In the Bookcase
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label homeschooling. Show all posts

11/30/2018

2 brand new Christian Fiction Christmas releases! >> #GIVEAWAY

Christmas Duet Blog Tour


Authors Rebekah Morris and Faith Blum have teamed up for a fun Christmas Duet Blog Tour!

Why Christmas Duet? Because both books have titles that have to do with a Christmas song! Be sure to check out all of the other participating blogs, as well as the GIVEAWAY!!! Find out more below.




His Law is Love

His Law is Love

by Rebekah A. Morris


Will hate and fear drown the song of Christmas love?

Amelia is eagerly anticipating her first Christmas in the west, but she soon finds that her brother-in-law's worry and her sister's exhaustion reach far deeper than the cares of a ranch and a family. A rash of fires and cattle thefts is plaguing the area, and the three young orphans they've sheltered are under suspicion from their prejudiced neighbors.

As hostilities mount, Amelia seizes every opportunity to help and encourage, but how much can one girl do? Will Reverend Brown win the community over to the true spirit of love? And will help arrive before everything they hold dear is destroyed?


Read an excerpt!

            Her attention was arrested by the minister’s deep baritone voice. “Christmas is only a little more than two weeks away, and at this time of year I am reminded of the words of my favorite Christmas song.” He stepped to the side of the pulpit and began to recite the words, but before he had reached the third line, the melody rolled from him and filled the church.

            “Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
            Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
            A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices,
            For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;”

            A thrill–was it of hope?–raced through Amelia, and she caught her breath as the voice seemed to shake the rafters of the church as the minister launched into the refrain.

            Not a sound was to be heard when the minister, having finished the first stanza and chorus resumed his place and looked around on his congregation.

            “Have you fallen on your knees before the King lately? Have you realized that your soul is not the only soul to have worth? Is not the soul of your neighbor worth as much as your own? Did not our Savior come to save his soul too? As this holy night, this night divine, approaches, let us remember why Christ came.”


 
Author Rebekah A. Morris

Author Bio:

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, the Christmas Collection series, and her best selling Triple Creek Ranch series.

Some of her favorite pastimes, when she isn’t writing, include reading, playing with her seven nieces and nephews, and coming up with dramatic and original things to do. (Sometimes with the nieces and nephews!) The Show-Me state is where she calls home.



 
 

O Come All Ye Faithful & other short stories

O Come All Ye Faithful & other short stories

by Faith Blum


O Come All Ye Faithful
Edwin wanted to be home, but instead he crouched in a trench. The English on one side of No Man’s Land and Germans on the other. What a way to spend Christmas. Could anything make it better?

Peace on Earth
Emmie and Elana are estranged sisters, torn apart by an old boyfriend five years earlier. Will they survive a night in the same hotel room after a blizzard forces them together or will peace on earth go out the window?

Silent Night
Christmas decorating had never gone this wrong. Jenna had just started when a crazy, gun-waving woman, walks right in the front door and ties her up in her own Christmas lights. Will Jenna even see her family this Christmas?

The Gift Goes On
Four friends and a year to reflect on. The year had been good for Carlotta, but Priscilla, Remus, and Newton all had at least one trial through the year. A mysterious giver the previous year had helped them all out, though. What would this year’s gifts bring?

O Christmas Tree
Gareth loves Christmas. But more than that, he loves Christmas tree hunting. As the family prepares for their annual trip, Gareth can barely contain his excitement. But what are all the spray bottles for?


Read an excerpt!

Edwin blinked against the dim light of the dawn. What had awakened him this time? A dull boom in the distance startled him. Distant or not, that boom was much too close for comfort. Who had fired their artillery and where? It was far enough away to not be a danger to him or his men, but if it was the Germans, that meant another company was getting artillery shells lobbed at them. 

Not for the first time, Edwin wished he lived back during the days of King Arthur. Boulders catapulting toward him would be preferable to the devastation from a shell. He had always imagined boulders would be easier to see and move away from. If he couldn’t, then being crushed had to be better than shrapnel. He shuddered as memories of the army hospital tents came back.


The captain shouted orders to them and Edwin bit back a groan. Another day, another fight, another depressing… Wait, it was Christmas Eve. Not that it mattered, but being gloomy on this holiday was not something his sister would approve of. A smile flitted across his grim face. It didn’t stick, but that tiny seed of hope lifted his spirits just a little.




Author Faith Blum

Author Bio:

Faith Blum is a small-town Wisconsin girl. She’s lived in, or outside of, small towns her whole life. The thought of living in a city with more than 60,000 people in it scares her, especially after some interesting adventures driving through big cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Faith currently resides in the middle of the state of Wisconsin with her husband and their cat, Smokey. She is blessed to be able to have writing as her full-time career with household work and cooking to do on the side. She loves to paint walls as long as she doesn’t have to do hallways or ceilings.

When not writing, you can find her cooking food from scratch due to food allergies (fun), doing dishes (meh), knitting, crocheting, sewing, reading, or spending time with her husband (yay!). She is also a Community Assistant for the Young Writers Workshop and loves her work there. She loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her on her website.




 


Giveaway grand prize!



Just like Rebekah and Faith teamed up for this tour, they have also teamed up on the giveaway!

Grand Prize: Paperback of each (US only)


1st Prize: eBook of each (International and US)


2nd Prize: eBook of choice (International and US)


Enter here >>>

kingsumo.com/g/ocz29j/the-christmas-duet-giveaway


 


Christmas celebration!


Tour Schedule:

November 26
Bookish Orchestrations – Introductory Post
Cover Lover Book Review – Book Spotlights

November 27
Read Another Page – Book Spotlight
Kaylee's Kind Of Writes – Two Book Reviews
Jaye L. Knight – Excerpts

November 28
Lit Aflame – Book Review and Excerpt
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Book Review of His Law is Love
Jenny Berlin – Excerpts

November 29
Frances Hoelsema's Blog – Two Book Spotlights
Rebekah Ashleigh – Review of His Law is Love and Book Spotlights
Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors – Book Review and Spotlight
Salsa And Tea – Author Interviews

November 30
Purely by Faith Reviews – Two Book Reviews
Once Upon An Ordinary – Author Interview and Book Spotlights
In the Bookcase - Excerpts

December 1
Books, Life, and Christ – Two Book Reviews
Maidens for Modesty – Two Book Reviews
Chosen Vessels – Two Book Reviews
Harvest Lane Cottage – Two Book Reviews
Jessica Greyson – Book Spotlights
Twin Thoughts – Book Spotlights
Heart of the Rose – Two Book Reviews
Read Another Page – Book Spotlight and Review

December 3
Bookish Orchestrations – Giveaway winner


11/24/2018

Best deals + freebies in Christian Indie Books! >> Giveaway, Exclusive Interview ++


Welcome! I wanted to tell you about a HUGE sale that is going on this weekend! There are over 150 titles available and they are all either $.99 or FREE! There are also a long list of paperbacks for sale at incredibly discounted prices as well! And the good news is they are all clean reads! Be sure to go check out this amazing sale HERE. <<<<<<<<


There is also an amazing giveaway going on! Grand Prize winner receives 20 paperbacks and the 2nd place winner gets 20 e-book titles from the sale for free! 



Angie Thompson is one of the authors featured in this sale and giveaway... and also in an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW here on the In the Bookcase blog!

Let's start the interview!


Hi, Angie! I've heard great things about your books. I'm excited to read some of your titles soon. What is your favorite genre to write in?

Angie Thompson: Ugh…this is payback for all the times I’ve asked this question, isn’t it? At least you asked about writing, not reading… No, I take it back; that’s still such a hard question!

Since I bounced back and forth like a ping-pong ball trying to answer this, I decided to go to the official source—my story files. And the answer is…historical! Which is funny, since only one of my published stories so far has been historical. But I’ve started more historical stories than any other genre, so there you have it! (If anyone is curious, contemporary appears to be my second favorite, followed by sci-fi/futuristic, kingdom adventure, and random things like allegory that defy me to put them into a genre.)



What kind of research have you found yourself involved in by writing? Is there anything you're researching now for your next story?

Angie Thompson: I definitely think there should be some sort of official author status on Google, just to let anyone who’s monitoring my internet searches know not to put me on a watch list! I was seriously a little spooked about what kind of red flags I might be raising when I started searching for pictures/layouts of the airports my characters were supposed to fly into/out of. 😊

I also have a bad habit of injuring my characters or making them sick, so I’ve ended up doing a lot of medical research for different stories. That’s especially difficult for historical fiction, because when I want to know about the treatment for scarlet fever, I’m not looking for fifty articles advising me to go to the hospital immediately… On the other hand, I decided not long ago to create a fictional medical condition for a futuristic story and suddenly found myself with piles of research on how to actually make it work in a convincing way. Did I mention I had also saddled myself with a main character who was a doctor? Oh, dear…

The good news is that my next story has passed the plotting stage and is into rewriting/editing, so hopefully I get a break from the random research for a while. Except that in the back of my mind, I’m still plugging away at that new medical condition…



What are some of the biggest inspirations you have regarding your writing? (Are there certain people, or books, or TV shows, etc.. that impact what you put into your writing?)

Angie Thompson: I get inspiration literally everywhere. One of the most bizarre (although also one of the most prolific) is dreams. If I have an interesting dream and enough time to mold it into something that halfway makes sense the next morning, watch out, world! My next book (or at least the one I plan to publish next) was inspired by a conversation my family was having one night, a movie I watched part of the same night, and the dream that melded them together the next morning. The idea for my first published book, Bridgers, was sparked by an episode of an audio drama. Other recent inspirations have been a Bible study, a kids’ movie, a favorite name, and—I kid you not—the most cliched opening line in history.



Since we're nearing the end of the year, tell us... what has been the most surprising book you've read in 2018? And (on a slightly different note) what is your favorite read of 2018 (granted you don't end up finding another favorite by year's end)? :D

Angie Thompson: Seriously?!? Favorite genre was unfair; this is just cruel! *sighs and goes to dig through my massive pile of favorite books*

Okay, there are several good candidates for the most surprising book, but I think I have to go with Castaways by Jes Drew. I volunteered to read it pre-release because I love survival stories, but I had no idea it would be so hilarious! Much better than I was even hoping for!

Now…if I’m counting my favorite read as a book I read for the first time in 2018, I think I have to give it to Becoming Nikki by Ashley Elliot. (It’s such a narrow margin, though!) If re-reads count, The Rivers of Judah by Catherine Farnes would be my hands-down favorite. Whew—that was grueling! Now I need chocolate. 😊



--- Find Angie online! ---
 







You can sign up for the giveaway in the Rafflecopter entry form at the bottom of THIS post!

Giveaway runs from November 22nd till November 26th @12AM ET Grand prize open to US winners only. 2nd place prize is open Internationally. 
 
2nd Place Winner Receives 20 E-books
Gather Round the Fables by Erika Matthews
The Case of the Tabloid Tattler by Perry Kirkpatrick AudioBook
The Twelve Cats of Christmas by Perry Kirkpatrick Audiobook
Coffee Shop Christmas Ebook by Ryana Lynn Miller
The Land of Cotton ebook by Ryana Lynn Miller
Entertaining Angels, Entertaining Angels Book 1 by Emerald Barnes
Secret’s Kept by Jennette Mbewe
The Firethorn Crown by Lea Doue
Beyond Broken Pencils by Julie C. Gilbert
Ashlynn's Dreams by Julie C. Gilbert
Soldier On by Vanessa Rasanen
Burning Rose by Hope Ann
Iced and Nailed by Avery Daniels
Imani Earns Her Cape by Bokerah Brumley
October by J. Grace Pennington
Disowned by Sarah Addison Fox
My Compass Home by Michaela Bush
Summer Shadows and Necessary Evil by Killarney Traynor

Grand Prize Winner Receives 20 Paperbacks
Mythical Doorways by Jenelle Schmidt
Faith is the Victory by Faith Blum
Kiera by Kate Willis
Because Anonymous Diana L. Sharples
After: Book One in The Neverway Chronicles by Savannah Jezowski
Specter: Book Two in The Neverway Chronicles by Savannah Jezowski
Leandra’s Enchanted Flute by Katy Huth Jones
Eagle Eyes by Tammy Lash
London in the Dark by Victoria Lynn   
When Beauty Blooms by Victoria Lynn
Aerisia: Land Beyond the Sunset by Sarah Ashwood
Iced and Nailed by Avery Daniels
There Was Always Laughter in Our House by Sarah Holman
Bridgers: A Parable (paperback) by Angie Thompson
Love Blind (paperback) by Angie Thompson
Code by Angie Thompson
Christmas Eve at the Backdoor by Rebekah Morris
The Seven Drawers by Kendra E. Ardnek
He's Making Diamonds: A Teen's Thoughts on Faith Through Chronic Illness by Sara Willoughby





Participating Authors

Kate Willis
Hope
C.B. Cook
Vincent Trigili
Malachi Cyr
E. J. Willis
Diana L. Sharples
Sarah Addison-Fox
Annie Douglass Lima
Marc Secchia
Katy Huth Jones
Savannah Jezowski
Kandi J Wyatt
Joan Lightning
Angela Watts
Ava Mallory
Sara Bourgeois
Jaye L. Knight
Sarah Ashwood
Killarney Traynor
Zanna Mackenzie
Valerie Howard
Bokerah Brumley
Kat Bellemore
Faith Blum
RJ Conte
Abigayle Claire
Tayla Alexandra
Kristen Iten
Emily Selby
Stephanie Damore
Erika Mathews
Frances Hoelsema
J. Grace Pennington
Rebekah A. Morris
Frankie Bow
Martha Fuller
Lena Karynn Tesla
Allison Tebo
Sarah Monzon
Victoria Lynn
Sonia Parin
T.I. Lowe
Lia London
Tammy Lash
maria grazia swan
Deany Ray
Paige Sleuth
Jenny Berlin
Annie Louise Twitchell
Jordaina Sydney Robinson
Kelsey Gietl
Kendra E. Ardnek
Frances Hoelsema
Stacy Juba
Laura Guenot
Michaela Bush
Tricia Mingerink
Hailey Rose
Ryana Lynn Miller
Angie Thompson
Nadine C. Keels
Kellyn Roth
Angie Thompson
Vanessa Rasanen
Julie C. Gilbert
Jennette Mbewe
C. S. Johnson
Amy Williams
April Lynn Newell
Lauren Lynch
Lea Doue
Kelsey Bryant
Avery Daniels
Sarah Holman
R.M. Archer
Emerald Barnes
Jenelle Leanne Schmidt
Cathy Perkins
Laura Jackson
P.D. Workman
Emily Hinkle
Hannah Loviisa
Claire Banschbach
Rebekah Jones
Faith Potts
Sara Willoughby





a Rafflecopter giveaway


And... while you're here...
Check out my own giveaway and A Literary Christmas reading challenge!







5/17/2018

Kids/YA Sci-Fi Reading List -- for Christian families!

Summertime is arriving! Maybe you're looking for some great books that your kids can enjoy reading this summer... Well, I've collected some of my favorite Christian Sci-fi series for kids + young adults (well, who am I kidding -- adults can enjoy these books too!)...


Quality Sci-Fi Books for Christian Readers


Can quality books in the Sci-fi genre truly be written with your God-fearing children in mind? Can stories actually exist... that while they do incorporate fantastic journeys through outer space (which feels like the impossible), can still be God-honoring and reflect well on Biblical Creation? YES! I'm talking about stories that ignite visions of bravery, adventure, and defeat of evil -- from a Christian perspective!


Here's my list of Christian Sci-fi series that my family has enjoyed over the years!
All but 1 are stories that take place far in the future.

 


6 to 9 Year-olds will love...




AstroKids series
by Robert Elmer

10 books // about 100 pages each //
originally published from 2000-2002


Biblical truths amid fun, galaxial adventures for young readers!

 


10 to 14 Year-olds will love...




Hyperlinkz series
by Robert Elmer

6 books // about 125 pages each //
originally published from 2004-2005


These 12-year-old twins don't travel to outer space, but instead through hyperspace!
*Present day story, not in the future

 



Mars Diaries series
by Sigmund Brouwer

10 books // about 130 pages each //
originally published from 2000-2002


Intrigue on Mars. Virtual reality. Boy on wheels. Robots.

 
[later reprinted as...]


Robot Wars series
by Sigmund Brouwer

5 books // about 300 pages each //
originally published in 2009


 



Daystar Voyages series
by Gilbert Morris & Dan Meeks

10 books // about 150 pages each //
originally published from 1998-2000


Expelled students of the Intergalactic Academy form the Daystar's crew and visit weird and intriguing places around the universe.

 



Seven Sleepers series
by Gilbert Morris

10 books // about 150 pages each //
originally published from 1994-1997


NOTE: I personally haven't read this series YET, but have enjoyed Morris's other books, and trust this one will be great too.

 
[if you enjoy these books, try the series sequel...]


Seven Sleepers: The Lost Chronicles series
by Gilbert Morris

7 books // about 160 pages each //
originally published in 2000


 


Teens/Young Adults will love...




Firmament series
by J. Grace Pennington

5+ books // about 200 pages each //
originally published from 2012-ongoing


This is one of my FAVORITES on the list. The writing style is spectacular. Can't wait for the next book to come out!

 



Unaccepted series
by Aubrey Hansen

1+ books // about 150 pages each //
originally published from 2011-ongoing


When 17-year-old Philadelphia and her father arrive on Mars, she discovers quite an enigmatic science projects being kept under wraps -- and has moral decisions to make.

 



Destiny Trilogy series
by Sarah Holman

3+ books // about 200 pages each //
originally published from 2011-2015


It starts with Maria Morris just asking God what she should do in her life, and ends with fighting to save the whole galaxy.

 



Shadowside Trilogy series
by Robert Elmer

3 books // about 330 pages each //
originally published from 2007-2009


NOTE: I personally haven't read this series YET, but I have enjoyed Elmer's other books, and trust this one will be great too.

 



What other Christian Sci-Fi series/books do you like???


May Discussion


11/16/2017

There was Always Laughter in Our House // Book Review & GIVEAWAY! // BLOG TOUR


Sarah Holman's new book, There Was Always Laughter In Our House, (her first non-fiction) will be releasing this month on Nov. 24th! Check out the great giveaway, the cover art, my review of this new title, and the other blogs in this countdown tour!


There Was Always Laughter In Our House by Sarah Holman (5 star review)


There Was Always Laughter In Our House

written by Sarah Holman

146 pages // published in 2017 // Christian non-fiction



BOOK DESCRIPTION

What do you get when you mix two parents who grew up in the city, six kids who have always lived in the country, and add homeschooling? You get a whole lot of laughter!

Homeschool graduate and author Sarah Holman shares stories about her family that range from thought-provoking to side-splitting. She shares both hilarious mistakes and heartbreaking moments in her family. In this collection of stories, she endeavors capture some of the answers to the questions people have often asked her about growing up in a conservative homeschool family as well as some of the wisdom she has gleaned along the way. Sarah invites you to open up this scrapbook of memories. She hopes that you come away encouraged, inspired…and laughing.




My Review


5 Star Rating


As soon as I heard about this book, I was immediately excited, and for multiple reasons:
(1) I'm already a fan of Sarah Holman's fiction, but to get to read something true, something interesting about her and her family? Well, that's something entirely new – and exciting.
(2) I grew up in a Christian homeschooling family, just like Sarah did, and so of course I want to read all about the fun stories from her childhood, and perhaps pick up on other similarities in our lives too.

Well, I definitely enjoyed it. Sarah openly shares about her faith, her beliefs on many things including wearing skirts, politics, homeschooling, family life, and more. Sarah is witty and funny all throughout. Plus, there's so many chapters, each on different subjects; she has tons of little stories to tell about! The biggest takeaway that I got is that her family is a tight bunch, all devoted to each other. Her parents have built a godly character into each of their children. I liked how Sarah even wrote a chapter specifically about each of her siblings – that's pretty cool!

“We are a group of messed-up people, saved by God's grace, and blessed enough to call each other a family.” -Sarah Holman

I think one of my favorite bits in this book is about the ongoing battle between her and her brother on how the Narnia books should be organized on the shelf (okay, I've heard of scholarly battles on such a topic, but this is next level stuff when it comes to two people living in the same house). Oh, and that chicken story, that was pretty hilarious too...

Sarah's story would be most enjoyed by homeschooling families or anyone who may be simply interested in that lifestyle.

“Words have power, power we fail to recognize time and time again. Both spoken words and written words have an impact that can last forever. That's why I'm a writer.” -Sarah Holman


Available on Amazon in ebook format.
Pre-Order now, get it Nov. 24th!


Add to Goodreads


Author bio:
Sarah Holman is a not so typical mid-twenties girl: A homeschool graduate, sister to six awesome siblings. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it is because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined. You can find out more about her at her website www.thedestinyofone.com


Author Sarah Holman

Visit the author online!
BlogFacebookTwitterPinterestGoodreadsLinkedin


GIVEAWAY!!

Win a 'Waltz Into the Waves' ebook!

Sarah has generously offered an e-book of one of her fairytale retellings as a prize (exclusive to my blog ONLY!). Want to learn more about 'Waltz into the Waves: A Cinderella Story'? Check out MY REVIEW that tells you everything you need to know.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule

Be sure to check out these other blogs to find out more...


November 16
Reachel – What stories are you going to include, Sarah?
J. Grace Pennington – An interview
Esther Filbrun – A review
Tarissa Graves – A review
November 17
Leona Ruth – A review
Chloe – A review
November 18
Kaylee – A review
Alexa - A Thanksgiving Story
November 19
Liv K. Fisher – Short Girl Jokes
Kelsey Bryant – A review



Quote from There was Always Laughter in Our House






P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon


6/17/2017

Author Interview! Sarah Holman on Courage and Corruption

Hi readers,

Today I'm talking with author Sarah Holman about her book Courage and Corruption. It is the most recently published title in her Tales of Taelis series. Plus, watch out for the next book due out by July!


Courage and Corruption by Sarah Holman (5 star review)


Courage and Corruption

written by Sarah Holman

161 pages // published in 2016 // Christian YA


BOOK DESCRIPTION

Catherine is going with her mother and younger siblings to the mountains to hide from the coming war. While she fears what might happen she is looking forward to some time away from her twin brother, with whom she often fights. One foolish act changes all their plans, and one story caused not only confusion, but more fighting.

Christopher does not believe his father’s story that they are descended from royalty. He is sure the story his father tells cannot be true. However, he is forced to go to the mountain castle of Coraway along with his mother and siblings. Will his father ever see him as a man? Will he and his twin ever be able to stop fighting?

Little do Catherine and Christopher realize that they hold the key to Taelis’ future in their hands. While they discover the truth before it is too late?



I've already read Courage and Corruption myself, and I enjoyed it. Be sure to take a look at MY REVIEW of the book, and check out book #3 of this series for yourself! It's a historical-inspired series, each book showcasing excellent biblical morals.

Well, let's get the interview questions going! >>



TARISSA: Sarah, let's talk about your most recently released novel in the Taelis series, since the next one to be published is not too far away. So, Catherine or Christopher? Can you personally identify with one more than the other -- or with a different character in this tale?

 
SARAH: I can identify with both of them, as well as Jacob. I have gone through time that I felt the rage welling inside of me and I couldn't control it. I have acted the part of the martyr and struggled with the injustice of how people have treated me, like Catherine. I am striving to become the peacemaker that Jacob is. Through it all, I found that surrender to God every day was the way to combat my issues. It's a hard lesson to learn.

 
TARISSA: Great answer! That's why I liked this book so much too, because there's some good lessons to be learned for all.
 


"I have tried, Christopher. There are so many things that I have tried to teach you and Catherine, but I have failed. You have more need of responsibility than you realize, but you refuse to develop it."



TARISSA: When I read Courage and Corruption myself, my favorite character was Cousin Edwin, storyteller master. He always had a story to share at just the right time. Did you have any particular inspiration behind Cousin Edwin's character or any of his stories?

 
SARAH: Courage and Corruption is actually a remake of an earlier story I had written. I don't remember the original inspiration for the character, but coming from a family of storytellers might have something to do with it.
 


"I think the lad can sense the stories that lay embedded in the stone walls."



TARISSA: If I'm remembering right, it seems that you already have an exact novel count planned out for the Tales of Taelis series. So, JUST HOW MANY novels do you have planned?

 
SARAH: The plan (as of now) is to have 24 books in the series based off all letters of the alphabet except Q and X. I have stories planned for most of those books, but as I write more, the series changes and so do the stories so we shall see. ;)
 
TARISSA: It's cool to see a bit of what goes on in an author's mind while they plot out a series! So what was your method in coming up with an arcing plot that would stretch over that many novels?

 
SARAH: Some of it is based off an old series I started when I was 11. The whole storyline that spans from Adventures and Adversities to Courage and Corruption was a direct result of that. However, most of the story seems to come about on its own and I go "Hey! I can use that in the next story." I'm not as much of a planner as you would suspect from the length of the series.
 


"Our king is dying and has no children to take his place. All over the kingdom, nobility are preparing for war and choosing whom they will support as the next king. The time may be soon to tell them that the long lost prince lives."



TARISSA: That's interesting to know! Okay. Time for a FUN QUESTION! >> What secret/special talents do you have that the people of Taelis might have done too? (Have you ever practiced archery? Ridden a horse? Corralled sheep? Do you play an instrument that Taelis people could recognize?) Share with your readers!

 
SARAH: I have taken care of goats quite a bit. Our family had goats when I was young and it was my job to milk them. I loved getting up early and having the quiet time while doing that task. I also love to garden and know what it takes. I am so glad that my family doesn't depend on my growing enough to feed us! I have ridden a horse and played around with a bow and arrow, which were both fun and helpful for research.

 
TARISSA: That all sounds like a variety of fun activities! Yes, including milking goats... I'd like to try it one day!

Well, thanks for joining me again, Sarah, to talk about your books. Until next time. ;)
 




Available on Amazon in e-book format.

Add to Goodreads


Author bio:
Sarah Holman is a not so typical mid-twenties girl: A homeschool graduate, sister to six awesome siblings, and author of many published books and short stories. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it is because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined.

Author Sarah Holman

Visit the author online!
BlogFacebookTwitterPinterestGoodreadsLinkedin

All quoted material comes from the book.



6/07/2017

Book Review: The Destiny of a Galaxy

The Destiny of a Galaxy by Sarah Holman (5 star review)


The Destiny of a Galaxy
The Destiny Trilogy, #3

written by Sarah Holman

220 pages // published in 2012 // young adult Christian sci-fi




BOOK DESCRIPTION

Time Has Passed… In the three years since Maria Morris found the farmer-boy-prince, the Followers have multiplied. As Wyndemere’s empire cracks and unrest rises, the Legatee orchestrates the Rebellion. Danger Has Not Disappeared...But Neither Has Hope Though the overthrow of the tyrannical regime is imminent, Maria’s role as the “woman who started it all” is not widely known. So why the foreboding of danger? Promise floats in the air. Many around her find happiness, even as the tension spirals toward a breaking point. But Maria flounders. What does Maria Morris want to do with her life? What is her destiny…now? Rendered Powerless, Maria Must Make A Painful Choice… One That Will Alter the Future of the Galaxy Forever When James invites her to headquarters where Maria assumes a new role among The Followers, tragedy strikes. The enemies she had thought long gone are capable of far more than she imagined. Will she have the courage to stand for what she believes, no matter the cost? Will she have the strength to surrender her dreams when all seems lost and she can do nothing at all?




My Review


5 Star Rating


The final installment of the Destiny Trilogy picks up 3 years after book #2. The Followers have been building in number, in faith, and battle apparatus. The time is at hand for the Rebellion to overthrow the tyrannical government... In other words, it's the big climax of the series, and you don't want to miss it!

Even though what was Maria's destiny has now multiplied itself, spreading across the galaxy now, she finds herself doing the mundane chores of household work, pondering what her role in the universe is, again. How will her final destiny intertwine with the galaxy's need for renewal? God's answer is nothing short of awe-inspiring – miracles included.

What I found in this particular volume in an graceful lesson in faith. Relying on our own strength will get us nowhere; it only creates stress and makes our lives less enjoyable. However, relying on God's strength will take you farther than you could have ever dreamed possible. He's ready to catch you when you fall, and He'll open a brand new door for you that you never even saw by yourself.

Get ready for a thrilling and wholesome adventure! Christian and homeschool families will love this sci-fi series.




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