Christa Kinde's Blog, page 90

July 10, 2013

Rough and Tumble, Chapter 211: Butter Pats


Chapter 211: Butter Pats


Six children filed into their parents’ bedroom, oldest to youngest, followed by Jayce, who presented his wife with a breakfast tray and a kiss atop her tousled head. “Happy Mother’s Day,” he greeted.


“I made pancakes!” Neil announced.


“I put on the blueberries,” Prissie quickly added.


Beau said, “I made juice.”


Tad helped arrange the pillows behind his mom’s back before confiding, “The flowers are from me.”


Naomi looked expectantly at her remaining sons, and Zeke exclaimed, “Guess what me and Jude did!”


When she turned a baffled look on her husband, Jayce cleared his throat. “You’ll remember Valentine’s Day …?”


<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>


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Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!


Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 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.



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Published on July 10, 2013 20:15

July 8, 2013

THE BLUE DOOR for $1.99

Summer Sale!

For a limited time, you can download Book 1 in the Threshold Series for just $1.99. Yep! The Blue Door is currently marked down, so nab your digital copy today. And don’t forget that the illustrated Threshold Series prequel, Angels All Around is FREE. Take advantage. Spread the word! ♥


Bk1, AAA


The Blue Door >>

Angels All Around >>



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Published on July 08, 2013 18:04

Rough and Tumble, Chapter 210: Cloudless


Chapter 210: Cloudless


Ethan loved having Zeke under his watch-care, but too often, that meant all he could do was watch … and care. “Not the orchard,” he sighed. Blight delighted in dropping in on Ethan whenever they were amidst the trees.


Suddenly, Zeke stopped and stared up through branches thick with blossoms. Snowy white flowers hung in fragrant clouds, dazzling against a cloudless blue sky. “Wow,” he whispered, soft and sincere.


The single, worshipful note sent a tremor of joy through Ethan’s wings, scattering the worries that had kept him from noticing nature’s beauty … and responding in kind. “Amen and amen.”


<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>


START AT THE BEGINNING


Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!


Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 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.



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Published on July 08, 2013 17:47

July 7, 2013

Rough and Tumble, Chapter 209: Imagination


Chapter 209: Imagination


Ethan was afraid Zeke would be bored with his class’s springtime gardening project. Not so.


“This is weird,” he muttered to Jasper. “Seeds go in the ground. Not in eggs.”


“I’ll tell you what’s weird,” his best friend replied. “These eggs!”


“Nuh-uh. They’re just regular ones. Momma and me brought them for teacher.”


Jasper studied his soil-filled eggshell. “But this’s green! And huge! Maybe they’re dinosaur eggs!”


Zeke’s snorted. “Ain’t you never heard of ducks?”


“Ain’t you never heard of ’magination?”


By morning’s end, the two boys had convinced their classmates that they were planting magic beans in dragon eggs.


<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>


START AT THE BEGINNING


Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!


Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 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.



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Published on July 07, 2013 23:27

July 6, 2013

Rough and Tumble, Chapter 208: Sense of Humor, Intact


Chapter 208: Sense of Humor, Intact


Ethan couldn’t resist inviting Garrick and Yannis to visit the preschool before the Valentine’s Day decorations were taken down. “What is that?”


Chuckles rippled around the room as Ethan explained, “A cherub.”


The two muscular archers traded a long look. Yannis protested, “This is what children are taught about cherubim?”


“At least he carries a bow,” Garrick ventured.


Yannis shook his head. “But why are his arrows tipped with hearts?”


Before long, both Protectors were up on tiptoe, posing with their bows and leading a song of celebration for the children, their Guardians, and the God who loved them all.


<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>


START AT THE BEGINNING


Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!


Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 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.



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Published on July 06, 2013 21:23

July 3, 2013

Rough and Tumble, Chapter 207: Smack Dab


Chapter 207: Smack Dab


Jayce leaned against the top bunk where Zeke sulked. “What’s wrong, bud?”


“Valentine’s.”


“Sure, sure. Tomorrow’s the big day.”


“Yeah. ’Cept my present for Momma was too breakful.”


“Breakable?”


“Broked,” Zeke corrected, spreading his hands. “We throwed it away.”


“What did you make?”


He mumbled, “My hand.”


Rubbing his chin, Jayce ventured, “A handprint?”


“Uh-huh.”


Ethan could see how disappointed Zeke was. Thankfully, the boy’s father was just as perceptive. “How about we find another way to give Momma our love?”


The next day, Jayce served an elaborate torte, decorated with whipped cream, shaved chocolate, and one little boy’s handprint.


<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>


START AT THE BEGINNING


Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!


Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 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.



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Published on July 03, 2013 08:58

July 2, 2013

Rough and Tumble, Chapter 206: Sugar Coated


Chapter 206: Sugar Coated


Ethan was just as intrigued as his charge when the preschool teachers poured pastel rings onto the tables and passed out lengths of yarn on which to string them.


Zeke snatched, sniffed, and slipped one into his mouth. “Tastes good!”


“Who’d want cereal that tastes bad?” asked Jasper.


“Cereal,” echoed the boy, trying another one. Being raised in a baker’s household meant bread, muffins, and assorted pastries … not breakfast in a box.


Halfway through their craft time, Zeke’s strand was the shortest. For every fruit-colored ring that made it onto his necklace, two found their way into his mouth.


<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>


START AT THE BEGINNING


Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!


Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 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.



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Published on July 02, 2013 11:40

Rough and Tumble, Chapter 205: Far Eyes


Chapter 205: Far Eyes


When Othniel found Ethan lost in thought, he asked, “What troubles you, young warrior?”


“The Fallen.”


“Understandable.” The older Guardian took a seat beside him. “They trouble us all.”


Ethan cautiously asked, “Have you ever met one of them?”


“Yes.”


“Talked to him?”


“Yes,” Othniel repeated, gazing at him from under bushy, red brows. “But swords are simpler than words.”


“We drive them off,” Ethan said. “Is that enough?”


“For the day in which we stand, yes.” Othniel frowned. “You have far eyes for one so new. May it make you wise for the time when such perspective is needed.”


<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>


START AT THE BEGINNING


Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!


Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 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.



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Published on July 02, 2013 10:22

June 28, 2013

The Week’s Accumulation xlvi


Summertime is upon us, and I’m gearing up for a writing blitz. Maybe some of you are familiar with NaNoWriMo, which sends participants on a novel-writing marathon during the month of November. I’ve found it useful to push through these three times a year, and July is one of those months. In the meantime, I’ve been busy with all sorts of things, and that makes for some interesting clutter. Come and see!


This week’s accumulation:

♦ This has been an especially busy week for bonus posts. If you ever want to look back at one of these Authorial Endeavors, they’re connected daisy-chain style, but I also have an index of them on my Miscellany Page. This week:


♦ Reviews are love, especially when they come in doodle format! Did you catch my friend Terri’s pictorial summation of The Hidden Deep? Baird says it best >>


♦ I was invited to do a guest post at Jean Book Nerd—“Four Approaches to Character Names, a.k.a. The Naming Debacle.” There’s also a review and a GIVEAWAY of The Hidden Deep. My companion post, which includes more tidbits about the people and places in the Threshold Series, is called In which names are named…


Guest Post


Rough and Tumble reached a milestone! To celebrate 200 chapters, I did a special post with fun facts about that companion story and its characters.


♦ Have  you ever played Rich Man, Poor Man? How about doing it Jane Austen-style? Family goofiness >>


♦ I adore the illustrations in Angels All Around. Anna Earley did a fantastic job, but it can be hard to see every little detail on the screen of an e-reader. While I can’t show you all the art from this Threshold Series prequel, Zonderkidz did give me permission to reveal a few. I’m sharing one today! [Click the picture to bring up the larger size!]


In summertime, this bookstore smelled dry and sweet, like warm paper and cedar shelves. The Curiosity Shop wasn’t like the library, which had air conditioning and classical music playing on the stereo in the back corner. This old store was quiet, but not because you’d be in trouble for talking loudly. The hush was more like the kind you felt during a good game of hide-and-seek, when you’re sure the one you’re looking for is right around the corner. —excerpt from Angels All Around


The Curiosity Shop


Peek-a-boo! Don’t forget that one of the fun things Anna and I added to these illustrations is a game of hide-and-seek. Can you find the yahavim? He’s in there! Don’t know what a yahavim is? Find out more about heaven’s littlest angels in this post. And … here’s one now!


Yahavim, final


♦ If you haven’t yet downloaded this FREE e-story, please do so. Here’s the place to start! And if you’ve delayed because you don’t have an e-reader, they’re very easy to come by. Most of these reading applications have a desktop version. For instance, here’s a link to the one for Kindle. And there’s also a CBDReader for desktop.


So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!


<< LAST WEEK  |



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Published on June 28, 2013 11:02

Rough and Tumble, Chapter 204: The Cooks


Chapter 204: The Cooks


Christmastime meant cookies, and Jayce let his little artist help out. In the bakery kitchen, Paul Cook stroked his bristling moustache. “That’s a fine figure of a snowman, Zeke!”


“Yep!”


“You don’t often see green ones,” the old man remarked. Paul’s wife Louise—or Auntie Lou, as she liked to be called—had recently come out of retirement to join the bakery staff. “Does he have elfish aspirations?”


“Grass stains,” Zeke corrected. “From playing football.”


“An inspired choice!”


Zeke grinned at Prissie, whose snowmen were white. “See? Uncle Lou says he’s good!”


“Uncle who?”


Mr. Cook laughed. “I’ll be dubbed!”


<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>


START AT THE BEGINNING


Author’s Note: This story in small chapters is a companion to Christa Kinde’s Threshold Series [Zonderkidz] and updates every weekday (Monday through Friday). More information and cast pictures can be found on the Rough and Tumble index page. And don’t forget, more story art is on display in my gallery!


Rough and Tumble, © Copyright 2012 – 2013 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.


Fridays: I’ll keep comments open on Fridays in case you’d like to say hello.



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Published on June 28, 2013 08:47