April Updates!

Well, I'm back! And I'm kicking off this month with a bang! Did you see my last post? I'm starting my first ever blog serial--and it's a continuation of my first ever fantasy story, The River! I'm super psyched about it, so let me know in the comments what you're looking forward to seeing in the next part!

So...my main objective with this post is to update you on my progress from last month, during which I was on hiatus (ish...I never really stop working at all). I had a TON of fantastic guest posts that month, so I hope you'll circle back and check them out!

Anyway, along with my progress report, I'll give you a sneak peek into what this month will look like and let you know about some of my other projects!

BUT FIRST! An announcement...Held Captive was on sale from March 24th to the 28th, and I sold (or gave away) 260 copies!!!!!! Even better, HC was #6 on Amazon's bestselling Christian historical romance list!!!!!! Thank you guys so much for all of your support and for snagging your free copy!!!! Held Captive was a bestseller! (For, like, a day, but I'm taking it!)

I have been super busy writing posts for Kingdom Pen (read the latest one here), and that's one of the main (but still awesome) reasons why I haven't written as much in Bound and Determined as I'd hoped.

I'm also still writing my second post on predestination. Y'all, this is some seriously deep theological stuff, and I have a hard time getting into that deep, theological mindset. When it comes, it comes, I guess.

Anyway, thanks to my friend Grace @ The Fantastical Musings of Kadotake-san, who challenged her followers and friends to write 1k a week, I got a good bit of words in. Suffice it to say that I didn't consistently write 1k every day for a week, but this challenge did help me!

Now, for the truth. I wrote 13,198 words in March, all in Bound and Determined.

Now, before we dive into the main stuff, I have a TON of goodies for y'all!

#1 I recently discovered this awesome thing called My Readers Rewards Club. It's run by Tyndale, which publishes Francine Rivers and several other fantastic authors! You can sign up, complete activities, and collect points to redeem a free book! If you're interested, click here!

#2 A LOT of my favorites authors are hosting an Easter giveaway this year--and you can enter and earn extra entries by clicking here!

#3 The infamous The Nature of a Lady is available for preorder! I'm a ways into it, and lemme tell y'all, it is FABULOUS! The setting of Cornwall...ugh, guys, I am falling in love with this place all over again! Anyway, the special preorder price (which expires on May 4th) is available here, and if you're interested in ordering the book from your favorite bookstores, you can find out more here! #thenatureofalady #areyouready #newrelease #favoriteauthor

What's coming next?

#1 More installments of Reign! I'm shooting for every Thursday, but life may intervene. Keep a weather eye on the horizon, mates!

#2 Book reviews! I've been binge-reading a ton of series and trying some new authors, so not only will I have my regular reviews, I'll also keep up my monthly mini (ish) reviews! Look for March's reviews within a few days!

#3 A SNEAK PEEK! Bound and Determined is clicking along, and I've written a ton of fun, romantic, and inspiring scenes I can't wait to share with y'all!

#4 Book covers! I'm especially excited to show off my cover-designing skills (or lack of, you decide). I hope to begin selling some of my covers, too, so if you'd like to request one, just shoot me an email! I'll be showcasing some of my favorites this month!

#5 An author Q&A! You may have noticed the form below...fill it out and ask me a question (or twenty million)! I can't wait to share more about myself and my writing journey with y'all, so ask away!

Now, I've mentioned multiple times that I have several short story projects simmering on the back burner. I've been outlining and plotting and developing, and I'm finally ready to announce them!

Daylight

More info is on the way, but for now I'd like to give y'all a teaser!

September 12th, 2001

New York City

“August...August, no! No! Stop! Wait! Don’t—”

But by then, it was too late. The words are like metallic blood, coating the tongue and lips that spoke them a moment too late. I still, twelve hours later, have the urge to finish my sentence, to call out to deaf ears. I swallow down the words, slinking up to the elevator door with my head hanging. I’m ducking to avoid being swept into the raging current of doctors with IVs and patients on beds and harried nurses behind me as much as I’m ducking to hide my tears.

What’s the use? We’re all crying today, just as we were all screaming yesterday.

I linger at the elevator door for what seems like an eternity, the world passing me by in snatches and flutters in my peripheral. Finally it dings and the door opens, but my movements are sluggish as I shuffle inside. My arms and legs feel like leaden gelatin—too heavy to lift but too lifeless to support me anymore.

It's too late.

Whaddya think? Lemme know in the comments below!

A Disguise of Devotion

- a Mulan retelling -

Russia, 1812

“I do nothing for Russia. I do all for my family.”

Magnolia Zima has suffered time and again at the hands of the French—from her runaway aristocratic father to Napoleon who thirsts for domination of her home country. For the sake of her family, she disguises as a boy to deliver an important message to the Russian troops.

One of six fairytale retellings, A Disguise of Devotion is something I'm super excited about! What do you think?

Welp, I think that's everything! Thanks for hanging with me while I gushed about everything that's to come! Y'all have a fantastic week!