Weekend Reads: Burn by J.M. Hackman (Laurie)

I tried to think of a Christmas-themed fantasy story for this week's post, but I apparently haven't read any lately! (Last year I posted a review of Christmas Fiction off the Beaten Path, an anthology with a variety of genres - including my fantasy story, "Return to Callidora"- which you can find here!)

Instead, I'm excited to share my thoughts on Burn, the last book in J.M. Hackman's Firebrand Chronicles! Burn released earlier this year, and the full Firebrand Chronicles box set will be published on January 11, 2021! It's even going to include four new stories from the Firebrand Chronicles fantasy world - I can't wait! Since Burn is the third book in the series, a spoiler-free synopsis will be tough, but I'll do my best!

Brenna James is a teenage girl with ADHD whose ordinary life was disrupted when she discovered she has the power to create fire and that part of her heritage comes from Linneah, an alternity where she's the one destined to fulfill an ancient prophecy. After rescuing her mom, recovering a sacred relic, and saving her best friend from a disastrous marriage, Brenna has made a major enemy of Rune, a dangerous man determined to take control of the alternity by force no matter the cost.

Now Brenna and her family have been forced to evacuate their home, and Brenna's boyfriend, Baldwin, has been affected by Rune's dark power. Brenna should be training to improve her skills as a firebrand, but her talent won't respond to her. When a prophecy suggests she might be able to find a staff that has the ability to cut and mend space itself, she finds new purpose but also a new level of danger. And even if she finds the staff, how can she fight Rune and his growing army when her firebrand gift won't cooperate?

As you can probably tell, Burn was an action-packed, thought-provoking finale to the Firebrand Chronicles! I missed Brenna's spunk during the sections when she was feeling lost and discouraged, but her reactions to her circumstances were realistic and made for a stronger journey of growth by the end of the book. As the author discussed in this post, Burn definitely went a little darker than the earlier books in the series, but I appreciated that it was handled tastefully and integrated well into the story. While some of the emotions and themes went darker, there were also many moments of light and hope, especially leading up to the very satisfying conclusion! As always, I had a great time re-visiting this vivid, creative fantasy world and fun characters like Arvandus and Tiny. The conflict felt like it resolved a little quickly considering the enormity of the build-up, but it was interesting to see how everything came together in the end and the roles various characters got to play.

I couldn't wait to read this book after the suspenseful ending to Flare, and I'm so glad I completed this journey! Brenna was a great character to root for even in her hardest moments, and the ending put a smile on my face, making a strong case for the power of light to overcome any darkness. Start with Spark and Flare, then you'll definitely want to see this series to its inspiring conclusion!

Have you finished any series recently? Were you satisfied with the ending?

Thanks for reading!

Laurie

Going Dark by Special Guest J.M. Hackman (Burn Blog Tour)

We are so excited to welcome friend and former Lands Uncharted contributor J.M. Hackman to the blog today to celebrate the FINAL book in The Firebrand Chronicles!! Burn just released yesterday, and Jill stopped by to share an inside look at the conclusion of her trilogy!

Take it away, Jill!

Going Dark

The opening scene for Burn was something I’d thought and prayed about, and my mind kept conjuring a scene with the main character at her lowest point. It was a struggle to know whether readers would still pull for her when it was obvious she’d made a mistake. You know, the kind where you cover your eyes and yell at the book? No? Maybe that’s just me then.

Brenna James isn’t perfect. She struggles with ADHD, has no filter, and regularly makes impulsive decisions. But with this story I wanted to add another problem, a pretty big error in judgement. I’d done research to see how ADHD kids handled stressors and discovered kids with ADHD used alcohol more often and earlier than their neurotypical peers. With everything that had happened to Brenna in Flare, I knew there’d be a breaking point—she’d either handle the stress in a healthy way or make a mistake.

In Christian fiction, regardless of genre, there’s often a resistance to the characters going dark. Don’t show depression, the dirty messes, the ways people screw up. And be careful writing about the big mistakes like addiction, self-harm, or any of the other dozens of things people do to hurt themselves. Only recently have writers begun to bravely tackle these issues.

I understand that avoidance. As Christians, we shouldn’t glorify or dwell on the negative. And as a Christian parent, I don’t want my kids to read stuff with a moral compass pointing in a different direction from what we’ve taught them.

Despite this, I kept circling back around to how I thought she’d behave, especially without a lot of parental supervision. After more prayer and discussions with those smarter than me, Burn became a story where she battled herself, learned, and then made better choices.

The Firebrand Chronicles has always been about second chances, something all of us need. In Burn, I hope instead of darkness, the reader sees light emerging from the dark, beauty growing from ashes, a kind of redemption rising from past mistakes.

I so appreciate this open, honest approach to writing, and it makes me even more excited to read Burn! Here's a little more about the book:

Life: 1. Brenna James: 0.

An AWOL talent, an enemy-occupied hometown, and a Life Shade boyfriend—Brenna James just wants something to go right. Although her family has been given sanctuary in Syeira, Brenna will never be safe as long as Rune is hunting down and killing Firebrands. 

Can someone please wake her up already?

When a prophecy sends Brenna and Baldwin on a confusing quest, they aren’t sure where to begin. They must find the Caelestis Staff, a powerful object that both cuts and mends space itself. Rune wants it too, and he’ll use any lethal tactics necessary to obtain it.

Yeah, nightmare material right there.

A traveling oasis, plenty of man-eating mermaids, and one Skeleton King later, Brenna
seriously doubts she has the edge she needs to confront Rune. When Brenna’s faced with
the biggest test of her life, will she burn like the Firebrand she is? Or will she burn out?

Eeeek, I can't wait! You can find order links for Burn HERE. And here's a little more about the author:

J. M. Hackman loves thunderstorms, bookstores, and happy endings. She’s never met a reading nook she didn’t like and prefers soul talk to small talk. When she’s not writing, she spends time with her two munchkins and her handsome husband who supports her in this crazy profession. Her days are filled with writing stories, consuming massive quantities of dark chocolate, and looking for portals to other worlds. 

You can connect with her on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon. Thank you so much for stopping by to share with us today, Jill, and congratulations on your new release!

The Top 3 Differences Between Writing Spark and Flare (Flare Blog Tour)

We are so excited to welcome special guest (and Lands Uncharted alumna!) J.M. Hackman to the blog today as part of her Flare blog tour! Flare, the second book in Jill's Firebrand Chronicles, just released on February 26th. We'll share more about it below, but first Jill is going to tell us about the top three differences between writing Spark (The Firebrand Chronicles, Book One) and Flare. Enjoy!

Writing is a tough job, but there are certain instances where the job is more difficult than expected. The differences I encountered with Spark’s sequel were surprising, especially since I knew Flare’s plot. After all, that’s all a writer really needs to know, right? Um, maybe not.

1.) Time: I wrote Spark in six leisurely years—although I’m a turtle writer, I indulged in lots of world building, played with point of view, and changed the major story arc. If I didn’t feel like writing, I didn’t. But with Flare, I felt the urge to finish...yesterday.

2.) Continuity: Spark was finished and into the wild. Flare was in process, and book three (now titled Burn) was a twinkling gem of unexplored opportunity. I needed to link Spark’s storyline to that sparkling possibility with an amazing story. And I wanted it done seamlessly. Instead, it was kind of like herding cats, as I checked and rechecked details on characters’ backstories, timelines, and the culture of my world.

3.) Expectations: My publisher didn’t ask me to complete Flare in a certain time frame; I did that to myself, although I knew sooner was better. Plus, I feared disappointing my readers with a lackluster sophomore effort. So some of my writing time was tainted with self-doubt. I finally locked away the critic and focused on just telling the story. I hope you enjoy the final product!

I'm sure we will, thank you so much for sharing with us today, Jill! In case you missed Spark, here's the back cover blurb (and gorgeous cover!!):

Brenna James wants three things for her sixteenth birthday: to find her history notes before the test, to have her mother return from her business trip, and to stop creating fire with her bare hands.

Yeah, that’s so not happening. Unfortunately.

When Brenna learns her mother is missing in an alternate reality called Linneah, she travels through a portal to find her. Against her will. Who knew portals even existed? But Brenna’s arrival in Linneah begins the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, including a royal murder and the theft of Linneah’s most powerful relic: the Sacred Veil.

Hold up. Can everything just slow down for a sec?

Unwilling yet left with no other choice, Brenna and her new friend Baldwin (Um, hello, Hottie!) pursue the thief into the dangerous woods of Silvastamen and beyond. Exactly what Brenna wanted to do for her sixteenth birthday. Exactly. When they spy an army marching toward Linneah, Brenna is horrified. Can she find the veil, save her mother, and warn Linneah in time?

And more importantly, why on earth doesn’t this alternity have Belgian waffles?

And HERE are the amazing cover and back cover blurb for Jill's newest release, Flare! 

Brenna travels to Linneah via portal to visit her boyfriend Baldwin, only to find heartbreak. Betrayal. A serious case of never, ever wanting to see him again. Worst summer vacation ever. 

So when her best friend Tiny invites her on a road trip to meet Tiny’s fiancé, Brenna jumps at the chance. Even if her mother disapproves. Even if it’s through a dangerous travel portal. Even if Tiny has never met this fiancé handpicked by her dad. Anything’s better than staying in Linneah. 

But the trip disintegrates into disaster. The two friends are separated, Brenna is kidnapped, and not only are Brenna’s Firebrand skills tested to the limit, she must participate in the dangerous event, Starfall . . . or go home. Broke. Alone. With a shattered heart. So not fun. 

And then as if that’s not bad enough? Brenna discovers a plot that could spell disaster for everyone she holds dear. And no one believes her. 

Can she prevent a bloody government takeover? And what will become of Brenna’s broken heart?

You can find purchase links for Spark here and Flare here. Now a little more about the lovely author herself:

J. M. Hackman loves thunderstorms, bookstores, and happy endings. She’s never met a reading nook she didn’t like and prefers soul talk to small talk. When she’s not writing, she spends time with her two munchkins and her handsome husband who supports her in this crazy profession. Her days are filled with writing stories, consuming massive quantities of dark chocolate, and looking for portals to other worlds.

You can connect with Jill on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon. Thanks again for stopping by today, Jill, and congratulations on your new release!

Make sure to catch the other stops on the Flare Blog Tour! Here's a list of all the posts:

• Monday, Feb. 25th, Review of Flare, Rachel R. Lopez, www.rachelrlopez.com
• Tuesday, Feb. 26th, Release-Day Feature, J.M Hackman, www.jmhackman.com
• Wednesday, Feb. 27th, Visual Post, Jannette Fuller, www.jannetterfuller.wixsite.com/healthyhousewife
• Thursday, Feb. 28th, Release-Party Feature, Michele Israel Harper, www.MicheleIsraelHarper.com
• Friday, March 1st, Interview with Author J.M. Hackman, Tressa Sherman, www.wishfulendings.com
• Saturday, March 2nd, Top 3 Post, Laurie Lucking, www.landsuncharted.com
• Sunday, March 3rd, Visual Post, Laura A. Grace, www.unicornquester.com
• Monday, March 4th, Guest Post, Laura L. Zimmerman, www.lauralzimmerman.com
• Tuesday, March 5th, Behind-the-Scenes Feature, Pam Halter, www.PamHalter.com
• Wednesday, March 6th, Review of Flare, K.A. Cummins, www.authorkacummins.com

Spark by J.M. Hackman (KaLyn)

I actually read Spark last year. But, since the second book in the series, Flare, is coming out in February and the cover reveal for Flare was Friday, I couldn't resist posting about Spark.

"I thought it was a weird dream. Is it a big deal?" -Brenna James

Sixteen-year-old Brenna James is a direct, down-to-earth, waffle-loving teen with ADHD. She's concerned about the upcoming history test until a flame shoots from her fingertip and catches the school's trophy case on fire.

More surprises await Brenna at home. She learns her family's connected to an alternate reality, where her mother's gone missing. Brenna must travel there with her father and grandmother while fighting off giant insect-like creatures guarding the portal. And that's only the beginning.

With the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy underway, Brenna James bears a burden few may understand. However, the spunky teen embraces life with humility and humor.

Spark showcases resilience, courage, loyalty, and a caring family dynamic with a splash of humor.

About Spark

Brenna James wants three things for her sixteenth birthday: to find her history notes before the test, to have her mother return from her business trip, and to stop creating fire with her bare hands.

Yeah, that’s so not happening. Unfortunately.

When Brenna learns her mother is missing in an alternate reality called Linneah, she travels through a portal to find her. Against her will. Who knew portals even existed? But Brenna’s arrival in Linneah begins the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, including a royal murder and the theft of Linneah’s most powerful relic: the Sacred Veil.

Hold up. Can everything just slow down for a sec?

Unwilling yet left with no other choice, Brenna and her new friend Baldwin (Um, hello, Hottie!) pursue the thief into the dangerous woods of Silvastamen and beyond. Exactly what Brenna wanted to do for her sixteenth birthday. Exactly. When they spy an army marching toward Linneah, Brenna is horrified. Can she find the veil, save her mother, and warn Linneah in time?

And more importantly, why on earth doesn’t this alternity have Belgian waffles?

About Flare

Brenna travels to Linneah via portal to visit her boyfriend Baldwin, only to find heartbreak. Betrayal. A serious case of never, ever wanting to see him again.

Worst summer vacation ever.

So when her best friend Tiny invites her on a road trip to meet Tiny’s fiancé, Brenna jumps at the chance. Even if her mother disapproves. Even if it’s through a dangerous travel portal. Even if Tiny has never met this fiancé handpicked by her dad. Anything’s better than staying in Linneah.

But the trip disintegrates into disaster. The two friends are separated, Brenna is kidnapped, and not only are Brenna’s Firebrand skills tested to the limit, she must participate in the dangerous event, Starfall . . . or go home. Broke. Alone. With a shattered heart. So not fun.

And then as if that’s not bad enough? Brenna discovers a plot that could spell disaster for everyone she holds dear. And no one believes her.

Can she prevent a bloody government takeover? And what will become of Brenna’s broken heart?

Top Three Reading Resolutions for the New Year (KaLyn)

The 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge has ended! How did you do?

After adjusting my goal half-way through the year, I managed to squeak by in the end with twenty-four books. Twenty-four books is a realistic goal for me, and I'll be sticking with it again this year. But I will be changing some reading tactics.

More Focus

Oh, how the marvels of technology have influenced the flow of information and the formats in which we consume it. Don't get me wrong. I love tech. It's part of what drew me into the world of coding and software development before I left the workforce to homeschool our youngest child who is both gifted and challenged in some of the same ways I am. But it is those same tech changes that continue to impact my attention span through overstimulation.

So, this year, I aim to reign-in my screen time and use of technology by doing more work the old fashioned way - books and paper - and to set boundaries for when and how long I do fire up a computer, pick up a smartphone, or even read on an e-reader.

More Audiobooks

Sometimes it's nice to have someone else read to you, especially after you've been staring at words on a screen all day. Even with a nice set of glasses to reduce blue light exposure it can be taxing. Plus, audiobooks are great for road trips.

More Fiction

Only a third of the books from my Goodreads challenge last year was non-fiction, but it doesn't reflect the amount of time I spent reading non-fiction. I often combed over passages, materials from professional development classes, and various articles multiple times.

Honestly, learning is somewhat of a compulsion for me so my consumption of non-fiction will not change. However, I do plan to spend more time reading fiction. Starting with two books releasing this month that I've been looking forward to reading: Black Blood, the conclusion of the Children of the Blood Moon series by S.D. Grimm and Flare, the second book in the Firebrand Chronicles by J.M. Hackman.

Do you have any reading goals for the new year?

Top 3 Myths of a Writer's Life (Jill)

Last month, I was at a sale, selling books. People would come up, ask questions, and read the back cover.  I'd encourage them to take a free book mark, and we'd talk. Many of the comments were positive and encouraging. But the event made me really look at this profession I've chosen. There seem to be some myths surrounding a writer's life, and I'd like to address my top three.



3) You're wealthy. Unless you're J.K. Rowling, or George R.R. Martin, this is a common misconception. One woman asked where I lived and when I indicated I was local, she responded, "Oh, local girl makes good? That's great." Being a writer is not a more "good" profession than any other. And while I'm thrilled to have my book published, I'm not rolling in the money. Most authors aren't--they hold down their regular day job and write during their free time.

2) It's easy. Thankfully, nobody at the sale said this, which is good because this comment really upsets me. But many years ago, I attended a non-writing conference. When the lady sitting next to me heard I was writing a book, she said, "I think I'll write a book. Yeah, I've always wanted to do that." Writing is not easy. While I believe every person has a story to tell, they should know what they're signing up for. Ernest Hemingway summed it up best when he said, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."

1) It's glamorous. I don't go to movie screenings, or chat with famous people, or fly in private jets. Another customer at the above-mentioned sale was thrilled to talk to an author and was positively giddy when I offered her a book mark. These encounters always make me feel thankful, yet a little odd, like I'm pretending and pretty soon the Fraud Detectors will show up to escort me from the building. I'm still the same person I was a year ago. I still deal with laundry, vacuuming,  and dirty dishes. But if I ever get a butler, I'll know I've made it.

Do you have any myths you've encountered on this writing journey? We'd love to hear them! Please leave them in the comments below.

What We're Reading: Zombie Takeover (Jill)

Allow me to state a fact: I hate zombies. I hate everything about them--their bad complexion, their disgusting diet, and their lack of social skills. So when I started seeing the reviews to this book, I was intrigued.  Things like "well written," "hilarious," and "not your typical zombie book" made me pick it up. When I found out the main character hated zombies, too, I read on.
We first meet Candace Marshall at a movie theater, ready to see the newest zombie movie. Only one problem: she doesn't like horror movies or zombies. Her horror movie-loving boyfriend Peter signed them up for a special screening as a birthday surprise. The only silver lining is when she spies her celebrity crush Gavin Bailey sitting at the front of the theater. Things go from bad (interactive zombie movie experience) to worse (boyfriend Peter dumps her. In public. On her birthday.)
Candace stomps out of the theater, determined not to cry over him. Despite her best attempts to put the whole disaster behind her, things don't get better. Peter was her ride into town, so she decides to walk. Then she loses her keys to some scary gang members. Gavin intervenes and offers to drive her home, but they become alarmed by a large convoy of medical vehicles heading towards the movie theater. They investigate only to discover the interactive zombie movie experience has become way more interactive than any audience member bargained for.
After Gavin and Candace escape, they begin to look for supplies, gas, and survivors.  When Candace is attacked, they find help with a group of survivors. They're searching for an unmarked military base where other survivors are supposed to gather. That's difficult due to the zombies. They're quite literally everywhere.

I was pleased at the low level of blood and gore in Zombie Takeover. There's a little; after all, it's a book about zombies. But there's not a lot of real estate devoted to it. A romance develops between Gavin and Candace, and I was pulling for them to make it work. After all, how often does someone get their celebrity crush? But I wanted it desperately for our heroine, especially after being dumped  by Peter in such a humiliating manner. The fact that Gavin's a sexy Scottish actor (think David Tennant) didn't hurt.
If you like plot twists, you'll love the ending. The author delivers a massive one very close to the end. I won't say more, because it's a doozy, and I don't want to ruin it for our readers.  So, I was pleasantly surprised by Zombie Takeover, as was my co-blogger Laurie Lucking (see her comments here).  I'll give it 4.5 (out of five) brains, uh, I mean stars.

A Balanced Perspective (Jill)

Bleeding hearts

During the chaos of preparing for my debut novel Spark's release, I've missed what's happening outside. Winter has finally released its hold on Pennsylvania, and spring has moved in. I managed to get outside to enjoy the sun and take some pictures of what's blooming around our house.

Forsythia: one of the first signs of spring in our community. Unfortunately, our bush needs to be cut back almost every year. It grows really close to the house--too close. In the winter it gets covered with ice and sticks to the siding.

Daffodils: my favorite spring flower. A few years ago, I bought a bunch of bulbs for naturalizing. Now they've begun to multiply and fill the flower garden.

Hyacinths: so pretty, but rough on my allergies. I've only had them a few years, and their dark pink color always surprises me.

In a month or two, the lilac bush will bloom, and the bleeding hearts will show up. I'll also have to buy a flat (or two or three) of my favorite summer flower: pansies. Summer will also usher in the peonies, the daylilies, and the three clematis vines climbing the trellis.

Standing in the sun, the wind messing up my hair, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. In spite of the writing projects on my to-do list, I need to take time for the things I love: planting flowers, spending quality time with family, and other pursuits, like reading or crafting. I always struggle with balance--making sure I've made time for faith, family, work, and personal wellness. I've found if I'm doing fantastic in one area, the other areas suffer. As someone who makes their own hours, it's easy for me to get caught up in the work arena. But after spending some time decompressing during Easter Sunday, I realized how desperately I need "down time," or I'll burn out and my work will be inferior. So I'll keep striving to balance my life. Maybe I'll master it in a few decades.
Have you managed to balance your life? If you have any tips or tricks that work for you, please share them in the comments.

Your Turn: Favorite Characters (Jill)

I've been on a fantastic reading binge lately, reading one good story after another. The streak started with Halyada by Sarah Delena White, moved on to Rebirth by Amy McNew, and I'm enjoying Failstate by John Otte now. All of them are 5-star stories.
So what makes them enjoyable? Setting? Plot? Characters? For me, it's characters, every time. If the author makes me care about them, I'll follow them anywhere, join them on any adventure. So below is my favorite hero, heroine, and villain from some of my recent and not-so-recent reading adventures.  It's my hope you'll chime in with your own favorites in the comments.

Favorite heroine: Lee Westfall from Walk on Earth a Stranger (Rae Carson)
A tomboy with the ability to "feel" gold in the earth, Lee's circumstances force her to head west. I fell in love with this character. Although her ability was fascinating, I felt for her and the struggles she went through as she journeyed toward California. Historical fantasies aren't that common, and I was thrilled to discover the series continues with Like a River Glorious and Into the Bright Unknown.

 Favorite hero: Taylan from Halayda (Sarah Delena White)
At the reader's first introduction to him, the fairy king seems a little cool, reserved, mysterious. But as the story builds, so does the relationship between him and the heroine, Sylvie. He carries a big secret and the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders, but he would do anything for her. <sigh!>


 

Favorite villain: Markus from Rebirth (Amy McNew)
First, let me clarify that Markus is a demon, so he should be disgusting and vile. But McNew pulls out all the stops, building this horrible character with evil oozing out of every pore, depravity filling his mind. About 3/4 of the way through the book, a twist concerning Markus is revealed that made me shiver. (I think the heroine threw up at that point--I don't blame her one bit.)

So these were my favorites. What about you? Do you have a favorite hero, heroine, and villain? If so, please share one or all of them with us! We love to hear about the titles you're reading and the characters that have drawn you in.

To Be A Better Writer...Keep Learning (Jill)

When I was in college, I loved the learning experience. Not so much the general education classes that everyone took, but the core classes I needed to obtain my degree. Those days are long gone. But if you don't learn, your ability grows stagnant, or worse, deteriorates. So what are the options available for adults who can't afford to go back to class? I'm glad you asked.

1) Webinars: Now before some of you howl in protest, let me explain. Yes, some of the free webinars offered don't amount to much more than a sales pitch. But some of them offer nuggets of helpful wisdom. As long as you expect there to be a sales pitch at the end, it's not such a blow when the host asks the instructor, "What great deal are you offering us today?"
The most informative (but not free) webinar I attended was WordPress at 10,000 Feet. It was invaluable and worth every penny, especially since I tried to set up a website on my own before and failed spectacularly.  Some free helpful webinars I've taken have been on topics like "Heart" Sell vs. Hard Sell, Marketing Strategies for Pinterest, Double Your Social Media Traffic, and Why You Suck at E-mail (& How to Fix It).

2) Books on the craft: If your time isn't flexible and your employer frowns on you using company time to attend webinars, books on the writing craft might be a better fit. There are many good ones out there covering a variety of topics (Sell Your Book Like Wildfire by Rob Eager, Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors by Kathy Ide, Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King--which many authors swear by, although I didn't care for it). I try to read a couple a year, mixed in with all my fiction choices. Pick up a few or request them from your local library.

3) Conferences: This is the most expensive option out there, even if it's just a one-day workshop. If you can handle the finances for one or two a year, then definitely spend the money. Find a conference covering interesting topics with agents, editors, and publishers who are interested in your genre. Then start saving. I've attended one-day workshops and three-day conferences, and it's always been worth it. This year, I'm saving my pennies for Realm Makers in Reno, Nevada, the perfect choice for all speculative writers (plus the people there are truly kind, cool, and talented individuals).

So keep writing, reading, and listening. And never stop learning.

Greenglass House (Jill)

Just last week, I finished reading Greenglass House, a book for 10-12 year-olds, written by Kate Milford. 

Twelve-year-old, adopted Milo Pine lives with his parents, Nora and Ben. They run the Greenglass House, which is a hotel. Not just any old hotel, though; it’s a smuggler’s hotel, perched on the side of the hill overlooking the harbor. Aside from the typical client, they usually cater to the smugglers—seasonal regulars—who come based on the time of year.

But when the bell rings during a howling blizzard on the first evening of winter vacation, Milo knows it’s not one of the smugglers—wrong time of the year. And he doesn’t want to share his winter vacation with anyone but his family. Unfortunately, by the time the evening is over, five new guests have checked in. His parents call Mrs. Caraway & Lizzie, the chef and her older daughter, to help out with all the new guests.

When Milo goes outside to retrieve a book he dropped, he finds it and a mysterious map with strange markings. Mrs. Caraway, Lizzie, and the cook’s youngest daughter, Meddy, arrive. Meddy is inquisitive, pushy, and when she sees the map, determined to solve the mystery of it and the unexplained surge of guests. What better way than to have a campaign? She explains a campaign is an adventure within a game world, a lot like an RPG (Role-Playing Game). Before long, Milo’s adopted the persona of Negret, and Meddy is Sirian. The game, Odd Trails, has begun.

Milo is outraged when the map is stolen from his room. Before the children can attempt to find it, the other guests reports thefts, as well. Milo and Meddy (or rather Negret and Sirian) plunge in to uncover the clues and find the missing items. With a thief in their midst, the children are cautious, but learn the guests have some secrets of their own intertwined with the house and the map.

The author did an excellent job of ramping up the tension at the halfway point. The story had just begun to drag when the children were put into a dangerous situation, and it kept me reading. The unique Greenglass House sounds like a place I’d like to explore. The sprawling grounds, the attic stuffed with treasures, the beautiful windows made of stained glass—it sounds like a great place to play an RPG. I was a bit saddened to find the game Odd Trails was completely made up by the author. Although I couldn’t identify with Milo (12-years-old? Male? Adopted? Nope, nope, and nope), I found Meddy’s determination interesting and relatable. She has a secret of her own the reader doesn’t discover until the end of the book.

Upon checking the internet, I learned Kate Milford wrote a sequel, The Ghosts of Greenglass House. It goes on sale in October. Here’s the link to read an excerpt of the upcoming release. Enjoy!

The Ghosts of Greenglass House 

Also, to read a different review of this book, check out Laura's review (from November).
Laura's review of Greenglass House

Top 3 Writing Resource Books (Jill)

 

                              

Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open.
                      ~Stephen King (On Writing)






While writing is a solitary journey, writers (at least good writers) shouldn’t write in a vacuum. As the quote above implies, once you’ve unleashed your wild creativity, pull out the helpers—critique groups, beta readers, editors, proofreaders. And resource books, lots and lots of them. You should have a handful of really important ones at your fingertips. Here's my Top 3 picks.

1. The New American Roget’s College Thesaurus (Revised Edition by Philip Morehead) or The Synonym Finder (by J. I. Rodale)   

Yes, yes, I know I've listed two books, but they do the same job. When the word “room” pops up four times in one paragraph, either book offers alternate word choices. But be careful when choosing which one to grace your bookshelf. While the first one is a moderate 649 pages, The Synonym Finder is a massive 1361 pages.

 

2. The New Age Baby Name Book (by Sue Browder)

This book is pure gold, especially for speculative fiction authors. There isn’t a plain Jane or Adam in this book, but instead you'll find a wealth of other interesting names. It starts off with Aba, a Ghanaian name for a girl born on a Thursday, and ends with Zorya, a Ukrainian male name meaning "star." If you need a name for that dragon lurking around the next corner, check this book out. A great resource.

 3. The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction or The Irresistible Novel (both by Jeff Gerke)

Again, I’ve broken the Top 3 Rules by listing two books here, but there’s a method to my madness. The Art and Craft of Writing Christian Fiction is fantastic. But if your WIP (Work In Progress) isn’t Christian fiction, The Irresistible Novel is a good alternative. Mr. Gerke covers just about every writing topic in each of these books and does so in a fun, informative style that’s never didactic. I usually fall asleep when reading non-fiction—but I didn’t with these books.



So check these books out. When you’re ready to open the door and rewrite, they’ll be waiting for you. And in the comments section, let us know which resource books you can't live without!

Snow Days (Jill)

During this winter, we’ve had a few snow days. The kids rejoice, and I immediately start mentally rearranging my day. You’d think snow days would give me the opportunity to get lots of writing done. But that’s not the case. Between monitoring social media time, the kids' anime pop music that disturbs my train of thought, and making sure we stay on a schedule, there’s precious little time to sink into a character’s skin or edit my way to a better scene. So it’s a constant struggle when the kids are home.

When we first moved here, we used one of the rooms as an office, but that was converted into a bedroom when our second child came along. Now my “office” is only a corner of the dining room, next to the big window. This area provides little to no seclusion from domestic distractions. In the summer, the aroma of fresh-cut grass from our neighbors’ lawn-mowing efforts drifts in. In the fall, birds play at the bird feeder and the trees change color. But in the winter, this corner becomes a drafty cell. This year as a Christmas present to myself, I invested in some fuzzy, fingerless gloves, so I don’t lose my hands to frostbite. Not sexy, but they do the job. 

My complaint probably makes it sound like I hate people or at least hate the people in my family. This isn’t true. I just don’t have the ability to filter out the unnecessary noise and focus on my work. So when there’s a snow day, I do my best to put my writing projects on hold.

Although the distractions are, well, distracting, I’ve learned this is where God needs me, doing what He wants me to do. It also helps to remember my kids won’t be home forever. They need a mom, now. When they’re gone and on their own, hopefully they’ll still need me, but not in the same way. A brief phone call or text message may be enough. And I’ll probably wish they were here to play annoying anime music to distract me.

So for now, I’ll use the snow days to enjoy my kids’ company, anime music and all.