. Nah, I love these guys. I adore Rina and Keaton; Daisy gets on my nerves but eh, I’ll get over it; Julius and Scarlette are *chef’s kiss* literally my most favorite characters to write because they’re so...them; and having Crimson and Elliot and several other characters whose names will not be mentioned come back has been the most fun. My favorite to write about...is probably Scarlette. It’s crazy, I know, because she’s crazy, but she flows so easily for me and, to be honest, we have fun making everyone else miserable together. She’s my partner-in-crime.

4. Has your novel surprised you in any way?

Er, nope. Not this month, at least. Now, that one time many moons ago, when that one guy did something totally unexpected...yeah, that’s a spoiler. Never mind.

5. Have you come across any problem areas?

Probably. I mean, “problem” is so vague, and technically every time I hit a snag—no matter how long it lasts—is a problem. And I’ve gotten used to that by now, so...

6. What’s been your biggest victory with writing this novel at this point?

Biggest victory…hmm...making it as far as I have, I guess. Writing four chapters in record time. Coming so. stinking. close to The End. Making it past one of the many climaxes. (Can you have multiple climaxes in a novel? Oh, who am I kidding! I’m writing an epic—of course there are multiple climaxes!)

7. If you were transported into your novel and became any one of the characters, which one do you think you’d be? Would you take any different actions than they have? Eeyy, this is one of those questions that you just don’t want to answer. Why? Because then I’d have to admit that I put my characters through a ton of crap and wouldn’t want to go through it at all. That said, I wouldn’t mind being Daisy...from about four years prior to the novel’s setting. I could carefully sidestep all the crap and end up with a pretty decent life. However, we’re talking being transported directly into the novel at the time it takes place, in which case...none of them? I mean, maybe one of the kids. They’ve got it the easiest so far. Or Crimson, I guess. I’ve finally stopped torturing her.

For the most part.

8. Give us the first sentence or paragraph then 2 (or 3!) more favorite snippets!

All right, first sentence:

A swift flew by, carried through the air on a stiff spring breeze, landing gracefully in her empty nest.

Aaaand that’s boring. Seeing as how that was the prologue, I’ll share the first sentence from the first chapter as well…

“Not there, Daisy,” a voice whispered to me as my eyes lighted upon the man in the corner.

Eh, better, but still not all that great. How about some of my favorite snippets/quotes? (There are a lot of these, so I won't blockquote them...)

“There is always calm in Christ. No matter where it is that you go or what it is that you do. He will be glorified. He will watch over you. His will shall be done. In Him, there is peace.”

“Cease looking at the storm around you, the water beneath you, the sky above you. Stay your course and focus solely upon the foundation of your faith, the path upon which you step, the hand that you know will always catch you, the eyes which will forever be brimming with love.”

“But...only the manufacturer himself, only the potter, could achieve such. He could put the pieces back together in their original form, or he could make all things new. ‘Tis all up to the one who puts their self—or their teacup—into his capable hands.”

I would never be enough for her, and nothing I could ever do would satisfy all her desires. That was the meaning of humanity—imperfect, inadequate, undeserving, flawed. There was only one way around mortal frailty, and it certainly was not anything—or, rather, anyone—within my power.

Love was pure, and no marriage borne of obligation or convenience was pure. Love was devoid of selfish gain or ulterior motive. Love was giving with nothing in return. Love was a calling to fulfill someone else instead of oneself. Love was the greatest sacrifice of them all.

“My love for you is as great as the height of the mountains, as vast as the depths of the sea, and as wide as the breadth of the sky.”

Not once in my life had I ever felt so wholly alone. And, yes, it truly was a wholeness all its own, as sometimes the longed-for silence was a blaring trumpet and the crisp, crystal light was a blinding oppressor. Loneliness possessed a vice-like grip and an overwhelming, all-consuming, omnipresent aura. And it lingered, like a visitor, once welcome but now tiresome, taking up personal space and making himself comfortable, as if your home were his. But he had his charm, his polite manner of speech and motion. He was so calm, languid and sleepy, his movements fluid and smooth. He ne’er raised his voice, ne’er knocked over priceless vases or tripped o’er mislaid objects. And so he was always welcome, invited with a happy exclamation. But when the time came for him to be on his way and he yet remained, carefully slumping into your favorite chair and sipping on your preferred cup of tea, his placid hums and subdued rustlings always alerting you to his presence the moment you dared to forget, loneliness became a greater enemy than every other.

Surrender was inevitable. Loneliness always left his calling card, a mark of his existence within your home, and promised to return. Soon.

“Death? But that’s so unpleasant a subject. Especially over dinner.”

"There is a reason why the rain falls, is there not? Whilst it waters one man’s crops, it drowns the fields of another, but that does not diminish its purpose.”

Well, that was lengthy! I know some of it doesn’t make sense outside of context (like the death over dinner quote...gosh, I love that), but it makes for a nice teaser, eh? Let me know in the comments which snippet was your favorite!

9. Share an interesting tidbit about the writing process so far! (For example: Have you made any hilarious typos? Derailed from your outline? Killed off a character? Changed projects entirely? Anything you want to share!)

No hilarious typos, don’t use an outline, already killed off two characters, haven’t changed projects...yep, it’s honestly been kind of boring.

I think the most interesting this is that it’s taken me eleven chapters to get back into Crimson’s voice. You see, I bring her POV back in Chapter 41 (#spoileralert) and I felt like I was just getting by with her voice until, lo and behold, in Chapter 52, I start to feel her coming back and flowing out like she did when I was writing Prisoner at Heart.

And that...was not interesting. I told y’all it’s been boring.

10. Take us on a tour of what a normal writing day for this novel looks like. Where do you write? What time of day? Alone or with others? Is a lot of coffee (or some other drink) consumed? Do you light candles? Play music? Get distracted by social media (*cough, cough*)? Tell all!

Let’s see...at about noon, I’ll sit down at the bar in the kitchen (not an actual bar, mind you; just an island...attached to the wall...which is technically not an island. You know what? Never mind), usually with a glass of sweet tea, but since it’s the holiday season, I’ve been indulging in a wee bit of eggnog. Dry, mind you, despite being drunk at a bar.

You know what, let’s move on.

I don’t always write in the afternoons, if at all, but since I’ve got a goal and I’m part of a camp and all that fun, writerly stuff, I’ll try and sprint with the girls at camp for a few minutes, just to get in a few hundred words after I finish checking my email and stuff (which takes thirty minutes to an hour, believe it or not).

My sister’s usually with me (surfing the web, not writing), and sometimes I’ll listen to a wee bit of music after my mom gets up from her nap.

Then, about 1:30 or 2 o’clock, my baby brother will get up from his nap, and I’ll close up shop. Later at night, anywhere between 7:30 and 11, depending on how the evening was spent, I’ll write a bit whilst on my bed, surrounding by my sisters’ snoring.

And that about sums that up, I reckon. Nothing spectacular.

Since this post has just been a jumble of boringness, I’ve decided that I am going to reveal to thine eyes only a special something that I’d totally forgotten existed… Keaton’s poem.

Now, some of it...I mean, it make sense, but it doesn’t have much impact if you don’t know Keaton. That said, I’d like to share it with y’all, if you don’t mind…

why did i fail you

when you were always there

why did i mistrust the one

who was always faithful

why didn’t i miss this

and long for your touch

what happened to us

we were once so in love

why didn’t i fight for you

against all unbelief

why did i succumb to

the doubt and defeat

why didn’t i listen

when you tried to call

why did i refuse

to see you at all

why didn’t i want you

you were once all i craved

why didn’t i stay here

and let you keep me safe

why did i think you would

never hear my cry

why did i wander

when i was not lost

why did i stray

so far from the cross

why did i cower

when you gave me strength

why did i leave

the one who was there

why didn’t i come back

several years before

why didn’t i wonder

until it was too late

if i were ever

too far from grace

So, yeah. Wow. Um. Yeah, progress has been slow...these updates are boring...I GAVE YOU A POEM. There's my summary. I'll try and have more fun stuff next month, okay? Maybe some quote graphics or a mock cover or whatnot. Peace out, y'all. I got 11k more words to write.

#knowthenovel #linkup #progress #updates #poem #quotes #boundanddetermined #writing #booknews

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Can I Have Your Thoughts on Cover Design?

Well, that was unexpected. You probably didn't anticipate seeing me until after the holidays, let alone asking for your thoughts on cover design.

Then again, I am known for my spontaneity.

I'm not. I'm really not.

Point is, I'm here. I have questions. I need answers. Let's get this over with.

And, before you ask, no. I'm not talking about designs for Bound and Determined's cover. That's not coming until sometime in the spring (hopefully). Nay, me luvs, today I'm sharing with y'all some of my favorite designs in hopes of gaining your opinions and feedback.

Because, yes, I'm gonna give selling premade covers another go. Will it be a fruitful venture? Probably not. Do I care? Not really.

Okay, maybe a little.

Point is, I want to know what y'all think of these designs and, more importantly, what y'all think of me selling a few premade covers here on my site. What types of covers would you like to see? Are premade covers something you'd be interested in (or do you know someone who is)? What sounds like a fair price?

That kinda stuff.

So, without further ado...the covers...

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What do y'all think? Do I have potential? Which covers do y'all think look the best, ready to be customized and slapped on a book? Do you even think this is something I should try out? (I've already tried selling covers through other sites, but that didn't work out.)

I want all the thoughts - good, bad, and ugly. Okay, maybe not the ugly ones. Thank you, lovelies! I greatly appreciate thee giving thine sage wisdom. *bows*

#design #coverdesign #bookcovers #thoughts #helpme #indecisive #yallarethebest

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Review: To the Uttermost by Kristina Hall

Whoo, boy, lemme tell y’all, we could be here all day if I tried to recount every aspect of this book and everything I felt while reading it...and I reckon y’all ain’t got all day, now do ya? So I’ll just direct y’all to my review of the previous novel, Strangers and Pilgrims, here, which gives you the lowdown on Kristina Hall’s writing style and an overview of how she writes her novels.

Because, as a continuation of SAP, To the Uttermost is really quite similar in everything but the actual story—we even have the honor of hangin’ with the one and only Sally Reiner again!

To be truthful, Sally made this book. Without her, there’d’ve been no laughter, no raising of the eyebrows, no snortin’, no knee-slapping or hat-smacking, no eye rolls. Just plain ol’ readin’. Y’all, Sally is something else, lemme tell ya! She is so bright and snarky and absolutely high-lair-ee-us! Unlike any heroine I’ve ever read, she still had that naive essence of a little girl with the intelligence and maturity of a grown woman—and a fine sense of humor, to boot! You didn’t have to worry about Sally trying to be something she wasn’t—like one of them feminist heroines—as she was completely genuine and authentic, a strong woman in the truest sense, and I love that about her.

Plus her dialogue is priceless. Absolutely priceless, you guys.

Speaking of, I am amazed at how well Hall is able to make everything seem so realistic. Is it the simplicity of everything? The vibrancy of the characters? The authenticity of the dialogue? I dunno. All I know is that everything—from the dialogue to, most of all, the struggles the characters endure—is so real.

Especially the message and the beautiful themes of salvation, trusting in God, and eternity. I know some would call Hall preachy, but this so-called “preachiness” is pretty common in my household, so I don’t find it unrealistic or annoying or any of that. It’s real, it’s true, and it’s powerful. I appreciate that.

Not to mention I really liked how Hall developed the story and let certain issues simmer before she got into the excitement—of which there was plenty! There was plenty of drama and suspense, which y’all know I can’t live without! (In fiction, I mean. I’ll take peace and quiet in reality, thank you very much.) She has the perfect balance of humor, high stakes, and hope—a winning combination for any story!

All that said, I’ll admit that I didn’t like Owen all that much. I loved every other character—Harry and Rose, their young’uns, Doyle—apart from the villains (like that filthy, yellow, no-good snake Victor)…but Owen just kind of fell flat for me. Was it because he was so rude and resentful toward Sally, whom I adore? Possibly. Was it because he lacked the kindness, respectfulness, and honorableness that Harry possessed? Probably. Was it because he just wasn’t all that swoon-worthy? Um…no, of course not. Whyever would you presume me to be so shallow?

Naw, seriously. Hall wrote Owen’s character expertly. I just didn’t like Owen. It’s as simple as that.

On that note, I think she did a consummate job of writing Owen’s spiritual/redemption arc. I mean, every time I felt like his heart was softening, it hardened back up again, leaving me wondering if he’d ever open his eyes to see Jesus…if there was anything that anyone could do or say to change his perspective or at least get him thinking. As much as the odds were against us, love and truth prevailed, and it didn’t seem forced or ill-timed or any of that. It was, well, real. I know I keep saying that, but it’s the best way to put it.

And just to throw it in there, the western setting is also so accurately portrayed, at least in my mind. Never over-the-top or excessive. Always giving off that feeling of realism. And Hall does a fabulous job of wrangling action and everything else at the same time, although I’ll be honest with y’all…I’m into the lengthy poetic prose, so her straightforward style can be a bit...straightforward. Not a bad thing, though, because it certainly helps the pacing!

Y’know, I think that about sums it up. Makes this one of my five shortest reviews ever. Seriously, though, if y’all are wondering about anything else, y’all just read the book yourselves. You won’t regret it, trust me!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the author and was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own.

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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.

You can find her on Goodreads, BookBub, and her website!

#indie #selfpublished #western #wildwildwest #christianfiction #historicalfiction #bookreview #review

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Review: A Deep Divide by Kimberley Woodhouse

*Warnings*

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

Stars: 3.5

Synopsis: Emma Grace McMurray is on the run from the ghosts of her past...and those who search for her even now. When her past catches up to her, can she trust a man from the high class she abandoned to help her?

Favorite Quote: “Because God is love. He’s peace. He’s comfort and strength. Fear is the opposite of all that God is so it’s obviously from the devil. I think you’ve shut God out, and He’s just waiting for you to open the door back up.”

I am ashamed of myself. I read A Deep Divide this time last month and meant to have it reviewed before November began. I can only blame myself school. I’m so behind on reviews right now that it’s embarrassing.

But enough chit-chat. Let’s get into all the thoughts yet unvoiced I have about this book.

I took a chance on A Deep Divide. I’ve never read anything by Kimberly Woodhouse (that I remember), but I do know that her work is quite similar to that of Tracie Peterson. And let’s just say I intentionally stopped reading Tracie Peterson several years ago because her novels are just. so. boring.

No offense. I think now I might enjoy her work more, but my thirteen-year-old self needed a little less conversation and a little more action. And, yes, that’s a song. And, yes, I’m still the exact same way.

The point? I was a bit concerned that A Deep Divide would be bland, uninteresting, and too...informative, I suppose. That said, Amy Lokkesmoe convinced me to give it a chance. But isn’t that what publicists are for? In the end, she did her job, and I’m glad I read ADD and I may even be open to more by Kimberly Woodhouse in the future!

I’ll be honest with y’all. My main qualm about this novel has absolutely nothing to do with Woodhouse’s writing (getting to that in a minute) or with the storyline or even with the way-too-subtle romance. It all has to do with Ray.

You see, my dad’s name is Ray, and I could not read the hero’s name without immediately thinking of my dad. Which was kinda awkward. Not to mention Woodhouse just kept throwing things into Ray’s character that resembled my dad quite closely. Like the whole “obsessive perfectionist because his mom was crazy obsessive too” bit. Yep, that’s my dad. Anyway, I just have to put that out there, since Ray Watkins ended up with two personalities due to reminding me so much of my father.

(Note to self: never read books with characters who have the same names as my parents.)

On the other hand is Emma Grace. (Ironic, I know, that she would have Grace in her name.) She was...an experience. You see, I’m not a fan of the escaping-an-arranged-marriage trope (regardless of if it turns out to be more, such as in this case), nor am I a fan of the heroines who are constantly trying to prove themselves. Maybe I’m a chauvinist (who am I kidding? I totally am), or maybe I’d just like to see a girl who is completely comfortable in her own skin and has nothing to prove. (I’ll admit it. It’s a bit of both.)

So, yeah, as much as I appreciated that Emma Grace wasn’t as whiny as most heroines, had a lovely arc, and was very well-developed, her character itself just wasn’t up my alley, if you catch my drift.

Frank and Ruth, however, were so precious, and I want more of them so badly! Their kindness and words of wisdom were absolutely heartwarming, plus I was shipping them from the start!

All of the supporting cast were developed and strong, and the relationships between all the characters (minus the romance between Ray and Emma Grace) were realistic and overall well-written.

Speaking of...yes, the romance fell flat to me. And I’m not just saying that because I’m very picky romance lover. The feelings between Ray and Emma Grace didn’t shift from dislike (well, one-sided dislike, on EG’s part) to mutual interest until way later in the book. And once it did, I felt like their interactions were sorely limited. I’d probably call this more of a historical fiction, rather than a historical romance or even a romantic suspense. There was too much development for it to be a romantic suspense. *winks*

That said, Woodhouse nailed the suspense, the intrigue, the twists and turns. The plot was paced so well and anyone but the self-proclaimed Queen of Assumptions (I’m considering changing my title to Lady of Assumptions as a nod to the Virgin Mary...all in favor?) would be blindsided by the curve balls Woodhouse threw.

(Dude, two sports references in a sentence! I’m on a roll!)

Seriously, I called a lot of that early on in the game, but I still think Woodhouse pulled everything off in a believable but not too obvious manner.

Oh, yes, as for her writing. I was right. Tracie Peterson. Now, I think she has a little more flavor and depth than Peterson does (or did, at least), but there was nothing really vivid or unique about her writing style. It was technically on-point, but y’all know how I like every author to be different, every sentence to be a treat to read.

I’m so particular. Like a crotchety old man or something. Yeesh.

Like Peterson, Woodhouse stayed true to her setting and delved deeply into the history and culture surrounding her story. I loved learning more about the Grand Canyon and the Harvey House empire, and Woodhouse included interesting facts and tidbits about these two topics and several others in a way that didn’t feel forced or like an info-dump. Definitely commendable!

Best of all, though, was the message and the faith elements. The strong, clear Christian message was such a refresher to me after reading so many “clean but not Christian” novels (or Christian but not expressly so, I suppose). It wasn’t preachy, as so many readers worry about these days, but rather the messages wove into the themes of the novel and the characters’ arcs as sturdily and beautifully as the baskets the Hopis weaved in the story.

Long story short, was A Deep Divide worth it? Yes, I do believe it was. It wasn’t the kind of story that I’m keen on or one I’d want to reread, but it kept my attention and I did enjoy many aspects of it. I think, as far as technicalities and execution goes, Kimberly Woodhouse did a fabulous job! This is definitely the perfect read for those who love subtle romance, suspense, and lots of history!

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

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About the Author

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty-five books. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate and the promise of eighteen holes on the golf course. She loves music, kayaking, and her family. Her books have been awarded the Carol Award, Holt Medallion, Reader's Choice Award, Selah Award, Spur Award, and others. A popular speaker/teacher, she's shared with over 1,000,000 people at more than twenty-five hundred venues across the country. Married to the love of her life for three decades, she lives and writes in the Poconos where she's traded in her hat of "craziest mom" for "coolest grandma." Connect with Kim at www.kimberleywoodhouse.com!

Before I close, I just want to be an obsessive perfectionist again. *winks* Seriously, though, how do y'all like this review format? In my other reviews (typically the shorter ones, like the review coming out tomorrow morning), I don't include the star rating, synopsis, or my favorite quote. I only started adding those elements when I rated a book 3.5 stars and started doing my Netgalley/ARC reviews. Should I include those in all my reviews? Or should I limit it to my longer reviews?

Also, should I divide all my points into sections (like I did in this review here) or just stick to the stream-of-consciousness I've got going on now? Y'all let me know what you'd prefer! I want to make sure y'all are getting the best review-reading experience!

#bookreview #review #1900s #historicalfiction #christianfiction #historicalromance #romanticsuspense #suspense

Bookishly Yours, Grace

The Sunshine Blogger Award #2

I don't think I've ever been this late to a tag. Joelle over at The Pen Inspired nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger award back in September. September, people. Y'all know what month is it now? November.

Yeesh. Time flies. That, or else school saps it away.

ANYWAY. Y'all may remember the first time I did this tag/award back in May, when I respectfully borrowed it from Maya Joelle (I know, two Joelles, right?). (And, yes, I did return it in pristine condition, don't you worry. *wink*) Now, for the first time, I was officially nominated for this award, and I am so excited to do it again!

The Rules

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog. (Thank you so much, Joelle!)

2. Answer all the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.

3. Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.

4. List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your blog post.

The Questions

#1 If you could visit any world/place, where would it be?

Easy. Scotland. Not only is it the homeland of my ancestors, it’s also so beautiful. The moors...the cliffs...the lush grass...the rivers...the little tiny villages. *sighs* My second dream destination is Cornwall. Seriously, have y’all seen that place? It’s a reflection of Heaven, I swear.

#2 What’s the best dream you’ve ever had?

Um, to be honest, most of my dreams are not suitable to repeat (lots of my family turning into serial killers and whatnot)…so the best dream is a tie between all those flying dreams I used to have when I was a wee lass and that one dream where I could literally taste the pizza I was eating. So cool.

#3 What’s your favorite story, and why?

Favorite story? Boy, that’s vague. I mean, we could be talking books here. Or movies, TV shows, fairytales, poems, songs, art, dance...there are so many forms of stories! And so many that I enjoy!

Well, instead of boring y’all with my favorite books and movies, why don’t I share my favorite orally-delivered classic children’s story? Break up the monotony some, eh?

My favorite story...is probably The Three Billy Goats Gruff. I know, y’all were probably expecting some sappy love story or something, weren’t y’all? Or Gone with the Wind. *winks* Well, as much as I love those stories, and as many stories filled my childhood, this one will always hold a special place in my heart.

You see, I was one of those kids who always wanted to sleep over at my grandparents but could never actually sleep away from home. So whenever I couldn’t sleep, I would crawl into bed with my grandparents (my dad’s mother and father), and my grandpa would tell me a story. Guess which one. Mmhmm. You got it. Anyway, Grandpa would make all the right character voices and use his fingers to act out the story, and it was such an experience for me. I’ve tried to imitate him in the past, but nothing compares to his long, bony fingers dancing over the covers as the goats cross the bridge.

#4 Do you have a favorite quote(s)?

Dude, we’re gonna be here forever, and I’m not even gonna go with Bible verses and Pride and Prejudice quotes this time!

“Dying is the day worth living for.” Captain Barbossa, At World’s End.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves.

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today.” St. Francis of Assisi.

“Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark, or the man afraid of the light?” Maurice Freehill.

“Forgiveness is really just another word for freedom.” Julie Lessman.

“There comes a point in your life when you need to stop reading other people's books and write your own.” Albert Einstein.

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.

“Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship.

“He can whisper the future to His prophets. He can send and heal plagues. He can raise the dead.” Roseanna M. White, The Nature of a Lady.

“Because, my dear, God is love. Not just maternal or fraternal love but romantic love as well. Song of Solomon was written to show what the love between a husband and a wife should be, but it was also written to emulate the depth of feeling and love God has for each of us. As intense and wonderful as this young man’s kiss made you feel, more so is the passion and love God has for you. No, your feelings aren’t wrong, but perhaps the timing is.” Julie Lessman, A Passion Most Pure.

As I said. Forever. If y’all are interested in more of my favorite quotes, then you should consult my Goodreads quotes list here.

#5 If you could meet any person, be they dead or alive, fictional or real, who would it be (your own characters excluded)?

Oh my. This is a tough one. Let’s see… Jane Austen, Donald Trump, Julie Lessman, Henry Morgan, Rhett Butler, Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, Jack Sparrow, Iron Man, Indiana Jones, Sylvester Stallone. *gasps* ROCKY BALBOA.

Yes, there are simple too many people to count.

#6 What’s your favorite and least favorite part about writing?

Favorite part? Ooh, boy, this is impossible. I tell y’all what. Instead of going on about all my many, many favorite parts of writing, I’m just going to pick one.

Right now, at this stage in my writing, one of my favorite parts of writing is weaving in messages that have the power to speak to readers, to change their perspective, to open their eyes to God’s truth.

As for my least favorite? Yeesh, probably the actual writing. As terrible as that sounds...it’s tough. I don’t write fast. I don’t think fast. I’m a procrastinating perfectionist, and putting words on paper—er, my laptop screen—can often be a painstaking process.

But it’s worth it.

#7 If you could live as any person for one day, who would it be?

Oy. That’s tough. Let me think...like a real person? Or a fictional person? Or just like any kind of person?

Y’know what, we’ll go any kind of person.

For one day, I’d be a billionaire. Then I could go ahead and pay for everything I’d ever need before I went back to my life as a low low income individual.

Okay, seriously, though. Probably my character Marina. No spoilers, but she leads a pretty interesting life with some pretty interesting parents (who may be pirates) and encounters some pretty interesting people (one of whom may be a super hot pirate).

#8 Why are you writing/blogging?

Let’s see...I’m writing because (1) God has called me to it and (2) I couldn’t not write even if I wanted to! I’m blogging because I’ve always wanted a blog or vlog of some sort—in fact, I used to narrate my everyday actions as if I were in front of the camera—and because it allows me to connect with y’all wonderful peeps and share news and updates with readers!

#9 Why did you start writing/blogging?

I started writing because I had ideas I wanted to put on paper...stories that couldn’t wait to be told. And I started blogging because, one day, I had the idea for a short little thing (this short little thing, actually) and realized that I could write and post it on Goodreads as a blog post. The rest, as they say, is history!

#10 What’s your current WIP about (if you have one)?

My current WIP is about piratical mayhem, unfathomable grace, and true love.

I know, so vague, right? Lemme be a little more specific...

Bound and Determined tells the tale of an ex-pirate who encounters temptation—and the risks that follow—when she is forced to choose between pirating again or letting a young girl be sold off to the highest bidder. On top of that, I weave in four other stories to provide readers with enough drama to make them claw their eyeballs out.

#11 If you could have one superpower, what would it be? (Yes, I stole this from Sisters Three. But it’s a great question!!)

That is a great question! But I have a better one...are we talking conventional superpowers (flying, invisibility, super strength) here or any kind of supernatural ability? Because if I had the superpower to write a thousand words in a minute, I would want for nothing out of life.

Not even the ability to turn anything into chocolate.

Although, let’s face it. That would be epic.

As for conventional superpowers, though, I would love to have a tele-something. Telepathy, telekinesis, whatever other teles out there that aren’t plugged into the wall (*glances at the television and telephone in the corner*)—any of those would be so awesome.

Questions + Nominations

Now, I've been tasked with tagging eleven bloggers. I'm going to try to tag bloggers who I know haven't done this tag before, but I can't guarantee there won't be any repeats.

Iris @ Elfwing's Wanderings Libby @ Thoughts from a Stumbling Saint Maribeth @ A Writer's Tale Megan @ Not So Perfect Kristina Hall Kads @ Your Writerly Friend Kads Issabelle @ Into My Writing Journey Kristianne @ Whimsical Wanderings Daisy @ Writing Daisies Em @ Quill of Hope Victoria @ Soli Deo Gloria And YOU! Feel free to answer any of my crazy questions in the comments!

Now, for the questions!

#1 If you could change your name to anything you wanted, what new name would you choose? Or would you stick with what you’ve got?

#2 What is your most favorite genre of music?

#3 You’re stuck on a not-so-deserted island, but instead of choosing what to have with you, which one of the following would you relinquish when you’re discovered by the curious island natives: your favorite book, your water bottle, or your phone? (I know, that’s really tough, but you’ll figure it out. No pressure. It’s just that it’s either one of those things or you that’s handed over to the natives...who may be cannibals.)

#4 You’re a superhero and you get to choose your new sidekick. Who do you pick—the quiet, tech-savvy college kid; the sarcastic martial arts master; or the kinda freaky-looking guy who can pick a lock in two seconds flat and wrestle an elephant to the ground?

#5 If you could star in a major motion picture, would you rather be in a sweeping historical drama, a quirky contemporary musical, or a fast-paced action and adventure?

#6 What is your ideal cake flavor—icing and all? On top of that (pun intended), sprinkles or no sprinkles?

#7 Would you rather have an older brother or a baby sister?

#8 What is something that you’ve learned in the last eleven months? Could be important or could be along the lines of don’t hold the nail the entire time you’re hammering it.

#9 Since it is November, what are three things you’re most grateful for this year?

#10 How do you think you’ve changed or grown since Covid hit?

#11 Do you prefer these deep, reflective questions or the fun, playful ones? Why?

Thank y'all for joining me today and thank you again, Joelle, for tagging me! I've loved hanging out with y'all today...even if I ought to be writing! (Don't tell them I said this, but y'all are a lot nicer than my charries. *wink*)

#thesunshinebloggeraward #blogtag #aboutme #iknowishouldhaveusedapicofsunflowers #butiwasadvisedtostickwithatheme #sohereweare #ilikeitebetteranyway #yellowisoneofmyleastfavoritecolors #whataboutyou

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Happy National Indie Author Day!

It’s here! #NationalIndieAuthorDay is here! We’ve been celebrating for a week, and now it’s finally time to wrap things up...but the party’s not over yet! In honor of Indie Author Day, I challenge you (or would a double dog dare sound more irresistible?) to reach out to an indie author! Friend, family member, favorite writer—whomever they are, send them an email or shoot them a message on social media telling them why you’re thankful for them and their writing, what you love the most about their books, how they’ve encouraged you...whatever it is that is the most important to you about indie authors!

But what if I don’t know any indie authors? you ask. Well, problem solved! You’re reading my blog, so you know me! *winks* No, seriously. If you’ve never read an indie book, today’s the day! Check out some of the authors I mentioned in this post and see if you might be interested in one of their books, or scour Goodreads or your local library for an indie book! You might like what you find!

Whatever y’all do, whether you send some love to an author or pick up your first indie book or do something else entirely, make sure you show your support and gratitude for indie authors! Trust me, without them, there are a lot of amazing books that wouldn’t be in this world!

Thank you, indie authors! Give yourselves a pat on the back and have a glass of eggnog on me!

#indieauthorday #indie #indieauthors #iloveindie #iloveindeauthors

Bookishly Yours, Grace

Why Do You Love Being Indie? (Indie Author Week)

I am so honored, you guys, to have such an amazing selection of indie authors on today to give you their reasons why they love being an indie author! I'm blown away by their answers (partly because they're so eloquent, mainly because they put into words what I think every indie author feels), and I hope y'all will find them inspiring as well!

Jayna Baas: I have a love-hate relationship with my work as an indie author. There are days I want to bang my head on a wall, but I love the chance to write the books I always wanted to read. I love the moments when plotlines mesh, when the perfect word slides into place, when characters come to life and write their own stories. I love the challenge of formatting and design—the sense of accomplishment when it all comes together. I love the joy and wonder I feel when readers tell me how my writing blessed them. Most of all, I love the ability to make my own choices about story and style, and the freedom to weave the truth of Christ into my stories without apology.

Kristina Hall: I love being an indie author because I have fun designing my own covers and working at my own pace (however fast or slow that might be). But one of the biggest reasons I love being an indie author is that I have the freedom to work Christian themes and morals into my books without having to worry about an editor or publishing house asking me to water them down.

Vanessa Hall: Like most new authors, I used to dream of the day I’d be published by a big company. Yet, as the years went on, I discovered being published by one of those huge companies is extremely difficult and can bring restrictions on the author. So when I learned about indie publishing, there was no turning back. I love the freedom indie publishing allows on so many fronts - deadlines are flexible, your book doesn’t have to fit in a cookie-cutter style, and most importantly, you can write whatever the Lord has laid on your heart. Though I will probably never sell as many copies or make as much money as traditionally published authors do, I love the ability to freely speak the truth of Christ through my stories.

E. C. Colton: Honestly, at times, I have a love-hate relationship with indie publishing. When deadlines loom, it’s much more difficult handling the tasks without a team of professionals behind me. There have been times when it’s been discouraging knowing that only certain indie books can get into bookstores, and it doesn’t include mine. There are limits on indie books, and there are times when I feel them all too well.

But the one thing I’ve learned to appreciate in being an indie author is the beauty of the process. When I look at my book, I don’t just see its cover and those words on the page. I see all those moments that I wanted to toss my story out the window, but my writer friends encouraged me to keep going. I see those moments when I kept on writing those words my younger self needed to hear, in hopes it would touch someone else too. I see that day I watched my book make its way into the world and take flight, my heart brimming over with barely-concealed excitement.

Someone once said that happy times come and go, but memories stay forever. And it’s true. When I look at my book, I see a box full of snapshots—memories from the process. A reminder to me that no matter how hard the process was, it’s worth it.

I believe that every book has these memories intertwined between the pages. However, I daresay indie authors feel them more strongly, because there’s a strong connection that forms when a writer has walked an indie book through the whole process and the pain that comes with it.

R. M. Archer: I chose indie publishing for the creative freedom. I have the final say over what goes into my work, what it’s titled, what the cover looks like, etc. I don’t have to follow market trends and I can set my own writing pace. (As much as I would love to, I just can’t produce a fully published book in a year, much less keep that up year after year; maybe one day, but not yet.) My process and my work is my own and I get to not only direct it myself but also invite others into it as I go! Indie publishing allows me to build up a strong community around my work and connect with other authors and readers who are equally passionate about a given book and the indie publishing process in general. Overall I just really love the indie publishing process and the opportunity and responsibility of seeing through every part of the process and having a unique connection with the people I work with and the readers I impact.

Maribeth Barber: I didn’t start out determined to become an indie author. In fact, I spent an entire year querying literary agents and sending book proposals to traditional publishing houses. But deep down, I think I’ve always craved the creative and financial freedom of indie publishing. I chalk it up to the entrepreneurial, nonconformist, independent streak my parents instilled in me from childhood. I am my own boss. I set my own schedule, write at my own pace, and market my novel as I see fit (and as my budget allows, haha). But most importantly, I write the stories that I want to read, the stories that reflect my own beliefs and convictions, the stories that make my heart soar and set my imagination ablaze. Whether it’s something the market currently clamors for is beside the point. I can follow, without an agent or publisher’s pressure or disapproval, the stories the Lord has placed upon my heart. And that, to me, is the most important thing.

Jenna Terese: I chose to be an indie author because I loved the creative freedom and the business side of this publishing path. Choosing this route is not an easy decision, and I’ve had many rough and stressful times. But seeing a manuscript I’ve worked so hard on, a business I’ve put my all into, turn into a published book that readers can actually get their hands on is such an amazing feeling. I love being able to create the stories on my heart and sharing them with the world. I love putting in the work for this business. I love to see readers be impacted by my stories. It makes all the hard times worth it.

Why do you love being an indie author? Why do you want to become one? Why do you not? Why do you think indie- and self-publishing appeals to writers?

#indieauthors #nationalindieauthorday #indie #indieauthorday #indieauthorweek #selfpublishing #iloveindie

Bookishly Yours, Grace

How to Support Indie Authors (Indie Author Week)

There is nothing more important to an author—indie or trad, published or not—than support. I mean, we all need support, don’t we?

As easy as it may sound to shoot an author an email saying how much you loved their book, there are other, better ways you can show your support for them and their work. That said, I personally love it when I get a message from a reader—warms my heart more than anything else—and I’m not the only one! Unfortunately, those emails are a personal, private thing, and while they sure bolster us authors, they don’t help the book.

(So should I have titled this post “How to Support Indie Books”? Probably. But it’s not Indie Book Day on Saturday, now is it?)

Anyway, my point is that I would like to show y’all some simple but effective ways that you can support your favorite indie authors—or authors in general!

Review their book(s). This is the first thing that comes to mind, isn’t it? And there’s a reason why. Reviews are extremely important on so many levels—sharing your thoughts about the book with your friends and followers; informing potential readers about what to expect; leading fellow bookworms on the path to their next great read; spreading love (or healthy criticism) to authors; and boosting popularity. We all know that Amazon’s algorithm is triggered by reviews, reviews, and more reviews. It doesn’t matter if they’re all five-star or all one-star—if a book has fifty reviews or more, they get bumped up considerably, putting them in the eyes (and hopefully the shopping carts) of many more readers. Follow their social media. Yep, this is an easy one. With the click of a button, you can really make an author’s day. Following authors on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, whatever social media platforms they use can not only keep you up-to-date with their writing, it can also boost the author’s popularity (I hate using that word; it makes me sound like I’m talking about cheerleaders in middle school or something). Plus, liking, commenting, and sharing a few of your favorite posts every now and then helps other people see more from the author. Who knows? Something you share might peak their interest! Add their books on Goodreads. Ah, yes, the almighty Facebook for readers! (Which would be...Facereads? Goodbook? Eh, I like Goodbook myself.) There is no virtual tool more powerful and necessary than Goodreads. Why? Because it allows readers to connect with authors and show their love and support by not just posting reviews but also by simply adding their books to their want-to-read shelf, recommending their books to friends, sharing quotes, voting on Listopia, joining book clubs, and more! The possibilities, my friends, are endless. Start by adding an indie book that looks interesting, then see what you can do next! Subscribe to their blog and/or newsletter! Most authors have a blog where they post updates, snippets, advice, reviews, interviews, giveaways, glimpses into their personal life, and more! Subscribing to their blog (and, better yet, commenting and sharing posts) will help them grow their following and show your interest and support...and you’ll get the chance to learn more about them and their writing! They also typically have a newsletter, and subscribing to it will keep you posted on whatever updates or opportunities they send out through email as well as give you access to exclusive content like free downloadables and stories! (That would also be a great opening for you to send that email we talked about earlier...just sayin’.) Share about their book(s). Often when we think about sharing about books, we confine ourselves to word-of-mouth sharing. And while chatting all day long about your favorite books to everyone you come in contact with sounds like a ton of fun, there are many easier and more effective ways to share about books. Yep, you guessed it. Social media. Sharing quotes, graphics, or—best of all—a photo of you reading the book gets that book out there to all your friends and followers. Also, if you have a blog, posting the cover and blurb is not only super easy (#copyandpaste), it’s also really effective. Just sayin’. Join their street team. A lot of authors have street teams or launch teams (which I talked more about in yesterday’s post) that come in all shapes and sizes—from Facebook groups to emails to Slack or Discord groups—and joining them will give you all the resources and motivation you need to help them spread the word about their books! Request a copy at your local library. This is actually extremely important for indie authors, because our unknown niche books don’t just show up in libraries like traditional books do. They must be put there. (Okay, technically trad books are put there too...but that’s beside the point.) Sometimes by authors themselves (like in my case...I donated copies of my first book to my local libraries) or by readers such as yourselves who request a copy!How do you support your favorite indie authors? Which of these ways have you done before? Which would you like to start doing? What do you think is the best way to show your love and support for indie authors?

#indieauthors #support #supportauthors #share #spreadthelove #indie #indieauthorday #indieauthorweek #nationalindieauthorday

How to Become an Indie Author (Indie Author Day)

This, my friends, is a topic that I could go on about forever. There is simply too much to say, too many variables, too many steps to recount. As overwhelming as that sounds, it’s actually very easy! I hope to write an in-depth post detailing the specific steps that must be taken in the process of self-publishing (particularly through certain platforms), as well as guides to pre- and post-launch promotion, self-editing, etc.

The point is, so much goes into becoming and remaining an indie author—the same is true for being a traditional author. The actual process of publishing your book is stupid simple, which means a lot of writers (including me) dive headfirst into self-publishing without completing a few small but important steps beforehand.

Hence why I’ve been a published author for nearly three years and am just now creating a following and garnering readers.

So today’s post is going to be all about some of the overlooked and underrated steps you need to take before clicking publish—steps that will determine your success as an indie author (or even a trad author, for that matter)!

Polish your manuscript. Seriously. I didn’t do this, and I wish I had, since I’ve had to go back in and edit Held Captive about eight times since I released it. Polishing includes everything from proofreading your manuscript several times, correcting any inconsistencies, rewriting scenes that don’t jive, and even completely revising certain aspects. Whatever needs to be done to put your book in a state of near perfection—at least as close as one person can get it. Something that I’ve found helps when it comes to polishing and editing is to set the manuscript aside for a few months, maybe even start on another project in the meantime, and wait to come back to the story until you’ve “fallen out of love” with it, so to speak. Wait until you can come back with an editor’s eye and maybe even improved writing! Have beta-readers and editors. I would typically advise authors not to pay for an editor for their first book, so just ask some readers you trust to act as proofreaders for your manuscript and take whatever feedback you can from beta-readers. Editors are typically insanely expensive (trust me, three cent a word adds up) and sometimes they’re not exactly worth it. Especially when you have -0 dollars in your bank account. So, for starters, work with friends, family, fellow writers, your old English teacher - whoever has time on their hands and a love for words to help you create the best story you can! Start a website/blog. Now this is a lifelong investment you will not regret, people. A website is a mainstay that offers you a way to communicate and connect with readers, show off all your work, and regularly update your followers. It’s also something that reflects your style, your personality, and what you write. Having this kind of online presence adds to your credibility and marketability, makes you easier to reach, and is really quite fun! A website can be free (like a forever free Wordpress or Wix site), or you can pay for a premium site (not always worth it, but often nice to have) once you start making some profit. You can include a blog and be a regular poster, only post the occasional update, or skip it entirely. Whatever you do, choose something that you can manage right now, but leave yourself room to grow. And make sure that you have a clean, professional, engaging site. Sure, that can cost you $3000 for a professional job, or you can watch a couple YouTube videos on web design to help you create a site that passes the test. (Or, you know, trial and error. I myself am a self-taught web designer...in Wix, at least...which means you too have the capabilities of teaching yourself how to create your own website!) Create a mailing list. This goes hand-in-hand with a website, since your newsletter subscription form is typically found on your site, and for many authors, it takes the place of a blog, offering authors a more secure and personal way of updating and connecting with readers. Mailing lists are simply another platform that helps you establish a larger following and readership, as well as giving you chances to target your subscribers specifically with things like sneak peeks, giveaways, discounts, freebies, and more! The whole point of having a website and newsletter before you publish is to establish your presence and author platform, as well as a readership. All before you ever hit publish. Wouldn’t you rather read a book by that fun, unique blogger you’ve been following for six months than one you’ve never heard of and can’t find on the internet? That’s what I thought—which is why establishing a platform is the first step to establishing a readership! You’ll be bringing in all your blog followers, site surfers, and email subscribers to purchase, read, and hopefully review your book—sometimes even the day it comes out! Get a NICE cover. Now, some people will tell you that you’ll have to spend upwards of $500 to get a quality cover. Not true. There are some amazing designers on Fiverr who charge no more than 30 bucks for a beautiful, high quality cover. You can also find a great deal of inexpensive but insanely talented designers in the writing community—like Victoria Lynn , Hannah Linder , and Roseanna M. White . You want to start cheap, as this is, after all, your first book, but you also want to make a good impression—so go with what fits your vision, requirements, and your budget. Don’t settle for second best. Promote before you publish. Now that you have a website and mailing list—and probably a few personal social media accounts, if not a couple author accounts as well—you have the perfect outlets for promotion and marketing! Share the blurb, do a cover reveal, post graphics, share quotes, post sneak peeks, do whatever you can to create buzz about your book even before its released! Start a launch/street team. A launch team is a group of fellow writers, bloggers, and influencers—or just friends and family—who can take the time to share about your book on their social media, with their friends, and even read and review the book before it releases. A street team, on the other hand, is very similar—the only difference is that instead of just promoting a single release, a street team is there for the long haul, to promote all of your books and other creative endeavors! Just offer signups on your website (Google Forms is great for that) and create Facebook group or Slack workspace or just operate through email. A launch team will provide you with reviews, interview opportunities, free advertising, and the possibility for a blog tour closer to the release date. Research the best publishing platform. The main three are Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon), IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital. Now, IngramSpark is pretty popular...but it also costs more to publish through (royalties, not upfront costs). D2D is great for widespread distribution and easy formatting...but not for paperbacks yet or adding a creative touch. KDP, which I use, is the very best for beginners. Extremely simple, easy to use, with all the resources you need, and even though your books will only be sold on Amazon, that’s really all that matters. To be honest, people don’t buy from anywhere else these days—myself included. (I would know...I haven’t sold a single copy on B&N or Apple or Kobo yet, despite my latest release being distributed to them.) Get an ISBN. Now, this step is optional. I myself have never purchased an ISBN for a book, mainly because they’re outrageously expensive and not always necessary. KDP, D2D, and IngramSpark all offer free ISBNs—and, when it comes to Kindle ebooks, you get an ASIN and don’t need an ISBN at all (although you can use one). The only downside to a free ISBN is that your book will always have the distributor’s name on it (for example, my paperbacks are all listed as "Independently published", so unless I purchase my own ISBN, I can’t use my own name—Sky’s the Limit Press). If that doesn’t bother you at all, then I suggest skipping the ISBN part. Plus, if you use Draft2Digital, they’ll supply you with a free ISBN and let you use your own company name! Create a Goodreads author account. This is very, very important, as you can reach a ton of new readers through Goodreads! It’s basically Facebook for readers and writers, allowing bookworms, reviewers, authors, and publishers to connect and share everything from book quotes, reading status, and blog posts! It’s completely safe and easy to use, plus once your book releases, it’s automatically added to their database. All you have to do is claim your author profile! The same goes for BookBub, which is geared more toward paid advertisements rather than socialization—but you can still review and recommend books as a user and have a hub for your published works as an author!

These are just a few of the steps that I failed to take before I hit publish back in 2019 and wish that I did—steps that will help you become a better, more successful indie author even before your book releases! I hope these tips help in some way—let me know which one you found the most helpful in the comments! Also, how many of y’all are up for a post all about clicking publish? Or a post about how Kindle Direct Publishing works? What would y’all like to read about next?

#nationalindieauthorday #indieauthorweek #indie #selfpublishing #publishingtips #indiepublishing

Bookishly Yours, Grace

My Favorite Indie Authors (Indie Author Week)

Now, this I could go on about all day! There are so many amazing indie authors out there that I absolutely love! I’m also going to include several hybrid authors (authors who are both indie-published and traditionally published) with a list of their indie books, because I know of several fantastic writers who straddle both worlds! Without further ado…on to the authors (in no particular order)!

Kellyn Roth, author of the Chronicles of Alice and Ivy. Hannah Linder (aka Willowy Whisper), award-winning author of Never a Rooftop Again. Jenna Terese, author of Ignite. E. K. Seaver, author of The House That Didn’t End. R. M. Archer, author of Calligraphy Guild. A. E. Pennymaker, author of Shadow Road. H. S. J. Williams, author of Fairest Son and Moonscript. Kara Swanson, author of Dust. (Indie published: The Girl Who Could See.) Julie Lessman, award winning author of the Daughters of Boston series. (Indie published: Isle of Hope series, the Cousins O’Connor series, the Silver Lining Ranch series, and several short stories.) Jody Hedlund, author of the Beacons of Hope series. (Indie published: the Lost Princesses series, the Fairest Maidens series, and the Knights of Brethren series.) Erika Mathews, author of the Truth from Taerna series. R. M. Peterson, author of the Heritage series. Anna Augustine, author of When You Found Me. Kristina Hall, author of the Moretti trilogy. Vanessa Hall, author of Unknown. MaryLu Tyndall, author of the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series. (Indie published: Charity’s Cross, Protectors of the Spear series, and more.) Jayna Baas, author of Preacher on the Run. P. D. Atkerson, author of Phantom Thief. Virginia Henderson, author of 24 Hour Lockdown. E. C. Colton, author of Shards of Sky. Daisy Torres, author of Era of Shadows. Abigail Kay Harris, author of Oh, The Fallen. Maribeth Barber, author of Operation Lionhearted. Hannah Foster, author of Ella Pursued. Tamara Leigh, author of the Age of Conquest series. Melanie Cellier, author of The Four Kingdoms series.

And, y’all, this doesn’t even skim the surface of all the indie authors out there! These are just the few authors off the top of my head that I’ve read and enjoyed! There are more yet whom I’ve not read (as of now...the future looks promising), and others whom I have but didn’t add (mainly because I wouldn’t consider them a “favorite”).

Have y’all read any of these authors? Which are your favorites? How do you show your support for your favorite indie authors? (If the answer is a half-hearted shrug, don’t worry! My post on Thursday is all about supporting indie authors!)

#favoriteauthors #indieauthors #nationalindieauthorday #indie #favorites

Bookishly Yours, Grace