Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 40

Author Q&A

For one, the subject of this post is pretty obvious, isn't it? I promise y'all a Q&A--y'all supplied the questions, and now I'm supplying the answers!

But before we begin, I would like to recommend y'all check out this lovely post on Teen Writers' Nook. There's a little special something (hint: a magazine including an interview with yours truly) at the very bottom! But don't skim--Issabelle has some fabulous content!

Also, I had the honor of being interviewed by E.B. Roshan on her blog! I had a ton of fun answering her questions--you can read my answers here!

Now, without further ado, the questions!

Issabelle's Questions How long does it take you on average to complete first drafts of your novels?

I love this question. Why? Because I have no answer for it! *chuckles* I may have mentioned before that I don't actually draft like normal writers do (keyword: normal), which I will probably elaborate on in a post dedicated to that topic...but I'll give you the best answer I can!

Held Captive and Prisoner at Heart, which were 74k and 95k, respectively, took me six months to write from Chapter 1 to the epilogue. Editing and all took about three months (I did a lot of fiddle-farting around in that time as well).

But Bound and Determined? #longestprojectever I've been fiddling with it since December 2019, but I didn't start seriously writing it until March 2020, so I've been working on it for over a year and I'm, uh, still not done. I am at nearly 150k, though, so that's gotta count for something!

What do you do when you can't find the motivation to write?

To be honest, I can't recall a time when I wasn't motivated to write. Now, I've had writer's block and a lack of motivation for certain stories, but I've always been motivated to write something.

So what do I do when I'm not very excited about writing in that all-important WIP (work-in-progress) of mine? #keatonprobs Sometimes, I'll shift to another project, which I do more often when I'm in between books than when I'm in the middle of one. Hence the 27k I've written in Tell Me No Lies, my next next book.

Other times I'll try to motivate myself by getting excited about the story again. I'll do that by reading over what I've already written, daydreaming about my wonderful characters (#keatonisthebomb), or scrolling through Pinterest and Spotify for inspiration.

What's your favorite genre to write in and are there any genres that you want to try to write?

This is a no-brainer.

ROMANCE.

everything must have r o m a n c e . . . #romancewriter #lovethosevibes #romancerforlife #loveismyjam #alltheromancehashtagsevercreated

That being said, I'm good with varying levels of romance. Bound and Determined? FULL OF IT! Like, PG-13, off-the-charts, through the roof levels of romance.

But Tell Me No Lies? I honestly don't think I can label that one a romance, even though it is, in theory, but not technically. Actually, TMNL has no genre or labels, so it kind of just exists. I call it a historical drama.

I have other stories (#speareandfarrah) that have stronger themes than romance, making it more of a subplot, I guess, or are more intricately entwined with other things--kind of like my Daughters of the Seven Seas stories that are both romances and action/adventure dramas about some old girl pirate. See what I mean?

Moving on...I write pretty much everything (as long as it has some romance), from poetry to mysteries to contemporary to nonfiction, but not all of that will see the light of day. Like the poetry. I think the genre I'm most excited about trying is mystery. I have a series planned (see above hashtag), and Tell Me No Lies will have some mystery/suspense vibes.

Do you like to challenge yourself in writing or prefer to stick with what you're familiar with?

Hmm...when it comes to genres, I'm all over the place. But in terms of style, themes, and my writing process, I'm good in my comfort zone. I guess I'm a pleasant mix of adventurous and shy. I'm all for a different kind of character or story, but I never get too outrageous. I never stick with what I know, but I prefer to stick with what I know--you know? (Of course you don't. That made no sense whatsoever.)

What I mean is that I tend to write what I read. So, no, I don't "write what I know" like everyone advises you to--I'm a fifteen-year-old girl who's never even been liked by a guy, let alone in a relationship or kissed, and yet I write romance. I also write about pirates, but that's not that big of a deal.

But I do get to know things--like time periods, writing styles, story aesthetics, plot tropes--before I try my hand at them.

Does that answer your question? Probably not, haha. I guess both would be my answer!

What's your wildest and craziest dream for your writing (you can say being a NYT bestseller, we won't judge XD)?

Have at least one of my books turned into a movie or TV series.

Y'all thought NYT bestseller was outrageous, didn't you?

That would definitely be my craziest dream, but just think about it. A TV series all about Rina and Elliot and Keaton and Julius. Or a movie series based on a collection of Grace A. Johnson mysteries. Or...

Okay, we get the point.

But one of my not-so-wild aspirations would be to reach people. Not in a physical sense--getting my books into the hands of readers all around the globe--but in a spiritual sense. I want my writing to be used by God to touch people's hearts and draw them to Him.

Who knows what will happen?

Sophia's Questions How much time does research take up for you? And is it usually difficult to incorporate that research into your writing?

Ooh! Very good question! So, research varies. For the Daughters of the Seven Seas, most of my research is (1) watch Pirates of the Caribbean, (2) read MaryLu Tyndall, and (3) Google what I need to know as I need to know it. I have several websites/blogs full of pertinent information concerning nautical terms, pirate speak, and ship anatomy--and Wikipedia helps with history, the height of King Charles II, and what the Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption in Santiago de Cuba looks like.

Since I research on a need-to-know basis, it's very easy to incorporate the research, especially in casual mentions.

For example, Rina mentions that she's taller than King Charles II by a few inches and that his successor, King James VII has nice eyes (which is a play on words, since he was a known ogler), and that her uncle used to be friends with Henry Morgan before he was the governor of Jamaica.

But with a story like Tell Me No Lies, most of my research is gathered from books and movies. For example, Gone with the Wind was actually the inspiration for the story, and Roseanna M. White's Culper Ring series and the second National Treasure introduced me to the KGC, which I spotlight in the story. I read a lot about the Civil War in fiction, so I've gleaned from that historical facts, what people ate and wore, and the mindset of the time.

Plus, Agatha Christie novels and other great mysteries have helped me with my mystery-writing skills. Speaking of, I have asked my dad a lot of logic and science questions just to make sure that certain murders could actually occur, if you know what I mean. I will probably be turning to some of my friends when it comes time for crime forensics...

However, if I need to know when vanilla extract was invented, I turn to Google! (I seriously looked that up once.)

Libby's Questions What is your favorite part about the writing that you do?

Wow. That is one tough question! Oy, let me think...

I love it all, really. Making worlds out of words. Falling in love with characters. Reading positive reviews and knowing that my story made an impact on someone else's life. Letting God write the story as only He can.

I don't think I could choose just one part, because all of them work in tandem, you know? The arrangement of words makes the story I get so excited about. The story produces characters who are so real and broken and in need of some love. The characters pull the heartstrings of readers. Readers feel the power of God and hear His whisper in their hearts as they read.

And I get to watch it all unfold, thanking God for the opportunity to have a hand in something so powerful as a story.

How has your writing changed since you first started, and where do you see the most growth?

Mm, that's a good one. My writing has changed in every way--what I write, how I write, my voice, the quality of my writing, my grammar and punctuation, my word choice, my characters, the addition of indented paragraphs.

There is a lot of surface growth--like the quality of my writing and the development of my style--but I think I've changed the most deep down. My stories are deeper, my characters more real. And with everything new story idea, I have something or someone I want to touch or change. It's no longer just for the fun of it or entertainment, although that's still there. Now I want to make an impact. I want to share God, His love, His grace, and His power. I want to show people new things and ideas and ways of perceiving the world. (I guess that translates into becoming a theologian or philosopher, but, trust me, I'm a long way from that!)

So, yeah. I guess the most growth hasn't occurred in my writing, but in my heart.

What goes through your mind when you sit down to start a new idea or project - what is it that gets you most excited?

AH! There is SO much all that once!!! And it differs between ideas. Each idea has their own aesthetic, their own feeling, their own--well, their own story! Each story tells something different; they all sound different, look different, feel different, smell different (because, yes, stories smell. Don't tell me you've never read a book that stinks).

So I get excited about different things.

For example, with Bound and Determined, I'm most excited about (1) the spiritual content, which is through-the-roof this time; (2) the action, which is also through-the-roof; and (3) the romance!!!!!! The romance in this one is my strongest and sweetest and most passionate one yet!

But in Tell Me No Lies, I'm most excited about the historical aspects, the mystery, and RHYS STERLING! He is just the most amazing character--which is prolly because he's based off of Rhett Butler!

Or, in my fairytale Regency reimaginings, I'm most excited about the themes of identity! (More on that in another post!)

Or, in my other fairytale reimaginings (which are fantasy, this time), I'm most excited about how I'll be weaving fairytales, fantasy, and Old Testament stories together! (I'll definitely have to share about that too!)

So, to sum my answer up--it depends. Sometimes I'm most excited about the plot; other times it's the characters. But I'm almost always thinking about how I can share God through my stories and how I can impact my readers!

These were some AMAZING questions! Thank y'all so much for asking them! I loved answering them and I hope y'all enjoyed learning a little more about me and my writing! If you have a question you'd like to ask, feel free to enter it below! I'd love to do another Q&A!

Book Cover Designs!

Y'all, I am so stoked to share some cover designs I've whipped up in my spare time! They're not perfect or even very good, by any means, but I'd like to know what y'all think!

Do you want a cover (or know someone who does)? I'd love to design a mockup, eBook, or wraparound cover for you! Just shoot me a message through the contact form on the homepage and we'll work out the details!

What do y'all think? Which are your favorites? What do you think I should try next? Let me know in the comments!

March Mini Reviews: Part 2

The Princess Companion – Melanie Cellier

I’ve been wanting to read Melanie Cellier for a long while now. For one, who could resist such beautiful covers? For two, that blurb sounds pretty amazing! For three, I’ve heard a lot of great things about her books, so put the three together, and it’s a no-brainer.

I had to at least give her a try.

I went into The Princess Companion very hopeful...then, about a page in, I was already prepped to throw in the towel. Throughout the first chapter (or was it the prologue?) in Max’s point-of-view, I could hardly make myself stomach it. I didn’t like his character, the style, the voice, all of it. There were a few (but forgivable) errors that only made the Elizabeth Bennet in me surge.

So I set it aside and came back to it later.

And, boy, am I glad I did! Once I met Alyssa, the story flew by! I couldn’t read it fast enough! Cellier’s style was so much more smooth and witty, engaging and friendly, from Alyssa’s POV, and I loved it—which is crazy, because y’all know I usually prefer the heroes to the heroines (even if I never get to read the hero’s perspective).

Especially the first chapter. Y’all, I cracked up seventy-five times over in one chapter. One chapter!

The amusement leveled out after a while, of course, as things got more serious. The story took some interesting turns, and the plot kept my attention. Even though Max just didn’t do it for me, Alyssa was a positively lovely heroine—so full of life, joyful, courteous, kind, considerate, and so good with Sophie and Lily! I did so love her character.

Which was a very good thing, because if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have made it past the first few pages. There were so many eh moments—mostly because there was very little world-building (if any), everyone had very strange names (meaning there were Claudes and Eleanors in the mix with Nikkis and Corinnas...like, make up your mind—21st century names, vintage British names, or fantasy-style names), and I couldn’t grasp the time period very well. Being fantasy, I had no eras to label the story’s setting, but I would’ve liked a firm comparison. Instead, we have carriages and guns, gowns and modern English. Maybe it was more like the 18th century, what with the addition of guns and all. Still, I would have liked a firmer grasp on where and when I was—you know? That tends to be the norm with most fairytale retellings, so maybe that’s why I haven’t read very many.

I can’t say the plot ever slowed or that I was truly bored. Between Alyssa and Max’s relationship and the obvious nefarious schemes being cooked up in the shadows, I was thoroughly entertained the entire time. I loved all of the secondary characters—from the king and queen to the twins to the princesses to the servants—and the subplots, like Henry and Eleanor’s relationship.

(*grins to herself as she realizes that the names of King Henry and Queen Eleanor might have been an allusion to the Henry and Eleanor of 12th century England* Who knows!)

What I appreciated the most, though, was how the retelling was done! It was obvious, but not glaringly so. I was terrified at how the Princess and the Pea might be pulled off—I mean, really? The girl sleeps on the mattress, feels the pea, and is proclaimed princess. Big whoop. But since Alyssa kept her mouth shut, she wasn’t revealed until much later, and she certainly proved her worth as a character long before then! Not to mention all the other subplots and events kept the story rolling without a hitch.

In the end? Well, I’m definitely glad I read The Princess Companion. It was lovely, engaging, and basically all that I had expected. I can’t be sure I’ll ever get around to reading the rest of the Four Kingdoms, but I do so love the characters—so we’ll see! I do know that reading Ava’s story would be a treat one day!

Angel Gate – Willowy Whisper

Ah, Willowy, you’ve done it again!

This girl is hands-down one of the most technically perfect authors out there. I could go on and on about how well-balanced her prose is, how smooth her pacing, how well-developed her suspenseful romances.

But seeing as how this is supposed to be a mini review, I think I’ll cut to the chase and focus on my thoughts on Angel Gate.

Like always, Willowy captivated me from Page 1 with this story of a runaway actor. I came to feel for and love the characters—Cass and Audrey and Shane and the rest of the supporting cast. And when she threw in that fast-paced suspense? Amazing!

The best part of it all was how well she wrote Cass. She focused more on him and stayed in his POV for most of the book—which few romance authors do, as they focus more on the heroine. I appreciated that, since it is his story, and since she gave him a distinct voice and wrote him so well! His emotions were evident and his thoughts very realistic. She did a fabulous job with my man Cass.

However, what kept me from getting fully immersed in the story was how 1950s everything was! From the situation with What’s-Her-Name to Cass’s acting career to several small things—if it weren’t for the mention of Matt Damon, I would’ve thought it was at least 1960-something. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a his-fic kind of gal, and I love retro/vintage vibes, but in a strictly contemporary 21st century story, eh...I don’t know, it just kind of took away from it.

Plus, I’m not a fan of stories (or even movies/TV shows) about actors and celebs, simply because their portrayal is all off, so I guess that’s more of a personal pet peeve (of which I have many).

Aside from that, it was such a lovely story! If one can call murder and mayhem in the small-town South lovely. Cass was a great hero, and Audrey was as decent a heroine as any. (I don’t like most heroines in general.) The story was so well-paced and balanced, and I’ll say it again—Willowy can pull off a suspense! I cannot wait to read the novels she has in the works—Regency romantic suspense sounds phenomenal!

Angel Gate certainly didn’t top Willowy’s historical work—which I definitely need to read more of—but it was a sweet, inspirational read that I thoroughly enjoyed! I mean, why wouldn’t I have?

Bookishly Ever After – Sarah Monzon

I can’t remember exactly how or where I heard about Sarah Monzon, but ever since I first saw her split-time romances—particularly the pirate one—I knew I had to read something of hers someday. With the gift of KU, my first pick was Book 1 in her Book Nerds and Boyfriends collection, which I finished in, like, twenty minutes one morning.

First page, I’m hooked! The heroine, Emory, was so fun and relatable, and Tater Tot? Adorable! Monzon’s writing is well-balanced, laugh-out-loud hilarious, and so smooth! I enjoyed every single page of this novella, and Lord knows I kept wishing for more! The romance was so sweet and well-done for such a short book. I’ll definitely be finishing this series, and I can’t wait to get into Finders Keepers!

A Groom for Gracie – Heather Blanton

I actually had pretty high expectations for this book, and while they certainly weren’t met, A Groom for Gracie was a fun, inspirational read.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a western (all right, three months), so I was quickly swept back into the Wild West—and, y’all, I kept thinking of When Calls the Heart and Dr. Quinn while reading!

Heather Blanton’s style is straightforward and clear—which, admittedly, is not my style—but she kept the story moving forward at an even pace that was easy to follow. The story was pretty predictable (how many marriages-of-convenience must people write?), but I do like how well the twist at the end was weaved in.

The story breezed by, so I never really connected with the characters Gracie and Noble. I did like Gracie, since she was so unique and well-developed—I mean, you don’t read about a lot of unrepentant pocket-picking women in Christian romances, so having that kind of character who stays true and realistic was very refreshing. Noble, on the other hand, was kind of flat to me.

And the romance? Well…it wasn’t as heavy as I would’ve liked, but I do like a lot of heaviness when it comes to MoCs, so maybe that’s why the romance seemed almost like a subplot up against Gracie’s life struggles.

In the end, I was kind of disappointed, but I don’t regret reading A Groom for Gracie. I’ve heard so much good about Blanton, so I’m sure I’ll give her another try!

Well, some of these books were a hit and miss, but some were pretty fantastic (not to mention these reviews were much shorter than last time)! If you missed Part 1, read it here!

#minireviews #indiebooks #fantasy #romance #fairytaletretellings #newfavorites #ilovetoread

Review: Present Danger by Elizabeth Goddard

*Warnings*

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

Stars: 2

Synopsis: When a local is found dead in the mountains, US Forest Service Special Agent Terra Connors joins forces with her ex-boyfriend former FBI agent Jack Tanner to find the killer.

Favorite Quote: “The direction your life takes can often come down to one decision, one moment in time.”

I’ll be honest with y’all: I hate romantic suspense.

Now, don’t get me wrong—I love romance and I love suspense. And what’s even better? The two of them together! However, I have the hardest time enjoying the genre romantic suspense. Nothing ever seems fleshed out or developed, so I never get into the story, the characters, the romance, or the suspense. And if I can’t get into it, odds are I won’t finish it.

So, yes, I was taking a risk on Present Danger. I wanted to give romantic suspense yet another chance—plus, the cover looks awesome. In the end, I made it to Chapter 46 (out of 65), before I knew I couldn’t force myself to read any more and I needed to get this review done.

Since I never write a negative review (bet you didn’t see that coming, but it’s true), I’ll try to keep my pros and cons concise and clear so you can understand just why I couldn’t finish this book.

Pros:

1. Goddard knows her stuff. This is kind of a pro and a con, but since I can appreciate an author who knows what she’s writing about, I’ll label it a pro. If you have to write about highfalutin government agents, it pays to know all of the details, names, processes, and information. Plus, she would give a quick and subtle definition of what those things were—like when she used an abbreviation or mentioned a certain position—for us dummies.

2. The writing was clear and focused. In writing a suspense, thriller, or other high-stakes sort of book, having clear prose is imperative. As much as I like it when authors wax poetic, I also understand when clean, straightforward writing is necessary to envision and comprehend.

3. She tried. I gotta give her points for trying. She gave her characters backstories, sob stories, and a few moments of into-the-eye-gazing (you know, those moments where time stands still and the hero and heroine just look at each other...and look…and look...until your eyeballs fall out). I do think that the whole joining-forces-with-the-ex-flame/partner trope is way overused in romantic suspense, but Goddard did have the good sense to leave some things in the dark (like the reasons for Jack’s leaving, both Terra and the FBI) for a while to increase the tension.

Cons:

1. There wasn’t enough development. You know where every single romantic suspense—or suspense in general, actually—fails?

The beginning.

Immediately, the story jumps into a plane crash and a murder and an investigation—and not only is all of that within the first three chapters difficult to follow, but I missed out on getting to know Terra and Jack.

So, suffice it to say that when I don’t know or feel anything at all for the main characters, I really don’t care if someone is stalking them or trying to kill them. Also, I have no idea what plays into their relationship because I don’t know them or their personalities. Look, y’all, personality types are important in suspense too, okay? A simple MBTI test can make your character 4-D and your story so much easier to write, trust me.

2. Everything was way over my head. Like I said, this is both a pro and a con. I mean, I can appreciate a knowledgeable, informative author—but sometimes I read for enjoyment or an escape and not to learn, so when 90% of the dialogue is focused on nerdy police stuff I don’t understand, I find my mind wandering tremendously. This is why I would love to read a suspense that’s about average Joes, people with regular jobs and lives who (1) have a legitimate reason to be chased by someone that has nothing to do with buried treasure, (2) don’t know any of this smarty-pants investigative stuff, and (3) I can connect with.

3. There was no emotion. Yes, straightforward prose can keep an even pace, which is necessary in a suspense novel. But, also yes, when your writing is devoid of emotion, the prose seems staid and stilted and the story uninteresting. Considering people are watching people die and are being chased and all, I’d like to see a little more emotion. Honestly, I guess that goes hand-in-hand with my second point. Detectives, agents, and officers are all trained not to have emotions—so to translate an emotional character into a story, you’ve got to have one that’s not a detective or FBI agent.

All in all, I’m glad I gave it a try, and I’ll continue to give romantic suspense a chance, because I know the genre has potential. However, Present Danger didn’t fully harness all of that potential, which is why I couldn’t make it through.

That being said, regulars of the romantic suspense genre who don’t have the same pet peeves I do will probably find this story interesting! It’s definitely very informative and different, and I know there are plenty of readers who have enjoyed it. In fact, my sister is giving it a go now, so I may be back with an update, depending on what she thinks of it!

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

With over one million books sold, Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today and Publisher's Weekly bestselling, award-winning author of over fifty romance novels and counting, including the romantic mystery, THE CAMERA NEVER LIES--a 2011 Carol Award winner. Four of her six Mountain Cove books have been contest finalists. Buried, Backfire and Deception are finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, and Submerged is a Carol Award finalist. A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to home school her children and fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.

Author Interview: Issabelle Perry

Y'all have probably seen this beautiful girl hangin' around my little ol' blog. In fact, she was the one who wrote this fabulous guest post. Not to mention, she's part of the super fantastic Teen Writers' Nook, which you totally need to check out. Oh, and she's also my twin sister.

But what you may not know is that Izzy just had her short story, Fairly Impish, published in Owl Hollow Press' Change the World anthology this past month! So that means I get to have my amazing friend on for an author interview!!! SQUEE!! I guess this one is both an author and a blogger interview, since Issabelle is better known for TWN.

Either way you look at it, I am BEYOND honored to spotlight this beautiful-inside-and-out person and share her awesomeness with y'all! She is so full of joy and life and wisdom!

So here we go!

GJ: What first inspired you to write?

IP: Truth was, I was bored one day and just started writing. Okay, I’ll give a better answer. XD My mom is a writer, and when she published a novel back in 2013, it made my older sister, Katherine, want to write. Well, I had always looked up to Katherine and if she was writing, then I needed to as well. So I sat down, wrote like a page in my story idea, and gave up the next day. Don’t worry, I ended up getting bored again, wrote a little more, and eventually writing just stuck.

GJ: What are the driving forces behind your writing now?

IP: I’ve honestly been trying to figure that out. I guess I have stories in my head and I want others to read them. I know I want God to somehow use me to help expand His Kingdom, but I’m not sure yet how my li’l ole stories are gonna accomplish that. So I guess it’s the hope and faith that God wants me writing right now for some reason that is my driving force!

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

IP: First I must say Ally Carter. She was the first YA author I ever read, and as soon as I found her, I immediately started devouring any thing of hers I got my hands on. When I began writing one of my first novels, I noticed my writing voice strongly mirrored hers with short sentences, use of one-line paragraphs, and ALWAYS leaving my chapters with a strong cliff hanger. However, my writing voice now bears more of a mix between Ally Carter, Jennifer A. Nielsen, and my own unique side. I still see Carter’s influence in the short sentences and paragraphs, but I noticed a lot of my character monologue and descriptive words bear a resemblance to Nielsen.

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

IP: First off, I obviously love the fantasy and fairytale retelling genres, they’re my favorite to write in. My favorite genres to read are spy fiction, action-adventure fiction, historical romance, Grace A. Johnson *cough* that’s a genre, right? *cough* and I do enjoy a good thriller as long as it’s not too intense. Basically, write me a thriller like Ally Carter’s Embassy Row Series, keep it clean, add some spies, politics, and suuper hot Russian boys, and you’ll be my favorite author for life! XD

GJ: What do you do when you aren’t writing?

IP: *thinking hard to the rare occasion when I’m not writing or doing school* Well, if I’m not writing most likely I’m reading, blogging, talking, eating (VERY important XD), designing stuff on Canva, listening to music, or watching tribute videos to Legolas is that really the best way to spend your time, Izzy? I also take dance lessons and am in Girl Scouts. Guys, I never said I was interesting.

GJ: Your short story, Fairly Impish, was just published in a teen anthology (which is super exciting)! Can you tell me a little bit about it?

IP: Yes, I’ve been just bursting with excitement over its publication!!!!!! Sure!! Fairly Impish is a YA fantasy short story about sixteen year old Aria Kessler. For the past few weeks she’s been having this exact same dream over and over and over of this boy. Well, one day that very same boy appears out of nowhere in her bedroom and tells her his kingdom’s existence is at stake and he needs Aria to help. Before she knows it, Aria is whisked to a strange new world. But she will have to look past her flaws if she wants to find the courage to do the right thing!

GJ: What are you working on now?

IP: Right now I’m working on my latest YA medieval fantasy novel, Heir to His Crown, about a young prince who has to reclaim his kingdom from a tyrannical ruler. There is an infamous rebel group, magical and dangerous daggers, a forbidden love, and overall a story about how the most broken people can still find the courage and strength to save the day.

GJ: Do you mind sharing a little bit about your writing process for this story? Are you pantsing it or plotting it? How far along are you?

IP: So this novel’s process was a bit different than what I normally do. I had started it during a week-long writing competition and came in with very small planning. Basically all I knew were the names of a few characters and that the MC was a prince who was going to reclaim the throne and there was a rebel group. AND THAT WAS IT! But as I said, I was in a writing competition. I didn’t have time to plan anything out - imagine what happened when a character showed up and I had to come up with a name on the spot. So, though I’m more of a plantster, this novel I’ve been full-blown pantsing and it’s been WONDERFUL! I’ve enjoyed being able to just have fun with my story and do whatever I want. As I write this, I have a little over 55,000 words written of what I’m hoping to be an 80K novel. I think if I make a lot of time to write, I can wrap this story up in a couple of weeks. (Also as a side note: DO NOT get really into The Hobbit movies and start listening to the credits song of the second movie - “I See Fire” - while trying to write a medieval fantasy novel. You may end up with waaaaay too many scenes that involve fire in some way XD)

GJ: What are your thoughts for other aspiring writers on writing?

IP: That if you want to be a writer, then you can. The question never is can I be a writer. The true question is: Will you write? If the answer is yes, then you CAN be published. I’m going to quote one of my friends I was talking with one day about how hard it was to be an author and be published. Whether you publish traditionally or independently, it’s gonna be hard. There’s no easy ticket in this business. But she told me: “You can do the hard things because the hard things are usually the ones worth doing.” Yes, writing’s hard but keep pressing forward (maybe gather a couple of crazy cheerleaders and a good pile of chocolate) and if being published is what you (and if you’re a Christian, God) wants keep aiming towards it and YOU CAN DO IT! And in the end, you’re gonna be soooo glad you did!!!!

GJ: What do you want your readers to take away from your writing?

IP: I want my readers to walk away believing that no matter how flawed or broken you are, no matter how far you’ve run, or if you believe you’re weak, a coward, or whatever. The world still needs heroes like you. In fact, those are the very people that God uses to do great things. Maybe, like me, you’ve tried so hard to do or be things and you’ve failed. Maybe you tried to rise and you stumbled. Maybe you’re so tired of this cycle of trying and failing and you’re just ready to give up. Can I just say that I’ve been there! But that is the moment when you will rise the highest, when you will stand the strongest. That is the moment, oftentimes, when one chooses to just simply stand for what’s right. And that small act changes lives. Standing for what’s right is how heroes save the world. Maybe you’re not very courageous or bold. But this is what I wrote in my novel, Into the Lamp: Courage is made when you rise and keep pressing forward. Courage comes with a choice. If you choose to fight for what’s right, then you will find your God-given courage. There’s one thing all my characters have in common. They are broken and flawed and yet they have to save a world or a kingdom. Or their friends and family. Whatever it is, they are unlikely heroes who do extraordinary things.

GJ: Have you ever endured any discouragement being a young author? If so, what inspired you to persevere?

IP: Yes, I actually have. I had stumbled across some published dude’s website and he had a blog post about some things all young authors need to know. And the first point was, and I quote, “Your writing sucks.” Yes, that’s what this dude said. He assumed, because the things he wrote in high school were bad, that all teen writers' works were terrible. Now, I’m not the best writer ever, but I read teen authors' writings EVERY SINGLE DAY and many of them are writing stories that would rival any book you’d find in a store. If you don’t believe me, go read a book by the lovely girl running this blog. I just read Grace’s short story Six O’Clock a few weeks ago and I’m STILL blown away by it over here!!!!! What inspired me to persevere was basically ‘cause I just wanted to show that dude how wrong he was about me and other teen authors. XD (Yes, I’m that kind of person.)

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

IP: Wow, GREAT question!!!! Lemme see...Outside of my writing, I’m not quite sure what else God’s got in store for me. I kinda feel called to be a Christian speaker, like Priscilla Shirer, but I’m not sure if God and I are gonna do anything with that road yet. XD Right now, I feel like that’s something we’re gonna focus on later. As a writer, I’d just REALLY LIKE for one of my novels to be published, whether that be traditionally or independently. I’ve still got my fingers crossed for Into the Lamp, but I’m kinda smart enough to know when I need to move on to another story. So I’m definitely looking at seeing Heir to His Crown to publication, if the good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.

GJ: What has being a writer taught you?

IP: Honestly, as I’ve been writing, I’ve been seeing a lot of parallelism between God and writers. God is the author of our story. And how authors have to sometimes allow bad things to happen to our characters because we know in the end it is what’s best for them, sometimes God allows bad things to happen to us because it will change us and make us stronger Christians.

GJ: I absolutely love your blog, Teen Writers’ Nook! Tell me a little bit about how that came to be!

IP: Aww, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, it all started with the virus we do not speak of. With the pandemic, Teen Author Boot Camp’s conference had to be postponed so they did some free webinars instead. Well, I follow my favorite author, Jennifer A. Nielsen’s site and she posted mentioning how she was going to do one of those webinars. I signed up and attended all of the other webinars that followed. I learned SO MUCH about writing and I was in a communityish of other aspiring teen writers like me. Plus I believe it was around this time when I read that article about the dude who talked negative about teen authors. Anyways, I knew I wanted to inspire and motivate other teen authors like TABC did for me. My mom had mentioned starting a blog and it just seemed SO perfect. So at the end of May, I opened Google Sites and created TWN!!! YAAY, right? Well, come to find out there was this thing called comments that blogs needed and well, the new Google Sites didn’t have that. So in June, I went to Wix and created the new TWN site which then went live on July 31, 2020. Well, it didn’t work out quite as I had hoped, so TWN changed sites yet again at the end of September before we found our *hopefully* forever home at WordPress. And that’s where we’ve stayed since. It’s not been an easy road, but I’ve been really surprised and proud of where TWN is at right now. I don’t know all of God’s plans for this little whim of an idea, but I can’t wait to see where TWN is headed in God’s roadmap of life!

Issabelle Perry is an ENFP published author of YA fantasy, a die-hard Lord of the Rings fan, and a self-proclaimed exclamation mark enthusiast. She is a co-founder behind Teen Writers’ Nook, a website devoted to motivating and supporting teen authors. Her short story “Fairly Impish” was featured in Owl Hollow Press’s 2021 Change the World: All-Teen Anthology. What she’s probably doing right now is either fangirling about her favorite books to random people or scanning the pantries for chocolate. You can find her online at teenwritersnook.com!

The Siren (Reign: Part 4)

Reign

Part Four: The Siren

Some might have called us fools for running.

Some might have called us brave.

I was leaning toward the former at the moment.

Since the moment I had scaled the wall of the donjon, Ambrosia and Pascal latched onto my back, and hid them within a wagon and my face beneath a cloak to escape the castle walls undetected, I’d rued my hasty decision.

I had waited until the cover of dark, remaining for the three remaining hours of daylight with Ambrosia in her chamber, much as I always did—though this time, I didn’t watch her crawl into bed and slowly drift off to sleep. I didn’t hold her as she thrashed and moaned against another nightmare.

Rather, I had revealed the Regent’s plot—minus his motives and with the diluted version of just how he intended to harm us. And she held me as we vanished into the night.

We should have stayed. Either I could have confronted the Regent, sorted this mess out with the help of my fellow Guardians (the ones I knew were loyal to the late king and queen); or I could have laid in wait and caught him in his act—or at least caught whoever he sent to do his dirty work.

Anything but this would’ve been the better course of action.

Because now we were faced with running toward the most dangerous place any man of Magni had ever traversed.

The City.

Aptly named for its previous status as the citadel guarding the ancient city of Parvi, what remained of the fortress were empty buildings, some of which had been divided in half or swept into the streets by the flood, and streets filled with water.

The flood had sunken the greater half and a portion of Parvi into the sea, leaving Parvi a lonely, forbidden isle in the distance, and leaving The City—once called Fort Parvi—to the possession of the Naiads and… I swallowed past the constriction of my throat, inwardly cursing the insidious powers I would have to beseech for not just safe passage but, more importantly, for our lives.

…The Sirens.

Not since the Reign of Anactoria had a single Magnian come within leagues of The City. Perhaps one or two had gotten too close, but none would ever know, for surely they had been devoured by the serpents within the rippling waters which coursed through The City.

Something had to be fed to them, after all. Without man to eat, the lot of the nasty creatures would slowly wither away to naught but decayed scale and bone left to the water.

I winced at my own thoughts. As vile as Sirens were, especially in comparison to the gentle, beautiful Naiads, I would do good not to see them as such—as the Regent saw Myia’s husband and their offspring. As almost all of Magni saw foreigners, from the aquatic creatures of Parvi abandoned after the flood, to the aerial creatures from which I came.

Granted, my father’s people were more graceful and kind, more human, I supposed, than Sirens could ever dream of being, what with the ugly sea monsters eating innocents and all.

There I went again, but there was no denying the truth. Sirens might have seductive voices, but their forms were repulsive. Absent hearts, souls, and the ability to love, they were nothing but hungry, lusting things—and I was now at their mercy.

So I must think kindly and perhaps the same would be returned. Perhaps the presence of a child would prevent the Sirens from attacking—or, more accurately, serenading.

Ambrosia scrambled out of my arms, wiggling ‘til her bare feet hit the small dock we stood on. She darted to the very edge with Pascal by her side, her lithesome body swaying precariously over the water as she strained to take in the sights.

Not that there was much to see. The water was too murky to detect any Sirens, and Naiads were nigh invisible anyway. I’d already mentioned the rotten, dilapidated scenery.

Despite the odds against us and the very fact that we were running for our lives, she was so full of hope. Somehow, being faced with grave danger, having one’s entire life disrupted, and being carted out of their castle home to travel on foot through eerie little villages and dark forests was enjoyable.

For Ambrosia, that is. Not me. I wasn’t enjoying this one bit.

But I understood why she was so expectant and excitable. She was leaving the ghosts of her parents behind, going on an adventure that all young girls—particularly princesses—would dream of. At her age, I would have relished such an excursion as well.

At my age, however, the well-seasoned thirty and one, I was too consumed by the many threats surrounding us to appreciate the silver lining. If there even was a silver lining.

I kept my eyes trained on Ambrosia, wary that at any given moment—

Pascal disappeared.

At the thud that sounded, I knew he had tumbled into the boat tied to the dock, which was now rocking violently—odd, as he was too slight a thing to set it off like that.

Immediately Ambrosia bent over her pet, extending her arms to him and rescuing him from...from something, for I knew that he was indeed in some sort of trouble.

Only, where was it?

“Ambrosia.” My eyes jerked back to her of their own volition, prohibiting me from scouring the waters as though my nerves knew ahead of my brain what I would find. I slipped my arms ‘round her waist, held her soft, shivering body against mine.

A sigh eased out of my chest, loosening a bit of the tension gripping my heart. So long as I held her, she was safe. So long as I held her.

Curses on me if I ever let her go.

Pascal curled himself around my legs, and I was honestly thankful for his presence as well. No longer would he be startled or would he startled something—or someone—else.

I shifted forward but a step, peering into the water. Algae, minnows, mud—up close, it looked like a river. But just ahead drifted gargoyles chipped from their perches, tattered flags, and decaying wood. An entire city, laid waste by rain and left to soak in the remnants of the flood and the freshwater of the sea.

Something rippled, just a few feet ahead. Something inside, not out.

I looked, and there it was—a soft puff of air from red rosebud lips. Two slanted eyes, sizing me up in one slow, languid sweep. A thin trail of scales from the back of her ear down the side of her body, where it would meld with her tail.

So this was the murdering songstress.

“This is your only warning,” the Siren hissed, her long silver fangs bared by her sneer. “You can either leave or die.”

Missed Part 3? Read it here! Just a heads-up...I will be leaving y'all in suspense until May 6th, when Part 5 comes out!

#theriver #reign #serial #fantasy #theguardiansofmagni

Review: The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M. White

I told y'all it was coming. My review, I mean. I wasn't gonna leave y'all hanging all year or anything.

Anyway, I won't waste my time introducing the book. However, if you have no idea what this beauty is about, I advise you to check out this post, and this post, and this post!

Or read about the wonderful author here!

#thenatureofalady#areyouready#newrelease#favoriteauthor #thesecretoftheisles

*Warnings*

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

Stars: 5+

Synopsis: Lady Elizabeth Sinclair had planned on running from a marriage arranged by her older brother—only, upon her arrival to the Scillies, she realizes that she may have run straight into the arms of danger...and maybe even the arms of love.

Favorite Quote: All of them!!! But if I have to pick just one…

“He knows your name. Not Libby, not Elizabeth Sinclair. Your true name, the one at the heart of you that has never been spoken. He knows you, and He calls you by it. You, in all your uniqueness. You, in all that makes you different from others. You, in all that you have in common with them. He knows you, and He calls you by name. He knows how you fit into this world.”

I have read all but one of Roseanna M. White’s books. I’ve read her biblical fiction, Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland (as in, before it became A Heart’s Revolution), both the Culper Rings and Ladies of the Manor series twice, her two short stories, and for the last four years, I have been quite literally devouring every single new book she writes the moment I can get my hands on it.

I know the streets of London like the back of my hand, the ins and outs of high society, the best way to remain hidden in shadows whilst spying on Redcoats. I keep Camden and Lukas and Samuel on my bed because they are hands-down three of the best ever heroes. I’ve done the whole off-again/on-again relationship with White’s novels for so long—loving some, disliking others, being wholly engrossed in everything she writes anyway.

After On Wings of Devotion, I thought it couldn’t get any better. And for a while, it didn’t. A Portrait of Loyalty was good, but certainly not my favorite. Dreams of Savannah was amazing, and I loved the portrayal of the Civil War (and, more importantly, Southerners), but it was missing some little something that would have hoisted it to the #1 spot.

Then The Nature of a Lady showed up, and boy howdy, it got better!

I mean, Oliver isn’t Camden or Cayton. Libby isn’t Ara or Zip. It wasn’t as intriguing as the Culper Rings, as mysterious as The Codebreakers, as exciting as Shadows Over England. It wasn’t as romantic as On Wings of Devotion or A Lady Unrivaled. It wasn’t as raw as A Stray Drop of Blood or as powerful as A Soft Breath of Wind. It wasn’t as political or cultural as Dreams of Savannah.

But, y’all. Y’all. Y’all. Y’ALL. y a l l . . .

(I will devise a million different ways to write y’all.)

this book was perfect

there i said it

(Now you may dis me for not using periods or proper capitalization.)

IT WAS EVERYTHING. All of it, all at once.

Raw emotion, Holy Ghost power, mystery and intrigue, PIRATES, sugary sweet, tender romance—times two! I mean, I honestly don’t know what to say.

Let me put it like this:

Libby was an amazing heroine. No, she was not my favorite of White’s heroines. No, she wasn’t perfect. No, I didn’t feel for her like I do Charity O’Connor or Eliyana Ember. But she was different, unique—but not in an overbearing way. She wasn’t trying to be unique. She just was. And I mean that from an author’s point-of-view. Her character wasn’t forced or contrived. White wasn’t confining her to a strict idea of how her character should be to move the plot along. Libby was natural, graceful, flowing. That’s really what I liked about her. I got a little upset with her over the whole science/evolution thing, but she was never forceful about it—toward other characters or in her own mind.

Ugh. I’m not making any sense.

Let me just compare her to Margot. Margot is probably one of my least favorite White heroines (I know, I know; everybody else likes her...I just have to be the odd one out, okay?). She wouldn’t depend on God or surrender herself to Him. She forced her opinions and views on other people (no matter if they were right or wrong). She had her strengths, yes. But I couldn’t get past her weaknesses to appreciate her good qualities.

But Libby? She was like a Margot do-over for me—same goes for Oliver with Drake. She was a softer, gentler, kinder, more mature version of Margot. Libby was so kind and unassuming—like Arabella. But also intelligent and progressive like Margot—just not to the point of being annoying.

Yes, she committed the great sin of rebelling from authority (yes, that’s the great feminist sin in my mind; it’s really a matter of morals and scripture rather than opinion). But I feel like she handled the situation better. And that’s really all I have to say about that. Libby was just better than Margot. There.

Can I just say, though, that she had that insightful, tenderhearted air of Arabella that just made her all the more perfect? I mean, can you imagine Margot saying something like this to Drake?

“It’s you that see people, Oliver. Sees them truly, sees them clearly. Sees them with purpose—and that purpose is to care.”

She truly cared for Oliver and wanted to help him see what a good man he was—and where he needed to change. And she loved Mamm-wynn and Mabena and even her brother (I think). Her compassion and love for people was there, which was so beautiful to witness.

And Oliver?

Ugh.

He was just so...Oliver.

Like, I shouldn’t like him, because he’s nice and calm and too perfect. He’s not Cam. He’s another one of White’s too-perfect, too-sweet, too-handsome, too-kind, too-loving, too-darn-beautiful heroes. Like Peter, Drake, Thad, Brice, Samuel—all of those adorable munchkins. (Yes, I just called them munchkins. Don’t give me that look.)

But here’s the thing, guys.

I liked Oliver.

More than that, I loved him as much as I love Peter and Samuel (because those are the munchkins I was referring to, not Drake and Thad).

Why? Because he had his faults too. Not his insecurities—Peter and Sam and Brice and all had insecurities, not faults.

Oliver quite literally had faults. Not to mention he was extremely sarcastic (which is actually not a fault, believe it or not).

To prove my point, cue my favorite Oliver quotes:

“Isn’t it tiring, being such a blighter all the time?”

“I’m right and they’re wrong.”

“Well, if you’re giving me a choice—I’ll take the flirting.”

Can it get any better? No. It can’t.

Oliver was just everything perfect. Strong, loving, kind, understanding. He didn’t presume (although Casek’s presumptuous attitude was seriously adorable, but we’ll get to that in a second). He didn’t push. He just stood there, a little smile on his face, eyes shining with love, waiting for you to open up and spill all of your woes and tears on his shoulder.

Ugh, yes. He was just too perfect.

At the same time, he sucked at being friends with Casek. He was prejudiced, prideful, persuasive. (I seriously just wrote that so I could get an Austen pun in. He was really only judgmental toward Caz, which is a terrible offense in my book.) He couldn’t get past the surface to see the man’s soft, teddy-bear heart. Because, y’all, Casek Wearne has a heart!

And in addition to his heart, he is currently in possession of mine, ‘cuz, y’all. This man. Caz. Casek Wearne. Mr. Hottest Headmaster Ever. (Can I say my ‘ansum?)

I know I should continue gushing about how wonderful and tender Oliver was and how sweet he was with Libby and how cute they were together and how godly Ollie was and all, but Casek is demanding all of my attention right now.

With good reason.

Quite possibly, he was the best part of this book. And there were a ton of good parts, so that’s saying something.

He and Oliver were a lot alike—just like Libby and Mabena had more similarities than differences—which is probably the main reason why they butted heads all the time. And then they contrasted in other ways, of course, so it was fun to see both guys. Even if Casek didn’t get the POV he deserved.

Speaking of Benna...she was an awesome character as well! Actually, there wasn’t a single character I disliked even the slightest bit in this entire book—except for the bad guys, of course. Surprisingly, I didn’t like her quite as much as Libby, but her relationship with Caz? Perfection!

To wrap up my gushing over the characters...Sheridan was fabulous. I had him enlisted for a story from the moment I met him, so I am beyond excited to see him in a future book! And Bram was just as amazing—though not quite as humorous. The two of them together, however? Priceless! Honestly, if I were Libby, I would’ve married Sher just because of how stinkin’ funny he is! What a guy. What a guy.

Oh, wait. I haven’t even gotten started on Mamm-wynn. Here, let me make this short.

I want a grandma like Mamm-wynn (no offense to my actual grandmothers, I assure you). Scratch that—I want to be a grandma like Mamm-wynn. On top of that, she is now one of my two favorite fictional grannies (which is a thing, yes). The other is Bernia from Tamara Leigh’s Merciless. That woman stole my heart, let me tell you!

And even though Mamm-wynn is slightly different, she is hands-down one of the best grandmas and definitely one of the best characters in history.

So there’s that.

Speaking of Mamm-wynn, I absolutely loved the spiritual content White included. Ever since reading A Soft Breath of Wind, I’ve been on the edge of my seat waiting for that novel including both her signature historical style and the Holy Ghost power in her biblical fiction…

For a time, I thought the book would never be written…

But then! The Nature of a Lady.

#greatestroseannamwhitebookever

Yes, the little vignettes of Holy Spirit were so beautiful! I got the chills multiple times. The wisdom and discernment—dare I say prophetic aspects—that Mamm-wynn and even Oliver possessed made the story so much richer. With my Pentecostal beliefs, it’s guaranteed that I’ll be a hundred kinds of excited when I see authors pouring the power of the Spirit of God into their stories.

Plus, the addition of the spiritual world made Libby’s arc so much more amazing.

Here, I’ll just let Mamm-wynn explain it for y’all:

“He can whisper the future to His prophets. He can send and heal plagues. He can raise the dead.”

“We see only in part. But there is more. More to this physical world that your magnifying lenses can show you. And more still beyond it that we need a spiritual lens to see.”

So, yeah. That was just the cherry on top.

And I haven’t even gotten started on how lovely the setting was. I am seriously moving to the Scillies.

So, um, yeah. I think I’ll quit while I’m ahead. If you skipped all the crazy stream-of-consciousness, I don’t blame you.

I’ll just sum things up for y’all with one simple sentence: GO BUY THIS BOOK.

The End.

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

The Nature of a Lady is available for a discounted preorder here and more purchase links can be found here!

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

March Mini Reviews (Part 1)

Well...this mini reviews post is sooo long that I've divided it into two parts. The next part will come sometime before the end of the month (I make no promises).

Y'all can click on the covers to view the book on Goodreads!

The Girl Who Could See – Kara Swanson

If there’s one thing I’ve heard, it’s that Kara Swanson is a fantabulous author. All of the amazing reviews and recommendations of Dust have piqued my curiosity in Swanson’s stories, so naturally I started out small: her free short story. Seaglass didn’t exactly capture my attention or really say much about her talent, but it wasn’t so bad that I was deterred from ever reading anything of hers.

So, when I started my three free months of KU, Swanson was on the top of my list. Now, Dust is not available on KU, so I had to settle with The Girl Who Could See.

And I use the term “settle” loosely, because this story was amazing!

After reading Sara Ella’s books, I’ve developed a hankering for clean YA fantasy romance. My hunger had gone unsatisfied for nearly a year (mostly because I don’t have to heart to spend money on something I’m not sure I’ll enjoy; I am more historically inclined, after all) before I finally picked this novella up.

Guys, everything’s there, just as it should be. The writing—with that modern slant that’s so relatable and sarcastic, but not as cookie-cutter as most. The story—that’s fast-paced and unique, sucking you in from Page 1. The heroine—who’s mature but still acts her age and is just altogether so lovable. The HERO—who is all hot and macho yet so, SO sweet and caring. (I mean, he’s no Ky Rhyen, but he beats nothing.)

I really did enjoy reading this novella. I loved Fern and Tristan—their relationship was so cute, but they were also strong characters separately, which is oftentimes hard to find in characters these days. I loved the story, the plot, the concept, the secondary characters—all of it! And, assuming I ever turn a profit off of these books I’m trying to write, I will definitely be reading more from Kara Swanson in the future!

(Side note: is that not the most amazingest cover EVER?)

Era of Shadows – Daisy Torres

Wow. I don’t know where to begin. Daisy Torres has certainly surprised me with her debut novel! As a fellow teen writer, I’ve had the opportunity recently to read the story she’s currently working on, and just a taste of her writing has revealed that she is chock full of talent at such a young age.

When I found out that she actually wrote and published a novel a couple years ago, I jumped at the chance to read it! I’m not an Alice in Wonderland fan by any stretch of the imagination—I’ve watched the Tim Burton film, but was never drawn into the story, and I’ve obviously never read the book.

So maybe I come into Era of Shadows with less bias, but that doesn’t change how engaging this story was! I loved how Wonderland came to life, even with my limited knowledge of it, and how Torres put her own touch on Carroll’s fantasy world!

The story was fast-paced and intriguing, rife with suspense and betrayal and turmoil—all that good stuff. Everything flowed so smoothly, and there were twists! Scratch that—unexpected twists!

But what I loved most of all? Torres’s flare for characters! Her ability to create such strong voices and lovable, relatable characters is astounding! The Queen of Hearts was so...alive and real, her voice so defined and unique. All of the secondary characters, particularly Alex, stood out. Within a few sentences and some dialogue, Torres established every character’s personality and voice, regardless of how large or small their role. (Side note: I am rooting for her current work-in-progress to be published one day, because woo-wee! are those characters fantastic!)

With such developed characters, especially the POV character, Torres’s prose was very smooth. Her descriptions are simply amazing—vivid and vibrant, different and interesting. However, there were several typos and grammar errors (particularly it’s being used instead of its), but some things can be excused in light of (1) a fantastic story, (2) a self-published book, and (3) a young author. I mean, who am I to judge?

Overall? Y’all, overall, Era of Shadows captured my attention from Page 1! Over and over again, I am shocked by how spectacular an author Daisy Torres is! You have got to read this book!

Meet My Boyfriend – Willowy Whisper

I’ve been raving about Willowy Whisper ever since I first read her short stories back in January/February. Her storytelling prowess is phenomenal!

I finally decided to take a crack at her longer works, and I happened to be in a contemporary mood one day (which does not come often, I’ll admit), so I download Meet My Boyfriend and settled in! Admittedly, this is a novella, and I read it in roughly twenty to thirty minutes, so I didn’t do too much settling!

Before we dive into the gushy part, I have to say that Willowy’s contemporary works are not as good as her historical ones. She just is a historical author, so this novella kind of lacked that modern aura I was expecting. For instance, “dame” was used in reference to a woman, and Levi mentions having Claire on his arm. Sweet, yes, but so 1920s! I kept imagining everyone in suits, puffing on cigars! They’re pretty subtle things, but as a historical author myself, I quickly picked up on them, and it jarred me out of the story (and, hence, dropped me into the 19th century).

Back to the good stuff!

Willowy’s writing is so good! Everything is perfectly balanced, perfectly paced, and can I just say that the suspense was pulled off PERFECTLY! She has truly mastered not only the balance of narrative—emotion, action, dialogue, and description—but also the art of suspense writing, which most long-time suspense authors have yet to do!

First, she established the characters and got the reader interested in their lives and personalities. Then she foreshadowed later events by slipping in a few seemingly inconsequential incidents and remarks. In the last third of the book, she dove headfirst into the action and suspense, but nothing was left feeling lifeless, one-dimensional, or undeveloped! This is the kind of technique all suspense authors need to apply, the technique romance authors like Roseanna M. White and Karen Witemeyer use to create such powerful, scintillating stories!

She gave me Levi Grant.

Cue the swooning.

I mean, what’s not to love about a cute introverted guy with one arm who feeds the homeless and acts like he’s pre-1960? Nothing. Levi might possibly be too perfect.

I mean, it took a bit for me to imagine a college campus in modern-day America. Claire wasn’t my favorite heroine ever (I only have, like, three of those, so…). And maybe some of the dialogue was unrealistic at times.

But, y’all, Willowy Whisper can pull. you. in. It’s amazing! Her talent is awe-inspiring. Even though Meet My Boyfriend didn’t have that contemporary feel I was looking for, it was still an awesome work of fiction and a sweet, inspirational story. I love how well-balanced and fast-paced her writing is, and I especially love how she can so seamlessly incorporate a bit of action and suspense!

I kept it short this time, guys! Whoop!

Have y'all read any of these books? If not, which one(s) would you like to?

Reviews of The Princess Companion by Melanie Cellier, A Groom for Gracie by Heather Blanton, Angel Gate by Willowy Whisper, and Bookishly Ever After by Sarah Monzon coming soon!

#minireviews #indiebooks #fantasy #romance #newfavorites #ilovetoread

Author Interview: Kristina Hall

Y'all, I am super excited to introduce to you the lovely Kristina Hall! She is another wonderful Christian indie author of three books--the 2-book Science Falsely So Called series, and Strangers and Pilgrims--and I was so honored to be able to interview her!

GJ: What first inspired you to write?

KH: I started reading Christian fiction when I was around thirteen, and I haven’t stopped since. Over the years, I’ve identified what I like in Christian fiction and what I don’t like. I guess it was only natural that I moved into writing and tried to write the kind of book I wanted to read. Let’s just say my first attempt was … interesting. :) Even though I love that story, I doubt I’ll ever publish it.

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

KH: The biggest driving force is God. He’s given me the desire and ability to share the Gospel through my writing and to use my pitiful words to point to His infallible Word.

Another driving force is the encouragement of my family. My sister reads and loves everything I write. My mom is my editor, and my dad, even though he doesn’t normally read fiction, thinks my writing is great.

And, of course, my love of a good story is also a driving force. I really enjoy the process of seeing a story grow from a random idea into a full novel. It’s a ton of work, but it’s worth it.

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

KH: I’ve read so much that my writing style is such a huge combination of things I’ve gathered from other authors that it’s hard to narrow down the source. But I think a few authors have influenced me.

Gilbert Morris—I read a ton of his books when I was younger (and he did write a ton!). I don’t think I write in his style, but, like him, I include a lot of Christian content. I guess you could say he showed me how well Christian themes could be woven into a story.

Susan May Warren—Again, I don’t think I write like her (she’s way, way better), but I love how much action she includes in her books. I try to imitate that aspect in my own writing.

Terri Blackstock—Like Gilbert Morris, she doesn’t shy away from including biblical morals in her writing.

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

KH: I always have such a hard time nailing down what my favorite fiction book is. But I know my favorite genre (to read and to write) is Christian suspense. I love the action and the high stakes. Even when I write in other genres—because I can’t ever stay in the same genre—some suspense manages to creep in.

GJ: What do you do when you aren’t writing?

KH: I edit. :) Or work on marketing stuff related to writing—something I’m pretty bad at. But when I’m not doing any of that, I read a lot. I also enjoy spending time with my family, lifting weights, arm wrestling, and playing the violin. I know some of those things seem really strange together, but I’m a weird person!

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

KH: My writing has changed a ton since I started back in 2017. I’ve learned so much, and I still have so much to learn. The change was dramatically obvious to me when I decided to publish Things Not Seen, which I wrote in the first part of 2019. When I recently went back to edit it for publication, I had to change a ton of stuff. I ended up cutting a lot of words and improving the writing. I was really surprised by how much I’d learned since I’d written that book. It was kind of scary how much my writing had changed. :)

Changes in what I write about haven’t been as dramatic. I always want to write books that have a suspense thread (no matter the era) and that point readers to God. But there is one change I’ve noticed. When I first started writing, all of my books had romances in them—romances I struggled to write. Recently, I’ve started having the two main characters connected by relationships other than romance. For example, one series (not published yet) features a brother and a sister, and the book I’m currently writing is about an aunt and her nephew. For some reason, I’m much better at writing those kind of relationships than I am at writing romance. I’m happier, and I bet my readers are happier not having to read my cringe-worthy attempts at romance. :)

GJ: Tell me about your latest release—Stranger and Pilgrims! It sounds so intriguing!

KH: I’ve always been interested in the Civil War and Old West eras—some of that interest definitely came from watching a lot of old western movies as a kid. I wanted this book to be in the style of those old movies. I also wanted to write a book about how this world is not our home. As Christians, we’ve got a better country waiting for us.

Here’s the official summary.

Seven years can change a town …

Seven years ago, Harry Reiner left his parents’ ranch in Cantonsburg, Texas, to fight for the Confederacy. Now, he’s come home to a town filled with strangers—strangers who hate him for the side he took in the war. After a confrontation with two of the townspeople turns violent, Harry is left at the mercy of men who would rather see him dead.

Rose Kendrick knows the cost of standing against Edwin Burton, but she can’t leave a man to die in the street. Even if helping him will once again put her at odds with Burton.

As Harry and Rose struggle to belong in a land where they are strangers and pilgrims, they are pulled into a desperate battle against Burton. And Edwin Burton has never lost a fight.

GJ: And your first two books—what inspired them?

KH: Both Things Not Seen and Stand have a Creation apologetics theme. The plot in very simple form is that an evolutionary biologist sees how wrong evolution is and becomes a Christian. Soon after becoming a Christian, he’s called to stand for his newfound faith in a very public—and dangerous—way.

I’ve been passionate about apologetics for a long time. Creation, especially, has been under attack for years. Even some churches and Christian colleges have compromised to the point where they don’t believe that God created as He said He did—in six literal twenty-four-hour days about six thousand years ago.

So, long story short, I wanted to work this important theme into a suspense series. I want people to see that God’s Word is infallible and that they can trust every word of it.

GJ: What does your writing process typically look like?

KH: I used to be horrible about plotting, but in the last couple of years, I’ve gotten better. I’ll never be one of those really organized people who can outline the entire book before they start writing. My brain would explode!

Once I come up with an idea I want to use, I sit down (usually way too late at night) and work out some details—background information on characters, what they look like, what they act like, etc. I also briefly summarize the morals I want to include. I outline the first few scenes, then I start writing the first draft. As I’m writing the first draft, I keep plotting a few scenes ahead of where I am in the story, and I keep going that way until I finish.

After I finish the first draft, I like to let the book sit while I work on something else. When I’m ready to publish it, I come back to it and start my editing process. During the editing process, I read through the book twice, changing anything I don’t like. After my second read-through, I hand it off to my editor. When she’s finished, I insert her corrections and read it through once more. Then I publish it.

Of course, some books have needed more read-throughs, so I adjust accordingly.

GJ: How do you research your novels?

KH: When I’m writing something that needs research, I do a little initial research before I start writing. I also research as needed when I’m writing the first draft.

I wouldn’t say any of my books are heavy in historical facts, but I do my best to make them as accurate as possible.

GJ: Which book was the easiest to write, and which was the hardest? Where did you stumble and second-guess yourself?

KH: Out of my published books, Strangers and Pilgrims was the easiest to write. I was a more experienced writer when I wrote it, and it just seemed to flow well. Things Not Seen was probably the hardest. I was a little intimidated by the two main characters’ “debate” scenes.

Besides that, it was also the first book I published, and it needed a lot of work to get it to the level where I was comfortable putting it out in the world.

As for stumbling and second-guessing myself … I do that all the time when I’m writing. What if I get stuck in the middle and can’t come up with more scene ideas? What if I’ve messed up facts? Am I presenting the morals in the way I should? What if a lawyer reads my court scenes and tears me to shreds? And on and on … Lots of fun!

GJ: Out of all of your books, which one is your favorite? Why? (Bonus question: who’s your favorite character?)

KH: That’s such a hard question! I like each story in its own way, but I’m going to have to go with Things Not Seen as my favorite book (that I’ve published). I just love the moral, and I think it’s really relevant to the time we’re living in. And I love the ending … which I’m not going to talk about here because I don’t want to give any spoilers. :)

A bonus question? Do I get extra credit? :)

Derek Walker (the main guy in Things Not Seen and Stand) would have to be my favorite character in my published books. I really enjoyed writing his character arc and seeing him change from a staunch evolutionist to a Christian willing to give up everything for his faith.

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

KH: Of course I want my readers to enjoy my plots and like my characters, but most of all, I want them to be pointed to God. If they’re not saved, I want them to know that Jesus saves to the uttermost. If they are believers, I want them to see they can trust the Bible. And I want them to grow closer to God and learn more about His Word.

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

KH: I’ve had those days where I don’t feel like writing, those days where everything I write feels like trash, those days when I think the book is never going to be ready to be published.

I’ve kept going because I love writing and I do it to glorify God. I know He’s with me and that He’s in charge of what happens with my books. That doesn’t mean I’ll feel like writing every day. That doesn’t mean some of my writing won’t be trash. But it’s okay. And I’ve actually had way more encouragement than discouragement.

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

KH: I want to glorify God, both in my writing and in my life. I’d love to be a best-selling author who can write full-time, but I don’t know if that’ll happen. I’m currently in between day jobs, so I’m writing full-time right now, but I don’t know how long I’ll be able to do that.

GJ: What has being a writer taught you?

KH: It’s taught me to depend more on God and to keep going when it’d be easier to give up (because some stories are just hard to write). It’s also helped me try things I probably wouldn’t have tried otherwise—like throwing my writing into the world for other people to read. I’m still getting used to that one.

GJ: What led you to indie-publishing?

KH: One of the main reasons I self-published is that I like writing about controversial topics the mainline Christian publishers wouldn’t want to publish. Now, my books are totally clean—they don’t contain cussing, graphic violence, or explicit romance. But they are what a lot of people would call “preachy.” I write that God created the world the way He said He did. I write salvation scenes. I have people giving others the Gospel. I include Scripture. And I won’t water down my morals to make them acceptable to a broader audience as I’m afraid traditional publishers would want.

Another reason I self-published is that I’m a control freak. I enjoy designing my own covers. I like being able to publish the book when it’s ready instead of waiting. And I appreciate being able to write about the topics I think God wants me to write about.

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

KH: Please keep in mind I’m still learning about writing and publishing. Most of the time, I feel like all this is a big experiment. A fun experiment, but an experiment just the same.

My thoughts on writing … Write a lot and read a lot. You can’t get better at writing if you never do it. Yeah, the first attempts are rough. But when you keep writing, you’ll get better. It’s a slow process. Sometimes you’ll feel like you’ve regressed and are writing even worse than when you first started, but you’ll learn. You’ll improve.

My thoughts on publishing … Do your research and don’t fall for any scams. There are a lot of companies out there who’ll charge a bunch of money to publish your book. I’ve done it basically for free using Draft2Digital and Canva. Well, I did have to pay for stock photos for my covers.

Make sure your book is well-edited. And make sure you have a website—I didn’t do so great at this … I created my website a couple weeks before I published my first book. :) If you asked me this question in another couple years, I’d probably have more advice, but that’s it for now. :)

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

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

New and Upcoming Releases!

I have absolutely no idea how to introduce this post, so I'm just going to dive right in!

I have several wonderful books that I'd like to share with you--but not only that, I have a boatload of awesome quote graphics (some of which I made)!

One of the amazing things I have been learning more and more about these past few months is Heaven. Particularly through Kat Kerr's revelation and experiences, I have been able to not only vividly picture God's country in the sky, but I've also learned more about Him and what He has prepared for His children! It is truly awesome!

So, when I learned about Dr. Reggie Anderson's 90-devotional, Appointments with Heaven, I knew I had to share! You can check the book out here, or read the description below (or both; I mean, why settle for one?).

When Dr. Reggie Anderson is present at the bedside of a dying patient, something miraculous happens. Sometimes as he sits vigil and holds the patient’s hand . . . he can experience what they feel and see as they cross over. Because of these God-given glimpses of the afterlife—his “appointments with heaven”—Reggie knows beyond a doubt that we are closer to the next world than we think. Join him as he shares remarkable stories from his life and practice, including the tragedy that nearly drove him away from faith forever. He reveals how what he’s seen, heard, and experienced has shaped what he believes about living and dying; how we can face the passing of our loved ones with the courage and confidence that we will see them again; and how we can each prepare for our own “appointment with heaven.” Soul-stirring and hope-filled, Appointments with Heaven is a powerful journey into the questions at the very core of your being: Is there more to life than this? What is heaven like? And, most important: Do I believe it enough to let it change me?

Meanwhile, Gretchen Saffles's newest book, The Well-Watered Woman, takes us deeper into God's Word and what it means in our lives! (Not to mention the graphics below are just beautiful.)

Discover the bottomless, refreshing Well of God’s Word—and experience a fullness and peace beyond your circumstances.

In the chaos of our everyday, it can be difficult to live out and apply the truths of Scripture. We want more of Jesus, but we find ourselves looking to our own lives and accomplishments for our worth and identity. And while that may buoy us for a time, we’re often left feeling dried up, discouraged, and longing for more.

Gretchen Saffles knows what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and unable to flourish. In The Well-Watered Woman, Gretchen leads us to the Well of fullness, the Word of freedom, and the Way of fruitfulness. She teaches that God’s Word will satisfy us for all eternity.

Using Scripture and her own personal story of surrender, Gretchen offers spiritually hungry women tangible tools to not only know Jesus more but to live a life that thoroughly enjoys Him, seeks Him, and follows Him into freedom.

And in the fiction realm?

There's The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M. White. I've been gushing about this book for months now--from my cover reveal post, to my coming soon post, to my preorder announcement.

But guess what's next?

MY REVIEW!

However, that won't be debuting for a few more days. To tide y'all over, I've got a whole host of beautiful graphics to share! Every single word of this book was captivating, so it took a lot for me to narrow it down to my favorite eight quotes! Aren't they just beautiful? (You may have to click on some of the graphics to read them...)

#thenatureofalady #areyouready #thesecretoftheisles #newrelease #favoriteauthor #reviewtocome

I bet y'all didn't expect this! Bound and Determined graphics! I've only made a few so far, but let me know what y'all think! I'm pretty excited about them! (By the way, feel free to download any of these for desktop backgrounds, if you'd like. That's actually what I'd created them for, so... Or you can share on Pinterest!)

#boundanddetermined #quotes #graphics #share

Well! *sighs* I think that concludes our pictorial post! I hope y'all enjoyed it, and maybe I've sparked your interest in one of these books!! Which of these quotes are your favorites? Do you have a favorite book full of quotable dialogue or narrative?