Christa Kinde's Blog, page 95
May 17, 2013
The Week’s Accumulation xl
This past week has flown by. This coming weekend is gonna fly past in like manner. Come Monday, I have a flight to catch. And I’m up to my eyebrows in Flights of angels. Ufda. I can’t really complain, but life’s been a little crazy. If you want to know more about what’s up, there’s plenty of clutter to share. Feel free to snoop through it!
This week’s accumulation:
♦ Zonderkidz is running a special sale on the first book in the Threshold Series. Right now, you can download a digital copy of The Blue Door for just $1.99! It’s been fun to see the promotions going out via the various networks. I just found this ad this afternoon! The sale ends May 27th, so there’s still time to spread the word. BUY IT NOW >>
♦ As I mentioned last week, I’m participating in the 168 Film Project, a Christian short film competition. This year, the theme is Atonement. On Monday, our team received the assigned verse—Jonah 2:9. If all goes according to plan, I’ll wrap up my script today. Hopefully, the cast will have fun taking this story and making it real.
♦ My boys and I are off to Minnesota next week for a good long visit. Looking forward to a steady supply of rhubarb, apple blossoms, asparagus, and fishing. I’m also delighted that this visit to my hometown will include an Author Talk, arranged by the Marine Community Library, which was my main source of reading material throughout my childhood. In fact, working there as a shelver was my first job as a teen. West Edinton’s one-room library is modeled after it, right down to the gazebo where storytime was held when I was little. I’ll bring my camera. ♥
Author Talk with Christa Kinde ♦ Friday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Christ Lutheran Church ♦ 150 Fifth Street ♦ Marine on St. Croix, MN
♦ Angels All Around. I’ll mention again that the free illustrated Threshold Series prequel is still very much available. If you haven’t downloaded this short story yet, please do! Story Summary: Angels and demons collide over West Edinton, a small town where not everyone is what they seem. In this companion story to the Threshold Series, a divine Messenger becomes one little girl’s prince, and a fledgling Guardian becomes their knight. A longer summary, cast list, and art gallery are here.
♦ I’ve added more art to the gallery for The Hidden Deep this week. Rangers Abner Ochs and Padgett Prentice of Sunderland State Park. Theirs is an interesting order. I’m quite fond of the Caretakers—earth-movers, sea-stirrers, storm-bringers. ♥
Did you catch Abner’s brief cameo in Rough and Tumble? He appeared in Wednesday’s chapter: Leaves of Three, Let them Be.
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
May 16, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 173: Cave Tour
Chapter 173: Cave Tour
“You can stand guard out here,” Jomei offered kindly. “Jayce won’t let anything happen to the boy.”
Gazing steadily through the tunnel’s entrance, Ethan replied, “I belong with Zeke.”
In the cave’s depths, the guide invited everyone to experience complete darkness. Flashlights clicked off. Ethan bit his lip. This was no place for a child of light. Suddenly, fingers brushed Ethan’s knuckles, and he started. Zeke must have been reaching for his father, but the boy’s small hand was soon nestled in his guardian angel’s grasp. It was hard to say which of them took more courage from the connection.
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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.
May 15, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 172: Leaves of Three, Let them Be
Chapter 172: Leaves of Three, Let them Be
Ethan was trying to think of a way to avert disaster when someone said, “Excuse me, young camper.”
Both Zeke and his Guardian turned to see a balding park ranger with wire-rimmed glasses. “We should talk,” the main said, clasping his hands behind his back.
“About what?” Zeke shuffled his feet. “Am I in trouble?”
“No, but I think it’s time for a short lesson on the perils of poison ivy.”
Several yahavim flitted around Ethan’s head. With a gasp, he realized what their presence meant. “You are a Caretaker!”
Ranger Ochs spared him a glance. And a solemn wink.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
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.
Quick Note: If you don’t know Ranger Ochs yet, you really should read The Hidden Deep! ♥
SALE: The Blue Door
The Blue Door – $1.99
Wonderful News! It’s come to my attention that for a limited time, Zondervan has marked down the ebook version of Book 1 in the Threshold Series to just $1.99. If you’d like a digital copy of The Blue Door, nab one! And please do spread the word about this sale!
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 171: Hook, Line, and Sinker
Chapter 171: Hook, Line, and Sinker
“Keep your eyes on that bobber,” Jayce said, dropping his line into the river next to Zeke’s. “If it gives a wiggle, you’ll know you have a nibble.”
The little boy lifted his bamboo pole to check on his worm. “When I catch a fish, will you eat it?”
“Sure, sure,” Jayce agreed. “I’m famished!”
Minutes ticked by, and the young fisherman was losing interest. Until the bobber dipped.
Zeke yelped and yanked. His catch flipped and flashed. Before Jayce could grab the line, his lunch slapped him upside the head … and an exuberant Zeke was hooked on fishing.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
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.
May 14, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 170: Safe from Bears
Chapter 170: Safe from Bears
Long before dawn, a tent unzipped, and Zeke crawled out. Ethan sighed and said, “You should go back to bed.”
“How come?” Zeke rubbed his eyes. “Is there bears?”
The young Guardian hesitated. “Zeke?”
“Uh-huh?”
Ethan’s heart thudded, but he managed a steady voice. “It is very late.”
“Uh-huh.” Reaching one hand toward the starry sky, he mumbled, “Moon’s little.”
“It seems so.”
“Is there bears?” Zeke pressed.
“No.”
“’Kay. ’Cause I gotta go.”
After the boy relieved himself, Ethan coaxed, “Please, return to your father’s side.”
“Uh-huh.”
“… I love you, Zeke.”
Before the zipper fully closed, he whispered, “’Kay.”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
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.
May 10, 2013
The Week’s Accumulation xxxix
This week’s been a jumble of busyness. Not in a bad way, though finding time to write has been a challenge. (And that makes me twitchy!) There’s photographs, documents, and a recap of one slightly hectic week to share, so have a look-see!
This week’s accumulation:
♦ ‘Twas very exciting to celebrate a Release Day this week. On Tuesday, Angels All Around became available. In this Threshold Series prequel, a divine Messenger becomes one little girl’s prince, and a fledgling Guardian becomes their knight. If you haven’t already downloaded this free short story, please do so. And since this illustrated prequel costs nothing, it’s easy to share. Please, spread the word!
♦ One unexpected happening this week came through the generosity of the pastors’ wives at my church. I was so grateful to be invited to participate in the Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning women’s Bible studies by bringing in a book table. These women have been blessing our family since last fall, and I was touched by their enthusiasm and generosity yet again this week. It was a delight to be able to give out small tokens of my gratitude in the form of these small promotional cards, which feature this art by chernotrav.
♦ One of the items on my desktop right now is the manuscript for the third book in the Threshold Series. I’ll be doing the final line edits this week. It’ll be fun to read through the story one last time before it becomes an ARC.
♦ Another item on my desktop is a document. Right now, it’s pretty sparse. Just a list of names. My cast for a short story that’ll shortly be turned into a screenplay for a short film. I will be participating in the 168 Film Project, a Christian short film competition. Once the theme verse is revealed on Monday, we have ten days to finalize a script before filming begins. And then, the team’ll have 168 hours (exactly one week) to film, edit, and submit an 8-minute short. It’s gonna be fun!
♦ This week, my very first guest blog post went up on the Zondervan website. I made a short blog post about it here. I hope you’ll meander over to read, “Bringing Faith to Life.”
♦ Art! The Hidden Deep has been available for a couple of weeks, so I figured it’s now safe to add art of some new characters to the gallery. Here’s the piece I added to the gallery earlier today:
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 169: Full Day
Chapter 169: Full Day
After one full day, Ethan’s charge was mud-spattered, mosquito-bitten, and blissfully happy. Zeke had pine needles in his hair, burrs on his socks, and smoke in his eyes as he crowded close to the fire, watching blisters form on the skin of the hotdog skewered on his forked stick.
There were many things Ethan wished he could do—swat bugs, strengthen seams, and scoot the boy back about a foot from the flames. But he settled for stretching his wings forward until their pink folds swirled around Zeke’s shoulders like a mantle. The Guardian was bright-eyed, light-hearted, and blissfully happy.
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
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.
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 168: Keepers of the Peace
Chapter 168: Keepers of the Peace
Ethan sat with Trumble in the branches overshadowing the Pomeroys’ campsite. The young warrior remarked, “We are perilously close to the battle lines, yet all is peaceful. Have the Fallen withdrawn from these woods because the Encampment is near?”
“Even with two legions of heaven’s host to oppose them, the enemy attacks whenever the impulse takes them.” Trumble gestured to the campfire Jayce was building. “But for the sake of two park rangers, the Fallen scatter like sparks and vanish like smoke.”
“Are these rangers men of prayer?”
“Makers of mountains, shepherds of stars,” Trumble hinted.
Ethan’s eyes widened. “Caretakers!”
<< PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER >>
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.
May 9, 2013
In which figments are given form…
Authorial Endeavor #021. Celebrating another milestone of sorts this morning! I’m linking you up to my first guest blog post. The folks at Zondervan invited me to talk a little about what goes into working with an illustrator, namely Anna Earley, whose art helps bring the characters of Angels All Around to life!
“Back in January 2012, when I first commissioned Anna to create Blade of a Master, I was gratified when she complimented my take on angels’ wings. But to my chagrin, she dubbed their raiment “boring,” and set out to liven things up. That’s why her Ethan’s cowl doesn’t quite conform to the storyline. But I really liked the sashes she gave my warriors, so I wrote them in. They’re canon now.”
—excerpted from “Bringing Faith to Life,” Zondervan’s blog: Think Outside the Book
The article includes a sneak peek at some of the fabulous illustrations in the story, along with progress shots. Character development. Initial sketches. Line art. Flat colors. Finished art. It’s like a behind-the-scenes tour!
Head on over to Zondervan’s blog to read the full article >>
