Stories, Thankfulness, Independent Authors, and Book Sale!

 This year I have discovered a lot of great books and new authors. I feel like I have made new friends. Only an introvert would say something like that, I know. But this year I have not only found new authors and books to love, I have rediscovered a love for great stories that speak spiritual truths.  Stories that snatch you out of your own world and give you a "Narnia" experience and allow you to participate in the story with the characters. Along the way, you meet flawed characters and get to walk with them as they meet various challenges and come out victorious. You change as they change. You experience their pain, their sorrow, their joy. You learn the life lessons they learn through their trials. You think about your relationship with God and other people as they think about theirs. I have an appreciation for authors who are able to do that without interrupting the story. My love of these stories has influenced me in ways I am very thankful for. By reminding me there is hope, by reminding me of the power of a good story, and by pointing the way to Jesus. So, in the spirit of "thankfulness" I wanted to recognize some of those authors and their stories. Here are five books I read in 2015 and am thankful for.

1. The Blood of Kings Trilogy by Jill Williamson (I know it's cheating to put a trilogy, but really they're one long story!). I LOVE these books. The characters, the world, and the story are amazing. It is the story of Achan, a slave who wants to escape his situation and save his sweetheart from an arranged marriage. When he is given the opportunity to train with a knight he finds out that Arman (their version of God) may have other plans for him. Books one and two are available to listen to for free on her websites. 
2. Dare by Tricia Mingerink. An assassin who works for the king is wounded on a mission and finds himself at the mercy of two girls whose family he helped murder four years ago. As they nurse him back to health he struggles with what to do once he returns to the King. Captivating storytelling, wonderful characters and character development.
3. Waking Beauty by Sarah E. Morin. Oh. My. Word. The only reason I have not written a full review for this book yet is because words literally fail me. This is the story of what happens AFTER Sleeping Beauty wakes up. The only problem is, she's been dreaming for a hundred years and doesn't believe she is actually awake. Prince Arpien has his work cut out for him trying to convince her that she is in the waking world. Throw in tension between their two kingdoms, a dangerous fairy, hilarious dialogue, and you have an epic fantasy that will leave you with a major book hangover when you're done.
4. To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander. This was a sweet story about a southern man who fought for the North in the Civil War and a southern widow who struggles to find her place in life after her abusive husband is killed. It is inspired by the true story of Belle Meade Mansion, and some of the supporting characters are based on actual people.  The character development was very well-timed and the storytelling was beautiful.
5. Healer's Curse by Kathrese McKee. This is a novella in the Mardan's Mark series and it follows the story of Lady Elilan, who is gifted as a healer but was unable to save her husband and her mother-in-law when they contracted an illness. Her confidence shaken, she refuses to use her gift anymore, relying solely on natural methods. When a captain is injured and put under her care, he challenges her beliefs about her gift. This was a beautiful story that tugged on my heartstrings. If you've ever felt like a failure for your inability to carry out a responsibility you were charged with, you will relate to Elilan. I loved watching her grow throughout the story. It was a short but satisfying read.

Two of these books were written and published independently (Healer's Curse and Dare) by first-time authors.  I'm a little in awe of these women, not only for writing great first-time books, but for their independence in publishing without the help of a publishing company. Their lack of a publisher by no means hurts the quality of their product. These authors really care about their craft and have put in the blood, sweat, and tears necessary to write, rewrite, edit, market, and produce a quality story to the masses all without the help of a "professional" publisher. 

What awesome reads of 2015 are you grateful for? What books are you looking forward to reading in 2016?

If you are looking for great books to read over the holiday season, or gifts for the book lover in your life, you might consider the following Christian Book Sale by independent authors. Tricia Mingerink's book Dare is included in this sale! (The rest of this post is a pre-written advertisement).

In honor of Thanksgiving and Black Friday, a group of independent Christian authors have banded together to offer over seventy discounted books on Nov 27-30. There's something for everyone. Every book listed on Indie Christian Books is on sale in one or more ways. Find discounted paperbacks, dozens of books offered with free shipping, $0.99 ebooks, package deals and more. Even if you have a budget of $0, new reading material awaits you. Don't know what to pick? The fearless Indie Christian Books team created a quiz that will generate a book list perfect for you! Check it out!

   

A note on the Ebooks Only page. All books are listed as "Sold Out." This only refers to paperback copies of these titles. Please click onto the product pages to find descriptions and links to discounted or free ebooks.

Acknowledgments: Thanks to Leah E. Good for her work organizing this sale, Gloria Repp for completing the time-consuming job of uploading book info to the sale website, and Hannah Mills for her fantastic design work on the website graphics. Hannah can be contacted at hmills(at)omorecollege(dot)edu for more information about her design services.

Review for Deny by Tricia Mingerink

Yesterday, I interviewed Tricia Mingerink about the writing of her second book in the Blades of Acktar series, Deny. Today, I am including my own review of this wonderful book. Read through to the end for a surprise!  

     

What happens when the lies we tell to protect others catch up with us? How do we reclaim our past moments of bravery and conquer the fear which keeps us silent and frozen in the present? These are questions that Leith and Renna must face in this next installment of The Blades of Acktar. 

  Leith has returned to King Respen and The Blades to continue his work as a spy for the Resistance and keep his friends safe. The lies and half-truths he has told to keep them safe are becoming more difficult to balance by the day. His new identity in Christ and the role he has to play as First Blade are at odds. He doesn’t know how much longer he can keep this up. Everyone depends on him and he cannot, will not, let them down but what, or who, will he have to sacrifice in the end because of his lies? Meanwhile, Renna continues to struggle with her own fear. She wants to be free from the fear that dominates her life, but she stays silent while other people make decisions for her, too afraid to speak out. Why can't she be brave and sacrifice everything like Leith? Why can't she speak openly about her faith like Brandi? Does she even have faith anymore? When everyone who makes her feel safe is taken away, will she find comfort in knowing that God is in control?

Like its predecessor Dare, Deny had me gripping my Kindle and reading furiously till eleven o’clock at night. Every time I thought I would take a break from reading, I would pick it right back up again. I’m pretty sure my husband caught me talking out loud to the book on several occasions when I would cry out at something that had happened. The storytelling was so beautiful. I loved the tender moments between Leith and Renna as they both tried to get over their nervousness and talk to each other. I wanted to hug them as they each dealt with their inner struggles. I understood Renna’s uncertainty and frustration of knowing what she should do, being unable to make herself do it, and then hating herself afterward. I felt for her every time she tried to be brave and fell back into her safe habits instead.  My favorite scene is near the end where she finally finds her courage and peace again. It was such a beautiful and tender moment, even more so because of how much we see her struggle with her faith throughout the story.

I have also experienced the same burden that Leith puts on himself when he tries to save everyone instead of putting them in God’s hands.  I loved the theme of denial that runs through the story and the way it shows how things become more difficult for us when we deny God’s power.
If you loved Dare, then you will love Deny. It picks up right where the first one left off and it wastes no time drawing you back into the world of Acktar.  You get to see characters from the first book grow, you will be introduced to new characters you will love, and you get to read an incredible story! I loved Deny just as much as I loved Dare and I eagerly await the third book!

Deny is available for purchase on November 30th, but if you can't wait till then, enjoy this two chapter sneak peek! Also, don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for the chance to win a signed copy of both Dare AND Deny! The winner will be announced at the Launch Party on December 4th (see link at the bottom of the page). Between now and then, please visit the other blogs on the blog tour to learn more about Tricia and her books.

Blog Tour Schedule

November 16

• Introduce the launch and blog tour – Tricia Mingerink
• Author Interview – Gabriela Paige

November 17

• Book Review – Abby Cashen

November 18

• Author Interview – Jessica Dowell
• Character Chat #1 – Tricia Mingerink

November 19

• Book Review – Jessica Dowell

November 20

• Book Review – Alyssa Van Fossen

November 21

• Book Review – Hope Brockway

November 23

• Author Interview  – Abby Cashen
• Book Review – Gabriela Paige

November 24

• Character Chat #2 – Tricia Mingerink
• Book Review – Kim Moss

November 25

• Book Review – Shantelle Hannu
• Author Interview – Kim Moss

November 27

• Author Interview – Hope Brockway
• Book Review – Claire Banschbach

November 30

• Release Day!

December 1

• Character Chat #3 – Tricia Mingerink

December 2

• Book Review – Jaye L. Knight

December 3

• Author Interview – Claire Banschbach

December 4

• Author Interview – Shantelle Hannu
• Facebook Party! 7:00 PM EST

My First Author Interview -- Tricia Mingerink, Author of Deny!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very pleased to welcome to my blog Tricia Mingerink. She is the author of the book Dare which is a young adult adventure novel released in June of this year, and the sequel Deny which will be released on the 30th of this month! I found out about Dare when Kathrese McKee (author of the Mardan's Mark series) interviewed Tricia on her blog.  I was intrigued by the idea of her setting, which is a medieval-type time period in an American West-type landscape. I got the book on Kindle and read it in less than two days. Tricia is definitely one of those authors who snatches you into her story as soon as you open the book! My review for Dare can be read here. I will post my review for Deny tomorrow, but today I am thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Tricia about the writing of Deny. 

About the Author

Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country. You can connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, 
Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, and her blog

About the book:

All lies have consequences.

Promoted to the top rank among King Respen’s assassins, First Blade Leith Torren hides his involvement with the Resistance. How many lies will it take to protect his secret?

Renna Faythe has done nothing but survive for the past four years, but now Leith’s courage inspires her to try to be something more. If only she could figure out what that duty might be.

When the unthinkable happens, faith waivers. Friendships tear. What else will they be forced to deny?

But this time, Leith faces his greatest fear.

He can’t save everyone.

Welcome, Tricia! For those who may not know, what gave you the idea for the series? 

Tricia: It was really a combination of things. I had recently graduated from a public college where I’d have several instances where I should’ve stood up for my faith and I didn’t. I also had just finished researching my great-grandparents’ experiences during WWII in the Netherlands. WWII tore the Netherlands apart. Some Christians joined the Dutch Resistance. Some Christians didn’t believe they should rebel against the government and did nothing. Others went so far as to help the Nazis and turn in their fellow Christians for Resistance activity. Those two things inspired The Blades of Acktar. 

Which comes easier to you, writing plot or writing characters?

Tricia: Plot. By far. My sister-in-law spends hours walking with me while I complain about how hard characters are to write. I go through drafts and drafts trying to get the characters right. In Dare, Renna had a habit of disappearing in a scene, even the ones from her POV. In Deny, she was flat through most of the book. As my editor said, Renna has a shell, but she shouldn’t have a shell from the reader. The problem was, she had a shell from the writer too! 

Speaking of characters, how did you decide what needed to happen with the characters in Deny? Did you have specific plans for them as far as what how you wanted them to develop and what needed to happen to make that development occur? 

Tricia: I tend to get ideas in big chunks. When I got the idea for The Blades of Acktar, I knew most of the first book and the third book all at once. To figure out what had to happen in Deny, I had to decide what would get the characters from Dare to Book 3. And that was the events of Deny. 

What was the most difficult thing about writing a sequel?

Tricia: The expectations. When I released Dare, only  a few people had any expectation of what the book would be like. Now I have readers depending on me to deliver the same great story with Deny as I did with Dare. Preferably get even better. And that pressure was almost crippling at first because, as far as first drafts go, Deny was much weaker than Dare. It took rather drastic re-writing to get the book to what it is now. 

What was the thing that most surprised you about the story or characters in this book?

Tricia: Jamie is probably the character that surprised me most. In the first draft, Jamie didn’t have much of a role. I actually considered cutting him entirely, until I wrote the draft of Book 3 and realized that he was a really important character. I’m really glad I didn’t! The response of my early readers to Jamie has really surprised me. 

Teaser question: Is there a scene you are particularly proud of? Can you answer that without giving too much away? ;-)

Tricia: The climax scene. I can’t really say too much about it, but it’s one of the few scenes that didn’t change much during revisions. 

If there is one message you really hope to convey to your readers through this book, what is it?

Tricia: God is in control even in our darkest moments. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to us and it’s easy to doubt during those times. Doubt is natural. Weakness is natural. If we didn’t have that doubt and weakness, we wouldn’t be able to see the strength found in God. 

Thank you so much for visiting my blog, Tricia!

Deny comes out November 30th! Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win signed copies of Dare and Deny! Make sure to follow the blog tour leading up to the Facebook Launch Party on December 4th as well. Just click on the names of the bloggers and you will be taken directly to their pages.

Blog Tour Schedule

November 16

• Introduce the launch and blog tour – Tricia Mingerink
• Author Interview – Gabriela Paige

November 17

• Book Review – Abby Cashen

November 18

• Author Interview – Jessica Dowell
• Character Chat #1 – Tricia Mingerink

November 19

• Book Review – Jessica Dowell

November 20

• Book Review – Alyssa Van Fossen

November 21

• Book Review – Hope Brockway

November 23

• Author Interview  – Abby Cashen
• Book Review – Gabriela Paige

November 24

• Character Chat #2 – Tricia Mingerink
• Book Review – Kim Moss

November 25

• Book Review – Shantelle Hannu
• Author Interview – Kim Moss

November 27

• Author Interview – Hope Brockway
• Book Review – Claire Banschbach

November 30

• Release Day!

December 1

• Character Chat #3 – Tricia Mingerink

December 2

• Book Review – Jaye L. Knight

December 3

• Author Interview – Claire Banschbach

December 4

• Author Interview – Shantelle Hannu
• Facebook Party! 7:00 PM EST

Love bears all things...

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things"
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

It happens every year. Every year, I feel more confident in my own abilities as a teacher. I've walked this road, I've taught this class, I've taught these students. I know what makes them tick. I know how much they need to be challenged. I know how firm or gentle I need to be with them. I know, I know, I know.

And then a day like Friday comes.

Friday, when Student A forgets his homework, which he wrote on paper, instead of typing and submitting online, after DAILY reminders.

Friday, when Student B finally has enough and blows up at his table, walks away from me when I try to get him to calm down, and then bursts into tears.

Friday, when I blow up at Student C for tattling.

Friday, when I was overly sensitive and blew up at Student A for saying something that I took as disrespectful, and he meant as a joke.

Friday, when I failed as a teacher.

Friday, when I realized, again, how big a task it is that I have been given. It is no small thing to teach Middle Schoolers, and my job is so much bigger than teaching them academics.  My job is equal parts instructor, counselor, and sometimes, mother.

I feel like Peter in the movie version of Prince Caspian.  We can talk about the shortcomings of the movie later, but there were a few moments that were brilliant.

Peter thinks he has everything sorted. He's going to save the day. He doesn't need any help.

And then his younger brother has to save him from temptation.

Peter does not have it sorted.

Love my students, pray for my students, teach my students about the Bible. Bible time is the worst time of the day! It's right after lunch when they have been left to their own devices for 30 minutes. Emotions run high, they go crazy, and I have to pull them down to earth again.

And yet it is the time when it is most critical for me to be patient and loving. *sigh*

Love is patient, love is kind -- when kids are disrespectful, and when they can't let go of their petty dramas

It does not envy -- other teacher's schedules and breaks

It does not boast -- because, really, what do I have to boast about?

It is not proud -- because even (especially) teachers make mistakes

It is not rude -- to the student who touches my hot buttons

It is not self-seeking -- it seeks the good of others

It is not easily angered -- again, hot buttons

It keeps no record of wrongs -- every day is a new day

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth -- it doesn't get caught up in the drama, but it looks for things that are true and takes joy in that.

It always protects -- students

It always trusts -- in God's wisdom

It always hopes -- in the best possible outcome

It always perseveres -- when early retirement sounds really, really, good.

I just finished praying through this scripture, something I tend to do when I am at the end of my rope, and what I should do more often. Give me this kind of love. Help me to show this kind of love. I love this chapter of the Bible, but when I honestly try to apply it I realize how hard this is.

And then I realize that this is the kind of love God shows us every day. He is the embodiment of this kind of love. Our human love for each other pales in comparison to the love He shows us every day.  And yet, He calls us higher. I know I don't make it easy for Him to love me with this kind of love. And yet He does.  I see evidence of it every day in the way my kids offer me grace when I mess up. I see it in the way my husband loves me and enjoys my company after I've just taken all my frustration out on him. He knows how hard it is, and because of that He gives us all the support we need to get there. He is the great teacher.

Okay, God. I will try again.

Review for The Safe Lands Trilogy by Jill Williamson

I have found a dystopian series to love!

Usually, I am not really a fan of dystopian books. Not because they don't interest me, because in spite of myself I almost always get drawn into the world of "What if?" and "How would I survive?" and "What choice would I make?". No, my problem with dystopias is the fact that I have to trudge through so much despair and the ending is hardly ever worth it. The main characters make decisions that are morally questionable at best and somehow the reader is supposed to accept the decision as the only thing that character could have made. Or, it is clear that it is the wrong choice, but the consequences are either unclear, or I spend the rest of the book reading about the negative consequences and there is no redemption at the end. Many times I am left dissatisfied and unclear about the overall message of the book.

However, I can get behind Jill Williamson's version of dystopia.  The Safe Lands trilogy contains admirable yet authentic characters, difficult decisions with realistic consequences, and a very clear message of hope and redemption.  The trilogy is available as an e-book set on Amazon Kindle.

The Safelands Trilogy: My Review

Have you ever felt trapped by your own culture? Have you ever wanted to escape so badly you would do anything? Have you ever struggled to discern the truth amidst the lies your culture tells you? If so, I challenge you to read The Safelands trilogy.

The Safelands trilogy follows the journeys of three brothers, Levi, Mason, and Omar. Each of them has a unique personality and set of struggles. Levi, the oldest and favorite of their father, is a strong hunter who feels a strong sense of responsibility toward his clan. Mason, the brainiac thinker, is a doctor-in-training, with a strong moral compass. Omar, the artist, with feelings that run deep, has never felt like he belonged in his family.

In the first book, Captives, Omar betrays his family and village to bring them to The Safelands, thinking he will finally gain recognition by improving their lives. Mason, works to find a cure for the plague that infects the people of the Safelands. Levi sets out to free the women who have been taken captive to bear children for the Safelands.

In the second book, Outcasts, the brothers work together with a rebel group, The Outcasts, to rescue the children who are being held in the boarding school. Levi struggles to forgive Omar and adjust to his new role as Elder of Glenrock. Omar struggles with addiction, shame, and the feeling that he is worthless. Mason struggles with his ever-growing attachment to the Safelands medic, Ciddah, knowing he cannot trust her. Meanwhile, Shaylinn, a girl from Glenrock, learns the identity of her unborn children’s father.

In the third and final book, Rebels, Mason and Omar find out what it means to be “liberated” by the Safelands, as well as some other secrets the government did not want them to know. Levi continues to work with the underground Outcast group to expose the Safelands government. Shaylinn is about to give birth to twins.

Jill Williamson does a fantastic job of creating her fictional worlds and her true-to-life characters. I could identify with every major character in this series on one level or another. As the oldest child of four, I could identify with the pressure Levi felt to take care of his tribe and his family. As a peace-maker who wants everyone to get along, I could identify with Mason as he mediated between his two brothers. As for Omar, I could identify with his desire to be loved and appreciated despite his differences. More than anything, I kept reading to see him succeed and find redemption.

The Safelands series deals with addiction, teen pregnancies, and temptation in a true but tactful way. Every character is faced with difficult choices and they experience very real consequences to the decisions they make, good or bad. That said, what I appreciate most about Williamson’s writing is that she weaves a thread of hope throughout these stories, letting her readers know that there is grace and forgiveness for everyone.

The Safelands trilogy is an important read for today’s teenager. It contains well-written characters, true-to-life situations, and a strong message of grace and redemption. I would recommend this book to teen and adult fans of Williamson’s Blood of Kings trilogy, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and anyone who enjoys dystopian or speculative fiction.

Review for By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

I think I may have found another author to add to my list of favorites. I'll be honest, it took me a while to get into this book, but once I did MAN was I hooked! This book is currently free on Kindle till the end of July I think. Check it out!

The author also has podcasts of herself reading this book, and the second in the series on her website at JillWilliamson.com. Look under Podcasts or Freebies. She has a lot of other really cool resources as well if you are an aspiring author.

If you love epic fantasy, you will love The Blood of Kings trilogy.

By Darkness Hid: My Review
A boy, unaware of his powerful gift, jumps at the chance to become a knight, hoping to win the hand of his childhood friend and escape his life of slavery. A girl goes into hiding, disguising herself as a boy to escape marriage to a loathful prince. Both of them, drawn together by circumstances neither of them chose, have an important role to play in the redemption of a kingdom taken over by darkness!

Achan Cham wants nothing more than to marry his childhood sweetheart and live in his own cottage somewhere, free from servitude to a cruel master. When a knight takes notice of him and offers to train him as his squire, he readily accepts. One day, he begins to hear strange voices. Voices who want to know who he is! Is he going mad? What is Sir Gavin not telling him?

Vrell Sparrow wants nothing to do with Prince Gidon, who seeks to marry her by whatever means necessary to gain control of her land. To save herself from being married against her will, she goes into hiding, disguises herself as a boy, and becomes apprenticed to a healer. When a powerful man senses her gift of blood voicing and summons her to be his new apprentice, she has no choice but to comply.  As she develops her gift, her disguise becomes more difficult to maintain. Then she hears the voice of a blood-voicer, who does not understand the strength of his gift, or how to control it. Who is this man and why does her master seek him?

This story snuck up on me. It started out slow, as Williams craftily established the setting and the characters. It was interesting enough to keep my attention, mainly because I could tell she was setting the reader up for something big. She did a very good job of keeping that "something big" a secret until the final moment! However, it did not really grip me until about halfway through the story. After that, my problem was going to bed on time. Achan is a very believable teenage boy and one of the best male characters written by a woman I have ever read. He is awkward, uncertain, and somewhat self-centered at times. Deep down he has a beautiful heart that only wants to take care of someone. Vrell’s story was equally compelling, and I was on edge with her the entire time as she worked to maintain her disguise.  I loved the role she plays in the story, and how hard she works to help Achan. I also loved the idea of “blood voicing”, which is basically the ability to communicate with others telepathically, and how it played into the story.

Finally, I loved how Williamson dealt with very real issues faced by teens today. Her stories address issues such as Godly relationships, temptation, honesty, sacrifice, and other moral and ethical dilemmas that modern day teens might face. She does not sugarcoat the consequences of bad decisions, but neither does she glorify them. What I appreciate most in her stories is the message of hope.
If you love stories with “Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, true love, miracles…..” this is the series for you. If you are intrigued by the idea of communicating telepathically with others, this is the series for you. If you love stories that address difficult issues and deal with them in an authentic way, this is the series for you. I hope you enjoy Darkness Hid and it's sequels, To Darkness Fled and From Darkness Won.