Brett Armstrong's Blog, page 2

DEVASTATION IS COMING

Hello there,

Today is a pretty special, and pretty late, Quest of Fire Friday! I have a few major things to share. I’ll group them under nice big headers, so you can jump to the parts that most interest you, though I really hope you’ll stick with me to the end. So, straight to the point…

DEVASTATION IS COMING

For those who haven’t been hanging with me on the last several Quest of Fire updates, the next Quest of Fire book release, Devastation, is less than two weeks away on Tuesday, September 17th! It’s up for pre-order now, so you can go ahead and snag a copy (please do, pre-orders help the book’s exposure a ton).

SNAG YOUR COPY

For those of you who are a little more reserved about it, I’ll be sharing links to read the first three chapters of the book for free leading into the release. It’s a gripping and at times heart wrenching story that you’ll absolutely want to read if you enjoyed Desperation and need to read going into the final book in the series, which is due out next year. Here’s a quick rundown:

With the added support of Libertias, hope is renewed for young Thomas Fenwrest and those dedicated to restoring Viceroy Ecthelion and the Commonwealth to Ecthelowall. That hope is short-lived. A terrible plague called the Devastation soon ravages the Restoration’s soldiers and allied lands. The Monarchists press the advantage and attack.

At the same time, a series of betrayals within the Restoration directly threaten the lives of Thomas’s beloved, Baroness Mia Sornfold, and his cousin, Heir Apparent Gregor Fenwrest. Thomas must risk everything to keep them safe even as the Restoration crumbles around him. Hiding within the mountainous lands of Albaron, they learn of a dark secret held deep in Albaron’s Wyvares region. If this terror is unleashed by the Monarchists, it will mean the end of the Restoration and death for thousands all across the Lowlands. To stop it, Thomas must face an awful truth: he may not be able to save both those he loves and stop the great evil. But to fail at either will destroy him.

This was a challenging book to write, because the characters face such dark days and standing firm in those hardships is a monumental feat. My prayer is that anyone who reads it will be encouraged in his or her own trials to hold fast to the faith and persevere.

IN THE RUNNING

This is the first year my publisher has decided to hold a contest for the books it releases. Each of my books with them are up for an award that is voted on by you the readers. So, I’d be thrilled if you followed the link and cast your votes. It’s anonymous, free, and no registration required. Apart from feeling the love, it lets my publisher know that the books you voted for resonated with you and helps them know what kind of books you want to see in the future. Of course, I’d be thrilled if you vote for mine in any of the categories, but there are so many great books to pick from, I will totally understand if you end out picking a book by one of my fellow authors.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES HERE

WHAT’S AHEAD

I never know exactly where the Lord will lead me except for nearer to Him. Right now, I’m working on Quest of Fire‘s epic finale but I also have a secret surprise project that I’m hoping I can talk about soon. Plus, a standalone sci-fi book and a sci-fantasy series I’ve been eager to write for years. It is crazy hard not rushing off and working on every story the Lord has put on my heart, and I’m very narrowly succeeding at keeping focused on what I need to, but the short of it is, there are some really cool things coming—Lord willing.

ONE MORE THING

And… I’m glad you stuck with me to the end of this post. For those of you who have, I have special offer. I have ten print copies of Devastation in need of good homes and for those who want them I only ask that you message me your mailing address to send it to and humbly request that you consider leaving a review around release day based on how you felt about the book or share a pic of your book mail. And if you’re new to the series, this is a great place to jump into and join the Quest of Fire. There’s intrigue, romance, betrayal, good vs. evil, a zoomed in look at the lands and people of Albaron, and the set up to the epic crescendo for Quest of Fire.

Above all else, thank you for reading and joining me on these treks through worlds unknown and may the Lord bless and be with you always.

TOMORROW’S EDGE TUESDAY: SILENT STARS BLOG TOUR

Hello there!

It’s been a while since there has been a Tomorrow’s Edge Tuesday. We’re getting close to the one year anniversary of Silent Stars‘ release and to commemorate it Silent Stars has the honor of being on tour with CelebrateLit! From August 22nd to September 4th each day will feature a tour stop for interviews, reviews, and chatting about the final installment in the Tomorrow’s Edge series. There’ll be chances each day to enter a cool giveaway for participating. Each stop also has reviews or some insights into the story and the heart behind it. There are some fun light moments in the interviews, but also some deep and heartfelt ones, so I really hope you’ll join in!

Blog Tour Stops

Stories By Gina, August 22 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, August 23

Vicky Sluiter, August 24 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, August 25 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, August 26 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 27

Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 28 (Author Interview)

Through the Fire Blogs, August 29 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 29

Artistic Nobody, August 30 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, August 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 31

Beauty in the Binding, September 1 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 2

Guild Master, September 3 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, September 4

As always, thank you for stopping by and joining my as I search out paths through worlds unknown. Till next time and forevermore, may the Lord bless and be with you.

QUEST OF FIRE FRIDAY: DEVASTATION COVER REVEAL

It’s here! Another Quest of Fire Friday and the final day of Resurgence of Dawn’s blog tour! I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour and had a chance to check out all the cool stops and gotten some entries in for the giveaway. Today, of course, is the big reveal as I promised. Five books released in a series and you’d think I’d be past all the nervousness, but every story is unique and means so much to me.

Devastation has a harsh name and some tough themes, but it’s been such a rewarding story to write and I hope you’ll find it the same to read. It sets up the Middle Era cast for the final showdown ahead…those that survive the events of this book anyway. If you’re curious to find out more, hang with me and in the coming weeks I’ll share more. For today, I present to you the cover for Quest of Fire: Devastation!

What do you think? For my part, I like how it balances both the ominous (see the wyvern hanging out in the backdrop) and hopeful (the symbol for the Knights of Light Order) elements of the story. This is the longest of the novella/short-novel sub-series so there’s so much going on and so much cool stuff to hint at till release day on September 17, 2024!

Thank you for dropping by to check out the new cover! Keep checking back and may the Lord bless and be with you always!

RESURGENCE OF DAWN BLOG TOUR

It’s been way too long since my last post. I’ve been pretty busy with a number of things. Finishing up the first draft and content edits of Quest of Fire: Devastation among them. I also started a manuscript for a completely new story that I think is super unique and I’ll be sharing more about in the near future, hopefully. And I’m (in my own always-behind way) participating in my fellow author CE Stone’s book launch for her book, Starganauts: Invasion (check it out with the link below). It’s been so cool to get to see all the cool artwork and insights into the Gorvan Galaxy of the Starganaut series. You should definitely check it out…after this next bit of news…

My big news of today is that Quest of Fire: Resurgence of Dawn is on tour with JustRead this week!  It’s always an honor to be part of their tours and this week will be filled with interviews, reviews, and a giveaway all centered around Resurgence of Dawn. Plus, a guest post on the Reading Is My Super Power blog that talks about why Resurgence of Dawn is one of the most meaningful stories I’ve ever written. Plus, plus to cap off the tour, on this coming Quest of Fire Friday (06/28/24), I’ll be sharing the first look at the cover for the next Quest of Fire book! That’s a lot to pack into one week, so I hope you’ll join me for everything the week holds!

TOUR STOPS

Launch Page at JustRead

June 24
FINCHNWREN
By The Book
Woven by Words

June 25
Happily Managing a Household of Boys
A Modern Day Fairy Tale

June 26
Beauty in the Binding Blog
Reading Is My Remedy
Blooming with Books

June 27
Dana Loves Books
Cover Lover Book Review
Reading Is My SuperPower

June 28
Only By Grace Reviews
Heidi Reads…
Hallie Reads

CLICK HERE to check out Starganauts: Invasion!

As ever, thank you for all your support along this writing journey and may the Lord bless and be with you always!

TOMORROW’S EDGE TUESDAY: ALWAYS IN MOTION

Hello there! It’s been a bit, but today, I wanted to share a Tomorrow’s Edge Tuesday post with you all! It feels kind of surreal to say this, but it’s been six months since Silent Stars released and completed the Tomorrow’s Edge Trilogy. After so many years, it feels so strange to think that the story started in Day Moon is finished. The whole process of writing that book needed a tidal wave of grace from the Lord, and I received that and so much more.

A strange thing about having finished a near future dystopian sci-fi series is that though the writing is done, the world hasn’t stopped. It keeps zipping forward, and I regularly see headlines that remind me that the perils and pitfalls warned about in the books are still coming and doing so fast. Like really fast. Here are links to a few articles that have recently caught my eye and relate to Silent Stars:

Neural Chip Implants

AI-Driven Business

AI-Directed Searches

It’s kind of a sobering reminder of why I wrote the series. Which, yes, was in part to give a George of the Jungle style warning: “Hey, watch out for that…existential cataclysm!” But that’s only one way of understanding what the series name, Tomorrow’s Edge, means. It’s more than a clarion call over the dangers ahead. It was always more than that even if I didn’t see it myself until I was finishing up writing Silent Stars. What Tomorrow’s Edge is truly about is encouraging us all to stand firm in the faith, to hold onto what is true, and seek First His Kingdom knowing all else will be cared for by the Lord. The dragons of the future are no greater before mankind’s One Shining Knight, Christ, than the ancient ones. In fact, it’s fair to argue they’re the same dragons just in different guises. Following closely, Holding onto, and treasuring above all else the Way, the Truth, and the Life is so important, because we’re on Tomorrow’s Edge, not just in our present and near-future dangers but in our eternal, unending hope and joy with the Lord Jesus Christ. Every second brings us closer to the moment our souls have longed for since we were each created and Creation has groaned after since the Fall. And even though it will require going through fire and pain and toil and heartbreaking sorrow to get there, all of it is as the Apostle Paul termed it, “light and momentary afflictions” the end of which is in “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” if we adhere to the Book of Hebrews and just keep our “eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.”

Every day brings us closer to a world all too like the one seen in Day Moon, Veiled Sun, and Silent Stars…but it also sees us that closer to the one Elliott and Lara and others desperately cling to hope of seeing. The tomorrow ever fair with the Lord.

Thank you for reading through to the end. If you haven’t already, check out Tomorrow’s Edge (Click here to do so).

For those who will and those who have, I hope reading it blesses and encourages you as much as it did me in writing it. If it has or does, let me know and share the encouragement with others. It helps the books, which in turn hopefully helps others.

Till next time and always after, may the Lord bless and be with you.

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

– 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, ESV

QUEST OF FIRE FRIDAY: IN REVIEW

Hello there!

Today is another #QuestofFireFriday! I’m in the midst of wrapping up Quest of Fire: Devastation and as I do, something really cool just released. The Spring 2024 edition of Clean Fiction Magazine features a review of Book 4 in the Quest of Fire series, Desperation! Any feedback is appreciated on a book, but it’s always so encouraging when someone reads a book the Lord has laid on my heart and finds in it so much of what I hoped they would see. You can read an excerpt of the review below and click on the link to go to Clean Fiction Magazine to grab a copy for yourself. Every quarter the magazine features some great short fiction, reviews of clean and Christian books, contests, and more.

CHECK OUT CLEAN FICTION MAGAZINE – SPRING 2024

I’m not just mentioning the review because I’m excited about it. The lead characters in Desperation—Thomas, Mia, and Gregor—are also at the center of Devastation. And that’s true in a literal and figurative sense. Writing this entry in Quest of Fire has been hard. There are some scenes that I’ve really worried about and so many places where I want things to go differently, but they can’t. Desperation was a trial for the characters, but Devastation has nearly everything they care about on the knife’s edge of being destroyed.

I recently talked out one scene with my mom—who yes has read all of the Quest of Fire books—to get her take. Fantasy isn’t really her cup of tea, so I thought maybe I could get a bead on how the emotional component of the scene would resonate if the fantasy part wasn’t a draw. And besides, my mom just gives good advice. As I was describing the events that led to that moment in the story, I was surprised by how much the story had been advancing to this one spot. To this particular moment, as though this was the beating heart of the whole thing. That’s one of the most rewarding feelings in storytelling. To know something is important and keep checking, keep wondering if it’s going to show through, if the theme has developed enough. Will it pay off the way it should? And then, quite beyond my planning, it does. Ironically, it’s hard to put to words how that feels. But the short of it is, I’m really happy with where this entry in Quest of Fire has gone and I pray that once you have a chance to read it, it will hit you the way it did me and the Master Artist Who is ever shaping me and the stories He leads me to, it will help to craft and strengthen your heart in Him.

Thanks for reading, and soon, Lord willing, I’ll have some more unique glimpses into Devastation prepared to share with you. If you haven’t read Desperation or the other entries of the Quest of Fire series, now is a great time to do it. Darkness surging only to have the Light shine brightest is definitely a theme of Resurrection Sunday and one that ever inspires and forges Quest of Fire. Till next time and ever after, may the Lord bless and be with you.

QUEST OF FIRE FRIDAY: ABOUT AN ARC

Hello there,

       It’s another (late) #QuestOfFireFriday! I hope this finds you well and thoroughly enthralled with the season of Lent as we count down to celebrating Christ’s resurrection at the end of the month! I know for some Easter means candy toting bunnies, fluffy chicks, and baskets of eggs; but I like to remember that every fiber, every cell, every atom within every bunny, chick, and egg yearn for the restoration of all things. And every day brings us one day closer to that longed for era because Christ is risen indeed!

       As promised, I’m sharing the title for the penultimate book in Quest of Fire. Book 6 is titled QUEST OF FIRE: DEVASTATION.

There are a lot of arcs in Quest of Fire, for individual characters, couples, and even the sides in each era’s central conflict. For the novellas, I had originally planned to do one off stories centering on individuals who happened to be in the midst of the central point of conflict at that moment. They would flesh out some of the story world that couldn’t be seen in the novels and tell tighter, more personal stories. I knew Devastation would feature the point in the War for Restoration hitting its ultimate snag, which drags everything Viceroy Ecthelion and those supporting him were building into ruins and pushes everyone into the final battles in Book 7. Monarch Ilyron is going to majorly tip his hand in this one and start bringing into perspective some things that have been left unanswered since The Gathering Dark (Book 1). So, this title has been with me pretty much since I wrote Succession (first novella and companion to The Gathering Dark).

I decided on the personal story I wanted to tell was going to be for a character familiar to those who have read the series who may not be as cared for as he deserves, especially given he was really critical to the whole thing. If you’ve read any of my posts about my method of writing, you already know, I’m not a plotter and I’m not a pantser. I prefer the term explorer. I know where I’m headed, but I like discovering things along the way. But this time, I thought I needed to plot it all out. It would save time, come out cleaner, and I wouldn’t be stressed. I wrote up a nice treatise with my mapped out story and set it aside so I could focus on finishing Resurgence of Dawn and Silent Stars. Sometime after they were both submitted to their publisher, I sat down to start writing the first chapter of Devastation. It immediately began pouring out as a story about completely different characters! A continuation of Thomas, Mia, and Gregor’s story. The more I pushed and strained at it, the more theirs just felt like the right story to tell now. It completes an arc across the novellas I hadn’t originally seen, so that all three almost have a mirror effect from start to finish.

I love it when stories show you the ending in the beginning and the beginning in the end so-to-speak. It looks like Devastation is going to do that for the Quest of Fire novellas, so I’m really excited for where the story is going to take everyone. I learned that style of story development from the greatest Author. And I don’t think it’s a stretch to say my love for stories that reflect the beginning and end on each other is 100% because I, like all the rest of Creation am yearning for the ending that resembles the beginning. The promise of eternity in perfect fellowship with God, glimpsed in the Garden of Eden, promised across the ages by prophets, and made possible by Christ’s resurrection. The LORD said in Isaiah 46:8-10:

“Remember this and stand firm,
     recall it to mind, you transgressors,
remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
     I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
     and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
     and I will accomplish all my purpose…’”

As much as I long and look forward to sharing the closing books of Quest of Fire with everyone, I’m looking and longing even more to getting to see the LORD bring the story He began in Genesis through to its culmination in Revelation which climaxed in the focal point of Lent, Christ’s resurrection.

Thank you for joining me today and reading to the end! I hope you have a wonderful Lent that is completed with an impactful Easter. He is risen indeed and because He is we all can have hope for a tomorrow ever fair, which is my deepest desire for you. May the Lord bless and be with you always.

QUEST OF FIRE FRIDAY: CULTURE AND AGRICULTURE

Hello there!

It’s been a bit. I had this post mostly prepared in mid-January, but had a hiccup with my website that brought it down for more than a week and then after that I got hit by combinations of external and internal blocks to posting. The internal ones (aka procrastination) being the worst. That said, I’m still drafting Book 6 in Quest of Fire and it is going to hit hard. Especially for those who enjoyed meeting Thomas, Gregor, and Mia in Book 4, Desperation. There are some major moments of triumph and next week when I share the title, you might guess there will be some moments where things go very, very wrong. I’m super excited to share the highs and lows of this story with you! The release date is still holding on to September 2024.

In the meantime, let me share a bit more about the region featured in Book 6. These locations are essential for the stability and furtherance of Albaron’s society. One of which hasn’t appeared on the more zoomed out regional maps.

DEFENSE

Seabridge – Port city belonging to and protected by Kilkern’s Redoubt Stewardship. The first settlement in Albaron founded by the earliest explorers to the area. At the time there Albar Strait was crossable by wagons and horses. In the centuries since the sea level has risen in the area and the Strait is now deep enough for more than shallow draft shifts to pass through. Seabridge is of some importance as it allows access to the Eigh River which in turn makes trade and traffic to Caldoness far swifter than crossing the Treigl Mountains. It is also a vital lifeline to the Stewardship of Hoarcrest and its chief city for the same reason. Though it does have some competition for internal trade with Last Landing, which supplies animal pelts and other goods acquired from trading with the northern territories of the Vogteremark and Knorish traders looking for a warmer port from which to sail.

It is also a protected port with a sea wall that stretches across the expanse of the inlet and has a gate that can be closed in time of war. Because of the rocky coastline around it, it makes invading Albaron from the sea very difficult.

CULTURE

Avon-caroon – Castle city and stewardship of Albaron and a key eastern outpost and trade hub with the Vogteremark. Situated on a bend in Caroon River where it splits in the Glower and thereafter Wolfsglen and Orthall Rivers, Avon-caroon is a city of culture and artistry for Albaron. Playwrights, poets, and artisans of all sorts seek to display their craft there where an audience of Dag Vogtere, Knors, and other travelers give special importance to its venues and opportunities not found elsewhere in Albaron.

AGRICULTURE

Baileòrna – Castle town and stewardship of Albaron, location of the barley fields and much of the richest, most arable land in Albaron. Much of its northern territory was once part of the Hilbregh Forest, which it shares in part with the Stewardship of Glowerrothes. Timber from the forest’s hearty trees helped to build the city’s defenses and palisade walls, which are still its primary defense as it slowly transitions to defenses built from stone. Bordered by the Ermer River to the south and the Lower Albar Mountains to the east, it is generally considered secure and has historically relied on Leiroc as a warning outpost of attack to draw needed defenses to its aid from Dirkforge and Glowerrothes.

Map making is always one of my favorite parts of world-building, because you discover so many unique localities through drafting them. It’s also been a quiet desire of mine to get to fill in this area of the map in more detail. It might surprise some readers to discover I hadn’t intended to write this story, even once I knew enough of the full series arc to know where it all ends up. That’s one of the great pleasures of writing—getting to discover part of the story much as any reader does, page by page.

Thank you for reading and till next time and ever more, may the Lord bless and be with you.

QUEST OF FIRE FRIDAY: NORTH BY NORTHWESTERN LOCALES

Hello there!

Welcome to today’s Quest of Fire Friday. This week I’m featuring three locations that will appear on the main map for the next book in the Quest of Fire series. Resurgence of Dawn has been out for a month today (definitely check it out if you haven’t already: https://www.amazon.com/Resurgence-Dawn-Quest-Fire-Book-ebook/dp/B0CLL2D66S)

I’m currently working on book six in Quest of Fire, which is due out later this year. I’m going to save details and thoughts about it for a later post, but one thing I can give some insights into are some cool locations that intersect the story. I’ll share one set from each of three nations at play in the release to come.

ECTHELOWALL

Langlan’s Bay – Langlan’s Lighthouse is built into its keep. All the buildings in Langlan’s Bay are also built with roofs slanted towards the Fogshroud Strait and covered with tiles that catch the light from passing ships to aid in their passage. It is the eighth largest city in Ecthelowall, mostly due to its importance in allowing trade to pass along the northern waters of Ecthelowall and offering the key

Càraid Isles – Two islands on the opposite side of the Strait likewise have small fishing villages with similar architecture. Manor Rock on Earan and Keplan on Iaran.

Fogshroud Strait – A passage along Ecthelowall’s northern coast between the March of Tirniwl—the capital of which is Langlan’s Bay—and the Càraid Isles. It is nearly perpetually swathed in a thick fog except in the height of summer and winter. Those in Langlan’s Bay and the Càraid Isles hold festivals during those periods called Clearing Days to celebrate being able to see across the Strait.

ALBARON

Dirkforge – One of the eight stewardships of Albaron, each with a castle city. Situated along the plain where the Wolfsglen River’s arm flows into the Four Fens and west of Loch Angus, Dirkforge is key to Albaron’s defenses as the site of its most skilled blacksmiths and historic forges. Located strategically between the Airgid and Iarann Mines which supply the nation with silver and iron respectively, it has ready access through the use of the river to import raw ores and export its finished wares, which also include metallic fixtures, housewares, etc. In a largely mountainous country, with almost no flat lands to be found, it is a rarity which has only enhanced its importance over the centuries to maintaining Albaron’s independence, which comes under threat in Quest of Fire Book Six.   

Four Fens – The Wolfsglen River’s watershed reaches its low point in a swampy area known as the Four Fens. Surrounded by low, weathered mountains on either side it is a unique biome within Albaron’s lands. It is also the subject of much lore and tales told round firesides to young children, kept rapt by stories of goblins, boggarts, and werebeasts that were said to have once terrorized those ill-advised enough to enter any of the four bogs. The very number of bogs is said to be tied to the number of settler groups lost to early attempts to explore and cultivate the land.

VOGTEREMARK

Daggerpointe – Once a thriving hub of trade when it was a vital link to the major Ord city of Glastonae, after the disastrous Battle of Fallen Bridges that destroyed Glastonae and left it abandoned for centuries, Daggerpointe’s commercial prospects continued to limp along, but never regained their former magnificence. Impressive buildings now dingy and showing signs of crumbling, entire districts of the city now empty. Daggerpointe became a monument to a past it could never forget and despaired ever reaching again. The city for virtue of its name, which was originally granted it for its geological shape coming to a sharp point at the opening of the treacherous Bay of Bris, and desperation of its people became a hub for pirates, mercenaries, and other blades for hire.  None of which the rulers of the Vogteremark, which controls the surrounding area officially acknowledge.

Those are some quick bits of color and character that are part of each locality and shape their respective roles in the next Quest of Fire entry. Much like Desperation did, this entry is going to zoom into the Northwestern Lowlands map and reveal features, locations, and a story that might have gone unnoticed when pulled back and looking at the overall picture. Things are going to be pretty dire as the decisive War of Restoration reaches an inflection point in the book which will, of course, set everything up for the enormous finale in the conclusion to Quest of Fire, which is due in 2025 (Lord willing).

I’m planning to share more in days to come so keep checking back for more and most importantly, may the Lord bless and be with you always.

QUEST OF FIRE FRIDAY: LAST YEAR

Welcome to the first Quest of Fire Friday of the new year! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and 2024 is off to a phenomenal start. This year is looking pretty similar at the start for me to last year’s with me needing to be super focused on meeting a writing deadline, this time for Quest of Fire book 6. I’m hoping to share some sneak peek insights into some locations from the book next week.

Today, however, I feel like I have to focus on that earlier comment I made on how similar this year looks to last. That statement is too strong. In truth, the similarities are like those of a housecat to a lion. Both felines but very different in how they need to be handled and the trepidation with which one would approach them.

You see, this time last year I was in trouble. I was behind on completing not one but two novels. I’m not known for my timeliness (this year-in-review post coming five days into the new year and late at night is evidence enough), but I hadn’t ever been that pressed, that far behind, and that certain to be far more so before I would finish. I struggled for several days to chip away at the mountain of my deadlines and became more and more stressed. I was going to let down my publisher and readers. And that was just on the timeliness for finishing the books, never mind what kind of quality the writing and stories that would come out of it could possibly have. I hinted in past posts and interviews about it, but I don’t think I can aptly convey the measure of my deepening horror as day after day passed and I was further and further behind. It was like my vehicle was stuck in deep mud and the more I tried to gun the engine and peel out of it the more entrenched and hopeless my plight became.

So, I prayed about it.

We often talk about prayer or offer it for others as if it is the very least and most ineffectual thing we could do for one another or our circumstances. That’s unfortunate, because truly after I turned the situation over to God and admitted the task, the problem, all of it, was beyond me that’s when things began to turn around.

First, I was graciously granted delayed release dates for both books by my publisher. Then my wife took it upon herself to handle putting our son to bed solo five of seven days each week, which gave me nearly two hours more writing time per day. But what happened in the days and weeks after have really humbled me. The words for these stories didn’t just come, they came in a rush. An unyielding torrent. I had previously clutched tight my concerns about how to handle the mechanics of telling these stories, dreading various scenes. Suddenly even those scenes flowed out like spun silk. I encountered themes and developments that I never saw coming that were so rich and profound to me. Both books became more than I had ever hoped for them to be. I was still a rather crude instrument for the Master Artist to use, but for the first time in a long while I felt like I was being used by Him. It’s a beautiful feeling and a treasure for me. I continue to pray the Lord uses the stories for His glory in those who read it.

The entire experience has been a blessing to me and forced me to shift from relying on myself to relying on Him and revealed how incredibly freeing it is to come to Him weary in search of rest. There’s a passage in Silent Stars (one of the two novels I needed to finish) where I referenced Isaiah 43:19

“ Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ”

That’s how I felt. He made a way where there was none.

I realize the Lord doesn’t answer every prayer in the way we would want. But His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts. It is part of living by faith and not by sight that we accept some prayers are answered as we wanted and others not. We have to trust just as much that He can bring good of an answer of “No” as He is capable of doing the very thing we ask of Him. I had some answers of “No” along the way. I won’t say I’ve done a great job of it, but I’m still trying very hard to hold to my thankfulness that He is with me and as Romans 8:28 says:

“ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,  for those who are called according to his purpose.”

I hope that that is helpful and encouraging for you on the journey you have before you. I pray that it is one leading ever closer to the Lord and that if you encounter a desert, bereft of hope, you turn to the God of hope Who makes a way in the wilderness and a river in the desert.

Thank you for reading and may the Lord bless and be with you always.