Vanessa Hall's Blog, page 27
March 9, 2022
Writerly Resolutions Tag
And I’m back with another tag! Two lovely ladies, Grace Johnson and E.G. Bella, both tagged me awhile ago, and it’s taken me quite a bit to get to this. But thanks to both of them for tagging me – it was good to think about some hopeful resolutions in my writing.
RulesInclude the official Writerly Resolutions banner in your post.Link back to the person who tagged you. Grace and Bella! (Please go check out their blogs if you haven’t!)Tag at least 5 other bloggers who are also writers. You can tag as many people as you want!Ask them 5 new questions about their writing goals.Grace’s Questions1. Looking back, how has your writing changed over the course of last year? Are you satisfied with your growth or are you looking to evolve more over this year?
Given I just went through almost an entire year of editing/rewriting, I think my style has become a little more settled and maybe a bit more concise? (That last part is questionable.) Lots of editing has given me a clearer goal of what I want to see in my writing, and editing/rewriting in the same genre has given me a chance to really define what I want to sound like. I used to jump back and forth between historical and modern-day, and that really messed with my writing style. (Not that it wasn’t fun, and I would love to write historical again someday.) And no, I’m definitely not satisfied with my writing. I probably won’t ever be!
2. What needs the most change and thereby the most attention?
A few things – plotting in general. I love plotting as I go along, but I don’t know how sustainable that is when my brain’s in fifty thousand other places throughout the day with school and other responsibilities. I’m trying to be better about planning where I’m going with a story. Also, action scenes. The worst for me! It takes me ages to edit those things, and I need to really focus on what I want out of those scenes and see what works and what doesn’t. (Yep, this is coming from someone who writes suspense. I need help!)
3. How will you be focusing more on that aspect of your writing this year?
For the plotting … I should try to make a concerted effort to “outline.” (Aka, write down scenes before they happen.) I have an overall idea of the plot, but it’s getting from point A to B that’s the problem. And for the action scenes? Well, number one is putting my poor characters through more bad situations. (Poor people.)
4. What kind of impact do you want your actions to have upon the aforementioned aspect?
Hopefully planning my plot more makes sure that my plot is tighter in the first draft. I can wander a lot in the first draft (and I also need to accept that’s going to happen some, as well), but just making sure the story doesn’t have a bunch of extra fluff. And for the action scenes … I hope they’re tighter, stronger, and clearer.
5. Because all these questions sound like something out of a writing self-help book, it’s time for a fun one! What plot trope, character, theme, idea, etc., would you like to write about this year?
Hmm … that’s a good one. At some point, I’d like to get back into historical fiction, but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get to that with other projects. Someday, though, I hope, because I love historical fiction. 
1. What’s one aspect of writing you’d like to improve in this year?
Outlining, as mentioned above, so my plots are less scattered.
2. Do you have a new type of writing you’d like to try this year? (screenplay, poetry, short stories, novels, blogging, etc.)
Someday, I’ve love to try to write a novella/short story. All the stuff I write seems quite intense, and I have some dreams of writing like the sappiest little Christmas story ever using some of my characters from existing books. (Because hey, they need happiness after all I put them through. And Christmas in Moscow? Swoon … just thinking about it makes me want to write it. )
3. What’s your biggest writing goal this year?
Publishing the next two books in the Grace Sufficient series. And writing at least one book. (Hopefully two, but my goals tend to be a little outrageous sometimes. )
4. Is there a writing habit you’d like to develop this year?
Putting my nose to the grindstone and editing/writing even when I’m tired at night. Taking advantage of all the little bits of spare time and using them effectively. Aka eking out words when my brain is tired.
5. One year from now, how would you like to be able to describe your writing?
Strong, emotional, impactful, vivid, powerful … yeah. Something along those lines?
Thanks again to Grace and Bella for that tag! You two are making me think hard about what I want to work on this year! 
Madi @ Madi’s Musings
Alyssa @ Seeking the Timeless Anchor
Lillian-Keith @ The Introspective Introvert
QuestionsThank you to my lovely sister for helping me come up with a couple of these.
March 8, 2022
Sky’s the Limit Press + Literary Journal
If you haven’t heard the big news, my dear friend Grace Johnson just released Sky’s the Limit Press, her digital publishing company, and Sky’s the Limit Literary Journal! I absolutely love Grace’s mission to encourage and publicize all the great young, indie Christian authors out there.
So go check out the literary journal – there are all kinds of amazing articles, stories, and poems within the pages – and the website! I can’t wait to see how this journal and publishing company grows!
Sky’s the Limit Press Literary JournalSky’s the Limit Press WebsiteAlso, for those of you who are writers, Grace is accepting submissions of short Christian romance stories to possibly be included in her upcoming anthology, Tell Me You Love Me. You can check out all the details at the link below!
Submission Entries!March 7, 2022
Review: Not for Million Dollars: A Highly Improbable Tale of a Baseball What-If by Jayna Baas
Not for a Million Dollars: A Highly Improbable Tale of a Baseball What-If by Jayna Baas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
Not being a baseball fan, I came into this novella a little clueless. I still don’t really understand baseball, but you don’t have to enjoy the sport to enjoy this story!
Characters: Since this was a novella, there wasn’t a lot of focus on only one or two characters, but several emphases on a few characters. Gil Major, the owner of the team, definitely was a good leader, and I loved how he really “put his money behind his mouth” in regards to running his team. Freckles was such a great guy – I loved how his faithfulness, along with a couple of the other guys’, helped change the whole team! And the villains … yeah, they were nasty guys, but I’m so glad Max got a good ending! Overall, the characters weren’t massively fleshed out (because of the length), but we saw enough of them to get to know them somewhat.
Plot/Writing: The plot was definitely an interesting one – and altogether impossible, as the author attests! But hey, what-if situations are fascinating. I really enjoyed the team’s emphasis on the love of the sport over the love of money. Their tenacity in the face of challenges was great to watch, and the ending kind of caught me off-guard! I wasn’t expecting that kind of climax. The writing fit the story well, and for some reason, it gave off 1950s vibes to the story. I’m not really sure why I felt this way, but I thought it worked great.
Moral/Theme: Obviously, a big one here is avoiding the love of money. But I also loved the other morals – how obedience can reap great rewards, and the beauty and simplicity of the Gospel. I loved how gently and simply the Gospel was given to Gil – because, amen, all of the work has already been done by Jesus. Also, watching the whole team grow closer to the Lord was amazing. There’s so much more than just the enjoyment of a sport in this story!
So, to sum it up, you don’t have to love baseball to read this book. I didn’t understand a little bit of the lingo (yep, I’m that clueless), but I enjoyed the story nonetheless. Check this one out if you’d like to read a bit of what-if scenarios filled with real-life truths!
March 4, 2022
ABC Tag!
I’ve done several tags recently, and I’ve got to say, this one might’ve been the most creative yet. Thank you so much to the girls over at Sisters Three (Kayti, Jaidie, and Rissy) for tagging me and making up this tag! This was so much fun – and kind of hard, too!
RulesThank the person who nominated you and link back to the original blog! Thank you Sisters Three!Include the hastily constructed graphic in your post! (lol)You must write a 26 sentence story each sentence starting with a letter from the alphabet. (Example, first sentence starts with a, second with b, third with c, and down through the whole alphabet!)Nominate 7 bloggers or writers to do the challenge!Have fun! (And try not to get stuck on x and z….lol…)All right, here goes …
A single chance.
Because if I didn’t make it across this blazing hot beach, those pirates would forever keep milady’s rightful treasure.
Cursed fools.
Daring to steal her gold, her priceless heirloom jewels.
Even the cannons on the side of that ship wouldn’t keep me from fulfilling my duty.
For what?
Gold, jewels, silver?
Heavenly treasure was so much greater – and so was the rest of the treasure they’d taken.
I regripped my cutlass, sweat slicking the handle as those unseen marauders waited on that ghastly ship, behind those tall rocks, everywhere … just waiting for me to make my move.
Just waiting.
Killing wasn’t hard for those men.
Life held no value.
Mine included.
Nay—their roaring guns and slashing swords wouldn’t stop me.
Overwhelming odds wouldn’t delay me.
Priceless jewels weren’t my true aim—but fulfilling a duty, a duty to protect, to defend, to honor a vow I’d never gotten the chance to utter.
Quite a high calling.
Riches held no allure, but faithfulness did.
So I drew in a breath, whispered a prayer, gathered my legs under me.
“The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still …“
Unless God shielded me, I was already dead … but His truth still wouldn’t change, His love would remain.
Violent pirates held no power over the Lord of all.
With my trembling hand, I pressed the hastily-drawn map flat against the heated sand.
X marked the spot.
Yonder lay that treasure – and milady, who was the richest treasure they could’ve take from me.
Zephyrs drifted from the ocean, soft, drying the sweat and blood on my face … so I stood and ran—not for myself, but for milady and for my God.
Well, that got interesting in a hurry. Little dramatic, huh? (That’s what happens with mostly-unedited me. Mind you, it was edited … some. And those transitions are really hard with having to move on to a different letter.
Now it is your turn!
I Tag …Alyssa @ Seeking the Timeless Anchor
Sherrice @ Penlightenment
Bethany @ A Ruby in the Rough
Kate Willis @ Once Upon an Ordinary
And you!
March 2, 2022
March Newsletter!
Today, my very first newsletter is going out to all my lovely subscribers! If you haven’t subscribed, and you’d like to hear more of my authorly ramblings, please click the link below!
SubscribeIf you are subscribed and haven’t received your newsletter, please check your spam. For some reason, lots of emails are being banished there. (Any techy people out there, do you know why this is happening? I am so clueless…)
March 1, 2022
Review: Memory’s Mind by Erika Mathews
Memory’s Mind by Erika Mathews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book quite like this one. Having read the fourth book in the series, Sustainer’s Smile, I knew the setting and characters, but I wasn’t expecting everything that was in this book!
Characters: Kelton was a pretty chill dude – I loved that he was shy and reserved. His desire to obey the Lord and draw close to Him was so admirable. I wish I could be like him all the time! Haeward and Philip were good side characters, full of lots of wisdom, and I liked that Philip had parts in the first and second parts of the book. The rest of Kelton’s family made brief appearances, and it was good to see Liliora again after reading her book last. All the royal people weren’t my favorite (I think I got a little confused about who was a goodguy and who wasn’t,) but Ruemyr was interesting, and I enjoyed seeing her character arc.
Plot/Setting/Writing Style: The setting mainly existed of two places – Haeward’s Hill, where Kelton went to meditate and seek the Lord for extended time, and his normal house back in the village. Haeward’s Hill sounded like a really amazing place to be! The writing style was well done – not too over-dramatic or dry, but steady, calm, and well-edited. It matched the book. As for the plot … okay, if you read this (which I think you should!), don’t expect some a grand adventure plot. Yes, there was a plot about the passing of the crown to someone else in Taerna, but the rest of the book was by far my favorite. Another reviewer mentioned that this book reminded her of a devotional – and I totally agree with the sentiment. It was a lovely devotional with a gentle story behind it.
Romance: I loved that Kelton didn’t have a romance. He didn’t feel as if he had to get married to be satisfied or make his life better. I loved that one of the final scenes was Kelton praying – there just seems to be such an emphasis on romance in Christian fiction, and it was beautiful to see a character delighting in the Lord and finding his utmost joy in God. Definitely a great part of this book! However, the one romance thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was (view spoiler)[Ruemyr’s marriage to Watt. I wasn’t under the impression Watt was saved at the time, and the Bible tells us not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Stories like Esther’s were mentioned, but just because a person in the Bible does something doesn’t mean it’s necessarily right. I was just a little uncomfortable with that. (hide spoiler)] However, the very minimal romance was extremely clean and a tiny part of the plot.
Theme/Moral: So this is where I was blown out of the water. I love books that make me think, and this author really excels with that. This is one of those fiction books that you can actually learn and profit from. The importance of God’s Word, loving Him supremely, obeying Him in all ways, and so many other massively important truths were contained in this book. I was very challenged by the ideas presented in here, and it was so amazing to see the emphasis on the importance of the Bible in every moment of our lives. This was so good!
Overall, this was a thought-provoking, challenging read. No, this isn’t some crazy exciting fantasy novel, but it will make you think and consider your own Christian walk. And in my book, that’s exactly what a story should do.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
February 28, 2022
Review: The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep
The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sometimes when you start reading a book, you think you know what you’re getting. That’s the way I was with this one – and my assumptions were a bit blown out of the water! Instead of a normal historical romance, Michelle Griep has written a Gothic romance novel that’s Christian fiction. Needless to say, this was quite intriguing.
Characters: Maggie had to be my favorite character of the two MCs. As an opera singer, she definitely piqued my interest, because yay for musicians in books! She ended up not talking much about opera and or/singing, but the few times it came up, there were some really lovely thoughts and sentiments connected to the wonders of music. Definitely appreciated, because music is one of God’s great gifts! Beyond her musical talent, Maggie had a lot of pluck, and I appreciated that about her. However, she did have her weaknesses, and she wasn’t too intent on being “strong” to the point of refusing help. She definitely had a nice balance in her character, and I loved that! Oliver was interesting. It took me a bit to figure out what he was like, and by the middle of the book, I think I gained a good grasp on his character. He wasn’t really outstanding, but he was a solid character with some flaws – and he had a nice arc by the end! I would’ve liked to see his anger problems be resolved a little bit more, but I could tell he was heading in the right direction. As for the side characters … I loved Oliver’s father! I won’t give any spoilers, but I really enjoyed how everything ended between Oliver and his dad. As for the villains, though. Yikes. They were a tad creepy for me. I know this is all Gothic and everything, but that beetle dude (I’m being serious here; he was always described as a beetle) was downright creepy. Ugh. As for Barrow, I had a lot of sympathy for him, and his grouchiness was kind of humorous. His arc by the end of the story was much-needed!
Settings/Plot/Writing Style: Michelle Griep has the whole cloudy, dark, Gothic style down perfectly. Whether Maggie and Oliver were in a lonely house on the moor, in Dartmoor Prison, or in a townhouse, the settings were realistic and so fitting. The plot was a little bit confusing for me (probably because I was tired when I read part of this!), but the intrigue and adventures provided plenty of action and suspense. And of course, the writing was very well-done. Griep’s use of descriptive verbs was really nice, but it wasn’t overdone, and her writing flowed easily.
Moral/Theme: This was nicely done. I really enjoyed Oliver and Maggie’s conversations about justice and having a balance view of it. It was lovely to see Maggie tell Oliver how God was just and compassionate through Christ – such an important truth to hold before our eyes! The other side of the story that focused on forgiveness was also very touching, and such a wonderful reminder of the love of our Heavenly Father.
Overall, I would recommend this book to those of you who like historical fiction. Yeah, it’s a little different than most historical fiction – and watch out, those villains are creepy – but this book was a nice change from average historical fiction. I’ll be checking out more of Michelle Griep’s books in the future!
February 25, 2022
Review: Enjoy the Poodle Skirt by Kate Willis
Enjoy the Poodle Skirt by Kate Willis
PurchaseGoodreadsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such a sweet short story! (I mean, ice cream plus a happy family plus a retro diner? That sounds pretty good to me!) Canary was a fun main character – she seemed like a normal teenager, and I loved that she and her siblings were homeschooled! (Yay for more homeschooled main characters.) I also enjoyed her aunt and uncle; they seemed like amazing people to work with. As a former restaurant worker myself, it was fun to take a little glimpse back into that world (albeit a much more fun glimpse than most of my experiences, but hey, it’s fiction. I also didn’t get to work in a retro diner and wear a poodle skirt.)
At first, I thought there was going to be some sort of mystery connected with the guy and the map, and it turned out a bit differently than I’d thought. However, it wrapped up nicely, and I loved how the point was made that the Lord cares even about the tiny parts of our life. Such a beautiful truth. All in all, a fun, clean read!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
February 23, 2022
I Have a Newsletter!
About three months late, I’ve finally gotten around to launching an author newsletter! I’m hoping to have a lot of interesting content that I haven’t shared on the blog (and you’ll just get more of my ramblings – but I’m not sure if that’s very interesting.)
Lord willing, the first edition will be released in March.
February 22, 2022
Cover Reveal: Refuge from the Storm by Kristina Hall
I’m about four days late to this party, but I can’t not talk about Kristina’s upcoming release! Refuge from the Storm is the second book in her Refuge series, the first being Fled for Refuge, which was released about a month ago. This is such an epic series, and the second one is just as thrilling and truth-filled as the first!
Now, for the blurb, then the cover shall be revealed!
Coming April or May 2022!
Doubt. Persecution. Forg
iveness.
Tony Dorence should be dead. But after months in the prison that should’ve killed him, he’s home. But even at home, he’s not safe from trials that hit from every angle.
Merri Dorence couldn’t be more thankful her brother is home, yet doubts have attacked her newfound faith and left her questioning all too much.
When they face a threat greater than either of them could’ve imagined, will they find refuge from the storm or be overcome by a relentless evil?
