What I Did on Summer Vacation

It's been two months since my last post. However, I delayed for a purpose--to share news. Dawnlight, written under my Kacy Barnett-Gramckow name, is being released in paperback!

Meanwhile, Dawnlight's new book trailer is featured in Book Fun 
Magazine's August issue, along with one of my lengthier summer projects--an article offering a few secrets, a SALE, and an explanation of my writing journey, as well as my dual writing personality. (page 111)

Drop in for a look-see! 

I've been delighted by Dawnlight's reception among readers. Matthew 27:52-53 is one of the most intriguing yet obscure verses in the New Testament, and bringing that era to life was a prayerful challenge and a joy. Want a sneak peek at chapter 1? You'll find it here.

What's next on my schedule? Elk Lake publishers will soon release Exiles, a spinoff from the Books of the Infinite series, followed by Queen.

More details to follow  in my end-of-August post!

Fun Summer Reads!

Summer's approach makes me long for the beach, or at least the nearest hammock or a cushioned seat in the shade, with a tall glass of iced tea and a book. What have I been reading these past few weeks while the warmer temps tempt me to relax?

In no particular order, here are my four most recent reads!

For fantasy YA readers of all ages!

No one writes fun and (forgive me) cozy Inspirational fantasy adventures like Donita K. Paul. Repeat: No One!

Cantor D'Ahma has waited his whole life for this day. Born with a gift, the young Realm Walker is finally ready to leave his elderly mentor and accept his role as protector and defender of the realms.
But mere hours after he first steps through a portal, Cantor discovers that his job will be more dangerous and difficult than he ever imagined. The realms are not as safe as they once were, and members of the Realm Walkers Guild have become corrupt and can no longer be trusted. To make matters worse, his first assignment---finding a dragon to assist him on his quest---has led him to one who is clearly inept.
With the help of his new friends Bixby and Dukmee, Cantor must uncover the secrets of the corrupt Guild before they become too powerful to be stopped. But can his skills progress in time? And will Cantor remember where his true allegiance lies?

Medieval Fantasy fans, take note!

 C. E. Laureano enters the Fantasy publishing realm with the captivating Oath of the Brotherhood. If you love inspy medieval fantasy, grab this one before you head off on vacation!

In a kingdom where the Old Ways hold fast and a man’s worth lies entirely in his skill with the sword, Conor Mac Nir is a scholar, a musician, and a follower of the forbidden Balian faith: problematic for any man, but disastrous for the son of the king.

When Conor is sent as a hostage to a neighboring kingdom, he never expects to fall in love with the rival king’s sister, Aine. Nor does he suspect his gift with the harp (and Aine’s ability to heal) touches on the realm of magic. Then his clan begins a campaign to eliminate all Balians from the isle of Seare, putting his newfound home in peril and entangling him in a plot for control of the island that has been unfolding since long before his birth.

Biblical fiction worth waiting for!

 I love Biblical fiction, and Tessa Afshar's upcoming novelization of Ruth is as tender and delightful as this cover! (Yes, I received an advance copy from River North, so it's not available yet. Sorry. However, this one's worth waiting for.)

Recently widowed, Ruth is left with a broken heart, a barren womb, and an empty future. Yet she's determined not to let her "chosen mother," Naomi, starve---so accompanies her to Israel. When Ruth meets Boaz---a wealthy landowner---she expects no special treatment. But will Boaz lose his heart to this foreign woman with haunted eyes?

Wonderfully written suspense!

 Peggy Levesque's debut romantic suspense is my current read. An unpredictable and fantastically detailed thriller. Peggy, I hope you're writing another one!

DEA Agent Greg Jennings is dead—and now they’re saying he was dirty, on the take. His widow, Sara, hiding out in the Witness Protection program after an attempt on her life, refuses to believe it, though everyone else seems to have accepted it as truth. Everyone, that is, except Drug Enforcement Administration Agent James (Mac) MacIntyre, Greg’s best friend. When yet another attempt on Sara’s life drives her out of the Wit Sec program and back home to Phoenix, Mac makes it his personal mission to protect Sara and, in the process, to clear her late husband’s and his best friend’s name. With a ruthless drug cartel hot on their heels and a mole in the agency undermining their every move, Mac and Sara find themselves literally running for their lives—even as romance tugs at their hearts. Will they unearth the truth and outrun the danger in time to carve out a future for themselves? *E-book. Arrives in Paperback July 1, 2014!


What are you reading this summer???

Dawnlight Giveaway!

Giveaway!!! TEN e-copies of Dawnlight *Finished!*

Here are our winners!

Christa Scott, Kara Grant, Laura Pol, Eric, Elizabeth Machado, Janette Bangheri
Megan Wilson, Celita Perillo, Brittany Nader, Susan Johnson, Julie Dick, Julie Smith
LuAnn Koehl, Angie Brasher  


Starting Wednesday April 16th at 12:01 AM through Saturday April 19th at
midnight, Elk Lake Publishers will offer Dawnlight at .99 cents on Amazon, for Kindle readers!
To celebrate, I'm offering ten copies free--to be sent out to ten random picks on Friday evening,
April 17, 2014.

Celebrate your Holy-Day weekend by relaxing with this joyous Resurrection story inspired by Matthew 27:52-53!

To enter the random no-strings drawing, send me a note via the form on this webpage:
http://www.rjlarsonbooks.com/About-Us.html


I won't add your email to a list, nor will I sell it, I promise.

If your name is chosen on Friday evening at 6:00pm MT, I'll simply send Dawnlight your way, and Amazon will notify you! Please, in your entry email, let me know which Amazon email you'd prefer to use.

If you prefer to have your prize sent to another reader, please enclose their Amazon-friendly address in your email.

Winners will be listed on this blog next week!

 

"...And the tombs were opened and many bodies of the righteous who had fallen asleep were brought to life again, and after His resurrection, they went into Jerusalem and appeared to many."

 

2014 Resolved. Or, My Year is Booked

This past autumn, I experienced an Epiphany. In 2014, I would clear my authorly schedule of all obligations and write. Just me, my computer and time to plot and scheme my way through two new manuscripts, followed by a serious and prayerful consideration of future projects. (With my trusty crockpot simmering in the kitchen to placate my starving family.) Yes, it was a beautiful resolution for 2014.

2014 Inspiration. "What is it, Precious?"

Can't you just hear Divine laughter?

Blog art by Katharin Gramckow

Within one week, I'd signed a
publishing contract with multiple deadlines, allowed myself to be volunteered for a major promotional undertaking, and realized that I must prepare two additional manuscripts--spin-offs of the Books of the Infinite series.

I'm dizzied just considering my schedule (did I mention the full-time day job?), but I'm also elated and eager to test the brave new hybrid-author world.

Stay tuned, and if you're following me on Facebook, be prepared for LOTS of posts involving...caffeine!

Blessings, dear everyone, and have an amazing New Year's!

32 Author Scavenger Hunt #17

Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Tales of Goldstone Wood

Welcome to the 17th stop on the 32 Author Scavenger hunt. I hope you enjoy this interview with author Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Anne Elisabeth is the delightful author of the award-winning Tales of Goldstone Wood series. Be sure to check out her giveaway at the next stop, Dragonwitch!

Hunters, don't forget to write down the clue and continue to the next stop on the hunt. If you've missed a stop, or if you are ready to enter the full phrase (clue), head on over HERE. Otherwise, enjoy the interview!

First off, Anne Elisabeth, tell us a little about yourself.

Well, I am the author of the Tales of Goldstone Wood, a rescuer of kittens and lost dogs, a devoted fan of my handsome husband, Rohan, a wannabe-connoisseur of the opera, and a wearer of fuzzy socks.

Who/what is your inspiration for your writing?

Great books are my inspiration! I was an English Lit. student at University, and I don’t think I would be the writer I am today if I hadn’t spend years studying the great masters, learning their tricks, discovering their passions, absorbing their themes.

How long does it take you to write a book?

It depends on the book. Most of the time, somewhere between six and eight months. But I wrote Veiled Rose in two months! Which was madness, but I had a deadline.

Do you outline or do you write by the seat of your pants?

My stories are far too complex to succeed with seat-of-the-pants writing. I actually tried that with Dragonwitch, and utterly failed. I need a good solid outline of what is going to happen. I don’t always know how it will happen—that’s where the spontaneous creativity comes in. But I need to know what will happen to all the characters, how they serve the plot, how their goals and desires work together or at odds.

Do you have a favorite of the novels you have written?

My favorite is always the one I’ve just finished. So currently that means my recently finished manuscript for Book 7, which is under the working title of Golden Daughter.

How did you create the world of the Tales of Goldstone Wood?

I started out penning random ideas in a notebook . . . little fairy tale notions that came to me while reading great works by older authors. Dragonwitch was one such fairytale, starting out as a few little notes, later expanding into a more complex fairy tale, and then resulting in the novel I now present to you. As I set to writing each of the fairy tales, I would see them referencing and depending on each other. Thus a world was born. When I started writing novels, it was much the same: I’d write one novel, but it would be subtly tied to four or five other seemingly independent works, not to mention already-written fairy tales.

Do you have a theme in mind when you write each book?

I never do. I just have a story. But I spend a lot of time in prayer as I write each book, and I let God provide the theme as I go. I write as an act of worship, and in worship, each theme develops. But I can take no credit for any of them.

What made you decide to pursue publishing?

After completing the third draft of my first novel, Heartless, it seemed a shame to simply sit on the story! My mother is a professional novelist, and I am friends with a number of her novelist contacts. They all encouraged me and offered advice along the way.

What books have influenced you in your writing?

Oh, so many! C.S. Lewis’s Narnia stories, of course. George MacDonald’s fairy tales, the short ones such as The Light Princess or Photogen and Nycteris more than the longer novels, though I did draw from some themes in Phantastes when I wrote Starflower. A number of the Victorian and Romantic-era poets have been major influences, particularly Robert Browning, who is my favorite. And, of course, you can hardly dabble in the Faerie world without drawing from Shakespeare!

What is the hardest part for you in writing a book?

Always the beginning. I have the hardest time figuring out where and how things ought to start! Usually once I get the first 40,000 words properly in place, the rest of the novel will fall together beautifully. But if those first 40,000 words aren’t quite right, the novel won’t work, and major revisions will have to be made. With Dragonwitch, I had so much trouble finding the right beginning, I finally picked up in the middle and wrote to the end, then went back and added the opening chapters! But I don’t prefer working that way.

What is your advice for aspiring writers?

Good writers are good readers. So READ A LOT. Don’t just read books that are easy for you. Pick up the classics and study what it was that set them apart from other, forgotten books of their day. Figure out which genre is your favorite, the genre you want to write in, and read a ton in that genre.

Coffee or Tea?

Absolutely tea. Especially the black Ceylon tea to which my husband introduced me. The perfect brew for a writing session!

R. J. Larson here: Thanks, Anne Elisabeth! Hunters, check out Anne Elisabeth's amazing books and visit her Facebook Page--I'm a fan! Before you go though, write down this part of the clue:   Without you,  and you might want to enter an extra giveaway I'm hosting below. Now, head on over to Anne Elisabeth Stengl's website for stop # 18 HERE

 Giveaway! R.J. Larson's book, Prophet, is FREE ------->  
on all e-readers at CBD, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble!!! Click on any of these three retailer links and grab a copy! 

Also, enter the Rafflecopter form below to win the complete Books of the Infinite series by R. J. Larson!  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The 32 Author Online Hunt is coming!

Win an iPad Mini, plus 32 Speculative Fiction books and more--just in time for the holidays!
Stay tuned for details, and join the fun. 11.30.13-12.06.13
#32AuthorHunt

Clarifying Characters

This morning, while shuffling through files, I came across this charming yet out-of-focus test image taken at a photo-shoot earlier this summer. Here, Brianna Anderson poses as one of my protagonists, Araine of ToronSea, as she appeared in an earlier manuscript.

What made me pause and give this previously neglected image a second look?

Potential. Glimmers of promise for the Araine-images yet to follow—a mood that reflects my current writing stage. I’m in the rough draft arena again and loving it.

As Araine’s story progresses and all my ideas tumble into the computer in a semi-organized fashion, I’m still seeing many of my newer characters in this fascinating slightly out-of-focus fashion. 

What will these characters become as the plot intensifies, sharpening and clarifying their personalities?

Will my current gathering of fictional personalities, particularly the minor ones, help or hinder Araine and her friends as they embark on new adventures?

I’m eager to find out! Which means…I must clarify my new characters by writing until they come into focus, starting NOW. 

Blessings, everyone, and have a phenomenal day!

R. J.

Writing in Joy--and A Giveaway!!!

When I opened my email and found Natalie Bangheri's delightful artwork depicting Ela and Scythe from PROPHET, I was struck by the joy she'd added--Scythe's just-fed tranquility and that secretive quirk of humor in Ela's quiet little smile and bright eyes. 

Humor--to say nothing of outright joy--was the furthest emotion from my mind when I wrote the initial scenes of PROPHET. After all, my brave young heroine, Ela, had just accepted a death sentence. How could she possibly enjoy life while facing assassins, battles, tyrant kings, and hideous venomous monsters at every turn?

However, mortals in every realm intuitively stave off stress by seeking joy in some form. A hug from a cherished sibling before facing an army, spiritual encouragement from prayers, coltish devotion from an overgrown monster-horse, and even jesting with fellow prisoners when you've been unfairly sentenced and tossed behind bars. With every chapter, the more I wrote of Ela's perils and fears, the more joy surfaced in the manuscript and in my characters' thoughts and emotions. 

Mid-manuscript, I paused, stared at my computer screen, and thought, "Even Shakespeare's tragedies featured clowns. Why shouldn't I add some joy and let readers have fun along the way?" 

What do you think? Do dark scenes demand a touch of joy now and then--the merest hint of hope to encourage our heroes, heroines, and readers on their journey?

Adding to the Joy! Enter to win a copy of Prophet, or Judge, or King in paperback or MP3! Outside U.S.A., win an e-book copy!  To enter, click on the Rafflecopter form below, and follow my blog. You may also select other options for additional chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Worst Part about Picking Titles

As an author, I was fortunate—I believe—to keep the manuscript titles I presented to Bethany House Publishers for my current Books of the Infinite series. All three titles, Prophet, Judge, and King, passed muster and have appeared on the final printed copies. Hurrah! Alas, my current work hasn't been as easy to name. In fact, it’s been tough. I’m still trying to decide if my current title-pick is right. I’m suffering from Title Trauma, and that's as chilling as my fave Exit Glacier pictured above. Why? Like most authors, I’m fretful about naming my books. Much like naming a baby, naming a manuscript is (potentially) a lifetime commitment that summarizes your labor in a few short words. And choosing the perfect title, like choosing the perfect baby name, can be stressful. Titles are the book’s intro—a hook to lure publishers toward your work and, ultimately, a tool to pique reader interest. Authors who create a short, catchy title that’s unique and appropriate to the book’s content can usually rest assured that their work will carry and keep its unique name throughout the publication process. Some titles, however, are changed during the publishing process because they’re considered unmarketable. Too long, too similar to another title, or just plain wrong, as proclaimed at BookRiot. Which leads us to an author’s worst-case title scenario, once potentially faced by F. Scott Fitzgerald. What if the publisher had accepted The Great Gatsby under its original title—Trimalchio in West Egg!? Yep. One wrong word-choice, and I could join the Awful Original Titles list. Revised from a previously post at: A Book Lover's Library

Just for FUN

Enter to win a copy of either Prophet, or Judge, or King!
This contest will end on Friday, July 26th at 12:00am, and it starts...

Now!

Ready...Set... GO!!!

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Through Others' Eyes

As a writer, I often step back mentally to study my characters and to see them afresh, particularly when I'm writing scenes that bring out different and unexpected facets of their personalities. In my humble authorly opinion, these reevaluations deepens each character and brings the whole story to life.

Readers build upon this process by bringing their own imaginations to the stories (thank you!) and their unique views of the series' characters often reveal aspects I haven't recognized. Therefore, I'm always delighted and curious when readers send their own depictions of various characters from my stories. Here are a few fun and amazing works contributed by Rebeka Borshevsky, and Aaron Thorup.

Rebeka Borshevsky: Characters from PROPHET.

From PROPHET: Ela and Kien

Aaron Thorup: Scythe guarding Tzana

Thanks, Rebeka and Aaron!
Readers, do you enjoy "picturing" favorite fictional characters?

Imagining the Books of the Infinite world (Revised from Scavenger Hunt)

When I realized I’d been dragged into writing inspirational fantasy fiction, my first, most complicated task was to imagine an entire fantasy world to frame the Books of the Infinite series. I didn't want to slow down the action with tons of detail, but I did need to create a complete and complex world for my beloved characters. Where did I begin? With a continent. After studying maps of ancient countries, including Israel, Egypt, Rome, and Greece, I sketched out my imaginary continent—shown here in parchment and ink by Katharin Fiscaletti, who created all the drawings in this post.

 With the boundaries in place, I pondered the next step. What sorts of creatures inhabited this new, imaginary world? Legendary beasts, of course. Leviathans. Lindorms. Griffins. And a few creatures unique to this new continent, such as the ferocious, carnivorous Scaln, portrayed here in all its crimson glory. *Shivers.* Let me just say that Katharin frightened me with this particular sketch!

With my landscapes and beasts all sketched, I imagined my characters. People who might have lived during my imaginary world’s Biblical era. What did they eat? What did they drink? What sort of clothes did they wear? Were there variations in language and clothes between each country? I drew upon my knowledge of ancient lands, and my personal library of history books and decided upon the “look” for my characters, as well as their manners and customs. This world, I decided must be primarily Biblical in flavor, with hints of Earth’s own ancient cultures—leading to more research for details I loved and added to my story. To clothe my characters, I sought colorful examples from our own world. Who knew that the exotic saris of modern India were inspired by garments from ancient Greece?













For interest, and because my collection of medieval research books rival any public library’s shelves, the Bethany House team and I agreed to add a bit of medieval flare, which is evident on the cover of King in Akabe’s long tunic sleeves, and his formidable two handed sword, known here on Earth as a claymore. The final result…a unique Biblical-fantasy world that Bethany House Publishers and I hope you enjoy as you read King!

KING Vocabulary List

Now that King is on its way to the printing presses--well ahead of deadline--it's time to add to the Books of the Infinite vocabulary list. Here it is, the list for King, Books of the Infinite series, volume 3!

Have fun, everyone. :)

In order of name’s appearance:

Akabe Garric \Ah-cabe Gair-rick\ Former Siphran rebel. The Infinite’s chosen king of Siphra.

Barth of Siymont \Barth See-mont\ Royal page and son of Lord Ruis of Siymont.

Ela Roeh \El-ah Roe-eh\ Prophet of the vanquished city-state of Parne.

Ruis of Siymont \Roo-es See-mont\ A lord of Siphra. Father of Barth.

Belaal \Bell-A-el\ Kingdom south of Siphra.

Tamri Het \Tam-ree Het\ Former Siphran revolutionary, and one of Ela’s chaperones.

Cyan Thaenfall \Sigh-an Thane-fall\ Siphran lord and suspected Atean. Caitria’s father.

Kien Lantec \Kee-en Lan-tek\ Military judge-advocate for the Tracelands.

Aeyrievale \air-ee-veil, or, eer-ee-veil\ Former rebel Siphran province in the Snake Mountains.

Ishvah Nesac \Ish-vaw Ness-ak\ The Infinite’s chief priest of the vanquished city-state of Parne.

Dan Roeh \Dan Roe-eh\ Ela’s father.

Rade Lantec \Raid Lan-tek\ Kien’s father. The Tracelands preeminent statesman.

General Rol \Rawl\ The Traceland’s General of the Army.

Kalme Roeh \Call-may Roe-eh\ Ela’s mother.

Ara Lantec \Are-ah Lan-tek\ Rade Lantec’s wife. Kien’s mother.

Beka Thel \Bek-ah Thell\ Jon Thel’s wife. Kien’s sister.

Jon Thel \Jon Thell\ A Tracelands military commander. Beka’s husband.

ToronSea \Tor-on-Sea, or, Tor-on-Sea\ Southern coastal town in the Tracelands.

Riddig Tyne\Rid-ig Tine\ Akabe’s field surgeon.

Ruestock \Roo-stock\ Exiled former Siphran ambassador to the Tracelands.

Caitria Thaenfall \Kay-tree-ah Thane-fall\ Daughter of Cyan Thaenfall.

Bel-Tygeon \Bell-Ty-jee-on\ King of Belaal.

Rtial Vioc \Reh-tee-al Vee-oak\ A commander of Belaal.

Dasarai \Da-Sar-ay\ Princess of Belaal. Sovereign of Sulaanc’s Women’s Palace.

Siyrsun \Seer-sun\ Belaal’s General of the Army.

Tzana Roeh \Tsaw-nah Roe-eh\ Ela’s sister.

Books of the Infinite Cover Art Inspirations

Authors are often asked about cover designs.

Did you choose the model or landscape? 

Did you select the model's clothes? 

Did you design the background?

Did you pay for the cover? 

An author's answer often depends upon the publisher. Many publishers have a design team, and the final design--after much debate and some input from marketing--is presented to the author as a (hopefully) pleasant surprise. 

I was thrilled to sign on with Bethany House, which is noted for its beautiful cover designs, and I've been delighted with their visions for the Books of the Infinite series. For each cover, I was asked to hunt up images for the design team to use as references for their work.

While pondering visuals for King, I was suffering from my usual desperate longing for the ocean. Truly, that was my only wish: Water! Give me an ocean!
Bless the Bethany House design team, they responded in grand style and threw in a longsword as a bonus. Huzzah!!!!

Now, if only I could wade into that water for a moment and breathe some salt air.... *Sigh.*

Months earlier, as the design team debated over the look for Prophet, I was asked, "What about Ela's clothes?"

By the time we were done exchanging emails and discussing images for Ela's "other-world Biblical" attire, I felt as if I'd been on a lavish shopping spree without spending a dime, and I loved the results. See my baby? Isn't she pretty?   

The cover for Judge on the other hand, was less about Kien's attire and more about his weapons and the background. Kien's beloved sword, of course, was a must, as was his dark traveling cloak. The arm guards were a bonus, chosen by the design team--and I was instantly smitten with the look. (Yes, I still want those arm guards!)

As for the mountains in the background...well...those started in Colorado. 

I was hiking around with my husband, DearJerry, in Colorado's foothills at the base of the Rocky Mountains. While we were enjoying the scenery, this caught my attention->  

I wanted to build a log cabin and live here. With a trustworthy and plentiful water supply, of course.

Unfortunately--or fortunately--we already have a house with a mortgage, so the log cabin idea had to remain in dreamland.

However, I sent the foothills image to my editors. "Perhaps something like this would work for the Judge background."

This was their reply:

Dear Reader, I've a feeling we're not in Colorado anymore!

But that's okay. I'm willing to follow Kien into the Snake Mountains. 

Just give me an Azurnite sword. 

And those arm guards!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This year, nothing witty.

Something homemade—imperfectly pretty.

A gift from my hands, and Katharin’s Art.

We offer you…this simple heart.

Have a blessed Valentine’s day!

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop and a Giveaway!

Welcome back, everyone!
It's late January, time for the Christmas decorations to come down, and time for a new blog post!

This month, the amazing Robin Lee Hatcher volunteered me for a blog hop. My mission is to answer ten questions about my latest WIP (work-in-progress) which is The Next Big Thing, and then I will tag three new fantasy authors with links to their blogs!

To add to the fun, I will give three different readers their choice of one book: Prophet, Judge, or (when it's published) King. The winners will be chosen by RaffleCopter on January 30th, and announced on the 31st.

Ready? Here goes:

Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:

What is the working title of your book? 

King. This was the working title and it’s now set in stone. Or, rather, in the book’s just-released cover image. 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

King portrays difficult situations faced by several Old Testament kings and prophets. King isn’t so much a retelling of the scriptures as a variation of OT spiritual themes, and adventures.

What genre does your book fall under?

Fantasy fiction, teens and up!

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I have a terrible time trying to match actors with my characters—each one is unique. However, Ioan Gruffud, as he looked in Arthur,  might portray Akabe, the Siphran King:
And Anne Hathaway as Caitria, his vulnerable, embattled queen:

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

King Akabe of Siphra’s lifelong dream—to rebuild the Infinite’s temple in Siphra—is threatened by powerful enemies who have vowed to kill Akabe and his mysterious new queen.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

King is scheduled for publication by Bethany House on July 1, 2013. I’ve heard other authors compare publication timeframes to pregnancies, and it’s so true. But like a baby, books are worth the wait.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Usually, I can write a first draft in six months on my two days off per week, if I resist Facebook and Pinterest, and seriously focus on the task. Chocolate helps!

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Though I haven’t yet read this one, Kingdom’s Dawn, by Chuck Black, seems to reflect King’s sense of other-world adventure.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

As strange as it sounds, the entire Books of the Infinite series, including King was inspired by a dream fragment. In 2010, I woke up one morning, still seeing a brief, stark dream of a young woman in a dim chamber. She was struggling to make a life-changing choice, and there was a glowing branch in that same dream, so I knew that if I wrote the story behind the dream it must be a fantasy. It was odd. Usually my dreams are bright and colorful. However, this dark fragment became Prophet, which was published two years later.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

King’s plotline, like Prophet and Judge, is written to appeal to men and women, young and old. Parents are reading these books with their teens!


***
Now, readers, it's time for some fun!
Hope over to the following pages to visit these three fantasy authors, who will be posting their Next Big Thing answers within the next seven days:
Patrick W. Carr
Carla Laureano
and 
Pauline Creeden

And enter to win a copy of Prophet, or Judge, or (soon) King, in the Rafflecopter entry form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"His Love Endures Forever"

 Holiday Blessings

My card to you, dear Reader, is a nostalgic offering from Katharin Fiscaletti, reminding us of a childhood pastime we've most likely shared. Simple folds of white paper, snipped with snub-tipped scissors to form snowflakes in honor of the coming winter.

But look again at this design. Do you see them?
Hearts. Cast over an endless universe of deep violets and blues, sprinkled with distant suns. Symbols of love, particularly framing the Messiah's star.

Why?

One reason. One thought to hold in our hearts as we look up at the stars this week.

His love endures forever.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."

Blessings, dear everyone!

Adversity

 

Today, with help from Kien, Scythe/Pet, and Ela, (in an imagined scene from PROPHET, courtesy of awesome artist, Katharin Fiscaletti) we are contemplating adversity.

We’ve already discussed villains and antiheroes—those characters who drive the plot and add tension by keeping our heroes and readers in suspense.  But what about pure, simple adversity--the trials and travails that force us out of our comfort zones?

What is adversity’s role in our stories and our lives?

From a literary perspective, adversity provides the means to explore our protagonist’s views of life, and tests his or her reactions to life’s slingstones of misfortune.

Adversity, be it spiritual testing, physical ordeals that wear upon us over time, or personal battles with emotions, force us to become stronger, better people (or creatures, as in Pet’s case) and hopefully compel us to become fascinating characters who delight others.

What do we cherish as we journey through life? What makes us whole spiritually? What gives us strength?

True adversity, dear readers, compels us to choose our values. Knowing this, what will Kien decide?

Is love worth destroyer-style pain?

Unexpected Christmas Hero

The moment I saw the cover for this book, Unexpected Christmas Hero, I fell in love with its charming, wistful "greeting card" mood. But there's a real-life mystery behind this Unexpected Christmas Hero cover--offering us a chance to reunite a family for the holidays. Read on!
Unexpected Christmas Hero is an inspiring and compelling story of friendship and survival. Forced by unexpected circumstances to live on the streets and in homeless shelters, Josie Meyers and her two small children share in the lives and struggles of other homeless people. Eventually, Josie meets Rick, a homeless, disabled vet who becomes their hero and friend. While living in the shelters she continually hears the gospel, reigniting memories of the words she heard and believed as a child. Will these events lead her and her children home to the ultimate shelter?

Read "the story behind the story" and help reunite a family: http://kathimacias.com/help-reunite-a-family/

SCAVENGER HUNT STOP # 15!

R. J. Larson

Home of Biblical Fantasy author R. J. Larson's Blog.

First *R.J. steps aside* The official guidelines!

Follow the clues to win the grand prize: a Kindle Fire and 31 free books, each autographed by the authors!

WELCOME, to the Fall Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt~~we hope you're enjoying the stories as you search!

·         This hunt begins 10/25 at noon MDT

·         The fun finish falls on 10/28 at midnight MDT—plenty of time; no need to rush!

·         Enjoy 31 stops, each with a different author and fresh, new-to-you content!

·         Discover authors with new or soon-to-be-released novels

·         Collect the clues in red on each post, beginning from Stop #1 and at Stop#32, fill out the Rafflecopter form. Be ready to provide the completed clue quote, gathered from all 31 stops, within 24 hours of email notification or another winner will be randomly drawn. No need to email/submit it, unless you are notified on 10/29/12.

• Grand Prize: A new Kindle Fire, plus 31 new novels! 

UPDATE!!! The winners have been chosen!
The GRAND PRIZE winner is: Jennifer Friedley
The second and third prize $50 gift certificates went to: Laura McEwen and Gretchen Michels Garrison!!!

Congratulations, to the winners!!!

·         2^nd & 3^rd Prizes: $50 Amazon, B&N, CBD or BookDepository.com gift certificate

·         (Contest is open to international entrants. If the winner lives outside the United States, they shall win the equivalent in gift certificate funds to the prize in US dollars.)

[R. J. returns!]

Welcome, Hunters! I'm pleased to introduce our delightful guest at this stop, one of my fellow Shakespeare-fan friends, Leslie Gould!

 Leslie Gould is the Christy award-winning and bestselling author of fifteen novels. Her latest, Courting Cate, is inspired by Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” Leslie enjoys traveling, watching soccer games, and binge reading. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and four children. Visit her at
Her Website    
FaceBook! 
 and
Twitter!

Courting Cate:

In Paradise, Pennsylvania, Cate Miller is known more for her sharp tongue and fiery temper than her striking appearance. Her sweet and flirty sister, Betsy, on the other hand, seems to have attracted most of the bachelors in Lancaster County!

But the sisters' wealthy father has made one hard-and-fast rule: older Cate must marry first, before younger Betsy can even start courting. Unfortunately, untamable Cate has driven away every suitor--until Pete Treger comes to town, that is.

Prodded by the men of the area, Pete turns his attention to winning Cate's hand. But is his interest true or is there a scheme at play?

Now, dear Hunter, here is an exclusive sneak-peek at Leslie's recent journey to Lancaster county, the setting for Courting Cate, narrated by Leslie!

 

Snapshots of Lancaster County

Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” influenced the plot of Courting Cate, while the pastoral beauty of Lancaster County inspired the setting.

Courting Cate is set in the picturesque landscape around Paradise, Pennsylvania. I drew on this photo of green rolling hills and Amish barns as I described the “farmette” where Cate lives and the surrounding countryside.

Don’t be fooled by the beauty of the laundry on the line. It took a lot of hard work to get it there. I’d much rather write about the work of an Amish woman than actually do it. Cate, in my story, avoids doing laundry at all costs, leaving it to her sister, Betsy.

I love this photograph for a couple of reasons. First, someone who lives in an Amish home is selling a motorbike. Is he (I’m assuming it’s a young man) finished with his Rumschpringe (running around time)? Or upgrading to a bigger bike? Cate, in my story, is a bit prickly (okay, a lot prickly), but she’s not wild. The whole Rumschpringe never appealed to her, and she joined the church while still in her teens. Still, she has some growing up to do.

My husband, daughter, and I just happened to drive by this church wagon while tooling around Lancaster County. “Stop!” I shouted. (My poor hubby.) I have lots of church wagons in my stories, but this is the only one I’ve seen in real life. A wagon like this one would be filled with tables, benches, and other items and transported to the family hosting church services that Sunday in their home.

Cate is a bit of a speed demon when it comes to driving her buggy. In a pivotal scene in the story she and Pete, the man she loves to hate, go for a drive and race over a covered bridge. Even though covered bridges have a romantic quality, this particular scene doesn’t. The romance comes later.

Speaking of romance, this image inspired me to incorporate a sunset into Courting Cate as the backdrop for these lines:

And where two raging fires meet together,

They do consume the thing that feeds their fury.

“The Taming of the Shrew,” II.1.125-126, William Shakespeare

R. J. here: Leslie, thank you!  I'm a fantasy/history/Biblical "swords and cloaks" author and reader, but Courting Cate is now on my reading list~~I cannot resist Shakespeare, and Cate's feisty, "I dare you" image on the cover!

Hunters, if you are equally tempted by Courting Cate, here are a few handy "Buy Now" links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD! Or purchase a copy at your favorite bookstore! 

THE SCAVENGER HUNT BASICS: 

Before you go, write down this STOP #15 clue: And

WAIT! Speaking of and: Enter to win a signed copy of PROPHET, plus the audio cd of Volume #1 in the acclaimed Books of the Infinite series! *Easy*
Just click on the Rafflecopter form below to "like"
R. J. Larson's Facebook page! 

<a Rafflecopter giveaway>

Now, blessings and onward to stop #16, Leslie Gould's own site!