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The Revisionary Receives Grace Award
This month, The Revisionary received the 2017 Grace Award for Speculative Fiction in faith-based fiction. The reader-driven Grace Awards first let readers select the finalists in each category before a panel of judges reviewed them to choose the winners. Here’s what the judges had to say: THE REVISIONARY by Kristen Hogrefe (Write Integrity Press) ~ This dystopian novel was engaging and well-paced, reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984, with a more modern vibe similar to The Hunger Games. The author uses deep point of view in a first person present style, in keeping with current tastes in fiction. The story never stagnates but keeps moving and surprising all the way through. The plot follows young…
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The Revisionary Wins Selah Award
My heart nearly beat out of my chest as Eva Marie Everson, the Blue Ridge Conference Awards Director, called my name. Not just for finaling in two awards (an honor in itself) but for winning them both. Last week, The Revisionary won one of Christian Fiction’s most notable awards, the Selah, in its category of Speculative Fiction. It also received the Directors’ Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction. One of the best parts was celebrating with friends who also received awards. I remember meeting Lindsey Brackett at the Florida Christian Writer’s Conference a few years ago when we were just talking about our book projects, and now, she won three…
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The Revolutionary: Coming March 2018
If you’ve started a reading list for 2018, I hope you’ll add The Revolutionary! Mark your calendars: The sequel to The Revisionary is scheduled to release March 20 through Write Integrity Press, and today, I’m excited to share the cover with you. Special thanks to my graphic artist Kelli Sorg (Make it Snappy) for another job well done! Portia’s story continues much differently than she had imagined. There’s no hero’s rescue for her or easy solutions to save the Brotherhood’s threadbare rebellion. The Revolutionary demands an honest look at: The source of one’s true identity The struggle of guilt The crippling effects of fear The power of second chances Summary REVOLUTIONS RUN…
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Holiday Book Specials
Happy December! With Christmas a few short weeks away, I want to share some holiday book specials with you. This month, all of my Kindle books are on sale, but you’ll want to mark your calendars for the dates. Wings of the Dawn Trilogy My first three young adult suspense books are $.99 on these dates: Friday, Dec. 1 – Captive Beneath the Bahamian Sky (book one) Friday, Dec. 8 – Secrets Beyond Lake Winona’s Shore (book two) Friday, Dec. 15 – Awakening Sun (book three) The Revisionary My latest release, the first book in The Rogues trilogy, is available for $.99 (Kindle version) on the first day of winter, Dec. 21. For…
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AOA Teacher Authors Message of Hope
The following article was featured in my school’s company newsletter, and the editor who conducted the interview graciously gave me permission to share it here with you. I’m so blessed to work at a place that supports my writing! *** The genre of dystopian young adult fiction has become highly popularized in recent years with blockbuster novels like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Giver; however, Alpha Omega Academy teacher Kristen Hogrefe knew she wanted the genre to offer more than just entertainment. “I wanted to offer hope,” the first-year AOA teacher said in a phone interview from her home in Spring Hill, Florida. “Dystopian novels are oftentimes so bleak.…
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The Revisionary – New YA Novel Now Available!
Hello, friends! I’m thrilled to share The Revisionary with you. It is now available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. I want to invite you to celebrate with me this week! On Tuesday, June 6 (release day), you’re invited to listen in on a radio interview I’ll be doing on Blog Talk Radio. Tonight at 7 pm (Correction: Central Time), I’ll be chatting with Write Integrity Editor Marji Laine Clubine on her Publishing Laine program. We’ll be talking about the popularity of dystopian books, world-building, and perspective. Click here to listen in on Tuesday at 7 pm CST/8 EST. Then, on Thursday, June 8, join me for a…
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Heritage in American History: Jefferson Memorial
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of chaperoning Alpha Omega Academy’s first field trip to Washington, D.C. Students from the states and abroad converged at Dulles and Reagan airports to start a week-long tour of our nation’s capital. Never having been to D.C., I soaked up the history and culture like a sponge. Day after day, I witnessed landmarks that revealed our country’s faith-based heritage and the wisdom of our early leaders. Blessed. That’s how this trip made me feel. Not only was I thrilled to explore “history” with an amazing group of students and chaperones, but I also felt as though God had given me a gift, an affirmation…
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Announcing the Flag Design Contest Winner!
Congratulations to Brianna Ford for her winning entry of the fictitious ASU flag, which will be featured in The Revisionary. I want to thank all the participants for their outstanding designs. It was an honor to share your creativity with my website readers. Here’s some extra exciting news! My editor and I were so impressed with the submissions that we’re going to publish the runners-up in a special spread in the back of the book. All participants will have their names and designs in print. Having these Alpha Omega Academy students be part of my book makes it all the more special to me. Thank you again to all who submitted…
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Flag Design Contest: Vote for Your Favorite!
What teacher doesn’t enjoy seeing her students’ creativity? I sure do! I’m privileged to teach English for Alpha Omega Academy and invited our middle and high school students to design their version of the ASU pennant (the fictitious flag of the dystopian society in my new young adult novel). Today, I’m posting their designs here for you to vote on your favorite. The winner’s name and design will be published in The Revisionary, available for pre-order next month. Below are the submissions, and I’m honestly glad you’re choosing the winner and not me! They are all outstanding and meet the submission guidelines: to design a flag that includes a child, scroll, and olive…
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Fools in Fiction
My brave girl’s quest is a fool’s errand, but I’m proud of her spirit. – Abram Abernathy, The Revisionary Fool. The word can be a loaded insult or a joking comment. It can have the intent to correct or ring with resigned sadness. In The Revisionary, Portia’s father describes her plan to rescue Darius as a “fool’s errand,” and in doing so, implies the futility of her cause. Although she may be short-sighted, he still admires her determination. Fools in fiction (and real life) are complicated people. They may or may not fit the ordinary definition of a person who lacks sense or good judgment. The simple fool The easiest to spot is the…
