Thursday, November 30, 2017

Thanksgiving, Christmas Fun, and Violin ~ My November Highlights

November has ended. It was another good month.



~On November 4th, I started watching Christmas movies! I used to always want to wait for all things Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but I decided that once November came I was going to start! :)

~I went to my brothers last football game of the season. It was the all-star game and only one of my brothers played, but the team he was on won!

~Thanksgiving came. My family and I went over to my grandparents house and we had a nice time. The weather was great so we were able to spend a little time outside playing games.

~The book club this month went really well. I put together a scavenger hunt and all the girls had a lot of fun with it!

~I decorated my room for Christmas. I put up my mini tree and hung up lights.

~My younger brothers and I went over to my grandparents house and helped them decorate for Christmas.

~I had a violin recital.

~My brothers and I went to a game day at a friends house and we played human foosball. It was more fun than I thought it would be, but it did end up making me pretty sore for the next few days. ;)

~Some of my family and I got together with a group of friends and had fun visiting and playing games.

~I've been getting ready for a Christmas concert that I am in. I'm in the orchestra and the performances are this weekend!

I read some of my first Christmas books of the season along with some other fun books.
Trouble Brewing by Susan Page Davis
Mandie and the Secret Tunnel by Lois Gladys Leppard
Andi to the Rescue by Susan K. Marlow
The Tea Will Tell by Elizabeth Ludwig 
Mandie and Joe's Christmas Surprise by Lois Gladys Leppard
The Christmas She Wanted by Rebekah A. Morris
Christmas Smiles by Rebekah A. Morris


Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?
Have you started getting ready for Christmas yet?


Friday, November 17, 2017

Author Interview // Faith Potts

I've been wanting to do an author interview with Faith ever since she published her first book in June of this year. I finally got around to coming up with the questions and asking her and she said yes. I hope you enjoy the interview!

Faith Potts is a teenage writer, living with her family and beloved yellow labs in the southeastern US. When she's not writing stories, consuming large amounts of coffee, reading books, or creating pottery, she can be found laughing harder than is healthy, daydreaming, and – of course – blowing dandelions. Faith blogs over at Stories by Firefly and Chosen Vessels.






1. When did you first become interested in writing?
I first became interested in writing in the late summer/fall of 2014. So yeah, over three years! :D

2. How did you become interested in writing?
Through a short-story contest, centered around my favorite book series. Mrs. Susan Marlow from the Circle C Adventure blog was hosting her second short-story contest and I, a new fan of the books, decided to give it a shot. I wrote two stories for the contest – which led to several other finished and unfinished fanfiction stories. By the winter/spring of 2015, I was coming up with my own characters and plots to write.

3. Is there any specific authors/books that have inspired you?
Well, Mrs. Marlow, obviously! ;) Others would include Sarah Sundin for her amazing WWII fiction and Joanne Bischof for her beautiful writing style.

4. What is the hardest part of writing for you? (character development, story line, etc.)
For me, I think it depends on the story. In historical settings, for example, I want to be sure I get everything right so that it's true to the time period. I'm not sure that would be considered a part of writing, but it does play a factor. Other than that, I think my character development could use some work.

5. What’s the easiest part?
Coming up with the story idea. Hashing out the characters relations (families, siblings, etc.). Planning the (usually) happy ending. If I'm really 'into the story', then the writing part is pretty easy too. :)

6. Do you have a favorite time period that you like your stories to be set in?
Ooo, that's tough! This time last year I would have easily said WWII/the 1940s. But I've written two books in contemporary settings since then, so...maybe it's a tie between those too. ;)

7. Are you currently working on a book? If so, when do you hope it will be done?
I'm going to give a kind of 'yes and no' answer here because, when I think of working on a book, the actual writing is what comes to mind. In that regard, no, I'm not currently working on anything. But if we're talking about anything pertaining to the bettering of a book, then yes! I'm currently editing my WWII historical fiction novel. I'm hoping to release it next summer/fall if all goes according to plan. :)

8. What was your favorite scene to write in Dandelion Dust?
I like this question. *wink* But I'm honestly not capable of picking one scene. The part where Drew and Charity pray in the hospital room (end of chapter 6) is right there at the top though. It almost sounds silly given how many times I've read it, but it gives me feels. <3 The haircut scene is another favorite. I really enjoyed bringing out the characters' joking and snarky sides during that. ;)


You should definitely check out Faith's books, Dandelion Dust. It is very good and definitely a book I'd recommend!
You can go here to purchase it.

About the Book:
Like a speck of dandelion dust riding the tides of a prairie wind, life is fleeting. Though I never realized just how fragile it was until that day . . .

Charity always had a dream. It was simple, really. Find a guy, fall in love, and get married.
The day she met Ryder, Charity knew he was the man God had chosen for her. But she never expected their relationship to be tested and tried through the fires of a freak accident. Suddenly, her world is thrown into chaos, and the bleak, white walls and sterile smells of a city hospital fill every spare minute. And then there comes the dreaded news. It was likely Ryder would never make it out of the hospital bed.
As her carefully laid plans for the future come crashing down around her and the sun seems to set on her dreams, can Charity still find hope in the dark of night?

Like a dandelion, life is beautiful. But treasure every moment. . . for one day, the flower will be gone.


Thanks so much for doing this, Faith! :)


Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Christmas Comes Early Blog Tour


Are you excited for Christmas? I sure am!! One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is to read Christmas stories! Rebekah A. Morris just came out with 8 new Christmas books! I'm really excited to read all of them. Today I'll be spotlighting two of her new books.


The Christmas She Wanted
Christmas had lost its charm and wonder. Mrs. Rush hated the feeling but was powerless to fix things. Traveling to visit relatives for the holidays, the Rush children pass the time with their eyes glued to the screens of their devices. That is, until the flashing lights of a State Highway Patrol car bring their trip to a sudden and unplanned-for stop.










Christmas Smiles
This was Lana’s second Christmas without her parents, who had died in an accident, and she was sure it would bring nothing but tears, because she and her aunt couldn’t seem to get along. When a frightening experience occurs, Lana, her cousin, and her aunt and uncle find unexpected cause for smiles.













About the Author:
Rebekah A. Morris is a homeschool graduate, an enthusiastic freelance author and a passionate writing teacher. Her books include, among others, Home Fires of the Great War, The Unexpected Request, Gift from the Storm, and her bestselling Triple Creek Ranch series. Some of her favorite pastimes, when she isn't’ writing, include reading and coming up with dramatic and original things to do. The Show-Me state is where she calls home.







Blog Tour Schedule:
November 13
Bookish Orchestrations – Introductory Post
Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the author
Kaylee's Kind of Writes – Book Spotlight
Resting Life – Review and Excerpt
Perry Elisabeth – Excerpt
Rachel Rossano's Words – Book Spotlight and Excerpt

November 14
Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the author
Odelia's Blog – Author Interview and Book spotlight
Bryce’s Creative Writing Corner – Author Interview, Review, and Excerpt
Counting Your Blessings One by One – Review and Excerpt
Perpetual Indie Perspective – Book Spotlight

November 15
Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the author
Whimsical Writings for His Glory – Author, Review, and Excerpt
Maidens for Modesty – Author Interview and Review
The Destiny of One – Book Spotlight
Rebekah Ashleigh – Book Spotlight
Once Upon an Ordinary – Review
Stephany's BLOG Snippets – Book Spotlight and Excerpt

November 16
Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the author
Laurel's Leaves – Author Interview
Stories by Firefly – Review
Claire Banschbach – Author Interview
Kelsey's Notebook – Review and Excerpt
Jaye L. Knight – Book Spotlight and Excerpt

November 17
Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the author
Ruffles and Grace – Book Spotlight
With a Joyful Noise – Book Spotlight
Ordinary Girl Extraordinary Father – Review
Bookish Orchestrations – Closing Post



Friday, November 10, 2017

The Vintage Jane Austin Blog Tour and Author Interview



Hi everyone! Today I am participating in the Vintage Jane Austin Blog Event. There are several books that are Jane Austin re-tellings. The books are written by various authors and today I am doing an author interview with Sarah Holman, the author of Emmeline.


1. When did you first become interested in writing?
When I was eleven, I was fascinated with the Middle Ages, and I was frustrated by the lack of books I wanted to read. Couple that with an active imagination and a mom who encouraged me to write down a story idea, I got hooked on writing early. I wrote my own version of Robin Hood (which many years later was re-written as Brothers and Betrayal).

 2. Is there a specific authors/books that have inspired you?
As I read a lot growing up, authors were naturally inspiring for me. Grace Livingston Hill was an early inspiration. She wrote over one-hundred books, and they were among some of my early favorites. Her books were mainly about girls overcoming significant challenges and drawing closer to God. There was usually a romance, but it was sweet often not even the main point of the story.
Christy by Catherine Marshall made a huge impact on me in my early teens. It is a gritty book at times, but a beautiful story of a young girl whose faith is challenged when she comes up against things that don’t have an easy answer.
In recent years, books by Elizabeth George (a Christian non-fiction writer) and Sarah Sundin (World War II novelist) have impacted me a lot.

 3. What was the first book that you published, and how long did it take you to write it?
The Destiny of One was my first published book. I started in in 2007 and published it in 2011. However, it only took me about four months to write it.

4. Do you have a favorite time period that you like your stories to be set in?
The Middle Ages are still my favorite time. Knights, princesses, and the like still capture my imagination like nothing else, which is probably why the Tales of Taelis series among my favorite projects.

5. What was your favorite book to write?
That is a really tough question. I guess, if forced to pick, I had the most fun writing Brothers and Betrayal. I had so much fun with the characters, creating fun settings, and revisiting some of my oldest ideas.



Visit these blogs during this week to find interviews, book reviews, and much more!

November 5
        Review of Emmeline - Once Upon the Ordinary
  Review of Bellevere House - Kaylee's Kind Of Writes
Series Spotlight - A Real Writer’s Life
Interview with Kelsey Bryant - Resting Life 
Series Spotlight - Kelsey’s Notebook

November 6
  Interview with Sarah Holman - J. Grace Pennington
Review of Emmeline - Kaylee's Kind Of Writes
Mini-Reviews and interview with Sarah Scheele - Deborah O’Carroll
Interview with Rebekah Jones - Livy Lynn Blog
Review Suit and Suitability - Resting Life 

November 7
  Interview with Kelsey Bryant - J. Grace Pennington
  Review of Perception - Kaylee's Kind Of Writes
Review and Interview of Perception - Purely by Faith Reviews
Review of Second Impressions - The Page Dreamer
 Series Spotlight - Finding the True Fairytale

November 8
Interview and Review Suit and Suitability - Once Upon the Ordinary
  Review of Suit and Suitability - Kaylee's Kind Of Writes
Review of Perception - A Brighter Destiny

November 9
  Series Spotlight - God’s Peculiar Treasure
        Review of Second Impressions and Suit and Suitability - Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Father
Interview with Rebekah Jones - Kaylee's Kind Of Writes
Series Spotlight – Christian Bookshelf Reviews

November 10
  Review of Suit and Suitability - With a Joyful Noise
  Series Spotlight - Liv K. Fisher
Review of Second Impressions- Kaylee's Kind Of Writes
Review of Perception - She Hearts Fiction
Interview with Sarah Holman – Rebekah Ashleigh

November 11
  Series Spotlight - Reveries Reviews
  Review of Suit and Suitability - Faith Blum
Interview with Sarah Holman - Kaylee's Kind Of Writes
Interview with Hannah Scheele - Peculiar on Purpose
Review of Bellevere House - Seasons of Humility


Go here to enter a fun giveaway!


Saturday, November 4, 2017

Fun Books, Fun Movies, and Fun Times -- My October Highlights

October is officially over.

This is a picture of low lying fog in our valley

~My book club is still going well. This past month we discussed Millie's Unsettled Season. All the girls really liked the book so I was super excited.

~My mom, grandma, and I went to a quilting class.

~I went to the movie theatre with my mom and brothers and we saw Let There Be Light. You can read my review here.

~Chesapeake Shores season 2 ended and it was another great season.

~I celebrated my 2nd year of blogging!

~Football ended for my brothers. Well, actually there is one more all-star game in a couple days. They played well and I enjoyed going to their games.

~The last couple years my brother and I have played our violins in a Christmas concert that our town has. The beginning of October is when the practices started and it's been going well so far.

~Our church had a family festival on the 31st. Some of my family went to that. It was fun, but cold.


I read some really fun books this month. I read:
Too Long a Stranger by Janette Oke
The Proving by Beverly Lewis
Red Like Crimson by Janice Thompson
This Quiet Sky by Joanne Bischof
SummerHill Secrets volume 2 by Beverly Lewis
Andi Lassos Trouble by Susan K. Marlow


Did you have a nice October?
Can you believe that Thanksgiving is in a couple more weeks and Christmas is only about 51 days away?!