Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 43

Author Interview: Hannah Linder

Wahoo! I am so super duper excited to have Hannah Linder joining us for a very special interview today! You may remember this amazing historical author from my review post last month, and if you do, then you know I absolutely adore her writing and cannot wait to read more and more of her novels!

So, without further ado, let's jump in!

Hannah Linder is a twenty-two-year-old, Regency-era author residing in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. At the tender age of twelve, she unknowingly found her passion as she sat down to type the first words of her debut novel, Love Unknown. Under the pen name Willowy Whisper, Hannah writes in several different genres: historical, contemporary, western, and medieval. Recently discovering her passion for all things Regency, Hannah has decided to pursue her writing career in an era of elegance and grace. All Regency-era novels will be penned under her real name, Hannah Linder. When not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments, songwriting, painting scenery, laughing with little kids, and collecting vintage hats. Her greatest desire is to please her Savior, and to write in a way that glorifies and uplifts Him.

GJ: What first inspired you to write?

HL: When I was twelve, we received a Christmas letter which read that my second cousin was writing a novel. I told my mom, “I think I’ll do that.” So I did—little realizing that I had stumbled upon my life passion.

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

HL: I love writing because I love stories. I love the unreal. I love emotions, the hidden passions, the moments and things and people that make a heart thump faster. That’s why I write. That’s what drives me.

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

HL:

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow—because even born centuries apart, I sense he might have been a kindred spirit. He inspires me. Michelle Griep—because her historical accuracy makes me want to go deeper, more realistic, with my writing. Michael Phillips—because his heart-wrenching stories have a way of lingering on after the book is finished. Such fictional power makes me strive for that in my own writing.

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

HL: Historical fiction and romantic suspense are my top-favorite genres to read and write.

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

HL: I enjoy photography, painting, playing instruments, reading, walking in the rain, and collecting historical clothing and hats!

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

HL: A little of both, I think. I can certainly see a difference in my writing style, as well as the genre I tend to write in. Where I used to write mostly westerns, I now write in the Regency Era.

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

HL: When Tomorrow Came, the novel I am almost finished writing, is probably my favorite. I love the stories, the characters, and the unique challenges they’re each facing. And my favorite character?

No, I don’t think I could possibly answer that. Too much like asking a parent to choose a favorite child.

GJ: What does your writing process look like? Do you pants? plot? How long does it usually take you to write a novel?

HL: I normally mull over a general plot idea, brainstorm a little, then write down a brief outline. That’s about the extent of my plotting. Also, for a full-length novel, it usually takes me around nine months to finish.

GJ: What made you choose self-publishing for your books?

HL: Because I finished my first novel at twelve, I didn’t know a lot about the industry. I self-published every novel after that, but still dreamed of becoming traditionally published eventually. Only recently, in the last year, have I strived hard at that goal. I’ve got several novels on hold now, which I’m hoping will land a contract soon.

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

HL: Just keep at it! Don’t get discouraged, read endlessly, and no matter what, always write more.

GJ: Who is your most favorite character in your stories, and what endears them to you? (I totally didn't realize I had already asked this question until after Hannah sent me her answers!)

HL: Hmm, hard one! I don’t really have a favorite, but I’ll go with Heath Duncan, one of the main characters from When Tomorrow Came. He’s handsome, gentle, and shyly quiet—and despite the terrors of his childhood, he rises above them and does right anyway.

GJ: Garden of the Midnights is your upcoming release—can you tell me a little bit about it?

HL: Although I haven’t landed a contract yet, here’s a quick overview:

The accidents are not a matter of chance. They are deliberate. As English gentleman William Kensley becomes aware of the danger at Rosenleigh Manor, he pleads for truth from the only man he can trust—until that man is murdered.

As the secrets unfold into scandal, William’s world is tipped into destitution—

leaving him penniless and alone. His only comfort is in the constant love of

Isabella Gresham, but even that has been threatened. When a hidden foe arises

from their acquaintances and imperils Isabella’s life, will William be the only one

willing to rescue her? And even if he saves Isabella from her captors, will he still

have to forsake her heart?

GJ: Which part of GOTM was the easiest to write, and what was the hardest? Where did you stumble and second-guess yourself in the writing of this novel?

HL: The end, it seems, is always the easiest to write! I get so wrapped up in the climax of the story. So much fun!

My main stumbling points came after the first draft, as I had a lot of editing and word-cutting to do.

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

HL: No matter what happens and no matter who hurts you, you must always learn to forgive—even if you have to do it over and over again.

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

HL: Yes! Negative reviews and constructive criticism have definitely made me discouraged at different points along the journey. Quitting, though, was never an option. I couldn’t stop writing if I wanted to.

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

HL: More than anything, I should love to marry the one God made for me, raise sweet and godly children, watch my books hit the bookshelves, serve Jesus Christ, and live happily.

GJ: What has being a writer taught you?

HL: Being a writer has taught me to not just exist in this world, but to study people, to understand emotion, to comprehend the difference in reality and dreams. I think deeper because I am a writer.

I absolutely love Hannah's answers! You can tell just by them that she's a fantastic writer! Anyway, I am so honored to share this interview with y'all, and I cannot wait to see more of Hannah in the future! Y'all can find her on her website, Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, Pinterest, and her blog!

I've Got News for You!

So, yeah, two posts in one day...and I'm supposed to be on vacation. Shoot me now! No, don't really--please. I beg of you

*clears throat* Thank you.

Anyway...I have SO MUCH FUN STUFF that I just have to share, like, immediately!

So, y'all remember that guest post by my twin sister--er, friend Issabelle Perry that came out this morning? I mean, it's been forever ago, but maybe you remember.

Whether you do or not, I totally suggest you read it, then I HIGHLY recommend you click this link and check out Izzy's post from today--all about her published short story!!!

(And, yes, you may notice my name and one of my graphics in said post...we are trading marketing...)

Back to what I was saying...mi amiga's short story Fairly Impish was released TODAY in an anthology by Owl Hollow Press!! I've actually just got my copy, so I'll be reading her story sometime tonight!! (Note: I can't vouch for the content of the other stories, but Izzy's is completely clean, plus she's a cool person, so help a homie out, will ya?)

Next order of business, I will remind you that Six O'clock--my new short story--release March 20th, so you only have eight more days to preorder a copy or download one for free here! Don't forget to share this graphic on social media!!

Also, y'all keep your eyes out for the short story I'll be announcing in April!!

Now, for my final announcement...I think I've mentioned before that I'm a proud member of the greatest writers' forum EVER, Kingdom Pen. Of course, I haven't gone into depth about this fantabulous site, but now that I'm an intern (cue the celebratory confetti), I want to introduce y'all to this amazing site!

Gotta love that confetti.

Kingdom Pen is the best place for teenage Christian writers--they accept short story and poetry submission and will critique excerpts (you can read mine here)--with free resources and the aforementioned forum full of the coolest people ever! (No offense, other people.)

Like I said, I got accepted as an intern and my first article is out!!! You can read all about the 3 Keys to Writing Faith-Filled Christian Romance here!

Also, I had the extreme pleasure of being interview for the first time ever!! I had so much fun answering these questions, so I hope you'll enjoy reading them!!

Y'all keep your eye out on KP's blog, because I've got another fun article all about faith in historical fiction coming out on March 26th!

Thank y'all so much for celebrating with me! Don't forget to check out Izzy's post and snag your copy of the Change the World teen anthology today!!

Also, y'all may have noticed this is my first ever post to include gifs. What do y'all think? Worth doing again?

Guest Post: Creating Your Story Hook with Three Tips by Issabelle Perry

Well, hello, y'all! It's both my duty and my pleasure to introduce this fantabulous guest post by my twin sister super good friend Issabelle Perry! She has some great tips all about writing a perfect story hook! Lord knows I ought to take her advice! I hope you guys enjoy! Feel free to chat about your thoughts on this post in the comments! What story had a hook that, well, hooked you?

Hey, y’all!!!!! Okay, I know by that “y’all” you guys are all thinking this is probably Grace, right?

Eh, wrong. Sorry, y’all, but this is Grace’s unknown and slightly crazier twin. *smiles proudly*

*everyone gives me disbelieving looks*

Okay, FINE. I’m not Grace's twin. *pouting* I’m just another gal who says y’all probably waaaaay too much. Soooo who is this y’all-saying, wacko nut? Easy peasy. I’m Issabelle! I’m a co-founder of Teen Writers’ Nook and soon-to-be-published teen author!!

Anyways, Grace is letting me borrow (*cough, cough* totally not steal) her blog for today. So, I’m here to give you guys some hopefully useful writing tips. Today’s post is titled Creating Your Story Hook With Three Tips.

So a story’s hook plays a VERY important role. Really, guys. You can have great characters, strong worldbuilding, just about everything down pat, but if you don’t have a strong hook, then who’s gonna buy your book in a bookstore? How will you convince a literary agent to represent you? What sets you apart from the millions of other writers aspiring to make their way through this business? Why should a reader continue reading your story? Grabbing your reader's attention MATTERS. And today, I’m gonna give y’all some tips on how to hook your readers in a way that’ll be strong enough to carry you to publication and beyond!

#1. Understand what’s the main problem in the story.

Okay, this is something I’ve been focusing on a LOT in my writing. I’ll get ideas for characters and worlds and some things that I want to happen but when someone asks me what my story’s about, I realize the main reason why I can’t answer is ‘cause well I DON’T KNOW!

Your plot needs to have one main problem. Like in Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, the main plot is Frodo has to destroy the ring. Or in my novel, Heir to His Crown, the main plot is that Prince Keenum joins up with a rebel group to help take back his kingdom. I’ve heard an author say before that she’ll write out the summary of her novel before she begins writing. This is a great way to help discover what your plot is gonna be about.

#2. Don’t underestimate the power of your novel’s title and opening scene!

Think about it. What’s the first thing a reader/literary agent/publisher is gonna see? THE TITLE! Wouldn’t it be great if you could grab them from the title! For instance, The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson was the reason why I first read her book. I LOOOOVE spies and the idea of a “princess spy” was AAAHHHH!!!!!!! *cough, cough* But a title isn't gonna sell a reader. One of the reasons I ADORE The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen is because from the very first line to the end of chapter one just hooked me soooo well. It started off where stuff was happening! Now you shouldn’t really begin a story right in the middle of the inciting incident. That shouldn’t happen right off. But you can begin a story where things are happening. I know a lot of times when I don’t finish a book is because the first few chapters were boring. Don’t waste time with unimportant things. Hook us from the first moment and carry us through the rest of the story!

#3. Try to be able to fit your entire story’s plot in one small paragraph summary.

Okay, so this tip here is to help you more understand what your hook is and not so much create it. But knowing your hook is more important than having one because this is how you will sell your story idea! Whatever you put in that one small paragraph has got to be the most important part of the plot. So whatever makes it there will be what you need to focus on the most. And if you can’t write a small plot summary, then maybe you don’t have a strong hook.

Soooo that’s what I’ve got for y’all today!! This is really just some beginning tips. If you’re wanting more, I highly recommend checking out this post!!!! It’s got a LOT of great advice!!!!! THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH to the AMAZING GRACE for letting me guest post here today!!!!! <33 I hope y’all enjoyed it!!! <33

-- Issabelle Perry

Guest Post: 3 Compelling Reasons to Rewrite Your Favorite Bible Story by Joy Caroline

Y'all, before we jump in, I just want to say that you're about to hear from one of the most fantastic people on the face of the earth. Joy Caroline is so sweet and full of the Holy Spirit! She is wise beyond her years and is going to impart some of that wisdom to you! I am so honored to have her on my blog, giving you three reasons to rewrite your favorite Bible story!

I have a bit of a history with biblical fiction, but (as you can probably tell, since you haven't heard a peep out of me) I've never written anything more than a short scene for a biblical novel. I've just never found the courage, I guess, to do anything more--but Joy has inspired me and I hope she'll inspire you!

Once you're finished reading, tell Joy hello in the comments, let us know what you thought about her post (and if you'll be writing any #biblicalfiction now), then check out her lovely website!

Now, enough of me! Let's give Joy a big round of applause, sit back, and read her fantabulous post!

First, thank you so much to Grace for having me! I’m honored that she asked me to guest post. The girl is an AMAZING writer, guys! So thank you again, Grace.

And now, hello to Grace’s awesome blog! I hope everyone is having an amazing day and will enjoy this post.

Image Credit – Desiring God

For those of you who don’t know, I am a Biblical fiction writer. I love this genre because it really helps us relate to our favorite Bible figures and realize that they too had feelings just like ours. And in turn, this helps us in our relationship with God: we realize that if ordinary people can do incredible things for him, then we can, too.

I have two Biblical fiction WIPs: The Apostle’s Sister and The Anointed. They’re both about St. Paul the apostle. TAS is from the perspective of his younger sister, and The Anointed from the perspective of his youngest nephew. You can read the back-cover

summaries and some in-depth explanation over here on my blog.(Grace herself designed the book covers for both my WIPs, and they are so beautiful!)

As a Biblical fiction writer, I often get questions about the genre I write. And there’s a trend I notice in nearly every question I am asked. It’s this: Lots of authors tell me they would love to write a Biblical fiction novel, but they don’t think they can take on the project. And I totally understand. I was terrified when I first began writing TAS, and being honest, that fear does still come back to me. That’s the life of a writer. It’s scary to write a novel, y’all!

But although I feel scared and unworthy to write about the Bible, I have learned to listen to God’s voice. And I hear him telling me that he will help me through all my anxieties, and he will use my love for writing to bring glory to himself. I hear him telling me what I’m doing is worth it.

So today I want to share some encouragement with all of you. If you’ve been thinking about starting a Biblical fiction project, but are afraid to begin, I’m here to help you out! Here are 3 compelling reasons to rewrite your favorite Bible story – right now.

1. No one can write the story except you.

Image Credit – Desiring God

This is always my first response whenever I’m asked for writing advice. Maybe I repeat it a bit too often… LOL. But if I do, that’s because it’s incredibly important!

It’s very true that NO ONE can write the story except you. If you’ve got a Biblical fiction story in your heart, no one else can write it. Why? Because it wasn’t planted in THEIR heart. It isn’t a flaming passion within THEIR being. Even if they did try to write your story, it would not even read like the same story. You’re the one with the passion. And it’s incredibly sad to dismiss passion.

Think of your favorite book. Now think of the author of that book. Chances are, as soon as you think of the book you immediately think of the author. Can you imagine anyone but that person being the writer of that book?

My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. And as soon as I think of TKAM, I think of Harper Lee and how much I love and admire her. Her tone shines beautifully and passionately through the story. She writes tenderly and wisely about her subject and her characters. In every word I can see how inspired she was while writing. And I’m not the only one who sees all this. Lee has been presented with multiple awards and has been widely praised for writing TKAM. She is still honored for her passion, although she passed away in 2016. Ask anyone, and they won’t be able to imagine her not being the author of that novel. I know I cannot imagine anyone writing TKAM except Lee. Take Lee out of the equation, and the book loses everything, because she was the only one inspired to write it. And not just inspired. Inspired by God.

The point is this: You are the only one inspired by God to write your story. You are the only one called to write it. I repeat this advice so often because as soon as I believed it, it changed everything for me.

2. You will expose lies about God and lead your readers to divine truth.

Image Credit – Desiring God

As Christians, we naturally wish more would read the Bible. We naturally wish more would know that God is kind and loving and precious, and wants everyone to be saved. We wonder, “Why can’t people see that God loves them?”

Of course, I do not know for sure why some would rather not believe in Jesus. But I have a theory. Some might disagree, and that’s okay. But here’s my idea:

I believe it is really Christians who drive people away from Christ and his word. It’s not unbelievers. It’s Christians – Christians who paint a picture of an angry God that brings judgment as soon as anyone steps out of line. Christians who fail to recognize the truth of Romans 8:1– “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

My Bible teacher once showed us a video of an atheist talking about why he doesn’t believe in God. And what he said was very eye-opening for me. He said: “God is there to keep tabs on your every little mistake, and if you don’t obey him he casts fire from heaven on you. And we’re supposed to love this tyrant?”

Now, where did he get this idea? My suspicion is he got it from Christians themselves.

This is why many are not attracted to the Bible or to God. Christians have given them the impression that the Bible is full of God’s judgment, while it is really the story of his great love.

There are many terrible interpretations of the Bible out there – by Christians. I won’t name names, but I recently read a book by a theologian who claims God is only judging the world right now and we will not see his grace until heaven. No. God has grace for the world now! Again, I won’t name names, but I’ve read “Christian” fiction and “Biblical” fiction that doesn’t align at all with God’s love. It seems the authors only wrote the books to let others know how sinful they are, not how wonderfully God’s grace reigns above sin.

As children of the Light, it is our responsibility and our mission to tell of God’s love in every way we can. We must expose these lies about God and show others the divine truth – that God is indeed love. We must fill the world with books and novels that bear witness to the tenderness of Christ. People need to hear that real truth, and if we know it but don’t tell it, how will they come to Christ?

This story has been placed in your heart by God because you know the truth, and he is calling you to tell it. He believes in you!

3. You will know on a deeper level what it is to follow Christ.

Image Credit – Desiring God

Writing the first draft of The Apostle’s Sister was a humbling experience for me – an incredibly humbling experience. With each word I wrote, God was speaking to me, teaching me what it is to follow Christ.

Before I began writing TAS, I was a Christian. But I didn’t understand fully what it really means to be a follower of Jesus. I was a newly born-again Christian (it hadn’t even been a year since my conversion),and there was still much I didn’t understand. (And there still is – a Christian is always learning!)

Right after becoming a born-again Christian, I had the idea that everything would be perfect in my life from the moment of conversion on. I believed in Jesus. I cut off the sins that had been plaguing me. Wouldn’t everything be perfect? As a result of this mindset, I became very frustrated when things didn’t go perfectly. I hated myself when I stumbled and did something I knew wasn’t acceptable with my new faith. When hard times struck, I was confused and grieved. Where was God?

When I felt called to write TAS and began the first draft, I was amazed to find just how much I really did grow in my faith. I had begun writing from the perspective of St. Paul’s younger sister, named Temira in my novels. Now Temira is a devoted little sister. She loves Paul. If you’ve got siblings, think about them right now. I’ll bet anything that you love them (even if they do annoy you sometimes, LOL). I have an older brother, and on my blog I’ve discussed how he served as inspiration for Temira’s story. That’s part of the reason I chose to write the novel through the eyes of a loving sister. Another reason is that Jesus and Paul both taught love for family, and all Christians should indeed beloving to their families. So Paul would have loved his. Writing TAS made Paul and his family so real to me. I saw them as actual people just like me. I felt their pain.

When I’m asked about the main themes of TAS, the two words that immediately come to my mind are:

● Suffering

● Sacrifice

Don’t get me wrong, TAS is a joyful story! Paul himself commanded that we “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Although the novel is bittersweet, there is always a theme of joy. Because Jesus does want to bring us joy, and he is the definition of joy. Christian stories should be joyful. Why, then, do I not immediately think of joy as one of my main themes? Or at least something more cheerful than suffering and sacrifice?

TAS is not a gloomy story, and again, joy is one of its themes. But I’ve chosen suffering and sacrifice as the two main themes, because during the writing I learned those things are the reality of following Jesus. Without being willing to suffer for Christ, and without being willing to sacrifice even your life out of love for him, you cannot follow Jesus. It’s just the truth, and I’m so thankful I learned it. And if I hadn’t answered the call to write TAS, I wouldn’t have learned it. And I wouldn’t have grown in my relationship with Christ.

To wrap up my point, I’m coming back to Temira. The Apostle’s Sister, as denoted by the title, has its main focus on the love of Paul’s sister for him. While writing, I had to take a moment to step into her place. These are the questions that occurred to me right away: What is it like to watch someone you deeply love – your brother – suffer so much? Paul was such a fierce follower of Jesus that he was willing to suffer countless bloody lashings, imprison-ments, cold, hunger and thirst, nakedness, shipwrecks… the list goes on. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 for all the details. In other words, he sacrificed literally everything, much more than most Christians are asked to sacrifice. And it’s preposterous to think that in all this, Temira was perfectly calm. She was not. I think it’s needless to say her brother’s sufferings caused her pain. She loved him. Let that sink in. She was asked to sacrifice him, and did she enjoy it? No. Did Paul enjoy all his sufferings? No.

But through it all, Paul remained faithful his whole life, and his sacrificial love for Jesus was so great that he was willing to subject his own family to pain (Luke 14:26-28). He had brought Temira to Christ, and in her own love for Christ she was willing to make great sacrifices. She was willing to suffer. Both Paul and Temira were incredible examples to me of suffering, sacrificial Christians who were true followers of Jesus. Writing their story taught me that suffering and sacrifice is what it takes, as Jesus says in Luke 14:26-28.

TAS taught me to know on a deeper level what it is to follow Christ. Now, my “deeper level” was learning about suffering and sacrifice. Yours might be something else. Yours might be learning to be thankful, to love neighbors who are hard to love, to study the Bible with a different mindset, etc. Your “deeper level” will most likely be different from mine, and that’s a beautiful thing. God has a different lesson to teach each of us, because he knows what every individual needs. Trust him to show you.

Closing Advice

Image Credit – Desiring God

I want to leave you guys with this last word.

Writing Biblical fiction is not easy. The Apostle’s Sister and The Anointed still have long roads ahead of them. There’s much work to be done, and a lot of studying and praying. And editing, editing, EDITING!

Seriously, “writing” a book is more editing than actually writing. XD So a Biblical fiction project takes a lot of dedication. It’s something you must be willing to stay with for at least a year, probably longer.

Rewriting a Bible story is a serious calling – not something to be taken lightly.

It’s not easy.

But it is rewarding. It is worth it.

Patience. The Lord’s own good timing and purpose. That’s what it involves. And when the Lord calls, he does not let any work go for nothing. Your story WILL impact someone in a very powerful way. And the first person it will impact is… you.

You’ll grow close to your favorite Bible characters. You’ll become strongly connected to them. You’ll love, admire, and emulate them even more. Ever since I typed the first word of TAS, I’ve received all this and more. I’ve talked a lot on my blog about how aside from Jesus himself, no one has changed my life more than St. Paul. Now he has changed it even more and brought me even closer to the God he loves – because I answered the call to write TAS.

You have a calling.

Will you answer it?

I hope so, and I am praying for you!

Thank you all for reading this post. I really hope you enjoyed it and were blessed by it in some way!

Thank you again, Grace, for this amazing opportunity. I loved every minute of it.

See y’all later!

-- Joy Caroline

A Week's Worth of Laughter (Week Two: Author Humor)

(Please note: I do not own the rights to any of the images below. If you do and would like the image removed or to be credited, please contact me through the homepage and let me know! Thanks!)

Authors be like:

Review: Ivy Introspective by Kellyn Roth

As soon as I finished reading The Dressmaker's Secret last month, I DOVE into Ivy Introspective--and, boy, was it quite the adventure! Check out my review below to read my thoughts about this historical novel!

In a world that doesn’t understand her, how can she grow?

Ivy Knight lives her life in a blur of confusion as the world passes her by in a tumultuous melody. She isn’t the perfect daughter or student, but as long as she can be with her family, she doesn’t mind watching rather than living.

Mrs. Chattoway treasures both of her granddaughters now that they’re reunited. When Ivy’s parents enroll her in a Scottish school for unique children, she’s happy to chaperone.

In a new place with a new guardian, Ivy discovers a special talent that helps her see the blurred world in a new way. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and Ivy becomes determined to find it—and help others do the same.

Kellyn Roth is a Christian historical women’s fiction & romance author from North-Eastern Oregon who has independently published multiple novels, the most notable being The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy series. You should definitely call her Kell.

Kell lives on family-owned property outside an unmemorable but historical town with her parents, two little brothers, arbitrary cat, precious border collies, a dozen cows, and lots of chickens. She also possesses a classic, vintage aesthetic which does not at all speak to her country girl side, but such is life.

When not writing, Kell likes to blog, teach writing to her various students, have day jobs which allow her to keep her car properly insured, and spend lavish amounts of money on Dairy Queen french fries. She also likes to talk about Keira Knightley and her own books just … way too much.

Check out Kell's awesome website and blog here!

So, again I come to you with a lack of propriety and organization. Why? Because who needs all that stuffiness when you’re gushing about a book! Not me, that’s for sure!

It’s difficult to categorize Ivy Introspective—or any of The Chronicles of Alive and Ivy. It’s too weighty and maturely written for middle-grade, and yet reading about Alice and Ivy brings back a childlike perspective. I’d like to term it refreshing, but Ivy Introspective is anything but. There are undertones of darkness and confusion, an overarching theme of mental illness and troubled youth that is both saddening and lightening at the same time.

Why? Because Ivy brings a fresh perspective to the subject, and because Kellyn Roth yet again makes a simple story so much more!

Whilst The Dressmaker’s Secret focused on bringing this strange family (I say strange because their creation was anything but normal) together and uncovering, well, the dressmaker’s secret! We know it all know...but what we don’t know if what lies ahead—particularly for Ivy.

She was always seen as a simple-minded child. To me, I never saw anything wrong with her—perhaps a smidgen of anxiety, but that’s nothing in comparison to what children like Violet Angel deal with. However, I think Roth did a fabulous job at getting into Ivy’s head. She’s certainly not simple or special—but the way her mind works is different. Roth portrayed this difference with accuracy and acute familiarity, making little Ivy Knight come to life!

Watching Ivy grow and blossom, seeing (or, well, reading) her interactions with the world around her—especially her grandmother and uncle—was so fun! And Jordy? Y’all, that lad stole my Scottish heart within seconds!

But my favorite part about Ivy Introspective wasn’t the characters—even though they were fantastic and well-developed. It wasn’t the plot—even though it was smooth and seamless. It wasn’t even the theme—renewal and hope, as shown through Ivy’s love for Violet.

It was how I began to feel her.

Every emotion and every thought that crossed Ivy’s mind became mine. I didn’t like McCale house at the beginning—I was dangerously suspicious of it and was convinced that it would only do my Ivy harm. I wasn’t on very good terms with Grandmother for a while, or with the inhabitants of McCale house. Everyone—and everything—was fishy. I was uncomfortable and quick to believe the worst (reminds me of a certain Lizzy Bennet, actually).

But as Ivy began to open up to McCale house, Jordy, Grandmother, Violet, and even dear Mr. Knight, I began to see the goodness in every character and situation.

And, y’all. My heart went and leapt for joy when I read that Jordy and Violet were returning. I cannot wait to continue reading!!! Although I do look forward to Alice’s stories, I do so hope to read more and more of Ivy, Jordy, and Violet! (In other words, I hope to see Jordy and Violet get married and Ivy become an accomplished pianist and they all live happily ever after. Perhaps she’ll even find romance! #incurableromantic That may be too much to ask, though, so I’m not setting my hopes too high up.)

Oh, and have I mentioned yet that I loved how deep and philosophical Roth can get? It does me good to see other authors digging deep, probing, and discovering the answers to their own questions while writing! Even though she never strays from the childlike perspective she uses, she always manages to weave in a deeper message—and I love that!

There’s no doubt in my mind that Kellyn Roth has created a lasting legacy with Alice and Ivy. Armed with superb writing skills and equipped with beautiful characters, this series will soon become a favorite of many, many readers! I am beyond blessed to have the chance to read it!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions stated above are my own.

New Release: Six O'clock: A Short Story

Guess what! The day is here! My latest short story, which I shared about in a previous post, is now available for preorder on Amazon!!!

Six O'clock is about 3k, 14 pages long, and was a contest entry. I loved the story so much that I decided to share it with y'all! You can preorder it here, or you can download the PDF copy for FREE from now until March 20th, the release date!

Also, I just want to say THANK YOU to all of y'all who voted on a cover! #1 has been chosen, and I do believe it's starting to grow on me! But don't worry--if you didn't vote for #1, there's a big chance that you'll be seeing your favorite cover with a new title!

I’ll never forget that morning.

Extraordinary things are known to happen on ordinary days. And June 11th was an ordinary day for Kenya Brogan...until one hour changed everything.

Grace A. Johnson makes her debut into contemporary fiction with a haunting short story that will captivate you from page one!

Just click this graphic (the one to your right) to download your copy! I do have a favor to ask...if you enjoyed it (or even if you didn't), would you leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads? If you do (or if you've reviewed any of my other books in the past), let me know and I'll give you yet another free short story!

If you know of a friend or family member who might be interested in reading Six O'clock, you can share this post or you can copy this graphic (the one to your left this time) and share it on social media! I appreciate all of your love and support, guys!

(By the way, all the proceeds from this short story go directly to my Publish Bound and Determined fund, so the more copies sold equals more exposure and a better cover for BAD! Also, I hope to have 100 blog/newsletter subscribers before BAD releases, so if you haven't signed up yet, be sure to and/or share my site with your amigos and familia!)

Now, if Six O'clock isn't your style and if you don't know anyone else who'd be interested in it, then don't despair! I still have several more projects in the works...and one of those is a serial here on Gabbing with Grace! Keep watching, because Reign will make her debut very soon!

Cover Reveal: The Lines Between Us by Amy Lynn Green

Amy Lynn Green is a new addition to my want-to-read list, so I am super psyched to share the cover of her next release with y'all! Green writes Christian WWII romance, and you can snag a copy of her debut novel, Things We Didn't Say, here on Amazon! She's already grown quite popular, and I know I can't wait to read her novels! Fan of Sarah Sundin are sure to be pleased!

Anyway, I said something about a cover reveal, didn't I? Well, without further ado...

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drumroll please...

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Here she is...

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The cover!

You can preorder your copy on Amazon or at Baker House for only $9.50!

Now, if you're not too sure you'll enjoy The Lines Between Us (as if that GORGEOUS cover isn't convincing enough), then allow me to share a blurb. (You gotta love #blurbs!)

Doesn't that sound SO interesting? And, seriously, this little blurb graphic is just amazing (no, I didn't design it)!

I do hope you'll check out this promising novel! Let me know what you think! Have you read anything by Amy Lynn Green? What books are you excited for this year?

A Week's Worth of Laughter (Week One: "What Is It?")

What Is It?- Martha Miller, Reflections of a Family

LETTUCE be kind to one another. EGG yourself on to speak to someone about God. SPICE up your life with giving. PEARS that work together make PEACHY homes. ROLLS of magazines to read? Instead CATSUP on your Bible reading. BUTTER think about eternal life. DRESSING to go out? Then we'll MEAT you in church.

Life's Recipe- Betty Jo Herrin, Reflections of a Family

1 c. Good Thoughts

1 c. Kind Deeds

1 c. Consideration for Others

3 c. Sacrifice for Others

3 c. Well Beaten Faults

Mix these thoroughly and add tears of joy and sorrow and sympathy for others. Flavor with little gifts of love. Fold in 4 cups of prayer and faith to lightly other ingredients and raise the texture to the great height of Christian living. After pouring all this into your daily life, bake well with heat of human kindness. Serve with a smile.

What Makes a Man- Betty Jo Herrin, Reflections of a Family

Courtship is what makes a man spoon, but marriage is what makes him fork over. You can't always tell what makes a man tick until you meet his wife. She may be the works.

Fantasy Writers' Worldbuilding Linkup WRAPUP!

Well, here we are! The end of Fantasy Month (which I totally didn't know February was until after I started the linkup) and the end of our fantastic linkup!

I have had a ton of fun hosting this, and I can't wait to share some fantastical posts with y'all!

First up, Issabelle over at Teen Writers' Nook gave us this amazing glimpse into the City of Lorbalow (plus, there are some fantastic book cover designs Izzy shared with us)! Her style is so fun and unique, and Lorbalow has such a rich history. I can totally see a story springing out of Issabelle's new world!

Second, Linyang Zhang created the City of Casyla and shared it on her Instagram! (She's also got some lovely photos on her profile, as well as the link to her YouTube channel--which you should totally go check out!)

I do hope to continue doing this in the future, so let me know what you'd like to see next time in the comments! Thank you SO much to those of y'all who participated!!!

The Gardener

There was only one gardener the queen trusted to supply her with roses, and she deferred to this sage old gardener whenever deigning to redesign her nursery or when in need of bouquets to decorate the table. Her quality is excellent, her taste impeccable. Some speculate as to just how this gardener is so accomplished, and why she has been awarded such a fine nursery in the center of Palvire, guarded by high walls and complete with a house for bees and a greenhouse for the most delicate of plants. It is often wondered if she is connected to the royal family or in the past gained their favor. Others, those you might would call conspiracy theorists—though don’t ever call them that to their face, as it’s seldom that they are wrong—are more than certain that it is simply the gardener herself, that she has an innate, perhaps even supernatural, ability to cultivate the most beautiful and heartiest flowers in the kingdom.

They are no doubt correct. The Gardener, as she is so aptly called, is surely more than a hundred years old, with the fairest of flaxen hair and the palest of pearlescent skin. No doubt she is immortal, perhaps even part angel or fae or some such as that. Palvire is not one to put stock into myths and legends, as their past generations were, but no one dares to deny that there is something mystical about The Gardener. Those who have the rare pleasure of watching her work are held spellbound by her gentle movements and delicate graces.

I caught a glimpse once, as she floated on mist through rows of hydrangeas and hyacinths. Her hair was unbound, eyes wide and brightened to a blinding blue by the sun. The thin dress she wore was likely made of the plain muslin most everyone else uses, but it moved against her with such life, as though the fabric itself were dancing to the song she hummed to the flowers.

A mere note sung in her voice could cause the flowers to sway toward the sound, capturing it with their petals and soaking the vibrations in down to their roots. And once the notes swelled into a melody, the tree branches were clapping in time and the trunks reverberated the rhythm.

Not once before or since have I ever seen a sight so mesmerizing. When the queen passed and her son ascended to the throne, all of Palvire rejoiced in hoping that the young ruler would finally reveal the mystery surrounding The Gardener. Though his mother had been protective of the otherworldly woman, surely the practical king would give her a real position or open up her nursery to the public. There could be no secrets hidden, of course, by The Gardener. Palvire long ago relinquished such tomfoolery to open knowledge and the pursuit of science. Granted, I have not the mind for science, and it really is easier to believe that The Gardener is a sort of mythical creature.

All of Palvire clung to hope, and when at last the king visited The Gardener, alone but for a solitary guard, we awaited an announcement. If anything, we wanted to know if The Gardener had a name, an origin, a future in Palvire.

Suffice it to say, when the king exited the walls of the nursery, his guard locking shut the metal doors behind him as never was done before, and crushed within his hand the crimson petals of a ripened rose, our hopes were dashed.

The practical young king had sentenced The Gardener to a lonesome existence, permitted to tend to the flowers she had until she or they withered away—whichever came first.

A year later, and Palvire has never seen roses as gorgeous as The Gardener’s. At times, I do believe I hear her hum as I pass by, but never have I glimpsed her dancing dress or blinding eyes or singing flowers since.