I'm so excited to be interviewing Taylor today! Taylor is only seventeen years old, but she's already accomplished so much. You're going to love Taylor's bright spirit and cheerful outlook on life. So, let's dive in! Home schooled since kindergarten, Taylor Bennett is the seventeen-year-old author of Porch Swing Girl, which released by Mountain Brook Ink on May 1st. When she’s not reading or writing, Taylor can be found playing her violin or taking walks in the beautiful Oregon countryside. She loves to connect with readers via her author website, as well as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (her favorite!), Pinterest, and Goodreads. Tell us a little about your younger self. When did you first start writing? Did you always know that you wanted to be an author? I’ve always known that I want to be an author! But...I never really knew it was POSSIBLE until I became a teenager and started researching what it took for a teen (or anyone else, for that matter) to get published. When I found stories of other teens getting published, I decided to get serious about pursuing my dream. However, I’ve been telling stories since I could talk, and I’ve written them down since I knew my alphabet! I wrote my first attempt at a novel when I was thirteen, and I’ve never stopped since. Did “Porch Swing Girl” turn out how you thought it would? If not, what was different? In general, yes. It turned out pretty much like I’d planned. The beginning and the ending stayed fairly consistent with my earliest plot diagram. But the middle...not so much. The general story arc was the same, but I added in a lot more scenes and twists throughout the editing process. Did you have any imaginary friends as a child? If so, tell us a little about him/her! Okay...so, I’m an only child—one might assume I had an entire ARMY of imaginary friends. But I didn’t. Instead my Mom was my #1 playmate!! Whenever I wanted to play “Nancy Drew” or “Little House on the Prairie” Mom stepped in as a character or two. She was an amazing play-actor , and getting to use my imagination with her resulted in an incredibly strong bond. She has been (and forever will be) my best friend!! What do you find the hardest in finishing a book? Is it the writing process, the editing process, waiting to hear back from publishers, etc? The hardest part for me is, without question, the first draft stage. I love planning out my story, and I love editing it when it’s done. But the first draft? No. Thanks. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, which means that I don’t like to write sloppy ANYTHING...even a first draft! I’m somewhat of a pantser, so writing the first draft is a bit of an exploratory process for me. While that is exciting in and of itself, it’s also scary!! XD If you could have lunch with any author, who would you choose? Hmmm...that’s tough! I’d definitely want someone with a heart for the Lord who’s also super talented. It would be so fun if they were a fellow Instagram nerd! So...probably Sara Ella. We don’t write in the same genre, but her books are incredible (that’s coming from someone who pretty much despises fantasy) and she’s just a wonderful person!! Are you more of a coffee or tea person? TEA!! I actually haven’t had much coffee at all. While I absolutely love the smell of it, I do NOT relish the idea of getting a caffeinated buzz for the rest of the day. My brain tends to run a little fast as it is...Therefore, I stick to decaf teas or (even better!) hot cocoa. Do you write down story ideas as you think of them? If so, how many do you have written down/in your head? Oh, goodness! I have waaaay too many story ideas. Probably somewhere around fifteen, but more ALWAYS pop up. The ones that really stick with me actually get made into Pinterest boards! It helps me capture the mood of the story I want to tell. For me, the mood—the “literary aesthetic” if you will—is the most important part for me. As long as I know the mood, the true heart of the story, I know what I need to write. What is one thing about your MC that we might not know? (this can be one his/her favorite things, something you edited out of the book, etc.) My MC is Olive Galloway and, though I have a whole fun bit of family lore as to how she got her name, it never made it into Porch Swing Girl. As the story goes, Olive’s parents had planned on naming her Olivia, but, when she was born, they were delighted by her beautiful, olive-green eyes. A split second decision led to them shortening her name to Olive. Somehow, none of this made it into the book—and her green eyes are only mentioned once! What project are you working on right now? I’m currently working on the sequel to Porch Swing Girl, which releases NEXT APRIL!! What is one piece of advice that you would give to an aspiring author? I would love to meet every aspiring author in person, give them a BIG round of applause for their audacity and willingness to dive into such a beautifully difficult industry, and tell them to NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THEIR PASSION. It’s easy to get hung up on sales numbers, post likes, and website hits when really, we write for the love of WRITING, not for the world’s admiration. That’s a hard lesson to learn, especially during the querying process, but it’s such a valuable one!! Where can we find you on social media? You can find me just about everywhere!! I love hanging out with all of you readerly/writerly people, and my favorite platforms are Instagram, my website, and YouTube, though I’m learning to embrace Twitter as well. (You can also find me on Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. I might have an obsession with that last one...) Connect with Taylor! Website: http://taylor--bennett.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaylorBennettAuthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/writer__taylor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylor.bennett.author/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Taylor__Bennett/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/66039360-taylor-bennett YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY14wY1VlyfoQlEJ_D6kkxQ I had too much fun doing this interview!! =)
Make sure you grab yourself a copy of Porch Swing Girl and connect with Taylor through one of the links above! Until next time friends, keep letting your lights shine!
0 Comments
I couldn't be more excited for this interview! Tessa is a fellow writer, friend, and AMAZING person! One who shares my passion to write fiction that changes lives. Stories that touch the heart, encourage, strengthen, and leave an impact that lasts a lifetime. Tessa Emily Hall is an award-winning author who writes inspirational yet authentic YA fiction to show teens they’re not alone. Her passion for shedding light on clean entertainment and media for teens led her to a career as an Associate Agent at Hartline Literary Agency, YA Acquisitions Editor for Illuminate YA (LPC Imprint), and Founder/Editor of PursueMagazine.net. Tessa's first teen devotional, COFFEE SHOP DEVOS, will release with Bethany House in 2018. She's guilty of making way too many lattes and never finishing her to-read list. When her fingers aren’t flying 116 WPM across the keyboard, she can be found speaking to teens, decorating art journals, and acting in Christian films. Her favorite way to procrastinate is by connecting with readers on her blog, mailing list, social media (@tessaemilyhall), and website: www.tessaemilyhall.com. Tell us a little about your younger self. When did you first start writing? Did you always know that you wanted to be an author? Yes, I’ve always known that I’ve wanted to be an author (at least for as long as I can remember!). My love for storytelling officially began when I was three years old. Before I could write, I dictated my first story, “The Colorful Dolphin”, to my mom--and the rest was history! ;) Any time I was bored throughout my childhood, I would sit down at the dining room table with a stack of computer paper and crayons and pen story after story. Writing was how I “played” as a kid. I loved the freedom it gave me to go on adventures and become different characters. I dreamt of seeing my work in print even then; in fact, I would constantly beg my mom to publish my books for me. I remember the feeling of longing for my stories to come to life in the imagination of others. “Being an author” was a dream of mine for as long as I can remember--and thankfully, I never doubted that the dream would unfold someday. (Not because of pride, but because I knew there wasn’t anything else I was good at or interested in!) It’s because of this faith, I believe, that led me to where I am today. =) Did “Coffee Shop Devos” turn out how you thought it would? If not, what was different? Great question! I initially had the idea for the book in 2015. I’ve always wanted to write a devotional for teenagers, but I wanted to give it a particular theme that could appeal to teenagers. Coffee was the obvious choice, of course. Not just because of the popularity amongst teens, but because it’s a passion of mine as well. As soon as I discovered the “theme”, several similarities between coffee and the Christian faith began to pop into my mind. I wrote down as many as I could. I thought it’d be cool if the teen could choose their devotion “flavor” in a menu of contents at the beginning of the book. This would be similar to a menu at a coffee shop: teens could select their current need in the table of contents. Each need--such as “comfort in trials”--would be paired with a specific coffee drink. I chose ten coffee drinks for the menu, so ten chapters/needs total. And I couldn’t have a coffee-themed devotional without including coffee recipes inside! Surprisingly, the original vision I had for the book remained the same. The only thing that majorly changed was the total number of devotions. I originally pitched the book to contain 50 devotions, but the publisher requested 180 instead. This required a lot more writing on my part--but in the end, I was very thankful for this! Apparently I had a lot more to say to teens about pursuing a relationship with Christ than I thought. =) Did you have any imaginary friends as a child? If so, tell us a little about him/her! None that I remember! However, I did at times pretend as though my friends were with me when they weren’t. Maybe that counts? ;) I also remember asking God to allow my baby doll, named Cassie, to come to life. Lol! In a way she did, because several years later I wrote a book about a teen girl named Cassie (in my YA novel, UNWRITTEN MELODY). Haha Has a certain author influenced your writing life? Karen Kingsbury has definitely served as an “author role model” throughout my writing life. She’s proven to me that it is possible to have a book ministry through writing life-changing fiction. I also love how she interacts with her fans, treating them as if they’re her friends. It’s inspiring to see that she’s built such a big readership by writing character-driven books that are emotionally-charged and inspirational. Those are the kind of stories I’d like to write as well--specifically for teens. What do you find to be the hardest in the writing world? Is it the writing process, the editing process, waiting to hear back from publishers, etc? Hmmm … all of the waiting seasons are the hardest, in my opinion! Waiting to hear from publishers, waiting to sign the contract, waiting to make the announcement, waiting to see the cover, waiting to receive the book in the mail, waiting for the book release, etc. That’s why I’ve realized it’s best to enjoy the journey, every step along the way. Instead of having impatience and eagerness to reach the next milestone, I’ve decided to instead appreciate how far I’ve come. This has helped me to stay content and grateful along the way. Although I don’t think it’ll ever stop being difficult to hear responses from publishers! Do you write down story ideas as you think of them? If so, how many do you have written down/in your head? Yes, I keep a list of potential story ideas in a folder on my phone’s notes app. But I don’t allow myself to work on the project until I’m ready for a new one. Also, as I’m writing a book, I usually have in mind about 1 - 2 book ideas that I’ll probably write next. =) What is one thing about your MC that we might not know? Selena--the main character in PURPLE MOON and FALLEN LEAVES (to be released in October)--is a 17-year-old who doesn’t yet have her driver’s permit. This is partially due to the fact that she lived in Brooklyn, NY during her teen years, but she also isn’t a fan of driving in general. It tends to trigger her anxiety attacks. What project are you working on right now? Right now I’m in the brainstorming/plotting stages for two fiction projects: one stand-alone novel, as well as the third book in the PURPLE MOON series. I’ve recently begun to work on a new devotional project as well. =) What is one piece of advice that you would give to an aspiring author? It’s always hard to nail down only one piece of advice! I like to tell aspiring authors two things: one, don’t give up. As cliche as it sounds, it’s often exactly what us writers need to hear--especially when the publishing journey seems endless. It’s only those who persist that actually reach the finish line. And two, do your research! There are so many writers out there who dream of writing, and yet they never take the necessary steps to achieve this dream. I believe this could be avoided if writers would simply do their research before seeking publication. If you’re an aspiring author and you want to impress an agent, you might want to first understand how you should craft a query letter and format a manuscript. If you want to be a children’s book author, first double check that your word count is within the standard word count range. Remember that writing is an art, but publishing is a business. There are general guidelines set by agents and editors that writers must follow if they hope to sell their book. And please don’t assume that you’re the exception! It’s that attitude that often keeps writers from seeing their dream unfold. But regardless of the “hoops” you might have to jump through (such as building a platform)--rest assured, it is possible to succeed in today’s industry. So going back to that first piece of advice: Don’t give up! Where can we find you on social media? I love to connect with readers on social media! Especially on Instagram (www.instagram.com/tessaemilyhall). My Twitter is typically geared toward writers (@tessaemilyhall). I also write a blog for aspiring authors, Christ is Write, where I encourage, inspire, and instruct young or aspiring authors. Readers can also receive book updates, free coffee recipes, giveaways, book extras, and more when they sign up to receive my newsletter at this link. Thanks so much for the interview, Aleigha! =) Did you enjoy getting to know Tessa better? I know I did!
Don't forget to connect with her on social media and sign up for her mailing list. =) Until next time, friends, Keep letting your light's shine! <3 Part of me thought that my little writer's world would always stay the same. I would write, I would blog, I would read and study, and the world would keep turning. Yet, just like each season makes way for the next, things change. Change can be scary but it also brings forth a fresh new season to enjoy! With that, I wanted to share a few changes that are happening as I approach a new season. A couple of Top Secret projects, and a change to my blog routine. But never fear! I'll still be around. ;) Top Secret Project: Number One I'm working on a new book. And even though I want to share every single detail with you and introduce you to all the precious characters, I'm not sure it would be quite fair. Because I'm planning to go a different route with this book. I've always self-published in the past. But now, I'm heading toward the traditional publishing market. What's the difference? Well, time, for one. It could be a year or two (maybe three) before this book is published. You have to have an agent to represent your book to publishing houses. A lot of people ask why my books aren't in bookstores. Well, when you traditionally publish a book, you have more of a chance to get inside stores like B&N, Books-A-Million, etc. So, you see, I don't think it would be fair to tell you all about this story when it could be so long before it's published. BUT, keep your eye on my Facebook page (and Instagram!) because I will definitely be sharing snippets, quotes, pictures and more! But, since I'm so kind, I'll share with you the blurb: Forgiveness came with a price. But will it be enough to shatter the walls around her heart? This story is different from my other ones. It's contemporary fiction which means it's set in the 21st century. But, don't panic! Even though this book is geared towards an older audience (because it deals with tough topics, but tactfully) it's still considered Inspirational Fiction, and I'm still keeping a YA audience in mind. ;) Top Secret Project: Number Two I'm starting a line of handmade swag for authors. Well, I guess that much isn't a secret anymore. ;) Let me just tell you though, it's not just for authors. And whereas other retailers sell their items for $15-$20, I'm selling mine for $5. (And only $3 if you buy in bulk!) Which means authors can purchase these for giveaways, buy them to resell, or just have a gazillion of these things sitting around the house. (But what's the fun in that when you can share them with others?!) Big Change I'm no longer going to be on a blogging schedule. With these changes above, my life is getting busier. And with the busyness, I'm having to cut back. And sadly, my blog schedule is the first to go. =( That doesn't mean I'm leaving for good! HA. You started celebrating too soon. ;) No, it just means that I won't be releasing a new post every Tuesday. I'll still keep you updated on my projects, and I'll still post blog posts (and I have some pretty amazing author interviews coming up too!) It just means that I'm taking a more leisurely approach to things for the time being. If you ARE crying in a corner, then maybe consider these options below: =) 1. Like my author page on Facebook 2. Follow me on Twitter 3. Follow me on Instagram Yeah, I know I just basically totally promoted myself there, but it was to comfort you. No other reason. ;) I'll be posting updates on my two projects, so if you're not following me, be sure you do! (If you WANT to hear about the updates, anyway.) Giveaway! And as promised, a giveaway! I’ve teamed up with 20 fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of Inspirational stories to 2 lucky winners, PLUS a brand new eReader to the Grand Prize winner! Oh, and did I mention you'll receive a collection of FREE ebooks just for entering? =) You can win my novel A HIGHER RANSOM, plus books from authors like Suzanne Woods Fisher, Lacy Williams and Tracie Peterson. Until next week, friends, keep letting your lights shine! <3 I’m afraid of heights. Not roller coasters or airplanes, but heights that appear to offer no protection. Like those jungle courses at parks, or ziplines. Or in this case, a rock. Morro rock rests in California, rising hundreds of feet above the mountains. Daddy remembered climbing it as a child, so during our recent trip to CA, he wanted to do it again. First word of advice: NEVER look up pictures of the situation you’re fearing. It seldom helps to assure you. Second word of advice: Meltdowns are allowed, but they really don’t help. After these pictures embedded themselves in my mind, NOTHING could change my decision to stay as far away from the rock as I could. Yet, the entire time at the conference, the battle raged. You’re going to let FEAR overcome you? You’re not going to even try? I’m a writer, so during these times, I write. (Excerpts from my journal during the conference:) The 20th of June, 2018 As I write this, I’m sitting in a white gazebo, brightly colored flowers bordering the circle. A beautiful water fountain rests just a few feet away and the sound is soothing. I’m at Biola University, getting ready for a writer’s conference. I don’t know anyone yet. The unknown is all around me. But somehow, I’m not afraid. Cautious? Uncertain? Yes. But not fearful. Why? Because I know that God is with me. Would He not be with me when I climb the rock? So why the terror? I like to think that common sense has a little to do with it. The rock isn’t exactly the safest place on the planet. Two days ago, I declared I wasn’t going. So why the debate now? Why not just go with my original plan? Because I don’t let anything control me. (note that I said “thing” not person!) I don’t let feelings control me. I don’t let food control me. I don’t let electronics or social media or books (okay, that one’s debatable) or entertainment rule my life. And I certainly don’t let fear control me. So why not just climb the rock? Because this is the beast. For once, the object of my fear is bigger then me. I don’t know my decision yet, but I know what I need to do. If only the right way was the easy way, but then again, that wouldn’t be life. The 22nd of June, 2018 I’m sitting here, waiting for an appointment with a faculty member. I still haven’t decided upon climbing the rock. Though, I did make a deal with Daddy. I told him that if he drank Boba tea, that I’d climb the rock. But, only because I’m pretty sure I’m safe in that regard, ha! Is it ever okay to give in to fear? Is it ever okay to say “no”? The 25th of June, 2018 I climbed the mountain. It’s amazing how God places different people in your life at just the right time. But even more amazing is how He orchestrates that in His perfect plan. The last day of the conference, I constantly heard words like “courage” and “facing your fears.”Although they might have been geared towards writing, they might as well have spelled out my entire battle. They spoke directly to me. I remembered scriptures like Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 12:2, and 2 Timothy 1:7. But it wasn’t until the evening before the last day that I finally started to make up my mind. It was through the words of the inscriptions (on some pretty amazing books, I should add!) that gave me the courage to say “yes.” “Follow your adventure! Never fear jumping into the unknown to discover where God is leading you.” “…. Aleigha, I hope, like Sarah, you find your courage.” I’m not usually one to read those Facebook post anniversary things. But for some reason I did. It was a quote I had shared a year ago to that day. “Most people are waiting for the mountains to be removed, when what they really need is the courage to climb them." Did I need anymore convincing after that? Um, nope. Was I still scared? Yes, a bit. But I kept my eyes on the path, I didn’t look down. And, I made myself NOT think about how high up we were. If I had let fear rule my decision, I would have missed out on the brilliant beauty of those mountains. But because I faced my fear, I was rewarded with a sight that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Are you fearing something in life? Is it suffocating you, like it was me? Let it go. God's bigger than that. Fear doesn’t define you, and it certainly doesn’t have to rule you. If I can face my fear, you can face yours. Have you faced a certain fear recently? Even something small? Let me know about it in the comments so we can celebrate together! And until next week, friends, keep letting your lights shine. Today's post is by my talented friend, Emily Stevens. I'm pretty excited about it! I hope you enjoy it just as much as I do. OH MY GOODNESS. What is that thing behind you?
It is so dark and tall! And it’s touching you! I think it’s trying to get you! Shh… stay perfectly still, and maybe it will go away. It only moves when you move. It seems like it’s copying you. Oh. Oh wait. My bad. That’s just your shadow, isn’t it? Sorry. You would think, being a candle, that I’d get used to everything around me casting a shadow. I’ve never quite gotten used to it, though. It’s harder than you think, having everyone who comes near you be followed by a big black monster. It can be scary. I don’t want to get eaten by a monster! But the closer everyone gets to me, the bigger and darker their shadow becomes! Sometimes, I wish that people could just walk up to me, and I wouldn’t have to see the shadow they cast. Wouldn’t have to see the darkness behind them. Oh, I recognize that look on your face! “You’re a candle,” you say, “so how can you be afraid of a shadow? Shadows disappear as soon as you touch them.” You’re right. I am a candle. And I suppose that I do make the room lighter, the darkness around me less deep. But what I don’t think you understand is that sometimes, being a candle makes everything scarier. It means that there’s a bigger contrast between me and the shadows that people cast. The closer people get to me, the darker and sharper their shadows seem in comparison. Maybe it’s foolish, but sometimes the shadows seem so real, that I could almost believe that they could reach out and snuff me out. Hasn’t that ever happened to you? Haven’t you ever had somebody who looks good and bright from far away, but when they come close to your light, you see that they have a big dark stain following them? Haven’t you ever worried that, if you shine too bright, the shadows around you will become so dark and so real that you might be snuffed out? True confessions: certain people make me sputter. They are usually people who I like and who I look up to. I really want them to like me, too. I’m always a little afraid that, if they come near me and see their own shadow because of me, they’ll walk away and never come back. So I flicker. When those certain people come near me, I hold back my light. I stop taking as much fuel from the wax, and I dim my glow until I am barely burning at all. Don’t you do it, too? Because you’re a light, too, you know. The Bible says in Matthew 6:14-15: “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” You and I are both lights. The Bible says we are supposed to shine all the time and never be hidden under a basket. Of course, the Bible doesn’t exactly say anything about dimming your light, though, does it? Sometimes I wonder if God knows anything about how scary the shadows can be. He seems more like a floodlight than a humble candle. Surely He’s not afraid of anything! Except... He was afraid, one time, wasn’t He? In the Garden of Gethsemane. He was afraid to die on the cross (Mark 14:35). And... when He did die, didn’t the sun go out for a while? (Mark 15:33) People must have lit candles to see by, then. And in that moment, when the sun went dark and Jesus died, when the candles were lit, their light must have thrown shadows onto the wall. The biggest, darkest shadows in the history of the world. How scared Jesus must have been! As He died, all his friends and the people he liked ran away from Him (Mark 14:50). Even his Father, who He loved and looked up to more than anything, had to turn His face away (Mark 15:34). Jesus must have wanted to make His light flicker, then. He must have wanted to not be so bright so that his friends would like Him and accept Him. But Jesus is called the Light of the World who has the Light of Life (John 8:12). And if the Light of the World and of Life had flickered and gone out, how could any of us be saved? Sure, shining as bright as He could meant that Jesus’s friends walked away from Him, and terrible things happened to Him, and He had to face the darkness head-on. But He did it for us. Shouldn’t we be willing to do it for Him? Hmm, that’s funny. The more I think about Him, the brighter my light gets. Your shadow is still there, and it’s still kinda scary. But if I don’t look at your shadow, I can see that the whole rest of the room is getting brighter, and it’s not really so bad anymore. Shining bright in spite of the shadows can be a pretty good thing, I guess. Maybe you should try it, too. (Click to Tweet!) What is this helpful Patriot doing? Why, he's delivering copies of A Marvelous Redeemer, of course! And what important information is he spreading? THE E-BOOK IS FINALLY HERE!!!! For those of you who enjoy reading on a Kindle or tablet better than a paperback, this is your chance to read AMR! Synopsis: She knew the decision would change her life. But she didn't know she'd have to fight to survive. When Amira put her faith in Christ, she knew life wouldn’t be easy. But hiding her conversion from her Muslim family soon becomes the least of her worries. Forced to leave the only home she’s ever known, she travels to the island of Gabeburough, trying her best to make a fresh start. Two escaped convicts and a treasure map. A leafy paradise that becomes her home. Amira begins to wonder, where is her Redeemer when she needs Him the most? Caleb Haddington is prince of Carpathia. Life should be perfect, but he can’t get a certain dark-haired girl out of his mind. Amira was his best friend when he lived in France, but her letters to him have suddenly stopped. Her last letter is filled with terror that her faith will soon be discovered. Only a single hope keeps him alive; when the time is right, he’s going after her. He’ll bring her back and prove to the kingdom that he’s a man. But the journey proves to be more perilous than he’d ever imagined. Ridicule, comfortless days and the threat of a hurricane are just the start of his problems. Lying becomes easy for Caleb until his own life crumbles before him. Brought to his knees under the pressure of his actions, he comes to realize the sweetness of his Savior. Forgiveness, grace, and mercy are granted fully to those who ask. Caleb and Amira soon discover that they don’t just serve a gracious Savior, but a wonderful, magnificent, marvelous Redeemer. Get your ebook copy today! I thought it was about time I gave you all an update on my writing life! This week I'll tell you about some exciting happenings from the last few weeks, as well as adventure waiting around the corner! =) Highlights: 1. I was published on TheReb again If you haven't had a chance to read my latest article "What To Do When You’re Weary: Truth For the Worn Out Teen," you can read it here! 2. We pulled off a surprise 30th anniversary party for our parents We planned this for months and it was such a blast! Complete with fried chicken and a "guest appearance" from my mother's parents, this is an event we won't be forgetting for a long time! 3. I'm officially a Writing Teacher!!!! By far, the most exciting part of the last month was becoming a writing teacher and launching an online writing teacher program alongside some AMAZING writers and authors! I'm so blessed to be working with these talented people, and even more blessed to have such talented students. Our beta launch is going well and we hope to have a website up someday and reach many more writers! Exciting Happenings: 1. I'll be in CA next week! I'm the Registration Coordinator for the Southern California Christian Writer's Conference (otherwise known as "SoCal"). My father and I will be flying out next week to attend this exciting event! If you live in CA, stop by and say "hello!" And if you can, make a day out of it and attend the conference one of the days. Walk-ins are welcome! ;) 2. A Marvelous Redeemer is "almost" an ebook! I was hoping to release the ebook for A Marvelous Redeemer today, but I ran into a slight problem. BUT, I should have it ready really soon! What are your highlights from this month? Do you have any "exciting happenings" coming up? Have you ever been to a writers conference? Let me know in the comments below! Until next week, Keep Letting Your Light Shine! <3 For the last year, I’ve blogged on a variety of topics that the Lord has placed on my heart. But now, the Lord has placed something else on my heart. I want to hear from YOU. Would you take a minute to let me know two topics that you’d like to see me cover in the next few weeks? If you would do this, it would mean SO much to me! You can tell me about them here. It can be anything, really! Something you struggle with, something about society that bothers you. Even fun posts about my favorite things to do in the Summer! This is YOUR chance to ask and be heard (and answered!) If you would take a moment to share two things with me, I would forever be grateful! Until next week, keep letting your lights shine! Sooooooo, did you happen to notice that I haven't posted anything the last two Tuesdays? hides in the corner and sobs when you say "no." Well, that's okay. (Actually, it's not, but let's just pretend it is.) I have a good excuse though! I was working the polls for early election. Okay, that just sounded a whole lot less exciting and time-consuming than it really was…. Anyway, I'm hoping this article of mine that just came out on The Rebelution will make up for the last two weeks! If not, I'll give you your money back. =) Feel free to like the post, leave a comment and let me know what you think! See you next week, friends! 3
2 1 BLAST OFF!!!!!! Folks, this is your captain speaking. “A Marvelous Redeemer” is officially LAUNCHED!!!! You can purchase “A Marvelous Redeemer” through either of the sites below!!! The FIRST TEN ORDERS receive a FREE hand-crafted wooden pen, a bottled map of Gabeburough island treasure map, and three key chains of “A Light for Christ” collection! (Just purchase the book and email me your receipt, along with your shipping address!) I hope you’ll join me at the launch party this evening! To celebrate, I’m giving away a gift bundle, a bunch of great prizes, and rumor is going around that Queen Anna might even show up for a few minutes! You can purchase the book through Amazon here! Or through my website here! I hope to see you at the party!!!!!!! <3 |
Hi!
|