IT’S HERE!
KIERA IS HERE, Y’ALL!
🎉🎉💙😭😭🤩😍✨
I think my unofficially official author picture sums up how I’m feeling perfectly.
One eye smiling and the other just a little bit crazy. 😉😉
This book has taken a lot. A lot of time, stamina, criticism, and creativity. But it’s also given me so much, and one of my favorites is you all. 💙
Thank you for all your enthusiasm and support!
Just Kiera chilling with some other real books. 💙
Buy on Amazon // Order hardcover
Bloggers we’re celebrating with today…
Something absolutely wonderful happened in my author world this week.
My proof copy arrived!!!! 😍😍😍😭😭
Y’ALL, I had been tracking it all day and just as I thought it was probably too late to come, the delivery driver knocked on the door, scared the hair off my dog, and my package was officially here.
I got to open it with Mikayla on video call and Joshua filming. 💙
It is absolutely and entirely perfect. I’ll share some more pictures when I have daylight (and there’s a giveaway 🤫), but I am so grateful for how perfectly and beautifully it printed. (Thank you everyone who has prayed. 💙)
I still look at it like “that’s not real” “what is this thing” “how do I have a book and a HARDCOVER one??”
It’s been such a gift, and let me tell you–there has been so much grace. 💙
(Kiera releases 5.11.2022. Pre-order your copy now!)
Release day for the second edition of Kiera is less than one month away! (#runsaroundscreaming #inexcitementandterror #whosideawasthisanyway #ahhh) I cannot wait to share the gorgeous new hardcovers with you, and I think you’re going to love the bonus content. 😍🙌
If you’re bursting with excitement and would like to help celebrate, here are five ways you can…
1. Pre-order your copy in ebook or hardcover. Hardcover bundles include some pretty sweet bonus goodies, fyi. 😉
2. Join the release week celebration team! Whether you’re an Instagrammer, blogger, or reviewer, I’ve got something you can help out with. 🤩🤩 (Join here.)
3. Mark the book as TBR on Goodreads. This helps spread the word, and Goodreads will also send you a release reminder email, which is kind of fun. 😉
4. Tell a friend! If you know someone who might enjoy Kiera, tell them a little bit about why you liked it or are looking forward to it.
5. Pray that everything with the release would go well and on schedule. 💙💙
Thank you all for your support and excitement! I can’t wait to share this with you. 💙
3/16. Today’s date. I chose it for the cover reveal before I really looked at the number written out, but when I did, I was kinda delighted.
3/16 happens to be the address for one of the most famous Bible passages on love, and since that’s really what my book is all about, I thought it was a pretty fun nod from God. 😉
I seriously have been sooooo chomping at the bit to get to share this cover with you all. My designer (Perry Kirkpatrick who also designed the first edition) did an amazing job, and I really think she captured the spirit of the book perfectly. 🙌🙌
(It’s also going to look SO GOOD in hardcover. 😍)
*rubs hands together* *tries not to look crazy* *fails*
Ready, set?
EEEeeeeeeek! The birds, the fonts, the whispy bangs, the TEXTURE, that little hint of dystopian grunge… 😁😁🤩 I’m. In. LOVE.
Just for fun, here are two quote graphics I made to celebrate.
(New) Synopsis:
Kiera’s life is pretty simple—garden, hang out with her best friend, babysit little Jade, and finish up homeschool highschool. But a global war and mandatory draft turn her eighteenth birthday into a nightmare.
Brennan, Jade’s adoptive dad, offers his last name and exemption status, leaving Kiera to question everything she’s ever thought about love. Even worse, she might actually be starting to have feelings for him.
Life settles into a routine before shattering again, and Kiera is left with only one question… If God truly loves her, why is this happening?
Limited edition hardcover includes exclusive bonus content.
Releasing in hardcover and ebook on 5/11/2022!
Hardcovers bundles are available for pre-order here.
So there you go! That’s all the deets. 😁 Thanks for sharing this moment with me. 💙
Y’ALL. 😳😳😳
I’ve been very accidentally working on a new project.
Remember my short story “Enjoy the Poodle Skirt”? And how much fun we had with free copies when it was first released?
Well, good news for my newer readers (and longtime ones too), it’s now permanently free with an updated cover and interior files. 🤩🤩
Behold the cuteness…
While I’ve always adored the original cover by Victoria Lynn, late night insomnia decided it was time for a fresh one, and I started experimenting with my newfound confidence from designing for Sincerely, Jem.
This idea was born, and I couldn’t love it more.
It didn’t stop at the cover bug, though. 😬😬😂 I’d always thought this story was too short for a paperback edition, but with the trim size (and template!) of my medieval stories, I had to see if it could work.
And work it did! 😍 There was a learning curve for sure, and Perry was an amazing Jedi master. 👏👏 I’m especially excited about the cute details like quirky fluerons and the most darling back cover. (Committee Canva projects can get pretty hilarious. 😂)
I could not believe how little and cute it was when I got my copy. 🥺😍
I’m so excited to give an old story a fresh new face, and I hope you enjoy. ❤️
Life is changing so much everyday, but I thought I’d share a few of the highlights with you.
I recently got some pretty cool bookmail when I splurged on two indie books I was eyeing.
Snow-Crossed Letters by Chautona Havig, a.k.a. my upcoming Christmas read. It looks absolutely adorable, and I’m counting on there being some surprise encouragement, true to this author’s form. 😉
Ignite by Jenna Terese looks SO, SO COOL. The cover, the concept, the fact it’s a duology… 😍😍
🤩
Speaking of books, the amazing leaders of my recovery/discipleship group hosted a bridal shower for me, and they made it book-themed.
The book titles. 🤗
Every detail was so special. ❤️
Yours truly, posing like the happy bean she is. 😁
It was a really special day, and I feel very loved. ❤️❤️
Also book and wedding related–I’ve been packing! Joshua just moved into the apartment, so I’m getting ready to move some of my stuff over there to make room here for more wedding prep. 😅
My lonely shelf getting ready to move on to new adventures.
I promise these aren’t just books. I have Funko Pops (quite a few actually 😁😁) and some keepsakes in there too. But it is also mostly books. *gulps and grins
I’ve been packing up baking stuff as well, getting rid of a few things, and managing Covid quarantine, but I somewhere in there I’ve managed to read a little, brainstorm a little, and keep up on GBBO.
I wonder what’s next. 😁
(Thank you for the bridal shower and the pictures, Pat!)
Happy (re)release day to The Treasure Hunt! Six years ago, in June, I published my very first book. There was a lot of nervousness and A LOT of excitement, and I’ll never forget the feeling of holding the first copy in my hands. ❤
The journey since then has been long, and hard, and beautiful, and you all have been a blessed part of it. ❤
I searched through my old blog for mentions of the book, and this made me feel nostalgic…
😭😭
A few months later, I was interviewed by Sarah Holman, one of my biggest heroes, over on Homeschooled Authors. The post is still up, if you’d like to read it. And take a look at my profile picture! I was such a baby. ❤ (I adored that jumper, fyi.)
Today, I am so happy to share the new edition of The Treasure Hunt with a brand new cover, interior formatting, and a few minor grammatical fixes. 😉
In celebration of six years of this book (I still can’t believe it), here are a few reviews from over the years…
This review, my second ever and one I was delighted to find when I first discovered Goodreads 😉
This lovely one (and I’m glad the reader liked all the nicknames)
This reader was inspired and you all have no idea how much that melts me
I had a hard time choosing reviews, so even if yours isn’t here, know I appreciated it. You all are the best. ❤ Thank you for your kind words, support, and letting me see a little glimpse of what you’ve enjoyed about this book.
(Ships the US only)
Have a beautiful day!
1. It’s a quadruplet. This novella is one of four originally published in the limited edition anthology A Very Bookish Christmas last year. (Thanks so much to Sarah Holman for coordinating this! ❤ This book exists because of you.)
2. It’s loosely inspired by a classic. The pen pal relationship, Jessie’s aspiring writer-ness, and their pen names are inspired by Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster.
3. There are two Doctor Who references–one was intentional. See if you can spot them. 😀
4. Did I mention cheesecake? I feel like I mention this everywhere, but cheesecake is in the book a lot. Not just any cheesecake, though–mini cheesecakes. (Which I can confirm are superior because MORE CRUST.)
5. It’s not a romance. XD
6. It’s slightly inspired by real life. I won’t spoil all of the anecdotes for you, but when Jessie accidentally burns Snickerdoodles then grates them for ice cream topping? We did that once. XD
7. I called in backup for Longfellow’s letters in the form of guy beta-readers. I wanted his “voice” to sound authentic, so I had them particularly check that for me. (Thanks, guys!)
8. I designed the cover for this one. O.o. First time ever.
9. Jessie is an introvert (like myself), and while she has some growing to do, she stays an introvert.
10. It released today!! Check it out on Amazon in Kindle. 😀
I got batteries for Chanukah (eight nights x one gift per night = eight traditionally practical gifts), and it’s been so amazing. 😉 My Dana Alphasmart electronic typewriter is delightfully ancient and completely useless without batteries, so I’m super happy to have it back in comission. I’ve already writen 5,000 new words (distraction free!) on my fantasy story these past two weeks alone. ❤ It’s been going really well so far, and I’ve been loving fleshing out these characters and their motivations. (More needed on draft two, of course.) I just finished part one this weekend, so now there’s going to be a completely new setting and character dynamic to figure out which is SO. MUCH. FUN.
Also, I really, really love this dog side character that decided to be more important in the story than originally planned. *shrugs happily* And I’m really, really sad about what I’m about to do to some characters in just a couple hundred words. 😦 The life of an author is a complicated mess… (Especially when you accidentally lose two scenes. 😛 Don’t worry, it’s all good now.)
I get to go to a book club this week! *grins hugely* As a guest speaker! *smile falters* Which is honestly so cool, and I can’t wait to meet the girls and answer their questions about my writing and Kiera. 😉 (Don’t tell, but I’ve also put together a few minibook copies of my Kiera short story to share with them. Thanks to a Staples run and Perry’s legendary stapler. ❤ ) The book they’re discussing this month is Resistance by Jennifer Nielsen, so I’m gonna get up to speed so I can follow the discussion. Pray for me that I won’t get too tongue-tied and am able to bless the girls. 😀
Last week, I spent a ton of time* trying to write a synopsis for Sincerely, Jem. The anthology was limited edition, so I needed an individual synopsis for releasing it on its own. Skimming, an hour phone call with back up, and a gazillion drafts later, I posted it on Goodreads. With a release date. And much happiness. 😀
“Dear Reader,
My name is Jessie. I’m an expert at introversion and cheesecake eating. (#skillz) I’m trying to become a writer, but gathering inspiration = social interaction, so… no.
The world’s best mail carrier suggested I get a pen pal, so this is the story of that pen pal experiment and the beautiful way it opened my eyes.
Merry Christmas and much cheesecake to you!
Sincerely,
Jem
This lighthearted novella is inspired by Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster and originally appeared in the anthology A Very Bookish Christmas.” (from Goodreads)
And then it was time for FORMATTING! It’s not as scary as it looks, and I was actually able to do it all on my own this time. My sister Perry has helped me with it multiple times (#ninja), and Draft2Digital is really intuitive and easy to use, so yep. 😀
It’s releasing NEXT MONDAY, a.k.a. 1/20. 😀 (I really can’t wait.)
Remember that fantasy book I got to help reveal the cover for? It’s out now!! 😍 😍
And there are more details, including this cool collage.
*curiosity intensifies*
I am really curious about the setting now. Fantasy elements + pseudo urban setting = coolness. XD
There are also some beautiful collages for individual characters…
Just looking at him, I already know he’s going to break my heart. ❤ (Also, I don’t think I’ve read many books with an actor as the protagonist, so that will be cool.)
Aw, I know it says she is a “Protector”, but I just want to protect her. ❤
Synopsis
When you defeat everything life hurls at you, it’s a perfectly legitimate move to rub your conquest in the faces of those who sneered at your suffering.
Rafe, a former street-lad who clawed his way to the glittering life of a story-actor, has been waiting. But from the moment he sprung from his carriage into the gritty dust of Cainth, life has not gone Rafe’s way.
Unexpectedly dragged into a web of greed, treachery, and stolen rift powers, Rafe intends to do what he has always done. Survive.
At least that was the plan before he accidentally protected a child.
Before he accidentally gained the powers of an immortal.
And before he caught himself accidentally slipping toward the deadliest mistake possible.
The mistake of letting one’s self care for another.
Welcome to the world of…
DUST TO FLAME
Once Upon An Ordinary 