Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 29

Last Chance to Join the Crew!

Yep. I'm closing up yet another form! This time, however, it's only temporary! Since I'm not really doing anything but school right now...I mean, since I'm not releasing any new books until Bound and Determined comes out next year, I am closing the sign-up form for my street team on Saturday!

Well, I'll take the page down on Saturday and close the form on the 31st...which means you still have a chance to become a Buccaneer!

What is a Buccaneer? you may ask. A Buccaneer is not only a SUPER AWESOME PERSON, it is a member of my street team (aka, Gracie's Buccaneers) who shares about my upcoming releases. That could mean reading and reviewing ARCs, posting on social media, blogging, or whatever you can think of to spread the word!

You can sign up using the form below from now 'til the 31st, and I'll be in touch with you shortly! If you miss your chance now, don't worry, because I'll open it back up closer to BAD's release!

Also, you'll find that we have a Slack workspace, which is totally optional! All the business is conducted through email, but I invite you to join Slack (totally free and safe!), where we'll pillage and plunder - er, I mean, share posts and graphics and ask questions and hang out. I'll probably also create a Facebook group (maybe) closer to BAD's release date, but that's irrelevant at the moment.

POINT IS. I would LOVE to have you! So...if you wanna join, just fill out the form below and share with anyone else you think would be interested!

#streetteam #signups #lastchance #buccaneers #loveyall #peaceout #join

Bookishly yours, Grace

Know the Novel Part 1: Introduction

Fun fact: I’ve been wanting to do Know the Novel for a year now.

Another fun fact: I actually get to do it.

Yet another fun fact: I’m doing it today and you, O lucky reader, get to join me!

Yes, it’s true! I am OFFICIALLY joining Christine Smith’s Know the Novel linkup! *squeals* Technically, Know the Novel is for NaNoWriMo (which is some writing thingy in November). As you can tell, I’m not participating in NaNoWriMo (and I do apologizing to all the die-hard NaNoWriMo fans for calling it a “writing thingy;” I do actually understand the concept, believe it or not), THAT SAID, anyone can join the linkup and share about whatever works-in-progress they have, regardless of when, where, and how they’ll be writing them!

Hence my appearance here. *waves*

I thought that this would be an excellent opportunity for me to (1) introduce my new readers to my main WIP, Bound and Determined, (2) give older readers a refresher course, and (3) possibly share a sneak peek! Not to mention it’s just cool. I mean, c’mon. I’ve never actually joined a linkup before. I created one, which failed miserably, but never have I joined one. This...this, my friends, is a momentous occasion.

*issues a moment of silence*

Anyway, before we get into the questions, I invite y’all to check out the other posts here and learn more about Know the Novel! Hey, you may even want to join it yourself!

Now, enough fiddle-farting around. On to the questions! (Spoilers for Held Captive and Prisoner at Heart ahead, so buckle up! And maybe skim a little, just to be safe.)

1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?

This question is going to have the craziest answer possible, so bear with me.

First of all, I’d always planned to have more stories after Held Captive—my debut novel—and the first sequel was going to be Keaton’s story at first. Now, when I say at first, I mean back in 2017, when Held Captive was The Lady Pirate and Keaton was this little blue-eyed boy (a lot like Billy, come to think of it) who fell in love with Xavier’s (the hero of Held Captive) sister Christabel.

Obviously, much has changed. For one, Xavier doesn’t have a sister named Christabel...Keaton does.

Anyway, the point is that when I started writing Held Captive (which can honestly be viewed as a story entirely separate from The Lady Pirate), Keaton’s character changed drastically. Which meant his story needed to as well.

For some time, I focused more on what Elliot’s story would look like and who his love interest was (fun fact: she wasn’t always Crimson Wilde), so Keaton’s kind of flip-flopped. Once I figured out the particulars of Elliot’s story (which is now Prisoner at Heart), I moved on to developing Keaton’s.

My first idea?

Another female pirate captain.

Yep, Keaton was going to join forces with his childhood friend Josephine, who became a pirate to help provide for her younger siblings (don’t ask). And, thanks to my dentist, I had another idea to throw into the mix.

(Yes, my dentist...who is now retired...is also a writer and we kind of struck up a friendship for a while there, and he provided some interesting insight and ideas for possible sequels to Held Captive.)

At the time of his suggestions, I was already making serious progress on Prisoner at Heart, so I didn’t plan on using any of his ideas for the sequel. However, one of them fit exceedingly well: having Rina face the temptation to become a pirate again.

Originally, this fit in with helping Josephine, but I never really explored the particulars of how this would affect Rina. Or really anything about the plot at all.

So when I for some reason grew extremely discontent with my idea (please don’t ask when or why...I go through writerly crises like this all the time, so it’s really just part of the plotting process now), I turned to those questions.

How would Rina be affected? Why exactly is she presented with the temptation of pirating again? Where’s Xavier in all this?

To answer these questions, I opened up a new doc and wrote these words:

Bound and Determined… What if we added more? What if we totally ditched what I was going to do, and completely redid everything? I’m liking this idea. Say Xavier did indeed decide to captain another ship. Say Rina is tested to the max. Say we still don’t give up on Keaton. Say we slap in a couple of slave traders, slaves, pirates, naval officers, and temptations. What do you think? I’m liking this.

So profound. I know. Trust me, it gets worse from there, because my thought process is extremely strange.

Five pages and over two thousand words later, I have my story.

2. Share a blurb (or just an overall summary)!

So, I keep going back and forth on whether or not I like this blurb...but it’s technically the best (and the only) one I’ve got, so here we go:

They had all thought it past. Yet now the storm has returned.

Atlantic Ocean

1686

A wicked twist of fate—or perhaps the hand of God—has landed Captain Rina Bennet in the most precarious situation yet. When her husband and the father of her twin boys leaves at the behest of a family friend, she is left to take charge of the ship she has not sailed on in two years, accepting the responsibility of a dwindling crew, half of which don’t even know her as captain. Saddled with two toddlers, she struggles in vain to erect some form of normalcy and order upon her ship…

Then the past suddenly appears to haunt both her and her quartermaster Keaton, in the forms of an old friend and an old life.

Rina has to make a judgment call when the ghosts come knocking, a call that could mean either life or death—for both an innocent girl and herself. The storm has returned.

I’m not at liberty to discuss any more details at this moment. Why? Because, for some really strange reason, I got all secretive about the heroine of this story back when I first started this blog and because I’m sure I had a good reason, I’ve just stuck with it. We call her Miss Sharow...because that’s her name. I just don’t want to give y’all her first name for fear of spoiling anything. Although...there’s really nothing to spoil. (Funnily enough, I just went back to a post I wrote a year ago tomorrow...and I just blabbered on about my heroine in it. Strange. Anyway...)

So maybe, if you stick around to the end of the post, I’ll do a FULL heroine reveal. How about that? But you have to read all the way to the bottom, okay? And NO skimming, or I’ll take it back. We have a deal?

Good. Moving on.

3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects about the setting?

Best question ever. Why? Because I LOVE talking about the setting for my book—the Golden Age of Piracy! (Admittedly, that’s when...but this book takes place physically in about eighteen different places, so…) The official year is 1686, and we hop around from Port Royal, Jamaica to Portsmouth, England to Santiago de Cuba!

Honestly, as much as I love the unique settings of my novels, I hate having to research for them. First of all, half of Port Royal is under the ocean, so that setting is really lost to the world now, and it’s not like I can expect accurate results from Google Earth-ing these places. Being that it’s 2021 and, well, the story is set 335 years ago. Historical fiction is hard, you guys. You, like, have to know everything. AUGH.

Seriously, though, I love Port Royal. Nothing but pirate fiction is set in Port Royal (including Curse of the Black Pearl), which sets it apart from your typical settings like London, New York, Paris (all great places, but they can’t compare). And rightfully so, as Port Royal was the happenin’ place to be for pirates back in the d-a-y. In fact, because of all the piracy, brothels, taverns, and whatnot, Port Royal was actually dubbed the Wickedest City on Earth. No lie. Google it.

So, yes, the setting is a crappy place to be...but it’s so unique and interesting, and I hope to explore it even more in the coming books!

Also, shout-out to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Favorite settings EVER are oceans. Why? No research necessary. ‘Tis just water, me hearty.

Although I do recommend a wee bit of research. Ye’d best be knowin’ where all tha’ water be located at, y’know.

4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).

Y’all. We will, no lie, be here ALL. DAY. LONG.

Why?

Because I kinda have, like, five protagonists for this book. That’s a lot to say, as we all know how wordy I can be.

However, since two of these protagonists (Xavier and Crimson...yes, I’m bringing back their POVs!!!) are more minor, I’ll focus on the two major protagonists...Rina and Keaton. (And, yes, I know I’m missing one. Stay tuned! *winks*)

Rina Bennet, the heroine of Held Captive and secondary heroine of Prisoner at Heart, is now a wife and mother of twins Dick and Mav. She’s given up her life of piracy to be a privateer and the occasion pirate hunter. (Basically, she’s a mercenary for the British government...she’ll do whatever they request of her, within reason, of course.) However, as she’s been diligently caring for her toddlers—one of whom has been very sickly—she’s relinquished her duties to Julius, her cousin and surrogate brother, and is currently living with her husband’s aunt and uncle in Port Royal.

Keaton Clarke, the quartermaster aboard Rina’s ship, is the hero of the story, typically lending a helping hand and giving a few words of wisdom. However, when a ghost from his past (please note, not an actual ghost...that’d be weird) suddenly reappears, Keaton becomes more of a hindrance than a help, as he tries to wrestle with his past and the person who made it all resurface.

That’s the best I can do without spoiling anything, guys. Y’all know I can’t give too much away. Where’s the fun in that, am I right? That said, I did a post several months ago all about Keaton that you can read here! It's been over a year since then, so some things have changed about his character...but he's the same at the heart.

5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?

I, again no lie, have an antagonist for every protagonist. Let’s see...there’s Tomas, Crofton, the Royal Navy, two villainous scoundrels that I’m keeping a secret from y’all, slavery, temptation, death, guilt, and a whole host of other things that keep ruining my characters’ lives.

And, yes, you heard me right. Tomas Wilde, the poor kid who had virtually no screen time in Prisoner at Heart, is coming back to steal the show, my lovelies! Y’all are gonna LOVE this guy, if my alpha reader Sophia’s fangirling is of any indication!

6. What excites you the most about this novel?

Um...all of it? No, seriously. As difficult as it’s been for me to write recently, I am still tremendously excited about every. single. element of this story. The romance is *chef’s kiss* exquisite. The plot is packed with action and suspense. The characters are all so annoying unique and authentic. The themes...aah, the themes. Nailing them has been a struggle, but so worth it, because in the end, I think this story will have several amazing and strong messages!

7. Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?

Book #3 in the Daughters of the Seven Seas series, baby! And, nope, it’s not the end! I hope to have at least three more books after this one! (I say at least because I may be coming up with an idea for another one...but only maybe.) Not to mention, I have a prequel series and a sequel series and possibly a couple standalone spin-offs...Star Wars style, dawg. *wags eyebrows* No, seriously. I’ll probably end up publishing the series the same way the Star Wars movies released. Middle, beginning, and end.

8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?

Pft. None of it. I reverse plot, which means I pants the first go-round, then outline what I’ve already written if/when I need to go back and revise things. I’ve tried plantsing this story some more, but it’s really just morphed into pantsing. I just can’t plot my pirate novels. Anything else, sure, I could do it. But this series? Nerp. It all must be pantsed.

9. Name a few unique elements about this story.

Well. Um. You know. Pirates. Like, actual pirates...who do actual pirating. This is not Veggietales, people. Or even a fantasy novel. This is realistic piracy, which is something you don’t get a lot of in...well...basically anything these days. Gotta love that.

All the action is pretty sweet, too. I feel like Held Captive had NONE at all, while Prisoner at Heart was just in the beginning. I do the opposite in Bound and Determined, dragging out the beginning with lots of suspense and development, then diving headfirst into some crazy situations. That’s a ton of fun, if a bit difficult to configure in some cases.

The themes. I plan on talking more about them in some upcoming posts...but let’s just say that my characters have introduced a LOT of different themes and messages. They’ve also brought up a lot of questions...some of which God has already answered in His Word, others that He has helped me see and apply in a new way, and others still that don’t have answers yet. I think that, in some ways, I’m learning and discovering new things along with my character and hopefully my readers as well, which has been exciting. I just worry that I don’t make any sense some times!

10. Share some fun “extras” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

THE FUN STUFF. YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!

Seriously, this is probably my favorite part of writing! Right now, I have two Pinterest boards for Bound and Determined (one for aesthetic and inspirational images, the other for quotes and whatnot that fit the story), and I have an extremely long, wild playlist that I really need to edit. I also have a Pinterest board with inspiration for all the characters in the Daughters of the Seven Seas series, which you can check out here, but I’ll share some of my top pins for...yes...the mystery heroine here!

This is my "object inspiration" board for Bound and Determined, which includes images of the ships in the story, the very significant pearl necklace, and, if you scroll down to the bottom, you'll find some pins about words and quotes and whatnot that I'm too lazy to move to my written inspiration board.

Speaking of, in this board is all of the quotes and sayings and whatchamacallem that fit my characters and their stories! These give a lot of insight into the characters' struggles - both past and present! Not to mention that there are a few that kinda fit the romance I got goin' on betwixt Keaton and his girl.

While we're on the subject of the heroine of the story...here are some collages I put together for her! (Please note that the following images were all sourced from Pinterest.)

This is a collection of the pictures I think fit her most...as you'll see, I've included a daisy.

Because, yes. Her name is Daisy. Well, technically, that's her nickname. Her real name is Margaret. Which is why I love the girl with the strand of pearls so much and why I ended up adding a pearl necklace to the story...Margaret means "pearl." The French version, Marguerite, means "daisy." Hence the nickname.

This collage includes a few other graphics that sum up her character in just a couple sentences! *sighs* She's like an entire Shakespeare tragedy in one woman.

In fact, readers of Prisoner at Heart might remember this tragedy from Chapter 21. Rina describer her as "the girl who stood, head held high, blue eyes clear and as bright as a summer sky, in her chains near many others so like her in rags and covered in dirt. Her hands trembled as one gripped the child’s next to her and the other a strand of pearls around her neck, but she remained firm. Even when a price was called out, not nearly enough for a precious human being, and she was led away into the crowd."

I cannot begin to tell y'all of the struggles I have had with Margaret "Daisy" Amelia Sharow. She is such a contradiction, one I hope to introduce you to in a post very soon. My friend Ella designed this collage for her, which I think captures only one element of her persona. Her loyalty. It's both her greatest strength and her biggest flaw. Like I said, contradiction. Loyalty to her sister is what fuels her every action...but if you ask me and Keaton, it's borne of selfishness. (In Keaton's opinion, everything is born of selfishness and there is not a inkling of innate goodness in anyone ever - period and the end.)

While we're on Keaton, below is the playlist for BAD! 80% of these songs are for Keaton. In fact, Lifehouse (one of my favorite bands ever), has an album that is like a soundtrack for Keaton. Every song fits him so well!

You'll find, though, that the farther you go, the more the songs fit Daisy - which is due to me focusing more on her arc at that time. Not to mention, I threw in a few fun ones just because!

Wow! What a long post! This was soooo much fun, y'all! If you're interested in learning more, check out the following sneak peek posts!

BAD Sneak Peek #1 BAD Sneak Peek #2 BAD Sneak Peek #3 BAD Sneak Peek #4 BAD Sneak Peek #5

Thank y'all so much for sticking with me to the end! This was SUCH a fun post, and I can't wait to share more and more about Bound and Determined! Y'all have a good one, and you know where I'll see ya!

#knowthenovel #linkup #introduction #boundanddetermined #aboutthebook #daisy #keaton #rina #heroine #characters #inspiration #meetthecharacter #playlists #collages #hintitsinthefunnypapers

Bookishly yours, Grace

Last Chance to Request a Review!

Weeeelp, this is it, guys. I am closing my review request form and removing the Reviewing Services page from my website. *sniffles* Honestly, it's not that big of a deal. I just have a TON of other ventures I want to pursue, waaaayyyyy too many books to review already, and not enough people requesting them any more.

THAT SAID. If YOU or a friend are interested in requesting an honest, quality review by yours truly for your novel, there is still time to request a review before I close everything completely! You can view the official page for it here until October 15th or submit your request using the form below until October 31st! Don't forget to read over the Terms and Conditions before you hit submit!

#review #bookreview #authorservices #reviewingservices #requestareview #lastchance

Bookishly yours, Grace

Author Interview: Vanessa Hall

Y'all, I have been meaning to interview this girl for what seems like FOREVER, and it's finally happening!!! Vanessa Hall is an amazing young Christian writer whose debut novel, Unknown, just released a couple months ago and, BOY HOWDY, was it fabulous! Anyway, I'll save the talk about her book for my review (which is coming...eventually...y'all will be the first to know when, I assure you) and move on to talking about the lovely author herself! Her answers to my questions are AWESOME and so inspiring!

What first inspired you to write?

Wow, I wish I had a dramatic story to answer this question. I first started writing when I was nine or ten, because at that point I gained access to a word-processing program. (Some form of Word from the 90s. It still worked!) For some reason I don’t remember, I began writing stories. I wish I remembered why. :)

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

Definitely the Lord and my sister, Kristina Hall. If it weren’t for the Lord, I wouldn’t be doing anything, and He gives me the ability to write. Kristina as well is very key for my writing - she’s the best! She’s listened to so many of my rambling problems about plots and general gushing about characters for many, many years. She’s made me keep writing when I probably would’ve stopped!

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

Kristina again. :) She’s also my editor, so I probably sound a little like her. I’m definitely not even close to as cool as her, but I think a lot of what we’ve talked about over the years comes through in my writing - stuff like avoiding overused plotlines, better writing practices, etc.

I try not to take too much direct influence from authors I read, at least not their exact voices. I’ve had bad experiences with that in the past where I read lots of the same author, and I do start sounding like them. Oops. :) But I love taking little things from lots of authors I read. I can learn something about writing from every book I read - whether that’s phrasing something like they did or staying away from a plotline I thought didn’t work.

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

Ooh, good question. This is funny. I really enjoy writing romantic suspense (about half of my writing projects are in this genre), but I really don’t love reading it. (That sounds horrible, right?) The romantic suspense that I have read just seemed very shallow. However, I do like some books in this genre, like Susan May Warren (especially her books set in Russia - see that connection?), but in general, I favor historical fiction for reading. I also enjoy writing historical fiction and hope to jump into publishing in that genre someday!

What do you do when you aren’t writing?

Fret about plots. :)

Sadly true right now, but in general … I’m getting a degree in music education, so a lot of my time is taken up with completing school work and learning how to teach kids music! There’s also a lot of practicing instruments in there as well, which is definitely enjoyable homework (sometimes). I also enjoy working out, reading, and spending time with my family.

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

Oh wow, so much. I think back to my early days of writing, and it’s amazing how naive and clueless I was. :) I think something I’ve really started focusing on is improving my writing style and making sure it fits that genre and that current book. For example, making sure the characters sound modern or historical in their speech and thoughts (depending on the story), and using either shorter, snappier phrases or longer, more verbose sentences depending on the genre.

Also, I used to just kind of flail through a book and have a very general idea about where I wanted it to go. So now I’m working on tying things together in plots and being really picky about what stays in a draft and what doesn’t. Just tightening stories up. If it doesn’t relate to the plot, it’s gone. Finally, just being really intentional about the message I’m getting across to my readers. My goal is to share the Gospel with my audience and give an accurate portrayal of struggles and triumphs in the Christian life. Publishing made me hyper-aware of this, which is a good thing. I just want to be very clear about what I’m getting across and not leave room for confusion.

Tell me about your debut novel—Unknown! It was an amazing story!

Aw, thank you! Here’s the summary:

He knew there was a cost. He just didn’t know how great it’d be.

Gabriel Kelly returned to Russia for one reason—to bury his parents. After ten years in the United States, he hadn’t expected to return to his childhood home in the face of tragedy. However, after short days in Moscow, he begins to consider if the same call that cost his parents’ lives is now upon him.

Sofia Rykova’s dreams finally came true when she became a principal soloist with the Bolshoi Ballet. One night, though, an old crush walks back into her life, making her wonder if there is more to life than ballet. Gabe Kelly is just as she remembered, just as she longed for—yet religion stands between them.

Unknown to Gabe and Sofia, danger lurks closer than either would have guessed. The deaths of Gabe’s parents grow more suspicious by the day, and Gabe and Sofia are drawn into the midst of a plot neither can escape. Will obedience to God’s call—in spite of their fears and desires—result in a price too steep to bear?

What inspired Unknown?

So many things came together into this novel that it’s not even funny. A lot of my personal passions - namely, ballet and armwrestling - found their way into this book, and I think that’s part of the reason it was set in Russia, because both of those things are quite dominant in Russia. Also, a weird obsession with spies (there’s no spies in there, but just hold on - it’s coming ;) ). Because what better (or worse, if you’re not an author) place is there than Russia for a spy?

And when I came back to the book this year to prep it for publishing, I realized I wanted - or rather, the Lord led me to - explore this theme of sacrifice in spite of an unknown cost. It was really interesting to work through that with my characters, and that was a big inspiration for the theme.

What does your writing process typically look like?

Well, first of all, I get this really weird idea. Then it sits in my head and percolates - maybe for a month, maybe for years. (Right now, there are several stories still in this stage, and they’re going to be staying there for quite a while.) Sometimes I’ll focus on a certain theme I want to get across (eg., suffering in the Christian life or abortion - usually happy topics I love to bring into my books to make happy characters!), or maybe it’s an interesting profession or situation. If I’m being a good author, I’ll try to write things down for the first part of the book. But I’ll be honest - I’m not usually a good author. Most of the time I have an idea of the overall structure, and the climax is planned a bit more in my head, but in general, it’s quite the adventure along the way. Sometimes characters just do things you don’t expect, and it’s so much fun! This is where editing comes in after the fact and cleans up the mess, and it’s much less fun than writing. :)

How do you research your stories?

I am in no way the expert of research. You historical fiction people out there, I’m so impressed. :) The majority of my research for Unknown constituted of YouTube videos. Lots of ballet videos, which was quite fun research. I watched interviews of dancers, especially Bolshoi Theatre dancers, as well as performances (lots of Romeo and Juliet). I really wanted to try to understand a ballerina’s mindset, and some of the interviews were incredibly helpful in showing me how I could shape Sofia into a (hopefully) realistic heroine who was so devoted to her art. Also, I read some travel articles and stuff about Russia and looked up random Russian stuff, as well as reading parts of an autobiography by a Russian ballerina.

So not a ton of research compared to some of you epic historical writers out there, but I tried to really get the flavor of Russia and Russian ballet for this particular book.

Which part of Unknown was the easiest to write, and which was the hardest? Where did you stumble and second-guess yourself?

The easiest to write? None of it? :)

In general, I think Gabe’s POV was easier. I felt like I had a better understanding of his character than I did for Sofia’s. She was harder to capture just because she was an artist at such a high level, so I struggled to really feel like I could express her emotions and mindset accurately. The hardest parts just to write were either the dancing scenes (especially one that happens onstage) or the very end of the climax. I really struggled with keeping the suspense and emotions high and dealing with everything that happened there.

I second-guessed myself so much throughout editing. I don’t really remember second-guessing myself as much when I originally wrote it (again, the flailing), but editing was rough. The overall storyline was pretty solid, but I definitely struggled with more of the “mystery” part of the plot (I don’t consider it a mystery, but we’ll just call it that.) I was worried about readers not understanding because I wasn’t clear enough or the clues weren’t obvious or made sense. I also struggled with some of the very pivotal spiritual scenes, especially where one of the characters becomes a believer. I really wanted it to be very clear, and that was a big lesson in learning to trust the Lord with my writing!

Out of all of your stories (even the unknown ones), which one is your favorite? Why? (Bonus question: who’s your favorite character?)

Ah, yes, another great question. I think right now, my favorite story is the fourth book in the Grace Sufficient series. I’m so pumped to get to that book. One of the characters is absolutely despicable, and the other one is pretty cool, but I love the story itself (probably more than the characters on their own), because it’s a picture of redemption that shows the love of Christ and His Blood that washes away every sin. I am so excited to get to that book! :)

For my favorite character … I’ll just stick with Unknown’s characters right now. I’d have to go with Gabe Kelly. He was relatively easy to write, and honestly just a nice guy. There are a lot of things about him that I admire a lot. He’s a good guy. :)

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

More than anything else, I want my readers to know the salvation offered in Jesus. If the reader is already a believer, I want them to know the same thing, too, because we need to think on the Gospel all the time! But I also really want to encourage Christians and show Christians living out lives in the real world where things aren’t always sunshine and daisies. I want to remind Christians that the Lord is our only hope, and with Him beside us, we can walk through anything, even the deepest of pain, and He will bring good out of it. So lots of stuff … and of course anything else the Lord wants to say through my fumbling words.

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

Like, every single night? For some reason, if I’m editing at night, by the time around 10 PM or so rolls around, I’m tired and questioning everything about the book I’m working on. Editing does this to you.

But yes. I have experienced a lot of discouragement, mostly just coming from my own head, which is super helpful. (Just kidding.) Something that I’ve really been learning recently with this project I’m on right now is my complete dependence on the Lord. I can’t do anything without Him, and with each book I edit, I learn that anew and to a greater degree. So lots of prayer.

Also, there’s little things that make me keep going: knowing I’ve already announced this book to my audience, so I can’t really back out now. :) Also, chatting with plots and characters with my sister is super helpful. And sometimes, just taking a step back and leaving the project for an evening or a couple days is really helpful. Sometimes looking back over what you’ve already written helps as well.

One last thing is just remembering why you’re doing what you’re doing. What’s your ultimate goal? This is something the Lord has given me, and I want to be faithful and use my time well and work on this book that will hopefully influence others for Christ. So just seeing the big picture of things instead of a gnarly plot tangle is helpful, too. :)

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

Oh wow. As a person, I want to grow more in my knowledge of Christ and to love Him more every day and live more faithfully for Him. I’d love to teach music someday in a private Christian school as well, but that’s up to the Lord. As a writer .... to publish more books that honor the Lord and be able to reach more and more people. But all in all, to follow the Lord’s perfect plan for my life.

What has being a writer taught you?

So, so much. I think a lot of times, the Lord uses my writing to teach me a lot of things through my characters’ struggles. Obviously, I don’t go through as many problems as my poor characters do (thank the Lord), but some of my struggles have definitely been mirrored in my characters’ lives’ and I learn a lot by writing about them. Maybe it’s easier to see the right reaction to a problem when it’s not your own life but a character’s? Being an outward observer is always easier. :)

Another huge lesson is just depending on the Lord. I have realized I cannot do anything, I’m not half as good at writing as I thought I was, and that everything has to be of the Lord. He will be glorified, all the glory must go to Him, and I must trust Him.

What led you to self-publishing?

My sister, Kristina Hall. She published her first book, Things Not Seen, in early 2021, and after seeing how she published that book, it made me think about publishing. I had heard so many stories about how ridiculous mainstream publishers are that I never really even considered trying to pitch my book to those publishers. (Except when I was way younger and naive and thought I could be published by Bethany House or something. Not happening.) I also have seen a lot of publishing houses that claim to be Christian but really don’t have anything in the way of Christianity in their books. I don’t want to be published by that type of company. Indie-publishing allows so much more freedom. I want to say what I want to say in my books. :)

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

I think one thing to keep in mind is not to rush publishing. I’m really glad I let Unknown sit for about two and a half years and let myself grow as a writer. Coming back to the story was really helpful because I’d had space to think about the characters, the theme, and the plot, as well as time to explore other genres and stories. However, when you know it’s time for you to publish - which is different for everyone - don’t question it if you know the Lord has called you to it. I second-guessed myself on deciding to publish, but looking back, this year was a really good time for me to dip my toes into the world of publishing.

Also, just be prepared for a lot of hard work, and don’t be afraid to change things in your books. Don’t be afraid to write what’s on your heart. Don’t write for your reviewers and readers. Write first of all for the Lord, and write what you love.

And last of all, pray. Depend on the Lord along every step of the way, and He will lead you and provide for you as He has promised in the Bible.

About the Author

Vanessa Hall is an author, musician, and homeschool graduate. Most days, she is reading, writing, or practicing the violin—or trying to find time for all three pursuits. Currently, she is working toward gaining a degree in instrumental music education. Unknown is her debut novel. Above all, she is a sinner saved and held fast by the abounding grace of Jesus Christ. Learn more at vanessahallauthor.wordpress.com!

#authorinterview #christianauthor #indieauthor #interview #debutauthor #selfpublishing #authorqanda

Faith-Filled Romance: A Writer's Guide to Christian Romance

Romance novels have an audience of a whopping 29 million readers, according to ,The Balance Careers, making it one of the most popular book genres in the world. That’s an overwhelming number, isn’t it? Even more daunting is the task of successfully writing a Christian romance novel. I’m going to assume that, since you’re here, you’ve already decided that one day you’ll write that mushy-gushy romance novel you’ve been toying with. Or you’re giving in and throwing a romantic subplot into your epic fantasy novel. Writing a romance is a noble and profitable venture.

And it’s more than just the basics of boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy and girl live happily ever after.

In today’s culture, the term “romance” is often associated with Harlequin novels, Fifty Shades of Grey, gratuitousness that isn’t fit for human consumption. Mixing steamy love scenes with a Sunday sermon doesn’t seem right. We could always go back to the Jane Austen way of things—simplistic, moral, and proper—but we don’t live in the Regency era, y’all. It’s one way or the other for most folks these days—Harlequin romance or none.

And that leaves us, the Christians who stand by morality and Godly values, between a rock and a hard place. There has to be some balance, some way that romance can be clean and pure—exactly the way God intended—but not cheesy or bland. It’s that sort of strained, flavorless romance that has turned so many readers off of Christian novels and most young people off of Godly relationships.

I’ve been reading and writing Christian romances for six years (which is a long time to a fifteen-year-old, believe me), and not all of them have hit it home. Writing a Christian romance, be it a full novel or a subplot, requires three different things—balance, authenticity, and boldness.

Be Balanced

Proper balance is one of the most important things an artist of any sort can achieve. Just as a painting or musical composition must be perfectly balanced, so must a book, regardless of the genre. Your prose has to have a balance between description, emotion, action, and dialogue. Your characters need a balance between good and evil, making them realistic and lovable all at the same time.

And your romance? Well, your romance needs balance just as much as every other element. This seesaw of emotions isn’t dependent upon how well-balanced your prose, plot, or characters are; it’s a subject all its own, demanding as much attention as the story as a whole. If only one thing is off-kilter, the entire story could be lacking.

Different types of balance play into different types of romance. A romantic subplot requires enough strength to make it necessary to the story, but it can’t overshadow the main plot. Fantasy romances need to retain that otherworldly feeling, but they must balance the fantastical with the moral (in other words, limit the vampires). Romance also has to be realistic, so you need to balance your fairytale happiness with the harsh reality of life.

But the elements Christian romance must balance, above all, are the steam and the spiritual.

Steam is something secular romances embrace and most Christian ones shun—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Romance without some passion is bland and unnatural. Just because you’re writing from a Christian perspective or are exercising morality doesn’t mean passion doesn’t exist. God created marriage between one man and one woman, gave us a desire for our spouse, and filled marriages based on His principles with passion! Paul says in 1st Corinthians 7 verse 9 that “it is better to marry than to burn [with passion].” And don’t get me started on Song of Solomon!

In layman’s terms, when your hero and heroine lean in for their first kiss, don’t be skimpy. Flying sparks, palpitating hearts, stuttering pulses, and long moments of gazing into each other's eyes (don’t really do that, please) are examples of what makes your reader feel the connection between your hero and heroine. Don’t make it cheesy, though; we all know jolts of electricity at just a touch aren’t realistic (unless we’re talking static electricity, but that’s not as sweet).

A great example of successful non-explicit steaminess comes from Julie Lessman’s ,A Hope Undaunted:

“As if under a spell, his gaze was drawn to her lips, parted and full, and the sound of her shallow breathing filled him with a fierce longing. ‘Oh, Katie,’ he whispered, no power over the pull he was suddenly feeling. In slow motion, he bent toward her, closing his eyes to caress her mouth with his own. A weak gasp escaped her as she stiffened, but he couldn’t relent. The taste of her lips was far more than he bargained for, and he drew her close with a raspy groan. With a fierce hold, he cupped the back of her neck and kissed her deeply, gently, possessive in his touch. His fingers twined in her hair, desperate to explore.”

I hate to fangirl (A Hope Undaunted is one of my favorite Christian romances), but do you see my point? There’s nothing explicit or gratuitous, but you feel the surge of passion.

At the same time, the amount of attention and emotion you put into your romance should be dedicated to the faith aspects. Don’t limit your characters’ faith to a few whispered prayers or a Bible study. Balance both to create a smooth, emotional, authentic reading experience.

Which brings me to my next point…

Be Authentic

Authenticity can go multiple ways. We’re just going to stick with two for now—authentic relationships and authentic faith.

When you’re writing about a close-knit family, you want to ensure that your characters interact with each other just like real families do. There’s fun camaraderie, inside jokes, teasing, berating, arguments, and all kinds of ups and downs. Some family members get along well; others don’t. Some situations flow freely and are full of joy; others are tense or stormy.

You don’t want to portray anything cheesy, bland, or gag-worthy. It has to be authentic.

Same goes for romances.

Not all of us have experienced the same relationships our characters do. In my case, I’ve never had a boyfriend, so I’ve had to ask questions, observe, and read whatever I can to accurately portray a romantic relationship. What’s more, most romances are written in both the heroine and the hero’s perspectives—so guys have to pay close attention to the inner workings of the female mind, and girls have to realistically depict their male characters.

I cannot stress how important authentic representation is. I have read so many novels that fail to depict certain characters in a realistic form. Tough heroes are emotional sissies and heroines are, to put it frankly, stupid. And their relationships? Scary. Misrepresented characters make for a disturbing romance.

Shy away from cheesy or bland relationships. All couples have tender moments, but they also have arguments or even break-ups. Miscommunication and misunderstandings are present in every day relationships—I can’t tell you how many times my parents have misunderstood each other. Conflict in a romance, no matter how small or large, is imperative.

Christian writers have something else stacked on top of their characters and situations. Faith. Just as we portray our characters accurately, we’re challenged to create a meaningful and authentic message of faith--and that’s not as easy as it sounds.

Authentic faith, the true relationship we have with our Savior, is full of highs and lows. Our faith rises and falls depending on our circumstances. It shouldn’t, as our God certainly never changes, but our human nature leaves us distrustful, worrisome, and selfish. Sometimes we get knocked down, and in those dark times we often lose sight of Who is always with us.

Likewise, our faith isn’t confined to bedtime prayers and a Sunday church service. We are witnesses to our friends and family, and our belief in God affects our actions. We and our characters should be kinder, compassionate, and moral. Our Christian characters should shy away from deception, stay away from or witness to the wrong crowd, and turn to God for guidance.

Several years ago, I read a book by Melody Carlson, a very popular Christian romance author. I had been looking forward to reading it, but I was sorely disappointed by her depiction of the Christian faith. Her characters had very few morals and casually mentioned things like fornication, adultery, and divorce without putting it into a Biblical perspective. Only once or twice did her characters pray over meals, and there was otherwise very little faith present.

Don’t dumb-down the faith or put God in a box. Preachy novels aren’t necessarily a reader-favorite, but if they’re pulled off correctly, no one has any complaints.

Another favorite of mine is Julie Lessman’s ,A Passion Most Pure. Her heroine Faith (seriously, that was her name) possessed a deep, abiding faith in God. She witnessed to all of the people around her (even her enemies) and was a shining light for Christ. Her mentor, the grandmotherly Mrs. Gerson, would often teach Faith how to grow in her Savior. There is a strong message of forgiveness and love in A Passion Most Pure, and even though Julie Lessman’s novels are what one would call preachy, her depiction of faith is honest and true, which makes the “preachiness” more real than the sermon you heard last Sunday.

As strong as Faith was, she also stumbled. Her mistakes would inspire both a boldness on the author’s part (which I’ll expound up later) and a beautiful speech from Mrs. Gerson, which I’ve featured below:

“‘It means, my dear, that every moment of our lives we have the opportunity to reap blessings from the hand of Almighty God. It means you have a choice in your future, Faith, that every decision you make shapes the course of your life, whether there will be joy or sorrow, blessing or curse. He’s begging you, Faith—he begs each of us—to choose life! Choose his way, the way of forgiveness and prayer. In the face of pain such as you’ve encountered, my dear, the choice is clear. You can choose to hate your sister and Mitch and hold on to your bitterness, or you can choose to forgive and be set free. If you choose hate, your heart will grow hard and cold as I suspect you’ve already seen, and you will be destroyed. God is very clear about that. But, if you choose life—his way and his precepts—you choose blessing, not only for your own life but for the life of your children after you.’”

When you add an authentic representation of faith in your romance, you create not only an engaging story, but your book becomes a witness for the nonbelievers and an encouragement to your fellow Christians. And authenticity can only be wrought in a story when the author is unashamed and full of the Holy Spirit.

Be Bold

When I say bold, I mean to be bold in every aspect—bold in your romance, bold in your faith, and bold in your storytelling—but most importantly, I want to address boldness concerning life.

One thing I blatantly abhor about most romances (you heard that right; I actually have negative feelings toward the genre at times) is a lack of realism. This is changing in a lot of novels, especially since more Christian authors are penning stories that aren’t just sweet and clean but are also a testimony of hope and life. But fluffy fairytales still present a trap that is all too easy to fall into. You must stay strong, dear writer! Don’t fall prey to evil Prince Charming and the deceptive promise of Happily Ever After. Life isn’t perfect. People most certainly aren’t perfect.

And the best way to portray authentic faith and write an inspiring novel is to be honest about the darkness of sin in our fallen world and our failings as humans.

There’s a reason why two types of books have succeeded so well in past and recent years: classics and YA. The two are as dissimilar as they come, but they do have one thing in common. You guessed it—boldness.

Authors like Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Margaret Mitchell, and Harper Lee were not afraid to address social issues—from poverty, class, and social injustice to war and racism. They were stark in their depictions of sinners, corruption, deception, and pain. Characters died. Others left. Some proved to be evil and conniving. The main characters experienced great trials and pain, but they persevered and became icons of some of the greatest stories ever told by man.

The Bible is another example. Does the Bible skimp on its revelation of sin? Nope. From the story of Cain and Abel, to Sodom and Gomorrah, to the woman who washed Jesus’s feet, the Bible is fairly explicit concerning sin, depravity, and immorality. Why? Because its entire purpose is to give you the Good News that despite all of the sin and imperfection, we have a Savior full of grace Who loves us beyond measure!

In the same manner, we should share stories of grace, mercy, and redemption—but we can’t do that with “perfect” characters and fairytale endings.

I mentioned YA, didn’t I? It’s not my favorite genre by a long shot, probably because it’s too bold about a lot of things. But YA authors won’t shy away from subjects like depression, anxiety, suicide, anorexia, drinking, drugs, divorce, etc. Their intention is to reach readers going through those same things, struggling with those additions, living in that world. A Christian author presents our culture through a Biblical worldview and offers hope in the midst of defeat.

Even with romances, the books that are expected to be lighthearted and happy, we should be bold in our depiction of culture through a Christian perspective and speak to readers who are struggling.

Again, I’ll use A Passion Most Pure for an example (and then I’ll move on to a different one; I do read other books). After losing her father and experiencing betrayal twice by men she thought loved her, Faith O’Connor hit the lowest point of her life. She was angry, bitter, and full of spite toward those who had hurt her. The same girl who’d been strong throughout the first half of the book was suddenly crumbling.

Lessman didn’t gloss over her lack of faith. She gave the reader a front-row seat to Faith’s hate, despair, and anger toward God. Why?

Because we have unforgiveness too. We have bitterness and resentment at times, and even if we’ve been freed from that, we can resonate with and be encouraged by books that accurately portray the ups and down of life.

Another level of boldness was portrayed by Tammy L. Gray in her New Adult romance, ,Shattered Rose. Her heroine, a college freshman, went through it all—anorexia, depression, drinking, premarital sex. To most Christians, that probably seems to be a little...much. Why fill a sweet romance with painful stuff like that? Why wrongly influence readers to accept those things?

But that’s just it. Unlike secular books, Christian novels should be written not to encourage sin but to speak to the sinner. Our boldness should entail an accurate portrayal of darkness and sin and the saving grace of God. Never be ashamed of the Gospel, my fellow writer. Don’t let our culture, the market, or social norms dictate what you write and Who you write for.

I’ve no doubt made my point—boldness is imperative. But why in a romance? Is there something wrong with sweet Happily Ever Afters?

No, of course not! But I want to remind you—particularly the doubters—that romance is more than a princess finding true love. It’s as multifaceted as any other genre, requiring detailed characters with failures, faults, dirty pasts, messed up presents, uncertain futures. Romance shouldn’t be bland and lifeless. It should be full of life, joy, and the light of Christ! It should be a parallel of His love story with us, His bride—and I can assure you that our love story hasn’t been the smoothest.

We do get a happily ever after, though.

Satisfied for Now

That’s basically the opposite of a Happily Ever After, but that’s what I’m leaving y’all with. The key to writing a Christian romance that uplifts, inspires, and intrigues is to be balanced, be authentic, and be bold. Don’t shy away from passion, true faith, and an accurate representation of life.

If you want to know more about writing Christian romance, I suggest reading some. A few fantastic authors out there are Julie Lessman, Tammy L. Gray, Sara Ella, Pamela Griffin, Carla Laureano, MaryLu Tyndall, Becky Wade, and Roseanna M. White. They write a variety of genres—fantasy, YA, historical, and contemporary—but one thing their romances have in common is that they all glorify God and are full of His Holy Spirit!

Another good idea is to read other genres. Read mysteries, thrillers, action/adventure, fantasy, and more to glean from them. The best romances are full of suspense, adventure, and humor, so incorporate other genres, writing styles, and elements into your romance to make it unique and engaging!

Remember that, as Christians, our number one priority is to bring glory and honor to God in all that we say, do, think, and write. Seek His will for your book—because, trust me, He has a divine plan for every word you write! Allow Him to lead, guide, and direct you into all truth, and to give you His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.

What have y’all noticed that romances these days are lacking? How do you want to change the romance industry to better glorify God? Are you currently writing your romance or have I prompted you to write one? I pray that you’ve been encouraged and inspired by this article—and that maybe I’ve erased some doubt in your mind about romance in general!

Original published on ,Kingdom Pen.

#writersguide #kpposts #writing #writingadvice #writingtips #romance #passion #love #writingchristianromance #writingromance #christianromance #christianfiction

Bookishly yours, Grace

Coming Soon: Sustainer's Smile by Erika Mathews

It's Day 9 of the #WriteforLife tour, and today I'm sharing more about the tour and what it entails AND all about Erika Mathews's upcoming release, Sustainer's Smile! Y'all know I ain't one to waste time (or at least I try not to be *wink*), so let's dive in!

About the Book

Suffering suffocates her soul.

How can she ever smile again?

A helpless newborn…that’s exactly how twenty-four-year-old Liliora Ellith feels in her efforts to speak up on behalf of the youngest members of Taerna’s pleasure-driven society. Her tender heart for the defenseless and deep aversion to conflict throw Liliora’s soul into turmoil when tragedy opens her eyes to the quiet yet heartrending war on Taerna’s babies—both born and unborn. Adon Olam’s Word coupled with a secret in her own past fuel her determination. All she wants is to make peace with her past and discover her future among the cradles of unwanted babies. However, the challenges ahead of her threaten to send her spiraling into hopeless depression time and again. Saving innocent lives from the crush of the destroyer and raising a generation in the ways of Adon Olam seem more impossible than ever. At the very end of herself, will the sufferings of her and her babies prove to be anything less than the catalyst for complete disaster?

Sustainer's Smile is book 4 of Truth from Taerna, although it can easily be read as a standalone. (Me? I'mma read the others first...) It’s clean and family-friendly (I wouldn't be spotlighting it if it weren't...), though Erika recommended for teens and up due to dealing with the issue of abortion.

Preorder Your Copy

Sustainer's Smile releases on October 21st, so keep an eye out for when signed copies are available to order on Erika's website, RestingLife.com!

THE GIVEAWAY!!!

Y'all know I ain't joinin' nuthin' unless we gots ourselves a GIVEAWAY! As part of the Write for Life tour, Erika is giving away a signed paperback copy of Promise's Prayer, book 1 in the Truth from Taerna series, as well as some other fun goodies! Click on the button below to enter!

The Tour

October 1

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - tour intro

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - Why I am Pro-Life

October 2

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - Read the First Chapter for Free

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - Thank You for Taking a Stand

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

October 4

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - prolife post

October 5

,Madisyn at Madi’s Musings - Ten Responses to Common Abortion Arguments Part 1

October 6

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - prolife post

October 7

Eva-Joy Ruth Schonhaar - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 8 - To Save a Life Cover Reveal

,Kylie Hunt at Kylie Hunt - The Film Director’s Wife - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - prolife post

October 9

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

K,ylie Hunt at Kylie Hunt - The Film Director’s Wife - To Save a Life post

October 11

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Liliora

October 12

,Madisyn at Madi’s Musings - Ten Responses to Common Abortion Arguments Part 2

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - prolife post

October 13

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Carita

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 14

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Stephanie Agnes-Crockett at Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase - Sustainer’s Smile post

October 15

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Kelsey Bryant at Kelsey’s Notebook - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Rita

October 16

,Brianna Burden at Singing in the Rain - prolife post

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - guest post by Erika

October 18

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - To Save a Life review

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 19

,Rebekah Morris at Read Another Page - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - Sustainer’s Smile author interview

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - prolife post

October 20

,Kristina Hall at Kristina Hall - To Save a Life review

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - To Save a Life review

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - prolife post

October 21 - Sustainer’s Smile release day!

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - Sustainer’s Smile special author post

,Kristina Hall at Kristina Hall - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - author interview with Erika

,Kellyn Roth at Lilacs & Reveries - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 22 - To Save a Life release day!

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - To Save a Life release post

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - TSAL spotlight & author interview with Ryana

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - To Save a Life spotlight

,Kellyn Roth at Lilacs & Reveries - To Save a Life spotlight

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - To Save a Life review

October 23

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - To Save a Life spotlight

,Stephanie Agnes-Crockett at Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase - To Save a Life review

,Abigail Harris at Read Review Rejoice - To Save a Life spotlight and SS character interview: Claera

October 25

,Courtenay Burden at Sheep Among Wolves - prolife post

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - To Save a Life review

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - prolife post

October 26

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - Sustainer’s Smile review and character spotlight: Tae

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - To Save a Life review

,Rebekah Morris at Read Another Page - To Save a Life review

October 27

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - To Save a Life review

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - To Save a Life review

October 28

,Kaitlyn Krispense at Kaitlyn Krispense, Author - Sustainer’s Smile, To Save a Life, & prolife

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - To Save a Life spotlight

October 29

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - Author Interview: Erika Mathews

,Kelsey Bryant at Kelsey’s Notebook - To Save a Life post

October 30

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - tour wrapup

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - To Save a Life review

Thank y'all so much for following the tour and joining me again for another look at the Write for Life tour and what writers are doing to support the pro-life movement! I hope you too will take a stand for life and show your love and support by reaching out to those in your community and by sharing about books like Sustainer's Smile that are unabashedly pro-life!

#writeforlife #blogtour #sustainerssmile #comingsoon #christianfiction #fantasy #giveaway #prolife #preorder

Bookishly yours, Grace

Welcome to October!

HOW IS IT OCTOBER ALREADY? Like, I’m almost finished with my Term A classes (eight-week courses that are a half-semester-long), which is AMAZING, even if it seems too soon. (Seriously, my classes have been heck lately...well, not really my classes themselves...just my professor. But I ain’t gonna complain. Not today at least.)

My point is that this year has gone by way too quickly, which means my main goal this month is to write at least 12k in Bound and Determined. More like 20k would be nice, but I’m not gonna push myself. School, y’know.

Now, since I’ve decided (yet again) to revamp my newsletter content/format, you’ll be seeing some different things in today’s update post (which is actually two days later than I’d originally intended it to be)! Like my reading progress, updates from my new blog, last month’s most popular posts, and more! Let’s jump right in to what I accomplished last month…

My top priority was to live to fight another day. I’m here, so that takes care of that! My second goal was to have a successful launch of Daylight—and I did! I had the most fun EVER reading everyone’s posts, gushing over reviews, and sharing more about this story that’s grown so dear to my heart! Oy, numero tres was reviews...let’s just say I didn’t write as many of those as I wanted… Last but certainly not least was Book Nations, my blog for Christian writers of Christian fiction (I know that seems redundant, but that’s a post for another day...check out Book Nations to find out what I mean)! I launched my second site and had a pretty great turnout! I only have like three posts so far, but I hope to share lots more in the coming days and weeks!

My goals for October? Well, that’s simple.

Get through school. Finals for both my Term A classes are on the 14th, so fingers crossed that goes well! Then my Term B class starts the same day...so here’s to hoping that only one class will be easier to manage! Write at least 12k in Bound and Determined. Right now, that looks about like 400 words a day, so that shouldn’t be too difficult! Write a short story for this super fun contest! And, finally, take part in the Write for Life blog tour, headed by authors Erika Mathews and R. M. Peterson! Wondering what that is? Check out Saturday’s post!

Monthly progress? Oy...well, I’ll put it like this: I finished Chapter 48. That’s all I’m going to tell you. For once, I feel like I could’ve written more, but this chapter was just. so. heavy. It needed a whole month, to be honest.

The best books of the month...good question. I only reviewed two books, but GUYS. I READ SO MANY GOOD ONES IT’S CRAZY.

The Secret of Emerald Cottage by Julie Lessman. So, Julie Lessman wrote a mystery. THE KISSING QUEEN WROTE A MYSTERY. Nuff said. (But, seriously, if you wanna hear more...read my review here!)

A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano. Y’ALL OH Y’ALL OH Y’ALL. This book was like everything my heart ached for. It was...not just perfection, but like perfection in its most beautiful form, if that makes sense. You can read my review in yesterday’s post!

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin. I never would’ve expected to love a book about a Nazi-sympathizer and a feminist so much...but here I am. Sundin pulled it off, you guys, and I mean PERFECTLY!

The Runaway Bride and A Bride of Convenience by Jody Hedlund. I’ve been meaning to read these books for, like, a year or more, and I finally got around to it last month! TRB is probably one of my favorites by Hedlund, and ABOC was (1) a wonderful marriage of convenience story (those are exceptionally hard to pull off) and (2) one of Hedlund’s most different novels!

September’s top posts are many, you guys! I managed to double-book multiple times, so I ended up with 23 posts in total! The most popular were (in order of views):

Welcome to the Tour! Interview with Grey S. Park What If...We’re Fighting the Wrong Way? On Saaaaale! Free to Read!

Well! I know that was a lot, but that should wrap us up for the whole of last month! *wink* How do y'all intend to spend your fall? Lots of pumpkin spice, I hope! I'll see y'all later, gators!

#updates #wrapup #monthlyprogress #goals #topposts #readinghighlights

Bookishly yours, Grace

Review: A Midnight Dance by Joanna Davidson Politano

*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.

You know how there are some books that, when you turn the final page and walk away, you leave a piece of you behind? You know how there are some stories that become so vivid that you feel as though you yourself are entangled in the words? You know how there are some characters who are so alive and vibrant that you could almost touch them? You know how there are some romances so beautiful that you wish you could claim them as your own? You know how there are some sentences that weave together so seamlessly, in a dance so intricate and lovely, that you feel your heart soar? You know how there are some heroes so imperfectly perfect in every way that you wish to God that you could marry them? That was this book. This story. These characters. This romance. Those sentences. And, Lord have mercy, my Jack. *sighs* I suppose I should write a full review. I should probably tell you about how lovely and melodic, how lyrical and alive Politano’s prose is. I should probably tell you about how well thought-out and paced her plots are. I should probably tell you about how unique, mysterious, and engaging her story is. I should probably tell you how vibrant and intriguing the characters are. I should probably tell you how intricately and beautifully she weaves in spiritual truths and messages to her novels.

Or...I could just continue to melt. You could join me. All you have to do...is read.

Seriously, y’all. When Politano began the story with the most enchanting pas de deux, I knew my heart was lost to me forever. You see, I have long loved all things ballet. I am by no means an expert nor an accomplished dancer (although I did take for a couple years); however, a part of me belongs to the barre...a part of me rises on releve...a part of me soars in a jete...a part of me pirouettes to the gentle refrains of classical music and sighs on a cloud of artistic euphoria.

(Please don’t ask me what any of that meant. I just went poetically wild for a moment there. Bear with me.)

Politano took that part by the hand and led it in the most beautiful, most exquisite dance ever.

Her descriptions of dance...augh, they were like kisses. Ballet...ah, yes, I now know why they called it sensual, for when you simply read the words Politano penned to evoke those images, those sounds, those emotions...you come alive.

Nothing...nothing, I tell you, has ever melted me as this novel did. True, I have melted before...but not...not in this way. Not like with Jack and Ella...mainly Jack. No, definitely, completely, wholly, fully, utterly, and irrevocably Jack.

Y’all, he was like perfection bottled into one man in tights and oil paint. (Never thought I’d find perfection in that form...but, hey, first time for everything, am I right?) I’ll be entirely honest and say I was as fooled as Ella that whole dad-blamed time, which was the point, wasn’t it? I tried so hard to save my heart for Phillippe (or, um, save Ella’s heart, I guess) and not fall for Jack. At all costs. (Considering the last time I fell for a Jack, he died and the girl ended up with some other guy that I just didn’t love as much as my man Jack and so yes me and Jacks have had some seriously rough relationships hence why I was hesitant to love on Jack Dorian but here we are and I have already claimed this sexy ballet-dancing blond from the circus as my husband. So, no, you can’t have him. Sorry, not sorry.)

And I just realized that probably constitutes as a spoiler. Oh well.

The point is that Jack was perfect. Ella was actually a heroine I more than tolerated—I may have even loved her. The way her focus always came back to God...and how she wanted Him more than anything else...and how she found a way to honor Him through dance...y’all. That was probably one of the most beautiful themes I’ve ever read. Not only because it was so unique and different from the typical themes of trust and forgiveness...but also because it was so very applicable and relatable.

Not to mention, Ella stuck to her convictions. She wasn’t just a “church-going girl”; she was a Christian and she walked (or, rather, danced) like it. Even though she was surrounded by immorality and temptation, she clung to her faith and her values, something that I truly appreciated from a reader’s perspective and also from the perspective of someone trying to do the exact same thing in our messed-up world.

That said, I would’ve liked more Jack. I would’ve loved to have seen more of his spiritual transformation...but, then again, this was technically Ella’s story.

I mean, Jack totally took it over, but it’s still Ella’s.

And...that’s basically it. I probably could’ve summed this review up in two sentences: Jack was so dad-blamed perfect and beautiful and I’m so marrying him. And if you haven’t read this book, you haven’t lived (or flown either, for that matter).

If you do nothing else, read this book for Jack.

ALSO. While I’m thinking about it...they’re from 130 years in the future, but “Come Fly With Me” and “Fly Me To The Moon” by Frank Sinatra just fit this story so well. Wonder why? Read the blessed book! I cannot stress how important that is to your well-being. You. Must. Read. This Book. Like, yesterday.

The End.

*curtsies*

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

Snag Your Copy!

About the Author

Joanna Davidson Politano freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her manuscript for Lady Jayne Disappears was a finalist for several contests, including the 2016 Genesis Award from ACFW, and won the OCW Cascade Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is always on the hunt for random acts of kindness, people willing to share their deepest secrets with a stranger, and hidden stashes of sweets. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan and shares stories that move her at www.jdpstories.com.

#bookreview #newbook #review #joannadavidsonpolitano #christianfiction #romance #christianromance #intrigue #mystery #historicalromance #historicalfiction #mustread #newfavorite #favoritebook

Bookishly yours, Grace

Thank You for Taking a Stand (Write for Life Blog Tour)

As part of the October Pro-Life tour headed by Erika Mathews and Ryana Lynn Peterson, many bloggers are getting together and sharing pro-life posts to state their personal beliefs and reasons why, remind their readers of the sanctity of life, and encourage others to join us in the fight for rights for the unborn.

When I signed up for this a few months back, I began thinking of different things I could post. Honestly, without personal experience, there wasn’t much I could say. After all, the Bible makes it clear that children are a gift, that life is infinitely precious, and that He is Lord over all that lives and breathes. I can’t say it any better than how He did, now can I? So I put it off, waiting for the Lord to put the right prompt on my heart.

It took a while, but He finally did. And this post isn’t to dive into the scripture behind why I’m pro-life and why you should be too (if you aren’t already, which I doubt). It’s not to convince you of the evils of abortion. It’s not to rant and rave...no matter how much I enjoy it.

No, instead of discouraging y’all by going on about all that’s wrong with the world, I want to thank you.

You’ve taken a stand. I know you have. You, who chose to keep your baby. You, who adopted or fostered a child. You, who have obeyed and been fruitful and multiplied. You, who didn’t take birth control. You, whose womb remains open. You, who delights in the promises of the Lord. You, who wishes for a child. You, who march for the rights of unborn children. You, who comforts those who grieve. You, who rally against unjust and wicked regulations. You, who proclaim the scriptures. You, who support pro-life causes. You, who waited until marriage. You, who sought His will. You, who voted for pro-life officials. You, who changed a pregnant girl’s mind. You, who is making a difference.

Thank you.

People like you, who give one dollar, who say one prayer, who give one hug, who loves one child, who repeat one verse, who take one step...one. Just one. Only one can make a difference, and many can make all the difference.

Thank you.

Thank you for taking that stand, for voting pro-life, supporting pro-life, living pro-life. Thank you for loving those precious unborn children, those struggling parents, and those who have done wrong. Thank you for praying for every life, for every mother and father, for every doctor and nurse. Thank you for waiting until marriage, trusting in God, and doing what He called you to do. Thank you for choosing to have an open womb rather than take birth control or tie your tubes. Thank you for being a mother or father to an unwanted child or an orphan.

Why?

Because being pro-life doesn’t just mean being against abortion. It means having an open womb and being pro-reproduction. It means loving children who aren’t yours and might not have anyone else to love them. It means viewing all people—no matter how sinful—as precious in the sight of God. It means being against homosexuality and transgenderism, which malign God’s intentions for life and stifle the ability to procreate. It means choosing to live another day rather than take your own life. It means praying for those who have made mistakes and had abortions in the past—because their lives matter too. It means praying for those who have performed abortions or administered drugs. It means praying for those who have convinced others to abort. It means speaking up and being bold about life and God’s purpose for each of us.

I hope you’ll take a stand as well, if you haven’t yet. Because if God loves the lives of humans so much that He would send His Son to sacrifice His...then we should as well. And remember that you can be pro-life without ever donating a dollar or casting a vote. All you have to do is pray and love. Take a stand and be an unmovable beacon of hope to those who struggle.

The way you live your life could save a hundred others.

Thank you.

The Tour

In honor of the release of not one but TWO pro-life novels this month, the authors Erika Mathews and R. M. Peterson have put together a Write for Life Instagram/blog tour for the entire month of October. I invite y'all to join me and countless other Christian bloggers and Instagramers as we share about being pro-life and support these two pro-life books! Below is the blog tour schedule, and if you keep an eye on your social media feeds, you'll find pro-life graphics and posts being shared all month long!

October 1

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - tour intro

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - Why I am Pro-Life

October 2

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - Read the First Chapter for Free

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - Thank You for Taking a Stand

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

October 4

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - prolife post

October 5

,Madisyn at Madi’s Musings - Ten Responses to Common Abortion Arguments Part 1

October 6

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - prolife post

October 7

Eva-Joy Ruth Schonhaar - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 8 - To Save a Life Cover Reveal

,Kylie Hunt at Kylie Hunt - The Film Director’s Wife - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - prolife post

October 9

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Kylie Hunt at Kylie Hunt - The Film Director’s Wife - To Save a Life post

October 11

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Liliora

October 12

,Madisyn at Madi’s Musings - Ten Responses to Common Abortion Arguments Part 2

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - prolife post

October 13

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Carita

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 14

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Stephanie Agnes-Crockett at Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase - Sustainer’s Smile post

October 15

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Kelsey Bryant at Kelsey’s Notebook - Sustainer’s Smile character spotlight: Rita

October 16

,Brianna Burden at Singing in the Rain - prolife post

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - guest post by Erika

October 18

,Joy C. Woodbury at Discipleship With Joy - To Save a Life review

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 19

,Rebekah Morris at Read Another Page - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - Sustainer’s Smile author interview

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - prolife post

October 20

,Kristina Hall at Kristina Hall - To Save a Life review

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Akira Rodriguez at With Joyful Praise - To Save a Life review

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - prolife post

October 21 - Sustainer’s Smile release day!

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - Sustainer’s Smile special author post

,Kristina Hall at Kristina Hall - Sustainer’s Smile review

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - author interview with Erika

,Kellyn Roth at Lilacs & Reveries - Sustainer’s Smile spotlight

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - Sustainer’s Smile review

October 22 - To Save a Life release day!

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - To Save a Life release post

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - TSAL spotlight & author interview with Ryana

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - To Save a Life spotlight

,Kellyn Roth at Lilacs & Reveries - To Save a Life spotlight

,Martha Abilene at Beyond the Literary Horizon - To Save a Life review

October 23

,Grace A. Johnson at Book Nations - To Save a Life spotlight

,Stephanie Agnes-Crockett at Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase - To Save a Life review

,Abigail Harris at Read Review Rejoice - To Save a Life spotlight and SS character interview: Claera

October 25

,Courtenay Burden at Sheep Among Wolves - prolife post

,Katja Labonté at Little Blossoms for Jesus - To Save a Life review

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - prolife post

October 26

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - Sustainer’s Smile review and character spotlight: Tae

,Lauren Compton at Novels That Encourage - To Save a Life review

,Rebekah Morris at Read Another Page - To Save a Life review

October 27

,Tara at Tower in the Plains - To Save a Life review

,Jen Rose at Living Outside the Lines - To Save a Life review

October 28

,Kaitlyn Krispense at Kaitlyn Krispense, Author - Sustainer’s Smile, To Save a Life, & prolife

,Vanessa Hall at Vanessa Hall - To Save a Life spotlight

October 29

,Autumn Lehman at Bursting Through the Darkness - ,Author Interview: Erika Mathews

,Kelsey Bryant at Kelsey’s Notebook - To Save a Life post

October 30

,Erika Mathews at Resting Life - tour wrapup

,Grace A. Johnson at Of Blades and Thorns - To Save a Life review

On the 9th, I'll be sharing more about the books, so stay tuned and don't forget to check out these other AMAZING Christian girls' posts about life! Until then, thank y'all for taking a stand!

#prolife #writeforlife #sustainersmile #tosavealife #thankyou #life

Bookishly yours, Grace

Serial Spotlight: Those Who Were Given Another Yesterday

Ni Hao! Now, you may be asking yourself why is Grace, the self-proclaimed Plain Old English Gal, greeting us in Chinese? The answer is simple, my friends! Today, I am spotlighting an emerging young Chinese author's work, Those Who Were Given Another Yesterday!

Linyang Zhang is not only an insanely talented writer, she's also one of my best friends! I actually had the chance to interview her back in December! If you're interested in learning more about her, check out that post!

Today, I'm going to be talking a wee bit about her latest web serial...making this my first ever serial spotlight! In the future, it'll look more like my regular Coming Soon spotlights, so if y'all have any serials (such as Kindle Vella's new stories) that you'd like me to share about, let me know in the comments!!!

Linyang's story is available to read for free, so after learning some more about it, please go check it out! Subscribe to the story and hit the like button! (Unless, of course, you didn't like it...which is basically impossible, because everything this girl writes is like perfection, and I'm so jealous. ANYWAY.)

Now, without further ado, let's dive into Linyang's work!

About the Serial

Nine characters are trapped in a time loop. Yesterday they were friends, tomorrow they will be enemies. Today...they can only live in the present.

With memories being constantly wiped and identities exchanged with every reset, can the nine of them work together to break the loop? Or will they be forced to relive these few months of their lives forever?

#fantasy #mystery #drama #urban #timetravel

Other Works

Some of Linyang's other work include I Once Was Human, a Chinese web serial available to read here; a variety of amazing short stories that you can learn more about here; AND her latest story, Visionaries, which is featured in Imagine: A Collection of Short Stories and Poems from the Teen Writers' Nook Family! I just read Visionaries the other night, and lemme tell ya, that was one fabulous story! You can purchase Imagine on Kindle or in paperback!

About the Author

Linyang Zhang is a Chinese-American Christian who has an affinity for coffee ice cream and lemon pastries. She enjoys learning new languages and dabbles in translation. She writes to glorify her King and to touch the souls of others. When she's not studying, sleeping, or working on a project she enjoys Christopher Nolan movies, listening to music, and watching anime. She currently resides in Eastern Mass as a student. You can connect with her on her website: https://zhanglinyang.weebly.com/

#serialspotlight #webserial #asianauthor #teenauthor #youngauthor #christianauthor #chinesefiction #imagine

Bookishly yours, Grace