Sarah Holman's Blog, page 41
August 2, 2018
Journey Through Taeils
Welcome to a Journey through Taelis. Over the next few days, we are going to have a lot of fun exploring the characters and places that make Taelis, Taelis.Of course, We need a map.
This is the map I work with. Why haven't I put it in my books? Well, it is still a work in progress. but this will give you the lay of the land.
Now that we have a map, what might we expect to find on our journey?
~ Free short stories
~ Discounted ebooks
~ New Taelis short stories
~ Fun games
~ Character profiles
~ Giveaways
Are you ready? Let's start on our journey!
July 9, 2018
Lessons in Contentment and Success
My review of I'm Happy for You
Get Emmeline
July 9, 2018Author A.M. Heathhttps://amheathblog.wordpress.com/Giveaway: In the Shadow of Thy Wings
Author Kelsey Bryanthttps://kelseysnotebookblog.blogspot.com/Discount: Suit and Suitability ebook
July 10, 2018 Author Kelsey Bryanthttps://kelseysnotebookblog.blogspot.com/Discount: Second Impressions ebook
July 11, 2018Author Rachel Rossanohttps://www.rachelrossano.com/blogDiscount: The King of Anavrea ebook
July 12, 2018Author Amanda Terohttp://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/Free eBook: Hartly Manor
July 13, 2018Author Kate Willishttps://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com/Free eBook: Enjoy the Poodle Skirt
July 14, 2018 Author Kendra E. Ardnekknittedbygodsplan.blogspot.comVlog and Giveaway: The most romantic fairy tales
July 16, 2018Author A.M. Heathhttps://amheathblog.wordpress.com/Giveaway: Out of the Ashes
July 17, 2018 Author Rebekah Morris www.readanotherpage.comDiscount: The Unexpected Request Free: Choices for Max
July 18, 2018Author Emily Ann Benedict https://www.facebook.com/Emily-Ann-Benedict-164350249985/Discount: Perception, a Vintage Jane Austen Novel
July 19, 2018Author Erika Mathewswww.restinglife.comDiscount: Promise’s Prayer ebook, Overrun By His LoveFree: Gather ‘Round The Fables
July 20, 2018Author Ryana Lynnwww.lifeofheritage.comBlog post: character interview.
July 21, 2018Author Rebekah Morriswww.readanotherpage.comSale: to be announced
July 23, 2018Author Amanda Terohttp://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/Discount: Journey to Love, Befriending the Beast, The Secret Slipper
July 24, 2018Author Rebekah Morriswww.readanotherpage.comBlog: Special upcoming release announcement
July 25, 2018Author Emily Ann Benedicthttps://www.facebook.com/Emily-Ann-Benedict-164350249985/Giveaway: The Father Christmas Confessions.
July 26, 2018Author Faith Blumwww.faithblum.wordpress.comBlog: Special upcoming release announcement and book sale
July 27, 2018Author Alicia G. Ruggierihttp://www.aliciagruggieri.com/category/abrighterdestiny/Discount: A Time of Grace: The Complete Series Blog: Spotlight on new book
July 28, 2018Author Abigayle Clairehttps://theleft-handedtypist.blogspot.comGiveaway and discount: Andora’s Folly
July 30, 2018Author Alicia G. Ruggierihttp://www.aliciagruggieri.com/category/abrighterdestiny/Discount: The Mystery of the Missing Cufflinks
July 31, 2018Author Amanda Terohttp://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/ Giveaway and new release: “Finding Christmas Joy”
July 1, 2018
Christmas in July Day 1
Ready for a month of amazing deals, freebies, and fun stuff? Well, this is your month! A lot of author friends have joined together to make July an amazing month for all of us. I get to kick things off today with a free Christmas short story. You can click on the image below or go here.
Did I mention that we are doing a pretty awesome giveaway? Well, we are!
I was running behind on my work so one of the other things that is included is an audiobook of Emmeline!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
LINK TO GIVEAWAY
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...?
Not in the USA? Not a problem! We have a giveaway for our lovely readers outside the USA (which will also include an Emmeline audiobook).
a Rafflecopter giveaway
LINK
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...?
July 2, go HERE for the next awesome giveaway.
June 30, 2018
Birthday Party!
10 years! I've been writing on this blog for ten years. I started this in 2008 on my birthday. I was a new 18-year-old who was lonely but had big ideas. This blog celebrated with me when I published my first book and when I finished my trilogy. I shared about my struggle with depression, and how God showed me that my darkest moment could also be my finest hour. I could go on about all the things I've been through with this blog but...I've got a party to get to today.
I'm so blessed by the ten years I've had here, and I look forward to the next ten years...with a couple of changes. Yes, I've been stressed out lately about the lack of posts. It's one of the many things that I've been stressed about in my life. In fact, I had a meltdown Sunday afternoon. Mom hugged me, talked to me, and said some things would need to change. One of them, I decided, will be this blog.
Before you panic (thank you, one person, who panicked), I do plan to keep blogging. However, I plan to do more video posts once a week instead of even trying for daily posts. Sometimes, I act like I have the same workload I did when I was eighteen when my life has become much more active. Here are a some of the other changes I'll be making.
Taking it easy for the month of JulyRefocusing on Jesus and his priorities, not my own accomplishments (or lack of them).Spending more time interacting with people. My computer is nice but...not that nice.Cutting out projects and tasks that are getting in the way of highest callings and goals
As this, my twenty-eighth birthday approached, I have to admit it was hard to face. It is normal around the thirty-year mark to really examine your life and wonder what you have done and what you have left to do. My problem? I got caught in looking for the normal markers of success that the world tells us to look for. I'm not a huge, money-making author. I'm not married. I don't have my 2.3 children (can I make that my 6.3?). On the surface, I haven't achieved much in my life.
The real picture? I've impacted people's lives with my stories - my main goal from the very beginning. I've successfully held to my principles in relation to guys when the world has bombarded me with messages and ideas on how to snag myself what my flesh desires. I don't have any children. Not the two that the worlds says I should have, not the six or so that I desire someday. Yet, I've had the freedom to love on some kids that God has brought into my life. I might not have been able to do that if I had my own. God has helped me to become the sister and daughter that I wanted to be, and so much more.
June 11, 2018
My Colorado Adventure
Well, should I stop apologizing for my lack of posts and just say: "Suprise, Sarah is on her blog today." I got completely overwhelmed with planning and preparing the days leading up to the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference. The week of the conference was, of course, very full, and the recovery time took a lot longer then I expected, mostly due to a lot of extra hours at work.
It was quite an adventure! It started at 3:30am so that we could leave the house in time for the flight. by we I mean my fellow writers and very wonderful traveling buddies, Jessica and Kelsey. What we didn't know was that a college had just let out. Even arriving at 5am, we had an hour wait in line at TSA. We bearly made it to the plane in time, but we did make it!
I hadn't been on a plane since 2011. I was blessed to get a window seat and really enjoyed my time watching the world pass below me.
We had a little while to wait in Dever for our car. Which was fine, all three of us had things we needed to do online. It ended up being a perfect time for that.
Jessica, Sarah, KesleyArrival was a bit chaotic, as we registered, I hurried to a faculty dinner, and we found our way around. The next morning, we were eager to start our classes and enjoy the mountains.
My favorite time of the whole trip was our hike to Bible Point. The three of us skipped an evening session and enjoyed watching the sunset behind the mountains.
We also took one morning and went to Estas Park. I found sound gifts for my family and an awesome sweater.
I read Psalm 36 over and over in the mornings. This was the view from the balcony of our room.
One morning, I trecked over the balcony of the auditorium.
Of course, I got to meet some great people. I met Paula 11 years ago when I went to the conference the first time.
Tessa and I've been connected for years through Homeschooled Authors. We both had the privilege of teaching the teens and getting to meet.
It was hard to say goodbye, but we had a lovely drive to the airport. Kelsey and I had already said goodbye to Jessica, who had left on Saturday.
I loved flying Southwest
Kelsey and I enjoying the Denver airpot
Heading home!
June 1, 2018
May 12, 2018
The Importance of a Sabbath Rest
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genisis 2:2-3 NIV
I've been thinking a lot about the Sabbath of late. Why? There are a lot of deadlines and project that feel like they have to be done...yesterday. For years, our family has kept all electronics other than our phones off on Sundays. We even turn off the internet. It is amazing how restful it is when you shut everything off. We also don't plan on a lot of chores other than the things that have to be done.
On the flip side, I've been reading in the gospel where the religious leaders took this principle to far. They had come up with extra rules that made it a burden. They would water their animals but were angered when Jesus healed. They made the Sabbath so much about not working, it became a burden just to keep up. Of course, this was never what God had intended.
I went back to that first rest that God took. Those two verses that I shared at the beginning seem so simple on the surface. Take another look. When you are looking for the why behind the Sabbath, those verses say a lot. The biggest of which is that God cares a whole not about us. After all, the God who never grows tired or weary. He didn't need a break, he was setting an example.
The first part of the verse also stood out to me. He had finished what He had been doing. He hadn't finished all His work he would ever do (clearly since He is still working on me), He finished creation and took a rest.
Sometimes there are things that need to be done that spill over into my Sabbath. However, so many times, I'm giving into the tyranny of the urgent and missing the blessings that God has for following His plans. I've had a lot on my plate right now. It is hard to stop everything on Sunday, to not write that book review, schedule that blog post, or do just a little editing. Yet, I keep coming back to those passages of scripture.
This is something each of us must examine for ourselves. After all, Jesus also made it very clear that not all work was bad and that the Sabbath was made for ma, not man for the Sabbath.
What do you think?
May 9, 2018
Update on my WriteMind Planner
Well, I was frustrated. I couldn't find a planner like I wanted and I tried using my phone but my brain wasn't accepting that. And I realized that I have an awesome WriteMind Planner and I know that there monthly and weekly planning sheets for it. However, long-term and short-term it isn't cheap unless...I could print my own.
I went on a little shopping spree. I bought a $19 dollar punch and $25 dollars in digital sheets (most of that was for the basic writing package).
It took me a few tries of figuring out where I needed to use the punch so the sheets lined up. I was very excited because I had run out of character sheets about three months ago.
Now, at how nice that looks
My weekly sheets. I use the plastic bookmark that I bought with my original WriteMind purchase to mark the current week.
I really enjoy the colorful sticky tabs I bought to separate projects.
So that is it! The WriteMind Planner comes to my rescue again.May 8, 2018
Kindle Fun
So, earlier this year, I spent a lot of money on myself. I bought myself Amazon Prime for a year. It was probably the most I've spent on myself and entertainment for quite a few months. Because I'm a Prime member, Amazon offered me three months of Kindle Unlimited for $2. Yes, I did it and I've already read three books and loved all of them.
I'm trying to catch up on all my book reviews. but, with how my writing has been, that has been coming along slowly. And that isn't keeping me from reading. Right now I'm reading these lovely books.
What are you reading right now?
