Friday, March 31, 2017

My Camp NaNo project: Prologue + Snippets

*waves* 'Ello, all! Well, the end of March is here, and Friday is here, and . . . I don't have a post planned. So last night, I decided I'd just talk about my Camp NaNo project!
If y'all read my last post with the writing update, you're already gonna know what my camp NaNo project is, so today I'm just gonna post the synopsis *winces* (I'm terrible at those), and a few snippets that I've written this past week. ;) Since I have a few new characters, I wanted to get a feel for them before I started writing. Thus the very random snippets. ;)

Also, *warning* For those of you who have not read A Question of Honor, The synopsis has minor spoilers in it.

Synopsis: 

A man. A decision. A destiny. 

Rafe Sullivan never imagined the war would come to his doorstep. But when Pearl Harbor is attacked, and America's focus suddenly shifts to the pacific, he finds he can't ignore the problem anymore. 
Leaving his fiance behind, he joins up to do what he does best. Fly. 
Yet, nothing could have prepared him for the horrors of war, and the struggle that is going on in his own heart. As a outstanding navy pilot, he has a permanent spot flying fighters from the deck of an aircraft carrier. But could God be calling him to go inland, and help the Marines who are struggling to hold the small Island of Guadalcanal?

Lily Wilson gives her all to help the hurting community around her. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the war is brought home to many American families. And as a nurse, she longs to be able to relive some of the suffering. But her own grief is still fresh in her own heart, and even though she's made the decision to get on with her life, she can't seem to leave the past behind. When healing at last comes, the guard she placed around her heart slowly begins to crumble. But when she receives the news she hoped she would never again hear, can she find the courage to go on, even when it seems that everyone she loves is taken away? 

Arthur Warrington saw the Navy as an escape from the life he left behind. And it seems good for him. He is able to forge new friendships, and distance himself from the his tragic past. But when his best friend makes a decision that rocks his world, he is left grappling with the question: what is true courage? 

Three lives. One War. And a search for the Courage to go on. 


 Did you get through all that? If so . .  .you have my sincere admiration. *hands you chocolate* Most likely that won't be the final synopsis. But hey, it's the best I can do, so it'll work for now. ;P 

Okay, now for the prologue and the snippets! :) 

Prologue: 

We interrupt this program to bring you a special news bulletin. The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by air. President Roosevelt has just announced that the attack was made on all naval and military activities on the principal island of Oahu. 

The words shattered the after-church calm in the small town of Topeka, Kansas, and across the world. 
Beyond the oceans, the rest of the world waited with bated breath to hear what America's reaction would be in response to the treachery that had taken place that Sunday morning on the sunny island in the pacific, where over two thousand men had been eternally silence by the attack of the Imperial Japanese Army. 

But that afternoon, as he entered the kitchen and heard the strains of the broadcast that stunned the world into silence, one man already knew what he had to do. The others in the room faded away, and he didn't even notice the icy breeze thrusting itself through the door he left open behind him. 
What had started out as a normal Sunday had determined the destiny of the rest of his life. His country needed him, and he would serve.

The small cry of an infant startled him from his reverie, and he looked up to catch sight of the woman he loved quieting the son that lay in her arms. 
That attack on Pearl Harbor threatened to bring war home to those he cared about. And he would do everything in his power to make sure that never happened. 

But no one knew just what they were up against when America declared war on Japan. And it would be a bloody conflict, more ghastly than anyone could have ever foretold.


Snippets: 

Snippet #1

Rafe unbuttoned his jacket and tossed on the corner of the bunk. A groan escaped his lips as he lowered himself onto the relative comfort of the mattress. 
Art watched him with a grin, slamming the barrack’s door behind him. What are you doing?"
Rafe's voice came out muffled from under the pillow. "Getting some shut eye for the next ten minutes.”
Art shook his head as he ran a hand through his white blond hair and straightened his collar before slapping his officer's cap back on his head.
"What in the world are you getting all primped up for?"
He turned to see Rafe emerging from the pillow, a look of bewilderment on his face. "I thought you were dead set against girls and marriage."
"Oh, and you're right." Art replied as he turned and took a seat on his bunk, facing Rafe. "But you see, as far as I can figure, these W.A.V.E.S. girls are something like sisters to us Navy men. And I'd take my sister to a dance."
Rafe shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Something tells me that if these girls had brothers, they wouldn't quite see eye to eye with that statement."
Shrugging his shoulders, Art stood the slipped his jacket on, and buttoned it. "Well, you're more than welcome to come along and keep me in line. Unless. . ." He allowed a flicker of teasing to seep into his voice. "Unless your head's too full of little-blond-curls back home to have any fun."
Rafe sprung from his bunk, picked up a boot, and tossed it at Art, who ducked out of the way just in time. 
Art bit back a chuckle. "Well, didn't know she meant that much to ya, seeing as you told me she was like a sister to you." He stressed the word with a grin and leaned against the bunk, crossing his ankles. 
A mischievous twinkle settled in Rafe’s eyes, and Art knew he’d stepped smack into a trap. 
"She's as much as sister as that little brunette you're taking to the dance."
At that moment, Art wanted to pound his brain that couldn't think of a comeback, and it must have shown on his face as Rafe laughed aloud. 
Art groaned. "I guess I left myself wide open for that."
Rafe laid back down, and a smug look of satisfaction crossed his face. "That you did, Art my boy. That you did.” 


Snippet #2

Art quirked his eyebrows as the top of the hatch began to slowly open. Thinking quickly, he took two steps back and to the right. Perfect. Now he was out of the line of sight of the occupant. He stood still for a moment, hands clasped behind his back, and his officer's cap placed at a jaunty angle on his head. The sea breeze threatened to shake it loose, but only managed to muss the red, wavy hair that covered his forehead. His green eyes danced with mischief as he stood ramrod straight, being careful not to make any unnecessary noise.
Just then the fingers of the man in the tank appeared, and quick as a flash Art stepped forward. As silently as possible he slowly lowered the hatch till it sat on his fingers.
There was a yelp from inside, though Art knew that he hadn't lowered it fast enough to really hurt.
Still, the heavy metal would be uncomfortable when it lay on your bare knuckles.
A moment later, he heard a snarl from inside the iron contraption. "Art, you lift that now or I swear you'll regret it!"
Now how in the world had Gus known it was him? He shrugged, though he knew it didn't really matter. It wasn't as if Gus could see him.
"Art! I'm warning you, I've had enough of this! Now open the hatch!"
Pushing his cap further up on his forehead, Art rubbed his temples, seemingly in great thought. "Well, now, let's see. What's in it for me?"
The only answer was yet another snarl, and Art grinned. It wasn't often that he had the chance to play something like this. Especially not out here.
"You open that hatch, or I'm gonna tell Rafe you're writing his girl!" The words echoed against steel walls.
"What? You'd lie about me? Your old pal?" Art's voice betrayed his hurt.
"Huh, some pal. Trying to get my fingers chopped off."
"Nope. If I wanted them darling little fingers gone, I would have simply slammed the hatch down and kept on walking."
"Oh, just shut up, would ya?" The words from the tank had increased in volume.  "I hate how you have an answer for everything."
Art chuckled as he reached down and lifted the hatch, and took a step back. A moment later, a dark brown head of mussed hair appeared as Gus used his arms to haul himself out. "They need to install stairs in this rotten thing," He muttered under his breath. He sat down on the lid and inspected his fingers. No blood had appeared, though they were streaked with grease from the seal on the hatch.
"Yup, they do need stairs. Also, keep those hands of my uniform." Art removed his hat, and ran his fingers through his hair. "I don't need any grease spots on this nice, new, white suit."
"Art, I'm gonna kill you!" Gus exclaimed vaulting to his feet. "No, correction. I'm gonna make sure every part of you is smeared in grease, and then I'm gonna kill you!"
But before he could take a step forward, the alert alarm sounded, and both men instantly raised their eyes towards the clouds.
Small black specks suddenly appeared on the horizon, and the smile disappeared from Art's face. "You might not have the chance. The Japs might just take care of that for you."
He slapped his cap back on his head. "Come on, let's go."



And . . . there you have it! Did you enjoy the snippets? Does the story sound interesting?
Have a wonderful weekend!

Monday, March 27, 2017

Writing Update

So, I just realized last week that I haven't posted a writing update on here in forever! And today, I set out to remedy that. Let's get started . . .



To start off with, A Question of Honor won the "Best Historical Fiction" award during the Indie E-con last week. A huge thank you to everyone who voted! I was so excited when I realized it had won!

Also, Camp NaNo starts next week! To be honest, I haven't actually written anything since last . . . December? *hides* I know, terrible. I mean, I've done some short random scenes and all, but not actually written in any story. Part of this is because I was so busy with the release of A Question of Honor. However, this next month, crazy as it will be, I'm determined to try and set time aside to write. Hopefully camp NaNo will be helpful with that . . . since I seem to be able to write a lot better when I have a goal and a deadline.

I'm sure some of you are wondering about the next Questions of War book. Wellll . . . yeah, there's been some changes. xD In my outline for the series, I had the second book in the series A Question of Loyalty, which went more into Erich and Micah's story, and than the third and final book would b A Question of Courage, which told Rafe's story. Based on this order, I wrote the first draft of A Question of Loyalty last year during NaNo

Well, about a month ago, I sat down and took another look at outline I had written. And than I relaized something.
A Question of Courage needs to come second.

Since I had been planning to edit AQoL during Camp, that really was a drastic change. And for past few weeks I've been scrambling to plot out the book, so that I can get the first draft written during Camp NaNo.

For anyone who is wondering, A Question of Courage will include three POVs, as the first book did. Want to know who they are?
I'm not sure I should tell you . . .

Okay, who am I kidding. I'm so excited about this, I have to share it! The three POVs featured in A Question of Courage are . . .

Rafe, David's younger brother, who is briefly mentioned in A Question of Honor. 
Lily. I think you all know who she is . . . (You can thank me now, Kellyn. ;))
And a new character. Art, Rafe's best friend.

It took me FOREVER to nail down three POV to tell the story from, and I'm really happy with the three I decided on. I can't wait to get into writing, and see how their story unfolds! And don't worry, for all you who are wondering, Erich and Micah will be back in the 3rd book! ;)

And . . . I think that's all, as far as writing is concerned. Yes, I'm one of those rare writers who has to have only one project going at a time or else I get overwhelmed and my brain shuts down. ;P

Oh, wait, there is one more thing . . . do you remember the short story I wrote and posted last year? It was titled "A Place Called Lonesome", and it won first place in a short-story writing contest. Well, I'm working on fixing a few things in it, and than it'll be published on kindle, hopefully within the next month!

Okay, now I think we are really done. ;)

So what do you think? Do you approve of the new POVs? Are you doing Camp NaNo?

Sunday, March 26, 2017

When Tides Turn --- Book Review

It's been a while since I did a book review on here, so lets remedy that! ;) This is my new favorite book, and my review might be a bit long. You've been warned.


Synopsis:
The last thing naval officer Dan Avery wants to see on his radar is glamour girl Quintessa Beaumont—even if she has joined the WAVES.

When fun-loving glamour girl Quintessa Beaumont learns the Navy has established the WAVES program for women, she enlists, determined to throw off her frivolous ways and contribute to the war effort. No-nonsense and hoping to make admiral, Lt. Dan Avery has been using his skills to fight German U-boats. The last thing he wants to see on his radar is a girl like Tess.

 For her part, Tess works hard to prove her worth in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Unit in Boston—both to her commanding officers and to the man with whom she is smitten. When Dan is assigned to a new escort carrier at the peak of the Battle of the Atlantic, he’s torn between his lifelong career goals and his desire to help Tess root out a possible spy on shore. The Germans put up quite a fight, but he wages a deeper battle within his heart. Could Tess be the one for him?


My Review: 5 Stars

Okay, full review. And I'm just going to point out at the beginning that while I'm doing my best to keep this review to a moderate length . . . that may not actually work. xD

Well, Mrs. Sundin has done it again. And this is by far my favorite of ALL her books! (Followed closely, of course, by "Blue Skies Tomorrow" ;)) Since I could ramble on and on about it, I'm gonna focus my review on three different areas. Characters, Content, and historical info. 

So, characters. Dan is, by far, one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. And yes, while I understand this may sound a bit weird, I related to him so well. The things he struggled with, the way he looked at life, his being the oldest brother in the family . . . I related to him more than I have any fictional character in a long while. I always appreciate the the depth there is in Sarah Sundin's characters, and he was no exception. He had real life struggles, and I learned a lot and was encouraged in my walk with Christ by reading his story. 
Tess was awesome, too! She's quite a bit different than Dan, but I loved the energy and enthusiasm she added to the story. Her struggles and flaws were also so, so real. I love how Mrs. Sundin deals with some difficult issues in life, instead of skirting around them like so many christian fiction authors do.
The supporting characters were, as always, spectacular. But I'll refrain from further comment on them. ;) 

The content was very light! There was no swearing, cursing, or excessive violence of any kind. As for romance, there were two kisses at the end, and a wedding . . . but other than that, there really wasn't much at all. I think this actually was quite a bit lighter on the romance than her other books, and I really enjoyed and appreciated that!

Historical info was fascinating! I've never studied much about the Navy in the Atlantic, so this was a fresh look at a whole new part of the war for me. I loved reading about all the equipment, ships, planes, etc. Also, reading about the Battle of the Atlantic and the first U-boat sinking by the Americans was really interesting!

Sooo, yeah. I loved the book. can you tell? ;P This is the first book in a while that I've actually not found anything I disliked in . . . the writing style fit, the history was astounding, and the spiritual message extremely relevant.

5 out of 5 stars!

*I received a free copy from Revell in exchange for my honest review*

Friday, March 24, 2017

Writing The Next Book

And . . . today is the last day of the Indi E-Con! I've had so much fun with it all, and I can't believe it's almost over!



Okay, today we're talking about the next book in a series. There are many different ways to write a series Sometimes, it's continuing the main character's journey from the first book. At other times, it's only a semi continuation of the story. Meaning you stay within the same family/character group, but use a different POV for each book.
Since I'm using the second method for my Questions of War series, today we'll talk a little bit about that. More specifically, how to keep the characters unique and the plot intriguing with each book.


     1.) Make sure each character is its own, distinct person. 

Now, this may seem obvious, but this goes a bit further than making them look or talk differently. Every character in each book, whether the main character, or minor, has got to have a different drive. A different struggle. A different way of looking at things. 
I don't care if your characters look like mirror images of one another. (Okay, well, maybe I would mind a bit.;)) But they have to have their own distinct personalities. Perhaps they are a lot alike, but there have to be subtle differences.

In my first and second book, I have two very similar characters. Or, at least at first glance they appear similar. But they aren't.
Gil is outgoing, friendly, and he has a teasing streak. He also can be dead serious within the snap of a finger.
Rafe is also outgoing and teasing, yet he doesn't relish attention as Gil did. Also, he will never be quite serious with you unless he fully trusts you.
Gil's drive was fighting for what he believed. His trusting nature was just that---trusting. Yes, he had the good sense not to trust every person who crossed his path, but he looked at people with the "trust them until proven otherwise" motto.
Rafe's drive is fighting for those he loves. He is friendly with everyone, but extremely wary. His motto is "people have to earn trust."
For Gil, his lighthearted look at life is who he is. For Rafe, teasing and making light of things is a guard.



     2.) Make the struggles different. 

In the first book, the struggle for my characters is accepting things that happen in life as a part of God's perfect will, even when we can't see it. 
In my second book, the struggle is taking the next right step, even when the outcome may not be what you want it to be.
The struggle needs to fit the character. What one character struggles with, your other character may not.
Don't try and force your characters to fit into the same struggles, because it's not realistic. Yes, as humans we all have some of the same struggles. But we are all also wide and varied in so many ways. And because of this, we'll all have many struggles that are unique.



     3.) Add  Variety.

 I'm sure y'all are rolling your eyes at me and thinking obviously!  But just hear me out! ;) Everyone is different. Everyone has a different way they view life. Perhaps one character walks around quoting books, much to the annoyance of everyone else. Maybe another loves music. The way they look at life will be different than the way a non-musical person will look at life. (Trust me, as a musical person, I can couch for this. ;))
Also, give different characters different quirks. Don't rely on physical features only to tell them apart. Does one character always whistle? Perhaps another is known by their signature grin, or the way they are always rubbing their chin when deep in thought. Maybe your main character has a habit of twirling her hair around her finger.
At times this takes a bit of extra effort on the part of the author, because these are such common, everyday occurrences that they are often overlooked. But never underestimate just how much they add to your book!



     4.) Adjust your plot according to the characters. 

So far, I've been talking mostly about characters. And I'll admit, I tent to like character driven books much more than plot-driven ones. However, every book needs to have a plot of some sort. But don't try and make the characters in your second book fit into the same plot structure as the ones in your first book.
Did the characters in book one go on some sort of epic quest? Well, what if this adventure-structure story doesn't work with the second book?
Let's day the main character in book one is the kind of person who is bored and restless with life. This literally sets the stage for something big and exciting. Enter the quest. The character's passion and talents are discovered on this journey.
In book two however, the main character is the younger sibling, who has always lived under the spotlight of the older one. Their plot is going to be a bit slower. They're not longing for adventure like character #1. Perhaps their journey is simply finding and discovering their passions, and how they can use their gifting to help in the every day life of the world they live in.



     5.) Realize each book is a different journey for yourself. 

Yes, I know, I've abruptly left plot and characters behind. But I think this is something that is worth pointing out. Wherever you are in life right now, whatever struggles you're having, these are going to be reflected in your writing. And whatever answers God shows you through the course of writing the book, will also work their way into your writing, whether consciously or not. 
Each time you begin a new project, you're at a different stage in this journey we call life. And this is going to be reflected in your writing. So journey with your characters to find the answer. Pray, and ask our Heavenly Father what He would have you learn through the writing of this particular book. I can guarantee you, there will always be a different lesson He's waiting to teach you as you turn the project over to Him.


Well, there you have it. The five ways I use to make sure my first book, second book, and so on are different, and not simply a different way of repeating the same thing we learned in the first book. What guidlines do you use when you start the 2nd book of a series? Any tips you can share with me?

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Best Stock Photo Sites

And . .  .we're back as a part of the Indie E-Con! Okay, today we’re talking about . . . publishing! And more specifically, I’m talking about places to find good stock photos.



Stock photos are wonderful for everything from blog posts to book covers, but with so many sites it can be hard to figure out which ones are good to use, and which free ones are actually legal. So. I’ve compiled a list stock photo sites that either I have personally used, of sites that people I personally know have used and can be recommended.

Free Sites:

Pixabay.

I’ve used pixabay for nearly two years now. They have a nice selection of royalty free photos, and you don’t need to have an account with them in order to download pictures. Be sure to read through their terms, though. They do have some limitations when it comes to photos with identifiable people. ;)

Wikimedia. 

So far, this is the sight I’ve used for my Questions of War series covers. I’d especially recommend this site for black and white images from the 1900s. They have a wonderful selection, and I may be known to spend hours simply looking through historical images.

Morguefile

I’ve only personally used this site once, I think, but I know others who use it quite a bit! They seem to have less selection than pixabay, but they still have a good variety.

Unsplash

This is a site I have never personally used, but my cover designer told me she has used it and has been able to find some amazing photos.

Pexels

Yet another site I haven’t personally used! However, I’ve heard many good things about it, and from my quick look over the site, they seem to have an amazing selection!




Paid Subscription Sites:

Dreamstime

Dreamstime has a wide selection of photos, as well as a small selection of free ones. Their pricing plans are very reasonable, and they really have some amazing images. I’d definitely recommend them if you’re looking for more professional photos.

iStock

Their prices tend to be a bit more on the expensive side, but they also have some amazing photos I haven’t been able to find in other sites, especially if you’re looking for full color historical images. (They have some amazing WWII ones! ;))

Shutterstock

Their prices are about the same as Dreamstime’s, and they have a decent selection. (Especially if you're looking for images of swords! ;)) I haven’t used it all too much, though. :)

What are your favorite stock photo sites? 
Have you used any of these? 
Oh! And as a part of the conference, there is some book awards going on, and two of my books were nominated.(A Question of Honor and Beyond the Horizon)  I'd love it if you would head over here and vote for them if you've read and enjoyed them! (http://knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com/p/2017-indie-e-con-book-awards.html)

Monday, March 20, 2017

Using Google Docs for Writing

Hey All!! Today is the first day of the Indie e-con 2017! Be sure and head over to Kendra's blog to take a look at all the things she's got going on there. Word wars, games, articles, and more! Oh, and there is some voting for book awards going on, too!
Today's subject is writing, and there are a lot of great authors sharing their insight . . . so be sure and check it out!

Using Google Docs for Writing:

For the first draft of any book or story I’ve written, I always use Google docs. While you can’t really format much in it, or upload it on a self-publishing site, there are several reasons and factors that have come into play that have made me decide to use this writing platform.

Google docs is fairly simply to use and understand. It has a good selection of fonts, and it’s pretty simple to customize it in any way you’d wish. And of course, it’s free. If you have a google account, you can sign in and start using Google docs. Below I’m gonna list some of the advantages and reasons that I use Google docs in my writing. 

     1.) It’s accessible from any internet device. For me this was a huge thing, because it meant I could sign in on a tablet, phone, our second laptop, or even the computer at the library and get some words written. When I’m working on a first draft, I like to be able to write any idea down just as soon as I get it. And there are times when I have to spend the day somewhere else, and I like to write whenever I can squeeze in a few minutes. 

     2.) It’s easily shared.  Now, I know, you’re probably thinking “Share?! My writing?!” I know, it seems a bit intimidating, but if you ever decide to get beta-readers, or even want to share it with friend or sibling, it’s quite easy to add them to the document. All you have to do is click the blue “share” button at the top right corner, enter their email, and press share. They now have access to your document. This also requires no downloading to your computer or device, such as Word Doc would. 

    3.) People can leave comments and suggestions right in the document.  This is so much easier than sending someone a Word Doc or PDF and having them try and critique it. In Google docs, they can comment on pretty much everything. This option is available in Word Doc, however, only one person at a time can comment in Word Doc, which makes the process more time consuming when you have more than one person reading your writing. 

     4.) It doesn’t require yet another platform to keep track of. In this day and age, most of us have a gmail account, or are some way a part of the google network. Another beauty of Google Docs is that one account is all that is required. And you don’t have to remember another password, because this is the same password as your email. 

     5.) It is simple to convert into PDF or Word Doc. Because I used Word Doc for publishing, pretty much any platform I use for writing is going to have to convert to Word Doc easily. Thankfully, google docs does just that. At the top left corner of the screen, click “file. Then, go down till you get to “Download as”. Then choose whatever form you want it downloaded in. It’s as simple as that! 

So have I convinced you yet? Will you give Google Docs a try? What platform do you use for writing? 

Friday, March 17, 2017

"The sky calls to me, and I can't ignore it."

From Pinterest.
You know those moments when life is good and everything seems right . . . yet you feel restless? Often, it comes at a time you weren't expecting it.  You watch the sunset and, long to see what lies beyond the horizon. You want to see the sun sink beneath the waves of an ocean; you want to watch the clouds turn into molten gold from above them, not below. Suddenly, you feel small in the universe. Life seems short. And oh, you want to live life. To experience it to its fullest as time swiftly slips away. It's as if the horizon is calling, beckoning you to come and press its boundaries.You can almost feel the ache physically. You long to go beyond the day to day routine of life. You long to feel complete and utterly . . . free. Without the weights of this life pressing at us on every tun. Without the drudgery of small tasks that seem to never end.

My picture. All rights reserved. ;) 

I've felt that way. No, I don't feel the call of the sea (perhaps because I live in Kansas? xD) But I have felt the call of the skies. I've flown three times that I can remember, and each time I fell more in love with it. Nothing stirs up a feeling of longing in my soul more than looking to the skies and wanting to see the earth from the other side of the clouds. For some reason or another, the skies stir up something in me nothing else does. 

From pinterest. 

I heard a song the other day when I was shopping with my mom. I don't remember all the words, but the chorus is simply summed up. Life is short, live it up. Do what you want to now, because you'll" never get a second chance. 

I don't agree with the message of that song, but I think, to an extent, there is some truth to it. Friends, life is short. We can spend our days as teens or young adults longing for a life different from out own. We can spend those days wishing we were doing something else.Wishing we were somewhere else on this journey called life. 

Or, perhaps, we can simply grasp hold of the days that are swiftly passing us by and make them count.

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. Ecclesiastes 9:10

The days that pass we will never again live. With each day that ends, twenty-four more hours of our life silently slips away. In those past twenty-four hours, did we live them with eternity in sight?

The Bible says whatever we find to do, do it with might. Perhaps it's studying. Maybe it's doing the dishes, or helping with the laundry. Seemingly everyday tasks. But are we completing them grudgingly? Doing them because we know it's the right thing to do, and because it has to be done, but not really embracing it as our mission from God?

Wherever you are in life right now, you are in the middle of God's will for you in this particular time. Whether it's being a daughter/son in your parent's home, a college student,or a best selling author, it's where God has you for this season. No matter how small or insignificant your life may seem, it matters. Every day needs to be lived to the full. But not for ourselves. Not for our selfish desires. 

No, each day needs to be lived to the full with eternity in view. Yes, in a way, we need to keep our eyes fixed on a goal. On the horizon of eternity, where time will never end. Yet, at the same time, we need to keep our feet firmly grounded on what we're to do with the season of life we've been given. 

Wherever you are in life, live it to the glory of God. Pray about your desires, about your passions, about your dreams for the future. Perhaps, one day, what you hope and long for will come to pass. 

Have a goal here on earth, and work towards it. But in doing so, don't let the days slip by while your gaze is focused only on what you're working toward. I know how easy it is. Oh, do I know! It's so easy to look at the future and hope for the day when your dreams become reality. To long for the day when what you've worked hard for becomes your life.

from pinterest

But until that day comes, we have got to be so, so careful to not waste the days we are given now in the pursuit of our long-term goal. Don't become so focused on tomorrow that you lose sight of today. No, live like there won't be a tomorrow. Because a new dawn is never promised. Someone who is here today may be gone tomorrow. What your hand has found to do more, do it with might! If it's schoolwork, than apply yourself to it. If it's a job you're not fond of, double your efforts to do a good job. If it's the seemingly endless drudgery of chores, think of those you are serving as a way to serve the Lord. Live today like eternity, our end goal, comes tomorrow.

Friends, today is a steppingstone to tomorrow. What we're going through now prepares us for what is ahead. 

Sometimes, the hardest thing in life is being content in our circumstances. But let's remember. We are where we are for a purpose. God has us here for a reason. So let's keep our eyes on what's a head of us, while still waiting with excitement for what's around the bend. 

My dream is to be a flight nurse. And who knows, maybe someday that dream will come true, and I'll be able to fly again.  To feel the weightless feeling that becomes addictive. The feeling of being suspended between earth and space, with nothing but the plane keeping you up as you defy the law of gravity. 

But until then, my feet are firmly on the ground, and I'm doing my best to keep my head out of the clouds. Because right now, God's will for me lies on this soil.

Not above it.



From pinterest.

Oh, and in case y'all were wondering, the title is a quote from one of my stories. :) 

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Writing conference/kindle book Sale!

Hello all! I'm just poping in first to let you know about . . . an online writers conference coming up next week! Have you ever wanted to attend a writers conference, but there were none near you? Or perhaps you couldn't quite afford to go? Well, a fellow India author has put together an online Indie writer's conference! Yep, you can attend it from your house, and it doesn't cost a thing! Want to know some more about it? Go here to read all about it. And remember, it's happening next week! :)



Also, as a part of the conference, there are some book awards happening for the authors taking part in the conference! Because of this, the kindle of both A Question of Honor and Beyond the Horizon are on sale for $0.99 for the rest of the week. So head over here and grab the links, and pick up your copy! :)

Saturday, March 11, 2017

London in the Dark Blog Tour--Review/Spotlight

Hello, folks! I'm here today as a part of the blog tour for Victoria Lynn's new book London in the Dark!


About the Book: 

London, 1910

Budding Private Detective Cyril Arlington Hartwell has a conundrum. London is being ravaged by the largest run of thefts in recent history. His hunch that it is all tied together may put him and those he loves in more danger than he could have reckoned.

Olivia Larken Hartwell is just home from boarding school for the summer anticipating time with her adoring parents.She misses her absent brother, Cyril, hoping for the day he will finally come home. But tragedy strikes, causing upheaval for all concerned and changes her life in a way she never could have imagined. 

Olivia, Cyril, and their friends must bring the hidden to light, seek to execute justice, and dispel the darkness that hovers over London… and their hearts.



My Review: 5 shining stars!

I loved this book! It took me a while to get into it, but I grew to enjoy the laid back, writing style. It had an old fashioned feeling hat just added to the loveliness of the book!

Okay, first off, Dudley. No, before you think so, I'm NOT going crazy over him. xD (Since he already has a bunch of people laying claim to him... ;))
But I have to say, I really, really, really, loved how the author really made him stand out. He was a Doctor, and she had him act like one, but not only in dire circumstances, He noticed small, every day things. Clenching of the jaw, etc. This was probably one of my favorite parts of the whole book. So many people who write doctors have them act like everybody else, except when there's an accident of some sort. But Miss Lynn made him stand out wonderfully well and I thoroughly enjoyed it! And yeah... he had some awesome quotes! ;)

I also really enjoyed reading Cyril's character, though there were times I often wanted to pound some sense into his head. ;) But at the same time . . . his struggle was very well done, and I appreciated how the author showed it. I could relate to him in a few different ways, and his POV was my favorite of the book. He and Dudley also tied for my favorite characters. I loved their friendship so very much!

Olivia was probably my least favorite POV character, just 'cause we don't have a lot in common . . . but I still enjoyed reading about her, and watching her grow through the course of the book.

As I mentioned before, I think the writing style was perfect for the book. It gave it an old fashioned, laid back sort of feel, while the action was still done well! I did notice a few mistakes, (and anytime the letters "Mis" occurred in the book, they were capitalized, whether in a  word like "Miss" or, "Mistake".) But I was also reading an ARC copy.

The mystery was well thought out, and I enjoyed trying to figure it out! I loved the twist in there with Bancroft--boy, I was NOT expecting that!

The Christian message was strong, whcih I appreciated. I ADORED the fact the the author used hymns throughout the novel . . . especially Be Still, My Soul which is one of my very favorites!

All in all it's a clean, family friendly read that I would recommend to any lover of Christian Historical Fiction!


About the Author:


Victoria Lynn is in her 20s and if she's not writing, she is probably sewing, singing, playing the piano, washing dishes, creating something with her hands, or learning something new. She has a passion for serving her Creator, encouraging others and being creative. She blogs at www.rufflesandgrace.com about writing, fashion, modesty, her walk with God and life. She lives in Michigan with her parents and 8 siblings.



Victoria also has two giveaway's going on, so be sure to check them out!! :)



Thursday, March 9, 2017

Three years ago . . .

 . . . I sat down at the computer desk, opened blogger and typed up my very first post here on Whimsical Writings for His Glory. I honestly had no idea what had in mind for the blog long-term, but I wanted it to be a place I could share some short stories, maybe some poems and whatnot. To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what all I was going to post, or where this blog would take me.




Fast forward three years.  I've published thee books, my blog has been viewed over 30K times, and I have 71 Google followers and 31 email followers.

Wow. God has used this little blog to allow me to meet people and have adventures I never dreamed were possible. During my time here, I discovered my love of WWII history, (I'm sure none of you knew that... ;P) I've participated and won two NaNoWriMo's, and met five of my internet friends in person. I've traveled to every state west of Kansas, as well as the two states south of us.

I've ran barefoot down dirt roads, gotten inspiration while perched in a tree, and danced in the rain. I've learned that time is precious, and once it is gone, it will never return. I've seen seasons change, and I've felt the pang at knowing we can never go back to the way things once were.

But most importantly of all, I've grown closer to my Savior. Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all perfect. I'm still far from where I want to be in my walk with God. But these years I've been learning to trust. Learning to lean on Him when times get rough. And above all, looking to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith.

I'm not sure where the next three years will take me, but I'm excited to find out, and so blessed to have you all along with me for the journey!

Spring is here, and summer is just around the bend. A season of new beginnings, and a time to pause and reflect. And then, a time to let your hair down, throw off your shoes, and run with abandon into the wind as you explore what is just around the bend.

I'm excited to see God has in store for the future! Will you join me?

Monday, March 6, 2017

A Question of Honor Blog Tour --- Wrap-up post.

Well, friends, we did it.

A Question of Honor has released into the world, and words can't describe how happy I am.

First off, I want to shout out a huge THANK YOU to everyone who was a part of the blog tour and helped spread the word about my book. You guys are so awesome! This release would not have been nearly as awesome were it not for you.

Secondly, I'd like to go ahead and announce the winner of the giveaway, since I'm sure that's what you all are here for anyway. xD (Shout out to my writing group who stayed up with me till midnight to hear who won. I had fun with y'all! ;))
Since I ended up with so many entries, I decided to have two winners. The first wins the paperback, the second place winner receives a kindle copy.

And the winners are . . .

1st: Rebekah Morris

2nd: RayRay

I've emailed you both! Congrats!! 

Thank you all again for joining me in the release! I've had so much fun reading your comments and reviews! Hopefully all of this was fun for y'all as well!

God bless, and I'll see you all on Friday. ;) 

Saturday, March 4, 2017

A Question of Honor Blog Tour---Day 4

And . . . we've arrived at the final day of the blog tour!


I want to take a moment to thank all of the participants! You guys have made this an amazing release, and I've been so blessed to have y'all with me on my release journey! Also, the paperback has actually decided to make an appearance on Amazon today . . . you can find it here. So sorry for the delay with that!

Joining me today we have some more absolutely amazing bloggers!

Livi Jane -- Review @ Living for the Other Side 
Victoria Lynn -- Author Interview @ Ruffles and Grace
Emily Putzke -- Author Interview @ Taking Dictation 
Julia Ryann -- Review @ The Barefoot Gal
Rebekah Eddy -- Book spotlight and Author Interview @ Rebekahs Remarks 

*shoos you off to go read their posts* 

Okay, today's 3 facts about A Question of Honor . . . 

1.) While in the writing/editing process of the book, I was able to meet and talk to three WWII veterans. The stories they told were just --- wow. They are so humble, so casual about what they did . . . but their sacrifice for our freedom was just... very eye-opening. 

2.) David's last name was, at one time, Anderson. It got changed because a dear friend of mine was also writing a WWII story, and her character's last name was Anderson. Seriously, it's crazy how many names we unintentionally have alike in our stories... I think the last count was somewhere close to twenty shared names. 

3.) In the first draft, Gil and Lily lived in England. That was changed, because I wanted a stronger friendship/brother relationship between David and Gil. ;) 


Well, that's all for today! The giveaway is open till tomorrow night, so be sure and enter! On Monday I'll announce the winner, and have a wrap-up post.


Thank you everyone for joining me in celebrating this release. 

God bless!

Friday, March 3, 2017

A Question of Honor Blog Tour---RELEASE DAY!





GUYYYYYSSSSS! It's here!!! :D A Question of Honor is released into the world!!

(Find it on Amazon and Goodreads.)

Well, the paperback isn't released quite yet. Hopefully later this afternoon. xD

But guys . . . AHHHH!! I'm so excited! I've spent almost two years working on this book, and it is very close to my heart. I learned so much through writing it, in so many different ways. God used it in my life in ways none of my other writing has impacted me.

So sharing it with the world is a bit scary. Good, but . . . yeah. ;)

Okay, the bloggers lined up for today are . . .

Deborah C.-- Book Spotlight @ Reading in June
Soleil B.-- Book Spotlight @ Reviews by Soleil
Victoria Lynn -- Book Spotlight/Review @ Ruffles and Grace
Brianna Henderson -- Review/Author Interview @ Ramblings of a Pilgrim on the Way
Anika -- Review/Author Interview/Book Spotlight @ Anika's Avenue
Rebekah Ashleigh -- Review @ Rebekah Ashleigh

Be sure and check out their amazing posts! I'm so looking forward to reading them myself! Oh, and just a word of caution . . . if you haven't read the book, I know at least Brianna's author interview contains spoilers. She did clearly mark them, but I thought I'd let y'all know here, too. :) 


In my last post, I mentioned a deleted scene about Joyanna and Erich. A number of you replied in the comments saying that you would love to read it.
So, instead of doing three random facts today, I decided I'd post it instead. It's a bit long to copy and paste into the actual post, so click here to read it. ;)
As I read through it, I cringed. My writing has changed a bit since I wrote that scene. xD

I think that's all for today's post! *hands out chocolate and ice cream* It's time to CELEBRATE!

Oh, be sure to check out my book release buddy's blog, Her medieval fantasy novel, The Princess & I  releases today as well! *grabs Rebekah* *hugs her* *gives her tons of chocolate* You're an awesome friend and a wonderful book release buddy! <3 
So yes. Visit her blog here. xD

Now I'm gonna sit back and do nothing all day.

Well, not really, I have piano lessons, school with my siblings... all that stuff. :) But it's Friday. And it's release day. And this marks my 200th post on this blog. So I'm just excited for everything!

I hope you all have a wonderful day! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, March 2, 2017

A Question of Honor Blog Tour--day 2

Annnndddddd, we've arrived at day #2!


The lovely bloggers lined up for today are . . .

Kellyn Roth -- Review @ Reveries Reviews
Faith Potts -- Review @ Stories by Firefly
Kaitlyn K.-- Book spotlight/Author interview @ Twin Thoughts

Be sure and check out their amazing posts!! :D 

And three random facts for today about A Question of Honor . . . 

1.) The official soundtrack for this book is the Pear Harbor soundtrack. David and Gil's relationship was actually inspired by the brother/friend relationship between Rafe and Danny on Pearl Harbor. I would not recommend the movie, but if you've read the book and you'd like to watch some (clean) clips that inspired AQoH  . . . shoot me an email. ;)  This song was almost like the book's theme, and this version is litrally Gil and David when they were boys. (Well, minus the "Tennessee 1923. xD)



2.) In the first, second, and third draft, none of David's family was mentioned in the story. Well, other than Elaine and his sister Ann, who was briefly mentioned in the letters.  When I re-read it after sending it to beta-readers, I relaized David had to have some more background to his story. So his brother, another sister, and his parents all came into being. 

3.) In my very first NaNo draft, there was a scene where Joyanna was kidnapped and Erich had to go after her. It was taken out later when some readers pointed out that it really had no place, since it didn't add or play into the story in anyway. Thus, it was taken out, and remains the only actual deleted scene since the first draft. (Though many were heavily revised. xD) I've thought about posting the scene here for y'all to read, but so far I haven't been brave enough to do so. ;) 


Here again is the giveaway . . . 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 Release day is tomorrow, y'all!!! :D 



Wednesday, March 1, 2017

A Question of Honor Blog Tour --- Day 1

The tour has arrived!!! 



Guyyysssss! The blog tour for my very first NOVEL starts today!! :D  I'm so excited for the next four days! There are some fun things lined up, including a giveaway, reviews, author interviews, and more, so be sure and check out all the posts the next couple days!

Also, everyday I'll have three, rather random facts about A Question of Honor here on my blog.

So, let's get started! The wonderful bloggers posting today as a part of the blog tour are . . .

Angela Watt -- Review/Author Interview @ The Peculiar Messenger
Faith Potts -- Author Interview @ Stories by Firefly


Okay, three random facts for today about A Question of Honor.

1.) Originally, David was the pilot of B-24 bomber. The story started with a picture prompt I found on pinterest, and so I scribbled down a  short scene. This was quickly changed when I started plotting the book. Because B-24s in Europe didn't start being used till later in the war, and the B-24 wasn't a fighter, which I didn't know when I wrote that first bit. My knowledge of WWII was sorely lacking two years ago. xD

2.) None of the characters in the book have middle names. Which I didn't even realize until now . . . 

3.) Joyanna's father's original name was Warren. When my beta-readers read it, however, they pointed out that the name seemed to American, when it was supposed to be either German or French. ;) 

And . . . the giveaway . . . 


a Rafflecopter giveaway


And . . . that's all for today! Be sure and check out Faith and Angela's blogs, and I'll see y'all back here tomorrow!

Oh, also, for anyone interested in seeing where the stops on the tour will be later this week, here's a schedule for you to take a look at. :)

Wednesday: March 1st
Angela Watt -- Review/Author Interview @ The Peculiar Messenger
Faith Potts -- Author Interview @ Stories by Firefly

Thursday: March 2nd
Kellyn Roth -- Review @ Reveries Reviews
Faith Potts -- Review @ Stories by Firefly
Kaitlyn K.-- Book spotlight/Author interview @ Twin Thoughts


Friday: March 3rd
Deborah C.-- Book Spotlight @ Reading in June
Soleil B.-- Book Spotlight @ Reviews by Soleil
Victoria Lynn -- Book Spotlight/Review @ Ruffles and Grace
Brianna Henderson -- Review/Author Interview @ Ramblings of a Pilgrim on the Way
Anika -- Review/Author Interview/Book Spotlight @ Anika's Avenue
Rebekah Ashleigh -- Review @ Rebekah Ashleigh

Saturday: March 4th
Livi Jane -- Review @ Living for the Other Side
Victoria Lynn -- Author Interview @ Ruffles and Grace
Emily Putzke -- Author Interview @ Taking Dictation
Julia Ryan -- Review @ The Barefoot Gal
Rebekah Eddy -- Book Spotlight/Author interview @ Rebekah's Remarks