Sarah Holman's Blog, page 8

Welcome to my Book Shelves

 

We moved into our current house in July of 2023. Not long after, my brother-in-law (one of my husband's brothers) started building me the bookshelves of my dreams.
They were recently finished and I'm excited to show them to you today. In fact, I'm thinking of posting regularly about the contents of my bookshelves, because I love showing off my books so much. Besides, what is better than getting to peruse the bookshelves of fellow book lovers in person or virtually?
My fiction books
my non-fiction
another look at my fiction
A very happy Sarah, whose books have been in boxes for months
Another view of all my shelves

Would you be interested in a series that was about everything that was on my shelves?

The Relationship Test: A Valentine's post for those in a relationship

 

So, you're in a relationship, or perhaps you just want to be in one. Either way, there's obviously a lot of advice out there for couples. I had random strangers and ladies whom I hadn't had more than exchanged names with giving me advice when Scott and I were courting/dating. But how can you know if you're in a healthy, godly relationship? Obviously, there aren't any easy answers as some things differ from couple to couple. However, here is my test for what it is worth:

Are both passionate about Jesus? By passionate, I mean it is of first importance to both of you. Ladies, it's especially easy to think that we, as women, will be able to excite our guy's faith. Bad news, that almost is never the case when a guy has little to no passion for Jesus in the first place. Both parties in the relationship should be passionate about Jesus and living a life for Him. If your relationship doesn't pass this test, all the others don't really matter.

Does this person bring out the best in you? Friends, this is the person you are signing up for life with. You want someone who pushes you closer to Jesus, brings out your joy, and makes you a better person towards other people. You want someone who will build you up, not tear you down. You want to be better, godlier people because of each other. I know it is hard, but ask supportive friends/family members (make sure you ask more than one) if you are a couple that brings out the best in each other.

Are humility and gentleness present in your relationship? I've talked before about how important humility and gentleness are in relationships. These are qualities that are so key. Unhealthy relationships, when confronted with obstacles or objections, respond with harsh, prideful responses. Whereas, in a healthy one, humility and gentleness are present. Of course, even in a healthy relationship, we still struggle to do what is right and respond well when someone says something unkind or wrong. Yet, if you are unwilling to listen to advice/concerns from trusted sources (not just anyone) or are feeling irritated and snapping, it is a red flag. However, if you are under fire (because sometimes even those we love don't have a godly perspective) and you can humbly yet boldly give a gentle answer, that is a good sign.

Do we have the same goals both short-term and long-term? What do you want to result from your relationship? What are your life-long plans? If one of you wants to just have a good time during the dating stage and the other wants to have only serious conversations, obviously, your short-term goals are at odds. If one of you wants to be a missionary to India and one of you wants to own a coffee shop in a small town in America, you have incompatible long-term goals. While you can compromise in some areas, tred with care and prayer. If you don't resolve those things now, they will become battlegrounds in the future.

Do those who love and know you best think this is a good idea? I have known friends who have married over the objections of their parents and counselors because those people had unbiblical or ludicrous objections. It is a sad fact that sometimes those who we have been close to will object without good reason. However, ask those who know and love you best if they think this relationship is good and if it passes the other tests I've mentioned. I cannot say this clearly enough: If the people who love and know you best don't get along with the person you are in a relationship or think it is a bad idea, it is a giant red flag. Of course, there can be bad advisors, but don't ignore this red flag. Seek counsel from good, biblically grounded sources.

Did your relationship pass the test? Congratulations. It sounds like you're off to a good start

Did your relationship not measure up? Spend some time in prayer and with wise counselors. If needed be willing to trust God enough to walk away. It is better not to be in a relationship then to end up in a bad marriage.

I need your help

 Most of you have, no doubt, read my blog post when I hit a wall with social media. While life has thrown me a few curve balls that have slowed my processes, I've been thinking a lot about what I want to spend time on. Blogging was one thing I wanted to do more, but I've also been trying to figure out exactly what that looks like.

The other day, I was thinking back to the time I loved most in my blogging days. What was I reading? Who was I following? What made blogging so appealing? The answer quickly made me realize while, of course, there are different answers, the common denominator was a lot more personal updates. I miss having a couple dozen blogs where I kept up with the lives of my friends. Of course, we were in our teens during that time, and things will look different now. 

However, I'm getting excited about online interactions again. I'm actively looking for ways to use the social media accounts I have to engage instead of scroll. With this blog, I'm planning on sharing more about my daily life.

But I need your help.

I don't want to just share but get back into the blogging community. So, if you have a blog, or know of a blog you think I would enjoy, let me know about it. Also, drop me a comment and let me know what is something you want to know about me, my life, etc.

God's Daily Mercies (A personal update)

 
January wasn't an easy month at our house. We saw some precious hopes disappointed, faced some health challenges, and shed some tears. However, Scott and I both kept just being blown away by God's mercies in the midst of all of this. One of my friends from church asked me how I was doing and I responded that I was just overwhelmed by the goodness and mercy of God. It has been true.
Our house is on a rise which means we have the most amazing views of the sunset. There were a lot of evenings we get to see so much color and beauty.
On the weekend that was the hardest, God really blessed us with the ability to take a long walk together. Scott and I talked soaked up nature, made plans, and enjoyed the goodness of God while facing some sad situations.
I preordered this book months and months ago. It came on a day I needed something happy to focus on. The Dvine Proverb of Steusel will probably go on my favorites for the year. This little package was a huge blessing.

My youngest sister comes over almost every week. Honestly, we watch Star Trek together most of the time. However, we went on a hike together to Palmetto State Park. While this was my fifth visit to this park, it was the first time I had been that one of the trails had been open. It made me ridiculously happy to explore the new area and to spend time with two of my favorite people.


My family is such a blessing, as always. Rose drove all the way down from Dallas to spend a couple days with me because I was having a rough time. This gesture meant even extra as she is in her second trimester. Yes! We are all eager to meet our new niece or nephew this summer.
This past week, Scott and I got to take a hike with my three local sisters, and we had burgers Scott grilled. It was such a special time and a perfect day.
We have had a lot of cold evenings, and Scott has been reading almost every evening out of a book. We just finished a childhood favorite It's a Jungle Out There about a missionary kid. Now, we are reading a beautiful historical fiction book Lapis Lazuli for Hope. I'm enjoying spending our evenings reading aloud. It reminds me of my very happy childhood.

How have you been?

My Plans for 2024

 

This year has started off very differently for me. Usually, I sit down in November or early December and plan out goals for the next year. This year, the calendar had already flipped to 2024 before I sat down and figured out what I wanted to accomplish this year. I had hoped January would be full of writing and so far, I have done very little (besides this blog, which I'm very happy to be getting back to). It makes me question if I can make my goals for the year, but, here is to better writing days ahead.
Finish the Kate's Case Files Series. With one book ready to edit and the last book partially written, this should be a fairly easy goal to obtain, it just requires some discipline. I want my fans of this series to see this series reach completion.
Publish some new short stories.I have a short story I wrote years ago for Pentecost I want to publish this year, as well as a couple others I'd like to write and share. I would love to have some newer short stories to share with all of you.
Go back and edit some of my old work.When I started my publishing journey. I didn't realize how badly I needed a professional editor. I had some great people that helped me catch typos, but it wasn't enough. Beginning this year, I'm planning on going back and getting everything that hasn't gone through professional editing through that process. A few books might get new covers too. To get through everything, it might take a couple of years (unless I start selling a lot more and faster) but I'm excited to get rid of those typos.
Figure out what to do with my social media.Some of you may have read my blog post a few months ago. I just hit a wall when it came to book promotion. Social media has moved to be almost exclusively about short videos, which I'm not good at. I am a writer, not a videographer. I want to decide what I should spend my time on. The one thing I have firmly decided on is returning to blogging, hopefully at least twice a week.
Finish up those crafting projects.Not related to writing, I have a lot of half-finished crafting projects around the house and I'm tired of them cluttering up my house and life. So this year, I am either finishing them up or getting rid of them. I'm looking forward to lots of fun crafting as well as cleaning out some space.
What are your goals for the coming year?

Best 10 Books of 2023

 

2023 was a delightful year overall. Reading-wise, it was a bit of a disappointment. I don't think I have ever had as many books land on my didn't-finish shelf in one year as I did this. Some of this was due to the fact I am trying to clear out my Kindle and some of it was due to having authors I have loved for a while moving their stories from strictly Christian to more general market, making their stories lose some of what I loved about them. 
Let's take a look at my reading year, shall we?
(If you want to see more, you can see all my Goodreads states HERE)
First off, I think this has been one of the harder years to come up with 10 books to fill those slots, which is sad when I had 131 to pick from. Like I said it was a rough reading year. Some of the highlights for me reading-wise this year is continuing to read a classic each month with my friend Kelsey and working through the Grace Livingston Hill novels in chronological order with my Mom.
#10: Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse

After a string of disappointing books by authors I have loved for years, this book was refreshing. It had a mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat, but also a good faith element. I loved the historical couple especially. Amazon | Goodreads
#9The Man of the Desert by Grace Livingston Hill I found out that there are many of Grace Livingston Hill's (or GLH for short) early works that were rather dumb. While the romance in this one was a little dumb, the story itself was wonderful. I so enjoyed seeing these characters grow and change. Reading a GLH book is almost always a wonderful experience for me. And I loved the narrator!Amazon | Goodreads | Website all about GLH
# 8Love the Home You Have by Melissa Michaels As my husband and I looked into becoming homeowners, I noticed I became dissatisfied with the apartment we had. Since the housing market was wacky, and owning a home wasn't a sure thing, I knew I needed this book. Not only is there a lot about being content, but about helping you change things so you love the space you have more. I look forward to reading more by this authorAmazon | Goodreads

 #7Daughters of the King: Volume 1 by Natasha Metzler I'm a huge Metzler fan. I was excited to get my hands on this absolutely beautiful book. This is a collection of allegorical stories with beautiful pictures to go with them. While perhaps targeted for tweens and teens, I think women of every age will find something to love in these pages.Amazon | Goodreads
#6Paige Alder Series by Erynn Mangum
Yes, I know this is three books. I almost had to use each of these books to make it to 10 (but that would be boring). I loved, loved, loved this series. I love how funny Mangum is, without sacrificing even an ounce of impact of the message (or using awkward humor). Yes, they are targeted for people in their early 20s, but I adored them. The centrality of the Christian message and of faith in the lives of the main characters was an aspect I adored. I plan to collect and read more Mangum books in the coming year.Amazon | Goodreads
#5The Cry of the Soul by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman This book is an exploration of emotions through a biblical lens, with a special focus on the Psalms. As I'm doing a study on the Pslams, I was excited to read this book. I ended up loving it more than I thought I would. One author is a biblical scholar and the other is a psychologist. Together these men did a great job breaking down emotions and showing what healthy/biblical emotions look like by what they reap in our hearts. For example, healthy/godly anger vs. unhealthy/sinful anger. This is one I will be recommending others.Amazon | Goodreads
#4 Thrive: The Single Life as God Intended by Lina Abujamra I'm trying to read one or two books every year on singleness, even now that I'm married. Not only does it help me stay connected to my dear single sisters who hold my heart, but it also gives me so many good reminders about the sufficiency of Christ. This is one of the best books on singleness ever. I would say this book would be best for 25 and above. It's frank about some mature subjects, but in an very appropriate way. Amazon | Goodreads


With all the trouble I had to make this list, my top three were easy to pick and line up. Here they are!
#3The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer I read this while I was in high school and adored it. It helped me see the beauty in the ordinary as well as be eager to care for my home, including just my part of my parent's home! As I have set up my own home I found myself wanting to reread this gem. It's out of print, but you can still find copies fairly easily. I think this book was a good investment and one I will be rereading often.Amazon | Goodreads

#2The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold As I've said, this year of reading has been disappointing. Many of the releases I had been excited about were huge letdowns. This book had been getting so much hype and I was curious, but I didn't hold out much hope.I was blown away.This was a gentle story. It doesn't keep you on the edge of your seat, exactly. Yet, I was eagerly flipping pages, hungrily devoring the wisdom and history of Mrs. Kip. I soaked in how Mrs. Kip made an impact on Aidyn and I got to see the slow changes unfold. This is a book that made me think and feel deeply. I need my own copy so I can underline some lines.Amazon | Goodreads


#1Purposefooled by Kelly Needham Ever since I found out this book was coming, I was excited. But I didn't realize how much I would need it when it came. When I started reading, I was in the middle of burnout from trying to do things I'm not good at. This book is about abiding in Jesus and not falling for the world's idea of purpose. I read this book slowly, soaking it the truth. Most people could benefit from this book. I hope you do.Amazon | Goodreads


What about you? What were your top 10 books of the year?

A Very Bookish Romance: An Upcoming Release

 

Hey friends!
I'm excited to dive back into blogging, really blogging this year. I've already begun clearing out my writing time to make space for keeping this blog updated. 
But, so you don't miss out on some very cool deals, I'm writing up this short post.

First off, can I just say I'm super excited about this release? I think I came up with the plot for my story, A String of Paper Hearts, right after I finished As Long as I Belong. So, I've been waiting a long time to tell you Pace and Jeremiah's story. And I adored working with Pride and Prejudice! 
Okay here is what I want you to know
 ~ Preorder the Kindle copy for the special price of $2.99 HERE.
~ Once you've preordered, go claim your digital goodies HERE!
~ Last but not least, please join us on the 14th for a Facebook party on the launch day! Lots of prizes and fun will be happening and you can join it HERE.
I hope you enjoy this collection! See you soon for a real post. 

Upcoming Sales and new covers revealed!

I'm so excited to share today some fun stuff I've been working on for the last few weeks. I've never been great at cover design, but I got inspired and stumbled onto a good design. So, I'm happy to share with you the new covers for a few of my shorter works.

The Maple Leaf Books:

 
My short stories:    


A lot more of my short stories are getting some updating, both inside and out. It's all part of a massive plan to update all my work that hasn't been 



Black Friday Deals !
My books are part of a massive Black Friday through Cyber Monday. But this year, it's not just my American readers who are getting the deals. Many of my books will be on Kindle Countdown deals will be available for my UK readers and many books will be on sale for 2.99 for my Canadian readership for the first time! So wherever you are, there should probably be a deal. You can find the Black Friday deals HERE. Or, if you're from the UK or Canada, you can head to Amazon to check it out. 

Facts I Cannot Change

Facts are unchangeable. Oh, you can twist them this way and that to give different reasons, motivations, or perspectives on those facts but the basic fact remains the same. 
George Washington was president of the United States. That is a fact. Of course, we read and decide if we think he was a good president or not. We can have our opinions about his policies, but that doesn't change the basic fact that he was president. 
Some facts are a lot harder to deal with. Lately, I've been dealing with a lot of them when it comes to my writing. 
On social media, it's a fact that most people spend their time enjoying videos, some quite clever, creators put together. The hard fact for me to swallow is I'm not good at making those videos and I'm not good in front of the camera.
Here is another fact I'm facing: It seems that most people want to read romantic comedy, magical fantasy, or historical books that delve into mature/sexual themes. That runs right smack-dab into the fact that I, for various reasons, won't write any of these.
In recent years, better cover design and print-on-demand merchandise have placed a lot of high expectations on authors for spectacular covers and swag for each release. That bumps up against my budget as well as my lack of time to make everything spectacular all the time. 
One of the most humbling facts I've faced is that most of the promotional ventures I've tried, personally and with groups, have not gone as well as I had hoped. I don't like it but it's another undeniable fact.
So where is this leading? Before you panic, this is not my farewell address in which I say I'm never publishing another book. After all, I have two more books in the Kate's Case Files Series to publish and I will not disappoint my fans. I'm busy writing them, I promise. What this is is an honest admission and a humbling one.
I have hit a point I'm unable to change with the marketing tide. It's not because I don't care enough to learn, or because I don't love my readers, I just have limitations. Those limitations are facts, just as the expectations are facts. So where do all these facts leave me?
While I haven't figured out all of what it means, I do know that it will mean I'll be publishing less in the years to come. Again, I'm not leaving. I'm already well on my way to making 2024 the year I complete the Kate's Case Files series. And I have other stories on my heart I want to write and share. However, I think it will take less of my time.
I also know I'm going to stop trying so hard on social media. I'm so incredibly weary of spending so much time working to create content, only to have algorithms make it so my followers don't see it. I'm weary of being pushed to make reels or videos. I'm weary of people only seeming to like the posts that are staged to amaze. So I'm not going to try anymore. I'm not leaving social media, but I'm done trying to be impressive or meet the expectations. I'm done trying to reduce my thoughts into social media-sized bites.
I'm returning to blogging. I know I've said that a few times before, but this time, I mean it. I'll share about my life, my thoughts, my heart, even if no one reads it. Because I love writing. I love sharing. Even this post, which isn't upbeat, has been a joy to write. It took me three tries to get the right starting point and format, but that doesn't bother me. That is why I love writing - you spend your time figuring out how to present the heart of what you want to communicate. 
So, for any of you who still read my blog, thank you. And I hope you enjoy my return to this world. I can't promise you that you will see a lot of nicely staged photos where the lighting is perfect, but you will see photos of my home and life that capture how I love to bring beauty into my world. I can't promise you I will be a faithful blogger because the internet isn't my life. I also can't promise what my writing/publishing will look like because I don't even know. 
Can I ask a favor of you now? Would you pray for me? I have a lot of decisions and I want to honor Jesus with each one. I also want to honor the trust and time readers have put into me. 
Lastly, to each of you who read to the end, thank you. I don't think I say often enough how much it means to me each time someone chooses to spend their time reading a post or book I've written instead of watching a video. Thank you!

Top 5 of 2023

 

The last day of Five Fall Favorites is always a little sad. It is such a cool event and you find so many amazing books to add to your to-read list. Make sure to thank our amazing hostess and check out the other last posts HERE.
I'm so glad that you have dropped by. I enjoy both dear friends and new for commenting and reading this post. If you want to keep in touch, make sure to follow me on  Instagram , this blog or  my newsletter . 

I'll be honest, it hasn't been a great reading year. I've read a lot of mediocre books. However, I have a few books that have stood out that I have loved. Here they are.

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold

I didn't think this book could live up to the hype. I would say it exceeded my expectations. It's hard to explain how amazing this book is. In a sense, nothing much happens, and then again so much is packed into the pages. It was a deeply, soul-satisfying book. 

Goodreads | Amazon

Daughters of the King by Natasha Metzler

I have loved everything that I've read by this author. A few months ago, I ordered this book of hers on a whim with an Amazon order. I mean, it is a beautiful book with pictures. The stories are allegories of the Christian life. I loved the stories, enjoyed the beauty of the pictures, and will probably get copies for friends in the future.

Goodreads | Amazon

Paige Torn by Erynn Mangum

It had been far too long since I read a book by Mangum, but this book, this series was just what I needed. I laughed hard and was deeply touched by the message. Mangum has such a unique style that wraps itself around you. And if you like coffee, you will appreciate her even more. 

Goodreads | Amazon

Purposefooled by Kelly Needham

I have been reading this book. I haven't finished it, but that's because I needed the reminders in here so much that I'm working my way through slowly. I know this is going to be a book I recommend often. Goodreads | Amazon

The Cry of the Soul by Dr. Dan B. Allender and Tremper Longman III

This is one of the best books I've ever read on emotion ever. These authors dive into a biblical look at emotion and instead of saying "anger is bad" they explore what godly anger and ungodly anger look like and produce. As someone who has strong emotions, this brought encouragement to me. I feel like I have a better grasp of my own emotions now. 

Goodreads | Amazon

Bonus book: I really also enjoyed Thrive: The Single Life as God Intended by Lina Abujamra. Even as a married woman, I'm hunting for good singleness books and learn a lot from them. 

Thank you so much for joining me for Five Fall Favorites!