Christa Kinde's Blog, page 99
April 8, 2013
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 145: Milo Leggett, Sunday School Teacher
Chapter 145: Milo Leggett, Sunday School Teacher
That summer, First Baptist Church’s congregation invited Milo Leggett to teach Sunday school. Beau Pomeroy was excited to be part of his class, but Prissie was vocal in her disappointment. “I’m the right age!”
“You’re a girl, Priss,” Neil drawled. “Milo teaches the boys’ class.”
“No fair!”
Zeke sidled up and suggested, “Change.”
“They won’t let me change classes.”
Ethan could see what Zeke had behind his back, and it worried him.
“Nope,” Zeke countered. “Change to a boy! I’ll help!”
Scissors snipped thin air as Prissie shrieked and ran. Beau disarmed the would-be barber; Neil was too busy laughing.
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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.
April 5, 2013
The Week’s Accumulation xxxiv
This week has been busy in an unprecedented way: double blog posts every day this week. Of course, half of that is just the usual updates of Rough and Tumble, but still…! Daily doings! I’ll recap the week, share my clutter, and indulge in some of our weekly chit-chat. Have a look!
This week’s accumulation:
♦ Let’s begin with that recap, just to get it out of the way…
Monday – Revisiting Galleries of Stone – a book review of Galleries of Stone, plus new art of Tupper Meadowsweet
Tuesday – COUNTDOWN – 3 Weeks – art + a discussion of yahavim
Wednesday – In which there is nary a feather… Cover reveal! There’s a Threshold Series prequel coming out in just two weeks!
Thursday – In which I lived along a gravel road… Interview and a Giveaway. You could win a copy of The Hidden Deep!
♦ I continue to spend odd moments on Pinterest, so each week, my boards are updated with everything from Writing Quotes to Story Art. I also collect photographs that capture details from the Threshold Series. If you’re also on Pinterest, follow along!
♦ Three new pages were added to my website this week. Angels All Around – cover, summary, and details for a new Threshold Series prequel. If you’re looking for that page, its listed under the “Threshold Series” tab. Postcards – I went ahead and formalized my ongoing postcard offer by creating a page for it. That one’s located under the “About the Author” tab. Interviews – radio, newspaper, magazine, blog, etc. This page is an interview archive, also located under the “About the Author” tab. For fun, I included Frequently Asked Questions… because FAQs happen!
♦ New art! A couple of pieces were added to the story art gallery this week. One of Raz and Verrill from Rough and Tumble, the other of Omri and Lavi, two yahavim from The Hidden Deep.
♦ Most of the rest of my clutter involves documents for the writing that’ll likely consume the rest of my month. The fourth book in the Threshold Series is coming right along, and I have been fiddling with scenes from a new series as well. Character descriptions, setting notes, photo references, artists’ sketches … and a profusion of notes that I’m thinking of turning into series-related blog posts or devotionals. Yep. Lotsa creative messes. ♥
So what’s cluttering up your desktop? Do tell!
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 144: Guard and Protect
Chapter 144: Guard and Protect
After evensong, Conrad approached Tycho. “There’s an informal tradition among Guardians …?”
“Go on,” invited the lean archer.
“When a child marks three years, three voices rise in song—Guardian, mentor, and captain.”
“When?”
Ethan stepped forward. “Zeke’s birthday is tomorrow, so … tonight?”
Within the hour, they gathered inside the farmhouse, and Tycho considered the youngster in the bottom bunk. “I protect people in a general sense. Your task is more personal.”
Fingertips brushing Zeke’s mop, Ethan looked to his captain. “Tonight, we will share.”
Conrad smirked. “Stand guard with us, Protector. Sing for joy over one small boy.”
<< 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.
April 4, 2013
In which I lived along a gravel road…
Authorial Endeavor #019. We’re gaining on the release date for the second book in the Threshold Series. The Hidden Deep will be available everywhere on April 23, 2013, so reviews and interviews are trickling in.
“When kids are wrestling with tough questions,
insights from an adult can go a long way.
Throughout the series, we see Prissie turn to
her parents, her grandparents, and her pastor
with her questions. And like them, we need to
be there, ready to listen, ready to learn.”
I was so delighted to be interviewed by a Michigan friend on her blog. She’s a Children’s Ministry expert and loving grandma! You can read Lynda Freeman’s Q&A session with me at Grandma’s Cookie Jar. Here’s a sampling of the questions that came up:
What is the one main thing you’d like young readers to walk away with after reading The Hidden Deep?
I appreciated the Discussion Questions in the back of the book. Would you encourage parents to think through these questions with their children?
Did your time in West Michigan help inspire your apple orchard setting for the Pomeroy family?
As I mentioned last week when Lynda reviewed The Blue Door, you also have the chance to sign up for giveaways! She’s offering two signed copies of The Blue Door, and you also have the chance to win a copy of The Hidden Deep! Head on over to find out how to enter these drawings!
Grandma’s Cookie Jar – Grandma’s Bookshelf – The Hidden Deep >>
**NEW** I’ve added an archive page for interviews!
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 143: Seriously Fun
Chapter 143: Seriously Fun
Early summer thundershowers found the Pomeroy children riding bikes—and trike—in the apple barn while cherubim cavorted in the rafters.
“Over, then under?” suggested Yannis.
Garrick countered, “Or under, then over?”
“Both could be tricky.”
“But near misses makes things more exciting!”
Ethan contemplated the obstacle course Neil was setting up on the floor below. Visible and invisible were in sync. He glanced at his teammates. “May I play?”
Yannis gasped in affront. “This is no game!”
“We take our training very seriously,” Garrick agreed.
Ethan smiled softly.
The archers traded a look, then laughed. “Over, under, and through!”
<< 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.
April 3, 2013
In which there is nary a feather…
Authorial Endeavor #018. This is turning out to be a busy, newsy week, what with all these extra posts. Today, it’s cover reveal time! According to my publisher, that Threshold Series illustrated prequel I’ve been talking about since forever now has a sorta-solid release date—Friday, April 19, 2013. Since that’s a mere fortnight hence, let’s show off the cover for Angels All Around!
I’m just delighted with Anna’s cover and illustrations for the story. She’s one of my favorite artists, so I’m perpetually on her commissions waiting list. Her workmanship’s all over the place in my gallery, and I have a couple pieces tucked away for later, too! You may want to nab this story just for the art. Seriously.
Angels All Around is going to be a direct-to-digital thing. And as soon as this illustrated short story becomes available, you’ll be able to download it to your e-readers (or computers) for free! That makes it easy to spread the word. Share the love. Tell a friend.
Lastly, the Angels All Around Page is live,
more details can be found there! >>
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 142: Alpheus and the Kittens
Chapter 142: Alpheus and the Kittens
Birds often flocked to Alpheus, who whistled melodies around their twittering. But Ethan hadn’t realized he was equally fond of small animals … until the day he found Alpheus in the hayloft with a lapful of kittens. Smiling at his friend’s embarrassment, Ethan asked, “What happened?”
After a lengthy pause, Alpheus admitted, “Nothing.”
Ethan plopped down and tickled one of the babies under its chin. Wide blue eyes. Pink pads on tiny paws. The littlest one squeaked, then a rumble started, like the sputter of a tiny engine. Ethan wryly murmured, “Heaven’s mighty warriors …”
Alpheus concluded, “… teaching kittens to purr.”
<< 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.
April 2, 2013
COUNTDOWN: 3 Weeks
COMING SOON! There are only 3 more weeks until Book 2 in the Threshold Series releases. The Hidden Deep will be in bookstores on Tuesday, April 23, 2013. To count down, I’m doing a weekly post to share newsy tidbits, sneak peeks at sketches, and brand new story art. This week, I thought I’d debunk one of my own flights of fancy. Let’s talk a little about the Threshold Series‘s littlest angels—yahavim!
Harvesttime is in full swing when Prissie Pomeroy learns that something terrible happened in her family’s orchard. With school back in session, the rift between Prissie and her friends widens while Ransom and his friends keep getting on her nerves. As Koji and Milo introduce Prissie to the rest of Jedrick’s Flight, she’s drawn increasingly deeper into their world and closer to its dangers. A kidnapped apprentice suffers. A chained door bodes ill. A tiny angel makes a big difference. A battle line is drawn. Everything Prissie thought she knew is about to change… again!
PRE-ORDER! Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Zondervan
The Food of Angels. I couldn’t very well do a story centered around angels without taking manna into account. After all, it’s an angel’s food (Psalm 78:25), also called “the bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:58). It’s the stuff that sustained the children of Israel while they wandered in the wilderness. “In the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was” (Exodus 16:13–15). Manna actually means, what is it? And folks did their best to describe it. “It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey” (Exodus 16:31). “The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin” (Numbers 11:7).
Abner’s Flock. As per usual, these scanty accounts sent my brain into a spin. “Is manna a naturally occurring substance? Where does it come from? What if…?” (Ah, I wonder how many stories have been sparked by asking what if…?) And so I created the yahavim, and they quickly became essential to the plot. In The Blue Door, readers meet Omri, the yahavim who sticks close to Taweel. And as the summary for The Hidden Deep states, a little angel will make a big difference!
Yahavim are the lowest order of angels, essential to the well-being of those who tend them; I suppose you could consider them pets. Their name comes from the Hebrew word yahav, which means “provide.” While they’re clever enough to understand what’s needed, they aren’t capable of speech. These little guys are 5 to 6 inches tall and have some insect characteristics: faceted eyes and translucent wings. Their ears come to elfin points, and they need light. Glimpses of them probably gave rise to tales of pixies, fairies, sprites, and the like. When they’re happy and healthy, these manna-makers are dazzlingly bright, and the easiest way to tell them apart is by their hair.
New Art! Today, I’m adding a new piece to the story art gallery that features two yahavim from the series. Omri has the long ponytail. The other fellow (who actually appears on Book 2′s cover) is named Lavi.
Fun Fact! I will often ask readers if they have a favorite angel. It’s an informal poll of sorts, largely self-indulgent. Most people choose Koji. My two daughters were quick to stake their claims on Baird and Kester. Much to my surprise, my mother picked Omri. I think that’s awfully sweet. ♥
<< LAST WEEK | More next week!
Rough and Tumble, Chapter 141: Fevered Dreams
Chapter 141: Fevered Dreams
“How is he?”
Ethan met Raz’s question with a soulful gaze and sad headshake.
“Poor tyker. But I got the go-ahead for something that’ll make you both feel better.” The Messenger’s green eyes sparkled. “Meetcha in dreams!”
Moments later, Ethan stepped onto an endless lawn where Zeke chased colored balls of varying sizes. The boy noticed him and trotted over, so he knelt to ask, “Can I play, too?”
“Up!” Zeke demanded, hands lifted.
Ethan suspected Zeke was after his sword. He unfurled his wings, eager to show the boy just how high up could go.
Joy soared ‘til morning.
<< 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.
April 1, 2013
Revisiting Galleries of Stone
Just last week, I stumbled across a piece of art that I never added to the story art galleries here. It made me miss Tupper and the rest of the cast of Galleries of Stone. And then, Lynda Freeman posted about my story on her blog. So let’s revisit the legendary Moonlit Mountain with a book review and art of Tupper Meadowsweet!
“…an amazing story which captures the imagination
and leaves you so you just have to keep reading!”
This is my blurb from the story’s Media Page… With Galleries of Stone, Christa Kinde has undertaken the monumental task of telling a story for one year. She’s building an adventure from scratch, right before the reader’s eyes. Daily installments are set in a world where magical mountains are entrusted to master sculptors like Freydolf, a banished Pred. As his new servant Tupper learns more about what lies beyond the small Flox village in the grey mountain’s foothills, so does the reader—faraway lands, diverse races, unique customs, long histories, and new possibilities.
In her blog post, Lynda Freeman says, “The story is unexpected, interesting and for me it is fun to see how Christa works the ‘word of the day’ into each day’s chapter! I’m a writer, but the very idea of taking a year to write a story which you add to each day based on the word of the day is one which leaves me beyond impressed!”
If you’d like to read Galleries of Stone for yourself, this completed story begins here…
Galleries of Stone, Chapter 1: Alone Again >>
If you’d like to read Lynda Freeman’s review in its entirety, you can find it here…
Grandma’s Cookie Jar: A Gift – Galleries of Stone >>
