Christa Kinde's Blog, page 19
February 16, 2016
Sage and Song, Chapter 35: The Elusive Song
Chapter 35: The Elusive Song
“Like a prospector planning for gold,
like an adventurer on a treasure hunt.”
PROVERBS 2:4 MSG
Kester’s dream of heaven faded, leaving behind a peaceful glow of contentment. He slowly opened his eyes to find Lemuel staring at him from the other end of their shared pillow. Did my disguise slip? Kester hoped he hadn’t been singing in his sleep. Or shining.
The prince scooted closer until they were almost nose to nose.
Almost cross-eyed, Kester blinked to refocus. Something has changed.
Lemuel’s haughtiness and disdain were missing, as if the prince had forgotten to put them on. Happiness shone in his eyes, and Kester responded with a shy smile.
“Was it real?” Lemuel whispered. “I didn’t dream it up?”
“I was dreaming,” Kester answered seriously. “Did you dream as well?”
Catching Kester’s wrist, the prince said, “In mine, Father sang and told stories. He invited me to sit at his side, and he told me he loved me.”
“That was not a dream.”
“So it was real?”
“Most assuredly.”
“And I can see Father again today?” Lemuel asked.
Kester hesitated. “If he calls for me, we will go.”
The prince pouted and popped up. “Do you know, archivist?”
From his place at the worktable, Asaph said, “Good morning, boys. What have you been whispering about over there?”
“Did my father send for us?”
Asaph’s sleepy smile had an apologetic quality. “The king won’t hold court today. He’s been pulled into final preparations for a royal delegation from the south. But Kester has things to do today. Maybe you can help him.”
Lemuel looked between them. “Boring stuff?”
Kester slowly sat up and cocked his head to one side, listening for God’s call.
It came.
Scrambling out of bed, Kester slipped into his outer robe and patted at his hair. “I am Sent.”
“Then you must go,” Asaph said amiably. “Bring your friend.”
Although Kester braced for the prince’s denial, it never came. We are friends? How had such a thing come to pass? There had been no discussion on the matter, nor had they reached any kind of agreement. Perhaps friendship was a miracle?
“What about breakfast?” complained Lemuel. Before Kester could come up with an answer that didn’t involve manna, the prince asked, “Where are we going? Do I have to do anything menial? Because that’d be boring.”
Kester helped the other boy tie his sash, then tried to smooth his wild curls. “Not menial. Not boring. However, we need to hurry.”
“Why?”
Tying the straps to Lemuel’s sandals, Kester caught his hand and pulled him out the door. “Run!”
“But why?” gasped the prince.
“Because.” Kester lengthened his stride. “Someone is singing!”
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Author’s Note: This story is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates on Mondays. More information can be found on the Sage and Song index page. Sage and Song, © Copyright 2015–2016 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, subscribe to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
Have you found all the other Threshold-based companion stories?
RELEASE DAY: Experiencing Contagious Joy
Women of Faith. Today’s the day! Celebrating Thomas Nelson’s re-release of some of my Bible studies. They’ve given the Women of Faith line a brand new look.
Summary: Joy has a way of working its way from the inside out. When our lives are filled with joy, the symptoms are unmistakable. A twinkle in the eye. A ready smile. A skip in the step. A song in the heart. Joy lends a glow to the face and a lilt to the voice. Joy is contagious. It is also the birthright of every believer, but rainy days have a way of distracting us from that fact. In this study, readers will take a careful look at this uniquely Christian characteristic and discover they have every reason to be joyful. They will see that joy is their strength and their song and provides a solid foundation in their hearts.
Although my name doesn’t appear on the cover (it’s in the small print on the copyright page), I also wrote two of the other three studies releasing today:
Both Worshiping God with Our Lives and Finding Freedom from Worry and Stress are studies I contributed to the Women of Faith collection! ♥
February 15, 2016
Angel Unaware, Part 14: Night Guard
We’re moving right along with the Threshold-based serial, Angel Unaware! The February issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine has released, which means the next installment is ready for readers. Follow the links below to Part Fourteen, “Night Guard.”
He was the new kid, and he needed a friend.
Story Summary: Marcus had never been a typical cherub. Raised on earth instead of in enclaves, he blended right in with humanity. The perfect Graft. But what Marcus wanted more than anything else was to become a warrior. So he asked God for a mentor. Marcus gets his armor fittings and swordsmanship lessons. But he also ends up with a couple of well-meaning foster parents, three nosy siblings, a lonesome landlord, and a new best friend.
Angel Unaware, © Copyright 2015–2016 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved.
Part Fourteen: “Night Guard”
Christian Fiction Online Magazine, February 2016 | Read it now >>
After you’ve read there, I hope you’ll come back here with any comments and questions. : )
February 10, 2016
YouTube: Hello to Book Clubs
CJMK Books. Due to a long and winding string of events involving my editor, my publicist, my firstborn son, and my willingness to be awkward in public … I now have a YouTube channel.
Kim Childress, who was my editor at Zonderkidz when the Threshold Series was published, hosted a book discussion about The Blue Door at her local library. She told me, and she told Zonderkidz … and Liane in the publicity department followed up saying, “It would be great if Christa could create a YouTube video…”
My initial reaction was sorta …
O_____O
But there are times when everything comes together, and you can sense God’s hand in the circumstances. My son has YouTube savvy and the equipment to back it up. So we gave the whole filming thing a whirl. False starts. Fumbled words. Face-making. But once I stopped freaking out, we had a mostly-coherent 3-minute video. And plenty of fodder for the attendant blooper reel. Enjoy?
Christa Kinde – Hello to Book Clubs
We did have fun making this, so I’m sure more videos will crop up from time to time. I’ll keep you posted.
P.S. I’m sitting at my desk in the corner of my bedroom. See anyone you know on the bulletin board behind me? : D
February 5, 2016
Sage and Song, Chapter 34: The Wise Decision
Chapter 34: The Wise Decision
“God gives out Wisdom free,
is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding.
He’s a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,
a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.”
PROVERBS 2:6–7 MSG
Stories of mighty deeds and mischief. Psalms of praise. Lullabies that lingered late. Kester kept right on playing until Lemuel fell asleep with his head pillowed on his father’s leg. With a faraway look in his eyes, Solomon caressed the boy’s hair, gently untangling glossy curls.
Asaph interrupted, reminding them all of the hour. “Do you want me to take him to his bed?”
“Not yet.” The king stirred and sighed. “Unless you are weary, Kester.”
“If it pleases the king, there are still more songs.”
Solomon nodded in the direction of Asaph’s archive. “More than can be known. More than can be numbered. Yet you seem eager to learn them all.”
The captain snorted. “Isn’t it obvious? That boy was made for songs.”
“And what of this boy?” Solomon asked in low tones. “Is it as my wives say? Was Lemuel made for sorrow?”
“Heaven forbid,” murmured Asaph.
“Theirs maybe, since there’s no denying he’s a rascal. And his maybe, though he tries to hide his tears.” A smile creased the old guard’s face. “But never yours, O King. He is too much like his mother for that.”
Kester’s curiosity stirred. “His mother?”
Solomon hummed. “She is no longer here.”
At the boy’s questioning glance, Asaph sent a thought laced with sadness. “She labored and died, leaving the gift of a newborn son in her grieving husband’s arms.”
The king’s expression grew increasingly solemn. “I promised her.”
Asaph asked, “What vow did you make?”
“To never burden him with the throne.” Solomon shook his head. “There are better inheritances.”
“Like stories and psalms?” asked Kester.
Solomon’s startled glance ebbed into a melancholy smile. “Treasures, indeed.”
“The brat needs to know you don’t blame him,” said Benaiah. “They talk in the harems, and he’s too young to sift kernels of truth from the chaff of jealousy.”
“I know.” Touching his sleeping son’s cheek, the king said, “And I promised her that I’d be wise with him.”
“Isn’t that why you gave him to me?” asked Asaph.
“No, my old friend.” Something brighter sparked in Solomon’s eyes, and he bowed his head to their harpist. “That’s why I gave him to Kester.”
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Author’s Note: This story is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates on Mondays. More information can be found on the Sage and Song index page. Sage and Song, © Copyright 2015–2016 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, subscribe to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
Have you found all the other Threshold-based companion stories?
Oh, yeah…
Don’t laugh. I totally forgot that I switched Sage and Song to Mondays. So … yeah. I’ll post this week’s super-belated chapter shortly. : P
Your dazzlingly absentminded author friend,
Christa
February 4, 2016
GoodReads: Want to Read
Bookish Tendencies. I’ve always been a bit of a bookworm. Strike that. I am a total bookworm, completely and utterly enamored of books. I have heaps and stacks, plus I have a library card, and I’m not afraid to use it!
I took a little time this week to update my GoodReads accounts, making sure all my titles are listed on my author pages & adding titles on my Kindle to my “Want to Read” list. Hey, I even set goals for the GoodReads 2016 Reading Challenge. I plan to read (and review) 30 books this year on my Christa Kinde account and read (and review) another 50 books on my C.J. Milbrandt account.
Why two accounts? Welp, I write in two different genres, so naturally I read in two different genres. But the opinions are all mine! ; ) If you have a GoodReads account, I’m friend-able. Please do follow me and add my books to your shelves. Ratings and reviews are also most welcome.
Reading and reviewing Christian fiction (mostly YA, speculative, and romance) and non-fiction Christian living & ministry-related titles. These are my “Currently Reading” titles:
#amreading #christfic #specfic
Reading and reviewing mostly Middlegrade and YA titles (adventures, fantasy, mystery, fairy tales, etc).
#amreading #middlegrade #kidlit
As you can see, I usually have more than one book going at once. Some are bedside table books, which I read in the evenings. Some are digital books, which I often listen to while I clean the kitchen, put away laundry, or go for walks. Some I borrow, and some I buy. And I have quite a few titles in my re-read pile this year. : )
**There are currently two GoodReads giveaways listed for C. J. (Byways Book #1, On Your Marks: The Adventure Begins and Galleries of Stone, Book 1: Meadowsweet). Watch for two new giveaways later this month from Christa … in which you could win print editions of Pursuing Prissie and Rough and Tumble. (I’ll let you know when they’re up and running.)
So what are you reading these days?
January 29, 2016
NEWSWORTHY: Local Author Exhibit
San Diego Public Library. At tonight’s 50th anniversary reception for local authors at the beautiful central library here in San Diego, I was able to play the Find My Book game. Along with scores of other area writers, we wandered among glass display cases, searching for that one special title that released last year. Mine? The devotional, of course—Angels: A 90-Day Devotional About God’s Messengers [Zonderkidz]
#FoundMine #ManicGrin
January 28, 2016
January Newsletter
Quick reminder that distribute January’s newsletter tomorrow. If you haven’t subscribed yet, don’t wait any longer! ; )
Sage and Song, Chapter 33: The Frightened Boy
Chapter 33: The Frightened Boy
“Are you confused about life,
Don’t know what’s going on?
Come with me, oh come,
have dinner with me!”
PROVERBS 9:4 MSG
For the remainder of the day, Kester endured Lemuel’s shifting moods. Fear turned to fury. Embarrassment gave way to stormy looks and noisy sulking. But as evening drew close, the prince lapsed into pensive silence sprinkled with excuses.
“I am sick. I will stay here,” he said.
Kester answered, “Your father wants you.”
“He has many sons. Let his favor rest on one of them.”
The way he said favor made it sound like anything but a blessing. Kester tried to sort out the source of Lemuel’s dread. “In Asaph’s archive, the king is not a king. And his servant is no longer a servant.”
“Is that meant to be a riddle? It’s a terrible one.” The prince stood upon a stool so he could see out the high window in Asaph’s room. Like a prisoner longing for escape.
“Not a riddle. But something rare.” Kester leaned against the wall under the window, the only spot in the room to which Lemuel couldn’t turn his back. “My mentor is your father’s friend.”
The boy snorted. “Servants have to smile and say pleasant things. But you should hear them when they think no one’s listening—mean words and lies. They are gossips two faces, and I find both ugly.”
Kester wanted to protest that Asaph was not two-faced, but could he? What he hides is not ugly. Trying again, Kester said, “My mentor and your father have been friends since childhood. Their bond endures because it is genuine.”
Lemuel scowled.
“They do not pretend,” said Kester. “In the archive, they stop pretending. Come and see.”
“To watch Father consort with commoners?” The princely haughtiness was back. “I want to go home. This isn’t where I belong.”
The door opened, and Asaph entered. He greeted the boys with a sleepy smile, then busied himself at his table.
Kester lowered his voice. “In my mentor’s archive, a prince is no longer a prince.”
Lemuel’s answer came with a sneer. “Don’t forget your place. You’re a servant, and you’ll always be a servant.”
“Most assuredly.” Ignoring the faint twinge of disappointment deep within, Kester made his meaning more clear. “But you will be a boy, and Solomon will be your father.”
The prince’s eyes widened, then narrowed. “King Solomon is the most powerful man in the world.”
“But he does not wear his crown in the archive.” Kester adopted a coaxing tone. “He wears soft robes, and he smiles freely. He sits on the floor, and he sings lullabies.”
A blink. A second blink. “Father sits on the floor?”
“Come and see,” Kester repeated.
And this time, Lemuel muttered a huffy, “Fine.”
In the archive, Kester once more became Lemuel’s shield. But clinging to the young angel did the prince little good. In fact, the arrangement served Solomon well. From his seat amidst floor cushions, the king held out his hand. “Come here, Kester.”
Obedience brought both boys near.
Kester ignored the firm grip Lemuel had on the back of his tunic, his attention caught on the lion’s head harp resting on Solomon’s knee. The young angel’s fingers twitched. “Will you let me play?”
“Perhaps later.” With a rueful glance at Asaph, he said, “Father took delight in those children who showed an interest in music, and I would have done anything to spend more time with him.”
“You can play?” asked Kester.
“Not with your skill, but yes. I am the Harper’s son.” He plucked a few notes, soft and light. “Father rarely told a story without this in his hands. Come, children. Sit with me. Refresh yourselves. There’s a story I want my son to hear.”
Lemuel shuffled in Kester’s wake and plunked down on a pillow at the farthest edge of the heap. The prince sat with fists clenched and eyes downcast. Asaph passed bowls of dates and nuts, then poured cups of something fruity and honey-sweet. Tempted by the treats, Lemuel edged closer to Kester but stayed behind him. And once the prince relaxed enough to nibble and sip, Solomon launched into his tale.
“In times half-forgotten, Israel was at war, and her greatest warrior was King David. He and his mighty men ranged throughout this land, driving back the enemies of God. Our peace was bought with the blood on his hands. Yet he never failed to say that the battle was the Lord’s. Every victory belonged to God Most High.”
The captain slipped into the archive and sat at the foot of the stairs. Asaph quietly rose to serve him as Solomon’s story continued.
“One day, my father returned from his campaign earlier than he would have liked. I could hear him arguing with the captain of his bodyguard.” Solomon’s gaze flashed to the man on the stairs. “He wanted to go back to the battle, but Benaiah was the only thing keeping him on his feet. There was so much blood.”
“Not all of it was his,” interjected the captain. “But he was done in. If it wouldn’t have wounded his pride, I would have carried him through the gates.”
Lemuel nudged closer to Kester. “King David?”
“Your grandfather, my father,” said Solomon. “I adored his stories, his teasing, and his songs. But on that day, he was not my father.”
Kester leaned forward. “How could that be?”
Solomon’s fingers wandered across the harp strings, and his gaze slid out of focus. “He was not Father; he was the warrior-king of Israel. When I ran to greet him, the battle was still fresh in his mind. His blade was before me in an instant, and holy wrath burned in his eyes. He was terrible.”
“What did you do?” whispered Lemuel.
“Wet himself,” drawled Benaiah.
“I ran,” said Solomon. “And I hid. But he knew. Even with all his wives and children, he always knew if one of his flock was missing.”
Kester asked, “What did he do?”
“He searched until he found me.”
“While he should have been recovering,” grumbled the captain.
Lemuel asked, “Then what?”
Solomon’s expression warmed. “He crawled into the lambs’ pen with me and gathered me into his arms. He tickled me and told me stories about his mighty men. And he sang to me about God, who is both fearful in His majesty and tender in His mercies.”
“Because he was both, too?” ventured the prince.
“Yes, I’m sure that’s what he wanted me to understand.” Solomon tilted his head to one side. “Are you as clever a child as I was, Lemuel?”
“Probably not.”
Solomon’s laughter was rich and rolled like the tears down his cheeks. Surrendering the lion’s head harp to Kester, he opened his arms and asked, “Are you braver, then, beloved son of my Beloved?”
With a sniffle, Lemuel crawled out from behind Kester and into his father’s embrace.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates on Mondays. More information can be found on the Sage and Song index page. Sage and Song, © Copyright 2015–2016 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, subscribe to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
