Sarah Holman's Blog, page 112

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

I have been tagged by Melanie Dickerson  in The Next Big Thing Blog Hop. Thank you Melanie for tagging me!So, this tag is to let all of you in on my currant project. I have already started telling you a little bit about it on Writing Saturdays, but this post should give you a better idea of the project, and perhaps even get you excited about it.1: What is the working title of your book?The working title for my book is Adventures and Adversities. The story, set in the Middle Ages, is follows one girl and the adventures and trials she goes through over two years.2: Where did the idea come from for the book?I was watching Princess Bride and I decided I wanted to write a book set in the Middle Ages that was full of adventure, but showed the hard life of a peasant. 3: What genre does your book come under?That is what I am debating. Although it is set in the Middle Ages, it is takes place in a fictional country. I think that historical-fiction is the genre it will end up being. What do you think?4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?That is tough if I could pick anyone I would probably have my sister Rose play Alditha (since I am based her on my sister Rose)
Sterling Knight as William
..... boy, it is hard to come up with actors when you don't watch a lot of TV.....
Perhaps a young Felicity Jones as Eleanor (I am looking these actors up as I go)
Captain Harold[image error]5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?How will Adlitha react to the many challenges she faces in her young life.6: Is your book self-published, published by an independent publisher, or represented by an agency?The plan is to self-publish it, but who knows what God's plans are.7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?Three months (I wrote it about two years ago)8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?I always have trouble comparing my books, but I model the atmosphere of the books after some of the fun stories of the Middle Ages like Robin Hood, Ivanhoe, and the like.9: Who or what inspired you to write this book?I have had a lot of friends who have gone through a hard time and/or grieved the lose of a loved one. They inspired and continue to inspire the message of the book.10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?This book has many twists, turns, and bends. I think that girls will love the sweet Alditha who tires to do what is right and keep smiling, even when life gets hard.
I tag Jessica Phillips, Rachel Phillips, Rachelle Rea, Tarissa Graves, Rachel Heffington, and Ellyn Gibbs

Prayer for the Battle

I have been thinking a lot about spiritual battle the past few days, mainly, because I am in one. The evil one keeps trying to plant doubts and fears in my mind and weaken my faith. Everyday has been a struggle mentally and emotionally. It isn't just me either, some others in my family have been struggling as well.

I would like to ask for your prayers for both me and my family, that God would give us peace and his strength to fight against the evil one.

I am learning to rely on God, even when I don't feel he is close by. I am leaning the valuable lesson (yet again) that I cannot do things in my own strength  I am also realizing that my books are not just stories, but projects that need a lot of prayer as they have the power to change lives.

You see, the book I am editing right now is about dealing with grief and hardship. I think that God plans to use it in the lives of those who read it and that is why progress in slow and I am under attack (on of the reasons). So please pray also for my projects that they would be used by God. Thank you.

Project Piano Makeover

My Piano (needs a paint job as you can see)
But I have to cover the hinge. 
and the keys
Here is how it looks after one coat

Ad there, it is done!

Multitudes on Mondays: Editing

I am busy trying to edit my book, Adventures and Adversities by the end of the month. I have to be honest  it is going much slower then I would like. However, it is going slow because I have learned so much since I wrote it two years ago. Here are some of the things I am thankful for as I edit.
281. I have come far. I am seeing how I have gotten better and stronger in my writing.


282. My amazing friends who encourage me every step of the way.
283. The eager readers who seem to be excited about this latest release.
284. A day that I have now set aside for writing every week.
285. My family that works so hard to help me. 286. A growing list of people who want to be advanced readers
287. The joy of seeing my story improving.
288. New music to inspire my work
289. Time to relax after long days of editing.
290. Alditha. She may only be a fictional character, but I find her to be a blessing anyway.

Writing Saturday: B is for Bad Guys

Adventures and Adversities is the first book I have written that didn't have a bad guy for the good guy to defeat. My normal style of writing has been centered around a war between good and evil. The biggest thing I learned when writing Adventures and Adversities is that you do not need a central bad guy to make a story work. In fact, I learned that it can actually help.
The story, instead of being centered around good verses evil, is centered around my main character, Alditha, struggles to get back to those she loves. If you had to pick a bad guy in the story, it would be the things that keep her from loved ones. Writing a story this way though helped me to get deeper into the character of Alditha. instead of relaying on my action scenes heavy like I normally do, I had to learn to write deep emotions, and my character development.
Another thing I had to do was keep the story moving. If I got to much time in one place, my readers could get bored. Adventures and Advertises has taught tight writing without reliance of action or bad guys.
Do you have any great tips for writing stories without a main bad guy?

Finds of the Week

Magic: Harry Potter Vs. LOTR & Narnia... And What God Says About It A wonderful post on magic. I didn't agree with everything, but I thought she did a very, very good job on a very controversial subject.
Live It! My challenge ~ Sarah

My goals for the year on MOHL

Thou Art Invited

This look like it is going to be fun!

Blog of the Week
Meditations of His Love Daily

Good Morning!

God often gives us gives us what we need for each new day. One of my goals this year was to learn to listen to God better, no matter what form that takes. This morning he spoke through Exodus chapter 4 and day four in Unglued: The Devotional. Both of them came away with a message not to measure myself by other people’s standards. Who is it that gives a person a mouth? Who determines whether one person speaks and another doesn’t? Why is it that one person hears and another doesn’t? And why can one person see and another doesn’t? Isn’t it because of Me, the Eternal? You know it is. Go now, and I will be there to give you the words to speak; I will tell you what to say. Exodus 4:11-12 The Voice Bible
I needed to hear these words this morning because I am working on my book. Progress has been painfully slow because I just don’t feel like my book can measure up to others. God was telling me today, through his word, that I don’t have to measure up to everyone else. God gave me this story, he will use them to touch others whether or not the words are good enough to win a Christy award.
Praise God for His Goodness!

Multitudes on Mondays: Joys on a cold day

271. A hot cup of tea
272. Fun movies
273. Good books

274. Siblings to snuggle
275. Comfy sweaters 
276. Thick socks
277. The knowledge that spring is coming
278. Internet
279. A big couch
280. A house that keeps out the cold

Writing Saturday: A is for Alditha

In summer of this year, I will be releasing the first in a new series of books, set in the Middle Age in the fictional country of Taelis. So today, I am starting a new series that are the ABC's of this book Adventures and Adversities. An ABC series is perfect because each book of the Tales of Taelis, my new series, starts with a different letter of the alphabet. Today, I would like you to meet my sweet heroin, Alditha. and get to know her a little bit.
Alditha Picture via Pinterest
Age at the beginning of the story: 15
Age at the end: 17
Living siblings: two brothers
Best friend since childhood: Marian
Greatest sorrows: The death of her baby sister and having to leave her home to work at Delmore castle
Greatest joys: Her new found friends, Eleanor and William, and making life better for others
Her Tale: Alditha lived the normal life of a peasant... That is until she is taken from her home to work at castle Delmore in the kitchens. Although the work is hard and the place strange, Alditha soon makes friends with a brother and sister, William and Eleanor, who she would do anything for. Alditha soon discovers that they are willing to do anything for her, including risking their own lives.Join Alditha through all her adventures and adversities and her discovery that God can heal our deepest hurts.

Off for an adventure...

Today I am off for an... errr, I have an appointment with the eye doctor. My eye has developed a dot that comes and goes and I must get it checked out. After that we have some errands to run in town. Okay, so this isn't a huge adventure, but I have boring days to. Sadly, I cannot write all the time.