Christa Kinde's Blog, page 67
February 28, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 79: Called into Question
Chapter 79: Called into Question
Until Adin and Tamaes started dropping by at regular intervals, Taweel hadn’t appreciated Weft’s capacity for tact.
“Why are you barefoot?” asked Adin.
Taweel pointed out, “Your feet are also bare.”
“Only because our feet are still too small.”
Tamaes asked, “What weapons did you learn?”
Before Taweel could answer, Adin started pushing at his sleeves. “Why is your tunic different from other Guardians? Can I see your furled wings?”
Taweel flinched when fingers brushed his earring.
“Oh,” breathed Tamaes, his wide eyes begging for forgiveness. “Does it still hurt?”
A quick headshake. A small nod. “It does,” Taweel confessed.
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Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
February 26, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 78: Share and Share Alike
Chapter 78: Share and Share Alike
While Adin talked, Tamaes eased closer to Taweel and shyly touched his arm. The warrior’s muscles were huge. Would he and Adin ever be as strong?
Taweel grunted, and Tamaes glanced up. He’d been caught.
“Question?” the warrior invited in a gruff undertone.
Tamaes froze under the weight of his solemn gaze, but Omri dove off Taweel’s shoulder and landed on Tamaes’s nose. Eyes crossing, the boy whispered, “Only one?”
When he refocused on the warrior’s face, Taweel’s expression had softened. Tamaes wished he knew if the gentle look was for Omri or for him. But he didn’t mind sharing.
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Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
February 25, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 77: Consider Your Ways
Chapter 77: Consider Your Ways
“A secret … with God?”
“Yes!” Adin exclaimed, eyes shining. “We didn’t unfurl our wings first, but we’re the first to be Sent!”
Taweel slowly shook his head, echoing, “Sent?”
“To you,” Tamaes confirmed.
“But why?”
The boys traded looks, then shrugged. Adin said, “God didn’t say. Does it matter?”
He shook his head yet again. “You did well to obey. When an angel is Sent, he goes.”
Adin struck a pose. “And here we are!”
“Because we are Faithful,” agreed Tamaes. “Like you.”
Taweel was suddenly faced by a sobering thought. These boys wanted to be like him.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
In which I celebrate a Keeper and his mountain…
Authorial Endeavor #34. Those of you who’ve been around for a while know that I wrote a serial here on my blog back in 2012. Galleries of Stone unfolded one chapter every day for a whole year. [More about that here.] Last fall, I took down the story in order to get it ready to publish. After breaking that 300,000-word monster into a nice, tidy trilogy, I published Book 1: Meadowsweet on December 1, 2013 under my maiden name. Book 2: Harrow is set to release this coming April, and today I unveiled the cover over on CJMilbrandt.com. But I’m sharing my news here, too. : )
When the gray mountain’s Keeper hires a new
servant, everything changes. For both of them.
My other website >>
Galleries of Stone newsletter subscription >>
C. J. Milbrandt’s GoodReads page >>
February 24, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 76: Yes and No
Chapter 76: Yes and No
Feet scuffed, and Taweel’s gaze slanted toward the courtyard entrance where two boys in need of lessons in stealth stood gawking at him. Questioning the wisdom of whatever Guardian oversaw the hadarim encampment, he asked, “Do your teachers know you wandered away?”
Adin nodded. Tamaes shook his head.
“We have permission,” Adin clarified. “But we’re not wandering.”
“You told your teachers about me?” Taweel shuddered to think what they’d think of a prodigal warrior who played at Hedge.
Tamaes nodded. Adin shook his head.
They elbowed each other, and Tamaes explained, “We told them we share a secret with God.”
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Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
February 22, 2014
COVER REVEAL: Tried and True
Taweel’s Story. As promised, I’m revealing the brand new cover for Tried and True, the serial that delves into Taweel’s past and introduces him to Omri … Loris & Weft … Adin & Tamaes … and most recently, a Worshiper named Asaph. If you’re not reading along, please do! The tale’s already more than seventy chapters strong, with new updates coming your way each weekday. Subscribe to this blog, and you won’t miss an update. I also tweet about new chapters, so follow me @ChristaKinde on Twitter.
I’ve already shared thumbnails and sketches for this artwork, which was created by the immensely talented Anna Earley ♦ Anna Earley Illustration.
But without further ado, the cover…
What do you think? : )
February 21, 2014
The Week’s Accumulation lxxviii
What a week I’ve had! All busyness and bustle, with short bursts of creative bliss. I tackled a new Bible study project a few days ago, and I’ve been word-sprinting a fun short story that’s set in the Galleries of Stone universe. A couple of my artists needed me to scrounge up references for character portraits, and in the next four days, I get to do two cover reveals. Lots to share, so come and see!
This week’s accumulation:
♦ Last weekend, one of my young readers dropped in for an evening of fun—Pomeroy style. I sent Miss E home with braided hair, a tin of the cookies we decorated together, and a framed print of some Threshold Series story art. I must say, I wish I could invite all my readers over for this kind of fun! : )
At Christmastime, we use my mom’s recipe for thin, crisp sugar cookies. But for springtime, I always chose a different recipe from my repertoire. These old-fashioned cookies are fat and soft, with a pinch of nutmeg adding sweetness to the dough. The secret is to roll the dough very thick, then bake the cookies at a high temperature. These look so pretty when iced or glazed. I’ll share my recipe:
Soft Sugar Cookies
4 cups flour
1 1/4 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
3/4 t salt
1/4 t nutmeg
1 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
2 t vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 c sour cream
Sift the flour, measure, then re-sift four times, adding the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. In a mixing bowl, cream butter until smooth. Add sugar gradually, creaming well. Stir in vanilla. Beat in eggs until the creamed mixture is fluffy. Add the flour mixture alternately with sour cream, in two or three additions, beating until smooth after each. Cover the bowl and chill for at least one hour or until the dough is easy to handle.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets (or use silicon liners). Work with a third of the dough at a time. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Arrange on the cookie sheets and bake 9 – 10 minutes. Remove immediately from the baking sheets and cool on racks. Ice them if desired. Store in a tightly covered container. This recipe makes about 40 cookies.
I chose just a few of the shapes in my monumental cookie cutter collection—hearts, flowers, stars, and angels. Baird would have loved Miss E’s decision to go with a bright and bold color palette for the icing. There were vivid spatters and multi-colored sprinkles all over our kitchen counters. Having multiple colors of icing allowed us to play with some “tie dye” inspired cookies. Loads of fun. : )
♦ Last week, I showed you Anna Earley’s thumbnails for the cover of Tried and True. I loved hearing which ones you liked best. Today, I have the lines for the composition I actually went with. I’m planning a full cover reveal over the weekend, so watch for more.
♦ I’ll quickly mention my second cover reveal. On Tuesday, February 25, I’ll be unveiling the book cover for Harrow, the second book in the Galleries of Stone trilogy, the fantasy series I’m publishing under my maiden name. Book 1: Meadowsweet is available at all the usual venues: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
There’ll be lots more going on over at CJMilbrandt.com as we head into the summer months. I’m kicking off a brand new kids’ adventure series this fall, geared for young readers (ages 5-8). If this interests you, I’d encourage you to follow that blog and sign up for CJ’s newsletter(s).
♦ Most of you have probably already heard the news that Angels on Guard has released. This third illustrated short story in the Threshold universe is FREE from me and Zonderkidz, so be sure to snag your copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | CBD
If you’ve already read Angels on Guard, I’d love to hear what you thought! : ) And of course, the best way you can help me get the word out about the Threshold Series and its companion stories is to leave a review on the site where you picked it up. ✿
Guardian angels must guard their hearts,
or they’ll be tempted to Fall.
Story Summary: Even after three years, Prissie Pomeroy’s guardian angel only understood part of what it meant to watch over one precious life. The rest he learned on the day he almost lost her. In this companion story to the Threshold Series, scars are bared, fears begin and end, and angels fall.
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
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Tried and True, Chapter 75: Behalf
Chapter 75: Behalf
Eager to tell Weft about their accomplishment, the boys ran off, leaving Taweel with Asaph. Folding his hands together, the blue-haired angel inquired, “Do you want to ask me anything?”
“No.”
He accepted that with a nod, but predicted, “That will change.”
Taweel grunted, but he couldn’t deny it. There was something about this Worshiper that tugged at his aching heart.
“May I share a song?”
Taweel’s head hung low as a melancholy melody filled the space between them. Heavy with sadness. Tangled with unanswerable questions. Lashed with frustration and confusion. The song was Asaph’s, but its cry was Taweel’s.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
February 20, 2014
Tried and True, Chapter 74: Evermore
Chapter 74: Evermore
The expectancy in Asaph’s gaze reminded Taweel that as the only other Guardian present, his words were needed. Kneeling, he grasped the boys’ shoulders and declared, “Adin and Tamaes have found their wings.”
Adin managed a crooked flap. “Yes!”
“May they shelter those you love,” Taweel continued.
Scrubbing tears from his cheeks, Tamaes mumbled, “Someone to love.”
Taweel finished by quoting the same words Dorum had used to welcome him as a fully-fledged hadarim. “God gave you life; live for Him. He gave you strength; learn its limits. He gave you songs; sing evermore.”
Asaph smiled serenely. “Amen and amen.”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a prequel to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information can be found on the Tried and True index page. And don’t forget, story art is on display in my gallery.
Tried and True, © Copyright 2013-2014 Christa Kinde, all rights reserved. If you want to receive an email whenever my stories update, consider subscribing to this blog. You can also watch for notifications on Twitter.
February 19, 2014
RELEASE: Angels on Guard
I’m so excited to notify y’all that Angels on Guard has released and is now available on all the usual sites! This Threshold Series prequel is illustrated by Anna Earley, and its FREE. Don’t have an e-reader? Fear not! There are easy-to-use desktop applications: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Guardian angels must guard their hearts,
or they’ll be tempted to Fall.
Angels on Guard: Even after three years, Prissie Pomeroy’s guardian angel only understood part of what it meant to watch over one precious life. The rest he learned on the day he almost lost her. In this companion story to the Threshold Series, scars are bared, fears begin and end, and angels fall.
♦ FREE DOWNLOAD ♦
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | CBD
I’m so excited to share this little story with you! Let me know when you finish it. Tell me what you think. Even better, add your review to to the site where you picked it up. My stories are also on GoodReads. That helps get the word out to others who need to be introduced to the Threshold Series. : )
Don’t miss these other free short stories/serials in the Threshold universe:
