Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 4

i hate my voice | now you can too

I started a podcast.

And reminded myself of how much I hate my voice.

*cringes*

But if you think you can handle it, I invite you to check out my very amateurish, EXTREMELY rambly podcast on Spotify.

Thus far, I have two episodes out, which are 99.999% me just rambling about my writing journey, AND I have where you can subscribe to access exclusive episodes that are tailored to encouraging and motivating writers, creatives, and Christians through writers' block, dry spells, and creative wandering.

Give it a shot, and if you find you hate my voice too, come back here and let me know what I can do better. But if you're able to cringe through it, I'd love some suggestions for what you'd like to hear me talk about in the future!

Beyond my disdain for my incoherent babbling and voice, I'm having loads of fun recording episodes and creating this podcast, so it's not a total loss. Truthfully, though, I am so excited for this and can't wait to see where Spirit & Script goes from here as I learn more about podcasting + grow in my speaking capabilities!

Let me know down below...do you listen to podcasts? If so, what are your favorites? Why? How can I offer something valuable to you with my podcast?

#podcast #spiritandscript #announcement #newventure #feedbackneeded #subscribe

introducing...of storm & sea

Back in February of 2022, I had the offhanded idea to host a romance-themed short story contest, based on the prompt “tell me you love me.” Fast forward a year later, and I released an anthology under the same name that featured the exquisite works of 12 young Christian writers.

I never would have expected our little collection to become what it has. We’ve sold over 100 copies thus far, in the US, UK, Canada, and Brazil, and our book finds new readers every month. New posts featuring Tell Me You Love Me pop up on Instagram all the time, and it warms my heart to see so many readers enjoying the sweet, God-honoring love stories these authors have crafted.

And now it’s time for a new collection.

This time, I want to celebrate adventure, honor, bravery, redemption, found family, perseverance, and the beauty of the ocean in our nautical adventure anthology! If you love writing about pirates, mermaids, sea monsters, naval officers, lightkeepers, fishermen, swashbuckling voyages, seafaring romance, maritime wars, or just the wonder of the sea, WE WANT YOUR STORY!!!

We’re also accepting ✨poetry and prose✨ inspired by the ocean and its vast depths, so bring on those moving pieces of verse and creative writing!

If Of Storm & Sea sounds like just the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, keep on reading for more information, our content and formatting guidelines, and the submission form!

If you’re not too keen on writing and submitting, we’d love if you shared this post with your writer friends or dropped the following emoji down in the comments to let me know you’re willing to help bring this anthology to life! (Comment below with this emoji: )

~ about the anthology ~

The theme is nautical adventure, that is, anything set on/by the sea and featuring an exciting premise. Pirates, navy, privateers, mermaids, fisherman, sirens, vikings, ocean myths, treasure-hunters, scuba divers, and more are encouraged to include in your story!

Our accepted genres are fantasy (basically of any kind), historical, contemporary, and seapunk (sea-based steampunk), and subgenres of romance, mystery, and suspense are also encouraged! We are not looking for sci-fi or space pirates. We want to capture the classic ocean vibe, you know? So anything that does not involve an earth-based ocean (real world or fantasy) in some form won’t be accepted. However, you’re welcome to twist our accepted genre however you wish! Include a dash of Jules Verne or retell a fairytale or Bible story, if you wish. Weave in mythological elements or explore an unknown aspect of history. Make your story unique! We’re looking for creativity here, people!

Our required length is 10,000 to 15,000 words (long short story or short novella) for stories, and poems/prose up to 1,200 words! If you go over or under the word count by a few words (whether a few means 3 or 300), that’s perfectly all right! Just try and stay in the aforementioned range as much as you can!

Before submitting your story, please make sure you review the formatting guidelines below and follow them exactly. Failure to comply could decrease your chances of being selected, just sayin’.

As far as content goes, we’re keeping it simple: no profanity and no sex scenes. However, there are several nuances to consider and keep in mind concerning the content material we want presented in this collection.

Profanity: none whatsoever, including mild language such as damn, hell, ass and stronger language varying from sh*t and p*ss, to the f-word. Offensive terms and slurs such as b*tch are also not permitted. Bastard can be used in the correct historical context (i.e., “he was a bastard, born illegitimately”), as can damn, hell, and ass (i.e., “he was damned to prison,” “she’d rather go to heaven than hell,” “Jesus rode an ass through the streets”); but otherwise, just skip it. If you include language in your story, I’ll either ask you to remove it so we can consider your work, or I’ll outright disqualify it depending on how heavy the language is.

Euphemisms are allowed. From “heck” to “deuces” to “blast,” you’re welcome to use euphemisms conservatively.

Sexual content: romance is perfectly all right (dare I say appreciated?), as well as biblically addressing sexual immorality and portraying sexual issues, such as prostitution, rape, fornication, etc. However, gratuitous sexual content, sexual nudity regarding characters who are not married, explicit sex scenes, and glorifying sexual sin will result in your story being turned down, regardless of how well-written it is.

Violence and gore: as long as it’s not gratuitous or intended to horrify or desensitize readers, violence and gore are permitted. Naturally, since this anthology will feature pirates and sea monsters and battles, I’ll only draw the line at gore that makes me sick (hard to do, admittedly), and portraying violence and death without acknowledging the sanctity of life.

Faith: explicit Christian content is 100% encouraged. Otherwise, faith-based themes, allegories, and Christian worldview are what we’re looking for here. Your story ought to ultimately point to Christ, glorify God, and leave readers feeling encouraged in their faith or challenged to know God more.

~ how to submit ~

After you’ve written your story and polished it up (I recommend having a few friends or beta readers read over it before submitting!), format it according the guidelines linked above and ensure it fits our criteria.

Then, submit it as a Google Doc through the form below! You have until December 10th, 2023 to submit your story! The selected stories will be announced on January 1st, and from there the editing process will commence. The anthology will release (Lord willing) in Fall 2024.

~ faq ~

Q: Does there have to be pirates in my story?

A: Not at all! Anything nautical and adventurous is welcome, whether there are pirates or not!

Q: Can I submit more than one story?

A: You can only submit one story. However, you can submit a story and a poem or piece of prose!

Q: What genre can my story be?

A: Anything except sci-fi/space and erotica. We’re looking for nautical vibes, not space vibes!

Q: Does my story have to be Christian?

A: Yes and no. We want every story to be written from a biblical worldview and Christian themes and to glorify God. If that means allegorical or subtle themes, fine! As long as you know your story points to God and you can assure it wouldn’t contradict the Word of God!

Q: Is there an age range for the stories?

A: We’re looking at 15+, so you could say YA and adult stories, but the characters can be any age, as long as the stories are appropriate for readers as young as 13-15 and engaging for readers as old as 27 or 93!

Q: Do I have to be an experienced writer to submit?

A: Yes and no. We’re not judging based on the author’s credentials or experience; rather, we’re judging based off of their writing ability and the quality of their work. So if you write like you have experience, we’re good! But if you have experience and no ability, we’ve got a problem.

Q: Do I have to be a certain age to submit?

A: Not at all! We accept authors as young as 13 and as old as 104! However, keep in mind that this anthology is targeted at older teens and adults, so we’re not writing middle-grade or children’s stories, and we want our authors’ writing to reflect that. (Basically, if you write like I did at 11, your chances are slim. But if you bring something amazing to the table, it doesn’t matter how old you are!)

~ inspiration ~

If you need story ideas or inspiration, or just want to visualize the vibe we have in mind for this collection, check out the official Pinterest board below!

I also have several personal Pinterest boards with all the pirate vibes that you can explore!

r egal pirate vibes reminiscent of Grace O’Malley…

a beacon of hope in the midst of a storm…

t he captivating nautical academia aesthetic…

r uthless pirate escapades…

t he complete guide to pirate stories…

t he cunning creatures of the sea…

~ got questions? ~

Email me at skysthelimitpress@gmail.com OR comment below if you have any questions or want more information! Don't forget to comment below if you'd like to lend a hand rather than write a story!

Let me know down below...do you love pirate stories or nautical adventures?? What do you think our next anthology should be about???

#ofstormandsea #anthology #shortstory #shortstoryanthology #novellas #novellaanthology #poetry #poems #prose #poetryanthology #pirates #historicalfiction #historicalromance #romance #mystery #contemporary #fantasy #christianfiction #collection #novellacollection #contest #submit #submissions #yesthatismyhandwritinginmynewsignature

friends & forbidden projects | august updates

July is actually over, folks. Not only that, but we’re already five days into August. Summer is practically over—although where I live, the feeling of summer will still last for another couple months. And I don’t mean long days and pool parties. I mean heat. And thunderstorms. And bugs.

But there are still some benefits to summer, believe it or not. Like being able to go on random trips to peach farms…making peach sherbet...fresh flowers...and visiting virtual friends ✨in real life✨.

That’s right, folks!!! Last weekend, I met the insanely amazing, one-and-only ISSABELLE PERRY in actual, real-life, physical person.

Was I awkward? Heck, yes. But was it absolutely fantabulous (and kinda awe-inspiring, if our random moments of silent staring were of any indication)? YOU BETTA BELIEVE IT.

Here’s a picture as proof. ->

Our visit was by far the highlight of my month, if not my year!!! She's even sweeter and more precious in person than she is online, and if you've had the pleasure of virtually connecting with her, you'll know that's saying something because this girl is an ANGEL!

~ gratitude ~ Naturally, number one on my list is meeting Issabelle in person!!! Delicious peach ice cream Vitamin Water (seriously, their zero sugar raspberry dark chocolate flavor is divine ) Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot (such a good book!!!) Springtime in Surrey (more on that in a bit!) Sky’s the Limit Press Annotating books~ accomplishments ~

Truthfully, more was left undone than done in July (no surprise there). My #1 goal was to be (or at least feel) productive—and for the most part, I think I did. I’m not as disappointed in July as I was in June, so that’s a good thing.

My second goal was to write consistently...and, yeah. About that.

It never happened.

I mean, I wrote maybe thrice throughout the entire 31 days of July.

And the worst part?

It was in a brand-new project that I 110% should not be writing.

I’m supposed to be working on Something Bright & Beautiful, right? I even have alpha readers for the sole purpose of keeping me motivated + accountable. But what have I gone and done?

Created a new story.

Or, well, technically...I’m completely revamping an old, old story. My first finished manuscript, in fact.

And, Y’ALL. It has totally captured my heart. No offense to SB&B, of course. But more on my writing progress later.

I did design another website (no, not Sky’s the Limit Press’), which was SO fun! It’ll be unveiled soon by the lovely author, Joy Calle Martinez, so make sure to subscribe to her newsletter for updates on her new website!

And I got a lot of blog posts together—90% of which were guest posts, so I didn’t do any writing, although you could argue that organizing/scheduling posts is about as time-consuming as writing them.

I edited a book for a client, and...

I not only launched the Instagram for Sky’s the Limit Press—I also opened submissions for OUR NEXT ANTHOLOGY!!! I am SOOOO excited for this, and I’ll be sharing an official announcement post soon (Lord willing), but until then, you can learn more about it and follow STLP on IG below!

~ goals ~ Finish Chapter 3 of SB&B Write 2k more in my forbidden project Launch Sky’s the Limit Press Write at least two blog posts Write two book reviews Redesign my website Launch my author services~ writing ~

So, I wrote just over 2k in the aforementioned forbidden project—The Forsaken. If you’re interested in reading those two thousand words + checking out the Pinterest board (arguably my favorite part ), click the buttons below!

Aaaaand I only managed 537 words in SB&B.

~ reading ~

I had fully intended to read three books in July—and I ended up only reading one that wasn’t even on last month’s reading list. ‍♀️

The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham. I absolutely adored the first book in this series, but while I enjoyed the sequel, it wasn’t quite as good (#sorrynotsorry). Here’s hoping #3 will be just as good as The Mistletoe Countess!

~ upcoming reads & posts ~

I’ve already read two books this month (that I can’t wait to gush about soon!), one of which I read all in one 3-hour sitting...which is the first time I’ve managed to do that in forever. But I also hope to read the other two books on my July list: Sky of Seven Colors by Rachelle Nelson and Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business by Fred S. Steingold. And one or two other books—maybe Cities of Smoke & Starlight by Alli Earnest and A Solstice of Fire and Light by Angela R. Watts. We shall see!

I’m still hoping to share the following posts:

an introduction post for Sky’s the Limit Press; my author website Q&A post; a post about my novella, Her Heart’s Home; as well as a post about The Girl in the Pages, my short story in Heard in Silence anthology, and a post about Of Storm & Sea, Sky’s the Limit Press’ next anthology!~ guest appearances ~

Of course, I had a couple guest posts go out last month in honor of Springtime in Surrey! A post about the theme of surrender on Erika Mathew’s blog here and a post about writing tips from Hallmark (shocking topic, I know!) on Rachel Leitch’s blog here! Make sure to check them out to learn more about Springtime in Surrey and my novella, Her Heart’s Home!

~ follower updates ~

First off, Springtime in Surrey is HERE!!! If you haven’t yet, make sure you snag yourself a copy so you can explore the beautiful countryside of Surrey through the eyes of Regency-era newlyweds, a WWI veteran, a retired ballerina, and more intriguing characters! Their stories are all so sweet and entertaining, and there’s something for everyone!

Second, if you love writing stories of high-seas adventure, bravery and cunning, mysterious sea creatures, and swashbuckling romance...do we have a show for you! Okay, not really a show. Not a show at all, but a novella collection! We’re looking for writers and poets who love nautical adventures (and pirates!) to submit their stories to our anthology, Of Storm & Sea! Learn more about the anthology and the story guidelines below!

Lastly, I’m debuting several author services—from visual branding to marketing to editing—and if you would like to be the first to learn more, book a slot, AND get a special discount, drop this emoji down in the comments below: You’ll be added to the waitlist, where you’ll receive information and special offers before anyone else!

Welp, that sums up all our announcements and activities. *wipes sweat from her brow * All that’s left now is for youto buy all my books and sign up for everything and write a nautical adventure story comment below! What are you grateful for this past month? Any exciting new reads? What are your goals for August? Did you read my snippet of The Forsaken? I’d love to chat with you!

Praying you have a blessed August, my lovelies!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#augustupdates #welcometoaugust #monthlygratitude #upcomingposts #upcomingreads #tbr #monthlyupdates #monthlygoals #monthlywrapup #monthlyprogress #goals #wrapup #updates #reading #writing #progressreport #readinghighlights #progress #guestappearance #followerupdates #springtimeinsurrey #ofstormandsea #skysthelimitpress #heardinsilence #authorservices #theforsaken

(As an Amazon affiliate, I will receive a small commission from any purchases made through my affiliate links at no extra cost to you!)

review | the light of eidon by karen hancock

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lemme keep this simple: I flippin’ loved this book.

I’ll be honest, getting started was slow-going. It piqued my curiosity enough for me to want to continue reading, but it didn’t thoroughly captivate me right off the bat. Beyond that, I wasn’t sure what to expect from The Light of Eidon. I’ve never heard of this classic Christian fantasy—even though I’d thought myself at least somewhat well-versed in the realm of Christian fantasy—but I knew if it was considered a classic, surely it was worth that title.

At least worth the absolutely gorgeous new cover provided by Hannah Linder Designs.

But once I committed to sitting down and taking this chonky book one page at a time, BOY HOWDY! This was literally all of my favorite things (okay, not all—there was no Mr. Darcy, after all—but most) and piled them all into one epic fantasy. The Mark of the Lion vibes are strong with this one, paired with some Lord of the Rings and maybe even some Dune. I detected Dune…

It’s literally the perfect mashup of Biblical/ancient times adventure with 17th-18th century royal/political intrigue with ✨fantasy✨. There’s a hero who can root for and witness his redemption. There’s a frenemy-style sidekick who is pure gold. There’s enemies and allies and traitors galore, creating a dramatic and intriguing adventure spanning kingdoms and years that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first chapter.

That’s not to say this is a fast-paced book. It’s not. But it’s not slow either. It’s the just-right balance you need to keep you on your toes without sacrificing development. I will say this: it did skip past things once in a while without all the explanation I wanted, but it was never so bad that I couldn’t follow along with the story.

Really, the only actual qualm I have is that I DON’T HAVE THE NEXT BOOK. In fact, trying to find a copy is almost as hard as trying to find a needle in a haystack. So I’m being forced to wait until Enclave republishes it next year. NEXT YEAR. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT THAT LONG?!

In all seriousness, my actual actual qualm is that I didn’t like Carissa. I couldn’t really connect with her, so whenever her POV came around, I was already looking forward to when we switched back to Abramm.

Now, a lot of other reviewers (most of whom are friends of mine) have expressed several other qualms or concerns...so y’all know I gotta share my thoughts on those issues.

Was the content within anti-biblical?

No. No, it really wasn’t. As far as the 100% fantasy religions go, they act as a well-done allegory for Judaism and Christianity and other world religions—not in a way that seems to bash one or the other, but in a way that weaves them all together to create unique but familiar religions and cultures.

As far as the sexual content and heavier elements, if you’ve read Mark of the Lion, this will literally be a piece of cake. There is slavery, violence, gore, death, etc., but it’s all realistic (in terms of the real-world versions of those issues) and tasteful. Never gratuitous or horrific. If you are considering this book for a younger reader (i.e., younger than 15), I’d pass. But for older teens and adults, this was a-okay.

And the premarital sex. If you pay attention, you’ll see how biblically this was handled. There is remorse and repentance, and overall the issue was handled very well.

Again, everything in here, on a scale of squeaky clean to Francine Rivers, is about like a 7.

Leave your preconceived notions and defenses at the door, friends. Because if you take it one page at a time, chances are you’ll fall headfirst in love.

Now, back to our regularly schedule non-content review…

Y’ALL. TRAP WAS THE BEST. As much as I loved Abramm...Trap was perfection. He was the best. Just...so good. Most of the side characters, honestly, were fabulous in every way. And even though Trap dominated every way, I still so enjoyed following Abramm’s journey.

Like...y’all. The world-building was fantastic. The writing was *chef’s kiss*. The twist at the end was epic. The vibes were perfection.

But the very, very, very best part?

THE ALLEGORY.

Just...the allegory. The mark of a good one is that you know it’s an allegory, but it’s not a carbon copy of the real thing—so you’ll immersed into the story as the story, and when you close the book, you walk away looking toward the Lord, knowing He was found within that story.

Soooo...long story short, this was easily one of my top favorite books of the year. The Light of Eidon more than deserves the title of “Christian fantasy classic.”

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Publicity. All opinions expressed are my own.

~ the book ~

Special Hardcover Edition of a Classic Christian Fantasy

Abramm has dedicated the last eight years of his life to becoming worthy to touch and tend the Sacred Flames of Eidon, and he expects to be blessed for his devotion and sacrifice. But on the eve of taking the vows that will irrevocably separate him from the life he was born to—as Abramm Kalladorne, fifth son of the king of Kiriath—he is betrayed by his spiritual mentor and sold into slavery by his brothers.

Swept along by the winds of a new destiny, Abramm is forced to compete as a gladiator. When the oppressed masses rally around his success, he discovers his suffering has molded him into something greater than he ever thought possible—to serve a purpose he never imagined.

Set in a world of swords and cloaks, of glittering palaces and mystical temples, of galley ships and ancient mist-bound cities, The Light of Eidon is the first volume of an epic series, Legends of the Guardian-King.

~ the author ~

Karen Hancock has won Christy Awards for each of her first four novels—Arena and the first three books in the Legends of the Guardian-King series, The Light of Eidon, The Shadow Within, and Shadow over Kiriath. She graduated from the University of Arizona with bachelor’s degrees in biology and wildlife biology. Along with writing, she is a semi-professional watercolorist and has exhibited her work in a number of national juried shows. She and her family reside in Arizona.

~ the giveaway ~

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Barnes & Noble Gift card and a hardcover copy of The Light of Eidon!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

~ the tour ~

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, July 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 23

Texas Book-aholic, July 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 25

Romances of the Cross, July 25

Aryn the Libraryan, July 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 27

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, July 28

The Book Club Network, July 29

Blogging With Carol, July 30

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 31

Simple Harvest Reads, August 1 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Artistic Nobody, August 2 (Spotlight)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 3

Through the Fire Blogs, August 4 (Spotlight)

Of Blades and Thorns, August 4

Have you read The Light of Eidon yet? What's a Christian fiction classic you think lives up to the hype? What book do you think will end up on your top books for this year? Let me know down below!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#review #bookreview #fantasy #christianfiction #classic #blogtour #giveaway

release day | springtime in surrey anthology

I know what you're looking for this summer, dear reader. You want stories that are full of vintage vibes, sweet romance, a splash of mystery, a dash of diversity. You want something you can read in a sitting but that truly lasts. You want themes that touch your heart, characters that you love, and premises that engage you.

You're looking for something very special, and you've come to just the right place.

Allow me to introduce you to Springtime in Surrey. Yes, the very same anthology you've seen floating around blogs and Instagram for the last couple months. Right now, I'm sure you're thinking, “That's great and all, Grace, and I know you're happy you're part of this collection. But I need something to read now. I can't wait for its release."

Well, you're in luck, because TODAY IS RELEASE DAY!!!

Cheesy post intros aside, this collection is actually a minefield of pure gold. It's got the vintage feel-good vibes and the pleasing mix of romance and women's fiction and the variety of eras. I mean...it's basically perfect, and I'm not just saying that.

And it really is release day!! After eight months of being in the works, Springtime in Surrey is finally out in the world! No more waiting around for a taste of these delightful stories. Nope, you can snag your copy RIGHT NOW!!!

So enough chit-chat on my part. Let's get into the good stuff—details on the stories, where you can purchase it, and (best of all!) the EPIC giveaway!!!

~ the book ~

This collection of novellas, set in County Surrey, England, features both historical and contemporary stories by new and old authors!

Springtime in Surrey contains the follow eight novellas:

Jesus, I Am Resting by Faith Blum

Elinor Chapman, an orphaned laundry woman, must fight to survive after WWI breaks out. She prays her beau doesn’t die on a foreign battlefield like her father did 14 years ago. She is forced to take on nursing, but her passion for helping other orphans distracts her from this job, leaving her little time for rest. Will she run herself into the ground … or will she learn to rest in Jesus?

The Cottage on the Hill by Andrea Renee Cox

During every teatime at her cottage hideaway, Moira struggles to discover hope amongst her lost ballerina dreams. Unsettled by elusive goals of his own, sheep farmer Adrian observes his uncle’s neighbor crying into her tea and wonders why… and what he can do to cheer her up. While facing their regrets, can Moira and Adrian trust that God has a good plan despite crushed dreams and far-off hopes?

If I Knew You Were Coming by Bailey Gaines

With her husband off to war and two evacuee children staying in her home, Joan feels duty-bound to contribute to the war effort via her participation in the Women’s Land Army. She is thrilled to learn that her husband has leave. But when the London Blitz ruins her plans to see him, Joan must decide what is most important in her life: her contribution to the war effort or her calling as a mother?

Her Heart’s Home by Grace A. Johnson

Forced from her childhood home after her father was killed in action, Meredith Tate is forced to seek employment at the Deepdene Hotel until she discovers the next step. Which most certainly does not include the brooding Captain Trevor Seaton, a guest who always manages to catch her at her worst. Despite his gentle magnetism, Meredith is determined not to fall for a military man—but God may have other plans.

The Tussie-Mussie by Katja H. Labonté

Caitrìona is determined to rescue her family from poverty by making a brilliant match. She is on the verge of success when her brother is arrested for a sensational crime. Banished to the country, she meets Ewart, a fearful recluse with a younger sister in need of aid. Ewart and Caitrìona grow together through shared goals—but as mysteries are uncovered and characters tested, what truth will be revealed?

The Odd Duck Society by Rachel Leitch

Jessamy Aubertine is too much for her university classmates, too little for her overstressed mum, and nothing in between. Then a mysterious letter signed by Jane Austen brings her back to her family’s fading tea shop and a pair of unlikely comrades. Will they find the letter writer—and perhaps discover themselves along the way? Or will their friendship fade with The Muses?

Fear Not Tomorrows by Erika Mathews

Hardworking Margaret Enfield is thrilled with her engagement to her lifelong best friend Lester. When his brother’s sudden illness forces Lester’s prolonged and indefinite absence, every tomorrow feels bleak to Margaret as lonely drudgery overtakes the once-rosy springtime. As she throws herself into her tasks, can she learn to trust her tomorrows with Jesus—one day at a time?

Courage to Stay by Kellyn Roth

Rosalind finds herself engaged to Matthias after her former fiancé, his brother, perishes in battle. Determined to forge a connection, she embarks on a risky mission. When Matthias retreats into his own turmoil on a hunting trip, Rosalind disguises herself as a man and follows him to the forest, vowing to fight for their love. Will Matthias summon the courage to stay, or will his fractured mind drive them apart forever?

~ the giveaway ~

The authors of Springtime in Surrey are hosting a huge giveaway with not one but two winners—a US winner and an international winner—over the course of the blog tour!

From July 25th to July 31st, follow the tour, commenting on posts, and subscribe to the authors’ newsletters and blogs! The winners will be announced on August 1st and contacted by email!

ONE US winner will receive...a print copy of Springtime in Surrey, two bookmarks and a quote sticker, a spring-themed mug, a bookish ornament, a spring-themed candle, an inspirational journal, and tea.

ONE international winner will receive...an ebook copy of Springtime in Surrey, two bookmarks and a quote sticker, a gift card, an ebook of choice by Erika Mathews, an ebook from the winner’s Amazon wishlist, an exclusive epilogue of The Tussie-Mussie, and a phone wallpaper.

Entrants must be 18+ or have parental permission to enter. Two winners—one US and one international—will be randomly selected at the end of the giveaway and contacted by email. The winners must be comfortable sharing their shipping addresses. Any and all information provided through the giveaway will be used only for the purposes stated.

Make sure you follow Wild Blue Wonder Press on Instagram (@wildbluewonderpress) for more information, anthology updates, and exclusive posts from the authors themselves! If you're interested in getting more giveaway entries, discovering more about Springtime in Surrey, and learn more about the authors, make sure you follow the rest of the blog tour!

~ the tour ~

Monday, July 24th

Kickoff Post at ,Lilacs & Reveries

Interview with Katja H. Labonté at ,Sheep Among Wolves

Interview with Faith Blum at ,Library Lady’s Kid Lit

Launch Announcement at ,Writing to Inspire

Interview with Rachel Leitch at ,Words & Wildflowers

Three-Novella Review at ,Miraculous Homeschool

Tuesday, July 25th (LAUNCH DAY)

Collection Spotlight at ,Of Blades and Thorns

Collection Spotlight & Single-Novella Review at ,Review from the Stacks

Collection Review at ,Emily Yager

Collection Review at ,The Book Dragon’s Alcove

Collection Review at ,Story of a Christian Girl

Wednesday, July 26th

Two-Novella Review at ,H.S. Kylian

Collection Review at ,Abbigail B.

“Tips from Editing 7 Novellas in a Month,” a Guest Post by Kellyn at ,Joyfully Natasha

Collection Review at ,Imperial Scribis

Thursday, July 27th

“Why We Wrote Stories Set in Surrey,” a Guest Post from Kellyn at ,A Handful of Quietness

Collection Review at ,Library Lady’s Kid Lit

Collection Spotlight at ,Kelsey’s Notebook

Single-Novella Review at ,Vanessa Hall

Interview with Andrea Renee Cox at ,Story of a Christian Girl

Friday, July 28th

Two-Novella Review at ,Read Review Rejoice

Collection Spotlight at ,Writing to Inspire

Collection Review at ,Graceful Reflections

“Why I Love Writing Women’s Fiction,” a Guest Post from Kellyn at ,Abbigail B.

Saturday, July 29th

Collection Review at ,Saraina Whitney

Collection Review & Collection Spotlight at ,Little Blossoms for Jesus

“Children’s Books I Drew Inspiration From,” a Guest Post from Kellyn at ,Library Lady’s Kid Lit

Wrapup Post at ,Lilacs & Reveries

Thank you all for your support in bringing this collection to life! Make sure you snag your copy on release day, folks, and don't forget to comment below for an entry in the blog tour giveaway!

yours in spirit, script, & springtime, grace

#springtimeinsurrey #newrelease #newbook #releaseday #blogtour #giveaway #entertowin #anthology #historicalfiction #contemporary #mystery #womensfiction #romance #christianfiction #novella #collection #historicalromance

(Pst! My Amazon links are affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission off of any purchases made through the link I share, at no extra cost to you!)

guest post by colleen scheid | writing with our hearts open to God

Welcome back to Of Blades and Thorns, folks! I'm back after an accidental week-long sabbatical to bring you another inspiring guest post! This one's by Colleen Scheid, a Christian indie author who just recently her first novel, Someone They Can Trust!

I was instantly intrigued by the premise of Someone They Can Trust and the content of Colleen's latest blog posts, so naturally I was excited to feature her after she reached out to me recently. I know y'all will find her post encouraging and inspiring as fellow writers!

writing with our hearts open to God

~ by Colleen Scheid ~

Writing a book is a great way to experience God’s presence. I’m sure God works differently with everyone, but here’s how it happened for me with “Someone They Can Trust”:

I started off with a vague longing to write a beautiful and true novel that would renew readers, give them a break from their own struggles, help them experience the nearness and love of God, and model a church dealing honestly with its brokenness. My first novel had been largely autobiographical (Drug Free Actors); this time I wanted to stretch myself to create characters who weren’t me.

I tinkered with a few ideas, under a cloud of self-doubt and a sense that writing long was just too hard. I drank too much coffee. I stared out my window at the tall trees, daydreaming. I told myself that Amazon was publishing a million books a year; who would ever want to read mine?

Then I recalled that I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was six, and that things I’ve written in the past have blessed people and given them strength. A strong memory emerged of a time I was walking along a beach and I’m pretty sure I heard God speak into my thoughts, “I commission you to write.”

So I journaled through the barriers until I experienced a sense of God’s love and affirmation. I wrote about writing until I had the clarity and courage to start the book.

As I persisted, I began to sense guidance. My background, interests, causes and passions stirred themselves into a story. It felt like ideas were being gifted to me, like gems, and a higher intelligence was helping to place them in a complex pattern.

In “Someone They Can Trust”, I knew I wanted to depict a thriving, diverse church in an urban setting, the setting where I live. I knew I wasn’t finished with writing about this beautiful and ugly neighborhood where grand mansions stand across from cramped public housing. It was the setting for a book of Christmas short stories I published a few years ago, and I knew it would be the setting for this novel.

Characters emerged out of my imagination’s fog: I knew certain things about them. Maya had been in my head for years, heroine of a failed short story - a talented, enigmatic painter, beautiful and gifted but broken in a way that left her aloof and sometimes unaware of her own motives. I brought Matt back from the last story in the Christmas book; he was too fun to leave back there, and I could imagine him being wildly drawn to Maya. I retrieved Janice from another of those stories as a third protagonist, a generation older than the other two. I wanted to show her experiencing the healing that comes from being in a good church and having a good therapist!

At the same time as these people were showing up in my head, certain themes stood out to me.

I knew I needed to address abusive church leaders and model how to deal with them. The number of news stories about pastors and priests being exposed after years of sexually exploiting people in their congregations was burdening me. How had they been allowed to get away with this stuff for so long? I realized that the American church had real difficulty with recognizing and confronting sexual brokenness and I had a sense of urgency about tackling that.

The urgency increased when an agent I greatly admire told me she didn’t want to publish a book that attacked a pastor. She remained resistant even after I pointed out that in this book, other pastors hold the offender accountable and model how a church should deal with abuse. I understand that sexual abuse isn’t a marketable theme in a genre where people are looking for clean reads, but if we don’t deal with our own brokenness, it will only get worse and be exposed more widely. I longed to write a book that would help book clubs, women’s groups, and church leadership address abuse issues head-on.

Another theme that emerged was healing. I’ve been on a journey of moving from a natural skepticism to being open to all the gifts of God’s Spirit, especially those related to healing. I’ve seen remarkable incidents where praying in Jesus’ name led to outcomes such as a crooked spine being straightened, a child being healed from spina bifida, and a brain tumor disappearing. I knew that to write a true book, I needed to show people praying for healing and experiencing healing. I’ve seen God do so much, but I haven’t read much fiction where healing prayer is part of the story.

The strong healing theme, as well as the humor that naturally came out in dialog, kept the book from being too heavy, even though it has some heavy themes.

It wasn’t until I was almost finished with the novel that I realized its overarching theme was trust – each of the characters had a story arc of figuring out who could and couldn’t be trusted, and the need to trust God more than anyone else. Hence the name.

I have no illusions about “Someone They Can Trust” being the great American Christian novel, but I do know that I had God’s company to help me write the best book I’m able to turn out at this stage of my career.

As I think back on the experience of writing this book, I wonder if God doesn’t value the process of working with us as much as the final outcome. When we work with our hearts open to God, we get to experience God’s creative power in an intimate way. What an honor.

~ the book ~

Three devoted staff of a thriving, creative church are derailed when a corrupt leader breaks their trust

When art school graduate Maya Devin moves to Pleasant Hill, she’s warmly welcomed into its thriving, diverse church. Music minister, Matt Schuller, who is more than a little attracted by Maya’s faith, talent, and beauty, invites her to be a part of his creative arts ministry. Janice Williams, also on staff, befriends Maya too, supporting her as she learns to be a caregiver to her grandmother with Alzheimer’s. Janice is healing from a wrenching divorce and draws strength from the welcoming community.

The church is a haven for all three until a new pastor puts their faith, hope, and love to a severe test. Not only is their happiness at stake – so is the survival of the church.

Their courage to stand against evil will hinge on one thing – how willing are they to deal with their own brokenness?

~ the author ~

Colleen Scheid was born in California and moved to Australia at the age of ten, where she learned to subdue her American accent to avoid gales of laughter when she said words like, ‘aluminum’ and ‘oregano’. Experiences like this tend to bake-in a useful cross-cultural sensitivity. She converted to Christianity at the age of sixteen, after discovering that she was not, in fact, smarter than all Christians who had ever lived. She is a believer with deep empathy for the cynical.

She moved back to the States when she was twenty-one and has lived in Cincinnati ever since, where she divides her time between freelance writing, acting with Friends of the Groom Theater Company, doing ministry with her urban church, and enjoying life with her husband and three sons.

Colleen has a B.A. in Journalism and an M.A. in Counseling. She has published a book of short stories, a novel, and several collections of drama. When her husband asks her what kind of movie she wants to watch, she says, “Aesthetically pleasing, positive character development, happy ending”.

Learn more about Colleen and her work at her website!

There's so much more to writing for God than just weaving in Christian themes—it's about surrendering all of your work (not just the finish product) and every step in creating it to God, and I love how Colleen describes this in her own journey of writing Someone They Can Trust! Let us know down below if you enjoyed this post!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#guestpost #christianauthor #christianwriting #writing

Pst! My Amazon links are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission off of any purchases made through the link at no extra cost to you!

guest post by erika mathews | as an author, i'm also a preacher

In our final guest post, the prolific Christian nonfiction and kingdom fantasy author Erika Mathews is joining us to share all about her writing journey...and how God is using her in ways far beyond merely scribbling words on pages.

If you've ever felt discouraged in your calling, I pray Erika's testimony would inspire and uplift you as she reveals how powerful the calling of a writer - and literally any other vocation/position - is when we strive to serve Christ!

For more epic guest posts, check out the full schedule for the Springtime in Surrey blog swap!

as an author, i'm also a preacher

Hello! I’m Erika Mathews, wife, mama, author of Christian fiction and non-fiction, and editor, and I want to extend many thanks to Grace for hosting me on her blog today. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with her on our upcoming collection Springtime in Surrey. Today I’d like to share my writing journey… which is more than just the story of how I got into writing. It’s a testimony of where God has led me, and this is only a few chapters of His ongoing story. Specifically, He has led me to know Him and to make Him known through writing… to proclaim His good news and make disciples of all nations with my pen.

And that calling started the moment I learned to read.

Age Five: Short Story Scribbles

I spent my childhood writing in three giant notebooks: Bible studies, nature studies, stories, poems, drawings, idea drafts, scripture, recipes, violin notes, sermon notes, invented sermons, and lists. I titled one notebook “Stories of People and Animals Around the World,” and Max the flying squirrel, sibling adventures, and ten-year-old Susan from India are just a few of my first story topics.

Age Ten: Starting My First Book

At age ten, my friend and I decided to each write a book using the same last name. In four years, I completed my contemporary middle grade novella Happy Days With the Lanes. At this stage, writing was just a fun hobby for me.

Age Thirteen: Falling in Love With the Process

When I was thirteen, God specifically called me to write books that honor and glorify Him. Through high school essays and numerous writing courses, I discovered how much I enjoyed both writing and grammar. One assignment ended up being the first draft of what would later become Gather ’Round the Fables, a whimsical collection of fables rewritten in three humorous styles. While I kept writing during this stage, I had no vision for where God would take me on this journey, what I would do with my writings, or even why I was writing (apart from the fact that God had told me to do it).

Mid-Teens: Non-fiction

During my teens, devotional writings and poetry became my focus, though multiple fiction works emerged during this stage as well. Some of my devotional writings I posted on my blog, and currently I’m editing these into a six-devotional series (Life in the Son!). Poetry from this era also became my first poetry collection (Overrun By Your Love). My love of poetry continues to this day, and I particularly enjoy writing poems based on Scripture passages that God opens up to me. There’s something about setting a Biblical truth into lyrical meter and rhyme that’s so beautiful, and the process is one of which I never tire.

College: Spiritual Foundation

College and Bible school slowed my leisure writing and resulted in essays, Scripture meditation commentaries, and writing assignments. Writing a commentary on the entire Bible was my major Bible School project. My Master’s degree paper later became my book Resting Life: Jesus’ Rest for the Busy or Burdened Believer.

Twenties: Kingdom Adventure Fiction and Beginning Publishing

During Bible School, meditation, prayer, and listening to God yielded rich spiritual truths and laid a burden on my heart for some specific truths to communicate that are often deemphasized by many believers. In 2014, I finally had a free November in which to participate in NaNoWriMo, and Promise’s Prayer, Truth from Taerna Book One, was written. For the next five Novembers, I wrote and subsequently published the sequels Victory’s Voice, Surrender’s Strength, Sustainer’s Smile, Memory’s Mind, and Romance’s Rest. Throughout the publishing process for these books, I experienced a learning curve. With each Taerna novel, my knowledge about formatting, marketing, editing, blurb writing, design choices, publishing choices, advertising, and much more grew rapidly. I discovered that I enjoyed both the learning process and producing high quality books. Even more importantly, however, were the lessons God taught me through the writing process. The themes of each book—which include prayer, spiritual warfare, the power of spoken words, identity, surrender, God’s sustaining hand in trials, abortion, the thought life, the importance of God’s Word, covenant, love, and intimate relationship with God—not only put into the story the things God taught me in the past, the also became what God was teaching me as I wrote them. Plotting stories doesn’t come easily for me. In the planning process, prayer and listening to God were essential. Many time I had no idea what to write—and often God would bring words or plot points to mind. It wasn’t an easy process—often it came through much labor and time—but every time, God showed Himself to be more than enough. Sometimes I reread my own books and wonder where things came from… How could I possibly have written that? … and once again give glory to God for His work.

Present: Nonfiction & Anthologies

During the past three Novembers, I wrote three new nonfiction Christian living books on prayer, faith, and listening to God, which I plan to edit and publish soon. I also wrote vintage-like historical fiction for three anthologies set in 1840s England (Whitstead Christmastide, Whitstead Harvestide, and Whitstead Summertide). My novella Fear Not Tomorrows in Springtime in Surrey is the latest in the stories I’ve written for anthologies over the past few years, and I’m excited to launch it into the world. During this time, I realized that nonfiction comes much easier and more quickly for me. The standard author advice in circles I run in is to stick to one genre—to build your brand around one particular narrow type of book. Yet this never seemed to be God’s calling for me. God’s kingdom and work are so much bigger than what I can imagine, and definitely much bigger than I can capture in a single genre. Rather than follow conventional wisdom, I once again made the choice to listen to God and write whatever He had for me. Now I write poetry, devotionals, Christian living books, kingdom adventure fiction, historical fiction (specifically with a vintage flair similar to The Five Little Peppers), middle grade children’s fiction, and contemporary fiction, all united under a common purpose to encourage people to know God and make Him known. In my writing, I focus on clean, family-friendly fiction and nonfiction for all ages that contains a deep spiritual message woven throughout. My books and brand are united under the banner of Christian books with deep themes that encourage people to a deeper oneness with God in daily life—and once again, God reminds me how His ways are higher than mine.

Cultivating Community

In 2020, I joined the King’s Daughters Writing Camp as a “camp auntie” for three or more camps per year. Through KDWC, I have headed up the editing, formatting, and publishing of four anthologies to help young writers make the leap to publication (Anything, Hope, Everything, and A Homewood Christmas), along with writing a historical or Taerna story for each one. Over the past few years, I’ve focused on building my network through friendships and mentoring in several online author communities as well as on Instagram and through my newsletter. This narrows in on the heart behind my writing: discipling others. My passion is to encourage others to pursue Jesus with their whole heart and abide in Him and His Word. Through mentoring other young writers, I’ve seen God at work in both them and in me in countless ways. Through being an author, I’m a preacher of the gospel—often to an audience I’ve never personally met. My writing philosophy is simple: life on earth is short and if our purpose is confined to this earth, everything our lives stand for will quickly pass away. My desire is to invest my life in something that will have eternal impact. As a Christian, Christ is my life—for me to live is Christ. Everything is all about Him; His desire is that He be known intimately. He’s given me a passion for communicating His truth through writing and speaking. My hope and prayer are that God’s kingdom on this earth will be advanced through my books and that those who read will be encouraged, challenged, or inspired to a deeper knowing of Him. For instance, with Truth from Taerna, my desire is to demonstrate how the real, powerful, lifechanging truths of God’s kingdom (the spiritual realm hidden from our physical senses) could play out in a fictional setting. My goal is that God will use this series to reveal His kingdom to my readers. My reason for writing Christian fiction can be summed up in C.S. Lewis’ words: “By knowing Me here for a little, you may know Me better there.”

~ about the author ~

Erika Mathews writes Christian living books, both fiction and non-fiction, that demonstrate the power of God in the life of a believer, transforming daily life into His resting life. Her kingdom adventure novel series Truth from Taerna features spiritually challenging and refreshing adventure and unique Christian twists on cliched plots. Outside of writing, she spends time with her husband Josh, mothers her little ones, reads, edits, enjoys the great Minnesota outdoors, plays piano and violin, makes heroic ventures into minimalism, clean eating, and gardening, and uses the Oxford comma. You can find Erika’s books on Amazon or connect with her at restinglife.com.

~ the anthology ~

Springtime in Surrey, the first collection releasing with Wild Blue Wonder Press, is a Christian anthology featuring eight lovely stories. With a mix of historical and contemporary, romance and women’s fiction, a dash of mystery here and there, real-life themes presented in a loving way, and a vintage feel, this story is sure to charm lovers of Christian women’s fiction.

Learn more at Wild Blue Wonder Press!

Share your thoughts with us down below! Have you ever read any of Erika Mathews' stories? How has God called you to serve Him? Have you snagged your copy of Springtime in Surrey yet???

yours in spirit & script, grace

#springtimeinsurrey #guestpost #christianauthor #christianfiction #christianliving #christiannonfiction #indieauthor #writing #writeforchrist

the museum heist | a blog clue game

You turn a corner and find yourself enveloped in darkness. Shadows scale the walls like cat burglars—the comparison makes you shudder. A thief lurks among these shrouded halls.

Could they be here...in this room?

Welcome, detectives, to the Pink Room! If you're new to the criminal-hunting game, let me clue you in (no pun intended)! We're on the hunt for a master thief, the villain behind the theft of one of the priceless artifacts here at the museum. The biggest problem, though, is that we have no idea who the thief is...what they stole...and what room in the museum they stole it from. So it's up to you, my dear detectives, to gather clues all around the museum (that is, blogosphere) and try to deduce who the thief is!

For more information and all the tools you'll need to track down the thief, head over to the museum lobby (i.e., Lillian Keith's blog)!

Now, back to the search...

Suddenly, light streaks past the darkness and casts an eerie, electrifying glow over the Pink Room. A pink cow stares back at you; pink circles and squares pop out of abstract paintings; a pink stone sculpture curves toward you.

You scan the room for clues, only to find not a fingerprint or strand of hair, but...

A short, perky girl with nerdy glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. She peers up at you and gives a shy smile. You ask if she's seen anyone, and she replies, “Not a soul. I've been in here all day, detective. Wanna take a break and have a cup of coffee?"

You accept the coffee and sigh, relaxing for a moment. It looks like you'll have to collect your thoughts here and continue looking for clues elsewhere.

Good luck on the case, detective!

Collect clues by stopping at the other blogs that are participating in the clue game! You can find them all HERE!

Huge round of applause to Lillian Keith for organizing this! I hope y'all have fun playing the game, detectives! ️‍♀️ Drop a comment down below with your favorite coffee (or other drink) flavor! Mine's caramel!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#bloglinkup #game #linkup #mystery

guest post by katja labonté | my top writing tips

Y'all, I am super excited for today's Springtime in Surrey guest...none other than Katja Labonté!! I've so enjoyed following her blog the last few years - from her book reviews to her life updates to her inspiring writing tips! And guess what she's sharing with us today...

Her best-of-the-best tips for not just writing but excelling at writing and continuing to grow! Let's face it, we (present company very much included) all need some of Katja's writerly wisdom in our lives! Before we dive in, y'all make sure you check out the schedule for the Springtime in Surrey blog swap HERE to find even more amazing posts by the SiS authors!!

And now, without further ado, Katja Labonté!

~ my top writing tips ~

I’ve been creating stories since I can remember. I’ve been writing them since I was seven. Writing has been a part of my life for over a decade. I’ve made a lot of mistakes and I still make a lot of mistakes. I’ve still got so far to go. And today I’m sharing with you the top 10 things I’ve discovered have helped my writing most, and that I wish I knew when I first started.

1. Read

You may think this is basic, but never underrate the value of reading.

Read good books—books that build you, books that teach you about life and writing and people. Most classics have become classics for a reason. Read deep books. Books that stretch you. That make you think. That give you a new perspective. Read hard books that show you what life is. Read beautiful books that remind you how powerful your pen is. Read a wide variety of books that constantly hone you. Read constantly, become familiar with many styles.

Read, read, read, read. It will come out in your writing. It will improve your writing in every way. Every good author has a deep foundation in reading and books.

2. Study the Art of Writing

The sooner you start studying, the better. Study writing styles. Study character development and learn how to create a balanced cast. Study plot creation and brainstorming methods. Study clichés, endings & beginnings, titles, writing habits. There are so many resources online to help with these things. Study it all. Always be open to more and learn more.

3. Learn Style

Learn grammar. Learn punctuation. Learn stylistic items like en-dashes and semicolons and brackets. It pays off, especially for Indies.

Above all, learn how to create a good writing voice/style. Study the manuals of good writing like Basic Principles of Speech, The Elements of Style, Style, and dozens of others. Keep revisiting them. Learn how to balance your sentences. Learn how to write more briefly, clearly, beautifully. Learn how to write. Become familiar enough with the rules that you can break them properly when you need to.

4. Discover How You Write

What are your favourite characters to write? What blocks or motivates you? What problems do you frequently get? How do you plot? Where do you find inspiration? And find out the why to all these answers. The more you know about this, the more help you’ll have when you’re stuck.

5. Get Feedback

Critique is very important to any author. Learn how to accept it and discard it. Keep what make you, you. Let go of what doesn’t. Identify who is qualified to give advice and listen to them. Grow experienced enough in writing that you can tell what is an error to be removed, and what is something that adds to or makes your writing.

6. Experiment

Try new writing styles. New genres. New historical eras. Try writing short stories instead of novels. Try eliminating your usual characters, or putting in characters you wouldn’t normally write. Try new themes. Try no theme. Try new plot devices. Try new writing habits.

Mess around. Explore. You might find something new and helpful. Even if it only works once. It’s good to stretch and not get mouldy.

7. Be True to Yourself

At the same time, stick to the themes, characters, plots, settings, or what have you that you love. Keep habits that work for you. What works for others needn’t work for you. Lots of authors become known for particular styles, characters, settings, etc., and their readers love them for it. Strike a good balance of trying new stuff and staying true to yourself. Never let people tell you you’re invalid because of your own particular style. There’s room for us all. Do you need to grow and become better?—probably. But there’s still room for you to grow in.

8. Research

This is a crucial step that seldom is taken. Almost everything must be researched. When you’re writing of a particular career, or geographical place, or language, or hair colour, or life situation, RESEARCH IT. Talk to people who’ve experienced it.

Be considerate to the cultures/countries you write of. Talk to people from there. Run stuff by them. Look into the food, habits, history, music, geography, you name it.

Study history widely. Don’t count on only one source. Look at the POV of the opposite side(s). Be responsible. Be respectful.

9. Get Good Help

Professional designers, editors, formatters, proofreaders, etc., exist for a reason. Get them. Non-professionals just cannot produce the same level of quality.

Check credentials. Request referrals. Know what the designer/editor/etc should be able to do, so you can gauge properly whether the person is a professional or not. This is worth spending money on. It’s worth waiting for.

10. Write

All that advice is helpful, but it’s worth nothing if you don’t write.

Write. Write, write, write, write.

Know that you will put your own spin on everything. That’s what you want. Test the advice given to you, keep what is good and put away the bad. Be confident in your style. Never give up because you “aren’t good enough.” You develop with time. Never stop working because you’re “good enough.” Each day builds you. And you only get better by writing. By making mistakes you have to learn how to fix.

In Conclusion

I would like to conclude with an article by my favourite author, Lucy Maud Montgomery. This was written in 1939 for the February 24 issue of the Dalhousie Gazette, a student-run newspaper for Dalhousie University in Canada. I typed it out but left it exactly as it was in the newspaper. It says everything I would like to say in conclusion but better than I ever could.

Probably the two questions oftenest asked a writer who has won some measure of success are: “Would you advise me to take up writing as a career?” and “How do you go about writing a book?” The first question is reasonable and sensible. The second is utterly unreasonable and nonsensical. Yet it is the more frequent of the two. I always answer the first by telling of an old lady I once knew who used to say to girls, “Don’t marry as long as you can help it because when the right man comes along you can’t help it.” So to aspiring young people, “Don’t write if you can help it. Authorship is a hard, exacting profession. But if you are a born writer you won’t be able to help it and advice will have not the least effect on you.” Before attempting to write a book be sure you have something to say. It need not be a very great or lofty or profound something. It is not given to many of us to utter “Jewels five words long That on the stretched forefinger of all time Sparkle forever.” But if we have something to say that will bring a whiff of fragrance to a tired soul or a weary heart, or a glint of sunshine to a clouded life, then that something is worth saying and it is our duty to try to say it as well as in us lies. One should not try to write a book impulsively or accidentally as it were. The idea may come by impulse or accident but it must be worked out with care and skill, or its embodiment will never partake of the essence of true art. Write… and put what you have written away: read it over weeks later: cut, prune and re-write. Repeat this process until your work seems to you as good as you can make it. Never mind what outside critics say. They will all differ from each other in their opinions so there is really not a great deal to be learned from them. Be your own severest critic. Never let a paragraph in your work get by you until you are convinced that it is as good as you can make it. Somebody else may be able to improve it vastly. Somebody will be sure to think he can. Never mind. Do your best… and do it sincerely. Don’t try to write like some other author. Don’t try to “hit the public taste.” The public taste doesn’t really like being hit. It prefers to be allured into some fresh pasture, surprised with some unexpected tid-bit. An accusation is commonly made against us novelists that we paint our characters… especially our ridiculous or unpleasant characters “from life.” The public seems determined not to allow the smallest particle of creative talent to an author. If you write a book you must have drawn your characters from life.” You, yourself, are of course the hero or heroine: your unfortunate neighbors supply the other portraits. People will cheerfully tell you that they know this or that character of your books intimately. This will infuriate you at first but you will learn to laugh at it. It is in reality a subtle compliment… though it is not meant to be. It is a tribute to the “like-likeness” of your book people. Write only of the life you know. This is the only safe rule for most of us. A great genius may, by dint of adding study and research to his genius, be able to write of other ages and other environments than his own. But the chances are that you are not a Scott or a Kipling. So stick to what you know. It is not a narrow field. Human life is thick around us everywhere. Tragedy is being enacted in the next yard; comedy is playing across the street. Plot and incident and colouring are ready to our hands. The country lad at his plough can be made just as interesting as a knight in shining armour: the bent old woman we pass on the road may have been as beautiful m her youth as the daughters of Vere de Vere and the cause of as many heart-aches. The darkest tragedy I ever heard of was enacted by people who lived on a backwoods farm: and funnier than anything I ever read was a dialogue between two old fishermen who were gravely discussing a subject of which they knew absolutely nothing. Unless you are living alone on a desert island you can find plenty of material all around you: and even there you could find it in your own heart and soul. For it is surprising how much we all are like other people. Jerome K. Jerome says, “Life tastes just the same whether you drink out of a stone mug or a golden goblet.” There you are! So don’t make the mistake of trying to furnish your stories with golden goblets when stone mugs are what your characters are accustomed to use. The public isn’t much concerned with you extern nothings… your miss or your goblets. What they want is the fresh, spicy brew that Nature pour for us everywhere. Write, I beseech you, of things cheerful, of things lovely, of things of good report. Don’t write about the pigsties because they are “real.” Rose gardens and pine woods and mountain peaks towering to the stars are just as real and just as plentiful. Write tragedy if you will, for there must be shadow as well as sunlight in any broad presentment of human life: but don’t write of vileness, of filth, of unsavory deeds and thoughts. There is no justification for such writing. The big majority of the reading public doesn’t want it: it serves not one good end. Don’t spin your book out too long, Gone With The Wind to the contrary notwithstanding. Don’t make anybody too bad or too good. Most people are mixed. Don’t make vice attractive and goodness stupid. It’s nearly always the other way in real life. Cultivate a sense of dramatic and humourous values: feel what you write: love your characters and live with them: and KEEP ON TRYING.

There you are, writer. From me and from L.M. Montgomery, Godspeed and good writing.

~ the author ~

Katja H. Labonté is a Christian, an extreme bibliophile who devours over 365 books in a year, and an exuberant writer with a talent for starting short stories that explode into book series. She is a bilingual French-Canadian and has about a dozen topics she’s excessively passionate about (hint: that’s why she writes). Katja writes both contemporary and historical fiction, as well as non-magical historical and contemporary kingdom fiction, and covers themes of worth, love, peace, and Christian growth. She spends her days enjoying little things, growing in faith, learning life, and loving people. You can follow her life journey, find free books, browse her services, and more on her website and blog.

~ the anthology ~

Springtime in Surrey, the first collection releasing with Wild Blue Wonder Press, is a Christian anthology featuring eight lovely stories. With a mix of historical and contemporary, romance and women’s fiction, a dash of mystery here and there, real-life themes presented in a loving way, and a vintage feel, this story is sure to charm lovers of Christian women’s fiction.

Learn more at Wild Blue Wonder Press!

I'll be honest with you, folks. I've read a lot of articles, blog posts, social media posts, and more about writing...but not one of those has said to “study the art of writing." It's so easy to think of writing as a talent you're born with, which can be true to a degree, but writing is also an art. And even the most abstract art form has guidelines, techniques, and tools that must be learned. Simply studying the art of writing is what taught me pretty much all I know as a writer, so never disregard the importance of reading and studying writing itself!

This tip and all of Katja's advice (and L.M. Montgomery's article too) are such beneficial reminders to writers of all stages! Let us know down below which tip resonated most with you!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#springtimeinsurrey #writing #writingtips #writingadvice #guestpost

guest post by rachel leitch | why young adult fiction inspires me

Today's guest post comes from Rachel Leitch, author of “The Odd Duck Society" in Springtime in Surrey! Now, I know most of y'all are YA readers (specifically fantasy), if not YA writers as well, so I'm 100% sure you'll all enjoy what Rachel has to say about YA fiction! Without further ado, Rachel Leith, everybody!

*cue the peppy fanfare and talk show host shimmy*

why young adult fiction inspires me

I’m Rachel Leitch, and I’m so honored to chat with you on Grace’s blog! I’m the author of The Odd Duck Society in Springtime in Surrey.

I mainly write young adult historicals. If you saw my shelves, they’re an interesting mix of creative historicals and quirky, unique fantasies.

The Odd Duck Society has been a lovely change, a little something different swirled in, but it still falls within young adult fiction.

Several months ago, I read an article about why one blogger is not a fan of YA. She stated that it was repetitive, often inappropriate, and rarely to never worthwhile.

I agreed with everything she said in the article—the majority of YA fiction does have one or more of those flaws. But once I stepped away from the article, I couldn’t help but think, “But what about this book? And this author? And this . . .?”

Her observations made her conclude that YA is no longer worthwhile. My observations have made me conclude that YA is wildly worthwhile. While she sees these weaknesses of the genre as a whole, I’m immersed in that genre and can see all the authors trying to change it.

Here are three reasons why YA fiction inspires me and why I chose to write The Odd Duck Society from a young adult’s perspective.

YA is more creative than other genres.

I see originality in YA books that I don’t see anywhere else.

Who else would have thought to recreate the story of Guy Fawkes in a version of 1600’s England where everyone can control colors? (Fawkes by Nadine Brandes)

As adults (and I can say that because technically I am one), we suddenly find ourselves boxed in by certain expectations. If you don’t conform to those expectations, you become the spectacle of much scrutiny and concern. As a result, we often become worried about fulfilling those expectations and lose sight of our childhood whimsy.

YA strips all those expectations away. It’s a safe space to break the rules, to be crazy, to be weird, to bounce off the walls, to learn to fly.

YA is more open-minded than any other genre I’ve experienced. Authors and readers alike try things that seem ludicrous and risky, that seem like they would never work.

Sometimes those things flop. And sometimes those things become our next favorite read, stories we carry with us the rest of our lives.

We’ll try anything. And if it doesn’t work, we’ll pick ourselves back up and try something different.

In the words of Angela Lansbury (Mary Poppins Returns), we “choose the secret we know before life makes us grow. There’s nowhere to go but up.”

YA is willing to discuss the hard things of life.

People complain that YA is entirely inappropriate. So is anything else. You will never find a genre of book where you do not find both ends of the spectrum—wildly inappropriate books and squeaky clean books and everything in between.

People go harder on YA because of the age it’s written for, and it makes sense. YA targets the most formative years in a person’s life. The wrong books can have a terrible influence.

But the right books can have all the influence.

Which is why it’s such a big deal that YA is frank about the hardest things in life. (That’s one thing that excites me about Springtime in Surrey—it’s committed to finding hope in those hard things.)

More than any other genre I’ve seen, YA discusses topics such as abuse, depression, anxiety, suicide, self-harm, divorce, sexuality, disabilities, bullying, and mental health.

As we grow up, we’re expected (or we believe we’re expected) to have it all figured out. When someone asks “how are you,” we’re supposed to be able to wholeheartedly answer “fine.”

YA doesn’t expect that. It lets you be a mess, because sometimes it’s messy, too. And it sits next to you in it. Maybe it helps you find a way out. Maybe it just points to a firefly in the corner. Maybe it just sits in the quiet for a while.

Though some people immediately leapt upon Kara Swanson’s Shadow, claiming it was too dark, that book touched me in a way not many stories ever have. I was going through something extremely hard and all the feelings that came with it. I understood a shadow tearing me apart. And that book came alongside me and helped me find the light in the darkness. I still read that book when I’m discouraged.

Has YA failed in some of its representation of this hard stuff? Absolutely. For instance, the book Thirteen Reasons Why and the resulting TV show were meant to come alongside suicidal people and instead wound up glamorizing suicidal thoughts and actions. And that’s only one example.

But at least they’re willing to talk about it. At least they let you be not okay and don’t judge you for it. At least they try.

And if more people committed to using this power for the most good that they can? Can you even imagine?

YA brings deep messages into no man’s land.

An Academy Award winning director once claimed that Marvel Cinematic Universe movies “aren’t cinema.” Other directors and actors concurred that it “diminished quality of films” and that watching one didn’t gain anything, enlighten you, or inspire you at all.

MCU actors immediately countered.

“I’ve made Marvel movies and I’ve also made movies that have been in the conversation in the world of the Oscars, and the only difference, really, is one is much more expensive than the other. But the way I break down the character, the way the director etches out the arc of the story and characters — it’s all the same, just done on a different scale." (Tom Holland)

“I think that Marvel films are so popular because they’re really entertaining and people desire entertainment when they have their special time after work, after dealing with their hardships in real life." (Natalie Portman)

“I would say art is subjective, and so it is artistic to make a big project superhero film for sure — it's just a different type of art." (Karen Gillan)

YA is the same way.

Read those quotes again, but put YA in the blanks where it says Marvel films.

We’re like the MCU. We’re seen as a lesser form of storytelling because we like whimsical worlds and epic battles. We’re seen as nothing more than entertainment. It corresponds with what today’s world tends to believes about young people—that we’re shallow, that we have nothing of value to say.

But, between most Academy Award nominated films and, say, The Avengers, which one are you more likely to have seen? So, which one has been more likely to speak to you?

People look for a fun, whimsical story after a long day of being human. It gets our foot in the door, it gets us in.

Once we’re in, whimsy speaks to people like nothing else can. Whimsy just might be one of the deepest things there is—it says what we’re never allowed to speak aloud without ever saying a word.

This is why I write YA. This is why I write at all.

God is still up to His elbows in YA. He works through books whether or not they acknowledge Him, so imagine what He can do with books that do, whether explicitly or implicitly. He's not done with YA, and He has given YA unique qualities to reach people in their most formative years.

I'm honored that He has called me to be a part of this mission.

The Odd Duck Society is the next step of that mission, and I’m so excited to come alongside other authors who have a heart for all readers of all ages.

~ the author ~

Rachel Leitch lives her own adventure in northern Indiana, with her parents, three sisters, two brothers, and a dog who thinks he’s the hero of her story. She writes young adult historicals with a dash of adventure or a spark of magic. When she’s not hidden away writing, she’s trying to fit all her reads on her shelf in a somewhat organized manner, obsessing over character arcs, drinking chai, daydreaming at the piano, or teaching students to be just as bookish as she is. In all her adventures, she learns how to shine brighter for the Father of Lights.

~ the anthology ~

Springtime in Surrey, the first collection releasing with Wild Blue Wonder Press, is a Christian anthology featuring eight lovely stories. With a mix of historical and contemporary, romance and women’s fiction, a dash of mystery here and there, real-life themes presented in a loving way, and a vintage feel, this story is sure to charm lovers of Christian women’s fiction.

Learn more at Wild Blue Wonder Press!

There are few genres as complicated as YA. Oftentimes, we lose faith in the genre (like the blogger Rachel mentioned in the beginning of her post) when we look at the hyper-sexual adult books being marketed as YA or the childish, poorly written books out there. But we shouldn't let all those bad apples spoil the whole bunch of amazing opportunities YA presents to us! How many of us read YA? How many of us fell in love with reading at that age of 13-18 or in reading YA novels? *watches for the show of hands*

That's what I thought.

There's room for revival in YA, folks! Like Rachel says, “God is up to His elbows in YA." So readers, promote those edifying YA novels. And writers, write YA stories that uplift and inspire. To get started, y'all drop the titles of your favorite YA books - and why you love them so much - down in the comments! We'd love to hear your recommendations!

Let us know what you thought of Rachel's post, and don't forget to check out Springtime in Surrey!

yours in spirit & script, grace

#ya #youngadult #youngadultfiction #guestpost #springtimeinsurrey #writing #books #reading