Story Snippets: Illusionary (Desiree)

Hello, fellow story travelers!! Summer fun has officially bid us ado. And I’m torn on whether to mourn the loss or be excited for the next adventure I spy dancing along the horizon. 

I’m probably a mixture of both. :-) Which tends to be a new normal for me. Ha! 

Although, I am super excited for today’s Story Snippet! I do have a secret project in the works, and while I’m not sharing that one—just yet!—I would love to share a fun snapshot from my book, Illusionary, for those who are new to my writing. 

Kam and Reese are characters dear to my heart for a number of reasons. And I hope you enjoy this look at Kam’s tumble into the Land of Ur. Enjoy! 

——— 

Liv crossed over the top of the stairs as Kam turned to head out. Her sister spotted the bags in her hand. “What are you doing?” She blinked almost as if her brain refused to compute.

Kam squared her shoulders, ready for battle. “You may not like it, and you may not understand, but I have to do this.”

Liv’s brow creased. “Aren’t you a little old for running away?”

She lifted her chin. “It’s called moving out.”

“And where would you go?”

“I can crash at a friend’s house until after my trip—which would only be for a week. Not sure if nosey-Tina told butt-wipe that. Afterwards, I’ll … figure something out.” It couldn’t be too hard. People left home all the time.

She squeezed past her sister, but the strap of her camera bag caught the corner of the hand rail. Her feet staggered over the top step. She scrambled to find her footing.

“Come on, Kam—”

Liv tugged her shoulder to spin her around, but only succeeded in throwing Kam more off balance.

The soles of her flats slipped off the next step. Her fingers skimmed the railing, seizing nothing but air. The weight of her duffel bag tugged her backward and made gravity her new enemy.

Kam went airborne.

Her sister’s eyes bulged. She stretched out her hands to grab her.

The gem of her necklace heated against her chest. A spurt of golden light flashed.

Then sharp pain jolted through Kam’s hip. Another flare shot through her shoulder as she tumbled down the steps.

Over and over she rolled.

Her arm smacked against the banister. Her head cracked into the steps. Dots danced across her eyesight. Crashing into the landing, her body bounced off the floor and then sagged against the wall.

The faintest hint of earth stirred her senses from the prickling against her cheek. Golden light flooded her vision. Then everything went black. 

* 

Twittering birds tugged at Kam’s consciousness. Heat warmed her back. She groaned and stretched her legs out. Hair tickled her face, and she pushed it out of the way, propping herself up with the other arm.

Rubbing the back of her throbbing head, she blinked until squashed blades of green grass came into view. Something stuck to her forehead. She swatted at it, clearing away flecks of dirt.

She drew her legs up to sit upright. Her heart hammered into her ribs, and her eyes widened.

A wooden grove encircled her. Vibrant bushes dotted with red flecks swayed with the wind. Sunlight streamed through slits in the canopy of leaves above. Tiny, fluffy birds fluttered along the sunbeams, their merry tunes lending more credibility to her insanity.

“Whaa …” She fingered the knot growing on her head.

Unconscious and dreaming. That’s what was happening.

She staggered to her feet. Her muscles tightened, screaming in protest. She arched her back and then leaned to the side to stretch.

Pain shouldn’t occur in a dream. So hallucination was the next logical step, right? She must have cracked her head pretty hard. Rubbing her sore hip, she allowed her gaze to wander. Pieces of bread littered the ground near a far bush. She squinted, bringing cheese, meat, and a scrap of fabric into focus.

Something rustled the bush. She pressed against a nearby tree. The rough bark ground into her tender flesh.

A whoosh shot through the grove, followed by a stinging of her cheek and a vibration near her ear.

Multi-colored feathers of blue, green, and yellow stuck off the end of an arrow shaft.

Kam scooted over, her hair tangling against the tree trunk.

The arrowhead lay embedded mere centimeters from where her face had been.

“I assure you, wanderer,” a masculine voice called from beyond the brush. “That is the only warning my archer will give you.”

Her heart dropped to her stomach. She reached shaky fingers to her cheek, only to swallow a whimper when the tips drew back coated with blood.

Someone had shot at her. Actually shot at her! 

I hope you enjoyed this snippet of Illusionary! 

I can’t wait to share more story adventures with you soon!!

Weekend Reads: My 'Must Read Before Summer Ends' List (Desiree)

Happy Almost August! :-)

It’s crazy to think just how quickly summer flies by! We only have a couple more weeks left of summer freedom. 

Before long, school will be back in session and all of us work-from-home-while-homeschooling parents will rotate our schedules around classes, lunch times, and trying to figure out math while reminding ourselves what a protractor is used for. LOL. 

Which then brings to mind the importance of downtime and genuine rest. I haven’t had much reading time this summer. Although not because of crazy work schedules. More so because of the real life adventuring with my family—which has been awesome, by the way! 

But when school resumes, the mad rush returns. *dramatic sigh* And I have several books I’d love to journey through before that begins! 

So here is my must reads list! 

Side note: if these books aren’t on your radar, they need to be!!!!!! (<—yes, I am being that dramatic. LOL) 

[books listed in random order]

Desiree's Read-These-Right-Now-Before-Summer-Freedom-Ends List

*wink* Feel free to throw something at me, I'm feeling fabulous in my drama queen crown today. :-)

Secrets of the Mist by Morgan Busse

Morgan is an auto-buy author for me. I absolutely adored her Ravenwood Saga, and my husband and I fought over her Soul Chronicles duology (that's a story for another day!). 

So I've been eager for her next book to release in a couple weeks. It still "lands" before homeschool starts for us, which means I have just enough time to savor this book before the madness begins. ;-)


More about Secrets in the Mist:

In a world where humanity lives in the sky to escape a deadly mist below, Cass’s only goal is survival. That is, until she finds a job on the airship Daedalus as a diver. Now she explores ruined cities, looking for treasure and people’s lost heirlooms until a young man hires her to find the impossible: a way to eradicate the Mist.

Theodore Winchester is a member of one of the Five Families that rule the skies. Following in his father’s footsteps, he searches for the source of the Mist and hopes to stop the purges used to control overpopulation. But what he finds are horrifying secrets and lethal ambition. If he continues his quest, it could mean his own death.

The Mist is rising and soon the world will be enveloped in its deadly embrace, turning what's left of humanity into the undead.

Forsaken Island by Sharon Hinck 

If you missed all my gushing over Hidden Current, then you can check that out here. But since finishing up book one, I've been super interested in exploring book 2! Bonus for me, book 3 is already out, so I might be able to squeeze in a book marathon one weekend and knock out the rest of the series. Woohoo!

Do you usually wait until a series is completely finished before starting on book one? I've heard about a lot of readers who do that and was curious if you did?

More about Forsaken Island: 

On an uncharted world, happiness is effortless and constant … but can true joy exist without sacrifice?

The people of Meriel have long believed their island world floats alone in the vast ocean universe, so they are astonished when another island drifts into view. With resources becoming scarce, Carya and Brantley quickly volunteer to search the new land for supplies.

After navigating a barrier of menacing trees, the pair encounter a culture of perpetually happy people who readily share their talents and their possessions. But all is not what it seems. At the core of the island is a horror that threatens everyone, including Brantley and Carya.

Freeing the villagers of the bondage they’ve chosen may cost Carya and Brantley more than they could have imagined. Even if the two succeed, they’ll have to find a way to return to Meriel quickly … or be cut off from their home forever.

Azriel by Lee James

*happy sigh* Look at this book! Everything about it sounds epic, and I'm ready to dive in right now. Well ... maybe after I feed the fam first. ;-)

Laurie wrote a fabulous review on it last month! Seriously, you all need to read this book with me so we can gush all about it. Ahh, why must adults have responsibilities! *head-desk* 

I really need to carve out more reading time for myself. [insert more overly dramatic sighing here] ;-)

More about Azriel: 

Bree Faro learns early in life that she can only depend on herself. Due to her feisty nature and unusual ability with a sword, she is educated in every fighting style imaginable and excels at them all. When she's sent to infiltrate the city of Azriel, Bree does not expect to find her place among the Watchmen of the Keep, but they welcome her as one of their own.

Little does Bree know that her new companions are in danger.

An immortal creature lies in wait for any Keeper of the Flame, the city's water source has dried up, and they are under constant attack from the Yirtzi-former Watchmen reduced to vengeful spirits, who sold their souls for power only to realize the enemy of Yahweh does not translate to the friend of mankind. Not only that, but the Watchmen are fraying. Hostilities come to a head when a Watchman is murdered.

Only a Watchman can kill another Watchman, and all eyes shift to Bree.

Bree finds herself faced with a choice. Does she engineer the betrayal of the powerful city, or does she embrace her destiny as a true Watchman of Yahweh and find the killer before it's too late?

Traitor by Laurie Lucking

I’ve been so eager to dive into Traitor by our very own Laurie Lucking! 

Laurie has such an enormous heart, and I know her love for people shines through in her books. Ideally, I'd like to reread Common first, to get reacquainted with the characters and story world. Either way, this book baby and I are going to become friends this weekend! 

More about Traitor: 

Princess Penelope has finally found a way to redeem her past mistakes-if only it didn't require betraying her new fiancé.

Princess Penelope has been the object of gossip and ridicule ever since she returned home in disgrace following her failed engagement to the Crown Prince of Imperia. When her father offers a new start in a country far across the sea, she has no choice but to accept.

Even if it means another betrothal, this time to a total stranger.

Penelope arrives in Delunia determined to avoid bringing further shame upon her family. But her devoted, caring fiancé makes it harder to guard her heart than she anticipated, and rumors of dark magic haunt her with memories she'd rather keep buried far beneath her pristine exterior.

When a poverty-stricken village outside the palace gates looks to her as their hope for a brighter future, Penelope embraces the opportunity to make amends for her transgressions. But in order to help, she must manipulate her new fiancé, putting her reputation on the line once more. And her heart.

Can Penelope rise above the failures of her past, or will she forever be branded a traitor?

Waking Beauty by Sarah E Morin

This beauty has been on my TBR list f o r e v er. And enough is enough ... this is the season for this Sleeping Beauty retelling to be read! 

I'm actually fond of retellings, so I have no idea why I keep dragging my feet on this one. I'm worried I'll be let down. But more than likely, I'll find it to be a hidden gem that I'll kick myself over for not reading it sooner. LOL. 

Have you read it?! Was it a gem for you?

More about Waking Beauty:

What if the Sleeping Beauty Refused to Wake Up?

The rescue wasn't going at all how he planned. Prince Arpien intends to gain a throne and the sleeping beauty's heart with a single kiss that wakes her from the evil fairy's curse. But kissing the princess is only the beginning of a series of unforeseen obstacles: man-eating bugs, deadly spindles, talking lapdogs, and fiery pickles. The sleeping beauty is the biggest complication of all.

Princess Brierly is beautiful and Fairy-Gifted, but also...daft. After one hundred years of sleep imprisonment, Brierly refuses to believe this rescue is anything more than a tantalizing but doomed dream.

Arpien is drawn to the vibrancy beneath Brierly's indifferent exterior. Can they reclaim her kingdom? Do they dare trust in the Prince of the old tales to help them battle the evil fairy who cursed Brierly? What is the price of waking beauty?

What's on your 'Must Read' list?

All right, friends. That’s my list! I should be able to tackle these books in two weeks. Right? Right! :-)

Wish me luck! 

And I hope you're having a fabulous summer. Enjoy every moment of it.

Until next time …

Happy Reading! 

What books have you been loving this summer? 

Any that you’d recommend? I’d love to add them to my list next!

Writer's Life: Reviving Creativity After Personal Trauma (Desiree)

*massive hugs* 

Let’s just start there—with a hug. One spanning over cyber space to wrap you in comfort and to reassure you that you aren’t alone in this world. 

If you’ve landed on this post, then you’re probably here for one of two reasons. 

1) you’re curious as to what juicy details I could share about the issues tormenting my life. In which case, you’ll leave disappointed. LOL. This isn’t the time or space to unpack my drama. 

Or 2) like me, you’ve also battled grief and trauma and are grappling for a glimmer of hope that reviving a dead creative heart is possible. That, my friend, is the light I’d love to share with you today. 

A reassurance that your current pain isn’t a permanent end to your creative journey. 

Quick Disclaimer:  I am not an expert in anything. LOL. This is not professional advice or a resource to self-diagnose. 

I am just one woman who has had her heart broken, shredded, trampled, killed, and misused more times than I can remember. 

And yet … I’m still here. I’m still creating. 

[side note: I give all credit to my Heavenly Father for being where I am. It is by His strength alone I stand.] 

So what I share here are recommendations from one overcomer to another, for the one reading this who is desperately trying to not give up. 

Recommendation One:

Prioritize Healing 

Not only physical healing! But emotional, mental, and spiritual healing are important for our overall wellbeing and for reviving our creative heart. 

I’ve met some individuals who wear their pain like a badge of honor. I, for one, would rather bury the pain and grow stronger from gaining the victory found in healing. 

A lesson I’ve learned: I only extend the time endured in sorrow when I choose to carrying around the baggage instead of releasing it. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve keep myself in dark seasons because I thought there was no hope. Friend, please know that there is always hope! 

It’s okay to give yourself time in your schedule to book appointments with qualified counselors and / or pastoral staff. 

It’s okay to step down from certain administrative responsibilities while you give yourself time to process and the mental space to grieve (regardless of the type of trauma, grief and mourning tend to walk hand-in-hand with pain and sorrow). 

Quick note: I don’t recommend making the decision to quit jobs, projects, etc. while in the state of heartache (unless advised by a professional). Stay within your trusted groups and friends. People were made to be with people. Unless of course, those areas are adding to the trauma, are toxic, or cause triggers.

It’s okay to take a step back so you can learn to breath again. 

There’s no shame in being broken. Just know that you don’t have to stay broken. 

*more hugs* 

[there’s a lot more I can unpack here, but for the sake of time, we’ll move on to the next point]

Recommendation Two: 

Create for the sake of creating, not with the pressure of selling 

Now don’t get me wrong, I fully understand the weight of towering bills. The pressure of making sure everything stays current and you don’t fall behind, which would create an even harder situation. 

Definitely make sure yours and your family’s needs are met. 

Although from the perspective of reviving a creative heart, I’ve found that it’s best to be gentle and move forward in small increments. Too much pressure to “perform” for others will cause me to procrastinate like I was born an ostrich instead of human. 

So in the journey to heal and revive creativity, allow yourself blocks of time to create just for the sake of creating. 

Take a skill you know and love—i.e. crafting stories—or explore those you’ve been too self-conscious to try. 

Here are a few to get you thinking (listed out in random order): 

• painting (with oil paints, acrylics, water colors, etc.) 
• photography (it doesn’t have to be with a “fancy camera”, this is honestly about seeing the world in a fresh way) 
• ceramics / pottery 
• flower gardening (yes, it can be an art form! Have you seen some the elaborate flower gardens people have been designing?!) 
• baking / cake designs 
• thread and yarn workings (needlepoint, croquet, knitting, and other yarn things I don’t know about) 
• graphic design 
• pyrography / woodburning art (just please don’t burn yourself!!!!!) 
• handlettering 

[side note: if you tell me you have “no time” then I will tell you to make the time. I’ve learned that we give our time to what we love most. If you list out all the things you do in a day, then you’re revealing to me your priorities in life. That can either be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the direction of your focus. Don’t use the excuse of “having no time”. Revisit your priorities, and allow yourself to have a fraction of what you’re giving to others.] 

Recommendation Three: 

Change the medium in what you use to write with 

I remember a time when I couldn’t sit at my desk without my whole body shaking. Just being in my office or at my desk would cause an onslaught of dark emotions. I would spend hours crying, and then it would take me days to recover from the emotional setback. 

[If you’re in a similar situation as I described here, please be sure to revisit Recommendation One and focus on healing.] 

Thankfully, writing (or other forms of creating) is only as stationary as we make it. 

Here are some alternative mediums I’m exploring (or have explored), in case one inspires an idea for yourself: 

Ideas involving actual words: 

—go “old school” with pen and paper 

Yeah, I know we can’t turn in a stack of notebooks to our editors, LOL. They would reject the project in a heartbeat. ;-) However, please remember these ideas are to help climb over hurdles and knock the dust off our creative muscles. We’re not after perfection; we’re focusing on reviving our creativity. 

—record your words using a device and transpose the content 

This can be done a few different ways. Either by a recorder or a software like DragonSpeak. 

I’ve actually used the voice memo app on my phone before. Then once the scene was finished, I set my phone and headset side-by-side to have DragonSpeak transcribe the words for me. That way I didn’t have to be at my desk. 

Bonus: try these options outside for a more therapeutic setting. Nature is amazing! 

Ideas not involving actual words: 

So the following ideas won't help with deadlines, but they are great for exploring your story from a different angle. Thus stimulating your creativity. 

—paint a scene from your current work-in-progress 

It doesn’t have to look like a profession created it! Lessen the pressure! But playing around with the colors and visual elements of a scene is so fun. 

And if painting really isn’t your thing, you can always play around with Photoshop and create a digital art image of your scene. 

Or even try modeling clay, welding (if you have the skill and access to such things), sculpting. Anything that gets you out of your own head and doing something creative with your hands. 

—complete an item on your character’s “bucket list” 

This one is so fun! What is an activity or an event your character would love to accomplish within the story that you could do or achieve in real life (within reason and within safe boundaries!!). 

I love this one for several reasons: 

• It will get you out of the house. Which—for those on the path toward healing—is something you will argue with, however, it really is good in the longterm for your wellbeing. 
• Depending on the activity, the moment could be a great way to explore the sensory elements for world building. 
• By putting yourself in your character’s shoes, completing their “bucket list”, would be a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of who they are and what motivates them. Bonus: there’s a good chance your character will teach you more about yourself in the outcome. Not that I would know, of course. *cheeky grin* 

*more virtual hugs* 

I wish I could sit across from you, face to face, and share the hope my heart longs to pour out. *even more hugs* 

Trauma—regardless of its form or cause—effects everyone differently. But there is hope that one day you will regain your creativity. 

It may not look the same—or even feel the same. In the midst of heartache and sorrow, it may feel like your creative heart died. However, with a little time, love, support, and a whole lot of Jesus, your heart can live again. 

Then … you can turn your personal experience into a story and share the triumph and victory that resulted from pressing through your darkest hour. I sure plan to! 

One last disclaimer: 

If you’ve experienced trauma, please do not go the journey alone!! Even when we try to convince ourselves no one cares or we’re all alone, that isn’t the truth. Please find a trusted friend, family member, or pastor to share your story with. It’s okay to be broken, but healing is possible. 

And for those who have noticed a friend or family member becoming more isolated and withdrawn, DO NOT BE SILENT! Please reach out to them! You may be the only light shining into their dark world. 

Blessings, 
Desiree 

Got an idea for reviving a creative heart? 

Please share! I’m always up for trying new things that leads to story inspirations. 

Drop your idea down below, and I may try it on my next adventure outing. :-)

Weekend Reads: Hidden Current by Sharon Hinck (Desiree)

Happy Spring!!

Y’all, I’ve been SO eager for spring to arrive. It is by far my favorite season. I love the rush of new life that spreads over all areas of my little world. Not just the budding of flowers and trees; but the freshness breathed upon my writing and the refilling of my creative well.

God is good. *happy sigh*

Although I do have a bit of a confession. I’ve been struggling to rekindle my love of fiction reading. Which feels so weird to share with the world. (Don’t judge me! LOL)

Lots of things have shifted in my life, which has led me to consuming tons of non-fiction books in my efforts to grow and glean nuggets of educational wisdom. I don’t regret my decisions, by any means.

But since I’ve spent so much time pursuing knowledge, I’ve struggled to jump back into the fictional world for fun and enjoyment.

And to deepen the confession, I’m sure that’s more because I’m struggling to spend time on my wants, to spend time investing into my rest. Ugh. Why is it SO HARD to allow ourselves time to breathe and refresh?

Even though I know creating out of a place of rest makes my work much stronger, I still deny myself that freedom. *face-palm* I’m a work-in-progress. Ha!

However, I knew I had a post coming up and I reeeeeally wanted to chat about a new story with you all! So with a renewed round of determination, I dove into my TBR list and refused to come out until I had picked something! :-)

And am I so glad I did. 

Title: Hidden Current

Series: The Dancing Realms, book one

Author: Sharon Hinck

Publisher: Enclave Publishing

Back cover copy: 

The dancers of the Order direct their floating world of Meriel with their movement... but are they steering it toward destruction?

Calara spent her life learning dance patterns and seeking to become the perfect servant to her people. When she discovers the work of the Order is built on lies, she flees with a rough-edged herder, Brantley of Windswell. Pursued by soldiers, her journey through the suffering villages of the rim leads her to encounter a truth that sends ripples through her world—and through her soul.

As she seeks clues to her forgotten family, Calara discovers newfound courage in the face of danger, while her quest awakens a growing but forbidden affection for Brantley. Yet even his support can't fully be trusted, since he'd rather destroy the Order than bring reform.

She is a lone woman facing opposition from rim villages and treachery from the all-powerful Order. Can she restore the dance to its true purpose and bring freedom and hope to her people?

Story Pros:

Y’all, I just want to hug this book for all the things it means to me that go beyond the story itself.

Loads of reader buzz had been created on Instagram over Sharon Hinck’s new series, The Dancing Realms, and since I’m a fan of the books produced by Enclave Publishing, I drew in a little closer to investigate the excitement.

I downloaded a sample of book one, Hidden Current, to give it a test run. Before long, the book sucked me right in! I became absorbed in the world of dancers serving the Order and rogues uprising to free their world from the Order’s twisted control.

I loved how the author took her own history and passion for dance and weaved it into the fibers of this story. It truly enriches the adventure and brings a freshness I’ve been missing in my reading adventures lately.

The softness of her writing style—if I can have the liberty to describe it as such—drew me in even more. Given the hustle and harshness of life, I needed the whispering, soft touch of the author’s writing style. It was perfect for this time I'm in.

And interestingly enough, the more Calara (Carya) encountered the Maker and learned of the hidden truth (being vague on purpose to not reveal spoilers), the more I connected with her on an emotional level.

My own personal journey with God has deepened over the course of the last three years, and to have the opportunity to tag along with Calara in her discovery of the Maker and His truth was a refreshing delight, one I didn’t know I needed (and obviously kept denying myself to have, LOL).

I also enjoyed the world building and the intricate ways talents could connect with nature, thus either bettering or crippling the world of Meriel.

There was so much goodness and light that shone from the pages of Hidden Current. So many solid foundations of standing for truth in the midst of chaos and darkness.

This book filled the need in my heart of rest and refueling. *hugs book* 

Story Cons:

Honestly, the con I have is purely a personal reader preference. Not anything against this story. 

Is it my most favorite read? Not necessarily.

Did I enjoy my time and will I move on to book two? Yes.

Will I recommend this book to others? Duh, that’s why we’re chatting today. LOL. :-)

The biggest con I had correlated to how quickly and easily Calara got over the disappointments connected with the Maker.

Y’all, please hear me out on this one. I fully understand how every nuance can’t be expanded upon in novels. But since I had connected with Calara over the beautiful encounters she had with the Maker, I tended to chuckle to myself going, “Am I the only one who argues with God?” LOL. Am I the only one who wrestles with God for days when disappoint and heartache set in?

Don’t get me wrong, God and I have great conversations during those times in life and I learn a lot from the pain. However, for Calara to experience similar things and find such quick resolution … those moments fell a little flat for me.

Granted, quick resolutions with God are how things should flow from a logical perspective. I just found myself disconnecting a little bit during those scenes because they felt too easily reached from my perspective.

But again, that’s just a reader preference. Since I had gone to that mental state with the character and hoped to see a little more struggling. Given the fact that I wrestle A LOT with life’s problems. :-)

Overall, I found this book a delightful and refreshing read. A book that had landed in my lap at just the right time in my life.

Have you read Hidden Current? What’s a book you hope to dive into this weekend?

Writer’s Life: Two Hard Truths and a Hug (Desiree)

Becoming a writer takes a special brand of crazy. LOL. :-D 

For real though! Making a career out of writing feels overwhelming and down-right impossible most days.

It can be so hard to navigate the emotions threatening to send our writing dreams careening off course.

Which is why I’m extra thankful for the theme rising up within the writing community. One of building others up verses seeing others as competition. The whole “community over competition” mindset in business gets my vote every time. 

And while I’ve never consider myself an expert, I’ve made tons of mistakes in my writing journey. :-) As such, I’d love to share some solid truths gleaned from those hard-learned life lessons. 

Hard Truth Number One: 

Easy isn’t always Best 

Listen, I’m all for the “work smarter not harder” concepts. But just because a certain avenue might get you from Point A to Point B with less time, less labor, or less heartache doesn’t mean it’s what’s best from a longterm perspective. 

I’ve seen so many writers—myself included—soak up the workflows of the “successful-than-me” authors with the hopes of reaching the end goal faster and with the same flare they possess. 

But focusing on someone else’s highlight reel will only cause you to add stumbling blocks to your own journey. 

And if we’re always focused on racing to the end faster, racing past the lessons and experiences and possible memories, we cheapen the journey. We dim the dream’s overall outcome. 

Now don’t get me wrong, gleaning knowledge and understanding from other's life-learned lessons isn’t a bad thing. Please don’t walk away from this thinking I’m downplaying the value of education—far from it! 

But sometimes we can spend so long looking at someone else’s “success” that it clouds our vision to our own self-worth and purpose. 

To aim for what’s best would require us to take the tools and the skills learned and then put in the labor, building into the dream. 

Because we truly do have value to add to this broken world, and our dreams are needed to make a difference, to shine a light. 

Value the dream by valuing the journey. 

Otherwise, we’re merely existing as writers rather than fulfilling our purpose living as writers. 

Hard Truth Number Two: 

Invest in Patience and Endurance. The longevity of your career requires both. 

Any dream in life requires a steadfast flow of patience and endurance. I cannot tell you how many times I've thrown up my hands in defeat. (Hint: I do it so often that I’m amazed I make any progress. *wink*) 

But one of the hard truths I take to heart is the need to cultivate a steady flow of patience and endurance. One day at a time. 

If I focus on the length of time a dream will take to complete, I can get overwhelmed and that icky feeling of defeat strives to choke me. 

So instead, I make the conscious choice to focus on today. Focus on this moment in time. Choosing to move forward one thing that will build into the dream, whether that’s writing 500 words or simply editing one chapter. 

Because I know that the sweat, blood, tears, heartache, etc. are evidence of my growth and strength. Evidence of the journey I chose not to give up on.  

Am I where I want to be? Not yet. But at least I’m not where I use to be. I’m making progress, and it’s beautiful. ;-) 

Tackle hugs all around 

I stumbled across some interesting facts about olive trees that I found so purposeful for our chat here. 

Did you know: 

• seeds for olive trees take 40 days to germinate. Which isn’t any significant growth toward becoming a full-grown tree, if we think about it. But imagine 40 days the little seed spent just to germinate! 

• olive trees need to mature for 3 to 5 years before they can bear fruit. It could take an olive tree 5 years before it is mature enough to bear fruit! 

• to obtain oil, olives need to be pressed (aka crushed) and refined (aka purified) before they can be bottled for public consumption. But once ready, the olive oil can be used for multiple purposes! Such as (but not limited to), food / cooking, cosmetics, medicine, soap, and fuel. 

Friend, please know that you may not be where you want to be in your journey. Or you may not have seen the level of growth in your dream as you’d hoped. But that doesn’t mean the entire journey is pointless.

Keep pressing onward to shine your light. Because YOU have value. This world needs the heart you have to share! 

Please keep daring to believe in your dream. 

*hugs* 

Desiree 

What’s a writing truth you’ve learned in your journey? 

Weekend Reads: Chaos Can’t by Allen Arnold (Desiree)

HELLOOOOOO!! Ah, I’m SO EXCITED to be joining the list of contributors for Lands Uncharted! It’s an honor to come alongside these lovely individuals in the pursuit to serve the fantasy writer/ reader community. 

I can’t wait to visit with you! So feel free to pull up a virtual chair and let’s gush about this week’s Weekend Read. 

Quick Backstory 

As with all readers, I have an ever-evolving TBR pile full of fictional adventures begging for me to join them. (Those beauties have become rather demanding of late!) However, like other creatives, the writer in me has been struggling over the course of the last few years. 

A wrestling of sorts had erupted over any art I would attempt to create. More often than not, I’d crumbled under the weight of fears, heartache, anxiety, depression, etc. The beginning of each new creative adventure would start off well, but then would fizzle out before I even reached the middle’s threshold. *face-palm* 

I have a computerized trove of unfinished stories. No joke! I feel like Ariel with her collection of thingumabobs. :-) 

The emotional rollercoaster had become too much of a trend. Too much of an ongoing distraction steering me further and further away from the person God had destined for me to become. 

There had to be a way off the crazy ride—a permanent exiting from the chaotic ebb and flow of life. Thankfully, God had a plan that was much bigger than me. :-) 

The thing about Chaos

Chaos Can’t: Overcome What Comes Against You in This Shaken World 

by Allen Arnold 

326 pages 

I actually had the opportunity to hear Allen Arnold speak at a writer’s conference in 2018. His session thoroughly blessed my creative heart, and I immediately dove into his book Story of WITH shortly after the conference.

And while his latest book, Chaos Can’t, isn’t a sequel by any means, it does build further upon the concept of journeying with God rather than focusing on working for God. This book explores the healing, victories, and fullness that comes with building that oneness with God, the Father.

It might just be me, but I can’t help feeling a sense of providence over the fact Allen had been working on this book, for individuals in all creative walks of life, to be available in the midst of a global pandemic. This wasn’t something he just whipped together because of the dumper-fire known as 2020. This had been planned in advance, to equipped those ready to become overcomers.

But the thing about Chaos is that it’s always going to be present. Whether it’s a pandemic, a family health crisis, addiction, a broken marriage, job loss, overdo bills, etc.

Chaos lurkers around every corner, ready to devour everyone who walks past unaware. Not only that, Chaos will also launch strategic attacks against any who seeks to use their gifts to bring light into this word.

Because, as Allen talks about in his book, Chaos brings an atmosphere of void and death. But Christ has come that we might have life and have it more abundantly [ref. John 10:10]

The best part?

Chaos Can’t isn’t a TEDTalk kind of thing. This book is a resource to equipped creatives of all kinds to overcome Chaos for good. The book my little heart has been needing!

Yet it isn’t designed to just pat you on the back and send you on your way.

Chaos Can’t is packed full of SO MUCH wisdom, inspiration, and applicable tools that can help you journey with God to climb out of the hole Chaos threw you into.

The applicable lessons will—if you put in the work—help you stay out of the hole longterm. [insert cheering here :-D] God is inviting His children to encounter a freedom beyond anything we’ve ever envisioned having in life.

I won’t claim this book will change anyone’s life. Only God can do that.

However, if you’re like me—an empathic writer who pours so much emotion into her writing—then the tools and deep thoughts shared within Chaos Can’t will be an investment you won’t regret making. :-)

We can be vessels of light who co-create with God to bring life into the areas Chaos has caused darkness and death. And I don’t know about you, but I think our world could use a lot more goodness and light.

(p.s. I’m actually on my way to finishing one of those gems in my story trove!! Eeee! Take that Chaos. #micdrop)

(p.p.s what’s a book releasing this year you can’t wait to get your hands on? I kinda have to dive into my TBR pile, but I’m always on the lookout for new reads to add to the list!)

Guest Post by Desiree Williams: 5 Unique Activities to Recharge Your Creative Flow

I'm so excited to welcome Desiree Williams to Lands Uncharted today! I connected with Desiree at a writers' conference several years ago, and she is such a fun, thoughtful, genuine person - plus, she writes amazing books! If you like a blend of sweet romance and cool fantasy world-building, you definitely need to check her out! Recently, Desiree put a new (GORGEOUS!!!) cover on her novel Illusionary, and she's celebrating with a blog tour! She stopped by to share with us about her inspiration behind her story and how she keeps up her creativity. 

So without further ado, here's Desiree!

Do you like banging your head against the wall?

Because, in all honesty, life can make us feel that’s all we do every … blessed … day.

Many people wear multiple hats on a given day, at a given time. Trying to juggle all the responsibilities leads to exhaustion—mentally and physically.

And for those who rely on their creative flow to craft for their business, that exhaustion can cause issues. Especially when deadlines are due and the blank screen becomes your mortal enemy.

What’s a writer to do?

For me … I keep busy doing all the things that have absolutely no value in moving my business forward. LOL.

I’m a huge procrastinator when overwhelmed and stressed. “Busy work” becomes my new BFF.

And while I have cultivated better habits over the last several months. There’s one particular day where running into a mental wall birthed out a story idea.


The Birth of Illusionary

Dishes overflowed in the sink. Laundry lay scattered all over the house. My child clamored for help with school. The phone wouldn’t shut up with its constant ringing. At any moment, tears would break past their barrier.

On and on it all went.

My chest hurt for its next breath as I shoved yet another load of laundry into the dryer. I longed for an escape from all the duties and responsibilities.

So desperate in fact, I wondered what would happen if a magical portal opened up in my dryer and whisked me away into another dimension.

Logically, that can’t happen. But I had a good laugh as I imagined my family’s reaction to discovering the dryer had eaten me. Ha!

However, the moment planted a crazy seed within my imagination. One God watered and bloomed into a full-fledged story idea.

I toyed a little with the daydream. Tweaking the details to be a young woman face-planting down the stairs—because dryers do not eat people. [just in case you were worried ;-) ]

And before I knew it, the story idea for Illusionary was born. *throws confetti*

HOWEVER … there are healthier ways of gathering story ideas!! Please don’t run yourself into the ground with stress just to grapple for the daydreams.


Learn From My Mistakes

Before we dive into the tips for creative flow, I’d love to chat quickly about how rest works.

No, I’m not a scientist. Nor do I have a degree in mental health. However, I have failed at a lot of things and learned many lessons the hard way. So this post is for inspiration. To help steer you in the direction to produce balance and more creative flow.

Rest is scriptural and foundational for healthy lives. We need to rest.

Yet, the type of rest we are doing can either recharge us or drain us further. Yep. I’m speaking truth here.

Two concepts to consider regarding rest:

1. If you exhaust yourself mentally/ emotionally during work, then you should rest with your hands.

2. If you exhaust yourself physically during work, then you should rest with your mind.

For writers—at least this writer—I’m constantly pouring myself out mentally and emotionally. Even if I’m writing while on my make-shift treadmill desk, I’m still exhausting most of my energy mentally.

Which means that to recharge, I need to rest with my hands, or in some sort of physical way that gives my mind a complete break.

With this concept in mind, here are my suggestions!!


5 Unique Activities to Recharge Your Creative Muscles

1. Beekeeping

I’m not joking! I promise this isn’t a gag suggestion. Beekeepers aren’t as rare as most people think. And the process is fascinating!

My family set up a hive last spring and the journey has been so rewarding.

[Disclaimer: obviously if you’re allergic to bees and such, then please proceed to another activity.]

I’d recommend poking around your local area and contacting a beekeeper who already has hives. Just to see if this is something you’d enjoy.

Learning about something new, and potentially outside the scope of normal, could be an awesome way to recharge the creative flow. Plus the active work you’d be doing with your hands would give your creative muscles a need break.

2. Abstract Painting

Anytime I mention painting or sketching, people’s first response is “I’m not talented” or “I don’t have the skill”.

But the better statement is “WHO CARES”. The purpose of these activities is to rest.

If you enjoy art in all sorts of mediums, then give painting a try.

I love using acrylics. Mostly because I find them easier to work with. Plus the paint dries faster, so I have a quicker sense of accomplishment. Watercolors hate me. LOL.

And there’s a purpose behind defining the artwork as “abstract”.

Resting has no room for perfection. Effective recharging means turning the logic and critical portions of the brain off.

Another thing to note about this tip: don’t create artwork with the mindset of using it for supplemental income.

Listen … I get the struggle a lot of authors have in regards to finding alternative streams of income. If you already sell your artwork, that’s one thing. But in terms of finding an activating for recharging purposes, don’t go into a project with the added weight and stress of needing to produce a product for income.


3. Landscape Photography

This activity might feel like it’s still using your brain. However, I’d like to steer it in the direction of using your hands and your senses, rather than mental energy.

Think about it …

Let’s say you take a walk down to a local creek to snap random shots. And like the tip regarding abstract art, you’re not focused on producing content for income. You’re just out for a bit of exploring and some relaxing rest.

At the creek, you notice the light reflecting off the water. The birds singing. The wind dancing through the trees. All items your brain is subconsciously cataloging while you’re glancing around for different angles to snap a pretty picture.

With your senses kicking up to catalog your surroundings, you’re not focused on using mental energy to craft stories or tacking those business problems pilling up on your desk.

You’re just focused on the moment and the elements of nature around you—hence, a brain break.

Plus the fresh air and sunshine will refresh you on a physical level as well.

Oh, and you do not need a fancy camera.

The camera on your phone will work just fine. Or any type of camera you happen to have access to.

I have a “fancy” camera. But that simply because I’m investing more into photography as I truly enjoy it and want to strengthen my skills.


4. Cake Decorating/ Baking

Mmmm, cake.

Just do this one, and thank me later.

My daughter inspired this suggestion. She adores baking and decorating her creations. And being the awesome mom that I am *wink*, I help her with orders that come in. [Yep, my skilled girl has an unofficial business!]

I love helping her because her joy creates such a fun atmosphere. Yes, we’re decorating. But we’re mixing colors, exploring different piping techniques, and laughing. Lots and lots of laughter.

And the repetitive act of piping flowers, lines, or dots, forces my mental thought-trains to click off and chill for a bit.

This activity does more than recharge the brain. It’s a great time for family bonding and building lasting memories!


5. Legos!

I’m chuckling at this one, but I had to include it! If you could see the sets of Lego creations filling my house. Ha!

Playing with Legos may seem childish, but honestly … that’s the purpose.

Adulting is hard. Life is complicated. Why not bring a sense of nostalgia back into the mix?

Why not tap into our inner youth and remember what it was like to create people and places with our hands? To construct wacky buildings, ships, or space crafts?

Our lives can flash by in a blink.

Let’s not forget the joy of our youth.


Allow Yourself to Breathe and Daydream

Those are a few of my suggestions to rest and recharge those creative muscles.

Ultimately it’s about finding activities that allow you to breathe and step away from your computer. To focus on being present in the moment.

Life will always be busy. The to-do list will continue to grow and multiply.

Don’t be so focused on pushing the business forward that you forget to invest back into yourself and your creativity.

Daydream. Live. Explore!


Oh, and I’d love to hear what activities you enjoy doing! =D

Feel free to drop them in the comments, or hit me up via email or social media.

Special shout out to Laurie for allowing me to swing by and share a bit of my heart today. It’s been a blast! *tackle hugs*


Blessings,
Desiree

Thank you so much for sharing with us, Desiree! I definitely need the reminder to take a break and rest, and I just love the idea of a portal opening up in your drier :)

Here's a little more about this lovely author:

Desiree Williams is a dreamer by day and chocoholic by night. She lives in the beautiful state of Kentucky with her husband and daughter, where she juggles life as a wannabe supermom. Desiree is a lover of food and avoider of dirty dishes. She delights in making people laugh and strives to bring hope and love with her wherever she goes.

You can find out more about Desiree and her books at www.desireewilliamsbooks.com. You can also connect with Desiree on her Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Newsletter.

And here's more about Illusionary (which is a fabulous book, if you haven't had a chance to read it yet!):

Dorothy got sucked into a tornado.

Alice fell down a hole.

Wendy flew to Neverland.

Kamryn? She tripped down the stairs.

Now, Kamryn Kensington finds herself in a strange new world. Within minutes of her arrival, she dodges an archer’s arrow and avoids getting sliced up by a cosplay reject holding a dagger to her throat. And that’s before the storyteller’s breath brings stories to life.

Home is the mission—to return to her family and pursue her life’s dream of art and travel. Yet the longer she’s in the Land of Ur, the harder it is not to feel for the people she meets. Even her artistic side can’t help but breathe in the beautiful wonder and magic of this new world. So when the Oracle hands her a different quest, she takes it on the condition he sends her home afterward.

No one thought to warn her of a jealous queen and her dragon minions. Or that, by helping her, the cute storyteller would go crazy. Or that her heart would rip in two when she left. Those would’ve been great facts to know ahead of time.

Considering that nothing in Ur is what it seems, the mission proves to be more than she ever imagined. But more than her own future will be in jeopardy if Kamryn doesn’t succeed.

You can find Illusionary on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks. 

Thanks again for joining us today, Desiree!

Illusionary by Desiree Williams - Blog Tour! (Laurie)

I am so excited to be part of the blog tour for Desiree Williams' latest release, Illusionary! I'll include more about Desiree and the official back-cover blurb below, but I'll start with my review (spoiler alert: I loved it!).

Illusionary was one of those dangerous books that basically caused me to forego real life as much as possible so I could just keep reading. I lost sleep, I skimped on chores - you get the idea. The story follows Kamryn, a modern girl who's feeling a little lost in the transition between childhood and adulthood. Following an argument with her older sister-turned-guardian, she finds a mysterious necklace in her room, then falls down the stairs in one of those clumsy moments so many of us can relate to. She wakes up in an unfamiliar forest with an arrow whizzing past.

After clearing up the arrow mishap, Kam discovers she's entered the land of Ur and is taken in by the mysterious storyteller, Reese, his archer, Torin, and the group of endearing lost boys they care for. Kam's necklace, along with a set of randomly-appearing notes, indicate that she needs to find the Oracle if she wants to go home. Reese agrees to help her, but becomes increasingly reluctant when it appears the necklace is exerting its power to bring him closer to Kam. By the time they reach the Oracle, it's clear something isn't right in Ur. The Oracle asks Kam to do her best to save Ur before he sends her home. She agrees, but soon begins to question what to believe in this strange land, and whether Ur is what really needs saving.


Kamryn was such a fun character. She brimmed with humor and heart, and I could relate to her on so many levels. Reese (*sigh*) was the best type of brooding male hero. It was clear early on that he had reason to be bitter and hardened, but as Kam brought out his sense of wonder and vulnerability he totally melted my heart. The chemistry between them - at times sweet, other times teasing - jumped them right up to my list of favorite book couples. And I just adored the way Reese felt drawn to Kam in spite of himself. All the way through I was rooting for him to find a way to heal and be brave enough to let himself fall for her.

But enough about the romance, there were other amazing aspects of this story as well! The sense of mystery surrounding the necklace, the notes, Reese's powers, and just Ur in general kept me turning pages throughout (see above). Speaking of Ur, it was such a fun land to explore! I loved that it had nods to stories like Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan, but it was unique enough to be fascinating in its own right. The secondary characters were quirky and memorable, most notably Torin, who made me laugh so many times and had such an entertaining, but also fiercely loyal, friendship with Reese. And beyond all the humor and fun fantasy elements, Williams revealed a deeper meaning as the story unfolded that I found beautiful and thought-provoking.


In summary, Illusionary was a winning combination of swoonworthy (but clean) romance, humor, heart, and light fantasy that I would highly recommend. Just make sure to clear your calendar first, in case you get as sucked in as I did!

Now, onto the fun blog tour add-ons! Here's the back-cover blurb of Illusionary:

Dorothy got sucked into a tornado.

Alice fell down a hole.

Wendy flew to Neverland.

Kamryn? She tripped down the stairs.

Now, Kamryn Kensington finds herself in a strange new world. Within minutes of her arrival, she dodges an archer’s arrow and avoids getting sliced up by a cosplay reject holding a dagger to her throat. And that’s before the storyteller’s breath brings stories to life.

Home is the mission—to return to her family and pursue her life’s dream of art and travel. Yet the longer she’s in the Land of Ur, the harder it is not to feel for the people she meets. Even her artistic side can’t help but breathe in the beautiful wonder and magic of this new world. So when the Oracle hands her a different quest, she takes it on the condition he sends her home afterward.

No one thought to warn her of a jealous queen and her dragon minions. Or that, by helping her, the cute storyteller would go crazy. Or that her heart would rip in two when she left. Those would’ve been great facts to know ahead of time.

Considering that nothing in Ur is what it seems, the mission proves to be more than she ever imagined. But more than her own future will be in jeopardy if Kamryn doesn’t succeed.


You can purchase Illusionary on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, or iBooks. And here's a little bit about the author:

Desiree Williams is a dreamer by day and chocoholic by night. She lives in the beautiful state of Kentucky with her husband and daughter, where she juggles life as a wannabe supermom. Desiree is a lover of food and avoider of dirty dishes. She delights in making people laugh and strives to bring hope and love with her wherever she goes.

You can find out more about Desiree and her books at www.desireewilliamsbooks.com, or find her on her Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Goodreads.


Check out HOPE through the Pages for the full Illusionary blog tour schedule. And fill out the form below to enter the amazing giveaway Desiree has going in honor of her blog tour!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you read Illusionary yet? If so, what did you think? What are some of your favorite portal fantasies? If you were to end up in a fantasy world, how do you think you would get there?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie