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The Reactionary: Gratitude Moments
Coming to the end of a trilogy is a little like crossing the finish line of a half marathon. The only reason I felt amazing at that time is that I’d prepared and trained with friends. Others cheered me on, even though they may have secretly thought I was crazy. This Tuesday, The Reactionary publishes, and I want to start the week with gratitude by saying thank-you to everyone who made crossing this finish line not only possible, but truly unforgettable. My family has been my constant support, and some new faces have joined those ranks throughout this journey, including my sister-in-law Brooke. I also want to say a special…
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Come Explore Orvieto with Me
The Reactionary, the final book in The Rogues trilogy, releases in 4 days! As I anticipate launch day and entrusting the last part of Portia’s story to you, I want to share some more snippets from my own journey to the Italian settings she encounters. Portia’s mission to secure communications with a possible international ally takes her to Orvieto, a cliff-top Italian city with more charm and beauty than one visit can capture. My friend Maria and I decided we could live in our Air B&B indefinitely and never soak in everything this city has to offer. However, because I didn’t want my novel to be the length of War…
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Book Trailer for The Reactionary
Cue dramatic music! The book trailer for the finale to The Rogues dystopian trilogy is here. The driving beat reminds me of the purpose behind this book and the motivations that propel the characters themselves. That driving force is hope. Hope for justice Hope for personal liberty Hope for family restoration Hope for love Hope for national reunification Hope for meaning and identity outside of circumstances Hope for truth that transcends the individual Hope for eternal assurance and salvation Dystopians aren’t known for hope, but this one is. Enjoy the official trailer for The Reactionary, available on Amazon.
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The Beautiful Doors of Civita di Bagnoregio
A few weeks back, I had a little heart-to-heart with you about closed doors and open doors in my life. As we count down to book release day for The Reactionary, it seems only fitting to have a little fun with doors today! When I traveled to Italy to do book research, one of my favorite places to visit was Civita di Bagnoregio. Aside from the pizza there, which was amazing, I also fell in love with all the architecture, namely, doors. In fact, my friend Maria snapped my back cover author picture in front of a vine-framed door I wouldn’t stop raving about. (For more of her Italian stories…
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Thanking God for Closed Doors
When my older brother’s children would stay at my parent’s home, my mom and dad would often close some doors so that my nieces and nephews wouldn’t get into things they shouldn’t. Naturally, their little hands would reach for those doorknobs. There’s something about closed doors that we inherently dislike. The mystery of what’s on the other side tempts us to pry open doors we have no business entering. As a writer, I know my professional life will have its share of rejection letters, but recently, I’ve received nothing but them. Thank you, but our publishing house is changing directions. Thank you, but we’re no longer representing fiction. Thank you,…
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Cover Reveal & Black Friday Book Deals
Here’s some bookish news I’m so thankful for and excited to share with you! Together with my publisher Write Integrity Press, I’m proud to present the official cover for The Reactionary, the final book in The Rogues trilogy, scheduled to release February 19, 2019. Click here to learn more about this thrilling conclusion to Portia’s story. Rock star graphic artist Kelli Sorg has faithfully worked with me on all three covers for this series, and I’m so happy with the how they turned out! The minimalism, symbolism, and striking colors were exactly what I had in mind. I hope you love them as much (or nearly as much) as I…
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Italy in 10 Snapshots
Hello, friends! Thanks for joining me on my Italian adventure. Over the next several months, I’ll unpack more of this trip and its correlation to my upcoming novel, but for now, I’m limiting myself to 10 top moments, one for each day I was in Italy. Day 1: The Streets of Orvieto After an eventful rental car experience in Rome and finally finding our Air B&B in Orvieto, my colleague and I enjoyed a few moments roaming the cobbled streets before settling into our adorable apartment. After all, this was a working trip as well as an adventure. Day 2: The Duomo in Orvieto This breathtaking cathedral is a centerpiece…
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Come Adventure with Me! Italy in Real Life and Fiction
Starting next week, I’m traveling to Italy with my friend and colleague. Among other mouth-watering destinations, we’ll be exploring some of the settings for the final book in The Rogues trilogy, which include Orvieto and the Port of Civitavecchia. I can’t wait to share these places in real life with you and then take you into my heroine’s fictional story where she experiences them in her dystopian world. Can you believe we’ve been on this trilogy adventure together since 2016 when I first signed my contract with Write Integrity Press? The cover reveal for The Reactionary will be coming soon, but for now, you can preview Portia’s climactic adventure. Maybe you…
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Renegades Review: Inside a Superhero’s Skin
Is it possible that some villains are unlikely heroes, and that perhaps some heroes are a little villainous? Marissa Meyer’s Renegades, the first in a young adult science fiction trilogy, trails two teen prodigies, both with superhuman abilities, but from different sides of the fence. Nova, alias Nightmare, had expected the Renegades to save her when a villain gang murdered her family. But those lifesaving superheroes didn’t come. Instead, her Uncle Ace Anarchy, lead villain of the Anarchists, rescued her and made her his protege. But when the Renegades defeated the Anarchists in an epic battle, they killed her uncle. Two strikes give Nova reason to want revenge. Infiltrating the Renegades…
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Fighting Fear through Fantasy
At the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, I met author Emily Golus, whose young adult fantasy, Escape to Vindor, won the Selah Award for its category. I was instantly drawn to her sincere, winsome personality and looked forward to reading her novel. Last week, I read it. Yes, the story is incredible, but beyond that, I was moved by how much it personally challenged me. Summary Megan Bradshaw can defeat a sphynx when she’s imagining her alter-ego Selena in the fantasy world of Vindor, but in real life, she bombs oral speeches and dreads the idea of moving to a new school. If only she could be Selena all…
