Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 44

Portrayal vs Inclusion: Why Cuss Words Have No Place in Christian Fiction

At first glance, that title is no doubt shocking. Geez, it shocks me, and I’m the one who wrote it! I never thought the day would come that I would have to do a post (or so much as formulate an opinion on) swearing in Christian fiction, but here it is. Here I am.

Before we begin with my extremely offensive and opinionated rant discussion, I want to offer up a warning and perhaps even an apology in advance. I don’t mean to step on any toes, disrespect anyone at all, or hurt your feelings. You may disagree with anything or everything I have to say, or you may wholeheartedly agree. With that said, you may state your opinions in the comments (preferably with no colorful language) or even argue your point-of-view. I won’t be swayed ever, but I am a strong advocate for free speech (but not hate speech, so, again, let’s at least be civil), so you may indeed speak freely.

Anyway, back to what I was saying. As I have become more immersed in the community of Christian writers, I have noticed a shift, I suppose you could call it. Perhaps even a divide. There are good Christian authors who put cuss words in their books—maybe only one or two, and nothing so bad as the f-word—but they are still there. There are others who argue (well, perhaps not argue, per se) that, if you so desire, you can include a conservative sprinkling of colorful language in your dialogue. It’s all a part of accurate and authentic portrayal, after all, and most everyone (including me) is all for authenticity.

I mean no disrespect, like I said, because these writers are my friends. I love their writing and I respect their decisions (to a degree). I appreciate the fact that they can search things out for themselves, formulate opinions, and act upon them. In some areas, that shows a lot of courage; in others, it appears weak.

But that’s not what I want to focus on—the people who do or don’t use cuss words, the theology they present to permit them, what I think of them.

I want to get straight to the root: why cuss words have not, cannot, and will not ever have a place in Christian fiction.

There. I said it. Shoot me down for my honesty, if you will, but I have substantial evidence supporting this claim.

Portrayal vs Inclusion

I’m a dark writer. I know it. You (if you’ve hung around me long enough or ever read my books) know it. God knows it. It’s basically common knowledge by now. I am all about accuracy, authenticity, and portraying evil and darkness.

Need I define it? For example, my current WIP (Bound and Determined) deals with rape, miscarriage, prostitution, slavery, death, murder, piracy, and more. Explicitly. And I am wholly unashamed of that fact (obviously, I just told you). Why?

Because I am only portraying the evil that is vanquished by good—by God. I cannot write a story of light, life, and hope if there is no darkness, death, and despair—now can I? (Seriously. Correct me if I’m wrong.) To truly let God shine, I have to portray this world as it is—fallen and sinful, shrouded by darkness and ruled by evil.

Therefore, my characters are pirates and murderers, prostitutes and slaves, controlled or tempted by Satan time and again. In no uncertain terms do I address these issues—they steal, they kill, they live immorally.

All in the name of portrayal.

But there is a flip side to portrayal—something I like to call Inclusion. Maybe you’ve heard of it; it’s a close relative of Acceptance.

Google defines portrayal as “a depiction of someone or something in a work of art or literature,” “a description of someone or something in a particular way; a representation,” or “an instance of an actor playing a part in a movie or play; a performance.” The root word, portray, comes from the old French word portraire, which meant “to draw, to paint.”

Inclusion, on the other hand, is defined as “the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure.” In layman’s terms, the incorporation of one element into a larger whole. Include comes from the Latin includere, meaning “to shut in, imprison.” (Which brings up the argument of how inclusion is actually no better than exclusion, but that’s a topic for another day.)

To get right to the point, portrayal means to give a representation of something, and in literature that can mean anything from symbolization to insinuation to using one phrase to represent another. Meanwhile, inclusion means to actually put something within the whole work.

Do you see where I’m getting at? Portrayal doesn’t mean cuss words or explicitness. When we use swear words or write gratuitously, we are no longer portraying anything—using a phrase like “he cursed” to portray or represent the actual cuss word or act of swearing—we are including it.

Therefore, we are confining ourselves within the same prison the secular world is in.

We should always strive to portray things accurately—no matter what they are. But that doesn’t mean we should or have to include them, accept them, or support them.

Real portrayal means “he swore, “they made love,” or “she passed away” in the place of cuss words, explicit sex scenes, and blood and gore.

We can accurately portray evil without including it or accepting it.

And why should we avoid including or accepting evil?

Well, because God tells us to!

Whatsoever Things Are Pure

Paul says in Philippians 4 verse 8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

For writers, that means whatever is good, righteous, pure, and acceptable should be what we write. Why? Because we are vessels of the Holy Spirit, children of God, and witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We aren’t meant to look like the world, talk like the world, or write like the world.

We are to be virtuous and pure. Our writing is to be virtuous and pure.

Cuss words are not pure. Cuss words are not virtuous. Cuss words do nothing good to anyone at all, and can only cause detriment and harm.

Regardless of your intentions, those swear words will stick and they’ll cause harm. They’ll hurt people—even if the only people reading them are adults with common sense. Those words seep into your soul and eventually they come out. They’ll come out in an argument. They’ll come out in front of your kids. They’ll come out and hurt someone’s feelings. They’ll come out and damn a person to hell.

How? Because our words have POWER. As writers, they have power. And as speakers they have even more power.

Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

This isn’t just figurative, guys. This is literal. I know that probably seems crazy to you, but I’m a crazy person and our faith is a crazy faith and our God looks crazy to the outside world. Solomon is warning us that what we say not only affects a person’s mind—it affects their soul and spirit. If Jesus can say to Lazarus “Come out!” and the dead man being to breathe, or if He can tell us to speak to mountains and watch them move, then surely we, equipped with His Holy Spirit, can do the same as Christ and His Apostles did.

Our words can command angel armies. Our prayers can move the hand of God. Our books can touch the hearts of millions.

Or one cuss word can ruin a life. I’m serious. What are you saying when you use the d-word? So what if you’re directing it to a broken dish on the floor. Someone’s going to hear it or read it and before long, they’ll be saying it to their spouse or their child—and the affect will be lasting, in multiple ways. Trust me—I know how this works. I’m not afraid to say I’ve cussed before, and I know it was all caused by hearing too many cuss words and soaking it in.

What did Jesus say about speaking evil? In Matthew 15, he said “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” A few verses later, he expounds: “Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defileth a man” (Matt. 15.11, 17-20).

No matter your intentions, cuss words are harmful to souls. And guess what—you don’t need to have any part in that! You can choose to shun evil and embrace goodness. You can choose to portray rather than include!

I think Paul gave us another good reason why when he said “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10.31).

In the Gracie the Author (GTA) translation: “So, whether you’re writing a sweet contemporary romance, a high-stakes murder mystery, or an epic fantasy, write it for God. He gave you the talent and the passion to write, so use it for Him. Bring glory and honor to Him. Do cuss words make God look good? No—so don’t write them. Do stories of grace and redemption from the darkest place make our merciful, loving God look good? Yep—so write them!

“We were meant for one thing and one thing only: to bring glory to God. Don’t ever think anything contrary to that, because this life is not yours. You didn’t make yourself and you sure didn’t give yourself a purpose. God did. So live for Him and fulfill His call on your life.”

(When I translate things, they end up much longer than the original. I think it’s supposed to be the other way around.)

WWJR?

In the end, I think the best way to look at your story is with this simple question: WWJR? Much like the ever-popular “What would Jesus do,” writers (and readers) should ask themselves “What would Jesus read?”

If Jesus Christ were to pick up your book and read it, would He be proud of you for including Him? Would He smile at your character’s conversion scene? Would He laugh when the darkness lost?

Or would He be disappointed? Would you be too ashamed to even show Him? Would He shake His head and sigh at the cuss words—the language of Hell—present? Would He slam the book shut at the gratuitous scenes?

Think about it. The question isn’t whether or not your grandma or your seven-year-old should read it—it’s whether or not God would.

I’ve asked myself this question, and I know what the answer is.

He would. He would read it and He would be proud. That may sound presumption, but it has nothing to do with me, I assure you. He would be proud because, when His eyes caressed the pages, He would see His words written upon them. He would feel His Spirit moving within them. He would know He wrote them and He would remember the exact moment He took control of my fingers and started writing for me.

Would Jesus be proud of you?

i'm going on vacation (not literally, though)

You know something's up when my title isn't capitalized. I'm a stickler for capitalization. And punctuation. And proper grammar. And...yeah, I'm a troll.

And that's beside the point.

So, yeah. I'm going on vacation. Taking a break. I have a lot of reading and writing to catch up on--especially if I want to make my March deadline--so I won't be showing my face around the blog...or the internet...very often next month.

However, you will be seeing a TON of fantastic guest posts, my monthly newsletter on March 1st, my fantasy writers' linkup wrap-up post (that's a mouthful) the same day, a super fun surprise on St. Patrick's Day (hint: it's Irish!), and *hopefully* my last installment in my predestination series.

Also, I've rewritten some fun posts full of goodies every Tuesday! Keep your eyes peeled for "A Week's Worth of Laughter" all this month!

I'll probably have a lot of book reviews flooding--if not in March, then in the beginning of April. AND when I get back from my vay-cay, I'll have a writerly update and sneak peek for y'all!

In the meantime, I'd like y'all to give your feedback on the blog! What would you like to see more of in the future or less of? You can take the survey below and let me know!

Also, if you're interested in writing a guest post (either for March or April), you can fill out this form, and then we can sort out the details! I love featuring other voices on my blog, so I would love it if you would join me!

Anyway, if y'all see me around here anytime soon, please tell me to stop procrastinating and start writing! I hope you guys enjoy all of the special guests coming to the blog in March! I'll see you in April!

A Whole Ton of Fun Announcements and Stuff!

Needless to say, I couldn't find a good title for everything I've got going on today. I gave y'all a glimpse of what's to come in my last post, and today I want to share all about it!

So here we go!

Six O'clock

I recently wrote a short story for a contest, but suffice it to say it didn't win. (There were over 400 other entries, so...) I do so love this story, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with y'all! But before I do so, I need to decide on a cover! I've designed five different ones, so now y'all have to vote on your favorite one! Let me know in the comments which one you like the best!

Cover #1: Dark grey color scheme; simple, modern title treatment; model on cover.

Cover #2: Typographic style cover. Black, white, and violet color scheme. First cover with the tagline.

Cover #3: Carnation and salmon pink color scheme. Sun at the top, modern-style title at the bottom.

Cover #4: Off-white and yellow color scheme. Bright sun at the bottom. Large, modern-style, simple title treatment.

Cover #5: Large title treatment. Blue, yellow, orange, pink, and dark purple color scheme. Modern, rising sun design. Tagline included.

Daylight

The first of many short stories, Daylight will be coming sometime in early April! It's a YA/ New Adult story set during the events of 9/11. I'm super excited about this one, since it combines a lot of my favorite things--but more on that later. Closer to completion, I'll share more about the story and call for betas! Keep your eyes out, guys!

Fairytale Retellings

At the moment, Cinderella is in the lead! I plan on doing six short stories for a Austen-style fairytale retelling collection, so I need five more! Put in your vote here so I can choose the top six! I'll announce the selected stories sometime in mid-March! By the way, thank you SO much to those who have already voted! I greatly appreciate the feedback, and I am super excited to see these stories come to life!

Templates

As a writer, I know how difficult it is to create convincing characters, interesting worlds, and interesting arcs. I also know how hard it is to find a good template. Character templates don't fit for historical or fantastical characters. Worldbuilding always differs on what you want your world to look and operate like. And arcs? Well, character arcs are sometimes overlooked. A friend of mine brought that to my attention several days ago, so I've decided to create a template that helps you determined your character's arc over the course of the book and/or the series!

Are there any templates you'd like to try? Anything you've struggled creating? Let me know in the comments!

Linkup

So, before any decisions are made, I would like to get y'all's feedback on something (and see how well it goes over the first time).

I am currently hosting my first ever linkup (which you still have time to participate in; it ends on Sunday), all about elements of worldbuilding. I personally love it and have enjoyed doing it! Granted, I have yet to write my piece, but I've just come up with a very interesting idea, so...

A friend of mine suggested that I make this a regular thing, and I really think I would like to! Perhaps in April, I'll do another linkup, but I need your feedback! Is there something you'd like done (differently or new), and what would you like to post about? I'd like to stick with the fantasy theme, so what's one element of fantasy writing you'd like to explore more? What about writing prompts (images and lines of dialogue and such)?

Let me know if you'd be open to participating in another linkup and what you'd like to see done!

Thank you guys for joining me for all these fun announcements! Don't forget to vote for your favorite cover! I can't wait to share my new short stories with y'all!

Meet Hannah Linder (Reviews, book news, designs, and more!)

Y'all, y'all, y'all, y'all, Y'ALL! (That's a lot of y'alls!) So, you know how I recently discovered Kellyn Roth (and totally freaked out about her)? Well, something similar happened about a month or so ago with a certain young author named Hannah Linder.

It all started when Willowy Whisper (Hannah's pen name) invited me to take a poll on Goodreads. Well, her super cool pseudonym piqued my curiosity, so I clicked on her name and was transported to her profile--where I found out she's an author.

Well, not only is she an author--she's a young, Christian, homeschool grad, indie, historical romance author! Like, my favorite kind of person!

Anyway, I began to stalk her (as I have done all my favorite people). I went to her website, then to her designing site, then to her photography site. Then I circled back and downloaded her free short stories. And then, just a couple days ago, I read her Civil War novelette through KU.

And now I'm sharing with you the amazing, fantabulous, extremely talented Hannah Linder (aka Willowy Whisper)!

So, let me give you the dope on this post (#gangstaslang). First, I'mma introduce Hannah (by way of her author bio); then I'm going to direct you to more of her awesomeness; then I'm going to share my reviews of her short stories; then I'm going to give some commentary on the gorgeous covers she designed; then I'm going to make not one, not two, not three, but FOUR announcements!

(Note: The image below and the content I'm about to share with you come directly from Hannah's site.)

Hannah Linder is a twenty-one-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.

Hannah is represented by agent Sarah Freese with WordServe Literary, and has written thirteen Christian fiction books, ten of which are self-published. She is also an American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) member and a Jane Austen member. To connect other Christian writers, Hannah created and moderates a Goodreads book review group, which has now reached a membership of 1,600+.

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.

Hannah is a magna cum laude college graduate, with a Graphic Design Associates Degree. Her passion for graphic design was unearthed when she first began designing her own book covers. Now, Hannah owns a cover design business (hannahlinderdesigns.com), and designs covers for several traditional publishing houses, as well as for individual authors. She also owns a local photography business.

When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments—piano, guitar, and the ukulele—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.

Without further ado, the first story: He Wore Brass Buttons. (Note: I wrote these reviews in a different order than you see, so you're technically reading them backwards.)

He Wore Brass Buttons was shocking. It’s by far the darkest short story Willowy Whisper has written, although they all contain a measure of darkness within their few pages.

Y’all know I love the Civil War. Not the actual war, mind you, just books set during it. However, I’m always hard-pressed to find one that keeps my attention and it quite honestly worth it.

Only seven chapters long, He Wore Brass Buttons didn’t require a lot of time or attention, but, boy, was it worth it! Linney’s struggle is so real and so heartrending, and the author’s portrayal of her grief and hate was so authentic. Writing children is hard. Writing from the perspective of children is difficult. Writing from the perspective of a grieving, hateful, broken child is not for the faint of heart.

Neither is this story.

How can seven chapters impact one so much? How? Someone explain this to me! Willowy Whisper is a master. Particularly at short stories. I merely sit and read in awe of her talent—not to mention her professionalism. I’m jelly.

Needless to say, you need to read this story. And whilst you do so, I’ll be reading one of Willowy Whisper’s novels.

She Loved the Man She Hated

There’d always been so many things between them. His drinking, the gambling, the posters—their child’s death. But never bars. She stood in front of the cell with her fingers curled around the iron. “I want to know.”

A western short story, set in the Territory of Utah, about the wife of a bounty hunter who’s heart of hatred is held together by a trembling thread of love.

Y’all. At first, I didn’t know what to think of She Loved the Man She Hated. I mean, I knew I was gonna love it, because everything I’ve read by Willowy Whisper has been superb! However, I was surprised by the story she told within a few short pages.

Once again, she wowed me, this time with a poignant story about the truest, purest kind of love. I could have cried.

She was a little more descriptive, a little more conflicted this time. Her prose is so even and melodic, the perfect balance of everything. And yet, with such perfection, she wreaks havoc on the mind and heart. She’s not afraid to tackle confusing but important issues and situations; that much is evidenced by He Wore Brass Buttons. And she did it again, gripping me within seconds and drawing me into this story about a woman who has been through it all—loss, abuse, grief.

I can only say one thing: I want to grow up to write like Willowy Whisper.

The Tiny Gift

A sob sputtered from her lips, but she sucked it back quickly. He should have danced with her tonight at the Christmas party. Instead, he was a gumshoe faking romance with a cheap singer. He was placing his life in jeopardy for the hundredth time. He was roaming the cold streets with a name that wasn’t his, with a lie in every word he spoke, with a hidden gun in the pocket of his flogger. How many more Christmases before the cops brought home his body?

A 1930s vintage Christmas short story about a high society wife whose husband’s detective job endangers not only his life—but their marriage. Will a wretched old woman and a tiny gift be enough to reconcile old feelings? Or is loving him not worth the risk?

Well, I think we’ve already established that Willowy Whisper is a consummate short story writer. She can write a piece that’s strong and powerful, emotional and gripping. She can write from the perspective of a grieving girl or an illiterate old man.

She can also make you feel at home.

I rarely feel at home in a book, strangely enough. I may be sucked into the story and fall in love with the characters, but very rarely do I ever begin to smell the cigarette smoke and feel the snow and taste the air...I know I felt this way with A Light in the Window. But I’m uncertain if I’ve ever felt that way before or if I’ve felt it since.

Until The Tiny Gift, that is.

This story is just that—small, short, but a gift of inspiration, love, and faith in the midst of dark times. I immediately fell for both Mazie and Sam. And, y’all, within a page, this story felt so real and so alive—I could seriously smell the cigarette smoke and hear Sam’s voice. It’s amazing!

My only disappointment with this beautiful story was that it ended. I crave more!

Jes’ Didn’t Need Said

I didn’t need no letter to tell me my son was dead. I knew the night it happened, just like I know when the first night of frost is goin’ to sneak up on summer’s tail…

A short story that will transport you back to the Civil War, where battles are not only fought by uniformed soldiers, but also by grieving hearts.

This short story couldn’t have been more than six pages long, but as the title suggests, some thing just don’t need to be said. Some things are easily conveyed with a look or with a few short paragraphs.

Willowy Whisper has proven herself to be the most fantastic short story writer I have ever read. Jes’ Didn’t Need Said is only one of many articles of proof. She manages to capture the inner turmoil of her two characters, particularly her point-of-view character, within maybe a thousand words. I don’t believe she ever mentioned their names, but the narrator’s voice was so intimate and strong, it were as though he was speaking directly to me. I must applaud her for accenting the narrative with a Southern US dialect (wow, that sounds weird, calling my voice some fancy accent name ), because it lent him and the story a measure of authenticity that couldn’t have otherwise been achieved.

This was actually the first short story of hers written in first-person, and it is simply spectacular! This girl’s talent knows no bounds!

Never a Rooftop Again

Every emotion I ever expected plays across your face. I see Italy in your eyes—jazz music and green scarves and red-tiled rooftops. Funny, how one second can fling away all the years in between. Almost like they never were.

A 1950s noirish short story of organized crime and impassioned love. When a mysterious British gentleman and an Italian mafia dame meet soul-to-soul in spontaneous love, will an inevitable betrayal be enough to shatter everything?

By this point, I think I’ve said it all. Willowy Whisper can write any kind of perspective—young, old, peaceful, hateful. Any kind of story—dark, painful, hopeful, inspiring. Any kind of emotion—hate, anger, disappointment, anticipation. Any kind of tense—third, first, and even second-person (yes, this short story begins and ends in second-person, and I don’t think I’ve ever read something so beautiful)!

But Never a Rooftop Again is by far the best.

From the beginning, I was hooked. Scratch that, one look at the cover and I was hooked! Immediately, I was pulled into a gorgeous, intense story of love lost.

I could have cried at the end.

Within mere minutes, she made me feel so deeply for her characters that it’s like I know them personally and love them like my own. Had I not read this book at night on my computer, I would have shouted and cried and thrown it across the room (none of which are healthy reading habits, but y’all know me).

I still want a happy ending, yes. But there is no doubt that Willowy Whisper can write a tragedy.

Cover Commentary

So, y'all. I just want to say that, after perusing Hannah's cover-design portfolio, I have lost my heart to her creative talent. I want so badly for her to design Bound and Determined's cover--however, I've yet to finish writing BAD, so we'll just have to wait and see.

Anyway, I just want to gush with y'all over how beautiful these covers are, starting with He Wore Brass Buttons.

We've got everything in this cover--the house the story takes place in, the stretch of desolation land, the distressed background, and our heroine Linney. The color scheme and yellowed-paper look immediately transport us into the past! I'm not sure about the model, though. She looks pleasantly surprised rather than angry, and a wee bit younger than fourteen...

As for She Loved the Man She Hated, well, the emotion is quite plain. The accusation in the model's face...her frizzy hair that must have been rapidly tied back...the dusky background...the lone cabin...everything attest to the main character's inner struggle.

The Tiny Gift has such a high-society Christmas aesthetic that I just adore! The man's well-tailored suit and the woman's droll expression alert us to their station and, if you look deeper, their own struggles. And, of course, the huge parcel and gift tag pop against the dark green background.

Now, Jes' Didn't Need Said, is so beautiful! The Confederate flag in the background and the soldiers on the battlefield immediately tell us that this is a Civil War era story. The elderly couple has such emotion in their eyes and, seriously, where did she find such perfect models?

But Never a Rooftop Again? Now, that one's my ultimate favorite! The green landscape and tiled roofs at the bottom transport us straight to 1950s Italy, and the model at the top? Man! From the red lips to the green scarf, she is a perfect persona of the mafia dame our main character is! Also, the tiling affect over the entire cover is so cool--and the font for the title? So retro! I adore this cover just as much as I love the story!

Now, on to those awesome announcements!

#1 Hannah Linder will be coming to Gabbing with Grace in March for an interview! I can't wait to learn more about this fantastic author and share her with you! Y'all keep an eye out for her appearance!

#2 I wrote a short story for a contest last year, and now it's time to share it with y'all! I'll give you guys the chance to vote on the cover in a few days--and once y'all have chosen a winner, I'll post the story!

#3 I've got a few more short stories up my sleeve--and some of those are my fairytale retellings! So far, Mulan and Cinderella are in the lead, so it's up to y'all to put in your vote here before I make my decision mid-March! Stay tuned for my post all about my upcoming stories!

#4 A lot of things will be happening in March (which I'll expound upon in a post in a couple days), but a few of those are (1) my fantasy worldbuilding linkup will end (you still have time to write and share your post; I can't wait to feature you); (2) a whole ton of book reviews; (3) some templates for outlining, characterization, and worldbuilding; and (4) some more changes that you can bring about by taking this survey! By the way, a HUGE thank you to those who have taken my blog survey! I greatly appreciate all of your sweet feedback!!! Y'all are the very best!

Anyway...I hope y'all have enjoyed this post! I can't wait to share many more goodies with you guys!!!

Design of the Month: Yo Ho

Well, y'all know I'm all about me some pirates, so when I started up my next design for my Redbubble shop, I KNEW it had to be piratey.

And what's more piratey than "Yo Ho"?

Now, I don't know if pirates historically said "yo ho" (I will definitely have to do a post on pirate speak), but I do know that the Pirates of the Caribbean film series made the very extremely popular when Disney added the song "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)."

So, without further ado, check out my latest design--Yo Ho!

These are just a few examples of the design. You can view the rest here!

I do hope you'll check out my designs! I have a few more to add in the coming months (that being said, there won't be a DotM post in March), and I can't wait to start on my Bound and Determined-themed designs!

By the way, what do y'all think of a post all about pirate speech, customs, clothes, and more? Let me know in the comments!

Review: The Dressmaker's Secret by Kellyn Roth

It's here! My review of The Dressmaker's Secret is here! I hope y'all have enjoyed Kellyn Roth's interview and guest post, because I have many more Kell goodies coming--including this review!

If they knew who she was, they’d never accept what she’s become.

Claire will stop at nothing to provide for her daughters. An unwed mother, she does everything possible to raise them whilst avoiding her scandalous past. Some secrets are best kept, even between mother and daughter.

Alice longs for a father, especially if that means her mother will be happy. She takes matters into her own hands—but she never expected what she finds.

Despite her efforts to shelter her daughters, Claire’s ghosts rise up to haunt her, and any semblance of control over her life vanishes. If her secrets are uncovered, what will become of her family?

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, I’ve finally generated a formula for proper, contained, not-so-crazy reviews, and Lord knows I’d wanted to stick with it, but after the Queen of Assumptions (who has been known to bet some strange things on said assumptions) got blindsided, I decided to forgo the aforementioned formula.

The Dressmaker’s Secret is insane. I say that from the point-of-view of a reader who just finished being pummeled by plot twist after plot twist after plot twist, so had I given myself a couple days before writing this review, I might not have put out such a remark.

That being said, there is no doubt that TDS will probably drive you insane. Kellyn Roth can twist like an accomplished mystery writer. Not even Poirot could have seen some of the revelations in this book coming.

Punches in the gut aside, I was extremely surprised by this novel (and I’m not talking about the twists this time). There was no doubt in my mind that Roth is a fantastic writer—I knew that before I got into TDS. Her prose is even and measured, with a kind of philosophical slant (I understand that because I write very philosophically myself, so…). She writes with a maturity and authority, which is great to see in an indie author, because so many (myself included) doubt their abilities as writers, in multiple aspects.

*returns to finish this review several days after the first part was written* Well, needless to say, I think I’ve regained my composure. Granted, if you asked me about Ivy, McCale House, and Jordy McAllen, I’d start goin’ on again—but we’re talking about TDS. Claire and Nettie. Alice and Ivy. Mr. Parker *shudders* and Mr. Knight.

What was I saying?

Ah, yes. Roth’s performance was exquisite. Her plotting prowess is apparent by her careful maneuvering and twisting of all the many elements of said dressmaker’s secret. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, something else would happen or someone else would turn up and I’d be left guessing again.

Granted, I totally called Mr. Knight. The Queen yet reigns!

Ahem. What struck me the most was how well she wrote from Alice’s POV. I know from firsthand experience that writing from the perspective of a child is strenuous, nigh impossible. (Mind you, I try to write from the POV of tween boys, which is perhaps worse, me being a girl and all.) I’m even more stunned, going into Ivy Introspective, by how well she writes Ivy’s POV.

But we’re talking about Alice here.

Alice (or Gracie, whichever you prefer; I’d rather use Alice, since Gracie is a mite confusing for moi) is a colorful narrator. She grew and matured mentally, and her outlook on her life and family shifted smoothly as she changed from a scared seven-year-old to a blossoming eleven-year-old. I enjoyed reading her interactions with her family and the few outside it. Her fears and hopes, concerns and dreams, were all portrayed so well that I would have been convinced that Roth was Alice had she not applied the same expertise to Claire’s POV.

TDS was a wee bit outside my comfort zone. I’m used to adventures and romance, spies and cowboys—not children. But somehow The Dressmaker’s Secret captured me. In all honestly, I’d say ‘twas the mystery. I do love a good mystery. I wanted to know who and what Claire was, what her story was. This curiosity lured in me, but my growing affection for the characters reeled in the line!

That being said, I would have liked to see Claire’s relationships with the other characters (Charlie, Parker, Knight, etc.) develop a little more. Since I’m devoid her perspective in Ivy Introspective (and since Charlie is quickly becoming a most delightful character), in hindsight I wish for more of Claire. More of her thoughts and dreams and her struggles.

Also in hindsight, she was mighty nice to Mr. Parker. My, I could’ve strangled that man. Hmph.

Either way, Alice kept me entertained. Stories such as Alice’s remind me of Elsie Dinsmore (a beloved favorite of mine), for whom my soul ached until I simply had to stop reading. (Seriously, I won’t pick up the next Elsie book because I just don’t want Mr. Vanilla—I mean, Travilla—to die. Noooooo!!!!! Why???!!! I love you, Edward!!!!)

Pardon me. You must forgive my errant displays of emotion. At times, my feelings get the best of me.

On a not-so-bookish note, Roth is a fantastic example for young indie authors to follow. She started writing at a young age, published her books at fifteen-years-old, and has now risen to popularity. I can’t wait to see where she’ll go!

Long story short, I really enjoyed The Dressmaker’s Secret. Kellyn Roth knows how to write. She knows how to write a mind-boggling plot twist. She knows how to write fun, lovable characters. She knows how to make you laugh, cry, and think. She is definitely going far!

Let's Get Building!

Just a friendly reminder--the linkup ends on February 28th! You can comment here or on the original post with your link! I can't wait to see what y'all come up with!

Ask Ann-Marguerite™ Update!

Y'all. I have had the HARDEST time lately! I mentioned that Ask Ann-Marguerite was moving to its own site, right? Well, I take it back. Here, let me explain...

First, I wanted to do a WordPress blog because, I mean, it's WordPress. Great free domain, perfect for bloggers, leading website builder in the blogging community. I have several friends who have multiple WordPress blogs, and they're all so beautiful.

However, I tried seventeen million times (all right, not that many) to create a WordPress blog, but I couldn't even get the theme to work. I even had a friend help me, and needless to say, it was completely unsuccessful.

So I decided to buy an inexpensive custom domain (it was, like, six bucks; couldn't pass that up) and link it to a Wix site. Y'all, I love Wix. I hate how money-grubbing they are, but I love designing Wix sites. They are so quick and simple and just...I love it.

However, I had to purchase a premium plan to connect a domain I already own.

Y'all. Those plans are EXPENSIVE. I'm already paying for one.

So I went to bed despairing. I couldn't sleep. I wanted to cry. I woke up with a headache. I prayed and prayed that, if AM is something God wants me to do, that He would make a way for a blog that wouldn't cost me hardly anything.

I started researching other website builders. Both GoDaddy and Weebly require premium plans to connect a domain.

But not Squarespace. I could connect an already-owned domain to trial site.

Note: trial. Grace didn't note that word until after she started designing her site.

A trial site lasts for two weeks and after that you have to pay. $12 a month.

Nope.

So, my entire body aching and my mind whirring--mostly with anger and disbelief--I decided that it wasn't worth it. The cheapest site I could find was nearly $4 a month, but an AM site isn't that imperative.

Therefore, the gracious and extremely helpful folks at Namecheap were able to cancel my domain registration and rid me of the overwhelming pressure I had put on myself.

I say all of this to say that, no, The Official Writer's Advice Column will not get its own site. In fact, I'll be laying it to rest to introduce several new blog series come Summer 2021: several how-tos on historical romance, posts all about self-publishing (some from me and some from guest bloggers), and any writing tips y'all request!

My apologies for all this craziness! I hope y'all stick around and help me decide what should come to the blog by taking the survey below! Thanks, guys!

If Rina Were a Disney Princess (Quizzes, Collages, and Polls)

Guys, I have just a ton of fun, random goodies to share with y'all today! Some character art, collages, quiz results (seriously), and even a poll! So let's get started!

First off, I want to share the amazing collages my friend Ella did for my upcoming release, Bound and Determined. I hope to share these again (along with more fun stuff) closer to the release date, but I've been bursting with excitement at how beautiful these things are, so here they are! (Please note: I do not own the rights to any of the images below. If you do and would like the images removed or to be credited, please contact me on the homepage and let me know.)

This one is Keaton's. Ella asked for keywords that came to mind when I thought of my characters, and I always think of forests, darkness, and books when I think of Keat. (Part of that has to do with his green eyes and black hair, so...) Anyway, this is what she came up with!

Isn't it just perfect? I think it fits Keaton to a T!

And this beauty belongs to the heroine of BAD (who I'm still not sure if I've shared with y'all; I'm trying to keep her a secret--we'll call her Miss Sharow for now). A lot of these aesthetics come from her name and others come from the feeling I get when I think of her journey.

Overall, I have to say that this collage is fantastic for her and it's just gorgeous!

This right here is actually my collage for her. I'm not certain exactly what she looks like (I've got Lily James and about five other girls in my Pinterest board that seem to fit), but the angst in this picture is all too fitting.

My design skills are certainly lacking, but I think this is my best collage so far!

Next up is the collage I did for Crimson! Sure, the girl's hair isn't curly, but it's red and all the other pics fit her and somehow the color scheme just feels right.

What do y'all think?

And then, this. My friend Grace King-Matchett drew this fantabulous portrait of Crimson! From the earrings to the freckles to those beautiful blue eyes, everything looks just. like. crim. I LOVE it! She actually said that the drawing closely resembled a medieval Starbucks barista, but I personally see Crimson all over!

I never realized how good Crim looks in green!

And then here's Rina! This was the first one Grace drew for me, and I think she did great at capturing Rina in a cartoon form! What do y'all think of her artwork? Isn't it just beautiful?

My other friend (I all of a sudden have so many friends), Emily, drew some fanart of Rina (meaning I didn't ask for it) according to how she imagines her. What about y'all? How do you see Rina?

I know I LOVE the addition of the feathers in her hat. I could totally see Rina with some feathers!

So, whilst I was designing collages for my heroines, I felt obligated to do one for Xavier (I also have plans to do one for Elliot...maybe). However, finding a picture of a guy that I could use in the same manner I used Daisy, Crim, and Rina's, was--suffice it to say--difficult. I ended up choosing the first one I saw, which I will argue is because no one looks anything like Xavier. That being said, you may notice that his hair is short, whereas Xavier's is very long.

It's called creative license, people. Deal with it.

And, of course, here's Rina! Strangely enough, I chose red for Xavier and grey for Rina--which is not her color. Somehow, it worked perfectly! What do y'all think?

Now, don't y'all skip off so soon! I've got a couple more things to share!

So, I decided to take a few quizzes--Jane Austen, Disney, and Marvel character quizzes, to be exact--but I didn't do them from my perspective.

I did them from Rina's.

Here were her results:

If she were a Jane Austen character, she'd be Fanny Price. Wait. What? For those of y'all who aren't Austen fans, Fanny Price the heroine of Mansfield Park and is defined moral and shy, and possesses a delicate constitution. How Rina's answers resulted in Ms. Price, I'll never know!

But what's more, if Rina were a Disney princess, she'd be Vanellope Von Schweetz. Yep. That's what she got. Somehow, having the favorite color of green and the pastime of drinking tea equates one with a short, pigtailed video game character who practically spews sugar.

Now, when I took the Marvel quiz, I had a character in mind. Believe it or not, Rina got exactly who I thought she would--Tony Stark!!! (The fact that Iron Man happens to be my favorite character in the MCU, aside from Loki, means nothing.)

I also did a POTC quiz with Rina, simply because I wanted her to get Jake Sparrow. Needless to say, she didn't. She got Will Turner. (Somebody explain to me how Rina is anything like Will Turner!) After that ordeal, I refrained from taking that quiz again.

I did the first two quizzes with Crimson and Ms. Sharow (the Marvel one was very long), and as it turns out, Crimson is Eleanor Dashwood and Jasmine and Ms. Sharow is Anne Elliot (did not see that coming) and Belle. Considering Miss Sharow's favorite color is yellow and Crimson's is blue, I wasn't surprised by their princess selections. I don't see how the Austen characters play in, but *shrugs* you know how those quizzes are.

Which characters (Disney, Marvel, POTC, Austen, and more) do you think Crimson and Rina are? What about Elliot, Xavier, and Keaton? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Last, but certainly not least, I have the COOLEST thing I want to share! I came up with this fantastic idea to write a series of short stories that is comprise of fairytale retellings...Jane Austen style! I'm currently working on my Austen-esque prose, and y'all know I LOVE the Regency era, so I hope to bring a lot of classic fairytales to life!

But before I can do that, I need your help! Which fairytales should I retell? You can let me know by taking the poll below!

Thank you guys so much for joining me! I hope y'all enjoyed checking out these awesome drawings and collages! Stay tuned for more bookish goodness in the future!

Giveaway Ends!

Guys! I am so ecstatic to announce the winner of my Valentine's Day giveaway! I LOVE giving stuff away (just as much as I love buying stuff), so, without further ado, let's find out who I get to give one of my books!

And the winner is...

Kristianne!

Congratulations, Kristianne! I'll be sending you an email with your book enclosed, so keep your eyes on your inbox!

The rest of y'all, have a happy Valentine's Day and stayed tuned for my next giveaway!!